Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Screening For Adult Adhd In Ontario: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Sex Differences, Mental Health Correlates And Substance Use, Deanne Daigle

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The vast majority of studies on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are based on samples with inherent age, sex, and referral biases. Therefore, the current study used population-based data to 1) estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD (as well as previous diagnosis and medication use using an ADHD screener) and co-occurring psychiatric distress and substance use in Ontario 2) examine the sex differences in ADHD screening status and co-occurring psychiatric distress and substance use and 3) model ADHD screening status as a risk factor for psychiatric distress using the 2011 cycle of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor. A positive …

Investigating Meaning In Life, Perceived Social Support, And Suicide Ideation Among Community-Residing Older Adults, Joyce L. Cheng

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Older adults have high rates of suicide, necessitating enhanced models of suicide risk in later life. Previous cross-sectional findings suggest that suicide ideation is positively associated with psychological risk factors and negatively associated with resilience factors, including recognition of meaning in life (MIL) and perceptions of social support (PSS). We designed the current longitudinal study to replicate and extend these findings and to test a multidimensional model of suicide ideation (SI), which incorporates consideration of risk and resilience factors, among a sample of 173 community-residing older adults. Using Structural Equation Modeling, both MIL and PSS, which were measured at the …

Insights And Blind Spots: A Qualitative Analysis Of Risk In Psychiatric Security Review Board Hearings, Abby Kealani Balfour

Dissertations and Theses

The prevalence and consequences of the insanity plea, titled "guilty except for insanity" in the State of Oregon, are fraught with misconceptions. The use of the plea requires a complex set of interactions between the mental health and criminal justice systems, and comes with severe costs for people who use it. Most of the research on the psychological aspects of the insanity plea emphasizes empirical validity in the form of risk assessment instruments and/or the biomedical model with its focus on disease and illness. This thesis analyzes from community psychology and critical theory perspectives the decision process of hearings held …

The Health Of Rural Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Kimberly Y. Robitaille

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction: Grandparents are becoming increasingly responsible for raising their grandchildren. Previous studies have noted physical and mental health limitations for custodial grandparents. Grandparents face numerous challenges in raising grandchildren and consequently, experience high stress levels. However, coping and social support have been found to mediate grandparent stress. Rural custodial grandparents have been an understudied population. Using the Stress Process Model, this study extends the knowledge of rural grandparents raising grandchildren by describing the relationships among physical and mental health, stressors, coping, and social supports for custodial grandparents living in Western Kentucky.

Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to examine …

Predictors Of Drug Court Client Graduation, Marie E. Gill

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: Substance use disorder in the United States adversely effects society by burdening the justice system with offender incarceration for drug-related crimes, it also strains in the healthcare system with costs in excess of $216 billion dollars for treatment of drug-related mental and physical illnesses. Many offenders of nonviolent crimes with substance use disorder have been diverted to Drug Court (DC) for year-long supervised community-based drug addiction treatment as an alternative to incarceration for non-violent drug-related crimes. Drug Court program outcomes, however, have been studied as a criminal justice intervention, rather than a primary care mental health intervention. The majority …

Mindful Bodies: The Use Of Guided Meditation With Dance/Movement Therapy In Addiction Treatment, Melissa A. Sanchez

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

Body-based approaches, such as dance/movement therapy (DMT), in addiction treatment can be anxiety provoking for those seeking sobriety. Strengthening the relationship between therapist and client using compassionate methods, such as guided meditation, prior to DMT sessions has, in the experience of this researcher, helped establish a safe environment in which to experience DMT. Using guided meditation as a method of creating comfort within the body aided in achieving the goal of enhancing one’s awareness of emotions, thoughts and sensations through the use of body-based methods.

Increasing self-awareness of emotions and physical sensations is an important step on the road to …

An Evaluation Of Social Capital's Effect On Depression Among Adolescents, Ezechukwu Awgu

Dissertations

Mental illness has been described as a “global burden of disease,” and depression accounts for a large part of the burden (Aslund, Starrin, Nilsson, 2010). In 2009, 35.7 percent of the adolescent population in the United States who reported past-year symptoms of a major depressive episode, for example, feelings of sadness, discouragement, loss of feelings of self-worth, and loss of interest in social activities, also used illicit drugs including marijuana, inhalants, hallucinogens, cocaine, heroin, and prescription-type psychotherapeutics for non-medical purposes (SAMHSA, 2009, APA, 1994). Additionally, substance abuse due to alcoholism was among the major causes of death for adolescents aged …

Supervision And Education As A Factor Of Self Efficacy In Novice Therapists, Natalie D. Dewitt

Graduate Theses

The hypothesis of this exploratory study is aimed at examining novice therapist’s self- efficacy towards counseling, observing self efficacy modifications during practicum, and creating implications for future therapists. There were 20 participants surveyed using the Counselor Self Efficacy Scale, as well as questions generated towards the education experience as well as the supervision experience. A Pearson’s correlation was conducted comparing the supervision and education experience, there was a negative correlation, resulting in the education experience decreasing as the supervision experience increased. A r-test was conducted and the difference in means was consistent with the Pearson correlation confirming higher supervision scores.

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 In The Medial Prefrontal Cortex: Role In Cocaine Sensitization And Addiction, Kristin Marie Timmer

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Cocaine sensitization is associated with cocaine-induced hyperexcitability of pyramidal projection neurons within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Such hyperexcitability presumably results in increased glutamatergic input to reward-affiliated brain regions such as the ventral tegemental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), consequently facilitating drugseeking behavior. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) has been implicated in cocaine addiction and demonstrated to increase neuronal excitability, therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of intra-mPFC mGluR5 manipulation on behavioral and neurochemical sensitization and drug-seeking. Bilateral cannulae were implanted into the mPFC of male Sprague-Dawley rats and mGluR5 antagonist MTEP (15 …

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: A Descriptive Study, Erica Jex Gergely

Dissertations

The current study seeks to examine the program operations and treatment practices of individuals and organizations providing equine-assisted therapy services nationwide. Currently, there are several hundred programs across the United States that utilize equine-assisted therapy to treat common mental health problems in children, adolescents, and adults. Not all equine therapy programs function under the same theoretical model and therefore do not deliver treatment services using equivalent principles or techniques. In addition, program policies, procedures, and ethical guidelines of each provider vary. To date, there exists a paucity of research regarding equine-assisted therapy including both qualitative and quantitative data.

The present …

Csa Survivors: What Heals And What Hurts In A Couple Relationship, Laura S. Smedley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant trauma that affects a person's self-concept and the ability to form healthy intimate relationships later in adulthood. Approximately 20% of adults who experience childhood sexual abuse go on to evidence serious psychopathology in adulthood (Harway & Faulk, 2005). Besides individual disturbances, CSA survivors struggle with many relational difficulties. These difficulties are usually most pronounced among their intimate partners (Reid, et al., 1995). According to attachment theory, attachment injuries are best healed in the context of a healthy, intimate relationship (Kochka & Carolan, 2002) (MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). Conversely, the couple relationship may be …

Couples' Process Of Healing From Infidelity While In Therapy, Jordan Mark Staples

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Infidelity is one of the most common presenting problems for couples and marriage therapists. It is widely acknowledged to be a destructive phenomenon for a couple's relationship and is one of the most difficult presenting problems to treat. Treatment models for infidelity vary and have little empirical testing. The purpose of the proposed study was to investigate the client's perspective of the process for healing from infidelity. Additionally, the proposed study looked to qualitatively assess and amalgamate participants' experience of the healing process for infidelity. Themes and relationships among these themes were identified using open, axial, and selective coding processes. …

Understanding The Risky Sexual Behaviors Of Study Abroad Students, Ashley Schaffer

Theses and Dissertations

Using the Triandis Model of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB) this study examined the influence of environmental and individual characteristics on predicting risky sexual behaviors of study abroad students. This study utilized a two-stage, qualitative and quantitative methodological framework. First, focus groups with previous study abroad students were held in order to gather data that informed the development of assessment. Second, data was subsequently collected from 128 study abroad students. The TIB significantly predicted a participant's intentions to engage in risky sexual behavior with the construct labeled subjective social norms emerging as a significant predictor. The model also significantly predicted engaging in …

Interpersonal Control In Dating Relationships: How Is It Affected By Trust In One's Partner And Adult Attachment Style?, Melissa Franz

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. spends billions of dollars each year treating victims of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. A majority of college women (up to 75 percent) reported having experienced psychological or emotional abuse. These acts are intended to demean, criticize, and dominate one's partner. Control is one facet of psychological abuse and is intended to regulate one's partner. Control and psychological abuse are related to numerous negative outcomes in its victims. This study examines the influence of attachment style and trust on one's use of IPC in a relationship. One hundred forty seven participants were recruited (1) via a social networking …

A Critical Analysis Of Discursive Practices In Personal Accounts Of “Drug” Use: Implications For Health Professional Education, Niki Kiepek

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In this thesis discourses of drug use are explored outside therapeutic and self-help settings to inform health professional education. A discursive narrative methodology identifies multiple discourses of drugs embedded in individual accounts. A critical analysis investigates how the concept of drugs is put into discourse and the influence of discursive practices on how people act and how they are acted upon.

The findings are presented in three sections: i) The term “hiding” conveys either “concealment” or “non-disclosure” of drug use. Being able to talk openly about drug use was desirable and has the potential to be beneficial; ii) Disclosing drug …

Social Support As A Determinant Of Health Related Quality Of Life In Breast Cancer Survivors In California, Faiza Rab

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objective:

To evaluate the relationship between perceived social support and HRQOL (physical and emotional) in low SES breast cancer survivors.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study design was used to measure perceived social support at 18 months and HRQOL at 3 years after breast cancer diagnosis using MOS SS and MOS SF-36, respectively. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship.

Results:

Menopause at the time of diagnosis, adjunct chemotherapy, adjunct radiation therapy, co-morbidities, treatment side effects and depression were negatively associated with PCS scores (p < 0.01). Treatment side effects, anxiety and depression were negatively associated with MCS scores (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Perceived social support was not associated with HRQOL in low SES breast cancer survivors …

The Impact Of Sexual Self-Esteem On Sexual Risk Detection In College Women, Lauren Lucente

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual assault victimization has been associated with poor risk recognition and low sexual self-esteem (Gidycz, McNamara, & Edwards, 2006; Schwartz & Shipiro, 1997). Evidence suggests that sexual self-esteem may precede risk recognition subsequently impacting victimization (Mayers, Heller, & Heller, 2003; Zeanah & Schwartz, 1996). The purpose of this study was to investigate the direct predictive impact of global and specific components of sexual self-esteem on risk recognition. Participants engaged a laboratory analog to measure risk detection and completed a series of questionnaires to measure sexual self-esteem. Results indicated that global sexual self-esteem is not predictive of risk recognition. In regard …

Under A Bridge, At Missions And Shelters, In Alleyways, Wherever I Woke Up: An Exploration Of How Structural And Everyday Factors Impact Mental Health Issues And Survival Strategies Among Young Homeless Women In London, Ontario, Louise M. Vesanen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis examines how structural and everyday factors impact the survival strategies and mental health issues of young homeless females in London, Ontario. Data were gathered through secondary analysis of information from a larger study of service utilization and mental illness among homeless youth in London, and fieldnotes were also collected. The most important findings pertain to how these youth navigate the complicated terrain of daily life and the multitude of social and health-related services that they struggle to obtain and desperately need. The participants’ experiences with healthcare, justice, and social support systems, reveal a multitude of intersecting structural barriers …

Schizotypy And The Role Of Coping Behaviors In The Experience Of Positive And Negative Affect, Jessica Hayes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether (a) schizotypy is positively related to negative affect and negatively related to positive affect, (b) whether individuals with high levels of schizotypy use more maladaptive coping behaviors than those low in schizotypy, (c) that maladaptive coping behaviors will mediate the relationship between schizotypy and negative affect, and (d) that adaptive coping behaviors will mediate the relationship between schizotypy and positive affect. A sample of 435 undergraduate participants completed self-report measures including The Brief Cope, The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, and The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Bivariate correlations resulted in levels …

Measuring And Understanding Distal And Proximal Determinants Of Mentoring Relationship Quality In Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Programs, Annalise L. Ferro

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) community-based mentoring programs have been shown to positively impact children’s health and well-being. A fundamental component of these successful mentoring outcomes is mentoring relationship quality (MRQ). While some research has examined the association between MRQ and child outcomes, little research has examined antecedents of MRQ. The mentoring literature suggests that mentor self-efficacy (MSE) may act to mediate the relationship between environmental supports, specifically, parent support of the mentoring relationship and mentor training satisfaction, and MRQ. However, these relationships have not been simultaneously tested in a single model. Furthermore, a necessary prerequisite to examining these relationships …

Couple's Relationship With Diabetes: Transformation, Partnership, And Management, Ruth Houston Barrett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study used an MFT perspective to examine a model of three bio-psychosocial constructs, seeking to depict key dimensions of what makes couples successful in managing the demanding self-care regimen of diabetes. The model includes a meaning and emotion-oriented construct called relationship with diabetes, a psychosocial relational construct of diabetes-specific partnering support, and their direct and indirect effects on an endogenous construct of success in diabetes management. Surveys from 118 adult couples with diabetes provided data to test the hypothesized path and measurement model. Correlational and multiple regression analysis examined variable relationships, factor analysis examined construct dimensionality, and structural equation …

Does Psychopathy Predict Future Risky Sexual Behavior?, Jessica Jade Fulton

Dissertations

Risky sexual behavior (RSB), such as having sex with an unknown partner, is associated with a variety of negative consequences including sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. Previous research (e.g., Fulton, Marcus, & Payne, 2010) suggests that psychopathic personality traits as assessed by the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (Lilienfeld & Andrews, 1996) are associated with RSB. Self-Centered Impulsivity (SCI), which is characterized by impulsivity, irresponsibility, and reckless behavior, was positively associated with RSB among men and women. In contrast, Fearless Dominance (FD), which is characterized by fearlessness, manipulativeness, and social dominance, was positively associated with RSB among men but not women. …

The Use Of Humor For Emotion Management On The Job: An Exploration Of 911 Communication Centers, Jennifer Dell Mclaughlin

Dissertations

This study sought to understand how humor affects a person’s ability to cope and manage their emotions in a high stress organizational environment. 911 communication centers are work environments where stress is commonplace, and the work environment can instantly become erratic and chaotic.

This study explored the role humor has in assisting organizational members with emotion management in a high stress job and the types of humor used by members to handle their job and cope with the stress.

The results suggest that humor is pervasive in 911 communication centers, and dispatchers use humor for personal coping, co-worker bonding, and …

Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv) And The Social Determinants Of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health: A Case Study Of First Nations Women’S Resilience, Resistance, And Renewal, Julie A. George

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Worldwide, First Nations women are among the most vulnerable to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); and yet, their lived experiences of violence are lacking in the literature. Using Photovoice methodology and a community-based, participatory action approach, this project addresses multiple questions pertaining to First Nations mothers’ experiences of IPV, including: What are the health and social consequences of IPV and how do the social determinants of Aboriginal peoples’ health shape the capacities of women survivors to manage and overcome IPV? Drawing on decolonization theory, a social determinants of Aboriginal peoples’ health framework, and aspects of feminist theory, this project was designed …

A Study Of Potential Risk Factors Of Depression Among Latina Breast Cancer Survivors, Claudia Ximena Aguado Loi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women with breast cancer commonly experience depression. However, this condition often goes unrecognized, undertreated, and understudied, especially in ethnic minorities. If left untreated, co-existing depression in women with cancer can complicate cancer treatment, lead to poor treatment adherence for both conditions, and decrease survival. These negative consequences are considerably higher among Latinas. With the growing number of Latinos and diversity within the Latino community, the literature has identified the need to disaggregate Latinos by region of origin. Unfortunately, few studies account for these differences and no study to date has examined risk factors of depression among Latinas diagnosed with breast …

Cyberspace And Real-World Behavioral Relationships: Towards The Application Of Internet Search Queries To Identify Individuals At-Risk For Suicide, Casey C. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

The Internet has become an integral and pervasive aspect of society. Not surprisingly, the growth of ecommerce has led to focused research on identifying relationships between user behavior in cyberspace and the real world - retailers are tracking items customers are viewing and purchasing in order to recommend additional products and to better direct advertising. As the relationship between online search patterns and real-world behavior becomes more understood, the practice is likely to expand to other applications. Indeed, Google Flu Trends has implemented an algorithm that accurately charts the relationship between the number of people searching for flu-related topics on …

Second Generation Korean-American Parents: Social Context Influence On Parenting, Lana H. Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Korean-American families are an underrepresented group within the family therapy literature. In particular, the realities and lived experiences of American born second generation Korean-American parenting couples is limited. Therefore, this qualitative grounded theory dissertation used a social constructionist lens to understand how American born second generation Korean-Americans, raised amidst contrasting Korean and western cultural ideologies, conceptualize parenting and position themselves in relation to their children within parent-child relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parenting couples of children between 0-10 years of age to illuminate ways in which multiple cultural discourses, bicultural socialization, and racialized experiences influence the parenting process. …

Successful Again Through A Family Resilience Lens, A'Verria Sirkin Martin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined successful aging through a family resilience lens by developing a psychometrically tested assessment that can be used to measure family and individual resilience in a population of older adults and by then applying these latent structures to predict successful aging across four domains; self-rated successful aging, psychosocial health, cognitive decline, and physical health. Data from 1,006 older adults were analyzed in three steps. The first identified the underlying latent structure through principle component (exploratory) factor analysis (EFA). The second included the use of confirmatory factor analysis to validate the structure from the first step. The third utilized …

Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier Than Nonsmokers?, Mark Chaskes

Honors Theses

Public health advocates justify cigarette taxes, claiming they discourage smoking, which results in a healthier population. However, the more pertinent issue with which health advocates should be concerned is that of smoker well‐being. In this paper, I investigate whether cigarette taxes make smokers relatively more satisfied than nonsmokers. Additionally, because poor smokers have a higher discount rate than wealthy smokers, and therefore, perceive the tax differently, I explore the effect that income, in conjunction with a cigarette tax increase, has on smokers’ life‐satisfaction. Using cross‐sectional and time‐series data from the 2005‐2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, this paper utilizes …

Second Generation Korean-American Parents: Social Context Influence On Parenting, Lana H. Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Korean-American families are an underrepresented group within the family therapy literature. In particular, the realities and lived experiences of American born second generation Korean-American parenting couples is limited. Therefore, this qualitative grounded theory dissertation used a social constructionist lens to understand how American born second generation Korean-Americans, raised amidst contrasting Korean and western cultural ideologies, conceptualize parenting and position themselves in relation to their children within parent-child relationships. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 parenting couples of children between 0-10 years of age to illuminate ways in which multiple cultural discourses, bicultural socialization, and racialized experiences influence the parenting process. …