Digital Commons Network^™

Expressive Arts Workshop: The Relationship Between Educators & Trauma-Informed Care, Courtney Muttart

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

From an early age, children are put into the educational system and this environment becomes one of the most consistent surroundings throughout the beginning and later chapters of their lifespan. Within some classrooms, some children present an abundance of cognitive and emotional behaviors such as inattentiveness, impulse control, and limited coping skills that, in some cases, are representations of trauma responses. Research explores the topic of trauma-informed schools and other frameworks that bring the role of the educator to attention when addressing the needs of children who have experienced trauma. I found that facilitating an Expressive Arts & Trauma workshop …

Making Meaning During Coronavirus, Mary Kate Schutt

Population Health Research Brief Series

If you’ve asked yourself, “Why is this happening? What’s the meaning of this?” you’re not alone. This brief discusses why meaning matters and how we might reflect on what we learned about ourselves from the COVID-19 pandemic to make more intentional meaning in our lives.

What's Driving Me Mad, Anonymous

Isolation - Physically Separated and Wearing Masks

No abstract provided.

Surviving Covid-19: Journalism's Role In Chronicling The Mental Health Effects On High School Students, Samantha A. Malone

Honors Capstones

During the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, students across the world are facing mental health impacts. This project aims to explore the challenges specifically of high school students during this time through the use of journalism. Using research from accredited sources and numerous interviews, this is the story of high school students and how they are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. The main subject was interviewed on a weekly basis, and additional interviews were conducted to solidify information. Major findings include: the relationship between structure and anxiety, challenges of e-learning and social distancing’s impact on loneliness. The work relies …

The Mental Health Of Black Men: Stabilizing Trauma With Emotional Intelligence, Davis Brandford

School of Professional Studies

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the impact of historical trauma and barriers on African-American males and the effects of emotional intelligence in reducing traumatic experiences. This research study is based on previous research and studies that explores the historical review of African- American oppression, trauma in black males, and mental health in the African American community. This study will utilize the historical trauma and emotional intelligence theories to explore barriers that African Americans have experienced over time and the role emotional intelligence can play to reduce trauma. It also explores the relevance of historical …

The Perceptions And Experiences Of School-Based Mental Health Professionals In 9-12 Schools In Arkansas, Teri L. Morris

Theses and Dissertations from 2020

Mental health services for students in secondary schools has been and is continuing to be an issue in public schools today (National Association School Psychologists [NASP], 2019). Over 10 million students between the ages of 13 to 18 have a mental condition they will need a school-based mental health (SBMH) professional to help them deal with while they are in school (Walker, 2019). In schools, the most common disorders being identified with children and adolescents are: (a) attention-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), (b) bipolar disorder, (c) depression, (d) anxiety, and the access to treatment for most of these children is limited (Walker, …

A Guide For Rainy Days, Dan Ashurst

Covid-19 Archive: Documents

This photobook expresses the author's experience with depression in general and during the COVID-19 pandemic. All photos were taken in and near the artist's house in Prattville, Alabama as a result of the stay-at-home order and later voluntary self-quarantine of Spring 2020. Some images speak to the experience of a social and academic life maintained mostly digitally. Others analyze the lack of clarity, descent into darkness, and subsequent return to hope.

Linguistic Neglect Of Deaf Children In The United States, Mishonne Marks

Ballard Brief

Most deaf children in the United States are born to hearing parents who are not familiar with Deaf culture or American Sign Language (ASL). As a result. deaf children are in danger of experiencing linguistic neglect. meaning they do not receive sufficient language input. This linguistic neglect is typically unintentional and can be a result of deaf history, institutionalized oppression, current stigmas, and educational inequality. Linguistic neglect can result in deaf children experiencing decreased mental health, stunted cognitive development. poor academic performance. and employment difficulties. Several organizations are currently working to address and prevent linguistic neglect by spreading deaf awareness, …

Ethical Standards Of Human Services Professionals In Trauma Informed Care Across Diverse Settings, Emily Burroughs

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Ethics are important in every aspect of our professional lives. Actions have consequences and in the Human Services field, decisions that we make will potentially directly impact our clients. A human services professional’s responsibility is to care for their clients and provide them with the appropriate resources needed to succeed in their daily lives. When a professional begins working with a trauma victim, they must be sure to assess their ethical behaviors and provide proper resources to the victim. This work is often referred to as trauma informed care which goes beyond the typical helping process of professionals. It is …

The Effects Of Debt On The Relationship To Psychological And Social Well-Being, Kelley Bevers

Psychology Dissertations - Archive

Debt is negatively correlated with multiple health facets such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The serious consequences of debt can be utterly detrimental to success, both in school and beyond. This study examined the relationships between debt and well-being in a longitudinal sample of 7,104 adults measured at three time points between 1995 and 2014. Data were extracted from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study waves one, two, and three conducted via telephone and mail surveys. Information regarding sex, age, income, student status, debt, psychological and social health, and attitudes toward debt and life satisfaction will be …

The Effectiveness Of Implementing A Collaborative Mental Health Approach On Quality Of Life For Individuals Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Tyler Z. Tooley

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The ultimate purpose of this study is to provide insight and education to mental health clinicians, politicians and the general public of the numerous effects poverty has on mental health, in addition to the most beneficial ways to combat those insidious effects. The specific barriers met by individuals of low socioeconomic status severely affect psychological and physical health, as well as social and environmental relationships, which therefore diminish overall quality of life. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of implementing a collaborative mental health approach for low income individuals on length of engagement in services and …

Effects Of Shift Length On Nursing Staff’S Productivity, Safety, And Well-Being, Victoria Sivesind

Nursing | Senior Theses

In this thesis the relationship between normal shift length for nurses and fatigue, burnout, intention to leave job, and patient outcomes and satisfaction. A review of literature has been done and conclusions have been made about the previous research reviewed in the thesis. A proposal for further research has been included and details how the author plans to provide further clarification to the questions at hand in order to better clinical nursing practice for the future. The proposed study includes sending out a survey to members of the Sigma Theta Tau Honors Nursing Society. It will inquire about shift length, …

Society's View Of Mental Illness As A Result Of Fictionalized Portrayals Of Serial Killer Narratives, Cassidy Schmidt

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Fictionalized serial killer narratives have been essential to media for decades, beginning with the early noir films, detective novels of the 1940s and 50s (Murley, 2), and western narratives which heavily depicted good versus evil (Hall, 5). As media has evolved, fascination with true crime has continued to grow and in turn, began to increasingly provide inspiration for fictional films and TV shows, especially through streaming service television shows like Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019), Mindhunter (2017), and Making a Murder (2015). Through research on the psychological interest in violence, the blurred line between fact and …

Outsiders In The Circle : Examining The Lived Experiences Of Gay Afro-Caribbean Male Immigrants Living In The United States, Alfonso L. Ferguson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation presents the findings of a descriptive phenomenological study focused on the intersectional experiences of Afro-Caribbean male immigrants living in the United States who identify as gay, same gender loving, queer, and/or men who sleep with other men. This study also explored the unique experiences of participants’ challenges and resilience in the multiple communities to which they belong. Eleven participants who migrated from Anglophone colonized territories in the Caribbean participated in two semi-structured interviews. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive phenomenology tenets. Findings of this study suggest implications for the counseling profession to better provide culturally responsive services …

Mental Health Assessments In Icu And Acute Care, Carolynn M. Keane, Megan Altom, Taylor Harrell, Erica Smith, Danielle Woodward

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The purpose of our critically appraised topic is to provide a brief summary of assessments that may be relevant to the burn unit or ICU setting, including their validity, reliability, specificity, sensitivity, and limitations. We had a total of eight articles with the following study designs: Systematic Review (2 articles), Longitudinal Study (1 article), Comparative Analysis (1 article), Correlational Analysis (2 articles) and Methodological (2 articles). These articles looked at the reliability, validity, specificity, and sensitivity of the following assessments: Abbreviated Burn Specific Anxiety Scale (A-BSPAS), Beck Depression Inventory-II, Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experience (B-COPE), Concise Mental Health Checklist …

Testing Traditional Machismo And The Gender Role Strain Theory With Mexican Migrant Farmworkers, Laura M. Acosta, Arthur R. Andrews Iii, M. Natalia Acosta Canchila, Athena K. Ramos

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

The current study examines the moderating role of traditional machismo on mental health outcomes. We hypothesized that machismo would enhance the effects of stressors that are incongruent with traditional machismo beliefs (discrimination, adverse childhood experiences [ACEs], and fear of deportation) on depression and anxiety outcomes but would not enhance stressors that are congruent (harsh working conditions and poverty) on depression and anxiety. Participants were 190 male Mexican migrant farmworkers. As hypothesized, endorsing high traditional machismo was associated with stronger effects of fear of deportation and discrimination on depression outcomes compared with low traditional machismo. The interaction of machismo and …

Peer Victimization And Delinquency: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Their Relationships, Nicholas Alexander Adams

Doctoral Dissertations

The correlation between peer victimization and delinquency has long been established in the sociological and criminological literatures. However, the research to this point has focused on one or the other as an outcome. This study addresses this gap in the literature by teasing out a causal relationship between them. By using 3 waves of the Developmental Victimization Survey, peer victimization and delinquency are treated as both predictors and outcomes for each other. In doing so, this study finds evidence to support a causal relationship between experiencing peer victimization at wave 1 and later delinquent behavior at wave 3. It also …

Trying To Save The Game(R): Understanding The Meaning-Making Process Of Youtube Subscribers Surrounding Mental Health And Video Game Vlogging, Maria Mickles

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Through technological innovation and the rise of digital media platforms, many young adults are afforded the opportunity to spend their lives on the Internet. Not only is a large amount of time spent on the Internet by most people, but young adults are making media sharing-platforms, specifically YouTube, part of their daily lives (Westenberg, 2016, p. 8). YouTube allows content creators to produce videos that not only attract audiences of different ages and geographic location, but, too, create an intimate bond between creator and subscriber, allowing each party to communicate and engage in content related activities through the comments section …

Not Your Average Summer Camp: Children In Immigration Detention, Cindy Izquierdo

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract forthcoming.

Mental Health And You, Sierra Salvatierra

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Latinx community at the Epicenter in Salinas dealt with mental health illnesses, as well as were brought up with machismo attitudes. This population has a strong stigma against getting help with their mental health. Being faced with immigration, poverty, discrimination and inadequite conversations about health, drives a spike in anxiety levels. Consequences of not dealing with mental health illnesses include unresolved emotions are generational trauma, self harm, substance abuse, and unhealthy relationships. The project created to get in front of this problem was a dialogue series of conversation starters for people who want to open up. The purpose of …

Mental Health Awareness In Arroyo Seco Academy, Elia Pizano

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Arroyo Seco Academy is an elementary school located in Greenfield (CA) serving students from k through 6th grade. The capstone project and its implementation took place at Arroyo Seco’s counseling department. The community that is served by the counseling department is children who experience social and behavioral issues. There School has seen an increase of mental health illness in Monterey County that affects children directly and indirectly. The project; named Mental Health Awareness in Arroyo Seco Academy, consisted of an educational intervention that focused on 6 th grade students. The intervention focused on the importance of mental health and touched …

Importance Of Mental Health Awareness In Schools, Alexandra Elliott

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

We all have different experiences and beliefs that shape our perspectives and impact our mental health. The concept of mental health exists in Western civilization but is absent in others, so it is important to be sensitive when discussing the terminology of mental health by itself. There is ample evidence of a disproportionate amount of mental health issues among people living in low-income areas due to lack of resources in these communities. In fact, mental health resources are disproportionately accessible to white, affluent individuals in Western civilization. This senior capstone research project is intended to find ways to reach new …

Consequences Of Student Mental Health Issues In Schools, Karla Roque-Franco

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

As time goes by, students with mental health issues are on the rise. Students who have mental health issues face a variety of different consequences. The consequences vary from mild to severe, and that suicide being the most severe consequence. Students suffer from depression, anxiety, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are only some of the few of the mental health issues that students face. As a common long-term consequence, these three different mental health issues may result in suicide when they do not receive the proper care. Schools and teachers could work together to bring awareness to mental health issues. Incorporating mental …

Achieving Positive Mental Health And Academic Achievement For Students With Behavioral And Emotional Issues In Elementary School, Reynalda Fuentes

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Elementary students, their peers, and teachers today are being affected by emotional and behavioral issues that some students struggle with at school. In order to understand why it is affecting their academic achievement and mental health, this report answers the following research questions to investigate how these problems affect schools, classrooms, and teachers, as well as what appears to be contributing factors to this problem, and what are some of the solutions. In review of the literature on preventions and interventions placed at elementary schools the research shows that frameworks such as The Multi-tiered System of Supports, and the incorporation …

Depression Is Associated With Decreased Severity And Lower Mortality In Non-Elderly Hospitalized Adults With Influenza In The United States, Timothy L. Wiemken, Daniel Hoft, Jeffrey Scherrer

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: Depression is associated with risk for chronic disease, though its relationship with infectious diseases is less understood. Depression may modify the clinical outcomes of patients with infectious diseases such as influenza via its association with inflammation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between depression and clinical outcomes in non-elderly adults with influenza infection.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, years 2012–2016. Hospitalized adults aged 18–65 admitted during each influenza season were included. Depression status was documented via ICD-10 codes. The association between depression and clinical outcomes (e.g., …

The Experiences And Well-Being Of Mexican Immigrant Women Living In Traditionally Non-Latinx Communities In Western North Carolina, Melinda Bogardus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

North Carolina has, in recent decades, experienced significant growth in its Latinx, and more particularly Mexican immigrant population. As a traditionally non-Latinx state, or a state without a long-standing, large Latinx population, many communities and healthcare and service providers within North Carolina still lack knowledge, resources, and skills needed to serve and support Latinx immigrant populations well. Guided by interpretive description, this qualitative study on Mexican immigrant women in Western North Carolina sought to gain knowledge and understanding of what it is like for them to live in a traditionally non-Latinx region and how immigration has affected their well-being. Asking …

Perceptions Of Stress And Coping In Traditional Age First-Year College Students, Bridgett Grant

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This qualitative research study examined the perceptions of stress and coping in traditional-age, first-year college students. This study sought to form an understanding of the participants’ lived experiences relating to stress and coping throughout their first semester of college. Five participants’ were separately interviewed twice for the purposes of data collection. The findings from the data analysis process showed that these first-year college students experienced stress as a result of new and challenging academic expectations while also trying to navigate interpersonal relationships. Further, participants’ in this study experienced stress as a result from interacting with social media. These traditional-age, first-year …

The Development Of A Suicide Prevention Program For American Indian Youth In Nebraskan Communities, Sara Donovan

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In Nebraska and nationally, American Indian (AI) youth have higher rates of depression, suicide attempts, and suicide completions than other racial and ethnic groups. These statistics highlight the need for accessible and culturally aware behavioral health planning and support. In Nebraska, access to care by AI youth is limited by a behavioral health provider shortage and concerns of affordability, stigma, trust, cultural competence, and historical trauma. The developed culturally humble suicide prevention program for AI youth aged 19-24 to be implemented in community settings addresses an existing service gap. Strategies were developed with input from the population of focus, and …

New Horizons: Covid-19 And The Burden Of Neuropsychiatric Illness In Pakistan, Ali M. Hashmi, Haider Ali Saleem

Medical College Documents

This manuscript reviews the current state of knowledge about the burden of mental illness and assesses the impact of COVID-19 illness on mental health in Pakistan. For this we analyzed secondary data obtained from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study draws from a wide range of data sources to quantify global and regional effects of a disease. We also did a literature search on the effects of COVID-19 illness on mental health and the psychosocial effects of COVID-19 and other Corona virus related illnesses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Data from the …

Gender Differences In Coping With Stress Among Student-Athletes, Sydney Riggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The purpose of this study is to understand how collegiate student athletes cope with stress and mental health concerns Specifically, I ask: (1) How does the role of being a student-athlete affect one’s mental health? (2) Are there gender differences in how student-athletes cope with stress? Using data from in-depth interviews with 10 male student-athletes and 10 female student-athletes, I found that the student-athlete experience had both positive and negative impacts on an individual’s stress and overall mental wellness. Student-athletes benefited from the collegiate athletic experience in various ways—including career opportunities and learned skills like time-management. However, student-athletes also endured …