Social Work Commons^™

Individuals With Dementia In Respite Care: Longitudinal Changes In Anxiety, Social Engagement, And Problem Behaviors, Rachael Elizabeth Mills

LSU Master's Theses

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia commonly referred to as persons with dementia (PWD), often experience behavioral and psychological symptoms as a result of the disease process. With no cure for AD and no way to prevent the onset of this disease, studies are analyzing methods to manage the symptoms of this disease. Previous literature on the effect of social adult day models is limited, especially pertaining to particular symptoms linked to this disease. This study explored three presenting symptoms associated with AD: anxiety, problem behaviors, and social engagement. Using a secondary data analysis, a sample of 30 participants …

The Emotional Impact On Elderly Spouses Who Placed Their Loved Ones In Long-Term, Barbara Hunt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aging may bring mental and/or physical decline. There may come a point when a loved

one needs long-term care in a nursing home. The purpose of this phenomenological study

was to examine the community dwelling spouses' emotional state. A study was

conducted with 10 individuals (5 men and 5 women) who had a spouse in long-term

nursing care. Inclusion criteria was to be at least 65-years old, have been married at least

30 years, and reside alone in his or her own home. The social emotional selectivity theory

and the construct of boundary ambiguity were applied to view the epoch. …

Stress, Anxiety Symptomology, And The Need For Student Support Services For University Freshmen Of First-Generation Status, Low-Ses Backgrounds, And Those Registered With Disabilities, Kelly Dale Allison

LSU Master's Theses

Three populations of concern for professional social workers in higher educational settings include first-generation college students (FGCSs), students from low socio-economic (low-SES) backgrounds, and students with disabilities. As the national demand for degrees in higher education rises both socially and economically, the push for young adults’ postsecondary success becomes increasingly crucial. In college and university settings, a significant portion of students may be classified as FGCSs, low-SES, or may be registered with a disability. Examining these vulnerable populations within higher education settings, particularly regarding stress and anxiety symptomology, can help social workers recognize the social, developmental, and academic inhibitions that …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Mindfulness Practice With Clients Suffering From Anxiety, Amy G. Steiner

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mindfulness has been proposed as a potentially important new approach for the treatment of anxiety and has been increasingly used in clinical practice. However, to date no studies have researched the approaches that clinicians use in practice with anxiety. The goal of this study was to qualitatively investigate these approaches for anxiety using interviews with therapists on the ways they incorporate mindfulness in their approach with clients with anxiety. Six therapists outside of the formal approaches of mindfulness were interviewed. The interviews were semi-structured and questions were asked about their use of mindfulness in practice with anxiety. The interviews were …

Assessing The Effect Of Relocation Control On Psychological Well-Being Of Assisted Living Residents, Young Sook Kim

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Recent evidence and prior research document that increasing numbers of older adults are experiencing relocation to an assisted living facility (ALF), and that involuntary ALF relocatees face a great risk of psychological distress because of the numerous stressors associated with this relocation. However, little empirical research has clearly investigated the interrelationship among major factors and their effects on the psychological well-being of AL residents: relocation control, mediators of stress (e.g., social support, self-reported health, and functional impairment) and psychological well-being.

This study had two aims: (a) to investigate the relationship between relocation control and psychological well-being (e.g., depression, …

The Use Of Self-Service Technologies In Stress Management: A Pilot Project, Carissa Morris

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This research describes a pilot program created to help St. Catherine University’s Associate nursing students receive education regarding stress management and practice relaxation techniques. The program was developed using three key elements: 1) practicing a variety of relaxation and mindfulness techniques 2) practicing these techniques through the use of self-service technologies, and 3) participating in group sessions where psychoeducation regarding stress, depression and anxiety was provided.

Six participants completed the stress management program. They practiced breathwork, mindfulness and guided imagery exercises through podcasts and apps on internet-capable, mobile devices. Results showed decreases in stress and anxiety levels among participants. Additional …

Impact Of Mbsr On Symptoms Of Anxiety, Stress, And On The Degree Of Mindfulness, Maureen Rivord

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Anxiety and stress are felt by millions of people in the United States, and when experienced at high levels they can leave a debilitating impact, including both physical and mental health concerns. The purpose of this research project was to explore the impact of a mindfulness course, specifically Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, on voluntary participants’ reported symptoms of anxiety and stress levels. The 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course took place in a mid-sized Midwestern city. Using quantitative methods the 10 voluntary participants were given a pre- and post-test survey where the participants reported their anxiety, stress, and mindfulness levels before and …

Primary Care Provider Management Of Anxiety And Depression In Palliative Patients, Colette Zunk

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Anxiety and depression are common psychological experiences in patients who have advanced disease and are often unrecognized and undertreated. This study examined how primary care providers assess, identify and treat anxiety and depression in patients who have advanced disease, as well as to illustrate to what extent social work and mental health services are currently being utilized to address these psychological issues. Primary care providers at two rural clinics in Northern Wisconsin were invited to participate in this study, including Family Practice and Internal Medicine Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants who provide primary care to patients, including patients who …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Child-Parent Interventions For Children And Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders, Kristen Brendel

Dissertations

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in childhood (Walkup & Ginsburg, 2002; Hirshfeld-Becker & Biederman, 2002), occuring in approximately twenty percent of the population (APA, 2000; Langley Lindsey, Bergaman & Piacentini, 2002). Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders often experience many detrimental effects such as low-self esteem, issues with social and family relationships, and a decrease in overall functioning, including academic performance. In addition, if left untreated or unrecognized, anxiety disorders in childhood often lead to more severe symptoms in adulthood including depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and other comorbid anxiety disorders. Evidence suggests that anxiety disorders are …

Anxiety Level Of Graduate Students In Social Work, Sophia Kouidou-Giles, George Albert Mckee

Dissertations and Theses

This study was designed to determine (1) the trend of anxiety level of social work students, term by term, over the academic year; (2) the cyclical trend of anxiety level of social work students within each term and (3) the effects of age and sex on level of anxiety among social work students.

Anxiety was measured with the IPAT - 8 Parallel Form Anxiety Battery. This test was administered to twenty randomly selected first year students in the School of Social Work during the 1969-1970 academic year at Portland State University. Data was collected from six test administrations which …