Digital Commons Network^™

A Systematic Review Of Studies Of Self-Compassion Interventions For Trauma And Stress-Related Disorders, Kayla Wilkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to explore how the effectiveness of self-compassion interventions can reduce symptoms of trauma and stress-related disorders. Self-compassion can be an essential part of treatment for trauma and stress-related disorders. Self-compassion consists of three components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Self-compassion also relies on an individual to use emotional intelligence (e.g., emotional processing theory, meaning-making theory, polyvagal theory) to aid with increasing the level of self-awareness and appraising traumatic memories. For example, identifying post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms using self-compassion can promote emotional regulation, enabling awareness and acceptance of negative emotions caused by trauma. In addition, self-compassion can help …

Burnout In Medical Assistants In Primary Care: Can Mindfulness Be A Solution?, Natalee D. Calais

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Burnout is described as feelings associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of patients, and a loss of sense of personal accomplishment and it is unique to healthcare workers. Current research highlights this condition among physicians, nurses, and mid-level providers; however, insufficient research exists regarding the effects of burnout on medical assistants. Research led to mindfulness as a possible solution defined as an intentional regulation of attention and awareness of the present moment. This project sought to see if mindfulness practices could be utilized to mitigate the effects of burnout in medical assistants. It was hypothesized that mindfulness could be a solution. …

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques In Chronic Illness, Anna Celia Gil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Chronic stress and its effect on both physical and mental health have been a topic of increasing interest in the past several decades. There is mounting evidence that recurrent, persistent stress of both a physiologic and psychological nature leads to a dysfunction in the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA), the system which helps the body recover and adapt to short term stress. In long term stress, this HPA dysfunction leads to impairment of the immune and neuroendocrine systems resulting in chronic low-grade inflammation. This type of chronic inflammation acts as a precursor to several chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, …

Executive Function & Self-Regulation In Preschool Age Children: Mindfulness Intervention, Larissa Lamarca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Executive function is an umbrella term used in psychology to define a number of cognitive processes that are important for success in daily life. Both self-awareness, being able to focus one’s thoughts and behavior, and self-regulation, being able to manage emotional and behavioral responses, are important components of executive function. Between three- and five-years of age, children begin developing such skills rapidly which are necessary for school readiness. This study recruited children participants from four local preschools to test for improvement in attention and self-regulatory skills. Two schools completed a mindful yoga activity for five consecutive days, while a second …

Investigating The Income Academic Achievement Gap: An Exploration Of The Roles Of Mindfulness And Self-Concept Clarity In Low-Income College Students., Natalie Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether linguistic patterns previously associated with trait mindfulness and self-concept clarity in low-income college students’ application essays are associated with academic performance and psychosocial variables. The aims of the study were as follows: 1) Explore relations between linguistic markers that have been previously associated with higher mindfulness/self-concept clarity and GPA and 2) Explore relations between linguistic markers that have been previously associated with higher mindfulness/self-concept clarity and anxiety/depression. Participants were 54 undergraduate students in the Cardinal Covenant program (a scholarship program for students from low-income families) who began college in the …

The Ongoing Collegiate Anxiety Pandemic: It’S A Dangerous Business Going Out Your Front Door, Daniel Pineau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is an emotion that consists of worrisome thoughts, physical tension, and physiological arousal regarding the perceived potential of danger. College students have increasingly endorsed anxiety as a primary difficulty during the collegiate years. Due to this increase in anxiety and an increase in utilization of therapy services, the overall study aim was to identify the factors that influence anxiety presentations and whether or not a brief, online, therapeutic intervention could be effective for symptom reduction. A group of participants (N = 96) volunteered to complete a longitudinal study providing a brief, online, psychological intervention through the University of Mississippi. …

Examining The Relationship Between Burnout And Mindfulness In Government Employees: A Closer Look At Mindfulness In Positive Psychology, Simona C. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Burnout has been an ongoing problem that negatively impacts organizations, their leaders, and employees. While burnout is a highly researched topic, there is less information on burnout and mindfulness in government employees in the United States. According to research, mindfulness, a state of being conscious or aware, has shown to improve well-being and reduce stress and burnout in employees. Previous studies showed that burnout is a common problem that can lead to negative mental, emotional, and physical outcomes. The goal of this quantitative correlational study was to determine to what extent a relationship exists between mindfulness and burnout among government …

Effects Of A Mindfulness-Based Intervention On Students' Academic Engagement, Frequency Of Disruptive Behavior, And Overall Mood States., Leah Riggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research into the prevalence of childhood trauma indicates that adverse experiences continue to negatively impact children and youth across the country. Current research is expanding the concept of trauma to include many children’s’ ongoing fear and worry surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing the death of grandparents or other family and community members due to the virus. Symptoms of trauma may manifest in the classroom as behaviors that are attention seeking, defiant, destructive, hyperactive, disruptive, or all of the above. One emerging practice for meeting the needs of children who have experienced trauma is blending classroom behavior management and academic …

Mitigating Weight Stigma In The Medical System: Self-Compassion For Nursing Students, Ellen C. Joseph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weight stigma is a form of oppression that has been shown to have a detrimental impact on the well-being of people with higher weight. Healthcare providers are one of the most common sources of weight stigma, and their stigmatizing beliefs have been found to be associated with differential care for patients with “obesity”. The current study aimed to explore the feasibility of the loving-kindness meditation (LKM) as a brief intervention that reduces weight bias in nursing students by increasing self-compassion, positive, other-focused emotions, and cognitive flexibility, in order to improve compassionate care for patients with higher weight. Participants (189 nursing …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Mindfulness-Based Group Interventions On Reducing Externalizing Behaviors In Adolescent Populations, Erica Montgomery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the extent of the impact that mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, have on externalizing behaviors in adolescents. Specifically, the intended population receiving the intervention will be minority adolescents, ages 9-15, in rural Mississippi who have received disciplinary action from the school or community based on acting out and aggression. The Ohio Youth Rating Scale will be used to collect information from three primary sources: parents, teachers, and participants. Data will be collected at multiple points in the intervention. Based on previous research with similar age groups, outcomes should be favorable for reducing unwanted behaviors.

Educators’ Perspectives On The Practices And Implementation Of Social Emotional Learning Programs, Monica Parra Ballon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This interview-based qualitative study sought educators’ perceptions of best practices for and implementation of mindfulness and social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in the classroom in order to discern how SEL programs foster student socioemotional wellbeing (e.g., self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making). To do so, I conducted semi-structured interviews via videoconference with nine educators from public, private, and charter schools in the United States and Canada. Discussions include questions about personal experiences and implementation of SEL interventions. The recorded interviews were transcribed and coded to locate emergent themes. The present research revealed several training and implementation …

The Effect Of School-Based Mindfulness Intervention On Student Attention And Executive Function: A Meta-Analysis, Sarah E. Rea

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schools are facing increasing responsibility to foster the social-emotional development of students. One way in which schools can improve student functioning is through school-based mindfulness interventions. Using mindfulness practices, in particular, can teach students to increase their attention of surroundings and internal experiences, and awareness of their thoughts and behaviors. While the evidence-base for mindfulness interventions in schools continues to grow, there are several studies that show promising outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine how large the effect sizes for school-based mindfulness studies are in regard to increasing student attention, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Results indicate …

Manipulating Mindful Breathing Versus Mindful Eating: Examining The Effect Of Specific Mindfulness Mechanisms On Food Intake And Eating Disorder Symptoms., Irina Alexandrovna Vanzhula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background. Understanding which specific mindfulness practices contribute to improvements in ED symptoms, as well as the mechanisms of action by which this change occurs, may help improve MBTs for EDs. The current study aims to compare the effects of various brief mindfulness exercises on state ED symptoms and food intake and to test whether a reduction in state rumination and state difficulties in emotion dysregulation and an increase in awareness of hunger, fullness, and satiety cues mediate these effects. Methods. Two hundred and two undergraduate females participated in the experiment. Participants were randomized to listen to one of the four …

Does Mindfulness Differ From Attentiveness? A Multitrait-Multimethod Assessment, Chelsea Nicole Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study compared differences between the constructs of mindfulness and cognitive attention using multiple measures of both constructs. These measures included several self-report and behavioral measures of both constructs. Several models were constructed to test the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive attention. Participants from an online Qualtrics subject pool sample were included (N = 200). Participants completed all measures of mindfulness and cognitive attention online and reported demographic information as well as previous exposure to mindfulness. Results indicated that mindfulness and cognitive attention are in fact separate constructs, however it is important that researchers conceptualize how these constructs are …

Space To Lead: Cognitive Coaching As Mindful School Leader Practice., Jennifer Helm Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxious, stressed school leaders can adversely affect the climate and culture of the communities they serve. The multiple roles a principal must fulfill for their schools leave little room for renewal, self-development and reflection leaving principals feeling drained of energy and a true sense of continual mastery, leaving them with low self-efficacy and primed for burnout. Leaders engaged in growing their flexibility, mindful awareness, professional and personal development may be more resilient, agile, and responsive to the high demand of school administrator’s job. This study examined the experiences of 5 principals in a suburban school district as they engaged in …

Lowering Perceived Stress Levels In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Caitlin Dodd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project analyzed the effects of guided meditations and a stress management class on undergraduate, prelicensure nursing students’ perceived stress levels. College students and professional nurses are both susceptible to having high stress levels. Mindfulness activities have been shown to lower stress levels. Undergraduate, prelicensure nursing students participated in this project determining the effects of guided meditations and a stress management class on perceived stress levels in a quantitative, pre- and postinterventional study. Participants in the project completed a stress management class and 18 guided meditation sessions in an undergraduate classroom setting. The researcher used the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) …

The Intersection Of Mindfulness And Gratitude: Examining The Roles Of Gratitude And Mindfulness Practices Within A 4-Week Mindfulness-Based Intervention On Depressive Symptoms In Undergraduates., Allison Rodgers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The practice and research of mindfulness has increased exponentially in recent decades; however, the study of gratitude maintains modest growth. While the overlap between gratitude and mindfulness may be intuitive, empirical investigation is lacking. The present study sought to investigate the relative and combined influence of mindfulness and gratitude with symptoms of depression in undergraduates. The current study explored these constructs in the context of a mindfulness-based intervention known as Koru. One hundred undergraduate participants provided self-report measures of demographics, mindfulness, gratitude, and symptoms of depression prior to the intervention and again immediately following. Participants were required to complete electronic …

Depressive Symptoms And Survival Among Lung Cancer Patients: Biomarkers And Potential Benefits Of An Ipod- And Mindfulness-Based Intervention., Chelsea J. Siwik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer patients experience high levels of distress, which commonly manifests as depressive symptoms. Importantly, depressive symptoms have demonstrated prognostic significance in cancer contexts, although the biological pathways by which depressive symptoms lead to poorer survival remain unclear and warrant greater attention. In addition to understanding the biological pathways by which depressive symptoms accelerate disease, identification of efficacious and effective psychological treatments for depressive symptoms are needed to improve both quality and quantity of life for cancer patients. Interventions that reduce depressive symptoms and improve downstream clinical outcomes are certainty needed; however, because many cancer patients face considerable burden, interventions …

A Further Validation Of The Mindful Self-Care Scale In Emerging Adults, Cache Archer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With a growing interest in understanding ways to increase optimal functioning in humans, a relatively novel concept mindful self-care gained research attention in the past few years. Mindful self-care is a combination of the active evaluation of internal needs and external demands and intentional engagement in self-care practices. Although initial evidence was reported in the development and validation study of the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS, Cook-Cottone & Guyker, 2018), there were some notable limitations, including the wide age range of the sample (i.e., ages 18-71 years) and a lack of evidence to confirm criterion validity and invariance across men and …

Paths From Spiritual Support To College Self-Efficacy, Mollie Dianne Kaye Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College students undergo identity development in emerging adulthood, including adjustments in relationships, exploration of occupations, and revisions of spiritual worldviews (Arnett, 2000). Using a modified portion of Lents (2004) normative model of life satisfaction, this study sought to construct a moderated mediation path to assess the role spiritual models play in college students developing traits of spirituality, mindfulness, forgiveness, and hope, and the associations these traits had with college self-efficacy. Additionally, this study proposed perspective-taking as a moderator of the association between environmental support from spiritual models and spirituality, mindfulness, forgiveness, and hope, such that college students high in perspective-taking …

The Mediating Role Of Differentiation In The Relationship Between Mindfulness And Working Alliance, Caleb P. Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study involved a mediation analysis exploring the relationship of counselor’s perceptions of mindfulness and working alliance through differentiation of self. Sample data (N=80) was collected and analyzed using the PROCESS mediation model to quantitatively determine the indirect effect of counselor’s perceptions of mindfulness and their perceptions of working alliance through the variable of differentiation of self. This indirect effect was not statistically significant, b = .08, 95% CI [-.11, .25], therefore no mediating effect was demonstrated for differentiation. A follow-up moderation analysis was also conducted on these same three variables. Results revealed that at low levels of …

Characterization Of The Effect Of Exercise Dose And Integrative Nonpharmacological Therapies In The Treatment Of Chronic Pain, Anna M. Polaski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain includes debilitating conditions affecting large populations of people throughout the world. These diseases are further complicated by comorbid psychological disorders which make chronic pain conditions difficult to treat. Nonpharmacological treatment options have more recently become an important mainstay of effective therapies and are currently being used to supplement or replace traditional pharmacological treatment methods. Exercise-based therapies in particular are of interest due to their demonstrated success in reducing pain symptoms as well as improving psychological outcomes. Dose is an important factor in being able to effectively prescribe treatments in the context of specific exercise interventions and specific pain …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Mindfulness-Based Interventions To Improve Mental Health And Overall Wellbeing Of College Student-Athletes, Haley Katherine Brock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Athletes have several challenges and demands that increase psychological distress

and disturbances to overall wellbeing. Currently, more research is being done to identify issues that college athletes face by not receiving mental health services. College athletes are now being identified in the literature as a vulnerable population. This pilot study looked at a possible mindfulness-based intervention by incorporating yoga sessions. The research hypothesis proposed that the participants who partake in the yoga sessions have a decrease in depression and anxiety, and overall wellbeing. This increase was measured using the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), PHQ-9, and the Behavioral Health Measure …

The Effects Of Learning Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction On Psychosocial Variables And Hba1c In Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Denise Van Sant - Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF AN ONLINE MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION INTERVENTION ON ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES

By

Denise E. Van Sant – Smith

Date: 4-5-2019

Dissertation Supervised by Linda Goodfellow, PhD, RN, FAAN

Background: Stress has been shown to increase glucose levels through a sympathetic physiological response resulting in a release of chemicals such as adrenalin and cortisol, a response which results in an even greater need for insulin. Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes may not be able to change or decrease the amount of stress in their lives but they may be able to …

Emotion Regulation And The Experience Of Racial Microaggressions., Broderick Sawyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial microaggressions are defined as subtle racial insults or slights that racial minorities may encounter daily, communicating negative messages to victims. Perceiving discrimination has been associated with negative outcomes in racial minorities such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and low self-esteem. Previous research has suggested emotion regulation and psychological symptoms as playing significant roles in the experience of discrimination. Research has yet to identify specific emotion regulation tactics that might offset the harm of racial microaggressions. Mindfulness and self-compassion have been found to buffer the negative emotional impact of chronic stressors that are similar to racial microaggressions. The current …

Mindfulness And Alcohol Demand Among Young Adult Drinkers, Rita Kathryn Jorgensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study expands upon previous research by exploring the relationship between trait mindfulness, alcohol consumption, and behavioral economic demand for alcohol. Undergraduate students (N=206) from a large public university in the southeastern United States completed a survey measuring alcohol consumption, watched a mood induction video, then completed surveys measuring trait mindfulness and demand for alcohol. Multiple hierarchical regressions were used to evaluate the utility of trait mindfulness (FFMQ) in predicting demand for alcohol after controlling for alcohol consumption, gender, and mood induction video. Nonjudging of experience, a component of mindfulness, predicted decreased demand for alcohol. Mindfulness components nonjudging of …

The Intersection Of Mindfulness, Teacher Efficacy And School Climate: A Pilot Study, Sarah K. Killion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Burnout, teaching self-efficacy, and school climate are hot topics in education. Daily stressors create feelings known as burnout, including emotional exhaustion, detachment from teammates, and a decline in feelings of professional competence. The alarmingly high rate of educator turnover illustrates a critical juncture in education. Therefore, interventions are required to improve a teachers' ability to manage student behaviors, provide quality instruction, maintain student engagement, and sustain an atmosphere of collegiality with teammates and administrators.

Mindfulness is a concept that is best understood as moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness cultivated through the practice of meditation and calming activities. These interventions are being utilized …

New Organizational Challenges In A Digital World: Securing Cloud Computing Usage And Reacting To Asset-Sharing Platform Disruptions, Sungjin Yoo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information technology (IT) and IT-enabled business models are transforming the business ecosystem and posing new challenges for existing companies. This two-essay dissertation examines two such challenges: cloud security and the disruption of asset-sharing business models.The first essay examines how an organizations usage of cloud storage affects its likelihood of accidental breaches. The quasi-experiment in the U.S. healthcare sector reveals that organizations with higher levels of digitalization (i.e., Electronic Health Records levels) or those with more IT applications running on their internal data center are less likely to experience accidental breaches after using public cloud storage. We argue that digitalization and …

The Effects Of An Internet-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Intervention On Perceived Stress, Psychological Symptoms, And Emotion Regulation, Molly Cairncross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation was to assess the impacts of a novel Internet-delivered mindfulness-based intervention (ID-MBI) for emotional distress and emotion regulation in a university sample in three related studies. The first study assessed participants’ engagement with the intervention by self-reported compliance and a novel computer-timed measure of compliance (i.e., time spent using guided mindfulness exercises). The second study examined the impact of personality factors and compliance on the effectiveness of the intervention. The third study assessed the impact of the intervention on emotion regulation, emotional distress, perceived stress, and mindfulness, and identified potential mechanisms of change. This study …

The Inheritance Of This Moment: An Exploration Of Temporality, Subjectivity, And Liberation In Non-Dual Contemplative Practice And Psychotherapy, Jeremy Axelrad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation considers the meaning of “present-moment awareness” and its role in psychological healing and transformation. The current conversation around mindfulness, a secularized practice with roots in Buddhist contemplative traditions, has largely unfolded within a dualistic framework in which subject and object are separate from one another as well as from a discrete entity called a moment. While widely appreciated for its capacity to foster well-being and insight, mindfulness as construed above remains disconnected from Buddhist psychology’s non-dualistic view of experience, which radically challenges our ordinary understandings of subjectivity and temporality. In the current project, I sought to explore this …