Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Empathy Across The Lifespan: A Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Approach, Abi M. Heller

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This thesis project aimed to utilize functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology in order to assess empathy in a lifespan sample. fNIRS is a non-invasive brain imaging technique that uses properties of light to infer brain activity. Participants ranged in age from 19-75 and were recruited to participate in an fNIRS experiment to assess empathy. Each participant was asked to assume the mental perspective of players on a computer game, and witnessed the player win, lose or tie the game involving a monetary reward. After the fNIRS recording, participants completed personality trait questionnaires related to empathy and emotional contagion. Results …

Analysis Of Social Services Available To Seniors In Monterey County, Marijeanne Santina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As America’s geriatric population increases due to the Baby Boomer generation getting older, it is crucial for sociologists to investigate the current social services available to the aging population. Increasing longevity of older adults means focusing promoting health, wellbeing and independence through different services and promoting a positive perspective of seniors by general society. The focus of this research is to examine the current geriatric resources available to seniors in Monterey County. My research question is: “To what extent are the current social services available to seniors fulfilling the needs of the community?” I would like to assess the current …

Exploring The Homeless Persons Perception Of Living In A Long-Term Care Facility, Janice Woods

Dissertations

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of homeless persons admitted to a nursing home facility. Originally, the study was to explore their understanding of and their experience with advance health care planning; coincidently, the participants were more open to their experience of living in a long-term care facility.

Method:A convenience sample of 13 participants (12 male, 1 female) at four long-term care facilities in Southern California were interviewed about their perception of advanced health care planning, including the physician’s orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST); a consent form required in all nursing homes. …

Assessing Quality Of Life And Mental Health Differences Among Young Adult Informal Caregivers And Non-Caregivers In Nebraska, Emily L. Frankel

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The goal of this project is to identify differences in quality of life and mental health between younger informal caregivers and non-caregivers, ages 19-40, in Nebraska. To address this goal, a demographic and health assessment battery was disseminated to eligible participants (N=60), comprised of informal caregivers (N=30) and age-, education-, and gender-matched non-caregivers (N=30). The health assessment included reliable and validated questionnaires, including the RAND SF-36, EuroQol 5D, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire. By discovering relationships between quality of life and mental health with the length of time providing care, programming and intervention recommendations can be …

A Sensory-Based Program To Enhance Occupational Performance For Dementia, Ivy Annahi Torres-Flores, Jacob Gantan, Heather Anne August, Naomi Grace Wong

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Dementia is a neurological disease, causing behavioral and cognitive symptoms, that progressively impairs an individual’s ability to engage in meaningful activities. Progressive deterioration associated with dementia impacts occupational performance and independence and quality of life. Sensory based interventions, such as drumming groups, have been hypothesized to be a non-pharmacological intervention for individuals with dementia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a sensory based intervention program, in this case participation in a drumming group, on functional engagement during self-feeding for individuals with dementia. Researchers gathered data over the course of two days using the Functional Behavior …

The Impact Of Fall Efficacy On Occupational Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Michelle Fong, Araya Moua, Erin Denola, Merit Franklin

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Falls are a major health concern in the older adult (OA) population. While there is research on falls and their prevention, research on how low fall efficacy (FE) impacts the occupational engagement of the OA population is limited. FE is defined as the confidence a person has in his/her ability to complete a task without falling (Tinetti & Powell, 1993). A qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of OAs with low FE and the impact on occupational performance. Participants who scored ≤ 6 on the Modified Fall Efficacy Scale (MFES) engaged in a …

Occupational Responses Of Older Adults Following Partner Loss, Carol Huang, Jane Song, Peter Behr, Stephanie Sterner

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Spousal loss has been frequently identified as a life stressor that can greatly impede one’s ability to age at home. The purpose of this study is to identify the occupational changes that commonly result after this event and their impacts on one’s ability to age in place. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological research design. Eight participants were recruited from an educational program for older adults and were interviewed using a semi-structured interview format. Researchers transcribed and coded all interviews to determine emergent themes. Two major categories of themes were found: occupational and intrinsic responses. The areas of occupation that …

Posture Affects Affordance Perception Of Reachability In Virtual Reality, Hannah Masoner

Master's Theses

Tasks such as standing and reaching require differing levels of postural stability. Postural equilibrium is necessary to perceive the location of objects (Lee, Pacheco, & Newell, 2018). Visual perception of whether an object is within reach was investigated while standing upright. Participants viewed a 3D virtual reality (VR) environment with a stimulus object (red ball) placed at different egocentric distances. Participants made affordance judgements while in a standard stance condition as well as two separate active balance conditions (yoga tree pose, and toe-to-heel pose). Feedback on accuracy was not provided, and participants were not allowed to attempt to reach. Response …

Developing Age-Friendly Communities: Evidence From Multiple Case Studies, Patricia A. Oh

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Population aging brings opportunities and challenges for local community and economic development. One policy solution that has been adopted by 325+ jurisdictions in the United States is joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities or the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Although the age-friendly movement is gaining momentum in the US, few studies have looked at what influences municipal decision-making about joining a network or making age-friendly changes. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore what influences municipal decision-making about joining a formal age-friendly network and how communities mobilize the resources at …

To Adopt Or Not To Adopt: Factors Impacting States’ Pursuit And Implementation Of Aca’S Home And Community-Based Programs, Lisa Kalimon Beauregard

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to improve the United States’ long-term services and supports (LTSS) system by expanding home and community-based services (HCBS). The ACA contained several optional Medicaid HCBS opportunities for states, including the Balancing Incentive Program, the 1915(k) Community First Choice personal care benefit, and the revised 1915(i) state plan benefit. This research examined these HCBS provisions to explain what factors determine whether states participate in the ACA’s new HCBS programs and, after adoption, what factors facilitate or impede implementation of these programs. To answer these questions, this study used a mixed methods research …

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, Emma Eccles Jones College Of Education And Human Services, May 1, 2019, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

The Department of Nursing and Health Professions in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services proposes offering an online Bachelor of Science Nursing degree completion.

Sharing Clinical Notes With Patients: The Nurse Practitioner Perspective, Deborah S. Adelman, Catherine Fant, Debbie Conner

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This article outlines a research project conducted to learn more about NPs' attitudes regarding sharing clinical notes with patients through a patient portal. Perceptions were positive overall. To achieve effective health outcomes, patient and family engagement is essential. Shared clinical notes provide an opportunity to achieve these goals.

May 2019 Commencement Program, Bowling Green State University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Young Germ Cell Depleted Ovaries In Post-Reproductive Mice And Its Effects On Immune Function, Mckenna Walters

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

It has previously been shown that young, cycling ovarian transplantation in aged female mice increased the general health and life span in regard to their post-reproductive health. It has further been hypothesized that this enhancement of health is directly influenced by the ovarian somatic cells. To address this hypothesis, transplants of young germ cell depleted and germ cell containing ovaries were performed on female mice. The purpose of this study is to continue to discern the reproductive influence on aging health, specifically in the area of immunological well-being. Control group mice were separated by age and treatment mice were subsequently …

Manipulation Of Ovarian Function Significantly Influenced Glucose Metabolism In Cba/J Mice, Kyleigh Ann Tyler

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Menopause is associated with a decline in overall health in women. One health aspect impacted is glucose metabolism. As women experience menopause, their metabolism declines dramatically. The current study addressed the influence of ovarian somatic cells on the improvement of metabolic health through transplantations of young, germ cell-depleted ovaries. The purpose of this study is to expand the understanding of female reproductive health on metabolism. Control mice were grouped by age and treatment mice were age-matched. Treatment mice were placed into one of three groups: 1) mice received germ cell-depleted ovaries, 2) mice received germ cell-containing ovaries, and 3) mice …

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention On Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Elizabeth Edwards

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Cognitive decline and reduced cognitive function presents a serious risk to the older adult population. As the population of individuals over the age of 65 continues to increase, this presents a need for effective solutions to help people sustain healthy, independent lifestyles. Currently, physical activity is recommended for physical health in older adults and has shown evidence in maintaining cognitive function. In particular, the mind-body practice of yoga is a promising form of physical exercise that shows positive cognitive benefits. While the effects of yoga appear to be promising, the current literature is lacking scientific rigor. This study investigated the …

The Effects Of A Novel Sport-Based Intervention On Lower Body Muscle Function In Older Adults, Camille H. Dennis

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of a novel, small-court racquet sport, Pickleball, on lower body muscle power and functional performance of older adults, aged 60-75.

Background: Physical inactivity in the older adult population is associated with increased risks of falls, chronic illness, and decreased quality of life. Sports participation may have multiple benefits for improving these risks and have the added benefit of increased adherence among older adults. Pickleball, a popular new sport, is a small-court racquet sport that is moderate intensity, widely accessible, cost effective, and enjoyed by many older adults across the nation.

Methods: Five …

Stop-Signal Reaction Time Correlates With A Compensatory Balance Response In Older Adults, Derek England

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Response inhibition involves stopping undesired and automatic actions allowing for behavioral flexibility. This ability is theoretically able to contribute to fall prevention, which older adults are known to have difficulty with. Although much has been learned from cognitive psychology regarding response inhibition, translation to the challenge of balance recovery is unclear. Recently a correlation has been found between performance on a standard test of response inhibition called the Stop Signal Task (SST) and a balance test that required inhibition of a reactive step in young adults. This highlights a neural mechanism for stopping action across different behavioral contexts in …

Latino Stepcouples’ Experiences Two Years After Stepfamily Education And A Narrative Study Regarding Changes In A Latino Stepfamily Two Years After Stepfamily Education, Sheryl Ann Goodey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There are two studies in this dissertation. Both are about couples in a stepfamily who attended stepfamily education called, Smart Steps: Embrace the Journey. The first study explored how 13 Latino stepcouples felt the concepts they learned in stepfamily education influenced their couple relationship, parenting, and their family. Participants ranged in age from 25 to 43. They were interviewed two years after participating in the course. They talked about positive changes that happened in their couple relationship, parenting relationship, and their family as a result of participating in stepfamily education. It was also found that the course helped them …

Older Adults’ Perceptions Regarding Transportation Services In San Jose, Ca: Access, Barriers, And Innovations, Deborah Bolding

Mineta Transportation Institute

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of older adults concerning barriers to the use of public transportation, to identify programs and services that best meet transportation needs, and to obtain suggestions for improvements or innovations in order to enable them to engage more fully in their community. Four focus groups, with a total of 25 participants, were held in three locations in San Jose, CA. While the participants were able to use public transportation to access shopping, medical services and other destinations, they expressed concerns related to physical barriers, frequency of services, the behavior of some …

Research On A Future Senior Housing Model In Wuhan, China, Fangyuan Shi

Theses

Recently in China, seniors’ health and living conditions after retirement have become the focus of increasing political and social concerns. Due to fertility policies in China since the 1980s, improvements in living conditions have led to longer average lifespan, increasing demand in the country’s senior housing market. This research explores the future development of senior housing for this and the next generation, the evolution of needs after retirement, and possible future solutions for providing an up-to-date senior housing community in Wuhan, China. Through documentary analysis of the current conditions as well as the needs and social concerns of seniors, case …

Genetic Analysis Localizes A Novel Locus On Chromosome 4q For The Glaucoma Endophenotype, Cup-To-Disc Ratio: The Jiri Eye Study, Sarah E. Miller, Nicholas B. Blackburn, Suman S. Thapa, Sandra Laston, Satish Kumar, Juan M. Peralta, Janardan Subedi, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Matthew P. Johnson

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose: Glaucoma is a heterogeneous disease influenced by genetic risk factors. However, not all genetic risk factors have been identified. The aim of this project is to localize genetic factors influencing known glaucoma endophenotypes: intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR).

Methods: This family-based study design utilizes phenotypic and genomic data from a single well-characterized pedigree residing in the Jiri region of Nepal. Measures of IOP, CCT and VCDR were obtained by Goldmann applanation tonometry, OCT, and slit lamp biomicroscopy, respectively. Using a genome-wide genotype data set (~550,000 SNPs), we performed a genome-wide linkage scan …

Housing Equity And Household Consumption In Retirement: Evidence From The Singapore Life Panel, Lipeng Chen, Liang Jiang, Sock Yong Phang, Jun Yu

Research Collection School Of Economics

We utilize data from the Singapore Life Panel© survey to empirically investigate the impact of housing equity on consumption of elderly households. Based on panel analysis, we find housing equity value has no significant impact on non-durable consumption for elderly people. The conclusion holds for a battery of robustness check. Moreover, heterogeneity analyses based on subsamples by age of household head, house type, and number of property possessed also show no significant impact of housing equity on consumption in general. Finally, we use scenario analysis to study the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS), a novel housing equity monetization scheme which allows …

Relationships Between Goal-Setting, Motivational Traits, And Job Performance, Charissa Samaniego

Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Ensuring employees are and remain motivated is an important issue for organizations. One problem regarding employee motivation is not everyone is motivated in the same way, thus affecting performance. Goal setting has shown to increase performance when specific and difficult goals are set. Moreover, newer research concerning motivational traits has sought to explain individual differences in motivation. This trait framework shows potential, but research on the relationship between job performance, goal-setting and motivational traits has not been clearly established. The goals of this correlational study were to (1) determine if a relationship exists between motivational traits and job performance, (2) …

Eap Pac Notes 2019-04-30, Martha Mayorga

Faculty & Staff Publications - ELI

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Multiple Wearable Technology Devices Heart Rate And Step Count Measurements During Free Motion And Treadmill Based Measurements, Szu-Ping Lee, Jeffrey Montes, Richard Tandy, John Young, James Navalta

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Introduction: Wearable Technology Devices are used to promote physical activity. It is unknown whether different devices measure heart rate and step count consistently during walking or jogging in a free motion setting and on a treadmill. Purpose: To compare heart rate and step count values for the Samsung Gear 2, FitBit Surge, Polar A360, Garmin Vivosmart HR+, Scosche Rhythm+ and the Leaf Health Tracker in walking and jogging activities. Methods: Forty volunteers participated. Devices were worn simultaneously in randomized configurations. 5-minute intervals of walking and jogging were completed in free motion and treadmill settings with matching paces. Heart rates at …

Metabolic Flexibility In Classical Monocytes Is Not Affected By Age, Johnathan Yarbro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Inflammaging is the chronic low-grade inflammation that occurs with age that contributes to the pathology of age-related diseases. Monocytes are innate immune cells that become dysregulated with age and which can contribute to inflammaging. Metabolism plays a key role in determining immune cell functions, with anti-inflammatory cells primarily relying on fatty acid oxidation and pro-inflammatory cells primarily relying on glycolysis. It was recently shown that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes can compensate for a lack of glucose by utilizing fatty acid oxidation. Given that mitochondrial function decreases with age, we hypothesized that monocytes taken from aged individuals would have an impaired ability …

Investigating The Emotional Theory Of Mind In Iranian Married Women: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Abbas Rahmati, Maryam Poormirzaei, Masoud Bagheri

The Qualitative Report

In marital relationships, the type of perception of the spouse’s behavior affects how the social information and behavior of the other couple is processed, leading to psychological consequences. Thus, a higher perception of each other’s mental state is followed by sincerity and more satisfaction with the relations. The present study was performed by using a descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach with the aim of investigating emotional theory of mind in 19 married Iranian women who were selected by purposive sampling in 2017. In order to coding data, MAXQDA 2018 software and the Colaizzi’s method were used for coding and analyzing the …

Vulnerability And Physical Well-Being Of Caregivers: What Relationship?, Salvatore Settineri, Fabio Frisone, Angela Alibrandi, Emanuele Maria Merlo

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Objectives. To assess relationships among burden, compassion, and well-being and health among an active group of caregivers.

Methods. 301 caregivers with female prevalence (F = 61.1%, M = 38.9%) and ages between 18 and 84 years old (average = 38.72; SD 13.36) participated. Evaluation was carried using standardized instruments to assess: Burdens (CBI), dimensions related to Compassion and Burnout (ProQOL-5), State of Well-being (Who-5) and particular health-related domains (Emotional state, Physical health, Depressive Polarity, Dysphoric Polarity-SF-36). Correlational analyses and multivariate linear regressions were performed.

Results. Positive correlations emerged between Burdens and Compassion Fatigue, Well-being and Satisfaction; inverse correlations emerged among …

Behavioral And Neural Correlates Of Normal Aging Effects On Motor Preparatory Mechanisms Of Speech Production And Limb Movement, Karim Johari, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Roozbeh Behroozmand

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Normal aging is associated with decline of the sensorimotor mechanisms that support movement function in the human brain. In this study, we used behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) recordings to investigate the effects of normal aging on the motor preparatory mechanisms of speech production and limb movement. The experiment involved two groups of older and younger adults who performed randomized speech vowel vocalization and button press motor reaction time tasks in response to temporally predictable and unpredictable visual stimuli. Behavioral results revealed age-related slowness of motor reaction time only during speech production in response to temporally unpredictable stimuli, and this …