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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. …

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 …

The Ties That Bind: Co-Twin Influences On Psychopathology In A Sample Of Twins, Anjoli E. R. Cero

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has begun to better describe twinship and twin identity development, the potential advantages and disadvantages of twinship, and factors related to twins’ shared psychological symptomatology. Research also supports the concept of emotional contagion, in which one person’s emotional state can be transmitted to another person. This phenomenon may be more common among twins due to factors such as closeness, dependence, and general similarity. The current study proposed a series of regression models to investigate how predictive pathways toward anxiety among a sample of twins could be impacted by the psychological traits and functioning of their co-twins. The current sample …

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 …

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 …

Social Anxiety Moderates The Association Between Adolescent Irritability And Bully Perpetration, Michael T Perino, Jennifer C Harper-Lednicky, Alecia C Vogel, Chad M Sylvester, Deanna M Barch, Joan L Luby

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Preliminary work suggests anxiety moderates the relationship between irritability and bullying. As anxiety increases, the link between irritability and perpetration decreases. We hypothesize that any moderation effect of anxiety is driven by social anxiety symptoms. We sought to explicate the moderating effect of anxiety, while clarifying relations to other aggressive behaviors.

METHODS: A sample of adolescents (

RESULTS: Irritability was significantly related to bullying (

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding how psychopathology interacts with social behaviors is of great importance. Higher social anxiety is linked to reduced relations between irritability and bullying; however, the link between irritability and other aggression remains positive. …

Gdf15 Links Adipose Tissue Lipolysis With Anxiety, Logan K Townsend, Léa J Becker, Jordan G Mccall, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Psychological stress changes both behaviour and metabolism to protect organisms. Adrenaline is an important driver of this response. Anxiety correlates with circulating free fatty acid levels and can be alleviated by a peripherally restricted β-blocker, suggesting a peripheral signal linking metabolism with behaviour. Here we show that adrenaline, the β3 agonist CL316,243 and acute restraint stress induce growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) secretion in white adipose tissue of mice. Genetic inhibition of adipose triglyceride lipase or genetic deletion of β-adrenergic receptors blocks β-adrenergic-induced increases in GDF15. Increases in circulating GDF15 require lipolysis-induced free fatty acid stimulation of M2-like macrophages within …

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 …

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 …

Examining The Mediating Effects Of Symptoms Of Depression, Anxiety, And Perceived Stress On The Association Between Bereavement And Inflammation, Kylee Faith Behringer

Master's Theses

Bereavement is a stressor that impacts the psychological well-being of an individual and their physical health. This study aimed to develop a more nuanced understanding of the association between bereavement and its psychological and biological consequences, and the potential mediating role of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress within the relationship between bereavement and inflammation. Data was collected through Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher 1, a longitudinal study that examines social, psychological, and biological vulnerabilities associated with potential health outcomes (Weinstein et al., 2019). The study consisted of 863 participants (bereaved=373, non-bereaved=490) who completed an in-person study visit …

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 …

The Moderating Effects Of Duration On The Relationships Among Adverse Childhood Experiences, Perceived Social Support, And Adult Mental Health, Jessica M. Templeton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood adversity is a significant predictor of negative mental health outcomes, with prior research primarily focusing on cumulative risk models of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This study examines whether the duration of ACE exposure moderates the mediating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between ACEs and adult mental health outcomes, specifically anxiety and depression symptomatology. Using archival data from the Correlates of Adversity and Temperament in Childhood (CATCH) dataset, responses from 230 participants were analyzed. Mediation analyses revealed that perceived social support mediates the relationship between ACEs and both anxiety and depression. Moderated mediation analyses further indicated that …

#Toomuchcontent: A Quantitative Analysis On Social Media Time Usage And Its Impact On Young Adult Anxiety And/Or Depression In The United States, Sarah Juarez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As technology continues to advance and grow, society has seen a surge in popularity of various social media sites. Social media has become increasingly popular among young adults, with some spending over 10 hours each day on social media. Social media can be utilized for community building, fostering relationships, providing safe spaces, inspiration, creative expression, and may even provide users with acceptance, validation, and a sense of belonging. Considering these factors, social media may also affect individuals negatively— specifically mental health-wise, in terms of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to identify whether a correlation exists between time spent on …

First-Generation Latinas In Higher Education Raises Problems In Mental Health, Amairani Velez-Ramos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

First-Generation Latina Students (FGLS) pursuing higher education in social work experience more anxiety and stress. This qualitative research study explored the components that contributed to FGLS anxiety and stress. One-on-one interviews were conducted with twelve First-Generation Latina Students pursuing a graduate degree in social work. The two theories that helped better understand the mental health factors that FGLS encountered were the bioecological systems theory and narrative theory. The bioecological systems theory was applied to explore participants’ different ecological systems. The narrative theory was utilized as a framework for participants to share their first-hand experiences in a graduate program. The information …

The Relationship Between Anxiety, Self-Esteem, And Religiosity Among College Students At A Private Christian University, Maximo Fuentes Rojo Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationships among anxiety, self-esteem, and religiosity in a sample of 131 college students attending a private Christian university. Anxiety is a prevalent mental health concern for college students, often leading to detrimental effects on academic performance and overall well-being (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2020, 2022, as cited in Tan et al., 2023). Self-esteem, a critical component of self-concept, plays a significant role in mental health outcomes, with lower self-esteem linked to higher levels of anxiety (Baumeister et al., 2003; Beck, 1967). Religiosity has been identified as a potential coping mechanism, offering emotional support and …

The Bullied Prairie Vole: Modeling Depression And Anxiety Through Social Defeat Stress, Minerva Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Stress-induced illnesses, such as major depression and anxiety, are significant global causes of disability. This highlights the need for reliable animal models that accurately mimic social stress-induced maladaptations, thus, allowing the experimental study of the etiology of such disorders. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), known for their human-like bi-parental behavior and monogamous partner preferences, are a relevant model for the study of stress-induced psychopathologies. For this reason, in this dissertation, I examined whether exposing voles to the social defeat stress (SDS) paradigm, an experimental approach that captures bullying behavior, would result in both depression and anxiety-related profiles. To do this, experimental …

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.

Relationship Of Religiosity And Depression And Anxiety Of K-12th Grade Educators, Melissa Christian Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As more people suffer from a decline in mental health, the education profession is especially vulnerable to anxiety and depression. K-12th grade teachers face a plethora of job-related stressors that impact their mental health, which often affects the quality of education and student outcomes. Public school teachers face the daily challenge of managing student behavior, responding to parent, community, and administrator demands, high-stakes testing, and the responsibility of designing rigorous lessons. They must face these challenges while balancing personal stressors such as financial struggles with minimal pay. Additionally, teachers’ mental health influences the culture and climate of the school environment …

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 …

Exploring Young Adults’ Implicit Theories Of Emotion And Emotion Dysregulation On Parental Emotion Socialization And Internalizing Symptomology, Daryl Parungao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research regarding emotion socialization suggests parents’ responses towards their children’s negative emotions, which may be characterized as either emotion dismissive or emotion coaching behaviors, are associated with children’s well-being into adulthood. A heuristic model of emotion socialization suggests that child-level factors related to emotion processing may moderate this association (Eisenberg, 1998), which warrants further examination when considering relevant risk factors for mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. This dissertation explored how parent emotion socialization responses interact with young adults’ beliefs about the controllability of emotions and their difficulties with emotion regulation with regard to their impact on young …

Impact Of Nature Connectedness On Mental Health And Well-Being: An Interdisciplinary Study, Awatef Alshareif, Salha Senan

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

Background: Nature connectedness significantly impacts mental health and well-being, offering a non-pharmacological approach to help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between nature connectedness and mental health such as depression, anxiety, stress, well-being and emotional affects. Methods: A total of 588 participants (aged 18 years and over) were recruited from the general Saudi population to complete the Arabic version of Inclusion of Nature in Self (INS) scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, and The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Results: Findings revealed that most participants reported …

The Impact Of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (Foat®) On College Students Experiencing Stress, Anxiety, And Depression, Mikki H. Lane

Expressive Therapies Theses

This arts-based research explores how Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (FOAT®) supports college students in coping with stress, anxiety, and depression. Due to academic pressures, social transitions, and developmental milestones, college students are especially vulnerable to mental health challenges (Schaufeli et al., 2002). This arts-based approach to the research explores the impact of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (FOAT®) on college students experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. Specifically, the study looked to determine if FOAT® could lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in college students who were experiencing these challenges. The research approach included the case study of one college student, …

Job Dissatisfaction, David A. Scott, Dawn-Marie Farrell-Smith, Angela Garren, Hannah Wegley

Essays in Developmental Psychology

We either have experienced or know someone who has experienced job dissatisfaction at some point in their life. Many factors can lead to job dissatisfaction, including horrible mangers, poor working conditions, irritating co-workers and even harassment. Job dissatisfaction is very common and can have an impact on a person’s overall health and relationships. Job dissatisfaction can also lead to people changing careers several times over their lifetime. A person would be considered very lucky to have a job they enjoy going to each and every day.

Anxiety In Old Age, Kim Fitzgibbon, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Anxiety can be impairing and distressing for both the individual suffering from the symptoms and those around them. Emerging research suggests that anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders in older adults are just as prevalent as with younger adults, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). The ADAA states that Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in the older adult population in the United States. It is also common for an older adult to have had a prior anxiety diagnosis, including GAD, when they were younger that has persisted into older age. Fear of …

Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview, Harry Voulgarakis, Jessica Scher Lisa

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by pervasive deficits in social communication and interaction, alongside patterns of restricted, repetitive, stereotyped behaviors and interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The causes, as well as neurobiological and genetic bases for ASD is still unknown, yet there is developing research in these areas.  Although diagnosis does not necessarily need to be made in early childhood, it is important to establish a developmental history consistent with such symptoms, in order to distinguish such deficits from those associated with trauma or other adverse impacts later in life. Beyond the main diagnostic criteria, there …

Empowering Parents: Enhancing Burn Education To Reduce Anxiety In Pediatric Hospital Admissions, Kate Maslowski

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital (SJCH) is South Carolina’s only pediatric burn referral center, offering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for children with burn injuries. While most pediatric burns are minor, non-accidental injuries account for up to 20% of cases (Strobel & Fey, 2018). Parents of hospitalized children with burns often experience heightened anxiety, which can negatively influence their child’s emotional well-being and cooperation during treatment (Zdun-Ryżewska et al., 2021).

This capstone project aimed to reduce caregiver anxiety by developing accessible, inclusive, and health-literate educational materials. These resources were designed to provide parents with realistic expectations, enhance understanding of burn care procedures, and …

The Relationship Between Climate Change Awareness And Mental Health Among Adults In The United States, Stanley Nkemjika

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding the connection between climate change awareness and overall well-being is crucial, particularly regarding its impact on the environment and mental health. However, there is a need for more research on this topic, especially within the American context. The mental health implications of climate change are not yet fully understood, and there is a gap in the literature. This gap was addressed by exploring climate change awareness effects on mental health among U.S. adults. The social ecological model provided a framework to examine the impact of climate change awareness on mental health, considering individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors. This …