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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 …

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., …

Exploring The Relationships Of Social Media Usage And Symptoms Of Anxiety And Depression In Adolescents, Morgan Culpepper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social media is a popular form of communication and entertainment among youth. Inconsistencies are present in the literature on the potential effects it can have on mental health. Depression and anxiety disorders are common among all age groups in the US, and this study aimed to determine the relationship social media has on symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS) and the GAD-7 were used to measure symptoms of anxiety, as well as the CES-D scale to evaluate depressive symptoms in adolescents. The number of social networking sites and number of hours spent on social …

The Moderating Effect Of Social Support On The Impact Of Perceived Loneliness On The Mental Health Of Long-Term Care Nursing Home Residents, Lindsay Nicole Stivers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study is to examine the moderating effect of social support on the impact of loneliness on anxiety and depression in long-term care residents in nursing homes. Recent research suggests that a relationship exists between loneliness and rates of depression and anxiety in long-term care nursing home residents. The present study seeks to examine the buffering effect of social support and utilize the findings to provide suggestions for policy, practice, and research. A binary logistic regression and a series of multiple linear regressions were conducted to examine the relationships between the variables. The present study’s sample …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Benefits Of Alternative Therapies On Adult Mental Health, Sara Bryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the following descriptive pre and post study was to collect and analyze data to determine if there are benefits to alternative therapies on adult mental health. Three types of alternative therapies were studied: aromatherapy, recreation therapy, and yoga. A literature review was conducted and pre and post questionnaires were administered. Frequencies and averages were run which showed that participants were mostly Caucasian, with an average age of 31 years and most diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Participants showed decreased levels of anxiety and depression after attending both aromatherapy and yoga classes. Participants showed decreased anxiety levels after …

The Links Between Locus Of Control, Trauma History, And Death Anxiety In Cancer Patients, Joanna Mallary

Honors Scholar Theses

This thesis project used cross-sectional survey data from a larger longitudinal study of cancer patients' psychological adjustment to analyze correlations between a history of traumatic life experiences, personal control beliefs, and death anxiety in cancer patients who had been diagnosed between 1 and 3 years prior. Contrary to hypotheses, lifetime trauma history was not found to predict an external locus of control in patients but, in fact, was related to greater feelings of control over the course of their illness. However, results did confirm the hypothesis that control beliefs would be related in specific ways to anxiety about cancer-related death. …

Promoting Resilience In Self-Management (Prism): Adverse Childhood Experiences And Impacts On Emotion Regulation, Kasey Ann Macedo

Honors Scholar Theses

PRISM (Promoting Resilience in Self-Management) is a mindfulness-based intervention that aims to strengthen emotion regulation skills among individuals by employing cognitive behavioral therapy components. The purpose of the current study is to identify the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression, as well as to examine the changes in emotion regulation strategies of participants by comparing pre and post test data. The participants were voluntarily recruited from the Cornerstone Foundation, a homeless shelter, food pantry, and community center in Vernon, CT. The 13 participants completed PRISM through four weeks of two-hour workshop sessions in a small-group format. Results indicate …

Screen Time Reduction, Karmen L. Serda Mrs.

MSN Capstone Projects

Children and adolescents are spending an alarming amount of time engaging in screen time (ST) activities on mobile devices, computers, televisions (TV), and video games; activities include, but are not limited to, watching shows or movies, playing video games, searching the internet, texting, or using social media. This excessive ST is contributing to a vast array of serious childhood complications and health concerns, of which are rarely discussed, acknowledged, or remedied.

The proposed implementation of a structured 3-day elementary school based screen time reduction program (STRP) that would target not only the children and adolescents, but their parents and/or caregivers …

It's Raining In My Garden - A Mental Health Guide For Kids, Glenn Agape E. Montero

Honors Capstones

Middle school aged children have little or inadequate mental health education. This causes a contradiction to the idea that the earlier people are informed about their mental health, the sooner they are able to be aware of it and learn how to manage it. Unlike the mental health books and guides that high-schoolers receive and the picture books that elementary school children use, this is a small guide book tailored to those in middle school. Highlighting common mental illnesses that middle-aged children might encounter, such as depression and anxiety, this book informs children on how to notice hallmark signs, how …

Racial/Ethnic Differences In Attitudinal Treatment Engagement Among Adolescents And Young Adults, Linda A. Oshin

Doctoral Dissertations

Low engagement in mental health treatment is a problem across racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender lines. Disparities in treatment engagement are particularly evident among certain racial/ethnic groups and may result in part from different beliefs about mental health and psychotherapy (Yasui et al., 2017). Despite evidence of engagement disparities, there is limited research on the attitudes that youth of color have toward mental health treatment. The current studies investigate racial/ethnic differences in beliefs about treatment among adolescents and young adults. Study 1 was a retrospective cohort analysis examining self-reported readiness for psychotherapy among adolescents admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Results …

Exploring The Use Of Mental Health Services And Programs At A Historically Black College: A Case Study, Stacey D. Wilson

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Research shows students’ use of counseling programs and services to address the mental health needs of their student body on HBCU campuses are underdocumented. This qualitative descriptive single case study was developed to provide substantiated conclusions on this use that can be added to the current literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate participants’ perceptions on the use of these services, and the strategies used to influence the use of these services, on one HBCU campus. This study was guided by two research questions: (a) What are the perceptions of the counseling center staff, faculty, and students of …

Community Psychology's Impact On Public Health And The Experience Of Marginalization, Katie Hudick

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

Vulnerable and marginalized populations face a series of risks and dangers throughout their daily lives. This is not simply limited to explicit forms of discrimination and hatred, but systemic forms of oppression and discrimination which limit those not belonging to more privileged and affluent socioeconomic or sociocultural groups. Community psychology operates as a means of analyzing how environmental and social factors impact specific demographic groups within a larger population and by extension the experience of mental health specific to these groups (Townley, Brown, & Sylvestre, 2018). In the application of this field, it is critical to understand the dynamics of …

Take A Hike – No Really, It’S Good For Your Health, Nathan Weller

BU Well

Mental health and its treatment remain prevalent concerns across the United States. As such, the importance of activities that promote mental well-being cannot be understated. One such example includes the use of nature to minimize negative, depressive thoughts while promoting their positive counterparts. This new area of focus, often known as ecotherapy, will be detailed in the following article.

An Aching For Affection, Tj Quinlan

BU Well

As humans, we’ve needed companionship from the beginning of time. Therefore, what does a true relationship look like in today’s society? In this world of newly emerging relationships, many people have either experienced, seen, or heard of a toxic relationship. This article dives deep into what makes a toxic relationship, how to notice the red flags, and how to ultimately fix or end it.