Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of Dementia Friendly Communities From The Perspective Of Persons Living With Dementia, Catherine Hebert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing global prevalence of dementia coupled with a shift in public perception from a hopeless disease to the possibility of living well with dementia has led to the formation of dementia friendly communities (DFC). DFCs are a new phenomenon in the United States, with a gap in knowledge on input from people living with dementia (PLWD). This study investigated DFCs from the perspective of PLWD in Western North Carolina, with the following research questions:

1. How are interactions and relationships experienced by persons living with dementia in the community?
2. How is community engagement experienced by PLWD?
3. To what extent and …

Emotion Regulation: The Role Of Trauma, Emotion-Related Parenting, And Resilience, Na Zhu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is robust evidence that some people achieve resilience despite adverse experiences (Cicchetti, 2013). The purpose of the present study was to examine if resilience as a trait predicted emotion regulation abilities, and if it moderated the relations between risk and parenting history and emotion regulation abilities. Another aim of the present study was to explore the concept of resilience as an outcome and process through narratives of redemption sequence. Participants consisted of 234 undergraduate students (age ranged from 17-30 years, M = 20.12, SD = 2.17, 79.1% women, 71.37% White) who have experienced a major stressful or traumatic event. …

Resiliency, Generalized Self-Efficacy And Mindfulness As Moderators Of The Relationship Between Stress And Both Life Satisfaction And Depression Among College Students: An Investigation Of The Resilience Process, Ben N. Smith Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation attempted to add to the resilience literature by answering two research questions. The first was:"does resiliency serve as a unique protective factor compared to generalized self-efficacy (GSE) and mindfulness?" It was hypothesized that (1a) GSE, mindfulness and resiliency at time 1 would all uniquely predict lower depression and higher life-satisfaction at time 2; (1b) resiliency would be a stronger predictor of these outcomes than mindfulness and GSE; and (2) resiliency would uniquely buffer the relationship between stress and both time 2 depression and life satisfaction. The second question was: "Is resiliency predicted by GSE and mindfulness, or, alternatively, …

What Predicts Suicide Among Psychologists? An Examination Of Vulnerability And Protective Factors, Stephanie Zuckerman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Research indicates health professionals, particularly psychologists, may be at a uniquely high risk for attempting or committing suicide. Factors predicting increased risk for suicide among the general population (e.g., gender and mental illness) may also increase risk among psychologists. Risk of suicide among psychologists may also be attributable to occupational factors (e.g., burnout or secondary traumatic stress) or their potential for higher levels of past trauma than professionals in other fields. Finally, resilience and meaning in life may serve as protective factors among psychologists. Aims: To examine demographic factors, mental health factors, work factors, past experiences of trauma, and …

Disseminating Tornado Warnings To Rural Populations, Zebulon Charles Wallace

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tornado warnings are a form of persuasive communication that are intended to motivate people to take protective action. These warnings must reach all of the population exposed to the hazard no matter what time of day it is or where they are located. To accomplish this, multiple platforms are used to disseminate warning information. However, there is little research dedicated to how effective these platforms are in rural communities.Additionally, fatality rates tend to vary among rural communities, particularly between Tornado Alley and Dixie Alley; two high frequency tornado areas of the U.S. The objective of this research is to determine …

Meaning In Life As A Moderator Of Resilience And Traumatic Stress: A Study Of Protective Factors And Sex Differences In A Sample Of Mississippi Coastal Residents Seeking Mental Health Services After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Bethany Jane Aiena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In April of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, releasing millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, becoming the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Disasters often lead to a decrease in psychological well-being for those affected by the disaster. Positive psychological constructs such as resilience and perceived meaning in life have been shown to be significant protective factors against the negative psychological effects of a disaster. Utilizing a sample of 1119 adults seeking mental health services along the coast of Mississippi after the spill, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between these …

Connecting Emotions To Behavioral Outcomes, Whitney L. Spears

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The field of positive psychology has emerged within the last decade and focuses on investigating happiness and what constitutes a satisfying life (Seligman, 2011; Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). One of the main purposes of positive psychology is to identify resources that can be used to promote psychologically beneficial outcomes (Fredrickson, 2001). Two positive psychological outcomes that can build resources to overcome negative circumstances and lead to a fulfilling life are resilience and well-being. A theory proposed by Fredrickson (1998) that offers a process by which individuals can enhance well-being and resilience is the broaden-and-build theory. Through this theory, it is …

Differentiating The Effects Of Animal-Assisted Versus Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy On Positive Psychological Outcomes Through A Stress Induction Context, Catherine J.V. Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The unique benefits of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) such as the human-horse bond, a non-traditional therapy setting, and performing altruistic acts are thought to facilitate positive change in humans. One mechanism by which positive changes occur is through improved coping and resilience in the face of stress. To date, only a handful of correlational studies speak to the potential effects of EFP on resilience-based outcomes. Thus, this study sought to address this gap in the literature by exploring the benefits of EFP compared to traditional Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) in an experimental context. Specifically, we examined the effects of different …