Digital Commons Network^™

The Presence Of A Pet Dog Is Associated With A More Balanced Response To A Social Stressor, Jaci Gandenberger, Aurélie Ledreux, Ashley Taeckens, Kerry Murphy, Jenni Forkin, Anah Gilmore, Kevin N. Morris

Institute for Human-Animal Connection: Faculty Scholarship

Acute and chronic stress each have physical manifestations in the human body that can lead to many negative health impacts. Today, reported stress levels worldwide are at an all-time high, spurring the search for non-pharmaceutical interventions to maintain healthy stress levels. In this study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influences healthy adults’ acute stress responses as assessed through self-reports, heart rate, plasma cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase. Participating pet dog owners were randomly assigned to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test either with their pet dog or alone. While there was no group difference in perceived anxiety levels, participants …

Perceived Anxiety Disorder Stigma: A Predictive Analysis, Shawn Nabors, Richard J. Cicchetti, Gary Michael Szirony, Craig R. Blum, Sri Banerjee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Anxiety remains one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. Systemic barriers to mental health treatment persist. Research on anxiety is robust, although research on perceived anxiety disorder stigma is limited. The purpose of this quantitative analysis was to determine whether factors including age, gender, level of education, and presence of a diagnosable anxiety disorder condition would predict perceived anxiety stigma in a population of adults from the Midwestern region of the United States who were in treatment for anxiety. Based on Goffman’s framework, we used the Generalized Anxiety Stigma Scale (GASS) to determine the presence and level of …

Communication And Posttraumatic Growth: The Power Of Positive Declarations, Jennifer L. Owen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has explored the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and communication trends. Yet, there is a gap in research regarding how positive declarations of desired outcomes can influence PTG and be applied in a therapeutic context. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine if positive declarations of psychological growth facilitate PTG after trauma and impact levels of hope, anxiety, or depression. A small pilot study was conducted through six counseling sessions with participants (N = 16) divided into either the control (n = 8) or experimental group (n = 8). A novel Positive Communication Approach (PCA), distinguished by …

The Effectiveness Of An Anxiety Intervention On Decreasing State And Trait Anxiety Among University Students, Lea D. Hart

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Anxiety is the most common rising public health concern for college students (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2023; Haikalis et al., 2022). In 2022–2023, 65% of college students seeking counseling noted anxiety as their primary concern, rising 10% in the last 10 years (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2023). As a result, higher education institutions are seeking proactive solutions that are efficacious, evidence-based, and proactive for non-clinical university populations to reduce rising rates of anxiety. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore if a population-based intervention could reduce state and trait anxiety immediately and over time. The results …

Animation As Therapy For Mental Health Treatment Across Diverse Populations And Contexts, A Literature Review, Daneile Tabana

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Scientific research has explored and identified the beneficial relationship between health and creative expression, recognizing art therapy as a source of healing. Animation has been newly recognized as an art therapy medium with potential for therapeutic healing and increased psychological well-being. This review of the literature on animation therapy explores the history of the modality’s interaction with the population observed and the effects of animation on the cognitive processes, discusses current theoretical orientations and treatment options for treating a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior with animation therapy, and considers culturally informed and client-centered practices alongside traditional …

The Prevalence Of Depression And Anxiety In Patients With Metastatic Disease To The Spine, Caleb Yeung, Jeremy Heard, Yunsoo Lee, Michael Mccurdy, Rajkishen Narayanan, Samantha Kolowrat, Liam Gibbons, Tim Hagan, Jose A. Canseco, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Gregory D. Schroeder, Christopher K. Kepler

Rothman Institute Papers

Introduction:

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in cancer patients is approximately 15% and 20%. Unfortunately, depression has been demonstrated to negatively impact patients after spinal fusion surgeries and is associated with worse overall survival in cancer patients. The rates of depression and anxiety have yet to be reported in patients with metastatic spine disease. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of depression and anxiety in patients with metastatic spine disease.

Materials and Methods:

Patients >18 years of age at our institution who presented with metastatic spinal disease between 2017 and 2022 were identified through query …

Adapting Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Autistic Adults: Lessons From Plymouth's Nhs Talking Therapies And Autism Spectrum Service, Hope Trimmer, Sonja Heintz, Sarah Williams

School of Psychology

The prevalence of mental health conditions is high for autistic adults. Yet, the IAPT manual states that referral rates into NHS Talking Therapies Services (NHS-TTS) do not reflect this nationally. Non-adapted treatment has been identified as a key barrier to accessing these services. It is therefore imperative that clinicians adapt to the needs of autistic individuals to make treatment accessible and effective. However, there is limited research in the field, especially for low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LICBT). This service evaluation explores adapted LICBT for autistic adults within Plymouth's NHS-TTS and Autism Service. It investigated clinical outcomes of adapted group and …

“Quacking For Noggin”: Farm Animal–Assisted Therapy For Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors, Alex Sargsyan, Lora Beebe, Zenithson Ng, Patricia Roberson, Sandra Thomas

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of animal-assisted therapies with farm animals (AATF), in this case domesticated ducks, on depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Furthermore, the following hypothesis was tested:

Engaging in AATF with domesticated ducks will be associated with decreased depression, decreased anxiety, and increased self-efficacy.

The study examined the effects of AATF on anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy among nine patients with TBI. A time series quasi-experimental design was utilized. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Survey (HADS) and General Self-Efficacy (GSE) questionnaires at baseline, followed by the …

Characterization Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Subtype In Iraqi Patients, Ola Amer Jasim, Khalid Mahdi Salih

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disease of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that affects 10-20% of the population worldwide and is distinguished by abdominal pain/discomfort and changes in bowel habits that is accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, or both. Cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 Iraqi patients with IBS who were presented at private clinics for gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs). The study lasted from November 2021 to May 2022 and aimed to determine the frequency of IBS subtypes among Iraqi patients, as well as the influence of several factors on disease’s initiation, type and severity such as age, gender, and anxiety. The …

The Relationship Between The Physical Activity Environment, Nature Relatedness, Anxiety, And The Psychological Well-Being Benefits Of Regular Exercisers

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Research from a variety of scientific fields suggests that physical activity in nature and feelings of connection to nature enhance psychological health and well-being. This study investigated the psychological health and well-being impact of the physical activity environment for those already undertaking the recommended weekly amount of physical activity. This topic is important for the design of health and well-being environments and interventions involving physical activity. Participants (N = 262) aged 18–71 years (M = 34.5, SD = 13.1) who met the UK physical activity guidelines completed the Nature Relatedness Scale, the trait section of the State Trait Inventory for …

Exploring College-Aged Student Anxiety: Aggravating Factors And Coping Strategies, Julie E. Volkman Phd, Bianca M. Wolf, Chris Morse, Ella Browning, Andrew High, Heather P. Lacey, Joseph J. Trunzo, Wendy Samter

Communications and Language Studies Faculty Journal Articles

Undergraduate college-aged students are increasingly experiencing anxiety. Yet, many struggle to cope effectively, resulting in poor school performance and compromised health and well-being. Our goal was to identify common anxiety-inducing and aggravating stressors, as well as preferred adaptive coping strategies, in this exploratory study to inform anxiety intervention development. A total of 19 undergraduate students (17 female and 2 male) were recruited. Students previously diagnosed or treated for anxiety by a clinician participated in a two-week, daily diary entry study. A total of 219 diary entries were transcribed and thematically analyzed for student reports of awareness variables and associated coping …

Examining Mental Health Differences Between Traditional And Nontraditional College Students From 2017-2022, Terrence A. Calistro Jr.

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic and societal changes in response to the pandemic have contributed to increasing the prevalence of mental health issues among college students globally. Because of their additional responsibilities, the prevalence of mental issues among the subpopulation of Nontraditional College Students (NTCS) is even more concerning. NTCS possess at least one of the following characteristics (e.g., working full-time, part-time employment, having financial dependents, etc.) that differentiates them from typical college students who enter higher education right after high school. Prior research has shown that NTCS generally experience more life stressors and challenges associated with mental health issues (e.g., depression, …

The Performance Relationship Between The Eq-5d-5l Composite "Anxiety/Depression" Dimension And Anxiety And Depression Symptoms In A Large, General Population Sample, Emily Stella Scott, Erica I. Lubetkin, Mathieu F. Janssen, John N. Yfantopolous, Gouke J. Bonsel, Juanita A. Haagsma

Publications and Research

Purpose

This cross-sectional study aims to understand the relationship between responses on the Anxiety/Depression (A/D) dimension of the EQ-5D-5L and symptoms of anxiety and depression on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 instruments. In doing so, we investigate the comparative performance of the dimension between diagnostic groups (i.e. anxiety (GAD-7); depression (PHQ-9); anxiety & depression versus none). We additionally investigate the discriminatory performance between sub-populations based on gender, age, education and self-reported chronic conditions.

Methods

19,902 general population participants completed a health survey in May/June 2020, from five European countries and the United States. Performance of A/D was calculated using the Area …

Nuanced Relationships Between Indices Of Smartphone Use And Psychological Distress: Distinguishing Problematic Smartphone Use, Phone Checking, And Screen Time, Yue Qi Germaine Tng, Hwajin Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Recent theoretical and empirical accounts maintain that different indices of smartphone use—including problematic smartphone use, phone-checking, and screen time—tap distinct facets of smartphone use. This highlights the importance of disentangling potentially unique associations between facets of smartphone use and psychological distress outcomes. The present study examined fine-grained relationships between several smartphone-use indices and facets of psychological distress. Further, we probed whether sex modulated the relationships between smartphone-mediated behaviours and distress outcomes. Using structural equation modelling, we analysed data from young adults (N = 364) and evaluated the associations of smartphone-related behaviours—problematic use, phone checking, and overall screen time—with depression, anxiety, …

Neural Correlates Of Novelty-Evoked Distress In 4-Month-Old Infants: A Synthetic Cohort Study, Courtney A. Filippi, Anderson M. Winkler, Dana Kanel, Jed T. Elison, Hannah Hardiman, Chad Sylvester, Daniel Samuel Pine, Nathan A. Fox

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Observational assessments of infant temperament have provided unparalleled insight into prediction of risk for social anxiety. However, it is challenging to administer and score these assessments alongside high-quality infant neuroimaging data. In the current study, we aimed to identify infant resting-state functional connectivityassociated with both parent report and observed behavioral estimates of infant novelty-evoked distress.

Methods

Using data from the OIT (Origins of Infant Temperament) study, which includes deep phenotyping of infant temperament, we identified parent-report measures that were associated with observed novelty-evoked distress. These parent-report measures were then summarized into a composite score used for imaging analysis. …

“Education Would Be Step Number One”: Community Mental Health Clinicians’ Training And Support Needs To Treat Anxiety In Autistic Youth, Shannon C Lapoint, Grace Lee Simmons, Julia Heinly, Daylin Delgado, Whitney S Shepherd, Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Eric A Storch, Brenna B Maddox

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Autistic youth experience high rates of anxiety, which has been treated with modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), often integrating exposure therapy. Such anxiety treatments are effective for this population; however, there remains a gap between these evidence-based mental health interventions and their implementation in community mental health (CMH) services where autistic youth receive care.

Method: This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with four types of community members in the United States: 15 autistic youth with anxiety, 15 caregivers of autistic youth with anxiety, 11 CMH clinicians, and 8 CMH clinic leaders. Participants identified the training needs of CMH clinicians to …

Shared And Distinct Cortical Morphometric Alterations In Five Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease, Qianling Lu, Zhuang Zhu, Heng Zhang, Caiting Gan, Aidi Shan, Mengxi Gao, Huimin Sun, Xingyue Cao, Yongsheng Yuan, Joseph I Tracy, Qirui Zhang, Kezhong Zhang

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (including anxiety, depression, apathy, impulse–compulsive behaviors and hallucinations) are among the most common non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease. Whether these symptoms should be considered as a direct consequence of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease is controversial. Morphometric similarity network analysis and epicenter mapping approach were performed on T1-weighted images of 505 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 167 age- and sex-matched healthy participants from Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative database to reveal the commonalities and specificities of distinct neuropsychiatric symptoms. Abnormal cortical co-alteration pattern in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms was in somatomotor, vision and frontoparietal regions, with epicenters in …

What Family Mealtime Brings To The Table, Alicia Kirby Leon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Family mealtimes together appear to play an important role in adolescent mental health. Family mealtime frequency is associated with positive outcomes such as greater well-being, self-esteem, happiness, and better mental health in adolescents. However, the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown left behind even higher levels of depression and anxiety and other mental health concerns in adolescents. Moreover, children from lower SES tend to have higher anxiety levels, depressive affect, and stress. In this study, I proposed to help bridge that gap in the research by examining adolescents from low SES families and help determine how much family mealtimes may benefit …

Action Crisis Intervention Response, Dwayne Pine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Establishing a peer-to-peer mental health intervention program for healthcare workers at Henry Mayo Hospital is imperative for addressing stress, anxiety, depression, job burnout, and compassion fatigue. The growing mental health crisis among healthcare workers, leading to a significant number leaving the industry due to lack of support from management, underscores the urgency of this initiative. This action research project emphasizes the need for such a program in conjunction with the established Mental Health First Aid. While the latter provides tools to recognize a mental health crisis, it lacks holistic approaches to aid healthcare workers in immediate crisis mode. The project …

Returning To Occupations After Surviving Cancer, Sebastian Canales, Mary Jan Greer

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

The presentation covers a program development to help assist cancer survivors transition back to meaningful occupations, including work, with decreased stress and anxiety, to increase their quality of life.

Exploring The Impact Of Mental Health Screening On Anxiety And Depression Scores Among Female Collegiate Ice Hockey Players., Christina Seber

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Background: Mental health and well-being are essential to being able to perform one’s best in career, academics, relationships, and sport (Egan, 2019). In young adults ages 18- to 25- years old, there is a growing prevalence in the types, severity, and percentage of mental illness. This is the age group of traditional college students and student-athletes, and it is highly recognized (Neal et al., 2013).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anxiety and depression levels with mental health screenings. What contribution do mental health screenings make towards decreasing levels of anxiety and depression?

Methods: …

Companion Dogs And Depression, Anxiety, And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Adult Icu Survivors: A Scoping Review, Lindsey Nelson, Sue Lasiter, Amanda Emerson

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Intensive care unit (ICU) survivors are at risk for developing persistent psychological sequelae that have been linked to decreased quality of life and increased mortality after hospital discharge. Standardized evidence-based treatments are lacking, mainly focus on physical rather than psychological recovery, and often occur in formal settings. Benefits of human– companion dog relationships have not been explored in the ICU survivor population before. Thus, the purposes of our review were to summarize the literature focused on the influence of companion dogs on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); identify what is known about the potential role companion dogs play …

Neural Mechanisms Of Estrogen And Inflammation In Female Stress Susceptibility, Samantha Jane Bouknight

Theses and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are highly debilitating psychiatric disorders that notably share stress as an etiological factor. Stress is a common occurrence experienced daily by virtually everyone and, while most people are resilient, a substantial portion of the population exhibit risk factors that yield them susceptible to developing stress-related psychiatric disorders. One prominent factor that has long been known to increase this risk is the female biological sex with women presenting at least twice as often with disorders like PTSD and MDD compared to men. Interestingly, this bias exists distinctly during the reproductive years and …

Association Of Self-Report Measures With Salivary Biomarkers In Post-Menopausal Women, Laree M. Hiser, Karen Arrant, Jung Hye S. Lee, Lei Zhang

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Symptoms of menopause include inadequate sleep, depression, and anxiety. Studies of healthy aging frequently use self-report tools that are unverified by objective measures.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between self-report measures of sleep or affect and salivary biomarkers in a small (n=32) sample of post-menopausal women.

Methods: Salivary cortisol and a-amylase were quantified by laboratory tests. Self-report data included hours of sleep and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS^®) tools for sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. Correlation analyses were conducted between self-reported measures and biomarker concentrations.

Results: No statistically significant correlations were found between cortisol …

A Short Meditation Intervention And The Impact On Generation Z College Students' Anxiety And Academic Resilience, Alexandra Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative pretest-post-test evaluated the impact of a virtual guided meditation on anxiety and academic resilience levels in undergraduate, Generation Z students. A sample of 14 undergraduate males and females participated in the study. Participants used The Mindfulness App at a location and time of their choice; they meditated five minutes daily for five weeks. Participants were recruited through an accredited university and social media. Participants qualified if they were between the ages of 18-26 and were currently enrolled in undergraduate studies. The pre and post-test included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) to assess anxiety and the Academic Resilience Scale …

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Survivors: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Post-Traumatic Growth, Quality Of Life, And Unmet Mental Health Needs, Carla Horton Gray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to investigate levels of PTSD, PTG, QOL, their relationships, and unmet mental health needs of triple-negative breast cancer survivors diagnosed between stages 2b-4 and 2-5 years post-treatment. Participants were recruited through two cancer organizations, breast health navigators, TNBC support groups, and online breast cancer support groups. Sixty-one participants completed the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B). Thirty participants completed the optional short answer questions about unmet mental health needs. Participants’ mean score of 48 (SD=12.22) on the PCL-C was higher than 44, PTSD scores …

The Mental Effect Of Obesity On Active-Duty Service Members In The United States: A Phenomenological Approach, Tegan M. Quigley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological research was intended to explore the impact that obesity has on the mental health of soldiers in the U.S. military. The U.S. military has stringent physical fitness standards that must be met by each soldier regardless of sex. These standards can be challenging to maintain. Obesity is an increasing issue in the United States, and soldiers are not immune. Research regarding the physical issues that occur from obesity has been performed, but this study aimed to explore the behavioral or mental health effects that obesity can have within the military community. This study explored the following questions: In …

Educating Nursing Faculty In Mindfulness Practices To Reduce Students’ Anxiety Pre-Simulation, Virginia Gonzalez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This DNP project examines how mindfulness training for associate degree nursing faculty can enhance educator self-efficacy in implementing teaching methods that reduce anxiety among nursing students before simulation exercises. The primary issue identified is the lack of faculty training in pre-simulation facilitation practices, which is crucial for ensuring students are adequately prepared. Using a pre-test/post-test design, this initiative evaluated changes in educator mindfulness self-efficacy among 14 faculty members. Results indicated a significant improvement in self-efficacy scores. The pre-test mean score was 3.36, which rose to a post-test mean score of 4.60. These project results demonstrate that mindfulness training effectively enhanced …

Enhancing Family Nurse Practitioner Education Through End-Of-Life Simulation: A Quality Improvement Project, Deborah Jamison

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Providing compassionate and effective end-of-life care is a crucial skill for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) students (Collins & Small, 2019). However, many students experience significant anxiety and lack confidence in such challenging situations. The problem identified for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Quality Improvement (QI) project is the lack of training focused on end-of-life care in the FNP program at a College of Nursing (CON) within an academic clinical center. The project’s purpose was to improve confidence and anxiety levels among FNP students in providing end-of-life care. The project aimed to create an inventive and immersive end-of-life simulation with …

Age. Cultural Intelligence, Social Media Use And Anxiety, Bill Comstock

Master's Theses & Other Graduate Student Works

This August 2024 Master of Science in Psychology thesis at Lipscomb University study investigated the intricate relationship between social media use, age, cultural intelligence, and anxiety levels, aiming to unravel potential interactions and influences across diverse demographics. In a survey-based approach, 49 participants from various age groups and cultural backgrounds were tested for age, cultural intelligence scores (CQS), anxiety levels (GAD-7), and social media use patterns assessed by the Social Networking Time Use Scale (SONTUS). The central hypothesis posited that age, cultural intelligence, and social media use collectively interact in predicting anxiety levels. To address this, a multiple linear regression …