Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Stressful Neighborhoods On The Mental Health Of Emerging Adolescents, Vicki P. Winstead

All ETDs from UAB

Life within the ecological context of a disadvantaged and disordered neighborhood is characterized by daily exposure to chronic stressors which are often outside the realm of control of the individual and have negative consequences for the mental health of its residents and in particular, adolescents Using data from Healthy Passages, a multilevel, multi-method longitudinal study which examines health trajectories of adolescents over a ten year period, this paper examines whether daily exposure to a threatening environment in disadvantaged and disordered neighborhoods lead to depression in young people who are on the verge of adolescence. The current study tested the relationships …

Effects Of A Short-Term Mindfulness Intervention On Depression And Immune Function, Erin C. Walsh

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathophysiology and maintenance of depression. This study investigated the effects of a short mindfulness intervention on pro-inflammatory correlates of depression (IL-6 and TNF-α) and selfreported psychological health. Sixty-four college females were assigned to a four-week mindfulness training group or a contact-control group. Cytokines and psychological health were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up (mindfulness group only). IL-6 and TNF-α significantly decreased from baseline to post-treatment in the mindfulness group only; these changes were sustained at 3-month follow-up. No between-group differences in psychological health emerged. Although reductions in proinflammatory cytokines in the mindfulness …

Depression In Freshmen College Students, Julie Marie Brandy

Dissertations

Adjustment to college life and attending a university for the first time can be a stressful experience for college students. Because of the challenges faced when adapting to these life changes, college students are at risk of developing depressive symptomology. The development of depressive symptoms can lead to negative life events in the lives of college students, the most significant of which is suicide. This study examined whether stress and other factors (social support and spirituality) predicted depressive symptoms and high risk behaviors in college freshmen students. In addition, the mediating role of coping on the relationship between stress and …

Mieko Gavia: The Dog Project, Mieko Gavia

Honors Papers

This thesis chronicles my journey with my original theatrical piece, Dog, from inception to the end of its Oberlin College run, and includes a reflection of my experience and ideas for the future of the piece. I will provide both sociological and literary context for several important aspects of the show, as well as personal reflections on the process and discoveries made therein.

The Role Of Microvascular Complications In The Relationship Between Glycemic Control And Depressive Symptomatology In Patients With Type 1 Diabetes: A Mediational Study, Laura Lynn Mayhew

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

People with diabetes are at double the risk of developing depression. Depression is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes. Levels of A1c have been linked to microvascular complications (e.g., retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) as well as depression. The interrelationship between A1c, microvascular complications, and depression has not previously been investigated in a comprehensive model, and a better understanding of the nature of these associations is needed. Preliminary analyses test the assumption that A1c mediates the relationship between group assignment in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and microvascular complications. The primary purpose of the study …

Adolescent Depression And Social Support, Religiosity And Spirituality In A Faith-Based High School, Angela P. Ekwonye

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Prenatal Maternal Stress Programs Infant Stress Regulation, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Laura M. Glynn, Feizal Waffarn, Curt A. Sandman

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: Prenatal exposure to inappropriate levels of glucocorticoids (GCs) and maternal stress are putative mechanisms for the fetal programming of later health outcomes. The current investigation examined the influence of prenatal maternal cortisol and maternal psychosocial stress on infant physiological and behavioral responses to stress.

Methods: The study sample comprised 116 women and their full term infants. Maternal plasma cortisol and report of stress, anxiety and depression were assessed at 15, 19, 25, 31 and 36 + weeks' gestational age. Infant cortisol and behavioral responses to the painful stress of a heel-stick blood draw were evaluated at 24 hours after …

A Transformational Melancholy: One Law Professor's Journey Through Depression, Marjorie A. Silver

Scholarly Works

In the fall 2007 issue of the Journal of Legal Education, Professor James Jones shared his deeply personal, remarkable, ongoing, story of living, struggling and succeeding as a law professor with bipolar disorder (James T.R. Jones, Walking the Tightrope of Bipolar Disorder: The Secret Life of a Law Professor, 57 J. LEGAL ED. 349 (2007). His essay ended with an invitation to other members of the legal academy to contact him or Professor Elyn Saks, author of an extraordinary memoir about her life with schizophrenia, (ELYN R. SAKS, THE CENTER CANNOT HOLD (2007)) if interested in forming a confidential support …

Family Conversations About Stressful Life Experiences, Genevieve Lee Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The present study was designed to investigate whether family conversations moderated the relation between stressful life experiences in childhood and negative emotion-related outcomes in young adulthood. Undergraduate students (N = 99, mean age = 19.6 years, 77% females) were administered a semi-structured interview about their childhood stressful life experiences and use of family conversations in response to those experiences. They also completed questionnaires about their current levels of depression, eating-related difficulties, self-harm behaviors, and aggression. It was found that talking with one's parent moderated the relation between number of stressful life experiences and history of self-harm behaviors. Additionally, the participants' …

Anxiety And Depression Among Outpatients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Multi-Centre Study Of Prevalence And Associated Factors., Ali Khan Khuwaja, Saima Lalani, Raheem Dhanani, Iqbal Syed Azam, Ghazala Rafique, Franklin White

Department of Family Medicine

Background: Anxiety and depression contribute to poor disease outcomes among individuals with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and to identify their associated factors including metabolic components among people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-center study in four out-Patient clinics in Karachi, Pakistan. In all, 889 adults with type-2 diabetes were included in this study. Anxiety and depression were measured by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariable analysis using multiple logistic regression was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of various factors associated with anxiety and …

Costs Of Treating Depression With Individual Versus Family Therapy, Sareta Dobbs Head

Theses and Dissertations

Marital discord contributes to the development and continuation of depression and to the recurrence of depressive episodes for those in troubled relationships. Early research suggests that family therapy may reduce the severity and frequency of depressive episodes through modification of family interactional patterns. This would result in a reduction in the cost of treating depression. This study summarizes the literature linking family dynamics with depression. Then,using a sample taken from a large health maintenance organization, data was statistically analyzed to measure the effectiveness of both individual and family therapy as delivered by different types of mental health professionals. Results indicated …

Patterns Of Social Activity Engagement Among Older Hispanics And Their Relationship To Sociodemographic And Health Variables, Marta B. Rodríguez-Galán, Luis M. Falcón

Sociology Faculty/Staff Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of social activity engagement in a sample of older Hispanics (Puerto Rican, Dominican, and other Hispanic) and determine whether these patterns differed significantly from the comparison non-Hispanic White group. This article also analyzes how ethnicity, sociodemographic, and health variables (health problems and depression) relate to each of the activity engagement patterns. The factor analysis of social activities from the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire yielded three factors, which describe engagement in social activities as: children and relatives active, friends and activities active, and senior services active. The results from the regression analyses …

Relations Of Depression, Social Support, And Socio-Demographic Factors On Health Behaviors Of Mothers With Premature Infants Hospitalized In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Surbhi Kanotra

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the relationships of depression, social support, and socio-demographic factors on health behaviors of mothers with preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In addition, the study also assessed the moderation effect of social support on the relationship between depression and health behaviors. Eighty-nine mothers with hospitalized infants in the central Richmond area participated in the study. Analyses found that mother’s education level and her marital status to be significantly associated with her health behaviors. Mothers with a higher level of education and those who were married, were less likely to smoke and more …

Prospective Evaluation Of A Cognitive Vulnerability-Stress Model For Depression: The Interaction Of Schema Self-Structures And Negative Life Events., Pamela M Seeds, David J A Dozois

Psychology Publications

This study tested the diathesis-stress component of Beck's (1967) cognitive theory of depression. Initially, participants completed measures assessing cognitive organization of the self-schema and depressive symptoms. One year later, participants completed measures assessing cognitive organization of the self-schema, depressive symptoms, and negative life events. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses, controlling for initial depression, indicated that more tightly interconnected negative content was associated with greater elevations in depressive symptoms following the occurrence of life events. More diffusely interconnected positive content for interpersonal self-referent information also interacted with life events to predict depressive symptoms. Cognitive organization dimensions showed moderate to high stability across …

Perception Of Control: Accuracy Among Optimists And Pessimists On Noncontingency And Contingengy Tasks, Spencer Baunn M.S.

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The learned helplessness theory asserts that depressed individuals unrealistically believe that they have little to no control over aversive outcomes in their lives. Paradoxically, research on judgment of control has demonstrated that depressed individuals are not necessarily pessimistic, but rather more realistic than non-depressed individuals. Most of the research on depressive realism has investigated individual’s perceived control in situations in which they have no actual control. Few studies have investigated perception of control in situations where control is possible. Considering that many circumstances in life are controllable, it is important to examine how different personality variables contribute to accurate judgments …

Unattainable Beauty: An Analysis Of The Role Of Body Shame And Self-Objectification In Hopelessness Depression Among College-Age Women, Meredith A. Evans

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Despite substantial evidence that women suffer from depression at twice the rate of men, the etiology for this difference remains unclear. Prior to puberty, the difference in depression is negligible; however, when adolescence begins, a precipitous rise in female depression occurs that persists across the lifespan. While no definitive biological change has been linked to this phenomenon, objectification theory (Frederickson & Roberts, 1997) can be used to gain insight into the social influences at play during that transitional period. This study of 269 undergraduate women from a northeastern university used structural equation modeling to propose a path leading from self-objectification …

The Role Of Individual Difference Factors In Predicting Alcohol-Related Consequences In College Students, Ashley Ann Dennhardt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Although alcohol-related consequences are high in college students, thereis significant variability in the number experienced, evenamongstudents who drink heavily. Caucasian students drink more and experience more alcohol-related problems than African American students, but little research has investigated the potentially unique predictors of problems among these students.Depression, Distress Tolerance and Delay Discounting may be predictors of alcohol problem severity.We examined the relationship between these variables and alcohol-related problems among Caucasians and African American students using multivariate models.For Caucasian students, depression was associated with alcohol problems. For African American students, depression, distress tolerance, and delay discounting were associated with alcohol problems; and …

Psychometric Properties Of The Arabic Version Of The Depressive Cognition Scale In First-Year Adolescent Egyptian Nursing Students, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Identifying depressive cognitions in adolescent nursing students can be an important step to prevent the development of clinical depression, which is positively associated with suicide. Purpose: This study focused on the psychometric testing of the Arabic version of the Depressive Cognition Scale (A-DCS) among 170 first-year adolescent Egyptian nursing students. Methods: The questionnaire was assessed for internal consistency, homogeneity, and construct validity using factor analysis and convergent validity. Results: Cronbach's alpha for (A-DCS) was .86. The homogeneity of the instrument was supported by item-to-total correlations between .30 and .70. Factor extraction generated only one factor with eigenvalues greater than …

Diabetes And Co-Morbid Depression Among Racially Diverse, Low-Income Adults, Chandra Y. Osborn, Kushal A. Patel, Jianguo Liu, Hollister W. Trott, Maciej S. Buchowski, Margaret K. Hargreaves, William J. Blot, Sarah S. Cohen, David G. Schlundt

Public Health, Health Administration, and Health Sciences Faculty Research

Background

Research suggests individuals with diabetes are twice as likely as those without diabetes to be clinically depressed. Still unknown is the relationship between diabetes and depression in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Purpose

We examined the relationship between diabetes and depressive symptoms in a large, racially diverse, low-income cohort in the southeastern USA. Methods

A total of 69,068 adults were recruited from community health centers in 12 southeastern states. A fully adjusted polytomous logistic regression model tested the relationship between demographics, lifestyle behaviors, antidepressant use, body mass index, diabetes diagnosis, diabetes duration, diabetes medication compliance, and depressive symptoms using the Centers …

The Role Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genotype, Parental Depression, And Relationship Discord In Predicting Early-Emerging Negative Emotionality, Elizabeth P. Hayden, Daniel N. Klein, Lea R. Dougherty, Thomas M. Olino, Margaret W. Dyson, C. Durbin, Haroon I. Sheikh, Shiva M. Singh

Paediatrics Publications

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is a plausible candidate for early-emerging negative emotionality (NE), and evidence suggests that the effects of this gene may be especially salient in the context of familial risk for child maladjustment. We therefore examined whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism producing a valine-to-methionine substitution at codon 66 (val66met) of the BDNF gene was associated with childhood NE, in the context of parental depression and relationship discord. A sample of 413 three-year-old children was assessed for NE using standardized laboratory measures. The children's parents completed clinical interviews as well as a measure of marital satisfaction. Children with …

Predictors Of Peer Referral Intentions For Individuals At Risk For Suicide Related Behavior: An Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Sarah J. Tarquini

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The role of peer gatekeepers is crucial in connecting individuals at risk for suicide

related behaviors to mental health service providers. However, limited research has

focused on the role of peers as potential helpers for those at-risk. The current study

utilized a mixed experimental and correlational design to examine predictors of female

college students’ referral intentions following hypothetical interactions with peers at-risk

for suicide related behavior. More specifically, the current project examined the utility of

an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model of peer-referral intentions. In

addition to the original TPB constructs of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived

behavioral …

Managing Depression During The Menopausal Transition, Quinn M. Pearson

Adultspan Journal

No abstract provided.

The Association Of Spirituality, Religiosity, Depression, Anxiety, And Drug Use Among Persons Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Therapy, Linda B. Piacentine

Dissertations (1934 -)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimated 22.2 million (9.1 %) of Americans ages 12 and older abused or were dependent on an illicit substance or alcohol in 2005. Substance abuse often leads to addiction, and is damaging to the health of persons, families, and society.

Using Neuman's System Model as the conceptual framework, it was proposed that addiction weakens person's defenses with resultant loss of health. The person with addiction often also suffers from anxiety, depression, or both, increasing the risk for continued substance abuse and its concomitant negative consequences, such as loss of employment, poor finances, …

A Daily Diary Investigation Of Latino Ethnic Identity, Discrimination, And Depression, Lucas Torres, Anthony D. Ong

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The objectives of the current study were to document the effects of discrimination on Latino mental health and to identify the circumstances by which ethnic identity serves a protective function. Instances of discrimination and depressive symptoms were measured every day for 13 days in a sample of Latino adults (N = 91). Multilevel random coefficient modeling showed a 1-day lagged effect in which increases in depression were observed the day following a discriminatory event. The findings also revealed differential effects of ethnic identity exploration and commitment. Whereas ethnic identity exploration was found to exacerbate the influence of daily discrimination …

How Tibet Buddhists In The United States Negotiate Mental Health Concerns, Paul Peter Sireci

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

No abstract provided.

Anxiety And Depression : Exploring Associations With Suicidality : A Thesis Based Upon An Investigation In The Burlingame Center For Psychiatric Research And Education At The Institute Of Living (Hartford, Ct) In Collaboration With Dr. Stephen Woolley, Monica Marie Tronsky

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine if anxiety diagnoses were associated with increased risk for suicidality and to examine if comorbid anxiety and depression diagnoses have a synergistic effect on suicidality. In a sub-analysis, we assessed associations between anxiety and/or depression symptoms (versus diagnoses) with suicidality in order to inform a future study. Completed at the Burlingame Center for Psychiatric Research and Education at the Institute of Living (IOL) in Hartford, CT, this quantitative, cross-sectional study involved 20,823 adult inpatients admitted for psychiatric care from 2000-2009. Estimates of effects calculated were odds ratios (ORs) qualified at 95% confidence …

Do Social Isolation And Depression Affect Rates Of Hospital Readmission For Patients With Heart Failure?, Irma Samaniego

Nursing ETDs

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome that primarily affects the aged and is the most common hospital discharge diagnosis for adults in the United States. Readmission is common following discharge from an acute hospital stay for HF. Patients with HF suffer more depressive morbidity than other patients with cardiovascular disease, and many age 65 or older experience social isolation. This prospective exploratory study examined whether readmission within 30 to 60 days of discharge from an index hospitalization for HF was associated with depressive symptoms or social isolation. A convenience sample of 101 patients participated during an index hospitalization for HF. …

Hopelessness, Depression, And Early Markers Of Endothelial Dysfunction In U.S. Adults, D. Phuong Do, Jennifer B. Dowd, Nalini Ranjit, James S. House, George A. Kaplan

Faculty Publications

Objective - This study examines whether the psychological traits of hopelessness and depressive symptoms are related to endothelial dysfunction.

Methods - Data come from a subsample of 434 respondents in the 2001-2003 Chicago Community Adult Health Study (CCAHS), a population-based survey designed to study the impact of psychological attributes, neighborhood environment, and socio-economic circumstances on adults age 18 and over. Circulating biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction including e-selectin, p-selectin and s-ICAM1 were obtained from serum samples. Hopelessness was measured by responses to two questions and depressive symptoms were measured by an 11-item version of the CES-D. Multivariate regression models tested whether …

Psychotherapeutic Treatment In Combination With Relaxation In A Flotation Tank: Effects On "Burn-Out Syndrome", Anette Kjellgren, Hanne Buhrkall, Torsten Norlander

The Qualitative Report

The focus of this study was to investigate experiences gained from treatment combining relaxation in flotation tank with psychotherapy for sufferers from "burn-out syndrome". Six people participated in a ten week program. They were all interviewed; the data were analyzed using the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological method. Five themes emerged: (a) direct experiences during flotation, (b) effects due to the treatment sessions, (c) psychological transformation, (d) reflections about the treatment program, and (e) demanding and rewarding psychological process over time. All participants went through psychological transformations and improvements in quality of life. At the end of the treatment program, all participants …

Emotional Distress As A Key Construct In The Personal Model Of Diabetes Management : Associations Of Fatigue, Diabetes-Specific Distress, And Depressive Symptomatology With Quality Of Life In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus., Chelsea L. Rothschild

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The importance of maximizing self-management and quality of life is well documented in the diabetes literature. Although maintaining self-care is known to be important for individuals with type 2 diabetes, this is often difficult to maintain over time. Emotional distress has also been shown to impact self-care behaviors in adults with type 2 diabetes. Glasgow et al (1997) introduced a model of key variables influencing diabetes self-management. This study examined specific emotional Personal Model constructs of diabetes management. Independent and converging lines of research have implicated several potentially overlapping constructs that may reflect emotional distress in persons living with diabetes …