Digital Commons Network^™

Walking In Promise, Living In Reality: Exploring The Mental Health Implications Of The Pentecostal Discourse Of Divine Calling, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Pentecostalism places a strong emphasis on the discourse of divine calling, where individuals believe they are purposefully created, guided, and empowered by God to fulfill a specific mission. This sense of calling profoundly shapes Pentecostals’ sense of identity and purpose. Using Grounded Theory, this study analyzes open, in-depth interviews with Pentecostals in the U.S. to explore the impact of the Pentecostal discourse of divine calling on their mental health. The metaphor of ‘walking in’ one’s calling emerges as the central theme used by participants to explain the interaction between their perception of divine calling, their lived realities, and their mental …

The Cost Of Accommodative Burdens: Prevalence & Impact On Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Individuals, Lorelei Becktel

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This exploratory qualitative study (n=8) investigated the mental health effects of lack of reciprocity in accommodation and the resulting accommodative burden on deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Lack of reciprocity occurs when the split of the burden for communication accommodations falls significantly more on the deaf or hard of hearing individual. The resulting accommodative burden occurs when deaf and hard of hearing individuals adapt to make communication easier for hearing people at a level that is uncomfortable, unwanted, and/or detrimental to their needs. Effects, determined by participant responses, were examined via semi-structured interviews and analyzed via thematic analysis. Relationships …

Connecting Through Context: A Culturally Relevant Mental Health Resource For K-12 School Counselors, Erica Knebel

Master's Projects and Capstones

This field project, Connecting Through Context: A Culturally Relevant Mental Health Resource for K–12 School Counselors, explores the intersection of decolonial theory, culturally relevant pedagogy, and school-based mental health practices. Rooted in both personal and academic experiences, the project addresses the significant gap in culturally responsive mental health resources for immigrant and refugee students, with a personal emphasis on those from Southeast Asian backgrounds. With nearly 27% of the U.S. student population being immigrants, traditional Western mental health models, centered on talk therapy and medication, often fall short in effectively supporting culturally diverse students. Through a literature review grounded in …

A Description Of Mental Health Policies In Ohio Secondary Schools, Laura L. Harris, Molly Rowe

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE To compare secondary school mental health policies implemented for the student body with those implemented for student athletes.

Improving The Quality Of Veteran Health Care By Optimizing Va Integrated Primary Care: 20 Years And Beyond Of The Center For Integrated Healthcare, Jennifer S. Funderburk, Robyn Shepardson, Gregory Beehler, Kyle Possemato, Kristen Perry, Christina Shook, Jessica Martin, Katherine Dollar

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Primary care patients often present with mental and behavioral health concerns, such as depression or insomnia, leaving medical teams scrambling. To help fill this gap and increase access to care while aligning with patient preferences, a new service delivery model of integrated care, characterized by embedding behavioral health providers within medical teams, was embraced in a grassroots effort, with the VA being one of the first healthcare systems to implement it throughout all primary care settings. A common challenge to grassroot efforts is the lack of research establishing effectiveness and identifying ways to optimize the innovation’s impact. Innovative VA leaders …

Mothers Supporting Mothers: A Psychotherapy Group For Postpartum Mothers Struggling With Substance Use, Brittany Hook

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

One topic that is not talked about enough is women’s health and more specifically postpartum women. This is apparent especially when it comes to postpartum care and the diverse experiences women face. The silence around postpartum women’s experiences can be frightening at times. The mental health of postpartum mothers can be overlooked and can lead to concerns of suicide ideation, increase substance use and a decrease in overall wellbeing. When substance abuse is in the picture for postpartum women, a treatment option that can be effective is group counseling. An evidence-based modality that works off the humanistic theory is motivational …

Empowering Schools: Suicide Prevention Education For School Nurses, Navjot K. Singh

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Suicide among adolescents and youth is a serious public health issue that requires immediate intervention to reduce ideation and death. The increasing rate of suicide among children and adolescents has a profound effect on families, friends, and the community.

Problem: Suicide among school aged children and adolescents can create significant challenges for school nurses, who are often the first contact for students who recognize suicidal ideation and mental health crises. This issue is particularly significant for the Alameda school nurses in California, as they play a significant role in identifying and supporting students in a crisis.

Methods: A …

Comparing Deaf School And Mainstream Student-Athletes' Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety And Risk Factors, Ella Gamble

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

The deaf community is diverse, including individuals from all different backgrounds. Sports are a large part of the community and are advocated for the deaf community. However, the mental impacts of sports within the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) collegiate athlete population has received very little scholarly attention, especially in regards to their varying upbringings. Anxiety and depression are mental health issues (MHI) that have gained increasing attention in the hearing sports community, but this also extends to DHH student-athletes based on empirical evidence. This study focuses on the differences of MHIs in DHH student-athletes at Gallaudet University. The …

Burnout And Self-Efficacy: Exploring The Rewards And Challenges Faced By Crisis Counselors Working In Emergency Department Settings, Ellen Dotas

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation explores burnout and self-efficacy in counselors who work with clients in crisis in emergency department settings. Mental health and emergency departments are two areas that tend to report higher levels of burnout than are reported in other occupational fields. While much research has been done on the topics of burnout and self-efficacy, limited information is available about counselors who work in these crisis roles. This dissertation follows a three-manuscript format and includes a conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative manuscript. The conceptual manuscript explores the nature of the crisis assessment itself, focusing on the area of risk assessment. The qualitative …

Staff Education For Nurses And Mental Health Technicians, Aminah Shanell Abdikadir

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Restraint and seclusion persist as considerable hazards to both patients and healthcare personnel in some mental health institutions. These interventions correlate with heightened trauma, injury, and extended duration of stay. The goal of the project was to instruct nurses and mental health technicians in verbal de-escalation strategies to diminish incidences of restraint and isolation as part of a practice reform initiative. Ten staff members engaged in pre- and post-training evaluations to assess knowledge, confidence, and readiness to apply de-escalation tactics. Data were examined using paired t tests. Results indicated statistically significant enhancements in staff knowledge, and confidence along with willingness …

Online Graduate Academic Experiences Of Adults With Bipolar Disorder, Paola Ann Faiman-Mullins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research regarding older adults with hidden disabilities in the field of adult online learning remains scarce, including a lack of research on older adults with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Although the needs and struggles of college students with bipolar disorder aged 18-25 in online learning have been identified, few studies have been done to uncover the needs and struggles of older learners with bipolar disorder aged 40-65. This study explored the academic experiences of these individuals to better understand their unidentified and unmet needs. This study was grounded within the community of inquiry framework. This basic qualitative study recruited …

What Sacrifice Looks Like: Stories From Mixed-Status Latine Families In Nyc, Alejandra M. Romero Sanchez

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

What Sacrifice Looks Like explores the lived realities of mixed-status Latine families in New York City, shedding light on how immigration policies, legal precarity, and cultural expectations shape their everyday experiences. Drawing on survey responses and in-depth interviews with individuals from these families, this study examines the emotional, psychological, and material sacrifices made in the face of systemic exclusion. Themes of family separation, generational responsibility, and the pressure to embody the “quintessential immigrant” emerge as central to understanding how (i)legality affects identity, family dynamics, and aspirations. Grounded in a human development lens and informed by scholarship on immigrant justice, this …

Exploring The Relationship Between Diet And Mental Health, Emory Layne

Honors Theses

Dietary patterns in Western societies have shifted over the past century due to the rise of food manufacturing and technological advancements. Ultra-processed foods now account for approximately half of the daily energy intake in high-income countries. Similarly, the national mental health crisis emerged in the 21st century and worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes in diet have impacted the gut microbiome, which interacts with the brain through the bidirectional gut-brain axis. Research suggests the concept of the gut-brain axis is a principal indicator of diet’s impact on mental health. However, this area of research is still emerging and requires …

Examining The Effects Of Mental Health And Parent–Youth Relationship On The Associations Between Childhood Violence Exposure And Adolescent Dating Violence Perpetration, Laura A. Voith

Faculty Scholarship

Background/objectives: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a serious public health concern affecting youth worldwide. Potential risk factors of ADV include child maltreatment (CM) and intimate partner violence exposure (eIPV), though existing research on ADV perpetration specifically is inconsistent. There is limited research on co-occurring eIPV and CM, despite co-occurrence in 30–60% of homes where there is one. This study aims to address these gaps by testing the impact of childhood violence exposure on ADV perpetration and assessing two potential, theory-informed mitigating factors—mental health and parent–youth relationship. Methods: This study utilizes moderated-mediation structural equation modeling with longitudinal data from a sample …

The Relationship Between Women's Use Of Birth Control Pills And Their Perceptions Of The Mental Health Effects (Depression And Anxiety) Of The Pill, Andrea Bonano Mendez

Honors Theses

The National Library of Medicine published an article mentioning how hormonal contraception might cause and sustain depression in some patients (Mu & Kulkarni, 2022). Currently, approximately 25% of women ages 15-44 who are currently using a form of contraception rely on the pill as the primary method (Cooper, 2024). However, there is still no definite yes or no answer in terms of whether the use of birth control pills can lead to mental health effects. The objective of this paper is to see what the current perceptions on whether birth control pills have an effect on mental health based on …

Connect 2 Cope: Stress And Coping Strategies Associated With University Honors Students, Anna R. Rodgers

Honors Theses

Coping and connecting are two things that college students don’t take a course in but are essential qualities they will need beyond their time in the university, in both work and life. This research sought to understand how students at Southern Illinois University, with special focus on Honors students, experience stress and view connection as a coping mechanism. It gives insights into sources of stress, including pressures that are external to university life and impact student mental health. The participants included SIUC Honors Students and SIU Non-Honors Students. I was also able to ask each group of students their perceptions …

A Case Study Of Ungrading On Student Learning In Higher Education, Brooke M. Creviston

Honors Thesis

This qualitative case study investigates the impact of ungrading in higher education at University A (pseudonym). The participants included seven students and three professors actively involved in ungraded courses. Positive outcomes are reported by both students and professors. Student participants felt that ungrading offered them more ownership in learning and less fear of making mistakes because they could apply feedback to improve their work rather than simply receiving numeric scores. The interviewed professors shared that ungrading allowed them to hold meaningful conversations with their students and helped them develop intrinsic motivation with academic material. Overall, in comparison to traditionally graded …

The Impact Of The Mediterranean Diet On Depression: A Narrative Review, Emma Kate Schaaf

Honors Theses

Background. The Western diet has extensive negative ramifications on physical health and emotional well-being. The Mediterranean diet, widely regarded as one of the healthiest eating patterns in the world, may have the ability to improve psychological conditions. This study aims to examine existing research from randomized control trials (RCTs) on the association between depression prevalence and the Mediterranean diet.

Methods. The following review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines and the Google Scholar and PsycInfo databases. The criteria for inclusion were that studies: 1) were randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the Mediterranean diet; 2) included samples of adults (i.e., > 18 years …

Exploring The Relationship Between Disability And Stress: A Preliminary Study, Katie Mcclyman

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Mental health issues can become disabling, and living with a disability in an ableist world can cause mental health struggles. This project explores what aspects of living with a disability generate stress. This project is a survey that gathered data through a two-questionnaire survey of disabled college-aged students. The need for a project like this came from the fact that there is not substantial research from the field of psychology done on disabled people and the relationship between disability and stress. The results of this study found that the more disability impact increases, so does disability related stress. This means …

Podcasts In Mental, Physical, Or Combined Health Interventions For Adults: Scoping Review, Elizabeth M. Dascombe, Philip J. Morgan, Ryan J. Drew, Casey P. Regan, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Myles D. Young

Faculty Publications

Background:

The increasing prevalence of poor mental and physical health in adults is a global health concern. Given the scope of this problem, scalable and effective treatment interventions are needed. While podcasts (online digital audio files) are becoming more popular, the extent of podcast use in mental, physical, or combined health interventions has not been reviewed.

Objective:

This scoping review primarily aims to summarize the available evidence regarding the use of podcasts in health promotion interventions. A series of 5 research questions was designed to systematically review and accurately represent podcast use in current research interventions.

Methods:

We conducted a …

Cultural Self-Harm Differences, Erin E. Simmons

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This study is based on the evident cultural differences in self-harm behaviors and what those behaviors look like specifically for individuals that identify as Black or African American. Previous literature suggests that cultural differences in self-harm exist but very little research centers Black experiences and their connection to self-harm. Self-harm is considered a broad term, and it encompasses a variety of behaviors, some more common than others, but these common behaviors are typically exclusively explored within only a few demographics with a low Black participant pool. This contributes to the assumed lack of self-harm among the Black community but through …

Lawyers, Trauma, And Professional Well-Being: How The Legal Community Takes Back Its Mental Health, Brenda D. Gibson

Arkansas Law Review

Accompanying a notable shift in the legal academy to being more attentive to our students’ mental health, there must be an equal (or even greater) shift to focusing on trauma, mental health, and well-being in the broader profession. Significantly, trauma and its effects are compounded when combined with the challenges faced by underrepresented populations within the profession. To date, these challenges have been greeted by an ad hoc, piecemeal reaction to stress and trauma,10 which only inhibits wellness in the profession. Part I explores the current literature in both the humanities and the legal profession, beginning with a brief discussion …

School Resources And Teen Suicide Risk, 1991–2016: A Longitudinal Analysis At The State Level, Megan Thiele Strong, Javier Corredor

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Purpose: Research shows that teachers’ salaries influence educational and non-educational outcomes. And still, too few studies explore whether teacher compensation patterns correlate with student mental health outcomes. This research attends to this gap and asks: at the state level, does the average K-12 teacher salary predict teen suicide risk? Design/methodology/approach: We use an original panel time-series dataset which includes average teacher salary, teen suicide rate and economic, religious and sociocultural control variables at the state level. We analyze this data using two analytical strategies. First, we build mixed models with teachers’ salaries and the covariates as fixed effects and state …

Neighborhood Change As A Social Determinant Of Health: Assessing Associations With Mental Health And Psychosocial Attitudes Among Resident Clusters, Christopher Williams, Nathaniel Woodard, Charlene Kuo

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Neighborhood change (NC) can be understood as a social determinant of health with direct psychosocial and economic impacts. Our objective was to define resident groups’ perceptions of NC and self-rated mental health in a community experiencing an intense form of NC known as gentrification. We conducted a cross-sectional study using random and convenience sampling. Our measures included a combination of scales and indexes that were used for conducting bivariate and cluster analyses. Our study included 143 responses from Phase II. Two of the three groups or clusters were statistically different in mental health and perceptions of NC impacts on community …

The Impact Of Maternal Mental Health On Child Development, Jessica White

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Eos Wellness Center: Rethinking Inpatient Mental Health Facility Design, Emily Simms

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The design of mental health facilities significantly impacts patient outcomes, especially for individuals with depression. Environmental factors such as lighting, thermal comfort, and access to nature influence mental health. This research explores how architectural design can reduce self-harm incidents and enhance recovery outcomes for patients with depression. The project hypothesizes that synchronizing light patterns and thermal comfort with patients’ circadian rhythms will reduce self-harm incidents and improve recovery. The problem established in the research is that disruptions to circadian rhythms increase the risk of depression, PTSD, and anxiety by 30% (Burns et al., 2022). Suicide is also the second leading …

An Educational Intervention: Knowledge Acquisition Of Perimenopausal Mental Health Symptoms And Treatment Options For Women Aged 35 Years Plus, Allison M. Hopps

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Perimenopause is a span of four to six years preceding menopause when estrogen levels decline. Up to 40% of women experience depression during the perimenopause transition. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be an effective treatment for depressive symptoms during perimenopause, but many healthcare practitioners prescribe antidepressants instead of HRT for the management of mood-related symptoms. Perimenopausal depression is associated with the progression of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The general population, including women and healthcare providers, lacks the education and awareness surrounding perimenopause symptoms and treatment. This project educated women between ages 35 to 55 on …

Harmonic Healing: Exploring Music As A Therapeutic Resource, Kalilah B. Chears, Mary Lynn Doherty

Honors Capstones

Mental health concerns among college students are increasing, especially in the post-Covid pandemic era. These issues could negatively affect students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being. Additionally, research illustrates that there are accessibility challenges for students who seek traditional counseling resources; campuses are struggling to meet this rising demand. The authors’ background in music ensembles inspired an exploration of music as an informal therapeutic resource. This literature review investigates one main question: How can an alternative mental health resource such as music serve college students experiencing barriers to traditional mental health resources? Findings suggest that music-based resources can alleviate some common …

Remote Teaching During A Pandemic, Jennifer B. Sample

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

No abstract provided.

One Can Only Dream, Sophia V. Yacca

Theses and Dissertations

One Can Only Dream is an interactive installation in which players are invited to navigate a liminal, dream-like game, engage with a branching series of questions, and introspect upon the relationships between unconscious expression, conscious self-perception, and the inherent difficulty of depicting, sharing, and understanding subconscious thought.

Rooted in both my personal experience with a rare neurophysiological condition and in my desire to create, this project examines dreams not only as a medical and cultural phenomenon, but also as a means to form identity, reflect trauma, and inspire creativity. Drawing from modern interactive storytelling and my lived experiences, this work …