Digital Commons Network^™

Anxiety, Depression, And Sexual Minority Identity Among First Responders, Kayla Soohy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that first responders tend to experience high levels of anxiety and depression due to unique stressors associated with first responder employment. This increased risk level for mental health issues among first responders can be exacerbated by the addition of psychosocial stressors. The influence of interpersonal or intrapersonal factors, such as sexual minority identity, on the mental health issues experienced by first responders has remained relatively unexplored. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between type of first responder, sexual identity, anxiety, and depression via a framework rooted in minority stress theory. Data were gathered …

Therapeutic Music Effectiveness In Managing Anxiety And Depression Feelings In Cancer Patients, Aida L. Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWith the emergence of advances in health care technology, increased life expectancy has exacerbated the manifestation of chronic disease states such as cancer. The side effects of cancer treatments can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, which can be as devastating as disease process. Many studies have provided evidence supporting the practice problem, therapeutic music effectiveness in managing anxiety and depression feelings in cancer patients. Available pharmacological treatments may result in additional side effects that may outweigh the benefits of their use. Current systematic reviews of literature demonstrating the effectiveness of therapeutic music use as a non-pharmacological thera-peutic adjunct …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Young Adults Who Self-Identify With Primary Complex Motor Stereotypies, Vanja Maria Popovic

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Primary complex motor stereotypies (p-CMS) are repetitive, rhythmic, and predictable involuntary movements which occur in typically developing individuals. To date, research has focused on observational data involving parents, leaving a lack of first-hand information about the effect of p-CMS on experiencers’ quality of life and wellbeing in adulthood. This phenomenological study, grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, explored lived experiences of six young adults, ages 21 to 29 years, who self-identified with p-CMS, through in-depth telephone and Zoom interviews. I aimed to answer how p-CMS affected participants in academic, work, and social settings, what meaning participants assigned to their p-CMS, and …

Anxiety, Depression, Immunity, Quality Of Life, And Cannabis In Appalachia, Matthew Ian Frazier Ostrander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As decriminalization of cannabis in the United States increases, understanding how cannabis use may alter physical and mental health is important. The Appalachian Mountain region is an area with poor support systems, stigma against mental health, and historic drug use problems, resulting in residents being more vulnerable to societal change. The theoretical framework for this research is psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), which is the study of the interconnections between psychology, neurology, and immunology as a holistic approach to health. Via SurveyMonkey, 160 participants completed the study, and data were based on self-reporting of cannabis use patterns in relation to anxiety, depression, immunity, …

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Amber N. Edinoff, Tanner L. Hegefeld, Murray Petersen, James C. Patterson, Christopher Yossi, Jacob Slizewski, Ashley Osumi, Elyse M. Cornett, Adam M. Kaye, Jessica S. Kaye, Vijayakumar Javalkar, Omar Viswanath, Ivan Urits, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that causes significant functional impairment and is related to altered stress response and reinforced learned fear behavior. PTSD has been found to impact three functional networks in the brain: default mode, executive control, and salience. The executive control network includes the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and lateral PPC. The salience network involves the anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and amygdala. This latter network has been found to have increased functional connectivity in PTSD. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a technique used in treating PTSD and involves stimulating specific portions of the brain …

Crutches, James Preston Heil

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The following thesis is a collection of creative nonfiction essays, poems, and short stories. The overarching theme of this body of work is Millennial-aged adults grappling with a variety of traumas both personal and global; this dovetailing of personal grief alongside international grief is meant as an artistic expression of anxiety. In other words, the question posed here is: what does a young adult make of a world that is incessantly brutal? The answer is explored in both fictional and nonfictional ways, and no definitive conclusion is given. Rather, the events of the stories contained herein are representative of the …

A Comparison Of The Magnitude Of The Mental Health Benefits Of Exercising Outdoors Vs Exercising Indoors: A Review, Greta M. Rueschmann

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Many people in the United States suffer from poor mental health which can lead to suicide, self-harm, or negative effects on job performance and relationships. Not everyone can afford traditional therapy nor feels comfortable with it. With a greater emphasis placed on taking care of one’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, there should also be a greater emphasis placed on finding alternative types of therapy that can be matched to individuals based on their personalities and preferences. One such alternative is outdoor exercise. This review was conducted to examine whether exercising or performing physical activity outdoors results in greater …

Psychological Functioning And Community Support In Adolescents Exposed To A School Shooting, Jessica Taylor Kelly

Dissertations and Theses

This study evaluated the impact of community support, specifically the impact of a trauma-related community-led campaign, on high school youth following a school shooting. Adolescents are at risk for the adverse impacts of trauma exposure (Katsiyannis et al., 2018; Rajan et al., 2019; Heleniak et al., 2016; McDermott & Cobham, 2012; McLean et al., 2013; Schonfeld & Demaria, 2020). However, social support from one’s community has been found to protect against the psychological and functional consequences of exposure to trauma (Bal et al., 2003; Cheng et al., 2014; Derivois et al., 2014. The purpose of this study was to assess …

Social Support, Self-Esteem, And Levels Of Stress, Depression, And Anxiety During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candace Ying Tsai

Scripps Senior Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented disruptions to daily routines and social connections, which negatively impacted the mental health and well-being of many. Unsurprisingly, the most utilized coping strategy during the pandemic involved social support. However, those low in self-esteem seem to question others’ positive regard and continued acceptance, and overall perceive others’ behavior more negatively than those with high self-esteem (Murray, Holmes, et al., 1998). The proposed correlational study will examine the effects of social support and self-esteem on stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as investigate whether one’s self-esteem affects the influence that social …

Investigating Anxiety-Like Behavior As A Non-Motor Side Effect Of Deep Brain Stimulation Of The Subthalamic Nucleus In A Parkinsonian Rat Model, Carter Mulder

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is estimated to impact nearly 10 million people globally and is estimated to increase in the future. PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that worsens through continuous cell death of dopaminergic neurons. This cell death can create motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, tremor, and muscular rigidity. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation, STN DBS, is a surgical intervention which places stimulating electrodes in the STN greatly improving motor symptoms. However, STN DBS has been reported to possibly influence non-motor symptoms such as anxiety both acutely and long-term, which decreases the quality of life for those with PD. We …

Mindfulness And The Veteran: Increasing Veteran Participation In Mindfulness Programs At A Va Medical Center, Cynthia Lang-Groening

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) supports the use of mindfulness-based therapies for the medical and mental health treatment of veterans. The Wilmington, Delaware VA Medical Center (VAMC) offers mindfulness-based programs in guided imagery, tai chi and mindful meditation; however, the veterans who receive primary care services do not participate in these programs to their full potential. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase veteran participation in the mindfulness-based programs at the Wilmington VAMC. Based on a retrospective chart review of veterans’ electronic medical records (EMR), mindfulness-based program referral and enrollment patterns were analyzed, and …

Analyse Prospective De L’Adaptation Des Travailleurs En Centre De Protection De L’Enfance Et De La Jeunesse Exposés À Un Évènement Potentiellement Traumatique : Effets D’Une Intervention De Soutien Par Des Pairs, Stéphane Guay, Alexandre Lemyre, Josianne Lamothe, Steve Geoffrion

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Problématique. Les travailleurs des services de protection de l’enfance sont exposés de manière répétée à des événements potentiellement traumatiques (EPT) dans le cadre de leur travail, notamment des actes de violence. Ils sont ainsi susceptibles de développer des problèmes de santé mentale tels que l’anxiété, l’insomnie, la dépression et des symptômes de stress post- traumatiques. Sur le plan professionnel, les EPT engendrent des coûts élevés pour l’individu et l’organisation : baisse de la satisfaction au travail, absentéisme, changement d’emploi, baisse de productivité, etc. Dans ce contexte, le Centre de la protection de l’enfance et de la jeunesse (CPEJ) du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île …

Covid Fears And Social Anxiety In College Students, Clayton Crozier

Masters Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with numerous negative mental health outcomes such as social anxiety, and lead to a great deal of uncertainty. Intolerance of Uncertainty is a relatively new concept in the psychology literature and has begun to be studied in the context of anxiety. Literature has found a positive correlation between Intolerance of Uncertainty and several types of social anxiety. With these findings, researchers have begun to examine the COVID-19 pandemic to see how Intolerance of Uncertainty affects people’s mental health during the pandemic. Intolerance of Uncertainty may be a mediator between social anxiety and the fears …

Out From Under: Wellness Design And Alternative Therapies For Anxiety And Depression, Emily J. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores a facility that combines wellness design strategies with alternative therapies that are not commonly available in the U.S., with the goal of supporting adults with anxiety and/or depression who are not comfortable seeking traditional care.

Status Anxiety And Overall Life Satisfaction Of Young Adults In The Bay Area, Samuel Casco

Global Public Health | Senior Theses

The published literature suggests social comparisons have significant negative effects on an individual’s psychological well-being. However, there is little to no research to suggest that an individual’s attainment of societal success has a relationship with one’s perceived life satisfaction.

A mixed-methods study involved young adults ages 18-29 in the Bay Area and were selected via a student researcher in the Global Public Health department of Dominican University of California. 115 participants completed surveys regarding self-perceived life satisfaction and status anxiety through the Qualtrics Survey Collection Tool. A Pearson’s Chi-Squared Test was conducted to find an association between life satisfaction and …

Depression And Anxiety Amongst College D1 Athletes, Jessica Radford

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

College student-athletes are having an increasingly amount of mental health concerns recently at an alarming rate. Therefore, researchers should attempt to better understand how student-athletes can cope with their mental health problems to improve their mental and physical well-being. The researcher administered a questionnaire to 300 college students, 150 student-athletes and 150 non-athletes from the University of the Pacific using various modified scales examining emotional intelligence, depression, anxiety, coping strategies, intentions to seek help, self-stigma, public stigma, social network stigma, alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and communication competence. The data were analyzed to determine the severity of student-athletes’ mental health and …

The Effect Of Integrative Medicine Interventions On Patient Activation Measure, Rochelle F. Richards

All ETDs from UAB

Activated patients believe they have essential roles in achieving and maintaining their health. Patient activation is strongly related to improved clinical outcomes (Hibbard, 2017; Greene, 2013). The study’s primary purpose is to evaluate the use of Integrative Medicine Interventions (IMIs) and their relationship to patient activation levels; and to investigate the association between IMI protocols and patient activation levels on patient reported outcomes (PROs) for those with chronic diseases, specifically chronic fatigue and mental health-related conditions of anxiety and depression, using the principles of Integrative Medicine’s (IM) whole-person approach as the model of care in independent IM practices across the …

‘Mental Health And Self-Rated Health Among U.S. South Asians: The Role Of Religious Group Involvement’, Samuel Stroope, Blake Victor Kent, Ying Zhang, Donna Spiegelman, Namratha R. Kandula, Anna B. Schachter, Alka Kanaya, Alexandra E. Shields

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Only one community-based study has assessed religious group involvement and health outcomes among South Asians in the U.S., with mixed results. Here, using a large, South Asian community-based sample, the effects of six religious group involvement predictors–religious tradition, attendance, group prayer, giving/receiving congregational emotional support, congregational neglect, and congregational criticism–were examined in relation to four health outcomes: self-rated health, positive mental health functioning, trait anxiety, and trait anger. Design: The study used a new religion/spirituality questionnaire in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis Among South Asians Living in America (MASALA), the largest study of mental and physical well-being among U.S. South …

Mental Health And Behavioral Outcomes Among Jamaican Women: The Role Of Childhood Abuse And Witnessing Parental Violence, Kerry Lee, Sharon Rose Priestley, Kevin K. Hylton

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

Background

Studies have shown significant links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental and behavioral health outcomes. However, limited research has examined these associations among Jamaican women.

Objective

We investigated the associations between individual (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, and witnessing a mother being abused) and categorized (0, 1, 2, 3–4) ACEs and depression, anxiety, alcohol and marijuana use among Jamaican women.

Participants and setting

Data were obtained from the 2016 Women’s Health Survey (WHS)—a nationally representative sample of young Jamaican women aged 15–64 years.

Methods

A series of multivariate (OLS) and logistic regression analyses were conducted. OLS regression analyses …

Affective Forecasting And Mood Disorder Symptoms: How Clinical Symptoms Relate To The Prediction Of Future Emotions, Madison R. Bouchard-Liporto

Honors Theses and Capstones

The ability to accurately predict future feelings and emotions, termed affective forecasting, is an important skill as it has a significant impact on the decisions individuals make throughout daily life. Previous research has suggested that depression and anxiety symptoms may be linked to biases in affective forecasting. Here, we hypothesized that greater symptom severity of depression and anxiety would be associated with increased predictions and experiences of negative affect in response to negative stimuli and decreased predictions and experiences of positive affect in response to positive stimuli among a random sample of undergraduate college students. Participants read descriptions of 20 …

Prenatal Exposure To A Natural Disaster And Early Development Of Psychiatric Disorders During The Preschool Years: Stress In Pregnancy Study, Yoko Nomura, Jeffrey H. Newcorn, Christine Ginalis, Catherine Heitz, Jeenia Zaki, Farzana Khan, Mardia Nasrin, Kathryn Sie, Donato Deingeniis, Yasmin L. Hurd

Publications and Research

Background: Growing evidence shows an association between in utero exposure to natural disasters and child behavioral problems, but we still know little about the development of specific psychopathology in preschool-aged children. Methods: Preschool children (n = 163, mean age = 3.19, 85.5% racial and ethnic minorities) and their parents (n = 151) were evaluated annually at ages 2–5 to assess the emergence of psychopathology using the Preschool Age Psychopathological Assessment (PAPA), a parent-report structured diagnostic interview developed for preschool-age children. Sixty-six (40.5%) children were exposed to Sandy Storm (SS) in utero and 97 (59.5%) were not. Survival analysis evaluated patterns …

Our Thoughts Matter: The Mental Health Of College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Caitlin Zarzeczny

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the mental health of undergraduate college students within the context of COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cognitions about health threat and engagement in protective health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were (N = 276) undergraduate students attending the University of North Florida. Students completed a SONA systems survey between March 2021 and December 2021. Participants received course credit for completing the survey. Survey questions were taken from the Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Prevention Effectiveness Protocols scale (Prasetyo et al., 2020). Three types of variables were assessed: demographics, perceived threat, and planned action. Correlational …

Effects Of The Selective Gsk3b Inhibitor, Tideglusib, On Ethanol Consumption, Anxiety-Like Behavior, Taste Preference, And Downstream Proteins, Sam Gottlieb, Douglas Bledsoe, Jessica L. Maltman, Alanna Morgan, Jennifer T. Wolstenholme, Michael F. Miles

Graduate Research Posters

Background: We have shown modulations in glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B) abundance or activity regulate ethanol consumption, suggesting potential as a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Here we report the GSK3B inhibitor tideglusib’s actions on ethanol consumption, basal behaviors, and modulation of GSK3B targets.

Methods: C57BL/6J males and females received i.g. 200mg/kg tideglusib, except drinking-in-the-dark (males;100mg/kg i.p.). Drinking-in-the-dark (DID): Mice given 20% ethanol 4-hours, 4-days/week x 3 weeks and then i.p. tideglusib or vehicle x 4 days in a Latin Square design with ethanol consumption measured daily. Light/Dark Box: Mice gavaged with tideglusib or vehicle …

Impact Of Exercise On Depression And Anxiety In Adolescents With Complex Trauma Living In Residential Treatment Centers, Candace Snodgrass

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression and anxiety disorders are two of the most frequently reported mental healthproblems for adolescents entering Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs). Many adolescents in RTCs also have a higher rate of traumatic experiences than their peers. Traumatized children frequently develop mental illness disorders of depression and anxiety. Based on the theoretical foundations provided by attachment theory and social cognitive theory, this pilot study, using secondary data, observed the relationship between exercise participation, depression, trauma, and anxiety for 11 youth in an upper Midwest RTC. Adolescents with higher initial depression and anxiety scores tended to exercise less during RTC than those with …

Building Tools For Improved Modulation Of The Human Gabaa Receptor, A Central Nervous System Target For The Treatment Of Anxiety, Garrett Edward Zinck

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

In the U.S., anxiety is recognized as an increasing range of mentally and physically debilitating psychiatric health disorders with significant economic repercussions. Over the last 20 years, several novel anti-anxiety therapies have entered the drug development pipeline, but none have made it to market.

The work in this dissertation focused on structurally modifying valerenic acid (VA), a structurally unique carboxylated sesquiterpene acid found in Valeriana officinalis. VA is putatively reported to have allosteric modulatory activity of the human GABA_A receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel responsible for attenuating neurotransmissions. Structural modeling of VA’s GABA_A receptor interaction suggests that …

Stress And Its Interventions In Undergraduate College Students During Covid-19, Katie A. Jones

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Though stress in postsecondary education is a highly researched topic, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has created many new questions that require answers. It is important to connect total perceived stress in undergraduate students with academic, COVID-19, and distance-learning factors and examine the effectiveness of interventions on stress and anxiety during the pandemic. This research determines the efficacy of mindfulness stress interventions (cognitive-behavioral, guided meditation, and music) for individual differences in stress, self- efficacy, and anxiety and links these variables to performance. This study measures levels of different types of stress (total perceived, distance-learning, academic, and COVID-19) for undergraduate …

Overcoming Stress And Anxiety: Examining The Impact Of Fixed Vs Growth Mindsets Amongst African American High Achievers, Julie Sumner

Theses and Dissertations

A rapidly increasing number of Americans suffer from stress and anxiety (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2018; American Psychiatric Association, 2020). It is even more prominent among stress afflicted adults now that we are experiencing civil unrest and a pandemic. Without tools to implement and maintain a growth mindset, those who suffer will struggle with negative thoughts, behaviors, and results (Bergland, 2017). The purpose of this research is to disrupt the cycle of negative energy that leads to social ills and fixed mindsets by developing a structured method to practice positive thinking and goal achievement. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological …

The Pathology And Etiology Of Philosophy, Lydia Tucke

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

While much time is spent theorizing about philosophical concepts and theories, little thought has been given to the philosophy and psychology of philosophy itself. I argue that philosophy (or the act of philosophizing) should be considered a form of anxiety. I will examine whether or not philosophy should be evaluated as a mental disorder as well. Finally, I will explore the ways in which one can cope with the anxiety seen in philosophizing.

Interactions Of International Pilots' Stress, Fatigue, Symptoms Of Depression, Anxiety, Common Mental Disorders And Wellbeing, Marion Venus, Martin Grosse Holtforth

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Objective

This study Investigates more dimensions than previous studies simultaneously: pilots’ duty rosters, stress, sleep difficulties, fatigue levels, wellbeing, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and common mental disorders (CMD), and how they are interrelated.

Background

Several scientific studies have confirmed that fatigue can pose a significant risk to flight safety. Other studies reported positive depression screening results for more pilots, compared with the general population.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 406 international pilots, who reported their duty rosters of the last two months. Pilots also self-assessed their stress-levels, sleep problems, fatigue, wellbeing, and mental health.

Results

Although pilots …

The Psychological Impact Of Isolation On Hospitalised Patients With Covid-19 Infection In The Uae, Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, Nirmin F. Juber, Reem Alkaabi, Fatema Alshehhi, Mohamed Alobeidli, Ahlam Salem, Alaa Galadari, Shamil Wanigaratne, Amar Ahmad

All Works

Infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19 may include immediate admission to an isolation facility for the infected. However, the mental health impact of this isolation worldwide is not fully documented. This study aims to contribute to global data on the psychological impact of COVID-19 and to be the first study to assess psychological distress among hospitalised patients with COVID-19 in the UAE. Using a cross-sectional study design on 132 hospitalised patients, we found that 90% of participants scored within the normal levels for psychological distress. The length of stay was associated with higher levels of psychological distress and those …