Digital Commons Network^™

Transforming Reproductive Health Through Education: A Menstrual Health Literacy And Empowerment Questionnaire To Support Psychological Well-Being, Francesca Dellamaggiore

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Menstrual health remains an underexamined area within psychological and reproductive health research despite its relevance to emotional functioning, self-advocacy, health literacy, and overall well-being. Limited education about the menstrual cycle, combined with persistent stigma and misinformation, may leave many individuals unprepared to understand their bodies and communicate effectively with healthcare providers. The present study aimed to develop and provide a preliminary psychometric evaluation of the Menstrual Health Literacy and Empowerment (MHLE) Questionnaire, a novel measure designed to assess menstrual cycle knowledge, menstrual attitudes, and empowerment-related processes associated with psychological well-being. Participants were recruited through community and university-based sampling methods and …

Mental Health And Conflicts: A Handbook For Empowerment, Dan Berstein

DRI Press

Mental health needs are universal. About half of us will end up having a diagnosable mental health issue at some point during our lives, and we all know what it is like to have a bad day. We also understand conflicts are hard and they often bring out the worst in us. There are simple ways to be ready for when mental health needs arise during conflicts. This handbook introduces different mental health perspectives, dispels common stereotypes, and provides tools for empowering mental health communication. This book is designed to help laypeople as well as professionals across all kinds of …

Educating Medical Trainees On Mental Healthcare And Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Andrea Palmieri, Joan B. Beasley, Micah Peace Urquilla, Jennifer Mclaren

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Many children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience mental health conditions and commonly receive treatment with psychotropic medications. Prescribers often overuse these medications in children with IDD, who are frequently treated with polypharmacy and antipsychotics, a trend that continues into adulthood. Medical trainees receive little training regarding the IDD patient population. This paper describes the development and evaluation of an evidence-informed, easy-to-use training curriculum. The 6-hour training establishes a foundation for medical trainees regarding the treatment of mental health conditions in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD-MH) as part of an integrated health, interdisciplinary treatment approach. …

Integrating Human Factors, Technology, And Mental Health: A Mixed-Methods Framework For Aviation Maintenance Safety In The Philippines, Arthur Dela Peña

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

A complex interaction of human factors, mental health, organizational dynamics, and emerging technologies influences aviation maintenance safety in the Philippines. This study aims to develop an integrated framework to address these aspects and reduce maintenance-related errors. Using a mixed-methods approach based on Creswell’s pragmatic paradigm, the research surveyed 200 participants, including aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs), supervisors, and managers, and conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups. Quantitative analysis revealed that fatigue was a significant contributor to maintenance errors, accounting for 45% of recorded incidents and exhibiting a strong correlation with error rates (r = 0.71, p = 0.005). Incorporating human factors …

The Correlation Between Spiritual Tourism And Mental Health Of Young People In Binh Duong, Vietnam, Anh Nguyen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

While researchers are in agreement about the positive relationship between spiritual activities (SAs) and mental health (MH) among the general population, the relationship between spiritual tourism (ST) and MH, particularly among young adults, is yet to be adequately investigated. As such, this research was conducted to determine the contribution of ST towards the MH of the younger generation. The respondents are undergraduate students located in Vietnam’s industrial province of Binh Duong. The findings, from the quantitative research approach, indicate that young people perceive ST mainly as a means for visiting places of worship, with little consideration for the MH benefits …

From Cost To Investment: The Evolution Of Mental Health Perception In Medium And Large-Scale Corporate Environments Between 2020 And 2025, Patricia M. Mcmillan, Antônia Márcia Rodrigues Sousa, Maria Ianka Soares Mendes

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This study examines how medium and large formal companies’ perceptions of employee mental health changed between 2020 and 2025, especially after the impact of the COVID-19 pan demic, considering its organizational and economic impacts. Based on a narrative review of literature, we sought to understand the reasons why mental health care in a formal corporate environment should no longer be seen only as a cost and should instead occupy a central place in corporate investments and strategies. The results show that the significant increase in absences due to mental disorders, coupled with the economic and productivity losses associated with absenteeism …

Chemistry Education Undergraduate Students’ Mental Health Issues As Correlate To Their Interest In Chemistry Courses In Southeast Universities, Juliana Nkiru Nnoli, Obikezie Maxwell Chukwunazo, Abumchukwu Angela Adanne

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study examined the relationship between mental health issues and interest in chemistry courses among Chemistry Education undergraduate students in federal universities in Southeast Nigeria (n = 2500). The research was motivated by increasing academic stress, perceived course difficulty, limited coping resources, and the influence of mental health on motivation, arousal, and self-efficacy. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A correlational research design was employed. The sample of 2500 students was selected using proportionate stratified random sampling from the five federal universities in the region. Data were collected using two instruments: the Chemistry Mental Health Inventory (CMHI) …

The Need Of Online Counselling To Enhance Mental Health Among Students In Higher Learning Institutions In Tanzania, Bernadetha Gabriel Rushahu

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This study aimed to explore the need of online counselling to enhance mental health among students in higher learning institutions. The study employed a qualitative research approach in which 40 participants were involved. These were purposefully selected from two higher learning institutions in Tanzania - 30 were students and 10 were counsellors. In-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussion were used to collect data from the respondents. The findings revealed that through online counselling, it is easy to access psychosocial therapy, maintain privacy, conduct time/cost-friendly therapy, access services, allow freedom of expression as well as allow easy feedback and follow-up. Also, …

The Need Of Online Counselling To Enhance Mental Health Among Students In Higher Learning Institutions In Tanzania, Bernadetha Gabriel Rushahu

Tanzania Journal of Sociology

This study aimed to explore the need of online counselling to enhance mental health among students in higher learning institutions. The study employed a qualitative research approach in which 40 participants were involved. These were purposefully selected from two higher learning institutions in Tanzania - 30 were students and 10 were counsellors. In-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussion were used to collect data from the respondents. The findings revealed that through online counselling, it is easy to access psychosocial therapy, maintain privacy, conduct time/cost-friendly therapy, access services, allow freedom of expression as well as allow easy feedback and follow-up. Also, …

Reflection Paper: What We Make Together: Art, Adolescence, And Collaborative Research In Action, Natepy Vann

Introduction to Public Health

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study Of The Mental Health Needs Of High School Youth In A Rural Community Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Maritza Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe former high school students’ experiences with mental health struggles while in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Texas Public Independent School District. Mental illness increased among youth during the prolonged pandemic period of time and many of the pervasive mental health concerns have not been addressed effectively in the aftermath. As a result, a growing number of concerns pertaining to the mental health wellbeing of K-12 children continues to be on the rise. Thus, it is of utmost importance to learn more about the experiences of our youth …

Supporting Young Carers In Early Childhood: Mapping Power, Threat, Meaning, And Strengths: A Ptmf-Informed Qualitative Study, Carly Ellicott, Ali Bidaran, Felicity Dewsbery, Alyson Norman, Helen Lloyd

School of Psychology

Background/Objectives: This qualitative study examines strengths and strains faced by professionals working with young carers throughout the United Kingdom (UK) in the context of society’s youngest carers; young carers in early childhood (YCEC) (0–8 years). Methods: The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) was utilised to map key findings of three focus groups. This conceptual lens offers a narrative-based understanding of ways in which power operates in society. Increasingly applied to explore experiences of individuals, communities, and groups, the PTMF proposes that concepts of distress are founded in broader contexts of injustice and social inequalities. Twenty-four participants were recruited from throughout …

Exploring The Counselor Identities Of Latina Counselors Through The Lens Of Their Familial, Cultural, And Religious Contexts: A Phenomenological Study, Samuel Landa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing a counselor identity is an essential component of becoming a counselor. There are several factors influencing the developmental process. Though there are several studies that explore the topic of counselor identity development, the research on what this process entails for Latina counselors is limited. Thus, this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explores how family, culture, and religion influence the counselor identity development of Latina counselors. This study utilized Schlossberg’s transition theory (1981) to observe how these factors become evident in the first year of their Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) and how they influenced their …

Examining The Psychological Impact Of Adverse Childhood Traumatic Experiences In Adult Survivors: Creating A Community Of Awareness And Intervention, Lawanda T. Mobbs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma encompasses experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, experiences which have profound and lasting effects on an individual’s development and well-being. These behaviors can manifest in many ways. The intricate interplay between childhood trauma, mental health challenges, and maladaptive behaviors creates a complex clinical picture, often requiring specialized and trauma-informed approaches within the community. Understanding the efficacy of interventions tailored to this population is crucial for improving the quality of life and fostering resilience. Despite extensive research, there remain significant gaps in understanding the full scope of these effects and how to mitigate them. This study investigated …

Relationships Between Depression And Body Composition In Collegiate Athletes And Non-Athletes, Aysha W. Cunningham, Keegan Pulford-Thorpe, Edward Kerr Iii, Tamara Hew-Butler

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Up to 62.9% of the general college student population report depression. Whether or not collegiate athletes have higher or lower depression scores remains unclear. PURPOSE: To 1) determine the incidence of depression at a midwestern university and 2) explore relationships between depression and body composition in collegiate athletes and non-athletes. METHODS: A convenience sample of student-athletes and non-athletes, from a NCAA Division II school, were screened for depression using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression – Revised (CESD-R) scale. The threshold for depression was ≥16. Total body composition was assessed using a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner (Hologic, Horizon …

The Built Environment And Its Effects On Health Outcomes In Metropolitan Miami, Jared Sanchez Hoehing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Obesity, depression and social isolation rates are an increasing worry in the United States. As planners, we help shape the built environment, which can influence a person’s health outcomes. To assess the effects the built environment has on health outcomes, this paper looks at the percentage of park space, the population density and the national walk index score, combined with several demographic and socioeconomic variables in the Metropolitan Miami region. The study uses the spatial autoregression results of the variables on each health measurement to determine the connection with each health outcome. Despite initial hypotheses that the built environment leads …

Food Insecurity. A Factor In Criminal Behavior?, Jerrod Brown, Jeremiah Schimp, Leanne Skehan, Janina Cich

Nutritional Neurocriminology Today

This article examines how food insecurity and limited access to nutritionally adequate foods impair cognitive function, emotional regulation, decision-making, and impulse control. Emerging research purports that individuals experiencing food insecurity face increased risks of mental and physical health problems, violent behavior, delinquency, heightened childhood vulnerability, and criminal justice involvement across the lifespan. The article advocates for increased awareness, routine screening, and specialized training for professionals in mental health, social services, and the criminal justice system to address food insecurity, thereby supporting long-term policy and community-level strategies that reduce criminal behavior and improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Relational Healing: Survivors Of Sex Trafficking And Their Experiences Of Connection, Disconnection, And Growth, Claudia G. Interiano-Shiverdecker, Devon E. Romero, David J. Thompson, John J. J. S. Harrichand

Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works

In this interpretive phenomenological analysis, we interviewed 10 women to make meaning of their lived experiences of sex trafficking and mental health challenges and how relational dynamics influenced their healing and sense of self. Our analysis revealed four themes: (a) central relational paradox, which described internalized shame and mistrust due to relational ruptures as a result of trauma and inadequate trauma-informed care; (b) disconnection and disempowerment, attending to survivor protective withdrawal mechanisms and how counselor misattunement created cycles of disconnection and invalidation; (c) fluid expertise, where survivors emphasized that healing occurred when counselors embraced a collaborative, respectful stance, honoring client …

Affect Regulation In The Context Of Sexual And Gender Minority Stress: A Scoping Review Protocol, Daphne Y. Liu, Benjamin A. Swerdlow, Shao Yuan Chong, Nadia Kako, Alex Rubin, Nicholas S. Perry

Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Objective

To provide a broad, comprehensive picture of affect regulation in the context of sexual and gender minority stress, this scoping review aims to identify and synthesize methods, methodologies, and available evidence pertinent to emotion regulation and coping in the context of minority stress among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people.

Introduction

SGM people face disproportionately high rates of mental health problems due to experiences of minority stress and lack of social safety. Theories and growing evidence suggest that affect regulation plays a critical role in SGM people’s well-being in the face of minority stress. Researchers have largely studied emotion …

M-O-M-S On The Bayou: Implementation Of An Intervention To Improve Mental Health After Disaster, E. W. Harville, Gloria Giarratano, M. Patterson, M. Schultheis, K. S. Dorans, S. Turner, S. Harris, S. Longo, K. Weis

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Pregnant women are a vulnerable population after disaster. Their health may be improved through community-based support programs in addition to their standard prenatal care. We conducted a prenatal peer support program, Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M-O-M-S), focused on improving mental health in hurricane-affected areas in southern Louisiana. M-O-M-S consists of six biweekly sessions covering pregnancy acceptance, maternal role identification, family and partner relationships, preparation for labor/fears around labor, well-being/safety of self and baby, and post-delivery health and maternal-infant bonding. The program is led by a “mentor”, an experienced mother but not necessarily a clinician or social worker, who guides the …

An Exploratory Study Of The Relationship Between Social Factors And Social Connectivity; How Do Our Social Behaviors Impact Our Physical And Cognitive Health?, Tayler K. Errera

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Social connectedness has reportedly seen significant declines in the last two and a half decades (Hsiao et al., 2022). These trends correlate with social media, related technological advances, and COVID-19 quarantine responses. With signs that this decline has started to stagnate, interest in what individuals and communities can do to reverse this adverse impact arises. While many factors are known to correlate to social connectivity, this study demonstrates the significance of specific factors regarding college students. This study highlights the importance of exercise and technological restraint in fostering social connection.

Storm Of Elysium: How The Most Afflicted Minds Of History And Fiction Made Legacies, Pierce Thompson

A with Honors Projects

Honors project involving historical/fictional characters and how they made history/created legacies with their afflictions/mental health conditions. Historical/book context will be provided, and the condition will be covered through psychiatric research for the particular character.

Counseling And The Neurodiversity Paradigm: A Call To Action, Emily Goodman-Scott, Rawn Boulden, Aaron Albright, Jenna Alvarez, Betsy M. Perez

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

The counseling profession is rooted in prevention, wellness, mental health, and a critical social justice approach to serving historically marginalized communities, including people with disabilities. The overarching construct of disability comprises subtypes, such as neurodivergence. Given the prevalence of neurodivergent individuals worldwide (approximately 15%-20%), the counseling profession must be prepared to support this community. At the same time, there is a dearth of peer-reviewed literature on neurodiversity specifically for the counseling profession. In this article, we address a timely topic in the profession. We discuss utilizing a critical counseling lens and centering marginalized identities, such as people with disabilities; prominent …

Post-Stroke Depression (Psd) And Occupational Therapy (Ot) Intensity: A Retrospective Medicare Claims Analysis, Lauren H. Allen

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Purpose: Post stroke depression (PSD) is the most frequent and burdensome mental health complication following a stroke, affecting approximately one third of survivors. Examining how PSD relates to outpatient occupational therapy (OT) utilization may help identify gaps in post-stroke mental health care and reveal whether current billing practices adequately capture OT services.

Project Goals: This project aimed to determine whether an early PSD diagnosis predicts outpatient OT treatment intensity and describe patterns of OT billing related to mental health, including mental health current procedural terminology (CPT) code use and CPT code distributions.

Site: This project was conducted in collaboration …

Chronic Absenteeism In Long Island Secondary Schools: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Post-Covid-19 Trends And Professional Perceptions, William M. Gibbons

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Recent educational research studies have shown that an alarming number of students are chronically absent from school, a trend that is occurring both nationwide and in New York State. While this number had been slowly increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has accelerated significantly following the pandemic. This increase in chronic absenteeism is also prevalent across Nassau and Suffolk County high schools; there has been a large increase in the percentage of students who are chronically absent in high school since the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts warn that this increased number can lead to multiple negative consequences for students, including social …

Aging On The Fringes: Understanding Inequities Among Older Adults Impacted By Poverty, Mental Health Challenges, And Drug Use, William O’Leary, David Howson-Jan, Marjorie Knight, Soo Chan Carusone

Lyle S. Hallman Social Work Faculty Publications

This report provides an overview of government reports and academic literature examining aging and its intersection with poverty, homelessness, drug use, and mental health challenges. It pairs national and Ontario trends with data from Waterloo Region to illustrate how aging on the fringes is unfolding locally.

Throughout the report, “Local Lens: Waterloo Region” callouts highlight key regional indicators and their implications for programs and policy. The purpose of this report is to support discussion and action to advance equity-informed research and advocacy for people aging on the fringes. It is written for community members, service providers, and organizations seeking to …

Suicide Stigma In A Cross-Cultural Context: Comparison Between Mexican And Mexican American Communities., Robin E. Gearing, Micki Washburn, Kathryne Brewer, Luis R. Torres-Hostos, Pedro Isnardo De La Cruz, Miao Yu, Natalia Giraldo-Santiago, Alberto Cabrera, Adelaido Garcia Andres

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Suicide and suicide-related stigma are serious public health issues affecting Latine communities and often serve as a barrier to help-seeking Mexicans and Mexican Americans experiencing mental health concerns. Despite this, there are still gaps in our understanding of how suicide stigma specifically impacts Latines of Mexican heritage. While Mexicans and Mexican Americans share many familial, cultural, and religious values, their exposure to different societal norms may shape distinct perceptions of suicidal ideation and mental health. To better understand suicide-related stigma in these communities, we conducted a community-based survey with 248 Mexican Americans in Houston and 203 participants in Mexico City …

Backward, Benjamin W. Abbott

Playwriting (MFA) Theses

Backward is a solo show about a man who, when he turns forty-five, starts living backward in time. Every day he wakes up, he has traveled back to the day before the one he just lived and there's nothing he can do to stop it. As he relives his life in reverse, he must confront his failures as a husband and father. Even as he learns the lessons necessary to repair them, those relationships get left behind in the future. He continues moving backward and eventually must confront the most difficult relationship of them all: his relationship with his own …

The Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Victims’ Mental, Physical, And Economic Well-Being: A Comprehensive Literature Review (2012–2022), Kerry Lee, Jennifer L. Mezzapelle, Lyric N. Russo, Emily M. Douglas, Denise A. Hines

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Faculty Research and Scholarship

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant global public health concern, drawing increasing attention due to its profound impact on victims. A systematic review by Lawrence et al. (2012) demonstrated that IPV victims of physical and psychological abuse experience higher rates of physical injuries, poorer health outcomes, poorer physical functioning, and increased psychological symptoms compared to non-victimized individuals. Building on this work, we conducted a systematic review of 159 quantitative studies published between 2012 and 2022.

Across the included studies, more than half had samples ranging between 100-500 (52.8%, n=84) in size, were cross-sectional (84.9%; n=135), and utilized …

Financial Stress And Academic Disruption Among U.S. Postsecondary Students: The Mediating Role Of Anxiety, Tania Akter

Journal of Higher Education & Student Affairs

Given the growing mental health challenges among students in the United States, this study examines how financial stress is associated with anxiety and assesses whether anxiety mediates the relationship between financial stress and academic disruption among U.S. postsecondary students. Data from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study were analyzed using survey-weighted linear regression models to assess the association between financial stress and anxiety, and a generalized structural equation model (GSEM) to test whether anxiety mediates the relationship between financial stress and academic disruption. Results showed that financial stress was significantly associated with anxiety. Mediation analysis indicated that anxiety significantly mediated the …