The Crystals in All of Us

Description
The Crystals in All of Us is a children's book creative project that is meant to reflect the impact a community has on a child, and vice versa. Made specifically for the special needs students I work with, it is…

The Crystals in All of Us is a children's book creative project that is meant to reflect the impact a community has on a child, and vice versa. Made specifically for the special needs students I work with, it is a generalizable lesson. It incorporates various art principles, as well as child and human development theories, such as Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Helping or Hurting: The Effects of Leaving Religion on Well-being

Description
For centuries, religion has been a part of people's lives, impacting their well-being. Well-being includes both positive and negative emotions that make people feel satisfied. Religion can affect how people handle their physical health, social behavior, support, and stress. Interestingly,…

For centuries, religion has been a part of people's lives, impacting their well-being. Well-being includes both positive and negative emotions that make people feel satisfied. Religion can affect how people handle their physical health, social behavior, support, and stress. Interestingly, more people have been abandoning religion since 1990, even though it has positive effects on well-being. In this study, I sought to understand the extent to which leaving religion is associated with all aspects of well-being, including spiritual well-being. I asked 606 Arizona State University undergraduates to rate their well-being from two different time periods in their life. Participants were first asked if they were currently religious or nonreligious;135 said they had left/changed religions. If participants indicated that they did not leave/change religions, they were asked about their well-being before and after starting at ASU. I examined perceived change in well-being to understand how religion can influence many aspects of an individual’s life. Leaving or changing religion was positively associated with well-being. Those who reported leaving religion reported better environmental, emotional, social, educational, occupational, and spiritual well-being. In the control group (ASU), educational and spiritual well-being had a significant increase, which is interesting. The results showed that changing/leaving religion had a positive association on well-being.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Exploring the Connection Between Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder, Speech Errors of /s/
and /z/, and Auditory Perception Skills

Description
Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) is defined as “abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth” by ASHA (2023). OMD leads to anterior carriage of the tongue, open mouth posture, mouth breathing, and tongue thrust swallow. Dentalization speech errors of /s/ and /z/ are…

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) is defined as “abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth” by ASHA (2023). OMD leads to anterior carriage of the tongue, open mouth posture, mouth breathing, and tongue thrust swallow. Dentalization speech errors of /s/ and /z/ are also known to be caused by low and forward position of the tongue (Wadsworth, Maui, & Stevens, 1998). This study used the OMES-E protocol to identify 10 out of 40 participants with OMD. A cut-off below 80% accuracy for the production of /s/ and /z/ sounds classified 6 out of 40 participants with speech errors. Then, a correlation was run between speech score and OMD classification; it was not significant. This raises the question, why do some people with OMD have moderate to severe speech errors of /s/ and /z/, and some who have OMD do not? This study aims to explore this question beyond the motor modality. Using an auditory perception paradigm, the first and second formants of the vowel /ɛ/ were shifted to approximate /æ/. The participant’s responses and compensations to these shifts were recorded in real time. Results of this perceptual test could suggest that perceptual/compensatory differences may explain why some people in the OMD population have speech errors and some do not.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Pain During Midlife: A Cross-National Analysis of Cohort Differences in Reports of Pain in the United States, Europe, South Korea, and Mexico

Description
Over the past several decades, middle-aged Americans have exhibited troubling trends of declining mental and physical health over successive cohorts. Interestingly, this trend has not been observed in peer nations in Europe, Asia, and Mexico. Later-born cohorts in other countries…

Over the past several decades, middle-aged Americans have exhibited troubling trends of declining mental and physical health over successive cohorts. Interestingly, this trend has not been observed in peer nations in Europe, Asia, and Mexico. Later-born cohorts in other countries typically report better midlife mental and physical health than their earlier-born counterparts. It is less clear the extent to which physical pain shows similar trends to what has been observed in the U.S. and comparison peer nations. The goal of the current study was to examine how self-reports of pain have historically changed during midlife and investigate whether differences emerge between the U.S. and peer nations. We used harmonized data on pain from nationally representative longitudinal panel surveys from the U.S., 13 European nations, South Korea, and Mexico to directly quantify similarities and differences in historical change in midlife pain. Our results supported the hypothesis that midlife pain is higher amongst later-born cohorts in the U.S. A similar pattern of historical increases in pain was observed in Continental and Nordic Europe. In England, Mediterranean Europe, South Korea, and Mexico, the opposite pattern was observed with historical declines in pain. Historical increases in reports of pain in the U.S. emerged more quickly for later-born cohorts at earlier stages of midlife. These results suggest there could be aspects of American midlife today that are exacerbating reports of pain, and these aspects may be shared in some European nations but absent or less influential in other peer nations. Our discussion focuses on potential explanations for this pattern, such as population level discrepancies in health, differential use of health care services, and the inter/intrapersonal costs of westernization, as well as how pain is conceptualized across nations.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Social Curiosity and Prosocial Behavior in Childhood: The Social Uncertainty Paradigm’s Effect on Sharing Behaviors

Description
Children have been known to engage in socially curious behaviors, such as frequently asking questions about other people’s feelings and actions (Friedman et al., 2018). Social curiosity helps children engage in cultural learning and understanding the explicit and implicit rules…

Children have been known to engage in socially curious behaviors, such as frequently asking questions about other people’s feelings and actions (Friedman et al., 2018). Social curiosity helps children engage in cultural learning and understanding the explicit and implicit rules of society (Hartung & Renner, 2013). However, little is known about how social curiosity may impact children’s moral development. Seeking out social information may help form connections between children, increasing the extent to which they behave prosocially to others. Additionally, similar constructs to social curiosity (theory of mind and empathy) are linked to prosocial behavior (Imuta et al., 2016; Ding & Lu, 2016). The present study therefore investigates the relationship between social curiosity and prosocial sharing. To test the hypothesis that children who are primed to be socially curious will exhibit increased prosocial sharing, we used the Social Uncertainty Paradigm to elicit social curiosity in children who then completed a sticker sharing task. Our hypothesis was not supported; no significant differences between the sharing behaviors of children primed for social curiosity and those who were not. Additional research is needed to conclude whether social curiosity may be linked to prosocial behavior in a way that this study was not able to determine.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Rainbow Monster Madness: The Physical Therapy Game for Children with Down Syndrome

Description

Accessing adequate healthcare, particularly essential services like physical therapy, presents a significant challenge for individuals with Down syndrome. This demographic often encounters obstacles such as limited accessibility, scarce resources, and a lack of tailored solutions that specifically address their unique…

Accessing adequate healthcare, particularly essential services like physical therapy, presents a significant challenge for individuals with Down syndrome. This demographic often encounters obstacles such as limited accessibility, scarce resources, and a lack of tailored solutions that specifically address their unique needs. The resulting disparity leads to inconsistent care and suboptimal healthcare experiences. Recognizing the importance of eliminating these barriers is crucial to create a more inclusive healthcare environment for individuals with Down syndrome. Rainbow Monster Madness serves as a multifaceted solution to the social determinants of health that significantly impact individuals with Down syndrome. The game's design directly tackles several of these determinants by offering accessible, engaging, and family-centered therapy. In terms of healthcare access and quality, the game empowers parents to actively participate in their child's therapy, ensuring the correct administration of exercises and the consistent provision of quality care. The game's design addresses neighborly and built environment determinants by providing an accessible and inclusive therapy option that can be implemented within the comfort of one's home. This approach fosters a sense of safety and familiarity for children undergoing therapy, promoting a more relaxed and conducive environment. Additionally, Rainbow Monster Madness encourages social community engagement by fostering a collaborative atmosphere between parents and children during therapy sessions. This collaborative approach creates a supportive and engaging environment, positively impacting the overall therapeutic experience. Adhering to the principles of Self-Determination Theory, the game cultivates intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being among children with Down syndrome. This approach enables active engagement in therapy and contributes to their overall health and well-being. The exercises included in Rainbow Monster Madness are carefully selected to cater to the unique needs of individuals with Down syndrome. This regimen combines muscle-strengthening, cardio, and balance exercises, tailored to this specific population. The modification of exercises and thematic design ensures that children remain enthusiastic about their therapy, ultimately promoting better adherence and more effective results. In summary, Rainbow Monster Madness represents a comprehensive solution to the multitude of challenges faced by individuals with Down syndrome in accessing healthcare. Simultaneously, it addresses the broader social determinants of health, thereby fostering a healthier and more inclusive future for this deserving population.

Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Early Adolescent Psychopathology; Sibling Support as a Buffer for Social and Economic Risk

Description
Among children in the United States, there is a high prevalence of psychopathology. Understanding what contributes to the development of these disorders in early adolescence and late childhood is key to informing intervention efforts. This study aimed to understand the…

Among children in the United States, there is a high prevalence of psychopathology. Understanding what contributes to the development of these disorders in early adolescence and late childhood is key to informing intervention efforts. This study aimed to understand the impacts of economic and social stress on the development of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in children. Additionally, with the knowledge that supportive adult relationships can buffer psychopathology impacts, it sought to uncover if supportive sibling relationships can alter the relationship between stress and psychopathology. Data was collected through both home visits and online questionnaires as part of the Arizona Twin Project. The sample of the twins at eight years old included 355 families (M = 8.43 years, SD = .68) and 709 twins (MZ = 29.9%, same-sex DZ = 37.8%, opposite-sex DZ = 31.7%, and unknown zygosity = 0.6%) with ethnically and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds. Families were followed longitudinally with annual assessments at ages 9, 10, and 11. Our results showcased a significant positive relationship between economic stress and the development of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology symptoms in children. Our social stress indicators were categorized into family stress and negative parenting constructs. It was observed that family stress was linked to an increase in both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, when it came to parenting behaviors, no significant associations were identified with the development of either externalizing or internalizing symptoms in our study. In terms of the potential moderating effects of a positive sibling relationship, no significant results were found. Ultimately, our study showcases the adverse impact of stress on children and early adolescents. Further research on the impacts of the relationship between siblings can help us to better understand the dynamics in the home as a whole and explore whether relationships beyond those with supportive adults can contribute to resilience in children. This knowledge may guide interventions and preventive measures aimed at mitigating the effects of psychopathology in young individuals.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Is Culdesac the Template for a Walkable Valley of the Sun? A Critical Analysis of Future Potential

Description
Phoenix, Arizona is a city characterized by intense urban sprawl: low-density, spread out, and disconnected development. Within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area comes a new development, Culdesac, that creates car-free living geared towards alternate transit methods. This new neighborhood offers a…

Phoenix, Arizona is a city characterized by intense urban sprawl: low-density, spread out, and disconnected development. Within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area comes a new development, Culdesac, that creates car-free living geared towards alternate transit methods. This new neighborhood offers a more sustainable urban form that contrasts Phoenix and has potential to increase walkability in the city. After examining case studies of Vauban, Germany; Masdar City, Abu Dhabi; and Fruitvale, California as examples of sustainable development with a focus on alternate transit, this paper compares these examples to the future of Culdesac. A list of principles of walkability including public participation, scale, creativity, adherence to principles, government cooperation, and transportation help to guide this comparison and determine whether Culdesac is a possible method to increase sustainable urban form in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent

Navigating Campus Climate and Dating Among LGBTQ Students at ASU

Description
As attitudes toward LGBTQ people become more positive, queer students may experience more friendly campus environments. That being said, institutional hindrances may still mark their college experiences, with students’ majors being one area where they might find less acceptance. Additionally,…

As attitudes toward LGBTQ people become more positive, queer students may experience more friendly campus environments. That being said, institutional hindrances may still mark their college experiences, with students’ majors being one area where they might find less acceptance. Additionally, college dating scenes revolve around cisheterosexual hookups and dates, where cisheteronormativity dictates dating scripts and rituals. Queer students do not always adhere to such norms as closely, and thus may find themselves having different dating experiences than their peers. This research uses eight in-depth interviews to expose some queer experiences had by students at Arizona State University. Students find the campus climate to be relatively queer-friendly although they echo issues found with majors, more specifically some STEM majors. Additionally, students engage in the hookup and dating scenes to a variety of degrees with varying intentions. They encounter troubles with gender roles as well as their own and others’ identities. Within a predominately cisheterosexual university, some women are wary of other women who might be experimenting or are not fully comfortable with their queer identity. It is suggested that ASU work to foster stronger queer support and spaces that can better empower queer students and further affirm their identities.
Date Created
2023-12
Agent
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