Digital Commons Network^™

Mindfulness And Alcohol-Related Problems Among Individuals With Fibromyalgia: Chronic Pain And Depressive Symptoms As Mediators, Julie I. Morrissey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness is a cognitive attribute that is associated with better health and well-being. Fibromyalgia is a neurosensory disorder primarily characterized by chronic pain and comorbid depression, leading to an increased risk for alcohol-related problems. Empirical literature confirms mindfulness has beneficial associations with chronic pain, depression, alcohol-related problems, and fibromyalgia. Mindfulness may lead to better health and well-being by facilitating self-monitoring, objective reperceiving, and purposeful changing of health-related behaviors. It was hypothesized that higher levels of mindfulness would be related to lower levels of chronic pain and depressive symptoms, and, in turn, to fewer alcohol-related problems among individuals with fibromyalgia. Cross-sectional …

The Impact Social Withdrawal In Depression Has On Social Functioning, Clayton H. Allred

Honors Theses

Depression is a major health concern worldwide, particularly through its impact on individuals' level of functioning. However, noticeably absent from the study of depression and social functioning is an examination of social withdrawal. This paper examines if social withdrawal predicts social functioning above and beyond symptoms of depression and anhedonia. We developed the Social Withdrawal Scale (SWS) and tested it, along with other measures of depression and social functioning, using participants from Amazon MTurk. The results of the study indicated that the SWS functioned best as a single factor measure. The SWS did in fact predict additional variability in social …

The Impact Of High School Extracurriculars: Similarities And Differences In Sense Of Community Among Competitive, Performance, And Participatory Activities, Erica M. Hawvermale

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Extant research links high sense of community in adolescence to adaptive outcomes such as enhanced motivation, self-efficacy, and coping ability (Battistich, Solomon, Watson, & Schaps, 1997; Vieno, Perkins, Smith, & Santinello, 2005; Henry & Slater, 2007), as well as reduced stress, anxiety, and depression (Chipuer, Bramston, & Pretty, 2002). In light of these findings, the present study was designed to assess the relationship between high school students’ participation in extracurricular activities and their perceptions of sense of community, enjoyment, and commitment, as well as the aspects of these organizations that help to facilitate feelings of community. Study 1 participants (N= …

The Contributions Of Perceived Ethnic Discrimination And Rumination To Depression, Anxiety, And Anger In Emerging Adults, Alexis M. Lima

Psychology

Perceived ethnic discrimination (PED), a type of race-based social stress, is conceptualized as a subjective experience of discrimination based on phenotype, linguistic, or cultural characteristics. As an environmental stressor, it is associated with the same negative outcomes as other stressors such as greater depressive and anxious symptoms, poorer academic performance, and poorer health outcomes. Previous research has focused on PED’s association with mental and physical health outcomes, but cognitive factors (i.e., cognitive ruminations, coping strategies, executive functioning) that might mediate or moderate outcomes have received less attention. Moreover, while some research has investigated the associations of anger rumination and perceived …

The Interactive Effect Of Diabetes Family Conflict And Depression On Insulin Bolusing Behaviors For Youth., Genevieve Maliszewski, Susana R. Patton, L Kurt Midyett, Mark A. Clements

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: Adherence to type 1 diabetes management declines as children enter adolescence. For youth, psychosocial variables including mood and interpersonal relationships play a large role in diabetes maintenance. The current study assessed the unique and interactive roles diabetes family conflict and depression have on insulin bolusing behaviors for youth ages 10-16 years.

METHODS: Ninety-one youth-parent dyads completed a survey assessing family conflict and depression. Mean daily blood glucose levels, mealtime insulin bolus scores ( BOLUS), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were collected from the medical record as outcome variables.

RESULTS: Parent-reported diabetes-related family conflict and youths' endorsed depression both significantly predicted …

Dog Ownership And Dog Walking: The Relationship With Exercise, Depression And Hopelessness In Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease, Susan L. Dunn, Michael Sit, Holli A. Devon, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Background: Dog ownership has been associated with increased physical activity in the general adult population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine dog ownership and dog walking and their relationship with home-based and Phase II cardiac rehabilitation exercise, depression, and hopelessness in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Methods: A total of 122 IHD patients were included in this prospective observational study. Patients completed dog ownership/walking questions during their hospitalization. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Participation Tool, Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9), and State-Trait Hopelessness Scale were completed by mail at 3, 8, or 12 months later. Regression modeling was …

A Study Of Comorbidities And Nutritional Supplements Strongly Associated With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cynthia Vlad, Andreea C. Birtan, Lina Begdache

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of chronic conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two primary types of IBD. Some pathologic ramifications of these diseases include weight loss, diarrhea, anemia, osteoporosis, and malignancies. The purpose of this study was to find potential unestablished associations between comorbidities linked to an inflammatory state, nutritional supplements used to help alleviate inflammation and promote wellbeing, and the psychological toll on patients.

A deidentified database of 404 IBD patients built by Binghamton Gastroenterology Associates collected information on demographics, medical treatment, symptoms, and medical problems, including psychological disorders. We …

The Effect Of Routine Adult Phq-2 Depression Screen And Scheduled Follow-Up Protocol In The Primary Care Setting, Alex F. Bikowski

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Healthy People has projected depression to be the primary cause of disability by 2020; therefore routine depression screening has been prioritized as a national healthcare initiative. The purpose of this Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) project is to demonstrate that routine implementation of the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) depression screener, along with a scheduled follow-up protocol for adults in the primary care setting, can improve current mental health practices regarding the identification of depression by clinicians. The evidence supports use of the PHQ-2 for routine adult depression screening, as long as a scheduled follow-up protocol is available for positive screens. This …

Depression, Religiosity, And Parenting Styles Among Mormon Adolescents, Courtney Kinneard, Mark Ogletree

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

We examined how religiosity and the parent-child relationship are associated with depression in 12-14 yr old teenagers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. A random sample of 493 revealed three correlations: girls who have a strong connection with their mother have a negative correlation with depression; daily spiritual experiences are negatively correlated with depression, and negative religious coping is positively correlated with depression symptoms.

The Role Of Perceived Stress In The Relationship Between Purpose In Life And Mental Health., Anne Guzman

Psychology ETDs

Although purpose in life (PIL) has been consistently related to better mental health, there is little understanding of whether that may be explained by reducing appraisal of or reactivity to stress. The sample consisted of 546 undergraduate students who completed measures of PIL, perceived stress, and measures of both positive mental health (positive affect, life satisfaction) and negative mental health (negative affect, anxiety, depression). The hypotheses were that PIL would (1) be related to more positive and less negative mental health and (2) be related to less perceived stress, and (3) reduce the effects of perceived stress in increasing negative …

Experiencing Peer Victimization In Secondary School: Are We Missing The Mental Health Effects In College Students?, Giovanna Eisberg

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Every day in the United States, hundreds of thousands of students are absent from school because of fear of being bullied (Chen & Huang, 2015; Goldstein, 2012). Although bullying among school children in the United States has been declining since the 1990s (Finkelhor, 2013; Perlus, Brooks-Russell, Wang, & Iannotti, 2014), it is still a major social and mental health issue that has severe negative consequences on victims. Most of the existing literature has documented the short-term negative consequences of peer victimization in school children (Jantzer, Haffner, Parker, Resch, & Kaess, 2015; Landoll, LaGreca, Lai, Chan, & Herge, 2015; Rueger & …

Similarities And Differences In The Influence Of Paternal And Maternal Depression On Adolescent Well-Being, Kevin Shafer, Brandon Fielding, Douglas Wendt

Faculty Publications

Depressed parents may negatively influence the well-being and outcomes of their children. However, prior research has mostly addressed mother's depression and early childhood outcomes, whereas fathers and adolescents have been largely ignored in the literature. Using data from the sixth grade and age 15 waves of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, this study addresses similarities and differences in the influence of paternal and maternal depression on adolescent behavior. Results from structural equation models showed that paternal depression had direct effects on both internalizing and externalizing …

The Relationship Between Spirituality And Depression Among The Elderly In Indonesia, Yeni Mahwati

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Studies have shown that there is an association between spirituality and better physical and mental health. Depression has one of the highest prevalence amongst the mental health illnesses in the elderly, and it can lead to poor physical health. This study aims to determine the relationship between spirituality and depression. Methods: Data was obtained from the 4th Indonesian Family Life Survey, that was conducted in 2007; the total study sample included 3,103 elderly Indonesians. Logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between spirituality and depression.  Results: This study found that the prevalence of depression was 7.2%, with the …

Suicidality And Depression Of Those Raised In Kincare, Theresa Fitchie

Honors Theses

The rate of children who are raised in kincare (that is, by a non-parental relative), has steadily been on the rise. Past studies have indicated that this group of individuals are at an increased risk of mental health problems, such as suicidality and depression, and are often at a financial disadvantage and are overlooked for federal aid. The current study examines the suicidality and depressive symptoms of adults who were raised in kincare, compared to their peers. The participants were given the revised Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ-R) to assess suicidality, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to assess depressive symptoms, a …

Can The Hopelessness Model Of Depression And The Response Style Theory Be Integrated?, Patrick Pössel, Stephanie Winkeljohn Black

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The hopelessness model (Abramson et al., 1989) and response style theory (Nolen-Hoeksema et al., 1992) have been integrated in various ways, but these integrations have not been compared. German college students (N = 311; mean age = 23.27 years, SD = 6.57 years, 80% female) rated their depressive symptoms, negative inferences, and rumination three times. Findings supported an integrated model where individual inferences predict and interact with the rumination subtype brooding to affect depressive symptoms.

Sense Of Belonging, Emotion Regulation, Perceived Social Support And Mental Health Among College Students, Sara Bock Davis

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Perceived social support (PSS) is linked to a range of beneficial effects, but the factors that influence the effectiveness of PSS are less well understood. In their Relational Regulation Theory (RRT), Lakey and Orehek (2011) emphasize the importance of distinguishing the role of individual factors from relational influences on PSS. This study tested the RRT by examining whether the association of PSS to three mental health outcomes (i.e., aggression, binge eating, depressive symptoms) varies by two individual factors: sense of belonging and emotion regulation. With a non-clinical college sample, a series of hierarchical regressions tested whether sense of belonging and …

Exploring The Relationship Between Depression And Resilience In Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Marquis A. Norton

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Although experiences of trauma are common, reactions vary due to a host of biopsychosocial and cultural factors that influence the individual reaction to the trauma (Nakai et al., 2015). One such factor is resiliency, the capability to adapt in adverse environmental circumstances (Basim & Cetin, 2011). This study used hierarchical multiple regression to examine the relationships between childhood trauma, recent experiences of depression, and resilience in adult university students. This study also examined the possible moderating effects on depression by resilience. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, and PROMIS Depression survey. Small significant relationships were found for …

Depression, Loneliness, And Pet Attachment In Homebound Older Adult Cat And Dog Owners, Sandy M. Branson, Lisa Boss, Stanley Cron, Dennis C. Turner

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background: Companion animals may reduce depression and loneliness in socially isolated homebound older adults. However, whether owning a cat or dog is more beneficial in this population remains unknown.

Materials and Methods: Pet attachment and the levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness were examined in 39 homebound older adults who exclusively owned a cat(s) or a dog(s). Cat owners (n = 12) and dog owners (n=27) were assessed for depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form), loneliness (R-UCLA Loneliness Scale), and attachment to pets (Likert scale).

Results: Cat owners reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms than dog …

The Reciprocal Effects Of Language Proficiency And Depression Among Low Income Latino Youth, Nicole Colon Quintana

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Extant research suggests that language plays an important role in both social processes and emotional encoding and regulation. In dual language youth, the maternal tongue has been observed as a protective factor against maladaptive outcomes (Toppelberg & Collins, 2010). Although Latino youth are at a heightened risk for depression (CDC, 2013), and a majority grow in Spanish-English speaking households (Pumariega et al., 2013), the impact of dual language development in their psychosocial well-being remains poorly understood. It is known that limited English language proficiency during early school years is predictive of maladaptive outcomes such as externalizing problems (Dawson & Williams, …

Some Secrets Should Be Shared: Implementing An Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention Program, Meghan W. Diamon

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Youth suicide is a preventable tragedy that can occur when children's mental health needs are unmet. Participants will discuss published research on risk factors for youth suicide, how to implement an evidence-based prevention program, and how to tackle common obstacles encountered. Participants will be prepared to mobilize school staff, parents, and community members to address the critical issues of depression awareness and suicide prevention.

The Influence Of Self-Efficacy In The Relationship Between Variants Of Self-Blame And Psychological Distress, Andrea Barrera

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Sexual assault has consistently been found to be associated with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. Research shows that self-blaming attributions are directly linked to distress (Walsh, & Foshee, 1998; Walsh & Bruce, 2011). More specifically, the type of self-blame (i.e., behavioral and characterological) an individual associates with their experienced sexual assault, may influence their perceptions of avoidability of future assault and post-assault recovery. However, the role of self-efficacy in the relationship between behavioral and characterological self-blame in PTSD sexual assault survivors has been unexamined. The purpose of the proposed study is to assess the influence of self-efficacy in …

Cumulative Sexual Victimization And Mental Health Outcomes Among Incarcerated Women, Jennifer Hartsfield, Susan F. Sharp, Sonya Conner

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This research explores the relationship between three different types of self-reported sexual victimization and subsequent mental health problems in a sample of incarcerated women. Previous literature establishes a link between victimization histories and poor mental health outcomes. This study focuses on sexual victimization experienced as a child, as an adolescent and as an adult, both individually and cumulatively, in relation to entering prison with a mental health diagnosis as well as reporting current depressive symptoms while incarcerated. Each type of victimization is significantly related to both prior mental health diagnosis and current depression in prison. Furthermore, there is an additive …

Functional Outcomes Of The Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial In Age-Related Macular Degeneration., Ashley D. Deemer, Robert W. Massof, Barry W. Rovner, Robin J. Casten, Catherine V. Piersol

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of behavioral activation (BA) plus low vision rehabilitation with an occupational therapist (OT-LVR) with supportive therapy (ST) on visual function in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Single-masked, attention-controlled, randomized clinical trial with AMD patients with subsyndromal depressive symptoms (n = 188). All subjects had two outpatient low vision rehabilitation optometry visits, then were randomized to in-home BA + OT-LVR or ST. Behavioral activation is a structured behavioral treatment aiming to increase adaptive behaviors and achieve valued goals. Supportive therapy is a nondirective, psychological treatment that provides emotional support and controls for attention. Functional …

Using Mobile Sensing To Test Clinical Models Of Depression, Social Anxiety, State Affect, And Social Isolation Among College Students, Philip I. Chow, Karl Fua, Yu Huang, Wesley Bonelli, Haoyi Xiong, Laura E. Barnes, Bethany A. Teachman

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: Research in psychology demonstrates a strong link between state affect (moment-to-moment experiences of positive or negative emotionality) and trait affect (e.g., relatively enduring depression and social anxiety symptoms), and a tendency to withdraw (e.g., spending time at home). However, existing work is based almost exclusively on static, self-reported descriptions of emotions and behavior that limit generalizability. Despite adoption of increasingly sophisticated research designs and technology (e.g., mobile sensing using a global positioning system [GPS]), little research has integrated these seemingly disparate forms of data to improve understanding of how emotional experiences in everyday life are associated with time spent …

A Controlled Comparison Trial Of The Collaborative Assessment And Management Of Suicidality (Cams) In An Inpatient Setting: Outcomes At Discharge And Six-Month Follow-Up, Thomas E Ellis, Katrina A Rufino, Jon G Allen

Staff and Researcher Publications

This controlled comparison trial evaluated a suicide-specific intervention, the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), in an extended-stay psychiatric inpatient setting. Multiple outcomes were examined for 104 patients, half of whom received individual therapy from therapists trained in CAMS. The comparison group was selected from a larger pool through Propensity Score Matching to ensure comparability on age, sex, treatment program, number of prior suicide attempts, and severity of suicidal ideation. Results showed that a) all patients improved significantly across a wide range of measures, including depression, suicidal ideation, functional disability, and well-being; b) these gains were durable over a …

Neuroinflammatory And Cognitive Consequences Of Combined Radiation And Immunotherapy In A Novel Preclinical Model., Gwendolyn J Mcginnis, David Friedman, Kristina H Young, Eileen Ruth S Torres, Charles R Thomas, Michael J Gough, Jacob Raber

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients often report behavioral and cognitive changes following cancer treatment. These effects can be seen in patients who have not yet received treatment or have received only peripheral (non-brain) irradiation. Novel treatments combining radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT) demonstrate remarkable efficacy with respect to tumor outcomes by enhancing the proinflammatory environment in the tumor. However, a proinflammatory environment in the brain mediates cognitive impairments in other neurological disorders and may affect brain function in cancer patients receiving these novel treatments. Currently, gaps exist as to whether these treatments impact the brain in individuals with or without tumors and …

Mental Health Of African Asylum-Seekers And Refugees In Hong Kong: Using The Social Determinants Of Health Framework, William Chi Wai Wong, Sealing Cheung, Heidi Yin Hai Miu, Julie Chen, Kelley Ann Loper, Eleanor Holroyd

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Hong Kong is non-signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and has no systematic domestic policies committed to the rights of asylum-seekers and refugees (ASRs). This creates a tenuous setting for African ASRs there. This study explored how mapped social determinates of health has impacted the mental health and wellbeing of African ASR’s in Hong Kong.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out with 374 African ASRs. The survey comprised of: (a) sociodemographics; (b) health status; (c) health behaviours; and, (d) social experiences. Associations between social determinants of health and depression screen were explored and multivariable …

The Impact Of A Civic Service Program On Biopsychosocial Outcomes Of Post 9/11 U.S. Military Veterans, Monica M. Matthieu, Karen A. Lawrence, Emma Robertson-Blackmore

Social Work Faculty Publications

Volunteering as a health promotion intervention, improves physical health, mental health, and social outcomes particularly in older adults, yet limited research exists for veterans. We conducted a preliminary study to explore whether volunteering impacts a variety of biopsychosocial outcomes, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, among returning military veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. A survey enrolling a prospective cohort of United States (U.S.) veterans who served in the military after 11 September 2001 and who participated in a national civic service program was conducted. A total of 346 veterans completed standardized health, mental health, and psychosocial self-report …

Kidnapping And Mental Health In Iraqi Refugees: The Role Of Resilience, A. Michelle Wright, Yousif R. Talia, Abir Aldhalimi, Carissa L. Broadbridge, Hikmet Jamil, Mark A. Lumley, Nnamdi Pole, Bengt B. Arnetz, Judith E. Arnetz

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Although kidnapping is common in war-torn countries, there is little research examining its psychological effects. Iraqi refugees (N = 298) were assessed upon arrival to the U.S. and 1 year later. At arrival, refugees were asked about prior trauma exposure, including kidnapping. One year later refugees were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression disorder (MDD) using the SCID-I. Individual resilience and narratives of the kidnapping were also assessed. Twenty-six refugees (9 %) reported being kidnapped. Compared to those not kidnapped, those who were had a higher prevalence of PTSD, but not MDD, diagnoses. Analyses examining kidnapping victims …

Coping Styles And Depression Among Patients With Solid Organ Cancers Attending Two Tertiary Care Hospitals Of Karachi: A Cross Sectional Study., Khadija Vadsaria, Adnan Jabbar, Iqbal Azam Syed, Sameera Rizvi, Ghulam Haider, Haider Naqvi

Community Health Sciences

Cancer undoubtedly affects patients in all aspects. Cancer diagnosis is a stressful event and coping is the primary mechanism used to adjust and counteract the stress. This study aims to assess the coping styles and prevalence of depression among solid organ cancer patients during treatment phase, attending two tertiary care hospitals of Karachi. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among solid organ cancer patients at Aga Khan University Hospital and Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center. Coping and depression were assessed by Brief COPE and Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) 20 respectively. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 488 patients. Coping styles …