Pain and cannabis use are highly prevalent among emerging adults but research regarding how pain is associated with cannabis-related expectancies is limited. Emerging adults who reported past three-month cannabis use (N = 173) were recruited through an online sampling platform. Participants completed the Graded Chronic Pain Scale, Cannabis Use…

Objective: Grounded in the Social Rank Theory, this study examined the levels and associations of subjective social status (SSS), depressive symptoms (DEP), and suicidal ideation (SI). Participants: Participants included 956 U.S. college students (M[subscript age] = 19.94, SD[subscript age] = 2.78; 75% females [n = 716], 24% males [n = 228], 41%…

This study investigates the effects of utilizing the AI course assistant, Spark, on student academic performance at Los Angeles Pacific University (LAPU). Focusing on grade outcomes, the research reveals that students who engaged with Spark three or more times achieved significantly higher grades compared to those who did not use the AI assistant.…

Using data extracted from the Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the 2019 National Household Education Surveys Program, this study used a series of linear probability models to examine the association between family-school relationships and exclusionary discipline. The sample included 15,360 U.S. families of K-12 non-homeschooled…

Objective: To examine inequalities in sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic by gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic position (SEP), and test associations between discrimination and sleep quality in a national longitudinal cohort of emerging adult college students. Participants: Participants were enrolled in college…

Objective: Evaluate the association between ultraprocessed and minimally processed snack consumption and overweight/obesity among college students. Participants: College students. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Participants completed an online survey with questions on socio-demographics, beverages and snacks consumption, and weight status. ANCOVA…

Objective: To assess demographic, substance use, and mental wellbeing factors associated with high-intensity drinking (HID; 10+ drinks on one occasion) among college- and non-college young adults, to inform prevention and intervention efforts. Participants: A total of 1,430 young adults (819 in college and 611 not attending college) in a…

Objective: To identify the association between loneliness and eating disorder symptomatology among a national sample of U.S. college students during COVID-19. Participants: Cross-sectional data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 96,645) were analyzed. Methods: Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale and eating…

This dissertation examined disparities in initial placements and Length of Stay in Custody of children in North Carolina experiencing child maltreatment. This research examined how the Length of Stay in Custody and type of initial placement was associated with the age, race, and gender of children who had been removed from the care of their…

Understanding the relationship between high-risk courses and Fall-to-Fall retention is essential to enhance student persistence and academic achievement in higher education institutions. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between high-risk courses and Fall-to-Fall retention of first-time, full-time students. The course data…

This study examined whether parenting behavior serves as an intervening mechanism in accounting for associations between romantic attachment styles and children's emotional reactivity (i.e., anger and distress reactivity). Participants included 235 mothers (62% White) and a preschool-aged child (M[subscript age] = 2.97; 55% female) recruited from…

Although community colleges have served as a gateway to universities for millions of students--disproportionately so for students from populations historically underrepresented in higher education--prior research has demonstrated that the majority of vertical transfer students lose at least some of their pretransfer credits. However, researchers…

Nursing educators are challenged to find strategies that will develop critical thinking and clinical judgment abilities in students. As technology has advanced, the use of virtual simulation platforms has increased in use in nursing courses. This study examined the effect of a pilot virtual simulation intervention on critical thinking and clinical…

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have long been associated with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) diagnoses in children; but the data used is now over 6 years old (from 2017 to 2018). Understanding the current landscape of their prevalence and association is needed to capture evolving social, environmental, and economic…

Background: Exclusionary discipline (ED) has long been an educational equity concern, but its relationship with student health and protective factors is less understood. Methods: Using population-based public school student data (N = 82,216), we examined associations between past-month ED and positive depression and anxiety screening instrument…