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Sense, Drugs, And Rock 'N' Roll: A Critical Review Of Music And Psychedelic Literature, Sophia Harper-Hague

Expressive Therapies Theses

The use of psychedelics has been shown promising efficacy surrounding treatment-resistant mental health diagnoses, as well as improving quality of life for those not suffering from mental health conditions. Additionally, music has been seen as a significant part of psychedelic research, both by music therapists and other allied health professionals alike. This literature review explores the current research surrounding music therapy and psychedelic approaches, as well as the areas in which they intersect. The current review focuses on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and self-concept, delving into the perceptions of both music and psychedelic therapy as emerging treatment options …

Climate Change Anxiety And Hope Both Predict Action: A Moderation Analysis, Yuhan Bi, Grace Hyde, Orei Z. Odents, Kai Okagawa, Cassandra Hoffman, Kimberly A. Barchard

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Climate change is associated with extreme weather events that have devastating effects on communities worldwide. These events disrupt ecosystems, damage infrastructure, and influence physical and mental well-being. Urgent action is needed. Prior studies demonstrate that people are more likely to take action if they feel anxious about climate change and if they feel hopeful they can make a difference. However, we hypothesized that anxiety and hope would interact: that anxiety would only predict action when people felt hopeful. Therefore, we used path analysis to determine if hope moderates the relation between anxiety and action.

In a cross-sectional design, 500 United …

Functional Brain Connectivity Of The Salience Network In Alcohol Use And Anxiety Disorders, Dhruv M Patel, Guillermo F Poblete, Alexandra Castellanos, Ramiro Salas

Staff and Researcher Publications

The interplay between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and anxiety disorders (ANX) is well-documented, yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to elucidate these mechanisms by examining the resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) within the salience network and to the amygdala, both implicated in alcohol and anxiety disorders. We analyzed data from 264 inpatient participants culled from a wider group of 518 inpatients at The Menninger Clinic in Houston, TX, categorized into four groups (n = 66 each) based on DSM-IV diagnoses: AUD without ANX (AUD), ANX without AUD (ANX), concurrent AUD and ANX (BOTH), and neither (NEITHER). Our …

Pain Dismissal, Anxiety, Depression, And Substance-Use Coping In Emerging Adults With Chronic Pain, Elizabeth Felice Fenelon

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Twelve percent of emerging adults (EA) experience chronic pain. Having one’s pain dismissed by others, or pain dismissal, is not uncommon and is isolating. There is already an established relationship between pain, anxiety, and depression; furthermore, pain dismissal exacerbates anxiety, depression, and substance-use coping. The current study explores pain dismissal’s relationship to anxiety, depression, and coping with substances. Undergraduate students with chronic pain (N = 227, age M = 19.58, SD = 1.42, range = 18-25) at a Midwestern university reported if they had pain, if their pain had been dismissed, as well as symptoms of anxiety, depression, and substance-use …

Contending With Anxiety In The Elementary Art Classroom, Natalie Petrushonis

Art 895 Research Papers

The focus of this qualitative study is to explore how students are affected by anxiety in the art classroom. The major objective of this research is to explore methods and strategies to support students who suffer from anxiety to prevent it from negatively affecting their art education. The participants of this study will be elementary students within an art classroom who feel anxiety while engaging in artmaking. This case study research will provide insight into approaches that have been utilized to assist students with anxiety in art while observing the effectiveness of these methods with students in an elementary art …

The Impact Of The Mediterranean Diet On Depression: A Narrative Review, Emma Kate Schaaf

Honors Theses

Background. The Western diet has extensive negative ramifications on physical health and emotional well-being. The Mediterranean diet, widely regarded as one of the healthiest eating patterns in the world, may have the ability to improve psychological conditions. This study aims to examine existing research from randomized control trials (RCTs) on the association between depression prevalence and the Mediterranean diet.

Methods. The following review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines and the Google Scholar and PsycInfo databases. The criteria for inclusion were that studies: 1) were randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the Mediterranean diet; 2) included samples of adults (i.e., > 18 years …

The Power Of Parental Responses: Emotional Invalidation And Its Association With Adolescent And Emerging Adult Anxiety And Emotion Regulation Across Genders, Ashlynn Payne

Honors Theses

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are critical developmental periods marked by increased vulnerability to psychological distress, particularly anxiety and difficulties in emotion regulation. One factor that may contribute to this vulnerability is parental emotional invalidation. Although prior research has linked parental invalidation to adverse emotional outcomes, few studies have examined how these associations differ by caregiver and child gender. The current study evaluated how maternal and paternal emotional invalidation interacted with gender to influence anxiety symptoms and emotion regulation difficulties among 45 adolescents and emerging adults (n = 9 boys, 36 girls) between the ages of 13 and 22 years (M …

Empathy And Psychological Outcomes In Informal Caregivers Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Meng Huo, Thi Vu, Tomiko Yoneda, Jingkai Wei, Bruce Abbott, Joan K Monin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Scholars have increasingly recognized the crucial role that empathy plays as informal caregivers provide unpaid care to their older family and friends (i.e., care recipients). Yet, the existing literature exhibits substantial variability in study approaches and results, which limits the extent to which this literature can inform interventions intended to benefit informal caregivers. We sought to address this critical gap by synthesizing research that examined how caregivers' and care recipients' empathy were associated with caregivers' psychological health.

Methods: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), EMBASE, and Scopus databases …

How Adverse Childhood Trauma Affects Coping Behaviors And Anxiety In College Students During Covid-19: A Neurobiological Perspective, Harshita Yepuri, Amanda Gilmore, Laura Carruth, Ruschelle Leone

Research Day

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has uprooted college students from the traditional college environment and placed additional stressors on them, yet its effects are still emerging. In the present study, 329 college students (Mage=19.74, SDage= 1.96) completed measures of generalized anxiety, behavioral coping, and adverse childhood experiences between July 2020 and March 2021 of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hypothesized that more adverse childhood experiences would be associated with more maladaptive behavioral coping strategies. In addition, less adaptive coping strategies would be positively associated with more anxiety among college students. Results indicated that negative coping behaviors were associated with more …

Development Of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines For Pediatric Preoperative Anxiety, Whitney R. Stant

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Preoperative anxiety is a problem that occurs frequently in pediatric patients. Preoperative anxiety creates physical and psychological changes that impact a child’s surgical experience. Pediatric patients who experience preoperative anxiety may also experience prolonged postoperative care, long-term psychological complications, and increased postoperative pain. Sedating medications are often administered to prevent and treat preoperative anxiety. Commonly, midazolam is administered intranasally to prevent preoperative anxiety. Midazolam increases the risk of cognitive impairment and respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine is an effective alternative to midazolam. Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 agonist and provides arousable sedation without respiratory depression. Dexmedetomidine is safe and effective at …

Harmonic Healing: Exploring Music As A Therapeutic Resource, Kalilah B. Chears, Mary Lynn Doherty

Honors Capstones

Mental health concerns among college students are increasing, especially in the post-Covid pandemic era. These issues could negatively affect students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. Additionally, research illustrates that there are accessibility challenges for students who seek traditional counseling resources; campuses are struggling to meet this rising demand. The authors’ background in music ensembles inspired an exploration of music as an informal therapeutic resource. This literature review investigates one main question: How can an alternative mental health resource such as music serve college students experiencing barriers to traditional mental health resources? Findings suggest that music-based resources can alleviate some common …

A Storm Within: Anti-Nmda Receptor Encephalitis Mimicking Anxiety In A Young Woman, Izma Khaliq, Omar Sami Abdelhai, Angela Ishaq, Emmanuel Meram, Anointing Onuoha, Ahmed Jabri, William Dillon

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Case Description: A 21-year-old female with a history of asthma presented to the emergency department (ED) with restlessness, anxiety, and loss of appetite shortly after returning from a trip to France, where she and her boyfriend ended their relationship. Her initial evaluation, including unremarkable laboratory results, led to the attribution of her symptoms to anxiety from life stressors. She was treated with supportive measures in the ED and prescribed Xanax by her primary care physician at follow-up. Six days later, the patient returned to the ED with hallucinations and panic attacks. Again, laboratory results were unremarkable, and she was diagnosed …

Grey’S Anatomy College Of Medicine: How Modern Medical Dramas Have Contributed To Patient Healthcare Anxiety, Haylee R. Tilley

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Having run for nearly 20 seasons averaging over 37 million viewers, it is no surprise that Grey’s Anatomy has been a captivating medical melodrama, one that has sustained popularity in an ever-changing society during its nearly two decades in production. Modern medical dramas have sparked popularity because of their captivating themes of suffering and healing: the modern happy ending or, in this case, cure. With a comprehensible mix of medical jargon and lighthearted drama, audiences around the globe are claiming an MD-level proficiency due to their dedication and engagement in this Shonda Rhimes award-winning series. The increase in patients made …

Anxiety Among Sexual Minoritized Subgroups: An Investigation Into The Disproportionately High Rates Of Social Anxiety Among Emerging Identity Populations, Veronica Kruschel

Psychology Honors Projects

Sexual minoritized individuals report higher rates of social anxiety than the general population, and research suggests that those belonging to emerging sexual identities are particularly vulnerable. The few existing interventions targeting anxiety in sexual minoritized populations tend to ignore subgroup differences, so the present study proposes an adaptation of an existing CBT-based intervention tailored to pansexual individuals. In addition, existing research offers contradictory findings about emerging identity individuals’ experiences of social anxiety, notably regarding specific subgroup differences. Therefore, in the present study, a survey was conducted to measure social anxiety among sexual minoritized populations. Findings suggest that emerging identity sexual …

Examining How Perceived External Stigma Mediates The Relationship Between Rejection Sensitivity And Depression, Anxiety, And Stress For Neurodivergent Adults, Brianna E. Galloway

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Neurodivergence describes people whose brains and cognitive processes differ from the general population. Neurodivergent disorders include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. Rejection sensitivity is defined as hypervigilance to being rejected and intense reactions to rejection. Previous research has found that individuals with neurodivergent disorders are often treated more poorly by peers than neurotypical people. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between perceived external stigma, rejection sensitivity, and depression, anxiety, and stress for neurodivergent individuals. The first hypothesis was neurodivergent adults who report higher rejection sensitivity will report 1a) higher perceived external stigma and …

Postpartum Depression And Anxiety Between First-Time And Multiparous Mothers Of Infants In The Nicu, Jennifer L. Diaz-Miranda

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety are significant concerns for mothers with infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs); yet the role of parity in shaping these experiences remains underexplored. This cross-sectional secondary analysis examined data from 82 NICU mothers (62 adults, 20 adolescents) using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and anxiety subscale. Findings revealed that primiparas and adolescents exhibited higher depression scores and multiparas and adolescents were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms. Parity, however, was not found to be a significant factor capable of predicting PPD or anxiety but results highlight the importance of early screening, personalized mental health …

The Value Of Home: The Covid-19 Pandemic’S Influence On Living Space, Mental Well-Being, And Design Adaptability, Grace E. Woodall

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Grace Woodall, Architecture

Title: The Value of Home: The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Influence on Living Spaces, Mental Well-Being, and Design Adaptability

Faculty Mentor: Marisa Gomez Nordyke

The COVID-19 pandemic redefined how people worked, learned, socialized, and lived. This study examines how American young adults’ perceptions of home evolved during and after the isolating lockdowns. This work addressed how the COVID-19 experience altered home’s value in young adults, the spatial, mental, and experiential challenges of confined spaces during the lockdowns, and the architectural elements that responded to these shifts. By analyzing post-pandemic housing trends, a literature review of architecture, psychology, home design, …

Resiliency Training For Music Therapy Students During Fieldwork Experiences, Crystal Weaver

Dissertations

All music therapy undergraduate and equivalency students in the United States must complete 1,200 hours of fieldwork experience to obtain degree conferment from an accredited and approved higher education program (American Music Therapy Association, 2023b, p. 1). While engaging in fieldwork had several benefits for music therapy students, such as the opportunity to build practical experience and refine skills, the experience also involved several challenges (Forinash, 2019; Tien & Trang, 2020). A challenge not yet thoroughly examined by faculty and staff within higher education music therapy programs was student mental health. To date, researchers had not examined the prevalence of …

Depression, Anxiety, And Suicide Among Adolescents: Sex Differences And Future Perspectives, Giovana V.R. Toro, Paula Arias, Alejandro De La Torre-Luque, Jonathan B. Singer, Natalia Lagunas

Social Work: School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Other Works

Depression and anxiety are two disorders that significantly increase the risk of suicidal behavior. The disparity between females and males in the prevalence of these disorders becomes more pronounced from adolescence onwards. Specifically, risk factors associated with suicidal behavior in adolescent females are often linked to anxiety and depression, whereas in males, these behaviors are more frequently associated with other types of disorders, such as disruptive behavior. Furthermore, there are notable sex differences in the efficacy and acceptance of treatments aimed at preventing suicidal behavior. This review examines the sex differences in the relationship between depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal …

The Effect Of Administered Animal-Assisted Therapy On University Students' Anxiety And Stress, Chloe Penton

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on undergraduate student anxiety and stress, comparing the effectiveness between an individual AAT session to a group study session without AAT. Animal-assisted therapy is a type of canine therapy that may be a helpful tool to decrease student test anxiety, and potentially, a meaningful stress-reducing intervention for university students. Our results sought to examine differences in traditional study practices vs the use of AAT prior to exams, and support or refute animal-assisted therapy as a low-cost, minimal-risk, effective solution for undergraduate student anxiety. …

Online Racial Discrimination, Depression, Anxiety, And Sleep Disturbances Among Ethnoracially Minoritized Young Adults: The Buffering Role Of Family Support, Aamnah M. Ullah

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

There has been a surge in young adult exposure to online racial discrimination (ORD), which is associated with impaired sleep, greater anxiety, and depression. Evidence suggests that ethnoracially minoritized college students are at increased risk for exposure to ORD. Additionally, sleep disturbances (SD) may impact the link between ORD, depression, and anxiety. Thus, this study aims to explore whether increased SDs mediate the relationship between ORD, anxiety, and depression among ethnoracially minoritized college students. This study also aims to examine whether family support (FS) moderates the indirect effect of ORD on anxiety and depression. Participants were 495 (78.6% female, mean …

The Modern Gothic: Examining Humanity’S Relationship With Technology In Black Mirror’S Be Right Back, Ana Radojevic

English

The Gothic genre, since its beginning, has been a reflection to society's fears and anxieties towards cultural and technological shifts. This thesis critically examines how Netflix's "Black Mirror" episode "Be Right Back" continues the Gothic tradition by reflecting contemporary fears of humanity's complex relationship with technology. Through an analysis of the traditional Gothic elements: haunting and death, the supernatural, and the uncanny-- "Black Mirror" is placed in the Gothic genre identifying fears of artificial intelligence and human identity. The episode's portrayal of an AI surrogate for a dead boyfriend, the episode is a cautionary tale about the limitations of technology …

Is Acupuncture At The Auricular Shenmen Point Effective In Treating Anxiety?, Nicole Vaiani, Alexander King, Venkateswar Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health condition in the United States and are often managed with pharmacological interventions, which can lead to adverse side effects. As a result, alternative therapies such as acupuncture are gaining attention. This study investigates the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture, specifically targeting the Shenmen point, in reducing symptoms of anxiety. We analyzed ten randomized controlled trials that included quantitative outcome measures. The results suggest that auricular acupuncture at the Shenmen point is an effective and well-tolerated adjunctive treatment for anxiety. While further research with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods is warranted, these …

Calming Music As An Emotion Regulation Technique In Response To A Traumatic Sexual Assault Narrative, Mia A. Iandolo

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Experiencing a sexual assault often results in lasting psychological trauma that inhibits the person’s ability to function, so coping strategies are needed to reduce those symptoms. This study was done to understand the effect of listening to calming music (vs silence) on both anxiety levels and memory recall following the description of a sexual assault. It was hypothesized that listening to calming music would decrease both anxiety and memory levels in a manner that the association between music and memory would be at least partially mediated by anxiety levels. Participants (N=99; 68% female; 84% White; 87% heterosexual) came …

Increasing Student Awareness Of Mental Health Resources, Vanessa M. Morga

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Rates of anxiety and depression are too high among youth in Greenfield. Portola Butler High School is an alternative education institution serving students that struggled in traditional school environments. Many students at continuation schools deal with unique stressors such as academic struggles, family issues and social isolation which can significantly affect their mental well-being. Located in a rural area with limited access to mental health resources, Portola Butler faces unique challenges in addressing the mental and emotional needs of their students.The intervention included a presentation to a class of high school students at Portola Butler Continuation School. The focus was …

Increasing Mental Health Awareness In High School Athletes, Kaitlyn R. Melendez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Student-athletes often struggle to balance the demands of multiple academic and athletic responsibilities. These demands may harm student-athletes’ mental health by increasing anxiety, stress, and poor academic performance. When student-athletes develop effective coping skills, they can reduce their overall stress and enhance their overall well-being. To address this issue, I created a 45-minute workshop for the cross-country team at Marina High School in Marina, California.

The Relationship Between Mindfulness, Daily Difficult Events, Perceived Stress And Anxiety Among College Students, Gabrielle Lessard

Honors Scholar Theses

Background: Mindfulness is a multifaceted psychological construct that pertains to intentionally being aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental way. Little research has examined other facets of mindfulness and their association with perceived stress and anxiety.

Objective: To evaluate between-person and within-person relationships between specific facets of mindfulness (acting with awareness and nonjudging of inner experience) and various daily difficult events, perceived stress and anxiety levels among college-aged students across a 7-day period.

Methods: A sample of 78 undergraduates at the University of Connecticut were recruited through the Participant Pool and analyzed based on their baseline mindfulness and seven …

The Associations Of Mental Health With Academic And Exercise Procrastination, Casey L. Dang

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the relationship between exercise procrastination and academic procrastination with symptoms of depression and anxiety among college students. Procrastination is commonly studied in academic settings, but limited research has looked at how various types of procrastination can impact mental health. In this study we specifically look at exercise and academic procrastination. A total of 109 undergraduate students participated by completing surveys measuring their levels of academic and exercise procrastination, as well as their symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results showed that higher levels of both academic and exercise procrastination were significantly associated with higher levels of depression …

The Effect Of Maternal Anxiety On Breastfeeding Exclusivity And Duration, Zoe E. Treat

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: The postpartum period, especially during the first year, presents a heightened risk for maternal anxiety. Research suggests a potential negative relationship between maternal anxiety and breastfeeding duration, though there is currently a gap in the existing literature regarding how maternal mental health impacts breastfeeding outcomes.

Purpose: This study seeks to investigate the influence of postpartum anxiety on both the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, crucial knowledge required to support and implement targeted interventions. We expected that maternal anxiety would predict shorter exclusive and total breastfeeding durations.

Methodology: To explore the relationship between postpartum anxiety and breastfeeding behaviors, we distributed …

The Coping Strategies Of Collegiate Football Student-Athletes With Mental Health, James Williams

Leadership Education Capstones

This study explores the mental health challenges faced by Division II collegiate football players, their coping mechanisms, and the adequacy of institutional resources. Through qualitative interviews with student-athletes, the research examines their experiences, stress levels, and perceptions of support systems. Findings indicate that anxiety, stress, and performance pressure are prevalent among players, with 58.3% reporting anxiety symptoms and 50% experiencing football-related stress. Despite 91.7% of respondents being aware of campus mental health services, comfort levels in discussing mental health remain moderate, and coaching support is perceived as only somewhat effective. The results highlight that while individual coping strategies exist, psychological …