Digital Commons Network^™

Mental Health Impact Of Student Loan Debt On College Students, Melissa Diaz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This is a proposed study regarding student loan debt and mental health. This study would impact social work practice and education by understanding the mental health status of those continuing to pay off student loan debt. Student loan debt has become an enormous issue in the United States, with the average student carrying $37,000 in debt. Students are impacted financially and emotionally, and their overall well-being is compromised because higher education has become unaffordable for many without the assistance of student loans. Students need to understand the short and long-term implications of student loan debt, such as mental health issues …

#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 …

Cultural And Social Factors In Postpartum Depression: A Study Of Latina And White Mothers, Juana Gutierrez-Fuentes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Postpartum depression is a prevalent mood disorder that impacts 10-20% of women annually in the United States following childbirth. While all pregnant women are at risk of PPD, existing literature suggests that Latina mothers report PPD and seek treatment at lower rates than White mothers. Prior studies have identified risk factors and barriers that impact reporting and treatment among Latinas. The aim of this study is to investigate the interplay of race, depression, marital status, education, poverty level, and social support among White and Latina mothers. Using combined data from the 2017 and 2018 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), we …

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Black Men: Perceived Discrimination, Depression, Social Support, And Marital Satisfaction, D'Anthony Teon Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black Americans have long endured significant psychological distress due to racism and discrimination. Yet, limited research has examined how these stressors impact the mental health of Black males in the context of marital relationships. This study investigated the effect of perceived discrimination on depression in married African American men, examining whether marital satisfaction mediated this relationship and whether social support moderated it. Rooted in the historical legacy of systemic racism and modern forms of aversive discrimination, the study aimed to fill a gap in the literature concerning the intersection of race, gender, and mental well-being. Utilizing a diverse and well-educated …

Traumatic Grief: Understanding Its Psychological Impact And The Role Of Therapeutic Interventions, Theresa C. Xiong

Master of Arts in Human Services

Abstract

This paper explored the psychological and emotional effects of traumatic grief, focusing on its impact on individuals who experienced sudden or violent loss. Traumatic grief is often linked to mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), which can greatly affect a person's emotional and psychological well-being. The paper examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Therapy (TFT) in treating these conditions, focusing on how these therapies address both trauma and grief at the same time. Additionally, the literature review highlighted the importance of early intervention in reducing the long-term …

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 Effects Of Prescribed Medications On Depressive Symptoms And Neurocognitive Performance In People With Hiv, Asante R Kamkwalala, Avery Matthews, Ankita Garg, Upal Roy, Qing Ma, Maile Karris, Erin Sundermann, Ronald J Ellis, Patricia K Riggs, Mattia Trunfio, Jennifer Blanchard, David J Moore, Leah H Rubin, Scott L Letendre

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Alterations in brain function and structure, such as depression and neurocognitive impairment, continue to occur in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). The lifespan of PWH has improved but the healthspan remains worse than people without HIV, in part because of aging-related diseases. As a result, polypharmacy is common and increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse reactions.

Methods: This cross-sectional project investigated the relationship between 7 medication-related metrics (including anticholinergic burden), depressive symptoms, and neurocognitive performance in 491 PWH at a single center in the United States. All participants were taking …

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, …

Widowhood, Kirsten Horne, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Widowhood is defined as the state or period of being a widow or widower.  A widow is a female whose spouse has died, while a widower is a male whose spouse has died.  Although both men and women are likely to experience widowhood, research indicates that women are more likely to be widowed than men. Research suggests there are two main reasons why women are more likely to be widowed. First, women in average live longer than men. The second reason consists of the idea that women tend to marry older men. (Now that the USA and many other countries …

Depression In Older Adulthood, Ruth V. Walker, Danielle N. Capone-Wash

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Depression is not an inevitable part of the aging process. The Center for Disease Control reports the prevalence for depression is 5.4% in adults 60 years and older, significantly lower than rates in middle-aged (9.8%) and younger adults (7.4%). Although prevalence rates of depression in older adults are relatively low, research suggests symptoms of depression that do not meet diagnostic criteria are experienced by 19-39% of older adults. Additionally, prevalence rates for older adults residing in nursing homes are 49%. This may be due to the high comorbidity, or coexistence, of depression and physical illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, …

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 …

Effects Of Hyperglycemia In Cognition And Sex, Erin E. Mcdonald

Senior Honors Theses

An empirical study tested the effects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on cognitive function in a hyperglycemic mouse model. Strong correlations between mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, neuropathologies like Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes suggest comorbid pathology. Considering the prevalence of both T1D and cognitive decline within the general population, the findings were relevant and aimed to identify early signs of cognitive decline in diabetic patients. Behavioral tests and immunohistochemical staining were utilized to determine the cognitive function of the mice, revealing decline or deterioration caused by hyperglycemia. Data gathered from the hyperglycemic or control mice were analyzed based …

Impact Of Antidiabetic Medication Type On A New Episode Of Depression: A Retrospective Cohort Study In Texas, Usa, Lin-Na Chou, Mukaila A Raji, Holly M Holmes, Yong-Fang Kuo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: To examine the associations between antidiabetic medication type and a new episode of depression using 100% Texas Medicare database during 2009 and 2018.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A population-based study using the Texas Medicare data.

Interventions: 11 common antihyperglycaemic medication types, alone and in combinations: metformin-only, five non-metformin-containing regimens (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) only, sulfonylureas (SU) only, thiazolidinediones (TZD) only, SU/DPP4i and SU/TZD) and five metformin-containing combination treatments (metformin/DPP4i, metformin/SU, metformin/TZD, metformin/SU/DPP4i and metformin/SU/TZD).

Participants: This study included 59 057 type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients from a cohort of Texas Medicare beneficiaries who were aged ≥66 years, …

Enhancing Provider Knowledge With Phq-9 Education, Laurette Abunaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression represents a significant public health concern that often remains undiagnosed or untreated, primarily due to insufficient systematic screening in primary care settings. The lack of standardized screening tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) elevates patient risks, increasing symptom severity, increasing suicide rates, and delaying interventions. Research studies show that a significant number of individuals with depression go untreated for long durations, with primary care settings recognizing only a small percentage of cases. The PHQ-9 is an effective tool for assessing and monitoring depression in a primary care setting, leading to early detection of symptom severity. Clinical practice …

Understanding The Impact Of Romantic Relationship Satisfaction On Depression In Women Veterans, Rhonda Jean Gaston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Depression is a prevalent and impactful mental health issue worldwide, with a particularly high incidence among women. Previous research has established a positive association between romantic relationship satisfaction and depression in women. However, little attention has been given to the mental health of women veterans, a growing population within the United States military, leading to significant gaps in understanding their unique experiences. This nonexperimental retrospective study was conducted to examine how initial romantic relationship satisfaction predicted the reduction of depression symptoms following psychotherapy. Additionally, it explored how minority status among women veterans influenced post-treatment depression outcomes. Using archival data, between …

Pharmacogenomics-Guided Treatment Of Depression Evidence-Based Practice Scholarly Project, Richard A. Sonnier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pharmacogenomics is a popular topic in psychiatry today that is poised to replace the outdated trial-and-error paradigm of prescribing psychotropic medications. For patients suffering from a myriad of psychiatric disorders, it has been a frustrating period for those who have struggled with multiple failed trials of medications before finding relief from debilitating depression, anxiety, and many other mood-dysregulating disorders. Often, patients are forced to endure several weeks or months of trying psychotropic agents with poor responses and intolerable side effects before finally finding a medication that yields a desired outcome. In some cases, no therapeutic response is ever achieved. With …

Resilience And Extrication Stories From Female Victims Of Narcissistic Abuse And Intimate Partner Violence During The Covid-19 Pandemic Isolation Period, Kristin A. Musacchio

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

I studied the prevalence of narcissistic abuse and intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic’s isolation period. This research provides a nuanced understanding of the tactics and consequences of narcissistic abuse and intimate partner violence during a global health crisis. I uncovered ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected preexisting abusive behaviors while simultaneously providing new opportunities, during the isolation period, for the abusers to control and manipulate their partners. I explored resiliency and religious coping strategies to understand the psychological healing process of female victims of intimate partner violence or narcissistic abuse. A qualitative approach was utilized to …

Multiple Platform Social Media Engagement Correlation With Perceived Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among Active Church Members, Penny K. Hampton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media has remained an area that each person has related to in their everyday experiences. The growth of social media has continued and expanded to include a wide range of varying platform opportunities for users. Given the variances with social media engagements, everyone differs with their resulting overall mental health characteristics. This study explored the relationship between the user engagement on multiple social media platforms and self-reported depression, stress, and anxiety. The variables included the number of social media platforms and the self-reported responses to the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS21). For this study, the participants included 117 individuals …

An Uncharacteristic Case Presentation Of Functional Vision Disorder, Ramandeep Kaur Od, Theresa Zerilli-Zavgorodni Od, Nancy Shenouda-Awad Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Functional Vision Disorder (FVD), also commonly referred to as functional vision loss (FVL) or non-organic vision loss (NOVL), is defined as a visual acuity (VA) loss and/or visual field (VF) loss, without any identifiable ocular or cortical pathology. Many clinicians look at FVD as a diagnosis of exclusion and while it is imperative to rule out organic pathology, FVD diagnosis must be supported by clinical findings that prove normal visual function. Incorporating supplementary tests specific for demonstrating the integrity of the visual system and the non-organic nature of the symptoms will allow clinicians to be more confident when diagnosing …

Emotional Intelligence As A Moderator Between Depression, Loneliness, And Affect Intensity, Ryan Fleig

Theses and Graduate Projects

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a construct that has been present in psychology in various, non-specific forms for many years. Mayer and Salovey (1997) first created a specific construct of EI that centered on four key skills: emotion-perception; using emotions to facilitate thought; understanding one’s own and other’s emotions; and emotion regulation. Research on EI has largely been regulated to social domains, but some literature has established links between overall EI and specific EI skills and clinical symptoms such as depression and anxiety. The current study sought to further the literature on EI in clinical domains by studying correlations between emotion …

Mental Wellness Of The Saintly, Spiritual, And Secular: Who Has The Edge?, Addison Clevenger, Justin Dyer, Sam Hardy

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This study examines the relationship between religious/spiritual identity and depression and anxiety levels at comparative baseline levels, and then longitudinally. Gathered from The Family Foundations of Youth Development Project, this study samples parent-child dyads from highly religious parts of the Western United States to determine how the mental health of these individuals is affected by the conjunction of spirituality and religiosity, the lack of either, or one divorced from the other. Results revealed that at baseline levels, participants across all groups who identified as “Spiritual but not Religious” had the highest levels of anxiety and depression, and children who identified …

The Association Of Sleep Quality And Depression On Having Three Vs. All Five Diagnostic Criteria Of Metabolic Syndrome, Nina Pollard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Metabolic syndrome is increasing in prevalence in the United States. To be diagnosed, three of the five diagnostic criteria must be met. There is a higher risk of metabolic syndrome due to lifestyle and social factors, with increased criteria occurring as an individual has unmet social determinants of health. This quantitative quasi-experimental/quasi-comparative study examined the association between education level, with sleep quality and depression as moderators, on a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome with all five criteria versus three criteria using a binary logistic regression while controlling for age, race, gender, income, employment, and marital status. Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological theory served …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Age And Disposition In The Juvenile Court Data, Jaden Reign Deblois

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Struggles with depression are prominent among the population of incarcerated individuals. After COVID-19, the impacts of depression became more profound among incarcerated youth. For youth with previous diagnoses, the impacts of depression were more severe. To better understand the scope of the issue, this literature review examines how the field currently understands COVID-19’s impact on the depression of incarcerated youth. Findings suggest that factors such as isolation, physiological social stressors, and prior mental health diagnosis contribute to depression among incarcerated youth. Implications for mental health prevention and treatment for incarcerated youth will be discussed.

Acculturation, Social Support, And Immigration-Related Stressors: Impact On Depression Among Single Mother Immigrants In The United States, Comfort Payne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a prevalent mental health condition that disproportionately affects immigrant single mothers in the United States, whose risk is heightened by unique vulnerabilities. The interplay between acculturation, social support, and economic burden in this population is underexplored. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examined the relationship between various factors and depression using 2020–2022 National Health Interview Survey data. Inclusion criteria were single immigrant mothers aged 19–60 years, who had lived in the U.S. for at least one year, had one or more dependent children, and self-reported depression status. The socioecological model provided a lens for identifying how individual, interpersonal, and structural …

A Long Non-Coding Erna Forms R-Loops To Shape Emotional Experience-Induced Behavioral Adaptations, Rose Marie Akiki

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Emotional experiences often evoke neural plasticity that supports adaptive changes in behavior, including maladaptive plasticity associated with mood and substance use disorders. These adaptations are supported in part by experience-dependent activation of immediate-early response genes, such as Npas4. We discovered that a conserved, long non-coding enhancer RNA (lnc-eRNA) transcribed from an activity-sensitive enhancer produces DNA-RNA hybrid R-loop structures that support 3D chromatin-looping of the enhancer and proximal promoter and stimulus-induced, rapid Npas4 gene induction. We also show that this Npas4 lnceRNA and its R-loops are required for the development of behavioral adaptations produced by chronic psychosocial stress or cocaine exposure, …

Safety And Efficacy Of 112 Mg Intranasal Esketamine In Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Retrospective Observational Study From Outpatient Community Clinics, Kirsten Brinkmeier, Michael Kritzer, Brandon Doan, Cecilia Li, Nicholas Mischel

Medical Student Research Symposium

This retrospective study examined the safety and efficacy of 56, 84, and 112 mg intranasal (IN) esketamine via medical record review of 24 patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). Doses ranged from 56 mg to 112 mg and were titrated across sessions to maximize individual response while considering tolerability. Treatment response was defined by reduction in average Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores. Tolerability was defined by blood pressures at baseline, 40 minutes after, and 2 hours after drug administration. Patients ranged from 19 to 60 years old (average 38.87), and 15 (62.5%) were female. Patients received an average of 1 …

“They Love Our Rhythm, But Not Our Blues:” An Examination Of The Relationship Between Hip Hop On Depression, Anxiety, And Self-Care Among African American And Hispanic/Latinx Emerging Adults, Richard W. Wiley Jr.

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health problems for emerging adults of color in higher education. Specifically, African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx emerging adults on college campuses have poorer mental health than their White counterparts. Considering the systemic oppression and cultural stressors that impact mental health among African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx students, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Emerging Adulthood Theory were theoretical frameworks for this study. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Hip Hop music and depression, anxiety, and intentional use as self-care among African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx emerging adults who were college …

Assessment Of Cognitive Domains In Major Depressive Disorders Using The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (Cantab): Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Studies, Danilo Arnone, Reshma Ramaraj, Linda Östlundh, Teresa Arora, Syed Javaid, Romona Devi Govender, Emmanuel Stip, Allan H. Young

All Works

Cognitive difficulties are known to persist after remission of symptoms and to affect psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Cognitive function, measured with the Cambridge Neuro-psychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), is a reliable approach to measure cognitive function in major depression. This systematic review and meta-analysis appraise cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that used specific CANTAB tests to measure cognitive function in major depression and the effect of treatment (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022355903). 1212 studies were identified and 41 were included, 1793 patients and 1445 healthy controls. Deficits in executive functions were detected with the Stocking Of Cambridge (SOC) ‘number of problems …

Effects Of Acute Stress On Executive Functions In Depression, Generalised Anxiety And Borderline Personality Disorder, T. M. Scott, Joanne M. Dickson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Acute stress adaptively alters executive functions (EFs) essential for emotion regulation. Emerging systems of psychiatric classification, such as the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) and the Research Domain Criteria, emphasise the underlying mechanisms and dimensional nature of psychopathology. Distress disorders—a subfactor within the HiTOP model including major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and borderline personality disorder—are characterised by altered stress reactivity, impaired emotion regulation, and modest responsiveness to first-line psychotherapies. This systematic review sought to examine whether distress disorders and their related symptoms confer heightened vulnerability to transient EF impairment under conditions of acute stress. Methods: A comprehensive search …

Racial Discrimination, Social Support, And Perceived Qualification Differences: Analyzing The Impacts On Work-Related Stress And The Mental Health Of Black Women, Nyasha Chikwinya, Cayla Johnson

2025 Honors College Research Symposium

Through this study, this research looks at how racial discrimination at work that is perceived, has impacts on the mental health of Black women. We tend to focus on major issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. The main ideas we will be exploring include: 1. Facing racial discrimination at work is stressful. Black women who deal with this can experience more psychological stress, 2. Having access to a support system or mentorship at work can help lessen the bad effects of work-related stress on Black women's health, and 3. When Black women see themselves as inferior to their white …