Challenges And Coping In Graduate School, M. Beth Schlemper

The Geographical Bulletin

This paper addresses challenges and coping strategies of graduate student in US geography programs. Through semi-structured focus groups with 117 graduate students enrolled in ten departments (five doctoral and f ive master’s programs), time management and the academic dimensions of graduate school emerge as major challenges. Students benefit from building support networks with their advisors, committee members, other faculty members (both inside and outside of their departments), peers and other students, and family or friends. These relationships help students balance the demands on their time as well as the academic side of graduate school. They also discover that active involvement …

Healing A Broken Spirit: A Look Into Institutional Trauma And Spiritual Resilience, Christian Cederstrom

Master of Arts in Human Services

This paper focused on the relationship between spirituality, therapy, and those who are affected and traumatized by religious institutions. It sought to cover the hypothesis that exposure to positive spirituality can help those who have been affected by religious institutional trauma to recover. Studies have shown a positive correlation between religiosity and recovery from traumatic experiences and that therapy can also increase one spirituality and relationship with God or other higher powers. This article sought to highlight that this strength of a spiritual coping mechanism may be increased by a person’s education in the field of theology and spirituality meaning …

Differences In Stress Among Healthcare Workers In Rural And Urban Healthcare Settings--The Role Of Spirituality, Lisa Yancey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years, stress has become an unspoken epidemic that has affected many working adults. Many adults spend much of their waking hours working, contributing to their stress. This quantitative study examined the relationship between spirituality and stress among rural and urban healthcare workers. The data for this study was collected through social media platforms, email, and word of mouth. An online survey consisting of ten demographic questions, twenty questions from the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and ten questions from the Perceived Stress Scale was administered to healthcare workers at least 18 years old through an anonymous survey. Pearson correlations were …

Affect Regulation And Allostatic Load Over Time, Amanda E. Ng, Tara Gruenewald, Robert-Paul Juster, Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective

Emerging work suggests that affect regulation strategies (e.g., active coping, anger expression) predict disease and mortality risk, with sometimes divergent estimates by sex or education levels. However, few studies have examined potential underlying biological mechanisms. This study assessed the longitudinal association of affect regulation with future allostatic load.

Method

In 2004–2006, 574 participants from the Midlife in the United States study completed validated scales assessing use of nine general and emotion-specific regulatory strategies (e.g., denial, anger expression). As a proxy for how flexibly participants regulate their affect, variability in the use of regulatory strategies was operationalized using a standard …

Adult Coping As A Function Of Perceived Parental Support, Brenda Manning

Journal of Counseling and Psychology

The present study examined the function of perceived parental support in childhood on adult coping strategies. A convenient sample taken from social media collected data from fifty-three participants aged 20-68 who completed the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaires (PARQ) and Screening Tool for Adult Children of Alcoholic Traits (STACAT). Participants indicated moderate levels of parental (maternal and paternal) rejection (M=130.61, SD=37.67). Additionally, participants reported moderate levels of adult children of alcoholic traits related to perceived parental rejection (M=99.86, SD=22.82). Results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship (r = .534; p =.001) between perceived parental acceptance-rejection and adult children of alcoholic traits, suggesting …

Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Amputees, Zachary Elmore

Dissertations

Problem: depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are more commonly diagnosed in the amputee population related to changes in mobility, activities of daily living, and quality of life (Turner et al., 2020.) As the amputation population is projected to reach over 3 million Americans in the next 25 years, additional screening is imperative to identify patients at high-risk for mental health deterioration (Ziegler-Graham et al., 2018).

Methods: this was a project that included screening all patients with the Personal Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-8) meeting the inclusion criteria of being admitted to 7500 Vascular Surgery at Barnes-Jewish …

Implementation Of A Mindfulness Approach To Emotional Regulation In A Public High School., Kaelin Cherise Shay

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

According to the Gallup and Walton Family Foundation-State of American Youth Survey for 2023, schools in the United States received an average grade of C+ when it comes to supporting their students’ mental health, highlighting a potential area for improvement in the school system (Wilcoxon & Marken, 2023). This quality improvement project aimed to teach high school students about emotional regulation using a mindfulness platform and evidence-based techniques designed for the school environment. The sessions focused on improving the students’ understanding of emotions and emotional regulation and helping them apply techniques to regulate emotions in a healthy manner.

This project …

Turmoil, Derek Kent

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

I painted this picture after tearing up over the phone with her parents. "I think she's passing away," I had told them, "You'd better come up to the hospital." Inexperienced as a brand new physician, I felt like I was drowning in my responsibility over the care of my patients. Real people, with real lives, with real consequences to my decisions. It has gotten easier to feel okay while helping other humans pass away. And it sounds a little dramatic, but I've found ways to help myself cope without being stranded by the waves.

Overcoming The War Within: Exploring The Relationship Between Exposure To Complex Trauma And Post Traumatic Growth, Diego T. Thompson

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Exposure to complex trauma can be understood as exposure to multiple and varied types of traumatic events, often chronic in nature. Exposure to complex trauma is prevalent among youth in the United States, especially youth living in urban environments and marginalized populations. Black youth who live in urban environments are of particular concern due to their increases susceptibility of exposure to community violence, entrenched poverty, and other sources of trauma at multiple levels, making them an appropriate population in which to examine PTG. the effect that these exposures have on these youth should be acknowledged, it is necessary to also …

The Role Of Team Sports, Coping, And Friendship In Reducing Depressive Symptoms In Youth, Abigail K. Bushnell

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The prevalence of depression in adolescents has increased in the last decade. Minority and low-income youth face additional barriers to accessing mental health services leading to a significant proportion of adolescents going undiagnosed and untreated. Participation in multiple team sports may offer an additive protective effect for youth mental health, yet how and for whom this relation occurs is unclear. The current study aimed to examine how coping strategies and friendships interact with team sports participation to reduce depressive symptoms in youth. Self-report data was collected from 196 urban youth across two time points. Moderated moderation analyses were conducted …

Worldbuilding: A Theory Of Resilience In Transgender And Gender Expansive Young People, Jennifer Debower

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Transgender and gender expansive (TGE) young people have long histories of surviving, resisting, and even thriving despite hostility. However, dominant narratives rarely explore their stories of agency and resilience. This research aims to address that gap by asking: Where are the stories of TGE youth's strength, creativity, and resistance? What lessons lie within them? Using a critical, constructivist grounded theory approach, this study examines how 16 TGE young people navigate and challenge transphobia’s precarious conditions. Results suggest that because the current realities do not make space for their existence, TGE young people find strength in creative practices (fashion, hair, body …

Living With An Altered Body: A Qualitative Account Of Body Image With Cancer Diagnosis And Its Treatment Among Women In Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Mehboobun Nahar Milky

The Qualitative Report

Cancer diagnosis and its treatments influence the body image of patients in addition to bodily functioning. This qualitative study explores cancer patients' experiences with their bodies following cancer diagnosis and its treatment. For this study, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with five female cancer patients were conducted in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The interviews were transcribed verbatim to include the insider’s perspective and then analysed using thematic analysis. The findings are divided into three major themes and eight sub-themes: the altered body (changed appearance, failing functional capabilities), emotional conflicts (feelings and emotions, loss of identity), and coping strategies (avoidance, clothing adjustments, social …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Practitioner Perspectives On Resilience In Children Who Have Experienced Csa And The Role Of Spiritual And Religious Coping, Lauren S. Hamrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Traumatic events, such as child sexual abuse (CSA) can negatively impact a child’s development across multiple biopsychosocial domains. Yet, many who experience CSA emerge resilient. Resilience involves multiple internal and external strengths that enhance a person’s ability to move beyond adversity and thrive. Research has pointed to the protective influence of spiritual and religious coping (R/S coping) among trauma survivors; however, there remains an absence of knowledge regarding the use of R/S coping in children. Therefore, I sought to fill the gap in the literature and capture the experiences of mental health practitioners who treat children who have experienced CSA, …

Virtual Support For Bereaved Parents: Acceptability, Feasibility, And Preliminary Efficacy Of Hope Group, Emma Archer, Bs, Amelia Hayes, Mpg Ccls, Kristin Drouin, Lcsw, Elissa G. Millier, Md, Aimee Hildenbrand, Phd

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

• Bereaved parents demonstrate increased risk for long-term psychological problems and poorer overall quality of life. Bereavement support programs can promote improved coping and are positively received by parents but remain underutilized.
• Virtual programs may help address barriers to accessing bereavement resources, such as families’ physical distance to the hospital and trauma reactions when exposed to a setting where the child received care.
• The objective of this quality improvement study is to examine caregivers’ bereavement experiences and perspectives on HOPE Group, a virtual group program for bereaved caregivers administered by the palliative care team at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware.

Emotional Intelligence And Stress Coping Strategies In Health Care Workers., Roxana Traverso Zumaeta, July Patricia Aguirre Mollehuanca, Jesús Enrique Talavera, Juan Carlos Palomino Baldeon

Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana

Objective: To determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and stress coping strategies in health care workers of a Third Level of Care Hospital during 2021. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out. Two surveys were used: the COPE test which measures how to cope with stress and the Bar-On Emotional Coefficient Inventory which measures the level of emotional intelligence. The main variable was coping with stress. The independent variable was emotional intelligence. Results: A total of 290 health care workers were worked. Emotional intelligence was significantly positively correlated (Pearson = 0.6003) with stress coping. The stress coping strategies with …

Research Review: "Evaluating The Kidcope For Children In Active Duty Military Families", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The study aimed to replicate the factor structure of the KidCOPE in children from military families (N=2256, ages 7–12). However, no prior factor structure could be replicated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a 2-factor model, but it was not confirmed. This suggests limitations of the KidCOPE as a valid measure of coping style among military children.

Investigating The Experiences Of Evangelical Couples Coping With Painful Intercourse During Early Marriage, Arielle L. Leonard Hodges

Communication (PhD) Dissertations

Women who internalize evangelical purity messages face heightened risk for persistent pain or difficulty with penile-vaginal intercourse. Drawing on research in communication, psychology, and sexual medicine, the aim of this multilevel qualitative study is to increase understanding of how evangelical couples communicatively cope with painful intercourse and the memorable messages they believe contribute to their experiences of coping. This study involved conducting qualitative interviews with 20 evangelical married couples (40 total spouses) who currently or recently experienced a wife’s persistent pain during (attempted) penile-vaginal intercourse and 16 female clinicians (pelvic floor physical therapists and mental health professionals) who regularly work …

Impact Of Framing Depression On Illness Perceptions And Coping Strategies, Abby Mcginnis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study aimed to adopt an experimental design used by Schroder et al. (2023) to investigate how framing of depression (as a disease vs a functional signal) impacts illness perceptions and coping strategies. Participants were given the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) to assess depression severity and prime participants for the framing condition. Each condition had five videos describing depression and the corresponding frameworks. Perceived control, timeline, and causes of depression were measured using the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R). Participants were given the brief-COPE questionnaire to measure coping strategies, such as avoidant and problem-focused. There were no differences …

Understanding Stress And Coping Among Adults In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jocy-Anna Chevalier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, individuals in the United States (U.S.) and across the globe have experienced unprecedented levels of stress. The purpose of this study is to understand the stress experienced among adults in the U.S. and which coping processes affect their overall emotional well-being. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC), this study conducted a secondary data analysis (n=404) of adults across the U.S who completed an online survey examining their experiences with stress and coping. A Pearson correlation was utilized to explore the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Paired samples …

Military Spouse Counselors: Exploring Mental Health, Resilience, Coping, And Burnout, Melinda Poteet Brinkley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military spouses (MLSPs) are an integral part of the military family and key mental health providers in military community. This study explores the mental health, resilience, coping, and burnout of MLSP counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors (CES). This study was grounded in resilience theory, investigating relationships between mental health and burnout, mediated by resilience, and conditioned by coping. An online survey was distributed through social media and email, open to MLSP counselors/CES of all branches and components of service (N = 68). This quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional correlational research designed utilized PROCESS Models 4, 58, and 59, which determined that resilience …

Perceived Parental Pressure And Coping Mechanisms In Undergraduate Students, Ariel Tran

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

With the rising pressure and competition to succeed academically, it is common for students to feel pressured to perform at a certain level. When this pressure to perform primarily stems from parental figures, there are inconsistent studies determining the effect of parental pressure, the student’s ability to cope with those stressors, and the internalization of those pressure to succeed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to uncover the relationship between perceived parental pressure, self-oriented perfectionism and coping self-efficacy amongst first year university students. A sample of 70 female students completed a series of self-reported questionnaires that included an abbreviated …

The Mental Health Management Of Individuals In Sex Work, Bianca Tocci

Dissertations (1934 -)

ABSTRACT:

This dissertation examines the mental health implications and experiences of individuals engaged in sex work, employing a constructivist grounded theory approach to explore the nuanced realities of this marginalized population. Through in-depth interviews with sex workers, this study reveals the complex interplay of positive aspects (enjoyment and empowerment), and the negative (severe risks faced by individuals in this field, including verbal abuse, physical violence, and sexual assault). The findings underscore the critical need for a holistic and nuanced understanding of sex work, challenging prevalent stereotypes and emphasizing the importance of ongoing consent, communication, and respect for sex workers' boundaries. …

Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel

Senior Theses

Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …

The Lived Experiences Of Counselors-In-Training Completing Practicum And Internship During Covid-19, Shelby Lauren Dillingham

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

COVID-19’s classification as a pandemic in March 2020 changed numerous professions as they adjusted to social distancing expectations. Mental health providers particularly encountered transitions that included higher acuity caseloads, working different hours, and increased exposure to COVID-19. Counselors-in-training (CIT) faced the dilemma of earning their clinical hours in a safe manner, especially CITs working within integrated healthcare settings, such as hospitals or clinics. Despite some research with licensed professional counselors, limited research exists examining CITs' experiences working during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of CITs who completed their clinical hours in an integrated behavioral …

College Student Stress And Resilience During Covid-19, Kevin A. Doyle, Karissa Peyer, Liz Hathaway, Hannah Turner, Dorinda Harriss

Trauma Counseling and Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic had a drastic impact on the wellness of college students. In this study, researchers examined levels of stressful events, perceived stress, and resilience in a sample of 312 students at a Southeastern university. Students demonstrated a high volume of stressful events, lower levels of resilience, and high levels of perceived stress. The combination of stressful events and resilience explained a significant amount of the variance in perceived stress. Implications are included.

Impostor Phenomenon, Mental Health Status And Coping Strategies Among Medical Students In Southern Thailand, Napakhawarat Buathong

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Impostor phenomenon is an internal experience in successful individuals who realize that their achievements are unintended, although their successes can be proven by objective evidence. The study of impostor phenomenon among medical students remains largely unexplored in Thailand, especially during the transitional period from traditional medical training to online training due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of impostor phenomenon, mental health and the coping strategies as well as to examine the factors related to impostor phenomenon among Thai medical students.

Methods: Two hundred and seventy-two subjects completed online questionnaires enquiring about sociodemographic characteristics and perception …

Healthy Coping Mechanisms Within The Recovery Setting, Ingrid Erickson, Izzi Hill, Ylliam Umipig, Hallie Hicks, Hanin Ghazal, Hannah Haynes

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Healthy Coping Mechanisms Within the Recovery Setting

Introduction

Nineteen percent of the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population ages 12 and older are using illicit drugs (Brief, 2012). And twenty-two percent have an excessive alcohol use disorder (Brief, 2012). Six Seattle Pacific University nursing students (the team) were assigned a leadership project at a recovery center in downtown Seattle. The recovery center is a non-profit organization that aims to provide hope, healing, and community to those within the recovery community. Members have experienced anything from homelessness to addiction, trauma, and mental health struggles and the center provides a way to …

Voices Unheard, Stories Untold: An In-Depth Phenomenological Exploration Of Workplace Bullying Among Indian Primary School Teachers, Mridul M, Aditi Sharma

The Qualitative Report

Workplace bullying adds significantly to toxicity in workplaces. The present phenomenological study aims to unravel the experiences of primary school teachers who have faced bullying at work. Such studies in India are still sparse, and in-depth qualitative examination of the target’s experiences provides deeper insight into their view regarding anomalous behaviours and bullies. Semi-structured interviews of seven teachers were conducted and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The analysis resulted in three themes: “Workplace dynamics,” “I can tell what their problem is,” and “Coping with the problem.” The identified acts were linked to the extant model (Duluth model) describing the …

Negative Effects Of Combat Deployments On Military Partners, Brittany M. Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Several military families experience trauma due to combat deployments and the methods they use to cope with those events can vary widely. Most research about military families is quantitative and focuses on the mental health of the service member who is directly affected by combat exposure. This study explored how military families describe the negative effects of deployment on them and how biblical faith helped them cope with those negative effects. This qualitative case study used a sample size of 14 military partners, with or without children who have experienced at least one combat deployment during the partner's time in …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Military-Connected Students Transitioning From The Military Way Of Life To Higher Education: A Qualitative Study, Earnest Kincade

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to better understand the phenomenon of the lived experiences of military-connected students transitioning from the military way of life to higher education. This study was guided by Schlossberg’s 4S theory on transitioning adults as related to situations, self, support, and strategies concerning military-connected students in Alaska. The participants were chosen by criterion sampling to select students based on their military affiliation, who attended the universities in the United States, and who have experienced multiple transitions related to the military lifestyle of their parents. The data collection process involved an initial questionnaire using …