Carlton Bennett

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/willowhillheritage-obituaries/10281/thumbnail.jp

The Moderating Effects of Self-Compassion on the Relationship Between Shame and Depression in Military Populations

The U.S. Military has faced a continuous rise in mental health concerns reported by service members and veterans (Currier et al., 2017; Rosenheck & Fontana, 2007). Studies of military personnel have found that up to 15% of service members meet the criteria for experiencing depression (Shen et al., 2012). Often, individuals with military experience face numerous stressors that positively contribute to this experience of depression and feelings of shame (Bradbard et al., 2014; Litz et al., 2009). Military culture (often emphasizing shame related to mental health) has also been found to put military personnel at higher risk of experiencing depression in the first place (Jakupcak et al., 2014; Lineberry & O’Connor, 2012). In recent years, self-compassion literature has emerged, showing evidence for its protective effects on mood, functioning, and experiencing distress (Liu et al., 2020; Neff, 2003b; Rutter et al., 2023). Despite this supporting evidence, no study, to our knowledge, has examined self-compassion as a protective factor for the experience of depression in military service members. In an attempt to address this gap and add valuable insight into the current literature by exploring these relationships, for this study, U.S. active duty service members and veterans completed self-report survey measures to assess their experiences of global shame, depression, and self-compassion. A total of 407 participants’ data was included in the study’s analyses. Quantitative survey data indicated that shame was significantly correlated to depression. Additionally, self-compassion was significantly inversely related to shame and depression. Moderation analyses, however, did not indicate that self-compassion moderates the relationship between shame and depression. The effects of gender identity and rurality status on the moderating effect were also explored and discussed, as well as the clinical implications of such findings and future directions

Impact of Costume and Rape Myths on Perceptions of the Need for Consent in Interactions with Cosplayers

Research on fandom communities is relatively understudied. Specifically, perceptions surrounding consent, rape myth acceptance, and other factors such as gatekeeping attitudes and experiences with discrimination are understudied and undertheorized (Hale, 2014). Historically, sexual harassment has been a pervasive issue in spaces like video gaming communities, especially toward women (Barak, 2005). It is important to further investigate these behaviors in different areas, such as conventions (i.e., cons), because, like in video gaming communities, sexual harassment has been an ongoing issue in con spaces (Zarin, 2017). The current study addressed how cosplayers\u27 dress impacts key aspects of sexual harassment, including perceptions of consent, rape myth acceptance and other identifying factors (i.e., gatekeeping attitudes, and discrimination). Two hundred ninety participants were recruited from a college student sample and fandom-related social media to complete an online study. Participants viewed images of women cosplayers dressed in more revealing or less revealing costumes. They answered questions about the importance of asking for consent before touching or taking pictures of each cosplayer. Participants also completed a self-report questionnaire about their belief in various rape myths, as well as their personal experiences attending cons and cosplaying. Results revealed no effect of cosplayer dress on ratings of consent importance, but rape myth acceptance was associated with lower importance placed on consent across conditions. Exploratory analyses of gatekeeping, discrimination, and harassment experiences at cons or while cosplaying revealed small differences for cisgender women and larger differences for LGBTQ+ participants and participants of color. No differences were reported in rape myth acceptance scores between rural and non-rural participants. Understanding why these behaviors (e.g., inappropriate touching, not asking for consent to pictures, stalking, etc.) occur is essential, and further exploring how these negative behaviors impact con-goers can provide meaningful information on how to create a safe environment for all con-goers. By further investigating the cons and behaviors in these settings, con organizers can set up safety measures to protect other con-goers from different forms of harassment

Substance Misuse and Suicidal Behaviors in an LGBTQIA+ Sample: Examining the Buffering Effects of Psychological Flexibility and Emotional Regulation

Suicidal behaviors among LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly in the context of substance misuse, present a significant area of exploration for mental health research and intervention. It is particularly important to evaluate factors capable of moderating this relationship, to promote more culturally affirming prevention models. This study aimed to explore the moderating roles of emotion regulation (ER) and psychological flexibility in the relationship between substance misuse and suicidal behaviors within the LGBTQIA+ community. Data were collected from 537 LGBTQIA+ adults through an online survey platform. Participants were asked to self-report on measures assessing the constructs of interest. The analysis focused on understanding how ER and psychological flexibility might buffer the adverse effects of substance misuse on suicidal behaviors. Results highlighted a significant moderating effect for ER. Notably, the relationship between substance misuse and suicidal behaviors varies as a function of difficulties in regulating emotions. At low levels of difficulty in regulating emotions, the relationship between substance misuse and suicidal behaviors weakens. This finding underscores the importance of ER as a protective factor and suggests that interventions aiming to enhance ER skills could be particularly beneficial for reducing suicidal behaviors in the LGBTQIA+ population. In contrast, psychological flexibility did not show a significant moderating effect, prompting further investigation into its role and potential conditions under which it might act as a protective factor. These findings contribute valuable insights to the literature, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address both substance misuse concerns and difficulties in ER to help LGBTQIA+ individuals manage the risk of suicide. Future research directions and clinical implications are discussed, advocating for a nuanced understanding of protective factors for suicide, especially among LGBTQIA+ individuals engaging in substance misuse behaviors

Willa Nell Turner

Willa_-Nell-_Turner.pdf - Death Noticehttps://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/willowhillheritage-obituaries/10322/thumbnail.jp

Caring for Your Mind: Self-Care Practices for Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention

Life can be overwhelming and destressing, prioritizing self-care can improve mental well-being. This interactive session will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and tools to enhance your mental health and support others on their wellness journey. Let’s delve into the connection between self-care and suicide prevention together. Come join us for a transformative experience and practice self-care activities for mental wellness and preventing suicide

Angst Uber Alles: The Role of Fear in Nazi German Governance

Lasting from 1933 to 1945, the Third Reich governed not only Germany but vast sections of continental Europe. One of its principal tools in administering its “1,000-year Reich,” was the application of terror and fear to create a climate of paranoia, and obedience to the Nazi Party. To do this, the Party did everything that it could to take over national life and discourse, other its enemies, and maintain fear through an arbitrary and often changing system of enforcement. This essay utilizes a mix of sources from first person accounts to historical fiction to analyze the systems and applications of fear as a tool of Nazi governance

The Portrayals of Trans Athlete Accomplishments in Newspapers

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between events related to trans athletes and their portrayal in the media. This research project focuses on the accomplishment of one trans athlete, Lia Thomas, winning a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 swimming championship in 2022. Articles from three newspapers of differing biases: The Washington Post, USA Today, and Washington Examiner, and one local newspaper of Thomas’ competing state, Philadelphia Daily News, were used in this analysis. Emerging themes were identified and codes were developed. These recurring themes and codes revealed differences in how newspapers reported on this event as well as a shared concern for the future of women’s sports

Bonfires and Open Burns Policy

This policy sets forth the standard for bonfires and open area burns on property owned by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, for and on behalf of Georgia Southern University or conducted by any Georgia Southern University sponsored organizations

Reality vs. Ethics: Challenging Implicit Bias in Counseling Education While Navigating the Revocation of Affirmative Action

Today, it is increasingly challenging for many universities to achieve proportional representation of underrepresented groups, and the revocation of affirmative action limits racial justice and equal opportunity in higher education. In particular, counselor education training programs have concentrated on more thorough multicultural and social justice education; nonetheless, those programs typically concentrate more on explicit types of bias. This presentation will discuss existing inequities along with recommendations for improving multicultural competence