Digital Commons Network^™

Race, Resources, And American Adolescents’ Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Chineze Nkemeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, African American adolescents experienced reduced access to needed resources and may have suffered poorer mental health outcomes as a result. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between race and the availability of mental health resources, food, medical health resources and mental health outcomes among African American adolescents in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their White counterparts. The theoretical framework that grounded this study was the Socio Ecological Model. Secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey database were analyzed. These …

Career Impact Of The National Interprofessional Fellowship In Patient Safety: An Alumni Evaluation, Bradley V Watts, Kathleen Carluzzo, Blake F Webb, Kelley Arredondo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: There has been a proliferation of health professions training programmes focused on quality and patient safety, but little information regarding the outcomes of these programmes. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an interprofessional quality and patient safety curriculum on career outcomes of interprofessional healthcare learners for the Veterans Affairs Patient Safety Fellowship.

Method: We conducted a survey-based assessment of 117 alumni of the Interprofessional Fellowship in Patient Safety assessing their satisfaction with the training program and career impacts.

Results: 84 of 117 alumni were located and participated in the assessment. Fellows entered the training …

How Far-Right Populism Harms Ethnic Minorities’ Health: The Case Of The United States, Dina Rosenberg

Working Papers Series

Public health is a political issue, and the health of ethnic minorities is a key component of it. We argue that far-right populism, whether grassroots or elitist, harms the health of immigrants and minorities. Anti-minority attitudes and policies—such as health chauvinism promoted by far-right populists—along with hate rhetoric and ensuing personal and institutional discrimination create a climate of hostility that negatively affects health outcomes in underprivileged communities. We hypothesize that immigrants and ethnic minorities living in such a climate are more likely to experience health problems and underutilize healthcare. To test this, we leverage the significant variation between U.S. states …

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Walk A Mile: Exploring Cause-Based Charity Event Participation As A Catalyst For Increasing Physical Activity Behavior, Kimberly S. Fasczewski, Andrey A. Sanko Posada, Meg Hopkins

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Despite the known benefits of physical activity (PA), more than half of U.S. adults do not meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s PA recommendations for health, often resulting in negative health outcomes. Developing programming that increases motivation for PA participation is critical for healthcare professionals to combat physical inactivity. Previous research has demonstrated that framing disease-based PA charity fundraising events as “helping a cause” improved motivation for PA due to the individual’s emotional connection to the cause. There is currently no congruent research on motivation for participation in cause-based charity events. Behavioral economics theory posits that cognitive, emotional, and …

Social Exclusion And Mental Health Of Youths Affected By Parental Hiv/Aids In China: Based On A Serial Mediating Model, Jiaojiao Wan, Lili Ji, Zheqian Wang, Junfeng Zhao, Xiaoming Li

Faculty Publications

The mental health of youth living with patients with HIV needs focused attention. The primary source of psychological distress they experience may stem from social exclusion. Therefore, the current study was designed to explore the relationship between social exclusion and mental health among youths affected by parental HIV/AIDS in rural China.

Methods

297 youths affected by parental HIV/AIDS were recruited to completed questionnaires of social exclusion, perceived stress, future orientation and mental health. The bootstrap method was used to examine the mediation effects.

Results

It showed that: (1) the social exclusion (M = 32.48, SD = 15.25) significantly and …

Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Mental And Substance Use Problems Among Adults In Kenya: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Patrick Nzivo Mwangala, Anita Kerubo, Millicent Makandi, Rachel Odhiambo, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Data on the burden and determinants of mental and substance use problems among women in urban and rural informal settlements in Kenya is sparse, thus limiting preventive and treatment efforts in these areas. To bridge the gap, we (a) determined the prevalence of depressive, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol and drug use problems among women compared to their spouses and (b) examined the correlates of these outcomes. Data collection for this cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2022 in Mombasa, Kwale and Nairobi counties in Kenya. A total of 1528 adults (1048 women) took part. The 9-Item …

Insights On Human Papillomavirus Among Medical Students And Professionals, Fathima Thansiha, Amogha Shree, Rashmi S

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: As per World Health Organization, in 2022, 660000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and 350000 women died from the disease. Sexual behaviour is the major risk factor and exposure to Human Papillomavirus has been established as a causative agent in 70-80% of the cases for development of cervical cancer. Most infections with HPV resolve spontaneously and cause no symptoms, persistent infection can cause cervical cancer in women. Effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening and treating precancerous lesions) will prevent most cervical cancer cases. Thus, study was conducted with the objective of assessing the knowledge …

Mechanisms Of Interventions Targeting Modifiable Factors For Dementia Risk Reduction, Anna Matton, Ruth Stephen, Makrina Daniilidou, Mariagnese Barbera, Vilma Alanko, Marcel Ballin, Jamie Ford, Katri Hemiö, Jenni Lehtisalo, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

The global prevalence of dementia is increasing. With no widely available and accessible treatments to halt or reverse the progression of dementia, exploring preventative strategies is critical. Lifestyle-based interventions show promise in preventing or delaying dementia onset. However, understanding the complex and multifactorial mechanisms underlying dementia, and how interventions target these pathways, is essential for developing personalized and effective strategies. In this review, we examined the current evidence of the mediating pathways in dementia risk reduction. We focused on mechanisms investigated in single-domain interventions on physical exercise, cognitive training, diet, metabolic/cardiovascular or psycho-social risk factors in line with those combined …

Occupational Stress: Lifestyle And Health In Blue- And White-Collar Workers In The United States, Carice T. Craffey

Dissertations and Theses

ABSTRACT

Occupational Stress: Lifestyle and Health in Blue- and White-Collar Workers in the United States

by

Carice Craffey

Advisor: Catherine M. Schooling, Ph.D.

Background: Heart disease and diabetes are leading causes of death in the United States and globally, particularly heart disease in men. Employment conditions can contribute to illness and death. Occupational or job stress (OS) is a potential contributor to heart disease and diabetes, but its conceptualization and role for men and women remain unclear. To address this gap, I conceptualized OS, then examined the role of OS in heart disease and diabetes.

Methods: I used a literature …

Blueprint For A Youth Violence Intervention Program In East Baton Rouge Parish: Adapting Hospital-Based Strategies, Kristina G. Little, Elizabeth Winchester, Judith L F Rhodes

Reports

Youth violence in East Baton Rouge Parish remains a persistent public safety and public health challenge. This report proposes an adapted, evidence-informed model for East Baton Rouge Parish that retains the core components of traditional HVIPs while leveraging existing legal, hospital, and social service resources. The model is grounded in a public health framework and emphasizes trauma-informed, bedside intervention at the “teachable moment” when youth are most receptive to change, and long-term wraparound case management. The report concludes with recommendations for implementing this adapted approach, including identifying a health system champion, building referral protocols, embedding training, and developing a long-term …

Using Industry-Level Characteristics To Assess The Degree To Which Interventions Engage An Employee Population, Haley C. Trust, Brett Amazon, Anthony Puline, Evan Sassenberger, Kristin Horan

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

Participation is an essential component in workplace health and safety programs or interventions. While those who conduct interventions often report participation rates among the overall organization, it could be useful to compare participants to industry statistics, given that health and safety risks can diverge widely among industries. Research students from Kennesaw State University analyzed a sample of published papers that focus on occupational health psychology interventions. This narrative review analyzed existing studies to look for similarities or dissimilarities between a sample of intervention participants and employees of their industry as a whole. The students considered demographic, socioeconomic, job-related, and health-related …

Exploring Early Childhood Development Programming In Kenya’S Arid And Semi-Arid Lands, Phyllis Magoma, Amina Abubakar, Martha Kaniala, Barack Aoko, Moses Wesala, Joyce Marangu, Susan Nyamanya, Margaret Kabue, Anil Khamis, Esther Chongwo

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Promoting high-quality early childhood development (ECD) is vital for individuals’ physical and social well-being and yields significant societal returns. However, children in marginalised regions like Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) face significant barriers to accessing quality ECD services.

Aim: This study aimed to document existing ECD services in Kenya’s ASAL areas, including their availability, types and key characteristics; identify gaps in their provision and propose solutions to enhance access and quality. Setting: This qualitative study was conducted in 10 ASAL counties in Kenya.

Methods: Using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, 103 key informants, including pre-primary …

How Do Health Insurer Practices Affect Health Equity For Gay And Bisexual Men And Transmasculine Individuals? A Qualitative And Health Policy Assessment, Alexa D'Angelo

Dissertations and Theses

In the U.S. there continue to be stark disparities in health that affect LGBTQ+ communities. These disparities include those related to mental health, sexually transmitted infections, along with chronic illnesses and some cancers. Higher health needs across diagnostic categories mean that LGBTQ+ individuals require access to the healthcare system both to prevent conditions disproportionately affecting the community, and to treat conditions as they arise. In the U.S., access to healthcare often requires either reliable insurance coverage or another payer to cover costs associated with care. Thus, health insurance status and coverage of care, along with coverage regulations and health policies …

Down Syndrome In Africa: Challenges, Opportunities, And Future Directions, Eimear Mcglinchey, Salina Tewolde, Amanda He, Juan Fortea, Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza, Ayda Tefera, Emmanuel Epenge, Jason Hassenstab, Rachel Maina, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION: As life expectancy improves for people with Down syndrome (DS) in Africa, the risk of developing DS-associated Alzheimer’s disease (DSAD) will rise. There is a pressing need to plan for this emerging challenge, particularly in the context of existing health and social disparities.

METHODS: This work emerged from a pan-African collaboration, including discussions at the Brain Ageing and Dementia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries conference held in Nairobi in 2024, where stakeholders identified regional priorities for DS and dementia care.

RESULTS: Limited epidemiological, cognitive, biomarker data, delayed diagnoses, and gaps in specialized services may impact access …

Ecological Grief Among Farmers And Pastoralists In Ethiopia And Kenya, Syed Shabab Wahid, Christine Musyimi, Benjamin Oestericher, Linda Khakali, Lauren Carruth, Emily Mendenhall, Edna Bosire

Brain and Mind Institute

Climate change is a major cause of mental distress worldwide. In many ways, climate change has become a chronic disaster, while in other ways each acute event can accumulate and present challenges within and between communities. A growing body of evidence indicates that a changing climate can precipitate a cluster of negative affective states scholars call “ecological grief.” Ecological grief reflects psychological responses to climate changes and destruction of nature, species, culturally significant or sacred spaces. Until now, ecological grief has been conceptualized as a psychological response connected primarily to the destruction of the natural environment, and has not fully …

Tobacco, Alcohol, And Poverty In Lao Pdr Based On National Survey Analysis, Robert M. Semakula

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tobacco and alcohol use are among the most prevalent and harmful addictive behaviors globally, including in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). In Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, substance use patterns are shaped by cultural, social, economic, policyrelated, and environmental factors. This study aimed to: (1) explore associations between different patterns of alcohol and tobacco use among men and women in Lao PDR, and (2) investigate the effect of poverty on the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2013 Lao National Adult Tobacco Survey (N = 9,706), a nationally representative sample …

A Comprehensive Literature Review Of Gender Differences In Perception And Response To Stress, Zoe M. Shankland

University Honors Theses

It is well established that psychological stress, whether acute, chronic, or recurring, creates an imbalance in the body’s ability to regulate itself, leading to the potential for long-term disease. This paper looks at the possibility that women (anyone who identifies as a woman) experience more general mental stress than men (anyone who identifies as a man) due to women experiencing unique stressors under a patriarchal society. Men and women live different lives in modern society due to differing societal expectations and biological processes for women (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause). These extra feelings of stress may be tied to traditional gender roles …

Access To Healthcare For Rural Transgender Adults In The United States, Devon Smith

University Honors Theses

Urban and rural healthcare differ significantly in the amount of facilities, providers and kinds of specialty care that are offered in each environment. The United States is split into urban and rural counties in any given region, and based on those population sizes, are the allocation of healthcare resources for residents. In rural areas in the U.S., transgender adults lack access to gender-affirming care and encounter a lack of gender-affirming care providers due to workforce shortages, discrimination, and a lack of cultural competency. To determine if these residents lacked access to care compared with their urban counterparts, I performed a …

Structure Vs Agency: The Intersectionality Of Race, Mental Health, And Homelessness, Jayley Martin

University Honors Theses

This project investigates the intersectionality between race, mental health, and homelessness, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between structural factors and individual characteristics. Through an integrative literature review, the research addresses the question of how race, mental health, and homelessness are interconnected. The findings suggest a distinct relationship between untreated mental illness and an increased risk of homelessness, particularly among marginalized racial groups. In addition, some mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, have a higher incidence among those who face conflict due to racial discrimination. Structural components such as systemic racism in social services and healthcare practices significantly impact access to …

Early Life Exposure To Fine Particulate Matter And Fine Motor Function, Attentional Function, And Working Memory Among Spanish School-Aged Children, Kristina W Whitworth, Aitana Lertxundi, Mingze Yuan, Alison Rector-Houze, Wei-Jen Chen, Mònica Guxens, Jordi Julvez, Michael Swartz, Elaine Symanski, Antonia Valentin, Carmen Iniguez, Llúcia L González-Safont, Jesús Ibarluzea

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Evidence of the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and child neuropsychological function is equivocal. We examined early life PM2.5 exposure in relation to fine motor function, attention, and working memory in early childhood.

Methods: We used data from the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project, 2003-2008. Exposure to PM2.5 (μg/m3) was assessed using spatiotemporal land-use random forest models and assigned based on residential address histories. Around age six, children completed the finger tapping test, attentional network test (ANT), and n-back task to evaluate fine motor speed, attention, and working memory, respectively. A total of 1,310 children had …

The Association Of Vision And Hearing Impairment On Cognitive Function And Loneliness: Evidence From The Mexican Health And Aging Study, Kimberly Hreha, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Heather E Whitson, L P Downer, Jessica S West, Brian Downer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: We investigated whether self-reported vision and hearing were associated with cognitive function and loneliness among Mexican adults aged 50 and older.

Methods: Mexican Health and Aging Study data. Vision/hearing status was self-reported (excellent-very good, good, fair-poor). Cognition was measured using nine tasks. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Analyses controlled for demographic and health characteristics.

Results: Among 12,353 participants (mean age = 67, 58% female), poor vision, but not hearing, was associated with lower global cognition (β = -0.03, p < .05). Poor vision (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.30-1.91) and hearing (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.14-1.61) were associated with higher odds of being lonely after adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, but not when adjusting for limitations in daily activities and depressive symptoms.

Discussion: Poor vision is a potentially modifiable risk factor for lower cognition and loneliness among Mexican adults. …

Dietary Interventions To Support And Improve Sleep Disturbances And Insomnia Disorder In Menopause: From Bench To Bedside, Rosie H Musgrave, Sara Nowakowski, Tamlyn J Watermeyer, Emily J Arentson-Lantz, Greg J Elder

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sleep is essential for maintaining physical and psychological health, and also cognitive health (referred to as 'brain health'). However, the transition to menopause has a direct impact upon sleep. Sleep disturbances are reported by approximately 40%-60% of menopausal women, and insomnia disorder is also prevalent. Diet-based interventions could potentially be used to improve subjective sleep quality in this population, and although there are several promising interventions which have been used in other groups that could be trialled, the evidence base is currently lacking. One particularly promising area for future research is that these interventions might be used alongside, or instead …

Is Less More? Maximizing Outcomes By Tailoring Treatments To Patients: Oncofertility And Oncomenopause, Janice S Kwon, Marie Plante, Martha Hickey, Annabelle Huguenin, Sarah Hmaidan, Terri Lynn Woodard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Notable advances have been made in improving survival outcomes in various cancers, but some have incurred undesirable costs and effects to patients with respect to fertility and menopause. Patients are living longer with cancer, and patient reported outcomes are influencing decision-making by individuals and their health care providers. It is essential to evaluate existing standards of care on an ongoing basis and prioritize quality of life and long-term survivorship, particularly for interventions in early-stage cancers and risk-reducing strategies that often yield long-term life expectancy.

Stress, Employment Changes, And Psychological Distress Among Caregivers Of Patients With Head And Neck Cancer, Lama Abdurrahman, Vlad C Sandulache, Cielito Reyes-Gibby, Erich M Sturgis, Pavan Jhaveri, Hoda Badr

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) often experience adverse effects that require substantial caregiving. The burdens of caregiving can impact caregiver employment and mental health over time, yet this topic remains underexplored.

Objective: To examine the associations between caregiving for patients with HNC who undergo EBRT and caregiver stress, employment status, and psychological distress.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal survey study that surveyed caregivers at baseline (ie, at initiation of EBRT) and at 4-month and 12-month follow-ups. The study was conducted at 2 …

Supporting The Mental Health Of Adolescent Mothers In Kenya And Mozambique: Pilot Protocol For The Thriving Mamas Programme, Tatiana Taylor Salisbury, Maria Suzana Bata Maguele, Fernando Chissale, Málica De Melo, Margrette Hanselmann, Kethakie Lamahewa, Evaline Chepchirchir Langat, Flávio Mandlate, Lucy Nyaga, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Poor mental health among adolescent girls during pregnancy and the year after birth (the perinatal period) has been found to have a significant detrimental effect on girls and their children. The Innovative approaches to adolescent perinatal wellbeing (INSPIRE) project co-designed an intervention (Thriving Mamas) to improve adolescent perinatal mental health in Kenya and Mozambique. The aim of the current study is to pilot test the co-designed intervention to understand how it can be adapted for further testing or scale-up.

Methods :A mixed-method, pilot cluster-randomised, efectiveness-implementation Hybrid Type II trial will be conducted among 80 adolescent girls (aged 15–19 years) …

Assessment Of Emergency Medicine Residents' Situational Awareness And Perception Of Patient Safety Culture In The Emergency Department, Adriana Olson, Nathan Olson, Nicholas Hartman, Casey Morrone, Morgan Battaglia, Kamna Balhara

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Situational awareness (SA) and positive safety climate are crucial to patient safety. Little is known about emergency medicine (EM) trainees' SA and perception of emergency department (ED) safety climate, and the interactions of those factors with safety-related behaviors.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to evaluate EM residents' perceptions of ED safety climate, self-reported SA, and comfort with identifying, rectifying, and reporting safety hazards.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study at two EM residencies, residents completed the Situational Awareness Rating Technique (SART) after ED-based or simulated resuscitations as well as a survey regarding safety climate and comfort with identifying, rectifying, and reporting …

The Need To Integrate Mental Health Treatment Into The Care Of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser, Teni Davoudian, Emily Hills

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This mini review examines the psychological burdens of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) and encourages collaborations between medical and mental health providers who treat this condition. The psychological comorbidities of MRKH emerge in adolescence and persist into adulthood. For several years, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and researchers in this field have called for the provision of psychological counseling for individuals with MRKH. However, referrals to qualified mental health professionals remain sparse leaving many to confront the emotional complexities of MRKH with little to no support.

Consumers' Perspectives On The Design Of A New Digital Frailty Education Course, ‘Focus On Frailty’: A Qualitative Co-Design Study, Kristiana Ludlow, Benignus Logan, Jhalak Arora, Sarah Martin, Elizabeth Miller, Ruth E. Hubbard, Nicola Warren, Olivia Gallagher, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Frailty-focused care in hospitals is hindered by systemic barriers, ageism and stereotypes about older adults and frailty. There is a need for frailty education to increase healthcare professionals' and students' understanding of frailty. Objective: As part of a larger study to co-design a new digital frailty education course, ‘Focus on Frailty’, this study aimed to explore consumers' and caregivers' perspectives on (i) how frailty and older adults should be represented in frailty education and (ii) what healthcare professionals should be taught about caring for older adults and people who are frail in hospitals. Design: This was a qualitative co-design …

Investigating The Associations Of Cognitive Health, Health Behaviors, And Personality In Older Community-Dwelling Adults, Yan-Jhu Su

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Cognitive decline poses a significant public health challenge, with profound implications for aging populations. This dissertation investigates the associations between health behaviors, leisure activities, personality traits, and cognitive function in older U.S. adults, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). This work comprises three studies that explore both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives on cognitive aging.

Study 1 examines the complex interactions between personality traits, education, health behaviors, and cognitive function. The study is divided into two parts: Study 1a explores the role of health behaviors—smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity—as …