Digital Commons Network^™

Discipline Or Damage? How Corporal Punishment Affects The Psychological Wellbeing Of Children In The School Setting, Umulkheir Mahamud Sharif Ali

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Corporal punishment continues to be used in many homes and schools despite research linking it to negative psychological outcomes in children. Previous studies, primarily focused on home settings, have associated corporal punishment with increased anxiety, depression, aggression, and emotional distress. However, less research has examined how these outcomes appear within school environments, where discipline occurs in more structured institutional settings. This thesis investigates how corporal punishment in schools affects students psychologically, emotionally, and academically through a literature review of peer-reviewed studies from psychology, education, and public health. The findings show that many of the mental health outcomes associated with corporal …

Parental Rejection, Identity Development, And Mental Health Among Lgbtqia+ Youth, Litzy Rodriguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, LGBTQIA+ youth continue to experience increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidality, and identity development distress. Parental rejection has been identified as the central impact of these outcomes. However, limited research has examined the influence of parental responses on identity development and the role of micro-level supports, such as counseling and support groups, and macro-level supports, such as inclusive policies and community protections. The purpose of this proposed study is to examine the relationship between early parental rejection or acceptance and LGBTQIA+ youth’s mental health outcomes, identity development, and perceived effectiveness of support systems. …

Advancing Children's Mental Health In Nevada, Kelliann Beavers, Christopher Kearney

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada ranks 51st nationally in youth mental health access and services, underscoring persistent shortages and disparities across the state. Nearly one in four youths aged 12–17 (23.5%) experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, and 73% did not receive treatment. Approximately 34,000 Nevada youths have reported suicidal thoughts—an urgent call for prevention and coordinated support.

During the 2024–2025 school year, 31.3% of Clark County School District students were chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), a challenge closely linked to mental health struggles and socioeconomic barriers.

This community forum provided an opportunity to generate dialogue and …

Leveraging After School Programs As Resources To Support Adolescent Health And Wellbeing Within Underserved Communities: A Qualitative Study, Olivia Staples

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, youth have shown a consistent rise in stress, major depression, anxiety, and suicide, with underserved youth (low-income, minoritized communities) at greatest risk of exposure to chronic stress, related outcomes, and less access to health services (APA, 2017). Afterschool programs (ASPs), which serve as important resources in underserved communities, can be a critical support for youth health and well-being (Afterschool Alliance, 2019). However, few studies have examined ways in which ASPs address the challenges underserved youth face across their ecosystem to promote youth resilience (Jones & Deutsch, 2011). Using qualitative interview data from staff and youth across …

The Psychological Impact Of Parenting Child Victims Of Trauma, Stephanie Faulkingham

Dissertations

Abstract

Research indicates that non-offending caregivers of traumatized children (NOC) is a population with an elevated risk for increased levels of depression and anxiety and are an underserved population for mental health services. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if screening caregivers of traumatized children using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) improves identification of depression and anxiety. Participants of this investigation were individuals enrolled in the Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis’ 12-week parenting group, TASK (Trauma, Assessment, Skills, and Knowledge). Each participant was asked to complete the PHQ-8 and …

Anxiety And Depression In Today's Youth: A Current Look Into Assessment And Treatment., Meredith J. Scafe, Meghan Kanya, Meaghan Flynn, Ram Chettiar

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children's Hospital Association declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. Rates of anxiety and depression in youth continue at unprecedented levels, contributing to rising numbers of suicide attempts and lowered school attendance. Though many medical providers are trained to assess and provide recommendations for anxiety and depression, many report feeling ill-equipped to address these concerns in a timely, feasible, and effective manner. We review the existing literature on screening for anxiety and depression in the medical setting …

Do Lgbtq+ Latinos Experience Higher Levels Of Depression Compared To Heterosexual Latinos?, Oscar Moreno-Castro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines depression levels in both LGBTQ+ and Heterosexual Latinos. Quantitative data was collected using Qualtrics, an online survey data collector. The data collected from Qualitics will provide an insight regarding mental health among participants and examine depression levels amongst both groups. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, a software program tool that helps analyze and manage data. To measure the severity of depression, the researcher will utilize the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a 17-questionnaire instrument for assessing symptoms of depression and compare the level of depression amongst both groups. Key findings from the research revealed slight differences in …

#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 …

Impact Of Physical Intimate Partner Violence Victimization On Jamaican Women’S Mental Health: The Moderating Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Kerry A. Lee, Sharon Rose Priestley, Kevin K. Hylton

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

Purpose: Few studies have examined the relationship between IPV victimization and mental health outcomes and the moderating role of ACEs in this relationship among Jamaican women. Using trauma theory to undergird this study, we examined the relationship between physical IPV victimization and depressive symptoms and anxiety while accounting for the moderating effects of ACEs on these relationships among Jamaican women.

Methods: Univariate and ordinary least squares regression (OLS) analyses were performed using data from the 2016 National Women’s Health Survey, a nationally representative sample of Jamaican women aged 15 to 64.

Results: Experience of physical IPV victimization was found …

Clinician Perspectives On Incorporating Physical Activity And Sleep Prescriptions Using Ehealth For Youth With Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders: Qualitative Focus Group Study, Alyssa M. Button, James Slavet, Amanda E. Staiano, April Bowling

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Physical activity and sleep prescriptions are indicated for the treatment of psychiatric disorders among youth. However, there is limited clinical adoption of these practices. Exergaming (ie, games that require physical activity) is a feasible intervention to promote physical activity and sleep hygiene and is appealing to youth given their interest in video gaming. Integrating exergaming prescriptions into clinical mental health practices may offer an opportunity to expand access to these interventions, yet pragmatic considerations for adopting these programs are poorly understood.

Objective: This study aimed to gain feedback from practicing clinicians on adopting GamerFit, an app-based intervention that incorporates …

Increasing Life Skills While Decreasing Depression, Anxiety, And Stress In Transitional Aged Youth: A Person-Centered Mentorship Approach, Allanah Roberts-Headley

Dissertations

Transitional Aged Youth (TAYs) are young adults between 18-24 who have recently aged out of the foster care system and are now a part of the Extended Foster Care system (EFC). Unfortunately, this population is not guaranteed familial or social support. They have to rely on basic knowledge and skills obtained while in the foster care system to help with navigate their world. Most TAYs end up homeless, unemployed, and incarcerated. There is also a high pregnancy rate among TAYs. Due to the limited assistance they receive upon entering EFC, they are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health …

The Impact Of Changes In Religion On Health Among Sexual Minority Mormons, G. Tyler Lefevor, Samuel J. Skidmore, Kiet D. Huynh, James S. Mcgraw

Psychology Faculty Publications

The current study presents data from the first longitudinal examination of sexual minority (SM) Mormons (n = 132). Over the course of 2 years, SM Mormons reported decreased psychological (e.g., orthodox beliefs), behavioral (e.g., service attendance), and social (interpersonal religious commitment) religiousness. Analyses revealed that, at baseline, service attendance was related to lower levels of meaning in life and higher levels of depression at time 2, while interpersonal religious commitment at baseline was related to higher levels of meaning in life and lower levels of depression. Latent change scores of religiousness suggested that decreases in interpersonal religious commitment over …

Risk And Resilience: An Exploration Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Protective Factors, And Internalizing Symptoms In Black Youth, Irene A. Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations

The study examines mechanisms of risk and resilience that influence the psychological well-being of Black youth. Previous literature has established a link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health outcomes in youth (Kerker et al., 2015; Thakur et al., 2020). A substantial amount of the ACEs literature solely focuses on risk factors (e.g., mental impairment, low SES, health risk behaviors) for poor outcomes associated with ACEs. Despite Black youth experiencing high rates of ACEs (Liu et al., 2019), the ACEs literature examining mechanisms of their resilience is sparse (Meeker et al., 2021). Given the state of the ACEs literature, …

Conventional And Expanded Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Maternal Functioning Among Low-Income Black Mothers, Kerry Lee, Brenda Jones Harden, Mishaska Jaramillo, Taylor A. Norman, Laura Jimenez Parra

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

A paucity of research has examined the individual and cumulative effects of conventional and expanded adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on maternal functioning, especially among low-income Black mothers. Using self-report data from a subsample of Black mothers (N = 157) who participated in a larger study to evaluate the effectiveness of an urban public prekindergarten program in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, we examined the prevalence of ACEs and the individual and cumulative effects of conventional (i.e., family trauma and dysfunction) and expanded (i.e., community stressors) ACEs on depression and health among low-income Black mothers. Findings indicated that …

A Plan For Meeting The Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Health Needs Of Washington’S Students, Ellen Evans

Seattle Journal for Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Cyberbullying Victimization As A Predictor Of Depressive Symptoms Among Selected Adolescents Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jeyaseelan Maria Michael, Marc Eric Reyes

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Cyberbullying victimization has become a significant mental health concern, particularly among adolescents at risk of experiencing negative consequences like depression. As the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forced everyone to stay at home and participate in all their educational, recreational, and entertainment activities online, this study investigated the relationship between cyberbullying victimization (CV) and depressive symptoms among 612 college students in Tamilnadu, India. We hypothesized that experiences of cyberbullying victimization would predict depressive symptoms among the participants. Adolescent participants aged 18 to 19 years old from colleges in Tamilnadu completed an online survey composed of the Cybervictimization questionnaire for adolescents …

Together Yet Different: Youth Resilience Building Srtategies Post-Pandemic, Frank Kros

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

The social isolation, economic stress, resource barriers, and enduring uncertainties of the COVID-19 interventions created a “perfect storm” for youth anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. To meet these unprecedented needs, adults can step-up to this new normal by boosting their youth resilience building skills. This workshop will show you how with practical, effective and immediately applicable tools. Learn seven (7) new strategies to support youth through the grief process; effectively manage significant stress; recover from trauma and build her/his personal resilience.

Do Anxiety, Depression, And Mental Health Treatment Impact Christian College Student Religiosity/Spirituality?, Matthew J. Ditty

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

The majority of Americans report religious affiliation and participate in religious practices. Several studies have sought to analyze the protective factors of religiosity, especially as it relates to mental and physical health issues. However, little research has been conducted which explores the relationship between religiosity/spirituality (R/S), mental health, and its treatment status.

This study sought to determine whether participants’ mental health problems (anxiety and depression) and treatment status (treatment versus no treatment) were related to their religiosity/spirituality and if severity of pathology and treatment engagement significantly affected R/S. Results suggest subjects can be aggregated into two meaningful groups: one that …

Sexual Risk: Contributing Factors To High-Risk Sexual Behaviors In A Transgender/Gender Non-Conforming Population, Jo Crowl

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

There are a variety of factors associated with the frequency of risky sexual behaviors. Whereas spirituality is a protective factor for certain populations, depression is correlated with higher rates of sexual risk behaviors. Until now, the relationship between access to healthcare and these risky sexual behaviors has not been studied. This study sought to determine the impact of spirituality, depression, and access to healthcare with risky sexual behaviors for individuals who identify as transgender/gender non-conforming (TGNC). Data was collected from TGNC adults over the age of 18 using an online survey method. This study did not find significant relationships involving …

Stress-Buffering Of Social Support On Depressive Problems: Moderation By Parental Depressive Problems, Erica Marie Szkody

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of parental depressive problems on children’s depressive symptoms has been widely studied. The Stress Buffering Hypothesis states that social support acts as a protective factor between the impacts of stress from negative life events on physical and psychological health. The current study examined the stress buffering hypothesis in terms of the relationship between parental depressive problems and emerging adult depressive problems. The differential buffering strength of both perceived social support and received social support between stress from negative life events and depressive problems were examined along with the moderating effects of parent and emerging adult gender. Neither perceived …

The Power Of P.E.: Evaluating A P.E. Program For An Urban Middle School, Matthew Tarape

Master's Projects and Capstones

This research study was aimed at developing an evaluation survey tool to measure the effects of physical activity and physical education on middle school students’ physical, mental, emotional, and social health and well-being. This study was conducted in a middle school in the challenging, underserved Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, California in April to June 2018. Data for this research was obtained by questionnaires distributed electronically to students. The questionnaire, sent to the students in the month of April and June, had them select the response that best described how they felt on the days they had P.E. and days …

Identifying Moderators Of Response To The Penn Resiliency Program: A Synthesis Study, S. M. Brunwasser, Jane Gillham

Psychology Faculty Works

To identify moderators of a cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program’s effect on depressive symptoms among youth in early adolescence, data from three randomized controlled trials of the Penn Resiliency Program (PRP) were aggregated to maximize statistical power and sample diversity (N = 1145). Depressive symptoms, measured with the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI; Kovacs 1992), were assessed at six common time points over two-years of follow-up. Latent growth curve models evaluated whether PRP and control conditions differed in the rate of change in CDI and whether youth- and family-level characteristics moderated intervention effects. Model-based recursive partitioning was used as a supplementary analysis …

Early Trauma Exposure And Marijuana Use As Well As Dependence From Adolescence To Emerging Adulthood, Ian Andru Marsee

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of two types of trauma exposure, mistreatment by an adult as a child and exposure to stressful life events as an adolescent, and their impact on marijuana use as an adolescent and emerging adult and marijuana dependence as an adult. This study also investigates the mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between trauma exposure and marijuana use and dependence. The AddHealth dataset, a nationally representative and longitudinal dataset, was used to assess these relationships. Results show that both types of trauma predict marijuana use and dependence. Results also show that there are indirect …

Parents Of Children Who Had Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Mixed-Methods, Exploratory Study, Natalene Kramer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: There is scant literature addressing the parents of children who had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). therefore only inferences may be made as to issues of that experience affecting parents.

Purpose: The purposes of this study was to uncover the lived experiences of parents of children who had HIE, evaluate issues of stress, depression, coping, and impact of neurologic disability in order to better care for them and thus their families

Methods: A parallel, convergent mixed-methods design was used to explore experiences and perceptions of these parents regarding their experiences and life changes. The quantitative strand addressed four research questions which …

Symptom Changes In Children And Adolescents With Internalizing Conditions During Treatment, Rachel Samantha Bertelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health conditions, such as internalizing disorders, in children and adolescents have been attributed to higher than expected levels of high school dropouts, juvenile crimes, and suicide. Previous research studies provide limited information on factors influencing treatment success for children and adolescents diagnosed with internalizing disorders. This study utilized a nonequivalent comparison group design gathered from an archived data set from a sample of children and adolescents (N = 215) who participated in an intensive outpatient managed mental health care treatment program. Self-report data were retrieved from previous responses to the Children's Depression Inventory and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale …

The Impact Of Foster Care On Depression: An Examination Of Placement Type And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Children And Adolescents, Kisha Cummings

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Children and adolescents in foster care with a history of complex trauma such as neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse have a greater odds of being clinically diagnosed with depression in adulthood compared to children and adolescents without such a history. The current study examines the prevalence of depression in a national sample of children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years. This study asks whether a) foster care is associated with a greater prevalence of depression among children and adolescents in foster care compared to children and adolescents not in foster care; b) there is an association between …

Gender Differences In Depression Across Parental Roles, Kevin Shafer, Garrett T. Pace

Faculty Publications

Prior research has focused on the relationship between parenthood and psychological well-being, with mixed results. Some studies have also addressed potential gender differences in this relationship, again yielding varied findings. One reason may be methodological choices pursued in these studies, including the lack of focus on combined parental roles (for example, biological parent and stepparent). The authors used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 (N = 6,276) and multinomial treatment models to address how combined roles influence depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers. Further, they explored potential gender differences. Their results indicated that having multiple parental roles …

The Longitudinal Effects Of Participation In Structured Extracurricular Activities On Educational Achievement, Future Earnings, And Symptoms Of Depression With School Belongingness As A Mediating Variable In A Low-Income Sample, Christina L. Stacy

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential outcomes of participating in structured extracurricular activities (SEA) as an adolescent. Research has previously demonstrated that beneficial outcomes commonly associated with SEA participation include academic achievement and educational/career ambitions, positive social outcomes, and psychological well-being. It is thought that the benefits of SEA participation may be mediated by adolescents’ feelings of school belongingness and positive relationships. By extension, school belongingness is a key contributor to engagement, academic achievement, positive social relationships, and mental well-being. Although the research is typically positive, one must be careful in overgeneralizing that increasing student participation …

Parenting Dimensions And Internalizing Symptoms Among Low-Income Latino Adolescents: Cultural Values As Moderators, Crystalia Sulaiman

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Among ethnic minority youth, Latino adolescents disproportionately report higher levels of depression and anxiety than their peers of other ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of the present study is to better understand the familial and sociocultural factors that impact mental health among Latino adolescents. Specifically, the present study examines how youth cultural values (i.e., family obligation and affiliative obedience) moderate the relation between parenting dimensions (i.e., parental acceptance and parental psychological control) and youth internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression and anxiety) cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Latino adolescents (n = 115) from a Chicago public school categorized as "lowincome" participated in a survey and …

A Latent Profile Analysis Of Posttraumatic Stress And Depressive Symptoms In Adolescents, Shawn A. Wilson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study examines how posttraumatic stress (PTS) and depressive symptoms co-occur during early adolescence. Data for participants in the present study were drawn from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted on the data from 818 adolescents aged 11 to 14 who self-identified as Black, Latino, or White. A three-class solution was selected as an optimal fit for the data based on fit indices and ease of interpretation. The LPA indicated that PTS and depressive symptoms tended to co-occur in a dimensional manner, with the classes differing only in terms of the …