2018 Scholars at Work Conference Program

Program for the 2018 Scholars at Work Conference at Minnesota State University, Mankato on March 30, 2018

2019 Scholars at Work Conference Program

Program for the 2019 Scholars at Work Conference at Minnesota State University, Mankato on March 29, 2019

The Blueprint of Grit: Examining the Development of Passion and Perseverance of Long-Term Goals

Top-tier athletes are accustomed to endure challenges that often make or break their success. They are the individuals that overcome obstacles and are driven over the long-term because they have passion, perseverance, and a clear understanding of what they want to accomplish. This study examines contributing factors of grit among 15 elite athletes in various professional sport domains (e.g., NFL, CFL, WNBA, Olympics, Paralympics, and Rugby) to determine if grit can be developed

An Examination of Social Media Use in School-Aged Children in Belize

Cyberbullying is a global issue that often accompanies increased social media usage. Research on social media use focus on the USA and other developed nations; however, there are not studies devoted to social media use in developing nations. Studies have found significant gender differences in social media use and cyberbullying, although gender differences are not consistent across studies or geographical locations. Despite the increase in access to cellphones and Internet in Belize, no studies have investigated how adolescents are using these resources. This study investigates gender differences involving how adolescents in Belize are using social media and if cyberbullying is a problem. A survey of 1296 participants indicates that gender differences exist within social media use and cyberbully reporting in Belize, and future studies should investigate influencing cultural factors

A Review of Child Sexual Abuse: Impact, Risk, and Resilience in the Context of Culture

Child sexual abuse is a problem with both a national and worldwide prevalence. In this review, the authors note that while empirical research has clearly shown the negative impact of child sexual abuse on social, psychological, and sexual functioning later in life, it has also been reported that some individuals remain asymptomatic despite a history of experiencing child sexual abuse. This implies that negative outcomes later in life are not inevitable and illustrates the critical need to elucidate how resilience may moderate the negative impacts of child sexual abuse. In addition to emphasising the role of resilience, this review also underscores the important role that cultural context plays in understanding child sexual abuse, as there are known risk factors and protective factors specific to different cultures. Similarly, one’s culture may also influence whether abuse is reported and addressed, and the topic is given special attention in this paper because it is not widely discussed within the existing literature. The impact of child sexual abuse on mental health, sexual health, and social functioning is also discussed