The National University System Repository exists to increase public access to research and other materials created by students and faculty of the affiliate institutions of National University System. Most items in the repository are open access, freely available to everyone.
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Item Navigating Social Media and Self-Esteem: An ACT-Based Approach for Adolescents(2025-07-17)Social media is an ingrained part of daily life across all age groups, including adolescents. While it offers benefits such as staying connected with friends and family, access to entertainment and the ability to find information quickly, frequent use has been linked to negative mental health outcomes. Current research largely highlights the overall impact of social media on adolescent mental health. However, there is a need for deeper exploration into its influence on self-esteem in particular, which is a critical factor in identity formation in adolescence. Understanding how social media influences self-esteem, particularly across genders, is essential for developing effective therapeutic approaches and better supporting adolescents with this presenting concern. This systematic review examines the relationship between social media use and adolescent selfesteem, focusing on areas such as body image, social relationships, and mood and well-being. The review also explores how gender influences both the ways in which adolescents engage with social media, and the ways they are affected by it. Finally, this paper proposes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a valuable modality for addressing self-esteem issues in adolescents impacted by social media use. ACT offers a framework for helping adolescent clients develop a healthier sense of self, as well as emotional regulation strategies in the digital age. These findings offer valuable insights for adolescents themselves, as well as aspiring and practicing clinicians, and the field of psychology as a whole. This knowledge can ultimately support adolescent development in an increasingly online world.Item Toward an improved methodology for tree preservation and repair of pavement damage caused by street trees in the city of San Diego(2011)The purpose of this study is to research and share methods of preserving street trees in the city of San Diego when their roots have caused significant damage to the surrounding pavement and sidewalks. Most residents that have walked along their city sidewalks have encountered a tree damaged sidewalk. In cities across the nation concern for urban forests has become more commonplace and a deeper appreciation for the environment has taken hold. As a result, some trees have taken on a protected status and a different strategy must be employed that will allow for repair of the sidewalks and preservation of the trees. This will require the investigation of new construction methods and materials. A new methodology will be valuable to those that are involved in facilitating the repair ofthe sidewalks. These facilitators include: the city planner, city project engineers, city arborists, city construction crews, and private contractors who work for the city. The goal of this study is to add to the body of knowledge regarding the methodology in sidewalk repair that involves the preservation ofa tree. By streamlining the process in construction methods and material selection, the city of San Diego will be able to more efficiently resolve any damage caused by protected trees.Item Utilization of oral flora fluctuation to estimate the time of death during the early postmortem period(2007)Time of death estimation has long since been a challenge for forensic investigators. This original study was designed to investigate a new way to estimate the time of death: time-dependent oral flora fluctuation. In this study, ten severed hog heads were sampled once premortem, and postmortem every hour for twenty four hours. Three experimental hypotheses were tested in this study: one, that oral flora will fluctuate after death; two, that the bacteria found can be identified; and three, that the fluctuation can be applied to a time line. Colonies were counted and statistically analyzed and identified based on results from 6 standard microbiological tests. Based on the tests conducted, the fluctuation in oral flora was found to be significant for 2 of 20 found colonies, the bacteria could not be specifically identified, and the data for the 2 significant colonies were applied to a mathematical equation to determine time.Item The threat of digital photography to the evidentiary scheme of justice(2008)The effect of manipulated and altered visual evidence has the potential to be catastrophic to the justice system, providing fraudulent evidence which poses a danger that may lead to the conviction of the innocent and the release of the guilty. This study explores the potential threat that digital technology presents to the justice system through an experiment which illustrates the manipulation detection ability of a group of participants representative of a jury panel. In this study, the overall manipulation detection rate of 65.6% is substantially low compared to a scientific standard of 90%. Major manipulations are found 1.75 times more often than minor alterations. Experienced examiners detect only 3% more manipulations than those without experienced. The threat of digital technology to the evidentiary scheme of justice is real; however, creating awareness of the manipulation potential of photographic images may minimize the threat to the integrity of photographic evidence.Item Using bloodstain pattern analysis to differentiate suicidal deaths and homicidal deaths in firearm fatalities(2013)Accurately determining the manner of death is a crucial aspect of a forensic investigation. In many cases, the manner of death may not be apparent. There are many aspects to consider when categorizing the manner of death; this study will focus on the use of bloodstain pattern analysis in firearm fatalities. According to the National Vital Statistics Report, averages of approximately 31,200 firearm deaths were reported annually between 2008 through 2010 (Hoyert and Jianquan, 2012). Suicides were the most common manner ofd eath using a firearm, followed by homicides. In some cases, homicides may be staged as suicides or suicidal deaths may appear to be homicidal. There are specific patterns created from gunshot wounds that can help differentiate homicidal and suicidal deaths. Bloodstain pattern analysis is used to identify, collect, categorize and interpret the shape and distribution of bloodstains connected with a bloodletting event. The formation of bloodstain patterns is influenced by dropping height, direction oft ravel, impact angle, surface texture and velocity of droplet. In many cases, bloodstain pattern analysis may be used to reconstruct a crime scene to establish the sequence of some events and assist in determining the manner of death (James, 1999; Peschel et al., 2011).
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