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The Association Between Physical Pain, Depression, Anxiety, And Nervios Among Latinx Agricultural Workers, Iveth Cuellar Celallos

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physical pain, chronic pain, socio-cultural factors and mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and nervios among Latinx agricultural workers. Survey data were collected in Northern California (N = 104). The sample of Latinx agricultural workers consisted of 47 (45.2%) female and 57 (54.8%) male respondents. The average age of participants was 43.13 years (SD = 14.37). Over half of participants were married (60.6%). The majority of participants (95.2%) reported Mexico as their country of origin. Most (85.6%) participants reported currently working in agriculture. Two hierarchical multiple linear regressions …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And College Adjustment: A Moderated Mediation Model, Pamela Rosecrance

Doctoral Dissertations

Although the effects of adverse childhood experiences have been widely studied in the general population, researchers have just recently begun to examine their effects on college students. Even fewer studies have looked at the impact of adverse childhood experiences on college adjustment. The present study sought to examine mental health concerns as a mediator, first-generation status as a moderator, and the moderated mediation link between adverse childhood experiences and college adjustment. Using this same model, the subconstructs of college adjustment – academic, relational, and psychological functioning – were also investigated. Additionally, we sought to examine differences in the rates of …

The Influence Of Third Parties, Perfectionism, And Familial Socioeconomic Status On College Student Mental Health And Perceptions Of Social Support, Amanda Fontaine

Doctoral Dissertations

Mental health has long been a fruitful area of sociological inquiry, and much remains to be illuminated about the ways in which the social context and intrapersonal factors intersect to impact individuals’ psychological wellbeing. Among college students particularly, stresses such as academic pressure and interpersonal conflicts contribute to the degradation of mental health. While sociological theories such as the stress process perspective have long been employed to study linkages between stress and mental wellbeing among this population, few studies have examined the specific characteristics of social relationships most beneficial to students in distress. Utilizing survey responses collected from both public …

Minority Stress, Social Support, And Mental Health Among Lgbqp+ Religious Disaffiliates, Kate Jablonski

Doctoral Dissertations

The present study investigated the association between four minority stress processes (victimization, internalized heterosexism, rejection sensitivity, and disclosure of sexual orientation identity) and symptoms of depression and anxiety among lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, pansexual, or otherwise non-heterosexual (LGBQP+) disaffiliates from non-affirming religions, and whether social support mediated these relationships. A nonexperimental, cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Participants were recruited through Reddit, a popular social-networking site, and completed an online survey that assessed experiences of minority stress, perceptions of social support, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Participants were 161 non-religious, US-born, cisgender, LGBQP+ Reddit-users who identified as having disaffiliated from …

An Exploration Of Social Networking Use And Mental Health In Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Gender Non-Binary, And Gender Fluid Persons, Jennifer Trimpey

Doctoral Dissertations

Social networking sites (SNS) allow for rapid information sharing in online spaces. Research in the general public suggests that extended SNS use corresponds with poor mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety. Research regarding SNS use in LGBT populations seems to promote interpersonal connectedness. While such studies tend to include gender non-conforming persons (GNC), this group often represents a minimal proportion of participants. This study sought to explore SNS and mental health in persons identifying as GNC. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data to develop a substantive theory regarding SNS and mental health in this …

Incorporating Physical Activity In Mental Health Intervention Service Delivery: School Psychologists’ Perspectives, Scott Greenspan

Doctoral Dissertations

Epidemiological data posits that youth in the United States (US) experience significant mental health concerns. Approximately 10% of youth meet criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnoses (Danielson, Bitsko, Ghandour, Holbrook, & Blumberg, 2018) and approximately 7% of youth have a behavioral conduct problem or anxiety (Ghandour et al., 2018). Literature continues to suggest that physical activity is a viable modality in supporting the mental health of youth (e.g., Ahn & Fedewa, 2011; Annesi, 2005; Biddle et al., 2018). While it is recommended that youth achieve one hour of physical activity daily (Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee [PAGC], 2018), …

Peer Victimization And Delinquency: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Their Relationships, Nicholas Alexander Adams

Doctoral Dissertations

The correlation between peer victimization and delinquency has long been established in the sociological and criminological literatures. However, the research to this point has focused on one or the other as an outcome. This study addresses this gap in the literature by teasing out a causal relationship between them. By using 3 waves of the Developmental Victimization Survey, peer victimization and delinquency are treated as both predictors and outcomes for each other. In doing so, this study finds evidence to support a causal relationship between experiencing peer victimization at wave 1 and later delinquent behavior at wave 3. It also …

Racial/Ethnic Differences In Attitudinal Treatment Engagement Among Adolescents And Young Adults, Linda A. Oshin

Doctoral Dissertations

Low engagement in mental health treatment is a problem across racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender lines. Disparities in treatment engagement are particularly evident among certain racial/ethnic groups and may result in part from different beliefs about mental health and psychotherapy (Yasui et al., 2017). Despite evidence of engagement disparities, there is limited research on the attitudes that youth of color have toward mental health treatment. The current studies investigate racial/ethnic differences in beliefs about treatment among adolescents and young adults. Study 1 was a retrospective cohort analysis examining self-reported readiness for psychotherapy among adolescents admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Results …

Workplace Supports In The Infant Mental Health Field: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Tanika Eaves Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods investigation explores work-related stress and employee well-being in infant mental health (IMH) practitioners and supervisors. The question of how reflective supervision can be integrated into infant-family serving systems to contain the emotional strains and secondary trauma of direct practice with vulnerable young children and families is gaining traction in the empirical literature (Barron & Paradis, 2010; O’Rourke, 2011; Osofsky, 2009; Shea, 2018; Watson, Gattis, & Neilssen, 2014). However, the relationship between organizational supports and self-care practices in managing work-related stress and promoting employee well-being has yet to be examined in the infant mental health literature.

Two studies …

A Symptom Cluster Approach To Psychiatric Disorders Among Men Who Have Sex With Men And Have Experiences Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Impact On Sexual Health Knowledge And Sexual Risk Taking Behavior, Brett M. Goshe

Doctoral Dissertations

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men carry a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections in the United States. This same group is also particularly vulnerable to experiences of childhood trauma, including sexual abuse, and subsequently developing psychiatric disorders later in adulthood. This study examines how particular psychiatric disorders and their underlying symptom clusters impair sexual health knowledge and condom use self-efficacy, and also increase sexual risk taking behavior. A total of 296 HIV-uninfected men who have recently had condomless sex with other men completed a baseline survey and psychodiagnostic interview. Among the measures included in this …

Athletic Identity And Mental Health: The Experiences Of Black Male Former Student-Athletes, Miguel Frank

Doctoral Dissertations

On college campus across the nation, student-athletes represents a unique group among the student population. Black male student-athletes are an overrepresented group among the student-athlete population, representing more than a quarter of all student-athletes. Previous research has explored the impact of athletic identity on student-athletes, as well as the academic success of Black male student-athletes. Due to the high number of Black males participating in intercollegiate athletics and the lack of research related to their mental health experiences, the goal of this study was to examine the impact of athletic identity on the experiences of Black male student-athletes and the …

Ethnic Discrimination And Psychological Distress Among Middle Eastern/Arab Americans: The Roles Of Religiosity, Coping, Ethnic Identity, And Family Connectedness, Ayse Selin Ikizler

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite increased public attention in the past decade towards the Middle East and Arab world, only a small but growing body of research literature investigating the mental health of individuals with ethnic background originating in these countries exists. Given the major stigma associated with being Middle Eastern/Arab (MEA) in the United States, the mental health-related implications for MEA Americans is of particular interest in the present study. Specifically, we investigated (1) the moderating role of religiosity in the link between religious affiliation and ethnic discrimination and (2) potential mediators (coping via internalization, detachment, and drugs/alcohol) and moderators (ethnic identity and …

The Impact Of Stigmatized Identities And Culture On The Mental Health Of East And South Asian Americans, Alefiyah Z. Pishori

Doctoral Dissertations

There is limited understanding of the factors impacting the mental and physical health of Asian Americans. Stigma has been identified as an important contributor to poor mental and physical health in the general population (DHHS, 1999) and as a barrier to seeking mental health services in the Asian American community (e.g., Ting & Hwang, 2009). The current study evaluated a model of the impact of stigma against concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs) on the mental and physical health outcomes of Asian Americans. The current sample consisted of 246 Asian Americans (168 East Asian and 78 South Asian Americans). Participants with a …

Under The Radar: Comprehending Mental Health Needs And Services In School-Based Health Centers For Children And Adolescents, Ranbir Mangat Bains

Doctoral Dissertations

Among children and adolescents, one in five suffers from mental health disorders. Those belonging to diverse racial and ethnic groups are less likely to receive adequate treatment than their white counterparts. They are also more likely to reside in households at or below the poverty level. Though public schools are the largest providers of mental health services, the services they provide are inconsistent. School-based health centers (SBHC) have been providing comprehensive health and mental health services within or near schools for over 40 years. Majority are located in urban, inner cities and evidence for their success in providing mental health …

Enduring Impact Of Childhood Stressors On Adult Health: Testing Psychological And Behavioral Pathways, Tracy Keirns

Doctoral Dissertations

Stress and health has been a topic of interest among researchers in a variety of fields such as medical sociology, psychology, public health, child abuse, and epidemiology. For decades this research had largely been conducted in silos within each of the respective fields. In recent years, these silos have started to diminish. Sociologists have begun to consider the accumulation of stressors over the life course, including how serious childhood stressors (such as child abuse) impact morbidity and mortality later in life. Using Wave I, Wave III and Wave IV data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health …

Stress And Depression During Pregnancy Among Hispanic Women: Risk For Adverse Birth Outcomes And The Role Of Physical Activity, Kathleen Szegda

Doctoral Dissertations

Preterm birth and low birth weight are among the leading causes of infant mortality and morbidity in the United States. Puerto Rican women are at increased risk for these adverse birth outcomes and elevated levels of depression and psychosocial stress during pregnancy when compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Therefore, it is important to understand whether these psychological factors increase risk for these adverse birth outcomes and mechanisms to prevent/reduce depression in this high-risk population. The first study of this dissertation examined associations between perceived stress during pregnancy and preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth of a small-for-gestational age infant (SGA) …

Using A Mental Health Board Game Intervention To Reduce Mental Illness Stigma Among Nursing Students, Anna Kristina Wassink

Doctoral Dissertations

Mental illness stigma can be displayed by anyone including those working in the health care field. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students are one group within the health care field. The purpose of this project is to explore attitude change among BSN students related to mental illness stigma. The question guiding this project is whether a creative game implemented in conjunction with the existing educational and clinical experiences is helpful in reducing mental illness stigma in BSN students. Thirty-eight participants, 5 males and 33 females, a majority of whom were 20-21 years old, participated in this project. The intervention …

Stigma Of The Mentally Ill Among University Of Tennessee, Knoxville Students, Megan Cassidy Herscher

Doctoral Dissertations

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2009), suicide kills nearly 100 people in the United States each day. Suicide rates among college-aged students are higher than among the general population; with suicide as the second leading cause of death among this age group (CDC). In addition to the heightened levels of suicide among the population suffering from mental illness, stigma compounds the issues affecting this population (Link & Phelan, 2001). In response to these issues, communities around the world have reacted with community intervention campaigns, both to combat suicide and to reduce stigma. The dissertation study will examine …