Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Peer-Mediated Family Support Project: Evaluation Of Changes In Family Quality Of Life, Preethy S. Samuel, Elizabeth Janks, Nia S. Anderson, Michael Bray, Christina Topolewski, Sharon Milberger

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Family Quality of Life (FQOL) approach represents a paradigm shift from fixing to supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) by changing the focus from the individual to the family and highlighting strengths rather than deficiencies. Aging family caregivers of individuals with I/DD often encounter obstacles, including accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of services. Little is known about best practices to support aging families of adults with I/DD. Understanding how a state-wide peer-mediated family support project implemented in this study helped improve the FQOL of aging caregivers is important in broadening participation of other caregivers in these types of programs. To …

Perceived And Real Water Competency And Drowning Risk Among Adults, Teresa Stanley, Kevin Moran, Dawn Garbett, Alan Ovens

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Traditionally, public understanding of drowning survival has focused on swimming capacity, often measured by how far a person can swim. With respect to the high incidence of adult drowning in high-income countries, using the more inclusive concept of water competency may yield a more comprehensive explanatory framework for understanding the reasons behind these drownings. Any competency base required to survive a drowning situation is dynamic, complex, and multi-faceted. Furthermore, perceptions of risk and capacity to cope with that risk are likely to be pivotal to the avoidance of drowning. Adults’ perceived water competence was measured against their actual water competence …

A140: Comparing Perceived Exercise Benefits Between Exercising And Non-Exercising College Students, Yanli Pang, Cunnian Xia, Yue Xia

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Regular exercise leads to physiological and psychological benefits. University is a key venue to promote physical activity behavior in young adults. However, it is reported nearly 50% Chinese college students are not reaping the benefits due to insufficient amount of exercise. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate what challenges prevent college students from exercising. Thus, this study was to assess perceived exercise benefits and barriers in Chinese college students and compare the differences between students do exercise and who do not. Methods: The Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) was used to examine perceived benefits and barriers in 118 non-exercising and …

Demystifying Music Therapy: Applications Over The Lifespan, Barry C. Nelson

Counselor Education Capstones

This study seeks to evaluate the curative factors of music therapy and discuss the benefits of the practice over the course of the human lifespan. Additionally, a case will be made for prospective and current counselors to add music therapy techniques to their repertoire in order to provide more diverse methods of care. To accomplish this aim, research will be presented conveying how music therapy has been evaluated for effectiveness in treating various mental health concerns during childhood, adulthood, and older adulthood. The results of this evaluation suggest that music therapy is effective at treating a diverse range of disorders …

Does What Doesn’T Kill You Make You Stronger? Examining The Effects Of Resilience And Functional Outcomes On Post-Traumatic Growth In Adults With Acquired Disability, Dominique Renee Ghirardi M.S.

Theses and Dissertations

Disabilities acquired in adulthood are often unexpected and disruptive because a loss of functioning can affect one’s ability to maintain employment, pursue their interests, and participate in social activity without assistance or accommodation. This is especially true for those who experience a life-altering injury or develop a chronic health condition between the ages of 18 and 64, as they likely have not planned for the financial and social adjustments that life with a disability involves. However, factors such as post-traumatic growth can reveal the extent to which someone experiences personal growth and improvement in the wake of a traumatic and …

The Sunnyside Movement Towards Mental Health Prevention And Resiliency, Eva Williams

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To increase Mental Health awareness and resources among adults with untreated mental disorders in the Sunnyside community (Understanding Houston, 2023).

Significant Findings: 18,6004 residents reside in Sunnyside. Nearly half (48%) were between 20 and 64 years of age, 18% were 65 or older, and many out of this group have untreated mental disorders or have been hospitalized for mental health symptoms (Sunnyside Survey Shows Neighborhood's Social Fabric Is Strong, 2019). These findings include the LGBTQ community, which accounts for about 40% of people who reported experiencing mental illness in the last year (Kolanek, 2020). The target problem in …

The Dance/Movement Embodied Experience Of Grief And Loss Using The Five Senses: Development Of A Clinical Method, Yarmisha Cofield

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

According to recent grief and loss research, creative arts therapy can help people heal after losing something or someone. However, there is little research to support the use of dance/movement therapy (DMT) in the adult population. This literature review investigated grief and loss, with a particular emphasis on embodied grief and how and where grief is carried in the physical body. Furthermore, this study of the literature extended on the implementation of DMT and the five senses with adults experiencing embodied grief, as well as body-based techniques to assist these individuals in understanding their loss. This was an essential subject …

Predictors Of Meeting Physical Activity Recommendation Before And During Covid-19 Pandemic In Adults, Ayda Karaca, Sinem Hazir Aytar, Funda Akcan, Necip Demirci, Emine Caglar

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the variables that predict whether WHO's global recommendation for physical activity (PA) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic can be met among adults. Material and Methods: A total of 921 adults voluntarily participated in this study. A demographic information form and the Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire for Turkish people were administered by self-report. The participants were also asked whether they regularly do PA and if the duration of PA is over 150 minutes. Results: The number of adults doing regular PA at the level recommended by WHO significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and …

Analysis Of Peer Influence On Adolescents And Adults, Melody Q. Xiong, Hillary C. Vang

Research and Scholarship Symposium Posters

Peers are a huge part of life and affect people in many different ways. In adolescence and adulthood, peers have different kinds of impacts. The researchers chose to research how peer influence can affect the decisions, performance and attitudes of adolescents and adults. Specifically, researchers analyzed how lifestyle decisions influenced by peers affect mental health and how the effects differ from gender and age. Participants of the study were selected to fit the three age groups needed for this study and responses were collected via electronic survey. Throughout this study, the relationship that peer influence has with mental health, positive …

The Effects Of Exercise On Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Addison Bates

Honors Theses

Exercise is essential for a healthy life and many people are unable to participate due to barriers. One population that seems to be extremely impacted by these barriers are persons with disabilities. People with disabilities are more likely to become obese and suffer from serious, chronic illnesses. There is a need for exercise programs catered to this population. There is a lack of exercise programs focused on people with disabilities, so through this research we are interested to see the impact of a 12-week exercise program and what results might occur from this lifestyle change. With the 12-week virtual program …

Digital Behaviour Change Interventions To Increase Vegetable Intake In Adults: A Systematic Review, Katherine M. Livingstone, Jonathan C. Rawstorn, Stephanie R. Partridge, Stephanie L. Godrich, Sarah A. Mcnaughton, Gilly A. Hendrie, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Ralph Maddison, Yuxin Zhang, Scott Barnett, John C. Mathers, Maria Packard, Laura Alston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Digital interventions may help address low vegetable intake in adults, however there is limited understanding of the features that make them effective. We systematically reviewed digital interventions to increase vegetable intake to 1) describe the effectiveness of the interventions; 2) examine links between effectiveness and use of co-design, personalisation, behavioural theories, and/or a policy framework; and 3) identify other features that contribute to effectiveness. Methods: A systematic search strategy was used to identify eligible studies from MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, INFORMIT, IEEE Xplore and Clinical Trial Registries, published between January 2000 and August 2022. Digital interventions …

Analysis Of Peer Influence On Adolescents And Adults, Melody Xiong, Hillary C. Vang

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

Peers are a huge part of life and affect people in many different ways. In adolescence and adulthood, peers have different kinds of impacts. The researchers chose to research how peer influence can affect the decisions, performance and attitudes of adolescents and adults. Specifically, researchers analyzed how lifestyle decisions influenced by peers affect mental health and how the effects differ from gender and age. Participants of the study were selected to fit the three age groups needed for this study and responses were collected via electronic survey. Throughout this study, the relationship that peer influence has with mental health, positive …

Racial Healing In The Church: The Usefulness Of The Interpersonal Process In Therapy Model, Winston Seegobin

Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Racial disunity is a major challenge facing the Christian church. This article examines psychological factors that contribute to and maintain both racial disunity and racial unity through the lens of the Interpersonal Process in Therapy model (Sullivan, 1968; Teyber & Teyber, 2017). It looks at how early interpersonal relationships in childhood influence interpersonal relationships as adults and how the therapeutic relationship as a healing influence can be applied to racial healing as adults. Spiritual factors that contribute to and maintain racial disunity and racial unity are also discussed. Understanding that it is the relationship that heals, specific strategies such as …

Diversity In Diagnosis: A Comparative Relationship Between The Social Behavioral Effects And Timing Of Adhd Diagnosis In African American Adults, K. N'Kira Hailey

Senior Projects Spring 2023

The symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are first seen during childhood and can persist throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD can differ between childhood and adulthood, and there can also be a difference in symptoms for African American adults compared to other groups. Childhood social support and mental health stigma can affect the probability of a person seeking professional help. In addition, the severity of their symptoms, especially if untreated, may lead to experiences of impostor syndrome. This study examined these three social behavioral effects in Black adults in three diagnosis conditions: diagnosed as (1) a child, (2) …

“Avoid It Like The Plague”: Adults' Lived Experience Of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Megan Knedgen

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of adults with a DSM-5 diagnosis of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) aiming to describe key features of ARFID as it is understood by treatment-seeking adults. Nine treatment-seeking adults with a full-threshold diagnosis of ARFID (aged 20–42) were recruited. In-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences and perceptions of avoidant and/or restrictive eating. Transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, through which three group experimental themes were generated: (a) “A tradeoff between safety and freedom,” (b) “A broken self,” and (c) “Being seen: A double-edged sword.” This study’s findings …

The Adult Programming Palooza: Sharing Ideas, Making Connections, Kara Rumble, Amie Torok

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Happiness Through The Lens Of Age And Gender, Alea Farmer

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

This paper intends to examine the possible relationship between demographic variables and perceptions of happiness. The demographic variables being studied are age and gender. Perceptions of happiness are measured by the Conceptions of Happiness Scale (Joshanloo, 2018) and represent one’s overall idea of happiness. A survey was distributed to adults that were recruited via social media and flyer recruitment on the campus of Lindenwood University. The survey consisted of demographic questions as well as the Conceptions of Happiness Scale (Joshanloo, 2018) for participants to complete. Initial hypotheses predicted differences in perceptions of happiness amongst different age and gender groups. However, …

Do Adverse Childhood Experiences Mediate The Relationship Between Autistic Traits And Borderline Personality Traits?, Alyne Rodrigues

Dissertations - ALL

Background: Previous studies have found comorbid autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnoses in clinical samples, higher autistic traits in individuals with BPD compared to control groups, and co-occurrence of autistic traits and BPD traits in community samples. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are highly prevalent among autistic individuals and individuals diagnosed with BPD. However, to date, cumulative ACEs have been neglected as a potential mediator of the association between ASD and BPD. The present preliminary cross-sectional study examined whether retrospective self-reported ACEs, before 18 years of age, explained the relationship between current self-reported autistic traits and current …

Changes In Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Behaviors Of Adult Participants In Create Better Health's Education (Snap-Ed) Program, Kami Bullock

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of delivery method on the nutrition, food resource management (FRM), and physical activity behavior of participants enrolled in either Create Better Health’s in-person or online courses. The pre-survey and post-survey included data on nutrition, FRM, and physical activity behaviors. The researcher analyzed preexisting data from 138 SNAP-eligible adults who participated in Create Better Health’s online and in-person courses.

Results showed similar improvements in most of the nutrition and physical activity behaviors among those who took the CBH courses online or in-person. The online course showed statistically higher scores for four …

How Clay In Group Art Therapy Helps Female Veterans Maintain Well-Being: Development Of Methods, Sooho Park

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Using clay in art therapy has emerged as an evidence-based therapeutic approach to enable treatment for people with anxiety. While clay in art therapy has been researched and proven to be highly effective with children, there is limited research on the benefit for the population of female veterans. Therefore, this study examines the possibility of how clay in art therapy helps female veterans to reduce anxiety and maintain their well-being at Veterans Affairs Hospital (VAH). Three female veterans were engaged in weekly intervention for six weeks through both in-person and online sessions. Results indicate participants experienced beneficial changes in anxiety …

Racism-Related State Policies And The Psychological And Physiological Wellbeing Of Black And White Adults, Calley Elizabeth Fisk

Theses and Dissertations

Recent research on how state-policy affects population health outcomes suggests that state contexts are important sites for producing health disparities. In the United States different domains of state policy are historically linked to the livelihood of Black Americans and enacted within a racist system designed to maintain white supremacy. Despite this history and evidence of racial inequities in health outcomes linked to institutional discrimination for Black and white adults, scholars have yet to examine whether racism-related state policies affect the wellbeing of Black and white Americans. Combining a dataset of racism-related state policies with a nationally representative data of older …

A Preparation Cycle In Strength Training As A Form Of Health Training For Adults, Malgorzata Kalwa, Tadeusz Stefaniak, Dariusz Harmacinski, Bartosz Groffik

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: ‪The authors assume that 8-month systematic physical activity with individually selected resistance of progressively increasing volume and intensity will counteract the processes related to regress of motricity and the unfavourable change of body composition in people over 40 years old. Material and methods: ‪The research involved 178 persons (92 women and 86 men) aged 40–61 years old. The participants pursued training with small and medium weights, broken down into a younger (40–50 years) and an older (51–61 years) group. The workout plan was modelled on the adaptive strength training method (ASTM), which is used by weightlifters and bodybuilders. The …

Physical Activity And Other Health-Related Behaviors In Adults From Oradea, Romania. Facts And Social Factors, Raluca Buhaș, Sorana Săveanu, Claudia Bacter

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Findings indicate a direct relation between engagement in physical activities, dietary habits and a healthy lifestyle. An active life and a nutritional diet are associated with substantial health benefits. But people’s interest in health outcomes as well as their level of engagement in physical activities is influenced by a wide array of determinants, among which socio-cultural factors play an important role. Material and methods: Our paper investigates how much Romanian adults are engaged in exercising and aims to identify their health-related behaviors Data were collected by questionnaire from 400 subjects. Results: Research results indicate that not many Romanian adults …

Effect Of Computer-Assisted Cognitive Behavior Therapy Vs Usual Care On Depression Among Adults In Primary Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Jesse H. Wright, Jesse J. Owen, Tracy D. Eells, Becky F. Antle, Laura B. Bishop, Renee Girdler, Lesley M. Harris, R. Brent Wright, Michael J. Wells, Rangaraj Gopalraj, Michael E. Pendleton, Shehzad Ali

Counseling Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Importance Depression is a common disorder that may go untreated or receive suboptimal care in primary care settings. Computer-assisted cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT) has been proposed as a method for improving access to effective psychotherapy, reducing cost, and increasing the convenience and efficiency of treatment for depression.

Objectives To evaluate whether clinician-supported CCBT is more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in primary care patients with depression and to examine the feasibility and implementation of CCBT in a primary care population with substantial numbers of patients with low income, limited internet access, and low levels of educational attainment.

Design, Setting, …

Extended Functional Connectivity Of Convergent Structural Alterations Among Individuals With Ptsd: A Neuroimaging Meta-Analysis, Brianna S. Pankey, Michael C. Riedel, Isis Cowan, Jessica E. Bartley, Rosario Pintos Lobo, Lauren D. Hill-Bowen, Taylor Sato, Erica D. Musser, Matthew T. Sutherland, Angela R. Laird

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder defined by the onset of intrusive, avoidant, negative cognitive or affective, and/or hyperarousal symptoms after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Previous voxel-based morphometry studies have provided insight into structural brain alterations associated with PTSD with notable heterogeneity across these studies. Furthermore, how structural alterations may be associated with brain function, as measured by task-free and task-based functional connectivity, remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Using emergent meta-analytic techniques, we sought to first identify a consensus of structural alterations in PTSD using the anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) approach. Next, we generated functional …

Driving Habits, Cognition, And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Middle-Aged And Older Adults With Hiv, Josiah J. Robinson, Tess Walker, Cierra Hopkins, Brittany Bradley, Peggy Mckie, Jennifer S. Frank, Caitlin N. Pope, Pariya L. Fazeli, David E. Vance

Graduate Center for Gerontology Faculty Publications

Cognitive impairment is known to increase with aging in people living with HIV (PLWH). Impairment in cognitive domains required for safe driving may put PLWH at risk for poor driving outcomes, decreased mobility, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study described the driving behaviors of middle-aged and older PLWH and examined correlations between driving behaviors and cognitive functioning (Aim 1), and driving behaviors and HRQoL domains (Aim 2). A sample of 260 PLWH ages 40 and older completed a comprehensive assessment including a battery of cognitive tests, an HRQoL measure, and a measure of self-reported driving habits. Associations between …

Somatic Experiencing And Expressive Arts Therapy To Support Autonomic Regulation In Trauma Treatment With Adults: A Literature Review, Daniel J. Patrick

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Autonomic nervous system dysregulation is commonly experienced in adults who have experienced trauma and underlies several symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Though established treatments for PTSD have a strong evidence base, they can increase dysregulation during treatment, leading to high drop-out rates. Somatic experiencing (SE) and expressive arts therapy (ExAT) are two emerging methods that support autonomic regulation in trauma treatment. This literature review provides an overview of the use of SE and ExAT in trauma treatment with adults and describes concepts and techniques from SE and ExAT that are used to support regulation during treatment. Several shared concepts …

Exploring Art Therapy With Clients Suffering From Eating Disorders In An Out-Patient Setting, Miranda Hays

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

To date no peer reviewed literature has been published using art therapy for the treatment of clients with eating disorders (EDs) in an outpatient treatment setting. Despite evidence-based treatment methods being used to help treat clients with EDs high rates of morality and relapse persist for clients with EDs (Belak, 2017, p.1). There is a need for creative approaches to ED treatment that can be used to enhance existing evidence-based treatment models. Art Therapy can provide clients with EDs the opportunity to engage in the creative process which allows them to momentarily lessen their defense mechanisms and explore their ED …

To Love And Be Loved: Art Therapy And Couples With Disabilities, Cailey Bussiere

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Couples with intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) diagnoses often seek or are in partnerships, but there are, at present, few treatment modalities for working with such individuals. This population faces unique barriers to creating and maintaining partnerships, such as pervasive stigmatization in caretaking systems which they rely on for support, neurological differences, and an increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Art therapy has the potential to be a supportive modality for this population as it moves creative expression beyond words and supports agency and choice. It can create a context in which conflict can be externalized and understood, exploration …

Perceived Psychosocial Impacts Of Legalized Same-Sex Marriage: A Scoping Review Of Sexual Minority Adults’ Experiences, Laurie A. Drabble, Angie R. Wootton, Cindy B. Veldhuis, Ellen D.B. Riggle, Sharon S. Rostosky, Pamela J. Lannutti, Kimberly F. Balsam, Tonda L. Hughes

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

A growing body of literature provides important insights into the meaning and impact of the right to marry a same-sex partner among sexual minority people. We conducted a scoping review to 1) identify and describe the psychosocial impacts of equal marriage rights among sexual minority adults, and 2) explore sexual minority women (SMW) perceptions of equal marriage rights and whether psychosocial impacts differ by sex. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework we reviewed peer-reviewed English-language publications from 2000 through 2019. We searched six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Sociological Abstracts) to identify English language, peer-reviewed journal articles …