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Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Borderline Personality Disorder: Findings From The National Epidemiologic Survey On Alcohol And Related Conditions (Nesarc)-Iii, Elizabeth A. Fall

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events including abuse, neglect, and related stressors that occur before the age of 18. These exposures affect 61 % of adults in the general population. Studies have documented that ACEs contribute to mental illness; however, less is known about its contribution specifically to borderline personality disorder (BPD) and co-morbid substance use disorder (SUD).

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between each category of 10 ACEs and the total number (ACE score) with borderline personality disorder alone, borderline personality disorder with comorbid substance use disorder, and lifetime substance use …

Caregiver Support And The Mental Health Of Transgender And Gender Expansive Youth: Race-Specific Effects In A Clinic-Based Sample, Whitney Morgan Menary

Public Health Theses

Parental and caregiver support has been shown to be a protective factor against poor mental health in transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth. However, little is known about how race and ethnicity might affect this relationship. This study extends the literature by examining whether the associations between parental support and mental health outcomes are moderated by race. A clinic-based sample of 81 TGE youth (mean age = 15.31, SD = 1.61) completed assessments of their anxiety and depression symptoms. Caregiver support scores were gathered from youth and the caregivers themselves. Results show that TGE youth of color have decreased odds …

A Review Of Mental Health Screening Tools Used In Disaster Research, Ashley Rose Moore

Public Health Theses

Introduction: The effects of disasters are widespread and heavily studied. While attention to disasters’ impacts on mental health is growing, knowledge about these effects is fragmented due to the wide variety of assessment tools used in post-disaster settings. The purpose of this study is to review mental health assessment tools and their use in populations affected by disasters.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for commonly-used tools that assess PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and general mental health in disaster settings. Next, a search for scientific studies that used the selected tools in …

Acknowledgment Of Sexual Violence And Mental Health Among College Students, Francesca Maviglia

Public Health Theses

A significant number of individuals who experience a form of sexual violence that could be classifiable as rape or sexual assault do not label their experience as such. Studies found that rape acknowledgement status can impact a survivor’s postassault experiences and recovery process. This study examined how a sample of 236 college students who experienced some form of sexual violence labeled their experience. The association between different degrees of acknowledgement and posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms was tested. 162 (68.6%) of respondents did not label their experience as unwanted; the remaining 74 (31.4%) varied in their labeling of the experience …

Older Adult Spouses’ Emotional Responses To Reminiscing About Their First Encounter: Associations With Mental Health, Marital Satisfaction, And Cardiovascular Reactivity, Hanzhen Lan

Public Health Theses

Objectives: While there has been growing interest in how close relationships affect older adults’ health, not much research has examined how emotional experiences in older married couples’ positive interactions relate to individual and relational well-being and physical health. The present study hypothesizes that positive emotional responses to older couples reminiscing about first encounter are associated with each spouse’s higher marital satisfaction, fewer depressive symptoms, and healthier cardiovascular reactivity (blood pressure and heart rate variability).

Method: One hundred and one couples completed a background questionnaire at home and then participated in a laboratory session in which they discussed how they first …

Gaps In Mental Healthcare Use And Perceived Quality Between Privately Insured Lgb And Heterosexual Individuals In The United States, Yuki Hayashi

Public Health Theses

Previous research has identified significantly heightened levels of mental health issues and psychological distress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals in the U.S., as well as greater mental health service utilization among this population. Using a nationally representative sample of privately insured adults in the U.S., we investigate differences in mental healthcare utilization, characteristics of mental healthcare received, and perceived quality of care between LGB and heterosexual individuals. Key results find that privately insured LGB men and women are significantly more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to have used outpatient mental healthcare as well as out-of-network (OON) outpatient mental …

The Association Between Self-Reported History Of Experiencing Violence & Mental Health Status Among Urban Refugees And Asylum Seekers In Malaysia, Rayne Soyoung Kim

Public Health Theses

Background: In displaced populations, studies have shown that there are significant associations between exposure to violence and reporting mental illness. There is little known regarding this relationship in countries like Malaysia, which serves as a transitional point where refugees wait to be resettled.

Objective: To assess the cross-sectional association of exposure to violence with mental health status in the urban refugee and asylum-seeking population in Malaysia.

Methods: 286 self-identified refugees and asylum seekers, recruited by using time-location sampling, were given interviewer-administered surveys, including questions regarding exposure to violence and mental health symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate …

Mind Over Matter: Evaluation Of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program For College Students, Jim Kasper

Public Health Theses

Mind Over Matter: Evaluation of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program for College Students

By

Jim Kasper

Background: While there is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness practice to reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress, and elevate self-compassion and awareness, the impact of brief mindfulness programs on these domains among urban, college-aged populations has not been explored fully. The current study aims to explore the impact of a brief mindfulness program upon student experiences of both positive and negative thoughts and emotions.

Methods: A mixed-methods study was designed to evaluate the impact of a 6-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) …

Understanding Cyber Violence In Intimate Partner Relationships: A Qualitative Study, Fiana O. Thacker

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Traditional forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) such as physical and psychological violence have been linked to various negative health consequences such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and chronic diseases. Among women, IPV has resulted in significant financial losses in the United States. However, an area of IPV that has not seen much attention in the public health field is cyber violence among intimate partners. The growing prominence of mobile devices, social media, and other communication technology, has opened up new avenues for the perpetration of IPV. No longer are perpetrators’ physical presence necessary. Cyber violence can …

Descriptive Analysis Of Mental Health Needs Of Nontraditional Black And White Students, Jordan A. Brown

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Mental health seeking behaviors among nontraditional students, particularly Black students, is an area that should be examined closely with care and strategy. There are a plethora of factors that pose risks to nontraditional students completing their education. There is something to take note of when 38% of nontraditional students leave their first year compared to 16% of traditional students (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012).

Objective: This study assessed the risk factors and demographic variables associated with mental health seeking behaviors in Black nontraditional students vs. White nontraditional students at Georgia State University.

Methods: Descriptive demographic data were used …

Early Onset Marijuana Use And Adult Mental Health, Christine Murphy Andrews

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: The impact of marijuana use has become a national topic with the increase in state’s legalizing or decriminalizing the use of the drug. To understand the impact this new trend may have on the population, it is necessary to characterize the interaction between marijuana use and health outcomes. Previous research has focused on the acute effects of marijuana on mental health and longitudinal impacts of marijuana use in the adolescent population. However there are no previously published studies on the impact of early onset marijuana use on adult mental health.

AIM: This study aims to determine the prevalence of …

Suicide Ideation And Its Associated Risk Factors Among Adolescent Students In The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Rabia Khalid

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The intention of this study is to examine and compare the prevalence and correlates of suicide ideation among the youth in four Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries, namely Morocco, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. The results from this study are a valuable resource for further understanding suicidal behavior among youth in a region where the subject is often understudied and considered taboo. Additionally, findings from the study are important in prevention efforts in order to reduce suicide related behaviors and injuries among youth in EMR countries. The study also examined the correlates and variables associated with suicide …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Suicidal Ideation Among Students In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jane B. Palmier

Public Health Theses

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among youth in sub-Saharan Africa and to evaluate differences in such prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation to identify how risk behaviors vary by gender across country settings.

METHODS: Analyses are based on the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in Botswana (N=2197; 2005), Kenya (N=3691; 2003), Tanzania (N=2176; 2006), Uganda (N=3215; 2003) and Zambia (N=2257; 2004) of students primarily 13 to 16 years of age. Logistic regression analyses were computed to determine the associations between correlates (i.e., hunger, current alcohol use, problem drinking, bullying victimization, sadness, loneliness, worrying, …

Outcomes Of The Implementation Of The Mental Health Recovery Measure In The Dekalb Community Service Board Population, Sharon H. Davis

Public Health Theses

The relationship between mental health and public health has been debated for decades. But when services are delivered through publically funded mental health clinics, it clearly becomes a public health endeavor. One of the latest trends in mental health service delivery is the recovery concept. Developed in the 1990’s, the recovery concept represents a paradigm shift where successful treatment is defined by self-awareness, self-care, and self-fulfillment. Furthermore, patients are encouraged to assess their own progress in the recovery process. There are currently nine unique assessment tools to measure recovery progress, including the Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM), which was used …

Mental Health Impact Of Disasters, Saman Faisal

Public Health Theses

It is very important to study the mental health impact of disasters to provide adequate mental health services when there is an increased demand of mental health services and a concurrent deterioration of mental healthcare capacity after disasters. This study examined the mental health impact of 9/11 attacks among the individuals living close to the disaster area and compared them to the individuals living farther from the disaster area. New York (NY) state and Washington DC were selected as the disaster areas and Illinois (IL) was selected to study individuals living farther from the disaster area. The study also assessed …