Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2021, Counselor Education and Supervision

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between spiritual well-being and burnout, examining general self-efficacy and resilience as mediators of this relationship among substance use disorder (SUD) counselors. Data were collected in September through October of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven hundred and fourteen SUD counselors across the United States completed a web-based survey including four instruments: the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Connor-Davison Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC 10), the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), and a demographic questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the relationships among the variables. Spiritual well-being was a statistically significant predictor of general self-efficacy, resilience, and burnout. General self-efficacy was not a significant predictor of burnout. Resilience was found to be a statistically significant partial mediator of the relationship between spiritual well-being and burnout. Limitations and recommendations for future research on spiritual well-being and burnout among SUD counselors were discussed.

BA, Oberlin College, 2020, Philosophy

I will define the meaning of subjective well-being that I believe is the most intrinsic normative good, explain why improving the subjective well-being of sentient individuals ought to be the highest ethical priority, and provide reasons for why finding a way to measure subjective well-being would essentially benefit decision-makers and grassroots altruists. Subjective well-being is a dauntingly nebulous property to attempt to measure with precision, but I will comment on the progress that philosophers and social scientists have made in this field. Although (1) there is no set of well-being criteria that is applicable to every sentient individual (including non-human animals) and (2) most sentient individuals are unable to communicate with us about their level of subjective well-being use or relevant experiential factors, we may yet be able to develop an intrapersonally and interpersonally cardinal method to measure subjective well-being.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2018, Leadership Studies

The purpose of this correlational research study was to examine which student-athlete experiences at Bowling Green State University (BGSU best predicted student-athlete mental well-being. Data were collected by BGSU Athletics through the analysis of the BGSU 2017 Student-Athlete End of the Year Survey (SAEYS), which was a formal assessment of student-athlete experience and perceived mental well-being. All student-athletes at BGSU on the athletic rosters in April 2017 (380 student-athletes were invited to complete the SAEYS, and 264 student-athletes completed the survey, generating a response rate of 69.4%. Four research questions guided the study. A Factor Analysis was conducted to examine how many reliable and interpretable components there were among student-athlete experience variables. Generally, all factors in the SAEYS were determined to be reliable and interpretable components. Diversity and Inclusion had the highest mean score of all subscales. Time Demands had the strongest correlation with Mental Well-being. Forward multiple regression was utilized to examine which student-athlete experiences best predicted mental well-being. Time Demands, SAS, and Coaching accounted for 21% of the variance found in Mental Well-being, with Time Demands accounting for the largest amount. Additionally, forward multiple regression was conducted to investigate whether student-athlete experience predictive models of mental well-being differed by gender (male/female, ethnicity (minority/non-minority, sport (revenue/non-revenue generating, and citizenship (domestic/international. The study indicated that there were differences between variables. This study also indicated that mental well-being differs by gender, ethnicity, and sport. This study did not see a significant difference in mental well-being of citizenship. Males, minorities, and non-revenue sport participants all indicated a greater mental well-being than their respective counterparts, females, (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2016, Environment and Natural Resources

Scholars and policymakers have become increasingly interested in how to conceptualize and measure well-being. This interest is important for understanding how to improve the human condition without degrading environmental systems upon which well-being ultimately depends – a central question for sustainability. Therefore, it is crucial to explore what kinds of lifestyles and consumption patterns produce high well-being with relatively low environmental impacts. My study addresses this question at the household-level. Following a call for the development and use of context-specific metrics when measuring well-being, I developed a metric for Columbus, Ohio that is based on insights from the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA). The metric is based on feedback from residents about what is important for a fulfilling life and how they rank the various components of well-being. I distributed a structured survey in two Columbus neighborhoods to measure baseline well-being, identify factors that explain variation in well-being, and measure individual ecological footprints. To examine the relationship between well-being and environmental impacts, I calculated the environmental efficiency of well-being (EWEB) for each respondent and investigate household-level factors that allow some individuals to generate relatively high levels of well-being with low environmental impacts. The findings indicate that absolute and relative wealth are significantly associated with higher well-being and EWEB; but their effects are diminished for the psychological components of well-being. Identifying with one's neighborhood is a strong predictor of both well-being and EWEB although the strength of this relationship depends on one's neighborhood of residence. I call for future research into this neighborhood-level relationship to enhance the growing literature on the interplay between well-being, environmental impacts, and neighborhood conditions and social dynamics.

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2015, Psychology-Industrial/Organizational

The present study applied a multiple time point methodology to evaluate the relationship between participation in employee development activities and well-being outcomes. In doing so, a comprehensive model of well-being was evaluated. Ideas were integrated from the organizational support (Gillet, Fouquereau, Forest, Brunault, & Colombat, 2012; Kraimer, Seibert, Wayne, Liden, &Bravo, 2011) and Self-determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000, 2002) literatures to propose a model of the pathways through which employee development impacts employee well-being. It was predicted that employee development would facilitate positive well-being through the satisfaction of the three fundamental psychological needs – autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Additionally, a potential boundary condition – self-concordance of participation in development – was explored. Results provided strong support for Page and Vella-Brodrick's (2009) model of employee well-being, which differentiates between workplace well-being (WWB), subjective well-being (SWB), and psychological well-being (PWB). Participation in employee development (formal and informal) predicted all three of these well-being outcomes. Further, results indicated that participation in development impacts the well-being dimensions through satisfaction of different fundamental needs. For example, participation in formal development activities predicts positive WWB through satisfaction of the need for autonomy and the need for relatedness, whereas participation in formal development predicts positive PWB through competence need satisfaction. Exploration of the boundary condition did not support the expectation that the impact of development on well-being outcomes is dependent on the level of self-concordance of development (i.e., the extent to which the employee participates in development more because it is consistent with his/her personal values, beliefs, and desires than because it is externally controlled; Sheldon & Elliot, 199 (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

The following dissertation presents a proposal for a program developed on theoretical concepts of the False Self and Persona. Integrative treatment approaches, such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, surfing, equine therapy, and wilderness therapy combined with individual and group psychotherapy, may be helpful in diminishing adolescent substance abuse by increasing connection to their internal resources and exposure to healthy external support. Although there are various programs that have proven to be effective in the treatment of substance abuse in adolescence, they tend to neglect the subjective experience of the individual and fail to address the why, behind the desire to self-negate in adolescence. Thus, the focus of this program is to move towards true self functioning by increasing subjective well-being and fostering a greater connection to self. This program proposal will discuss the underlying goals and proposed implementation of these integrative approaches in the treatment of adolescent substance abuse. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Master of Education (MEd), Bowling Green State University, 2019, Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies /Kinesiology

Purpose: Athletic identity (AI), career maturity (CM), and subjective well-being (SWB) were examined because high AI has been reported to impede athletes' transitions out of sport (Alfermann & Stambulova, 2007; Brewer, et al., 1993). In contrast, high CM and SWB have been reported to facilitate the transition process (Houle & Kluck, 2012; Martin, Fogarty, & Albion, 2014). The influence of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division, Year in School, Race, and GPA also were examined in relation to these factors. Method: Participants included football players from NCAA Division I (n = 46) and Division III (n = 47) universities in Ohio. Participants were contacted via email and verbally recruited at the designated testing sites. Football players completed the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (Brewer & Cornelius, 2001), Career Decision Scale (Osipow, et al., 1976), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, et al., 1985), and the Profile of Mood States (McNair, et al., 1992). Results: MANOVAs and ANOVAs were used to test the hypotheses. Based on the exploratory nature of this study, α was set at .10. D-I athletes reported higher scores than D-III athletes on AI (p = .10). This occurred for football players who were high as well as low in CM. There were no differences in AI by Race or Year in School. There also was no difference in GPA between athletes in the two Divisions. However, there was a trend for an AI by Division interaction for SWL (p = .129). Athletes with high AI levels from the D-I team tended to have lower SWL than athletes from the D-III team who also displayed high AI (p = .11). In addition, D-I football players reported less desirable moods (p = .03) than D-III athletes on Tension, Depression, Fatigue, and Confusion. Conclusion: D-I athletes had higher AI, less desirable mood traits, and tended to have lower SWL scores compared to D-III athletes. Results from this study may reflect multiple factors influencing differences between D-I and D-III a (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2018, Business Administration

This study examined the effects of telecommuting on employee well-being using the PERMA framework, a theoretical model which divides well-being into 5 pillars: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (Seligman, 2011). Using an altered version of Bulter & Kern's (2014) Workplace PERMAH Profiler, data was collected from employees over a range of telecommuting frequencies (the average number of days telecommuting in a week). By doing so, the researchers found a statistically significant difference between both high and low frequency telecommuters and non-telecommuters in perceived accomplishment, though no statistical difference was found between low and high frequencies. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was found between non-telecommuters and low frequency telecommuters in perceived professional relationships. Results not only provide insight into the role telecommuting plays in employees' well-being, but also builds on our understanding of PERMA as a model of well-being.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2015, Sociology

Unintended childbearing has emerged as a major social problem in the United States. In response, a wealth of research has emerged spanning topics ranging from union formation and dissolution to parenting, and maternal and child well-being. Although the field has taken great strides in advancing research on retrospective reports of unintended childbearing—usually focusing on its correlates and implications—the majority of this research focuses on mothers' perspectives, largely ignoring fathers and couples. Drawing on a family systems framework, I assert fertility intentions should be modeled as a couple-level construct, as mothers' and fathers' intentions are likely enmeshed into joint, couple intentions to provide a more nuanced understanding of unintended childbearing that acknowledges both parents' intentions. Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), I conducted three sets of analyses that make notable contributions to current research on unintended fertility. The first assesses the validity of mothers' proxy reports of fathers' intentions, weighing the costs and benefits of incorporating men's perspectives, and it considers what sociodemographic characteristics are associated with couples' intentions (i.e. both intended; only mother intended; only father intended; and neither intended). Next, I consider the linkages between couples' unintended childbearing and parents' mental and physical health – examining gender differences (or similarities) and considering changes in the linkage between couples' intentions and well-being over time. Finally, I examine the effects of couples' intentions on child well-being partitioning out direct and indirect effects via parental well-being, investment and the co-parental relationship dynamic. Results from all three chapters demonstrate consideration of couples' intentions provides a more nuanced understanding of unintended childbearing and its linkages with well-being. Key findings are situated arou (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2014, Psychology - Clinical

Recent research provides evidence that the study of positive characteristics and human strengths can increase clinical understanding and treatment of psychopathology. Investigation of interventions based on positive functioning is concordant with the aims of clinical psychology, and explores an implicit but understudied aspect of intervention development. One promising strengths-based intervention is the gratitude list or diary. Several studies have provided evidence that gratitude diary interventions are effective in improving well-being, and experimental research suggests that gratitude diary interventions may also have the ability to reduce depressive symptoms and other forms of psychopathology. However, despite broad enthusiasm for gratitude interventions, many theoretical and practical questions about gratitude itself remain unanswered. If a gratitude intervention is efficacious in the treatment of psychopathology, what mediators and mechanisms might explain its efficacy? Does gratitude possess unique characteristics that warrant the addition of interventions based on gratitude to a field already inundated with excessive variety in treatments? Methodologically stringent studies are required to evaluate gratitude interventions on substantive clinical outcome measures before the enthusiasm surrounding gratitude interventions can be considered warranted. However, research on the efficacy of gratitude interventions can be supported by studies examining causal pathways by which the improvement of gratitude might decrease symptomatology. The present longitudinal study examines the relationships amongst trait gratitude, subjective and psychological well-being, and depression to determine if increased subjective well-being mediates the relationship between trait gratitude and depression. Results of linear regression analyses indicate that while controlling for other variables, gratitude has a moderately sized, unique effect on later depressive symptoms. A test of media (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2012, Nursing

Primary liver cancer is the most common type of solid tumors affecting young to middle-aged individuals and the second leading cause of death in Korea. However, very little research has been conducted concerning the specific factors which contribute to quality of life in primary liver cancer patients. Considering Korea's sharply increasing incidence/mortality rates due to the disease, the issue of quality of life is expected to become more critical. This study employs a theoretical framework based on Fitzpatrick's Life Perspective Rhythm Model. The research design employs mixed methodology both quantitative data (a cross-sectional design) and qualitative data (a phenomenological approach). The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships among depressive symptoms, spiritual well-being, and quality of life as well as to examine the lived experiences of primary liver cancer patients in Korea. A total of 96 patients were consecutively recruited for quantitative data collection and 40 of these patients completed in-depth interviews. To investigate participants' demographic characteristics, a researcher-designed questionnaire was used. To measure the study variables, the CES-D Scale (Radloff, 1977) for depressive symptoms, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Paloutzian & Ellison, 1982) for spiritual well-being, and the SF-12v2 (Ware et al., 1996) for QOL were used. The instruments reported high reliabilities in this study: the CES-D (Cronbach's α=.80), the SWBS (Cronbach's α=.89), and the SF-12v2 (Cronbach's α=.89). In summary, there were significant negative correlations: between depressive symptoms and spiritual well-being; between depressive symptoms and QOL-PCS; between depressive symptoms and QOL-MCS. There were significant positive correlations: between spiritual well-being and QOL-PCS; between spiritual well-being and QOL-MCS. In order to predict QOL-PCS in the regression equation, spiritual well-being was the strongest predictor when controlling durati (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2008, Sociology

It has been more than a decade since the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) was passed and welfare reform's policies were put into place. These policies broke ground for new social policy that promised to significantly change the economic landscape for low-income families across the nation. Yet, it remains unclear whether the work policies are beneficial or detrimental for parents and their children. Using data from the first two waves of the Three Cities Study, this research addresses three questions: First, what predicts welfare-reliant mothers' movement into the workforce? Second, how does the transition from welfare to work affect maternal well-being? Third, how does a mother's transition from welfare to work affect child well-being? This research uses two major theoretical perspectives to address the three research questions: the investment perspective and the family stress model. For the first research question – predicting employment among welfare-reliant mothers – five individual human capital variables are used. Three of the human capital variables are significantly associated with mother's employment: work experience positively predicts a transition into the work force; having physical or mental health problems and being a victim of domestic violence are negatively associated with the transition for mothers. For the second research question – assessing the effects of employment on maternal well-being – three dependent variables are used. Using a sample of mothers who are welfare reliant at the first wave and working at the second wave, results suggest that maternal employment is not significantly related to change between waves in mental distress or self-concept, but is related to significantly greater positive changes in parenting satisfaction than mothers who remain unemployed at wave 2. For the third research question – assessing the effect of maternal employment on child well-being – seven measures of well being ar (open full item for complete abstract)

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2025, Leadership and Change

Domestic violence profoundly affects multiple facets of a survivor's life. While most existing literature on survivorship addresses the immediate aftermath of domestic violence, this study delves into the extended process following the trauma of abuse to attain “thrivership,” a new concept in the scholarly and practice literature that emphasizes enduring well-being and flourishing. This dissertation examines the journeys from surviving to thriving for 13 women who transformed themselves and their lives to achieve well-being after traumatic domestic violence. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory was applied to examine the multiple layers of environmental influences on an individual's development, including the micro, meso, and macro systems. This framework provides a tool for a comprehensive understanding of how factors interact within and between different levels of a survivor's environment that can impact their journey towards thrivership. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach with a novel analysis technique called exploratory situational thematic analysis, this study explored the essential, interconnected elements at the micro, meso, and macro levels that facilitated thriving for survivors of domestic violence. Incorporating Tedeschi's concept of post-traumatic growth, the study emphasized the positive psychological changes that can occur as a result of struggling with and overcoming highly challenging life circumstances. This perspective on post-traumatic growth highlights the potential for survivors to develop new understandings of themselves, others, and the world around them, leading to a more prosperous and meaningful life. By investigating the process of becoming a thriver after experiencing domestic violence, this research underscores the pivotal role of post-traumatic growth and the long-term nature of the process in survivorship. The findings point to the need for comprehensive, trauma-informed, (open full item for complete abstract)

Ed.D., Antioch University, 2024, Education

Leveraging the researcher's unique diverse cultural and educational background, this dissertation explores integrating social emotional learning (SEL) within an innovative pedagogy of “with ness” (PoW) towards planetary well-being in educational settings. The overarching purpose is to redefine educational strategies through SEL and PoW to advance planetary well-being in tertiary contexts. As such, this dissertation critically engages with three published articles authored during the researcher's doctoral tenure to highlight transformative SEL practices that are fundamentally attuned to ecological consciousness. Informed by critical theory, feminist perspectives, and process philosophy, the hermeneutic circle reflects on these articles to address complex 21st-century challenges educational systems face such as technological disruption, language and culture diversity, mental health and emotional awareness amidst global scale events. Ultimately, the research from this project suggests there is further potential for SEL to contribute significantly to an educational and eventual societal shift that prioritizes planet Earth. By centering planetary well-being, this dissertation aims to help the researcher and readership gravitate towards a more empathetic, equitable, and ecologically conscious generation. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2025, Anthropology

Indigenous groups around the world have endured generations of colonial violence and historical oppression. Postcolonial theories provide a framework for understanding the impacts of these experiences on the well-being of individuals and communities. Yet more research is needed to understand the unique well-being needs of Indigenous peoples and to appropriately address the disparities perpetuated by the legacies of colonialism. As the most remote, Indigenously-inhabited island in the world, the local community on Rapa Nui (“Easter Island”) continues to utilize their traditional healing system as a critical tool in maintaining their well-being, resilience, and ability to resist. This dissertation uses ethnographic data from Rapanui healers and their patients to reveal how the Rapanui medical traditions are intimately connected to their kinship structures, ancestral lands, and Rapanui identities. Participating in each of these areas promotes Rapanui well-being, and strengthens individual and community resilience. The Rapanui traditional healing system supports family and community connectedness through encouraging intergenerational solidarity and community reciprocity, and the reciprocal connection to their ancestral lands promotes treatment agency within the island environment. Maintaining a Rapanui identity is also an important element of utilizing the ancestral medicines. Finally, by incorporating the Indigenous concept of survivance within the island's “cheap colonialism” context, this study shows how traditional healing systems enable survival through resistance and active presence, and allows the Rapanui to further protect their ancestral medicines for future generations.

Ed.D., Antioch University, 2024, Education

In this dissertation, I explore the emotional intelligence (EQ) competencies of 19 female student-athletes at one Division III institution. College students are suffering from a collective brain health crisis in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2021). Students' social and emotional needs and skills have continued to steadily decline. Colleges have a responsibility to prioritize the social-emotional health of all students above performance and achievement. Student-athletes in particular face unique challenges and pressures that nonathlete students do not. Managing time commitments of athletic schedules and coursework, navigating publicity and increased attention, and facing pressure to perform well in sports and academics are just a few of these unique challenges. Female athletes have historically been under-recognized compared to male athletes and there is a lack of scholarship examining the intersection of being a student, an athlete, and a female. There is existing research that explores the student-athlete experience, yet few of these studies focus on Division III institutions, female athletes, or how EQ helps to identify factors that contribute to well-being and success both in and outside the sporting arena. The central inquiries of this research are: (1) What trends are observable in the emotional intelligence competencies of Division III female college athletes? (2) What do their emotional intelligence competencies reveal about their well-being success factor specifically? (3) How can college campuses continue or improve the provision of support for female collegiate athletes? In this study, I listened to v students' voices, using an explanatory mixed methods approach, to gather both quantitative and qualitative data to explore well-being and EQ. This study's theoretical foundation is grounded in the Six Seconds EQ-in-Action framework and influenced by Ryan (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2006, Graduate School

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership), Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

This mixed-methods study analyzes the perspectives of educators in middle school regarding the impact of cell phones in the middle school environment. Vygotsky's (1978) sociocultural theory of cognitive development along with opportunity theory (Cohen & Felson, 1979) provide insight regarding implications related to accessing personal devices during the school day. The advantages of cell phones as a learning tool and consideration for the adverse impact is explored. The current investigation focuses on the perspectives of 16 teachers, administrators, and school resource officers (SROs) working in the middle school environment. Data was collected using QMethod Software. Results yielded two factors, including participants who felt strongly about restricting cell phone use and those who felt strongly about banning cell phones in the middle school environment. Qualitative follow-up questions demonstrated common concerns regarding cell phone considerations within the middle school environment. Common themes included Problematic Internet Use (PMI), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) considerations, peer relationships, stress, anxiety, and social perfectionism. Results can be utilized to inform discussion by school administrators and policymakers regarding cell phone use in the middle school environment.

PHD, Kent State University, 2024, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study aimed to investigate how undergraduate students' everyday texting experiences related to their social connectedness. This research was conducted through a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. The quantitative phase involved a survey distributed to a sample of undergraduate students, assessing their texting frequency, demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, and living arrangements), and levels of social connectedness using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R; Lee et al., 2001). The subsequent qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants selected based on their survey responses to gain deeper insights into their texting behaviors and perceptions of social connectedness. The study's findings indicated that while texting frequency significantly predicted social connectedness among undergraduate students, demographic variables do not show a substantial impact. Additionally, students' perceptions of texting as a tool for maintaining social connections varied, with some viewing it as a convenient means of communication and others finding it insufficient for meaningful interaction. Key motivations for using texting included convenience, immediacy, and the non-intrusive nature of asynchronous communication (Liu et al., 2014; Hall et al., 2018). Texting was generally viewed as less effective than face-to-face interactions for developing deeper social ties (Derks et al., 2008; Uhls et al., 2014). This study contributed to the limited research on digital communication and social connectedness among undergraduate students by highlighting the significant role of texting frequency in predicting social connectedness (Ehrenreich et al., 2019; Harley et al., 2007). It also underscored the need for educational institutions to develop programs that leveraged texting to enhance peer connections while promoting the balanced use of digital and face-to-face interaction (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership), Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

Students at the collegiate level face chronic stress due to the lifestyles of heavy workloads, schoolwork, and adjustment to campus life. Being in prolonged periods of stress could negatively affect students' well-being, which can adversely affect other psychological areas such as mindfulness, motivation and engagement, and sense of belonging, as they are related through Seligman's (2011) Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA) model. Large-animal activities, such as equine-facilitated learning activities (EFLA), are unique and innovative strategies to lessen the stress of college endeavors. The current mixed-methods investigation focused on implementing an EFLA program with college students at Youngstown State University. The study aimed to determine the impact of a four-week EFLA program on college students by assessing mindfulness, well-being, motivation, engagement, and a sense of belonging. Results from the current investigation can inform researchers and educators about the impacts an EFLA program on college students. Quantitative data results suggest that there were significant differences amongst the control and treatment groups from pre- and post-survey administration on mindfulness and well-being, along with suggesting no statistically significant differences in the sense of belonging, motivation, and engagement. However, the treatment group's mindfulness, well-being, motivation, engagement, and sense of belonging scores increased after the EFLA program, while the control group's scores decreased. Additionally, qualitative accounts suggested themes and favorable responses in students who felt their well-being, mindfulness, motivation, engagement, and sense of belonging increased from the program. Participant perceptions regarding the EFLA program aligned with the quantitative results in the belief that it improved their well-being, mindfulness, sense of belonging, motivation, and engagement. Additionally, well-being (open full item for complete abstract)