Digital Commons Network^™

Making Lemon Aide From Covid Lemons, Bill Mcconochie

Covid-19 Archive: Documents

I explain how I filled my time building questionnaires to address police brutality and employee embezzlement when my diagnostic contracts with the government were frozen.

The Influence Of Light In The Built Environment To Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Nathanael T. Kohl

Theses and Dissertations

Current mental health statistics for US active duty and Veteran members justify research into the causes and remedies for those plagued with negative mental health outcomes. Recent research has suggested that the built environment is connected to our mental health. This study investigated this connection with active duty and Veteran populations across the US. A literature review was completed on what factors of light in the built environment affects mental health outcomes. An analysis of active duty and Veteran mental health symptoms and the natural light rating in their residence was completed to understand the design changes that can be …

Does Money Buy Healthiness: An Examination Of The Effects Of Socioeconomic Indicators On Physical And Mental Health, Caleb Nigrin

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impact of socioeconomic status indicators on physical and mental health. This study hypothesizes that higher socioeconomic status indicators are correlated with better physical and mental health while examining the extent of these relationships. In order to determine this, previous literature regarding health and socioeconomic status will be evaluated. The results of the General Social Survey (2016) will be used to test the effects of socioeconomic status on health using regression analysis. The responses of 1418 participants were used in this analysis, controlling for age, gender, race, political ideology, and religiosity. Two …

Differences In Psychological Distress For United States Native And Foreign Born Populations: Testing For Mediation Of Neighborhood Satisfaction, Poverty, And Health Insurance, Madison L. Woodward

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The current study examines the difference in frequency of psychological distress between people born in the United States and people born outside of the United States. Further, this study tested for mediating effects of neighborhood satisfaction, poverty status, and health insurance. This study included data from the National Health Interview Survey. Those born outside of the United States were found to report slightly better mental health outcomes. They experienced psychological distress at a lower rate than those born in the United States. Neighborhood satisfaction, living above the poverty line, and having health insurance were all negatively associated with psychological stress. …

Detection And Quantification Of Bacterial Species Important To Mental And Physical Health, David G. Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

The human gut microbiome contains an abundance of microorganisms which could influence mental health as well as physical health. These microorganisms produce chemicals which affect the brain and the body in various ways. Probiotic bacteria and yeasts have been studied to determine effects they have on mice, rats, and humans to illustrate the importance these microorganisms on health. Studies have shown that adding beneficial microorganisms to the human diet can have positive effects on mental and physical health, to include lessening symptoms of depression and anxiety, lessen gastrointestinal inflammation, displacing pathogens, and improving immunomodulatory response. A quantitative way to identify …

The Connection Between Indoor Air Quality And Mental Health Outcomes, William L. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Mental health among United States citizens, military members, and veterans warrant research into factors not fully considered for their effects on mental health. The built environment is increasingly recognized as a potential influence on the mental health of occupants. Specifically, indoor air quality is theorized to contribute to mental illness. Through the development of a literature review, specific air pollutants common in the built environment were identified, and the mechanisms behind their effect on mental health were explored. A model framework is outlined, estimating the number of cases of major depressive disorder attributable to indoor exposure to particulate matter. The …

Promising Results From The Use Of A Korean Drama To Address Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors On School Bullying And Mental Health Among Asian American College-Aged Students, Van My Ta Park, Joyce Suen Diwata, Nolee Win, Vy Ton, Bora Nam, Waleed Rajabally, Vanya C. Jones

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The limited research on bullying, mental health (MH), and help-seeking for Asian American (ASA) college students is concerning due to the public health importance. Korean drama (K-Drama) television shows may be an innovative approach to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) on bullying. This study examined whether the KAB about school bullying improved after watching a K-Drama and asked participants about their perspectives of using a K-Drama as an intervention. A convenience sample of college students (n = 118) watched a K-Drama portraying school bullying and MH issues. Pre-/post-tests on KAB on bullying were conducted. Interviews (n = 16) were …

Zeroing In On Heroes: Adolescents’ Perceptions Of Hero Features And Functions, Elaine L. Kinsella, Alison English, Jennifer Mcmahon

Heroism Science

Recent research has revealed that having a personal hero can offer psychological resources to adults, particularly during challenging times. Yet we know little about the role that heroes play in the lives of adolescents – a period of human development when challenges are plentiful, and adolescents are increasingly open to the influence of others outside the family unit. In the present study, adolescent perspectives were sought on types and characteristics of heroes, and the psychological and social functions provided by heroes for young people. Four focus groups were conducted with adolescents (N = 22) aged 15 to 17 years at …

Exploring The Concept Of Recovery In Irish Mental Health Services: A Case Study Of Perspectives Within An Inter-Professional Team, Calvin Swords, Stan Houston

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

The concept of recovery has been well documented in the Irish state’s policies on mental health. More widely, the notion has been contested and embroiled in a number of definitional debates. Given the formative nature of this unfolding discourse, this research explored the meaning of recovery from the perspectives of one inter-professional team delivering mental health services to vulnerable individuals within an Irish community setting. The researchers sought to analyse whether the disciplines of medicine, psychology, nursing and social work could work together purposively to promote the biopsychosocial approach to recovery-oriented practice. This vein of inquiry was salient as an …

Effects Of Weight Status And Sedentary Behavior On Depression Among Young Adults, Xiaoxia Zhang, Xiangli Gu, Samantha Moss

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

It has been a global concern that nearly one-third of young adults have persistent depressive disorder (Ibrahim et al., 2013). Engaging in excessive sedentary behavior coupled with the high prevalence of overweight and obesity among young adults have been known to be high-risk factors for depression (Tychenne et al., 2015). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of weight status (normal weight vs. overweight/obese) and sedentary behavior (< 3 hrs vs. ³ 3 hrs) among male and female young adults, respectively. METHODS: A total of 139 young adults (96 females, 43 males; mean age = 22.44, SD = 3.71) were recruited from one public university in Northern …

An Assessment Of Mental Wellbeing And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Youth Living In Central Mexico, Steven Hoffman, Heidi Adams Rueda, Stefan Chase

Social Work Faculty Publications

The current state of adolescent mental health and wellbeing in Mexico constitutes a serious public health concern. In an effort to better understand the potential impact this crisis is having on youth in Central Mexico, we designed a study to assess the connection between Mental Wellbeing and Health-related Quality of Life among a sample of children in junior high school. Descriptive statistics suggest that 22.5% of our sample was “at-risk” of poor health-related quality of life, with 19.8% at risk within the physical subscale and 24.3% at risk within the psychosocial subscale. Regression analyses showed that mental wellbeing scores significantly …

Self-Rated Religiosity/Spirituality And Four Health Outcomes Among Us South Asians: Findings From The Study On Stress, Spirituality, And Health, Samuel Stroope, Blake Victor Kent, Ying Zhang, Namratha R. Kandula, Alka M. Kanaya, Alexandra E. Shields

Faculty Publications

Almost no research exists on the relationship between religiosity/spirituality (R/S) and health in the US South Asian population. Using data from the joint Study on Stress, Spirituality, and Health and Mediators of Atherosclerosis Among South Asians Living in America Study (MASALA), this article examined associations between self-rated R/S and self-rated health, emotional functioning, trait anxiety, and trait anger in a community-based sample (n = 933) from the Chicago and San Francisco Bay areas. Ordinary least squares regression was used to analyze categorical differences in levels of R/S and ordinal trends for R/S, adjusting for potential confounders. Being slightly or moderately …

Workshop On The Development And Evaluation Of Digital Therapeutics For Health Behavior Change: Science, Methods, And Projects, Alan J. Budney, Lisa A. Marsch, Will M. Aklin, Jacob T. Borodovsky, Mary F. Brunette, Andrew T. Campbell, Jesse Dallery, David Kotz, Ashley A. Knapp, Sarah E. Lord, Edward V. Nunes, Emily A. Scherer, Catherine Stanger, William C. Torrey

Dartmouth Scholarship

The health care field has integrated advances into digital technology at an accelerating pace to improve health behavior, health care delivery, and cost-effectiveness of care. The realm of behavioral science has embraced this evolution of digital health, allowing for an exciting roadmap for advancing care by addressing the many challenges to the field via technological innovations. Digital therapeutics offer the potential to extend the reach of effective interventions at reduced cost and patient burden and to increase the potency of existing interventions. Intervention models have included the use of digital tools as supplements to standard care models, as tools that …

Assessing Positive Mental And Physical Health Outcomes For Veterans -- Executive Summary, Bonnie Chapman Beers, Keoki Spaulding

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The following is a visual executive summary of the Institute for Veterans and Military Family’s (IVMF) evaluation of the effectiveness of Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) initiatives on improving the level of thriving and well-being among participating veterans, families of the fallen, and civilian members. The evaluation found that participants of multiple TMF initiative types have increased positive mental and physical health outcomes.

Web-Based Graphic Representation Of The Life Course Of Mental Health: Cross-Sectional Study Across The Spectrum Of Mood, Anxiety, Eating, And Substance Use Disorders., Robin Leora Aupperle, Martin P. Paulus, Rayus Kuplicki, James Touthang, Teresa Victor, Hung-Wen Yeh, Tulsa 1000 Investigators, Sahib S. Khalsa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Although patient history is essential for informing mental health assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis, there is a dearth of standardized instruments measuring time-dependent factors relevant to psychiatric disorders. Previous research has demonstrated the potential utility of graphical representations, termed life charts, for depicting the complexity of the course of mental illness. However, the implementation of these assessments is limited by the exclusive focus on specific mental illnesses (ie, bipolar disorder) and the lack of intuitive graphical interfaces for data collection and visualization.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and test the utility of the Tulsa Life Chart (TLC) as a …

The Factor Structure Of Mental Health: Explanatory & Confirmatory Factor Structure Of Psychological Distress And Psychological Well-Being Measures, Badr El Ansari

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Psychological distress (PD) is usually based on the level of anxiety and depressive symptoms while psychological well-being (PW) is usually conceptualized as some combination of positive affective states such as happiness, optimism, satisfaction with life, and hope. This paper addresses the question of whether psychological distress and psychological well-being are the opposite poles of the same axis of mental health or independent constructs that should be measured on two independent axes. Methods: The sample consisted of (510) Kuwait University students, (240) males with a mean age of (24.08 ±5.10) and (270) females, with a mean age of (21.68 ±2.70), (f=46.77, …

Childhood Adversity, Mental Health, And The Perpetration Of Physical Violence In The Adult Intimate Relationships Of Women Prisoners: A Life Course Approach, Melissa S. Jones, Stephanie W. Burge, Susan F. Sharp, David A. Mcleod

Faculty Publications

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common, with nearly two-thirds of adult samples reporting exposure to at least one and one-quarter reporting exposure to three or more distinct types of ACEs. ACEs have been linked to various negative outcomes across the life course, including mental health problems, and the perpetration of physical violence in intimate relationships. However, little is known about the relationships between ACEs, PTSD symptomology, and use of physical violence against an adult intimate partner among incarcerated women.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between ACEs, PTSD symptoms, and the perpetration of the …

Spirituality And Prayer On Teacher Stress And Burnout In An Italian Cohort: A Pilot, Before-After Controlled Study, Francesco Chirico, Manoj Sharma, Salvatore Zaffina, Nicola Magnavita

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Introduction: Teaching is a stressful profession that exposes workers to the risk of burnout. Techniques involving higher mental functions, such as transcendental meditation and prayer, have been used in stress and burnout prevention programs. In this study, we report the results of an experience conducted in a group of teachers of a religious institute, in which prayer was used as a technique to prevent burnout. Methods: Fifty teachers and support staff employed at a Catholic school of a Congregation of nuns volunteered for this study. They were randomized into two groups: prayer treatment (n = 25) or control group (n …

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Linking Motor And Process Skills, Sensory Patterns, And Psychiatric Symptoms, Lola Halperin, Janet Falk-Kessler

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Consistent evidence suggests sensory abnormalities and skill deficits in people with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD). Further exploration of their sensory patterns and performance skills is warranted to promote community participation among these individuals.

Method: This study examined sensory patterns and motor and process skills in relationship to psychiatric symptoms in adult patients with SSD. Participants were evaluated using the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.

Results: Of the 18 participants, the majority showed sensory differences, deficits in motor and process skills, and the presence of moderate …

Perceived Need For Care And The Treatment Gap In Military Populations, Leela R. Farina

Psychology Department Dissertations

Veterans face many mental health challenges after deployment, including serious mental illness and problematic alcohol use (Hoge et al., 2014). Research shows that there is a discrepancy between the number of personnel with a probable need for treatment and the number seeking and receiving treatment (Hoge et al., 2004). While many impediments to care have been researched (e.g., Britt et al., 2008; Graziano & Elbogen, 2017; Kim et al., 2011; Olmsted et al., 2011; Pietrzak et al., 2009; Wright et al., 2009), perceived need for treatment is an important issue that warrants further empirical exploration. Military personnel may be particularly …

Spirituality And Prayer On Teacher Stress And Burnout In An Italian Cohort: A Pilot, Before-After Controlled Study, Francesco Chirico, Manoj Sharma, Salvatore Zaffina, Nicola Magnavita

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Teaching is a stressful profession that exposes workers to the risk of burnout. Techniques involving higher mental functions, such as transcendental meditation and prayer, have been used in stress and burnout prevention programs. In this study, we report the results of an experience conducted in a group of teachers of a religious institute, in which prayer was used as a technique to prevent burnout.

Proposal Of The Need For Mental Health First Aid Training Of Associate Degree Nursing Faculty In A Community College Setting, Amy Kelly

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

Mental health issues are on the rise among students in universities as well as community colleges. College can be a stressful time in many people’s lives especially when the added demand of work and family are involved. Community colleges and universities use counseling services for their mental health needs but sometimes the services are not used due to the stigma that comes along with mental health. Nursing school can be a challenging time for students because of the rigorous training and workload. This project poses to implement Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) for faculty and staff of a nursing …

Supporting Successful Community Reintegration For Maricopa Reentry Center Residentsjustine, Justine C. Gonzales

OT Student Capstones

In 2018, the combined state and federal imprisonment rate was 431 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents (BJS, 2020). Arizona is #5 in the nation with the highest imprisonment rate, 559 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 state residents (BJS, 2020). As of May 2020, there are currently approximately 5,300 offenders under community supervision in Arizona with a majority (4,600 offenders) serving a Truth in Sentencing (TIS) (ADC, 2020).

Barriers to reintegration: laws and legal restrictions, societal stigma and employer attitudes, limited education, limited cognitive skills, limited work experience, inadequate job skills, unstable housing, inadequate social services, lack of a state-issued identification …

Attitudes Toward Mental Health, Attitudes Toward Mental Healthcare, And Access To Mental Healthcare: Variations Based On Key Demographic Factors, Mariya Gaither

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

The objective of this study was to discern what factors may cause variations in a person’s attitudes toward mental health and mental healthcare, as well as their access to mental healthcare. The factors that were the focus of this study included: race/ethnicity, age, religiosity, gender identity, location, and socioeconomic status. Method: A total of 132 participants participated in the online study. Participants were asked to answer questions that assessed their attitudes about mental health and mental healthcare as well as the access to mental healthcare in their community. The survey also consisted of several demographic questions which asked participants about …

Living Up To The American Dream: The Influence Of Family On Second-Generation Immigrants, Nicole Palmeri

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Second-generation immigrants are increasingly embracing their biculturalism, equally identifying as American and "other" (Yazykova & McLeigh, 2015). While this allows for ethnic diversity as well as other social and linguistic advantages, the internalization of two different cultures has been linked to causing tensions related to identity development and mental health (Huynh et al., 2018; Ceri et al., 2017; Ritsner & Ponizovsky, 1999). Previous research has shown a link between parental support and an individual's acculturation and psychological well-being (Pawliuk et al., 1996; Abad & Sheldon, 2008). This study seeks to further examine the influence of family on the bicultural identity …

The Impact Of Minority Stress On Lgbtq+ College Student Complete Mental Health, Stephanie Cull, Bethany M. Coston Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Health Solutions For Challenges Women Face During Pandemics Like Covid-19: A Systematic Review Protocol, Zhaohui Su, Shelly Wagers, Emme Lopez, Lori Ann Terjesen, Jaffar Abbas, Feng Shi, Caifeng Wang, Yuyang Cai

Criminology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Caregiver Support And The Mental Health Of Transgender And Gender Expansive Youth: Race-Specific Effects In A Clinic-Based Sample, Whitney Morgan Menary

Public Health Theses

Parental and caregiver support has been shown to be a protective factor against poor mental health in transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth. However, little is known about how race and ethnicity might affect this relationship. This study extends the literature by examining whether the associations between parental support and mental health outcomes are moderated by race. A clinic-based sample of 81 TGE youth (mean age = 15.31, SD = 1.61) completed assessments of their anxiety and depression symptoms. Caregiver support scores were gathered from youth and the caregivers themselves. Results show that TGE youth of color have decreased odds …

Effect Of Animal-Assisted Intervention On Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Well-Being: Insights From Occupational Therapy, Christine Kivlen

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem Statement: There is a growing concern regarding college student well-being that requires a need for implementation of cost-effective interventions addressing the increasing number of students experiencing negative mental health symptoms. Studies from medical and educational settings suggested positive mental health benefits from animal assisted intervention (AAI). Researchers studying college students exposed to animals during periods of high academic stress demonstrated successful reductions in stress and anxiety; however, researchers have not examined a specific area of dosage, including the influence of recurring AAI (more than one session) in the graduatestudent population. Furthermore, researchers have failed to include each element of …

Hegemony Versus Pluralism: Ayurveda And The Movement For Global Mental Health, Murphy Halliburton

Publications and Research

Under the aegis of the World Health Organization, the Movement for Global Mental Health and an Indian Supreme Court ruling, biomedical psychiatric interventions have expanded in India augmenting biomedical hegemony in a place that is known for its variety of healing modalities. This is occurring despite the fact that studies by the WHO show a better outcome in India for people suffering schizophrenia and related diagnoses when compared to people in developed countries who have greater access to biomedical psychiatry. Practitioners of ayurvedic medicine in Kerala have been mounting a claim for a significant role in public mental health in …