Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Unplanned Motherhood, Cierra Stewart, Karen Park

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

For women experiencing unplanned pregnancy, the thought of becoming a mother can increase stress and affect the mother’s mental health. Maternal adjustment can include depression, anxiety, worry, stress, and happiness (Mihelic et al., 2016). The impact that this new role has effects daily demands, leading to a disruption in occupational engagement, environmental changes, and overall less time for the mother (Horne et al., 2005). There is currently not a well-defined role for occupational therapy within pregnancy medical clinics to support women experiencing unplanned pregnancy and their transition to motherhood. The purpose of this project is to provide care to new …

Occupational Therapy's Role In Athletic Retirement, Diana Mellin, Karen Park, Madison Harris

Summer 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Athletic retirement is described as a life transition involving withdrawal from the athletic role. Throughout the process of athletic retirement, individuals experience a loss of identity, roles, routines, and social support which has shown to negatively impact their overall mental health and well-being (Marterella & Smoot, 2017). This study investigated elite athletes’ experiences throughout their transition to athletic retirement, a ten-question online survey and semi-structured interviews were administered. Themes that emerged from the data are occupational adjustment and relearning roles, experiencing a crossroads of identity, external expectations, and pressures. Participants shared experiencing a period of burnout and detachment right after …

Mental Health Interventions For Adolescents In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review, Adam Mabrouk, Gideon Mbithi1, Esther Chongwo, Ezra Too, Ahmed Sarki, Mary Namuguzi, Joseph Atukwatse, Derrick Ssewanyana, Amina Abubakar

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Globally, adolescents are vulnerable to mental health problems, particularly those from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to impoverished living conditions and a higher prevalence of chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this risk. This calls for an urgent need for evidence-based adolescent mental health interventions to reduce the risk and burden of mental health problems in SSA. The review aims to identify and characterize existing adolescent mental health interventions in SSA, as well as to evaluate their implementation strategies and effectiveness.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, African Index Medicus, PsycINFO, Web of …

Ruminations, Maria Barbara Ileana Kane

Theses

Ruminations is an experimental exhibition which seeks to explore the integration of technology into traditional art. By combining traditional woodblock prints with augmented reality, Ruminations attempts to evoke empathy from the viewer regarding the topic of mental illness. Each AR experience illustrates, though imagery and animation, a different mental illness or psychological phenomenon. The viewer sees each experience separately over a printed background, expanding on the traditional frame and reaching into the world around us.

The Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index, Dietary Antioxidant Index, And Mental Health In Adolescent Girls: An Analytical Study, Parvin Dehghan, Marzieh Nejati, Amir Almasi-Hashiani, Sevda Saleh-Ghadimi, Rezza Parsi, Hamed Jafari-Vayghan, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., James Hébert Scd

Faculty Publications

Background Diet is considered as one of the modifiable factors that appears to exert a vital role in psychological status. In this way, we designed this study to examine the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII), dietary antioxidant index (DAI), and mental health in female adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study included 364 female adolescents selected from high schools in the five regions of Tabriz, Iran. A 3-day food record was used to extract the dietary data and calculate DII/DAI scores. DII and DAI were estimated to assess the odds of depression, anxiety, and stress based on the Depression Anxiety Stress …

Exploration In Mental Performance For Division 1 Sec College Football Student Athletes, Alex Burgdorf

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The stigma surrounding mental health in sports has made intervention difficult. “There is a need for various actors to provide more effective strategies to overcome the stigma that surrounds mental illness, increase mental health literacy in the athlete/coach community, and address athlete-specific barriers to seeking treatment for mental illness” (Castadelli-Maia et.al 2019). The athletes in the football program at the University of Tennessee face more pressure today than ever in history. They have their class schedule, practice and training every day, and meetings with their position coaches. Now, with the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) allowing players to …

Exploration In Mental Performance For Division 1 Sec College Football Student Athletes, Alex Burgdorf

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The stigma surrounding mental health in sports has made intervention difficult. “There is a need for various actors to provide more effective strategies to overcome the stigma that surrounds mental illness, increase mental health literacy in the athlete/coach community, and address athlete-specific barriers to seeking treatment for mental illness” (Castadelli-Maia et.al 2019). The athletes in the football program at the University of Tennessee face more pressure today than ever in history. They have their class schedule, practice and training every day, and meetings with their position coaches. Now, with the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) allowing players to …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The Functional, Social, And Emotional Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On People Who Use Drugs, Erin L Kelly, Megan K Reed, Kathryn M Schoenauer, Kelsey Smith, Kristina Scalia-Jackson, Sequoia Kay Hill, Erica Li, Lara Weinstein

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

Since 2020, people who use drugs (PWUD) experienced heightened risks related to drug supply disruptions, contamination, overdose, social isolation, and increased stress. This study explored how the lives of PWUD changed in Philadelphia over a one-year period. Using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants in a Housing First, low-barrier medication for opioid use (MOUD) program in Philadelphia, the effects of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives, resources, functioning, substance use, and treatment of PWUD were explored. Interviews were analyzed using a combination of directed and conventional content analysis. Six overarching themes emerged during data analysis: (1) …

The Importance Of Mental Health Resources For Individuals Experiencing Trauma, Toni Rose Derequito

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Adolescents With Depression Capstone Benchmark Project, Myeshia Salter

MSN Capstone Projects

This change project promotes the inclusion of adolescent involvement within the informed consenting process for recommended treatment plans for symptoms of depression. This project proposal will include the adolescent throughout the development of the treatment plan to promote compliance. The incorporation of this plan will encourage autonomy in the adolescent and aid with developing a plan that the adolescent agrees with. The current process does not include the adolescents' desires or opinions, which results in poor efficacy of the treatment plan, thus exacerbating the symptoms of depression.

Views On Happiness And Mental Health: A Comparison Between Residents And Staff At A Senior Care Facility, Alexis C. Schafer, Aubrey K. Deveau, Susan E. Mason

Patient Experience Journal

Residents and staff members at a senior care facility were questioned about their views on topics related to mental health. The two groups scored similarly on a happiness questionnaire. Differences as well as similarities between residents and staff were revealed through a questionnaire addressing views on mental health, counseling, and medications. The results are discussed in terms of the relationship that develops between older adults and their care givers. We argue that the health and well-being of the residents of a senior care facility may be linked to the health and well-being of the staff. The extent to which the …

Us Helping Us: The Evolution Of A Peer Support Group For Formerly Incarcerated People, Will Boles, Thad Tatum, Jarrod Wall, Lauren Nguyen, Alexandria Van Dall, Claire Mulhollem, Anna Sacks, Ashley Wennerstrom, Bruce Reilly, Anjali Niyogi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Physical, psychological, and emotional trauma experienced while incarcerated influences subsequent mental health outcomes. Upon release, there is a fragmented landscape of mental health services and many of the existing services do not account for the root causes of challenges faced by formerly incarcerated people (FIP). To address the unmet social, psychological, behavioral, and emotional needs of FIP in Louisiana, the Formerly Incarcerated Peer Support (FIPS) Group developed a twelve-unit curriculum in 2019. Methods: We detail the evolution, development, and evaluation of the FIPS Group program. Additionally, we describe the community-driven process for developing the curriculum. Results: The FIPS Group …

Meeting The Mental Health Needs Of College-Aged Young Adults: Evaluating The Value And Impact Of Digital Mental Health Interventions., Sara Atherton Choate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: The growing prevalence of common mental health problems poses a serious hindrance to young adults, and the majority of those in need of mental health support do not seek professional psychological services. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) that allow for self-management of mental health symptoms could provide a useful adjunctiveto traditional one-on-one counseling or therapy and offer a useful prevention tool for students at risk for experiencing mental health crises. This dissertation explored the efficacy of self-guided DMHIs targeting college students, the factors associated with help-seeking in young adults, and the impact of implementing an evidence-based DMHI at a …

Environmental Noise Exposure And Its Association With Elementary Standardized Testing Scores And Adult Mental Ill-Health In Louisville, Kentucky., Lindsey Adelle Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background and Aim: The current body of literature on the associations of environmental noise exposure with varying psychological outcomes is inconclusive, with many conflicting findings. Limitations include exposure measurement error and lack of investigation of effect modification by important factors. This dissertation aims to expand on the current understanding of these relationships by limiting exposure measurement error and by assessing effect modification. Methods: We estimated the distribution of total environmental noise in Louisville, Kentucky for several time-periods using land use regression (LUR) methodologies. Additionally, through multiple regression models, we estimated the association of environmental noise during relevant time-periods with childhood …

Parental Understanding Of Mental Health In Early Childhood Development: A Human Capabilities Approach, Fatiema Benjamin, Inge K. Sonn, Edna G. Rich Dr., Jenny Rose Dr., Nicolette V. Roman Prof.

Journal of Family Strengths

Background: the family is central to a child’s development and well-being. Parental understanding of mental health or psychological distress have a significant effect on child development including their mental health. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore parents understanding of mental health in early childhood development.

Methods: semi-structured interviews with 12 parents of children in early childhood development were conducted. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) Understanding mental health; (2) Perceptions of parental mental health in relation to the child; (3) Child’s behaviour when experiencing different emotions; (4) Child’s behaviour when witnessing parent’s emotions; and (5) …

Empathy: The Unspoken Language Of Humanity: A Systematic Review Protocol, Yasmin Khaled Al-Zubi

Social Work Theses - Archive

Prolonged exposure to violence may result in habituation or desensitization, which has negative impacts. Desensitization to real-life violence is a reduced initial arousal response to real-life violence. Real-life violence includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, peer violence, and community violence. Children who have been exposed to violence-related adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to achieve violence desensitization, by definition. As a result of ACEs, children are at risk of mental health complications, health-related problems, and risk for maladaptive behavior. Children who have reached violence desensitization are more likely to exhibit externalized symptoms such as aggression …

The Implication Of Digital Technologies And Interventions For Mental Health Care, Chommakorn Thanetnit

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

The prevalence of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than before. Physical distancing policies caused more difficulties in receiving traditional face-to-face mental health care, resulting in wider mental health treatment gaps. Regarding these barriers and the limitation of human resources, digital transformation in psychiatry has been widespread. This article summarized the recent supporting evidence of digital technologies and interventions in psychiatry, including telepsychiatry, computer-based and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, smartphone application-based intervention and virtual reality-based therapy, with the most studies for depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. The author also reviewed the usage of mental health chatbots, artificial …

Rape Myth Acceptance And Acknowledgment: Predictors Of Disclosing Sexual Assault And Service-Seeking Among College Students, Zerbrina Valdespino-Hayden

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Sexual assault is highly prevalent on college campuses in the United States (U.S.), such that college students are at high risk for sexual victimization. Furthermore, while the disclosure rates to informal sources are more prevalent, disclosure to formal sources (e.g., legal authorities and university staff) and mental health service use of college students who have experienced sexual assault are low. As such, understanding the factors that either facilitate or hinder disclosure and service-seeking is of critical importance. Research has identified rape myth acceptance (RMA) and acknowledgment of the victimization (i.e., whether the survivor labels their experience as sexual assault) as …

The Covid-19 Pandemic's Influence On Rural Teacher Attrition In Northeast Alabama, Brian Thomas

College of Education

Teacher attrition is a growing problem across the United States and in Alabama. The influence of COVID-19 has complicated teacher attrition by influencing - being and decisions to remain or leave education. Increases in teacher attrition will increase teacher shortages, which impact rural schools dramatically. This study was conducted in rural nor employment decisions during COVID-19. This mixed-methods research used an explanatory, sequential design to explain the findings of teacher attrition data collected from 51 rural schools and 28 non-rural schools with a case study of current and former teachers. Twenty educators participated in interviews to expound on the results …

The Effects Of Exogenous Virilizing Testosterone On Strength Training And Self-Compassion In Transgender Nonbinary Individuals, Nadine Sikora

All NMU Master's Theses

Previous exercise science research has excluded transgender nonbinary individuals from their studies. Exercise has been shown to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as improve body composition. Purpose: Identify the impacts of exogenous testosterone on relative strength and levels of self-compassion in transgender nonbinary individuals. Methods: Eighteen untrained individuals (6 transgender nonbinary, 6 ciswomen, and 6 cismen, mean age of 23.7 ± 3.5 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to an 8-week resistance training group or a non-exercise control group. Participants completed a 12-question survey of self-compassion followed by, assessment of strength for chest and leg …

The George-Anne Inkwell Edition, Georgia Southern University

The Inkwell

No abstract provided.

Treating Active-Duty Military Members: Best Practices For Common Mental Health Diagnoses Across The Dod, Leah Lawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to varying service experiences, active-duty service members endure military related stressors in addition to everyday life stressors. As a result, their risk of mental illness onset increases. Considering that many of the stressors and events are unique to military personnel, it is important to identify best-practice interventions for working with this population opposed to employing civilian best practices. The purpose of this study was to determine what treatment interventions are best-practice when working with active-duty military members diagnosed with the three most common mental disorders (e.g., adjustment disorder, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders) across the Department of Defense (DoD). This …

A Comparison Of Sorority Women And Non-Sorority Women’S Alcohol Use: Perception, Rate Of Use, And Consequences, Betsy Zimmerman

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

While alcohol use and Greek Life on college campuses have often become synonymous, little is known about the rate of use or the consequences of use for sorority women specifically. Gender has been identified as a risk factor relating to substance use on college campuses; however, there is a gap in the literature concerning compounding factors that influence substance abuse, such as membership in a Greek-lettered organization. With approximately 300,000 college women involved in Greek-lettered organizations annually (NPC, 2019), little is known about the impact of alcohol use for sorority women on college adjustment. An exploration of the perception of …

Teaching Dbt Skills To Daca Recipients And Their Families: Findings From An Echo Program, Frances Morales, Oscar F. Rojas Perez, Michelle Silva, Manuel Paris, Luz M. Garcini, Melanie M. Domenech Rodriguez, Alfonso Mercado

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) offers temporary administrative relief from deportation for undocumented immigrant adolescents and young adults who were brought as children to the United States. Accordingly, DACA has contributed to creating a different landscape of opportunities for this group. However, DACA has been and continues to be highly contested in the national political climate. Threats to DACA give rise to considerable anxiety, fear, and distress among its recipients, who face significant barriers to accessing mental health care services. Thus, a group of psychologists partnered with a leading immigrant rights advocacy organization and formed a reciprocal collaboration to …

Mental Health In Engineering Education: Identifying Population And Intersectional Variation, Andrew Danowitz, Kacey Beddoes

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Contribution: Screening rates for engineering students for several major and moderate mental health issues are reported, including unspecified psychological distress as captured by the Kessler 6 screening instrument; screening rates for depressive, anxiety, and eating disorders as measured by the patient health questionnaire (PHQ); and screening rates for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as measured by the primary care post-traumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD) instrument. This work also explores how mental health issues affect different student demographic groups within engineering. Background: Anecdotal evidence has long suggested that stress and certain mental health issues are particularly acute in the field of Engineering, and …

How Does Trauma Experienced During Immigration Affect Mental Health?, Taliyah Sims, Daeja Hinton

Immigration Scholarship: History, Trends and Development in Global Immigration

The research topic being explored focuses on hardships that immigrants face before, during, and after migrating into the US. Over the years immigration has changed in many ways, for better and for worse. Immigration has become such a difficult and tedious process, which can absolutely take a toll on the mental health of the people who just want to move and start better lives. Violence and crimes also play a major role in why people are looking to flee from their home countries in the first place. Moreover, the research will provide a closer look into the violence and crimes …

The Impact Of Mobile Technology-Delivered Interventions On Youth Well-Being: Systematic Review And 3-Level Meta-Analysis, Colleen Conley, Elizabeth B. Raposa, Kate Bartolotta, Sarah E. Broner, Maya Hareli, Nicola Forbes, Kirsten M. Christensen, Mark Assink

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: Rates of mental health problems among youth are high and rising, whereas treatment seeking in this population remains low. Technology-delivered interventions (TDIs) appear to be promising avenues for broadening the reach of evidence-based interventions for youth well-being. However, to date, meta-analytic reviews on youth samples have primarily been limited to computer and internet interventions, whereas meta-analytic evidence on mobile TDIs (mTDIs), largely comprising mobile apps for smartphones and tablets, have primarily focused on adult samples.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mTDIs for a broad range of well-being outcomes in unselected, at-risk, and clinical samples of …

Impact Of Biosecurity Measures, Social Pressure And Bullying On Attitudes, Perceptions, And Job Satisfaction Levels Among Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Genesis Camacho-Leon, Geovanny Efraín Alvarado-Villa, Derly Madeleiny Andrade-Molina, Juan Carlos Fernandez-Cadena, Arjola Agolli, Zeynep Yukselen, Miguel Felix, Juan Carlos Gallardo Bastidas

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: The extent and nature of social pressure and bullying towards healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 remains unclear. The following study identifies the effect of social pressure and bullying directed towards HCWs when using biosecurity measures during the COVID-19 pandemic; further, the impact on perceptions, attitudes and job satisfaction level is also explored.
Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional survey-based study among 684 Ecuadorian HCWs. The survey consisted of 38 questions related to the frequency, attitudes, and perceptions of biosecurity measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to assess the validity of the questionnaire. Associations between variables …

Remote Work: Job Satisfaction And Healthy Work Boundaries, Carlee Thesier

University Honors Program

This paper addresses mass remote work as a growing organizational structure. COVID-19 initiated the movement for organizations to have employees work from home, and as workplaces are beginning to reopen, remote work is continuing to grow. The remote work presents many challenges that organizations were not prepared to address when initially moving online. While these challenges are being addressed and evaluated, organizations are not standardized in the structure of remote work and are continuing to perfect the method. This paper analyzes how mental health, job satisfaction, and long-term effects of continued mass remote work. The process of mass remote work …

Remote Work: Job Satisfaction And Healthy Work Boundaries, Carlee Thesier

University Honors College

This paper addresses mass remote work as a growing organizational structure. COVID-19 initiated the movement for organizations to have employees work from home, and as workplaces are beginning to reopen, remote work is continuing to grow. The remote work presents many challenges that organizations were not prepared to address when initially moving online. While these challenges are being addressed and evaluated, organizations are not standardized in the structure of remote work and are continuing to perfect the method. This paper analyzes how mental health, job satisfaction, and long-term effects of continued mass remote work. The process of mass remote work …