Digital Commons Network^™

Age-Related Differences In The Experience Of Health Anxiety And Use Of Coping Strategies, Lindsay A. Gerolimatos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The experience of heath anxiety among older and young adults is poorly understood. Most studies (e.g., Abramowitz & Moore, 2007; Gramling et al., 1996) have examined cognitions and behaviors associated with health anxiety, with little to no studies examining emotions and physiological arousal. The present study induced health anxiety in a laboratory setting with 36 older and 36 young adults by providing false health-related feedback. Outcome variables included physiological arousal (heart rate, blood pressure), self-reported arousal (distress, fear of body sensations), and self-reported emotions recorded across three periods: baseline, induction, and recovery. Repeated measures MANCOVAs were conducted with baseline measures …

Educating The Whole Child: Evidence Of Health And Wellness Instruction In The Schools Serving Low-Income Students, Andria M. Shook Phd

Dissertations

Educators in the United States are expressing concern about student physical and mental well-being. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past three decades, and today, one in five children experiences symptoms of mental illness. Low-income children are especially subject to these conditions. The long-term consequences for the country as a whole are significant. Schools are particularly well placed to address these problems by supporting the well-being of the whole child. Efforts have begun in select schools and districts to incorporate health and wellness instruction into the school day. This study identifies existing health and wellness components that three …

Research Brief: "The Evaluation Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction For Veterans With Mental Health Conditions", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the usage of mindfulness-based stress reduction for the psychological well-being of veterans with mental health conditions. In policy and practice, mindfulness-based stress reduction instructors should be certified in the processes of mindfulness, and professionals should create a standardized mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment manual; the VHA could include mindfulness-based stress reduction treatments into current treatment plans and could commission studies about if they are more cost-effective than pharmacologic treatments. Suggestions for future research include conducting individual interviews in addition to group interviews, and assessing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on PTSD outcomes.

Mental Health, Psychology And The Law Symposium: Introduction, Sean O'Brien

Faculty Works

The authors coordinated and edited a symposium law review issue on Mental Health, Psychology and the Law. The Introduction summarizes submissions that included a memoir from an author whose family members were consumers of mental health services, legal scholars and practitioners who use mental health evidence to defend clients facing the death penalty, and the duty of attorneys to tend to their own mental health care needs while dealing with these emotionally heavy issues.

Primary Care: Mental And Behavioral Health And Persons With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, David A. Ervin, Ashley Williams, Joav Merrick

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: There are multiple ways to address the mental and behavioral health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

METHOD: In this paper, we do not argue for a particular approach or set of approaches, but instead review the benefits of integrating mental and behavioral health supports with primary healthcare based primarily on our experience in and understanding of healthcare systems in the United States. It is estimated that between 35 and 40% of people with IDD also live with psychiatric disorders. NADD, an association for persons with developmental disabilities and mental health needs in the US holds …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Treating Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Comparison By Treatment Modality And Mental Health Provider Type, Julie Denise Malloy

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the treatment outcomes for Oppositional Defiant Disorder by provider license type and therapy modality. Administrative data from Cigna Insurance Company for 9,904 ODD cases were analyzed to determine the cost, number of sessions, dropout rates, and recidivism rates for treatment of ODD. Descriptive statistics indicate that the mean cost of treatment for ODD across all professions is $389.83. Analyses revealed significant differences in total cost by profession, as well as cost per session for different license types with counselors providing therapy for the lowest average total cost, followed by MFTs, MSWs, Psychologists and then MDs. Chi square …

Peer Support In Managing Psychiatric Symptoms Of Rural Adults With Mobility And Sensory Impairments, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Little is known about the mental health of people with disabilities who live in rural America or the potential benefit of providing peer support services for these individuals. Stress diathesis models of psychiatric disorders suggest the challenges of living with a disability in rural areas may predispose individuals to higher rates of psychiatric disorders (Monroe & Simons, 1991). In addition, rural mental health service providers struggle to meet the needs of rural individuals with primary psychiatric diagnoses, and they may not be trained to assist people with disabilities who have secondary mental health conditions (New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, …

Longitudinal Predictors And Effects Of Parental Rejection Of Sexual Minority Youth, Matthew John Louis Page

Open Access Dissertations

Coming out to parents is a significant milestone for lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) youth, and negative reactions can be detrimental to youth functioning. However, it is not yet clear what factors are related to parental rejection. This longitudinal study examines if parent homonegativity and religiosity predict parental reactions to youth disclosure of same-sex attractions, and if these reactions predict youth psychosocial maladjustment and spirituality. Participants consist of 173 youth (ages 14-24) and one parent to whom they have come out. Structural equation modeling is used to examine the hypothesis that parental homonegativity and religiosity predict more negative reactions to …

Reducing Stigma Toward The Transgender Community: An Evaluation Of A Humanizing And Perspective-Taking Intervention, Tanya L. Tompkins, Kay Livesay, Chloe N. Shields, Caitlyn C. Talbot, Kimberly M. Hillman

Faculty Presentations

Transgender (TG) individuals are an understudied group at high risk of experiencing discrimination and associated adverse mental health outcomes (IOM, 2011). Although many studies demonstrate that contact reduces negative attitudes toward out-groups, few studies have examined the link between contact and attitudes toward the TG community (Hill & Willoughby, 2005; Walchet al., 2012). This study represents one of the first attempts to understand how to effectively reduce stigma toward the TG community. Results indicate that education alone is not enough to change attitudes; in fact, there is some evidence that associating transgenderism with psychopathology may heighten stigma. Consistent with prior …

Incarceration And Reintegration: How It Impacts Mental Health, April M. Marier, Alex Alfredo Reyes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background: Previous criminal justice policies have been non-effective leading to overpopulated prisons and unsuccessful reintegration. There is a lack of effective supportive and/or rehabilitative services resulting in high rates of recidivism and mental health implications. Objective: This study investigated the perceived impact that incarceration and reintegration with little to no supportive and/or rehabilitative services has on the mental health status of an individual. The emphasis was on participant perception and not on professional reports because of underreporting and lack of attention to mental health in the criminal justice system. Methods: Focus groups in the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley …

Do Trust-Based Beliefs Mediate The Associations Of Frequency Of Private Prayer With Mental Health? : A Cross-Sectional Study., Patrick Pössel, Stephanie Winkeljohn Black, Annie C. Bjerg, Benjamin D. Jeppsen, Don T. Wooldridge

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Significant associations of private prayer with mental health have been found, while mechanisms underlying these associations are largely unknown. This cross-sectional online study (N = 325, age: 35.74, SD: 18.50, 77.5% female) used path modeling to test if trust-based beliefs (whether, when, and how prayers are answered) mediated the associations of prayer frequency with the Anxiety, Confusion, and Depression Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS) scales. The association of prayer and Depression was fully mediated by trust-based beliefs; associations with Anxiety and Confusion were partially mediated. Further the interaction of prayer frequency by stress was association with Anxiety.

Claiming The Mad, Samar Nour

Theses and Dissertations

Mental asylums in Egypt during the colonial period.

Research Brief: "The Impact Of Sport And Physical Activity On The Well-Being Of Combat Veterans: A Systematic Review", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the influence that sports and exercise have on veterans' well-being and therapies that impact the well-being of combat veterans. In policy and practice, healthcare practitioners should prepare comprehensive treatment models that encompass physical activity and sports where appropriate, and support groups should encourage veterans to participate in competitive sports or other recreational activities; the DoD could expand programs to provide sports to more disabled combat veterans and the VA should re-evaluate its programs to ensure there are no barriers to participation. Suggestions for future research include studying the effects of sports and exercise on the well-being …

Research Brief: "Women At War: Understanding How Women Veterans Cope With Combat And Military Sexual Trauma", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about stressors during military service that OEF/OIF female veterans experienced and how they coped with the stress. In policy and practice, female veterans should tell healthcare providers of their healthcare needs, and should form support groups with other veteran women; family members should support returning female service members; the VA should adapt its services to address the needs of female veterans, policymakers should allocate funding toward creating non-VA mental health and substance abuse counseling, and the VA should offer gender-specific mental health programs. Suggestions for future research include analyzing differences between age groups and length of time …

Predicting Successful Drug Court Graduation: Exploring Demographic And Psychosocial Factors Among Medication-Assisted Drug Court Treatment Clients, Autumn Michelle Frei

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of psychosocial factors on drug court graduation among a medication assisted treatment drug court population. The extant research identifies drug courts as effective in reducing recidivism and relapse rates; however meta-analyses of the drug court literature reveal that there is little explanation as to why drug courts are effectual and especially for whom. This study examined trauma, mental health, and social support to determine predictive psychosocial factors of drug court participants while controlling for certain demographics. The analyses showed that social support was predictive, but failed to identify trauma or …

Estimating The Prevalence And Correlates Of Psychiatric Disorders And Mental Health Problems Among Undocumented Mexican Immigrants Using The National Latino And Asian American Study, Elián P. Cabrera-Nguyen

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the prevalence and correlates of psychiatric disorders and mental health problems among undocumented Mexican immigrants using the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). Two approaches were used to obtain estimates for likely undocumented Mexican immigrants (LUMIs): (1) creation of a proxy variable, and (2) multiple imputation using chained equations. Results indicated that LUMIs had greater prevalence rates for specific anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and poor self-rated mental health compared to documented Mexican immigrants. Next, potential mediators of poor mental health were identified. Finally, LUMIs were compared with other Latino groups by nativity status. This study concludes …

Placing The Promotion Of Health And Well Being On The Irish Prison Agenda - The Complexity Of Health Promotion In Irish Prisons, Catherine Macnamara, Patricia Mannix-Mcnamara

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

The prison population experiences significant health inequality and social exclusion (Department of Health 2002). Once incarcerated, prisoners are at increased risk of mental illness and have higher exposure to communicable diseases (WHO 2008). Prisoners generally have poorer health because imprisonment negatively impacts upon the health of the individual (WHO 2008). However, the prison setting offers a unique opportunity to implement targeted health promotion initiatives with a population that may have had very limited experience of accessing health services prior to incarceration. The World Health Organisation recognises the need for health promotion in prisons. This is evidenced in the Health in …

A Mental Health Epidemic: The Case For Mental Health Programs On College Campuses And How To Increase Awareness, Connor Deason

Senior Theses

This senior thesis project focused on the problem of mental health on college campuses. Specific interest was placed on students at the University of South Carolina. In the end, the goal was to create a product that could be used by the Counseling and Human Development Center to help increase the use of student mental health services and reduce levels of stigma surrounding mental health problems. In talking with staff members of the Counseling and Human Development Center, staff members shared a desire for a video that would advertise the services of the Counseling Center. Thus, the true purpose of …

Cracking Invisible Barriers: A Focus On Mental Health Service Use Among Immigrant Latinos In The United States, Evenor Alfonso Aleman

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Rapidly changing demographics often result in disparities in services offered for the population. Increasing Latino presence in many parts of the United States has yet to be recognized when developing adequate mental health care. This is specifically true with those who are less proficient in English. The purpose of this study is to explore the barriers many Latinos face when seeking mental health services. These barriers include sociological, cultural, and organizational factors that have been found to influence the underutilization rates of services by Latinos. By exploring these barriers, potential growth areas in the service provided for Spanish speaking clients …

Substance Abuse Trends In Maine: State Epidemiological Profile 2014, Tim Diomede

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

This report takes into account the primary objectives of the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS): to identify substance abuse patterns in defined geographical areas, establish substance abuse trends, detect emerging substances, and provide information for policy development and program planning. It also highlights all the prevention priorities identified in the SAMHS strategic prevention plan: underage drinking, high-risk drinking among 18-25 year olds, misuse of prescription drugs among 18-25 year olds, and marijuana use in 12-25 year olds; as well as monitors the progress being made to address these priorities. This report includes data available through December …

Is Combat Exposure Predictive Of Higher Preoperative Stress In Military Members?, Eric J. Bopp Phd

Dissertations

Since September 11, 2001, the United States has been engaged in large-scale combat operations exposing numerous military service members to stressful, traumatic, and threatening environments. As a result, many of these individuals have experienced significant psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as physiological alterations, such as cardiovascular changes and neuroendocrine disturbances. The preoperative experience may be perceived as stressful, often increasing in magnitude as the patient progresses through the preoperative period. Military anesthesia providers frequently provide anesthetic care to military members with a history of combat exposure. Anecdotally, it is not uncommon for …

Efficacy Of Mantram Repetition Program On Sleep In Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Lindsay Cosco Holt Phd

Dissertations

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects over seven million (3.5%) of the US adult population. In 2011, 476,515 veterans were currently seeking treatment for PTSD. Statistics show that 87% of veterans with PTSD report sleep disturbances and 52% experience frequent nightmares, making sleep the second most common reason why veterans seek mental health care upon return from deployment (Germain et al., 2006). Studies have sought to find a link between PTSD and sleep, and the importance of sleep in the recovery process, but there is a gap in the research on sleep disturbances and interventions for improvement in veterans with PTSD. …

The Mental Health Disparity Among Nonheterosexuals: Risk, Resiliency, And New Perspectives To Consider In The Context Of Mormonism, Katherine Ann Crowell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nonheterosexuals disproportionately experience mental illness when compared with heterosexuals. Although it has been well established that the apparent mental health disparity among sexually diverse populations is almost exclusively derived from minority stress (i.e., the excess stress associated with culturally maintained sexual stigma), our understanding of how specific aspects of minority stress lead to specific psychological syndromes (e.g., depression) remains limited. On the other hand, in attempts to destigmatize individuals who do not identify as heterosexual, researchers have increasingly begun to shift the focus of their work towards understanding the specific characteristics or experiences that facilitate individuals’ capacity to adapt and …

Psychometric Properties Of The Resourcefulness Scale Among Caregivers Of Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Caregiving for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be very costly to caregivers’ well-being. Resourcefulness interventions have shown increases in positive health outcomes. However, before delivering the intervention, there should be a reliable and a valid measure to test resourcefulness. The psychometric properties of the Resourcefulness Scale (RS) have not been examined among ASD caregivers. This study examined the psychometrics of the 28-item RS in a convenience sample of 204 ASD caregivers. A Cronbach’s alpha of .91 showed the internal consistency of the RS. Construct validity was supported by the emergence of two dimensions of resourcefulness (personal and social) …

Making Healthy Minds And Bodies In Syria And Lebanon, 1899 - 1961, Beverly A. Tsacoyianis

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Psychiatrists in Syria presented mental health treatment to Syrians as more than just a way to control or cure mental illness, but as a modernizing worldview to combat popular ideas about the origins of mental illness. When the Ibn Sina Mental Hospital was founded near Damascus in 1922, staff were careful to strip treatment of religious meaning. While the physicians were trained in French psychiatric methods, they neither attempted "moral healing" nor imposed religious instruction, as at other hospitals in the region such as the Protestant medical missionary-run Asfuriyeh near Beirut. Ibn Sina hospital staff were so careful to present …

Family-Farm Therapy: An Urban Therapy Clinic To Address The Multifaceted Needs Of Multi-Stressed Families And Their Surrounding Communities, Felisa M. Huene

Graduate Research Symposium (2010 - 2017)

Family-Farm Therapy incorporates a therapeutic clinic within an urban farming community site, and focuses on multi-stressed family systems and the larger community system. The goal is for systemic change within the family and the community by creating positive relationships and personal acceptance. Farming has traditionally been a family endeavor which makes it a unique environment to be utilized as metaphors for family systems, their interactions, behaviors, and structure. Multi-stressed families have socioeconomic hurdles that complicate their ability to adjust to change and crisis in their family. Farming addresses such hurdles by offering economic sustenance, increased physical health, and community acceptance. …

“We’Re Doin’ Ok” An Investigation Of Parental Account-Giving For Divorce-Related Financial Stress, Monique Makhlouf

Graduate Research Symposium (2010 - 2017)

Divorce is a prevalent issue facing many Americans today with nearly one-third of first marriages ending in divorce within 10 years, and 50% of all first marriages ending in divorce at some point in the lifespan (Frisby, Booth-Butterfield, Dillow, Martin, & Weber, 2012). Considerable evidence suggests that divorce can increase the likelihood of adverse effects on the psychological well-being of family members, particularly in families with children (Brown, Portes, & Christensen, 1989). Among the many issues that confront families going through a divorce is a shift in socioeconomic status or a loss of financial stability during and after a divorce …

Lessons In Betrayal, Donald Quentin Counts

Theses

An Abstract on the Thesis of Donald Q. Counts Title: Lessons in Betrayal Each of the selected works in this thesis share one common element, as they attempt to explore the nature of betrayal as a thematic element, and each story depicts a different aspect of this theme. Cold Hearted is a coming-of age story, as a young boy discovers what it can mean when family cannot be trusted. Threads can be viewed as science fiction or magic realism, but at heart it concerns itself with a man whose own nature has led to time itself turning against him. Then …

Developing Clinical Evaluative Norms In A Residential Setting, Melissa Richardson, Dr. Jared Warren

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Providing feedback to clinicians has been shown to reliably increase duration of treatment and leads to significantly improved outcomes in adult populations (Lambert et al., 2001), though little has been done for youth populations. Using feedback systems aid clinicians by allowing means for them to obtain valuable information about the baseline and contributors to a patient’s mental illness as well as the progression of the patient throughout treatment. This study used this notion of feedback to utilize a new psychotherapy outcome measure, the Treatment Support Measure (TSM) in the context of a youth residential treatment center (RTC) setting to determine …

Research Brief: "Teaching Post 9/11 Student Veterans With Symptoms Of Ptsd: The Influence Of Faculty Perceptions And Self-Efficacy", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study aims to understand how perceptions of veterans and their military service influence instructor self-efficacy, and is important because enrollment of veterans into higher education is expected to continue increasing. In practice, universities should encourage a collaborative understanding between student veterans and faculty members to assist in producing positive educational outcomes, and policies should consider providing more resources for veterans at universities. Future research should strive to have a larger sample size, and use more neutral words that have fewer negative connotations.