Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Identifying Early Intervention Needs In Infants And Toddlers, Jennifer L. Mcgregor

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Brain research conducted on infants and toddlers through the past 20 years has resulted in the widely held knowledge that most brain growth occurs in the first three years of a child’s life. That knowledge reinforces the importance of providing early interventions to children as early as possible in order to maximize the brain’s potential for learning. This study analyzes a set of data collected from an area of a midwestern state that encompasses both urban and rural populations as well as a diverse socio-economic population and aims to confirm whether it makes a difference in the learning trajectory if …

Mental Health And Quality Of Life Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis In Patients Seen At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Innocent Abayo, Noureen Karimi, Karishma Sharma, Isaiah Omedo, Sehrish Rupani, Mansoor Saleh

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Mental health challenges are common following cancer diagnosis, negatively impacting treatment and quality of life for breast cancer (BC) patients. This pilot study provides an understanding of the impacts of BC diagnosis and care experiences on the mental health of patients seen at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. We conducted 40 in-depth interviews, including 10 women with newly diagnosed BC, 10 women with metastatic BC, 10 family members and 10 healthcare professionals. Data were transcribed, translated into English as needed and coded using Dedoose software. Following BC diagnosis, it was reported that patients faced various physical, social, …

Out Of Left Screen: Factors Impacting Well-Being In Digital And Physical Collegiate Athletes, Jessica Poskus

Theses and Dissertations

Competitive video gaming, or “esports,” has quickly become a popular college extracurricular. Its classification as a varsity sport on many campuses reflects a broader shift in cultural conceptualizations and perceptions of athleticism. As esports continue to evolve in today’s increasingly digital world, new professional leagues emerge, and viewership rivals that of traditional physical sports. Esports can be a gateway for unique opportunities for college students; however, it may also pose some challenges. This study explored differences between digital and physical athletes, who must balance their chosen activity with other collegiate responsibilities, including academic, social, and physical health. Physical sports and …

Exploring Depictions Of Mental Health In Popular Hindi-Urdu Cinema, Sara Ahmed

Journal of Critical Global Issues

Hindi-Urdu popular cinema, commonly referred to as Bollywood, largely reflects the evolution of various social attitudes in the Indian subcontinent. In order to better understand these films’ depiction of social attitudes surrounding mental illness and the implications for its treatment, this study creates and analyzes an anthology of Hindi-Urdu movies from the 1940’s to the present that portray some aspect of mental illness. These movies that depict mental illness were grouped into the various aspects of stigma that they portrayed: structural stigma, courtesy stigma, health practitioner stigma, self-stigma, and public stigma. I extracted and analyzed the attitudes towards mental illness, …

Increasing The Frequency Of Behavior Assessment To Reduce Physical Restraint, Breanne N. Ford

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a system that routinely assesses for behavior changes in psychiatric patients presenting to the emergency department to improve staff intervention of escalating behaviors and decrease physical restraint use.

Background: The project was implemented in a 45-bed emergency department in a community-based hospital affiliated with a large hospital system in Houston, Texas.

Methodology: The project utilizes the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale (BARS) to assess patients' behaviors at routine intervals throughout shifts and a comfort cart that houses several non-pharmacological intervention items to use to de-escalate adverse behaviors. The staff …

Addressing Adolescent Suicide In South Korea, Alyssa Kang

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Suicide is a prevalent issue that widely affects all demographics in South Korea. Among adolescents, it is the leading cause of mortality with an average rate of 7 deaths per 100,000 people. Some of the most significant factors that influence the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts are cultural stigma and academic stress. Other factors, such as bullying and family structure, also increase the likelihood of suicide, while specific characteristics including internet addiction, socioeconomic status, and substance abuse have been found to be predictors of suicide. Adolescent suicide attempts in Korea also increase the individual's risk for future attempts, and …

Case Study In Deaf Mental Health Care: Integration Of Therapeutic Attunement And Skills-Training, Julia Ball, Lindsey Sankin

JADARA

Deaf Mental Health Care (DMHC) is a specialty involving clinical expertise and self-awareness in therapeutic work with D/deaf people.1 Within the DMHC framework, this case report describes the psychotherapy of one Deaf individual, whose developmental experiences are common among D/deaf people. It illustrates how clinical models developed with hearing people informed the clinical team working with this Deaf individual. The treatment integrated focused skill-building with reparative emotional and linguistic “attunement.” In addition, the case illustrates how clinicians and their clients can use the intersections of their different languages and cultures as growth opportunities.

Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Trinidad: An Analysis Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among Essential Workers, Bernadette Marson, Gerard A. Hutchinson

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Research shows that some essential workers, such as healthcare workers, social workers, and first responders (including police officers, paramedics, and firefighters), are at greater risk for developing both short- and long-term mental health problems (Berger et al., 2012; Canady, 2022; Grey et al., 2020; Haugen et al., 2012; Mohamed et al., 2022; Petrie et al., 2018). The most prevalent of these include anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as other social and cognitive problems—with stress causing harmful effects on mental health and potentially resulting in anxiety and depression, which may then disrupt an individual’s social relationships, family life, and work. …

Perceived Anxiety Disorder Stigma: A Predictive Analysis, Shawn Nabors, Richard J. Cicchetti, Gary Michael Szirony, Craig R. Blum, Sri Banerjee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Anxiety remains one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. Systemic barriers to mental health treatment persist. Research on anxiety is robust, although research on perceived anxiety disorder stigma is limited. The purpose of this quantitative analysis was to determine whether factors including age, gender, level of education, and presence of a diagnosable anxiety disorder condition would predict perceived anxiety stigma in a population of adults from the Midwestern region of the United States who were in treatment for anxiety. Based on Goffman’s framework, we used the Generalized Anxiety Stigma Scale (GASS) to determine the presence and level of …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Job Satisfaction Among Generation Z And Millennials In The Mental Health Field, Terence Fleeton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millennials and Generation Z perceive job satisfaction in different ways. The mental health profession requires a lot of time and sacrifice to meet the needs of clients, and the organization served. The diverse beliefs, ambitions, and work-related attitudes of these younger generations are critical in shaping the dynamics of the mental health profession for employers seeking to hire younger talent as the workforce increased. The problem in this study is that some employers don't understand how supervisory support affects job satisfaction in millennial and Generation Z mental health employees. Managers struggle to maintain an environment where work-life balance provides job …

Characteristics Of Natural Environment Use By Occupational Therapists Working In Mental Health Care: A Scoping Review, Ruth Bishop, Frazer Underwood, Fiona Fraser, Lisa Burrows, Jill Shawe

School of Health Professions

Objective: The objective of this review was to identify and characterize the use of the natural environment/outdoor space by occupational therapists working in mental health care. This included consideration of the characteristics of the environment used, interventions, mental health conditions being treated, and the outcomes being used. Introduction: Research has demonstrated the link between human health and the environment. The benefits appear to be particularly relevant to people with mental health conditions. Occupational therapists already consider the environment when assessing and developing interventions, and therefore are well placed to consider and use the natural environment in mental health practice. However, …

Fatphobia In Ballet: The Impact Of Organizational Practices On Body Size And Mental Health In American Ballet Companies, Ashley Chenery

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

In American ballet companies, female dancers’ weights factor into decisions regarding hiring, casting, and promotions. However, female dancers are now using social media to speak out against fatphobic organizational practices. This paper analyzes personal accounts of size discrimination posted to Instagram and YouTube by high-profile veteran ballerinas of New York City Ballet. It also includes interviews with professional Gen Z ballerinas (in companies spanning the US), who discuss current fatphobic practices in companies and schools. Utilizing qualitative coding, this paper seeks to disarticulate thinness from artistry and to urge mental health as a priority in American ballet.

Dance/Movement Therapy: A Remedy For Burnout In Behavioral Health Professionals, Chelsie Greene

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review takes a personal approach by identifying challenges as I grew in my clinical skills through education and internship. I will present burnout issues within the behavioral health professional field while intersecting with dance/movement therapy (DMT) as I experienced and witnessed it. In addition, DMT is proposed and supported as a useful tool to increase protective factors that prevent burnout.

Examining The Influence Of Students’ Mental Health Problems On Their Social And Emotional Health: Perspectives Of Counselors And Mental Health Therapists In A Post-Pandemic World, Brandi Leigh Newsom

Student Theses and Dissertations

Examining the Influence of Students’ Mental Health Problems on Their Social and Emotional Health: Perspectives of Counselors and Mental Health Therapists in a Post-Pandemic World This qualitative phenomenological study explored the influence mental health issues have on social emotional learning in the public-school setting. The problem addressed in this study was the increased need for mental health resources and awareness in the school setting. By assessing the perspectives of school counselors and mental health therapists, awareness and resources can help students who are struggling with social-emotional needs. The guiding theoretical framework that served as the basis for this study was …

The Prevalence Of Depression And Anxiety In Patients With Metastatic Disease To The Spine, Caleb Yeung, Jeremy Heard, Yunsoo Lee, Michael Mccurdy, Rajkishen Narayanan, Samantha Kolowrat, Liam Gibbons, Tim Hagan, Jose A. Canseco, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Gregory D. Schroeder, Christopher K. Kepler

Rothman Institute Papers

Introduction:

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in cancer patients is approximately 15% and 20%. Unfortunately, depression has been demonstrated to negatively impact patients after spinal fusion surgeries and is associated with worse overall survival in cancer patients. The rates of depression and anxiety have yet to be reported in patients with metastatic spine disease. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of depression and anxiety in patients with metastatic spine disease.

Materials and Methods:

Patients >18 years of age at our institution who presented with metastatic spinal disease between 2017 and 2022 were identified through query …

Sexual Abuse And Neglect During Childhood Are Associated With An Increased Prevalence Of Mental Health Problems Among University Students In Surakarta, Indonesia, Ni Putu Dian Apriandary, Muthmainah, Rohmaningtyas Hidayah Setyaningrum, Debree Septiawan

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Highlights:
1. This study reiterates the long-term negative impact of childhood trauma on young adults' mental health.
2. This study contributes to the prevention of mental disorders through the identification of risk factors associated with mental health problems.

Abstract
The prevalence of mental health problems is a global public health concern. Young adults, such as university students, are highly vulnerable to the onset of mental health problems due to biological, psychological, and social factors. In particular, abusive and traumatic experiences during childhood may increase the risk of developing mental health problems during adulthood. The prevalence of child abuse cases in …

Developments In School Counselling Practice In Vietnam, Michael Hass, Hoang-Minh Dang

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

This chapter will examine the development and status of school counselling in Vietnam. As part of that, we will discuss research on Vietnamese school children’s mental health and academic needs, the history of the development of school counselling and related professions in Vietnam, and the process of creating formal educational programs in school counselling. Lastly, we will discuss school counsellors’ distinct roles in Vietnam and how they relate to various stakeholders, including children, teachers, administrators, and parents. In addition, we will discuss a survey of practicing school counsellors (Hoang-Minh & Hass, 2023b) and interviews of program directors of university training …

Engaging Farmers In Educational Programs To Improve Health And Emotional Outcomes: The Farm Family Health And Wellness Program, Karen L. Franck, Janet Fox, Heather Sedges, Matthew Devereaux

Journal of Extension

Farmers face unique occupational and interpersonal stressors that increase risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes. To educate farmers and their families about these risks, one state’s Family and Consumer Sciences faculty partnered with Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty with input from county agents to develop a series of online educational programs that were delivered as part of the state Agricultural Enhancement Program. Twenty-eight participants completed the pilot project and feedback surveys. Lessons learned include the need to have speakers from farming backgrounds, incorporate health topics that emphasize the connection with farming, and to include engaging visuals.

Pedagogy And Its Effects In Students’ Mental Health, Mona Muzammil, Muzammil Arshad, Washain Muzammil

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

The mental health of students has become one of the top concerns in higher education. The number of students reporting distress and seeking services has dramatically increased, and colleges and universities are struggling to address these challenges. A rich and growing body of research documents the scope of the problem and potential interventions to address it, but this literature is scattered across a variety of academic fields. This Book aims to bring coherence to this large volume of information through a detailed review of programs, services, practices, and policies that influence student mental health. The Book is organized around a …

Improving Educator Readiness To Support Student Mental Health, Anna Dabrowski, Michelle Hsien, Tamara Van Der Zant, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Amy Berry, Maya Conway, Yung Nietschke

Wellbeing

This project used a mixed-method approach to understand educator readiness to support student mental health across early childhood, school based, and tertiary settings. The study features educators and relevant support staff working with children, adolescents, and adults in formal learning settings. Relevant experts such as mental health care workers, youth wellbeing support staff, counsellors, psychologists, and other professionals involved in education settings were also invited to take part in the study. Three research questions guided the focus of the study: How does educator anxiety and worry impact on their ability to support student mental health? To what extent are educators …

Experiences With Coming Out: A Study Of Lgbtq+ Music Students’ Perceptions Of Music Education Pedagogy, Sid Adams

Educational Studies Dissertations

Because LGBTQ+ people are disclosing their non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender identities at younger ages, music educators should consider how their pedagogical decisions impact an LGBTQ+ person’s decision to disclose their identity (come out). Previous research has explored how to create affirming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students to learn within music education spaces. However, past research has been limited on how those decisions impact the LGBTQ+ student’s decision to disclose their identity. I used data from five participants to discover how they perceived music education pedagogical practices and how those practices facilitated or hindered their decision to disclose their LGBTQ+ identity. …

Avoiding The Pitfalls Of The Dsm-5: A Primer For Health Professionals, Darren Haywood, David J. Castle, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5), is the leading system guiding the diagnosis of mental disorders. Accurate diagnoses of mental disorders are fundamental to guiding treatment and supportive care and have potential impacts on resources available to individuals. However, the DSM has the allure of ‘tick box’ diagnosis rather than biopsychosocial formulation and treatment planning, as well as multiple limitations impacting validity. Further, even with accurate diagnosis, there are strong concerns related to the reliability and validity of DSM diagnoses for clinical practice and research efforts. Understanding these limitations can help reduce errors and sub-optimal clinical decisions, …

Changes In Psychological Challenges, Positive Experiences, And Coping Strategies Among International Students In The United States Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, Chulwoo Park, Shannon Shimada, Airi Irene Trisnadi, Patricia Angelica

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The purpose of this study was to understand how the challenges and coping strategies among international students in the United States changed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a qualitative study through one-on-one in-depth interviews during April–June 2021. A total of 34 international students in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in this study. NVivo was used to analyze the qualitative data. Before COVID-19, the challenges were primarily related to a sense of belonging, such as culture shock, language barriers, and loss of identity. However, some positive experiences from school life and new culture were also found before …

Emotional Experiences Of Mental Health First Aid Trainees: A Qualitative Study, Alexander E. Chan, Emma T. Kniola, Raya Francis

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a program that helps participants identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use disorders. Research studies focusing on the emotional experiences of MHFA participants are lacking. Studying these experiences can help improve the training process for MHFA learners. This paper aims to identify participants’ motivations for signing up for MHFA and investigate their emotional experiences when applying MHFA knowledge in real-world settings. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews. Participants (n = 20) completed 30-minute interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to the motivators and feelings of participants when applying …

The Blackgirl Project: Examining The Impact And Manifestation Of Colorism Among Black Adolescent Girls In The United States: A Critical Participatory Action Research Approach, Gina (Diagou) R. Sissoko

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Colorism is a skin tone stratification system that privileges lighter-skinned people over their darker-skinned counterparts. Although colorism remains surprisingly understudied, it has been linked to a variety of negative mental health and social outcomes. Colorism particularly impacts Black girls—particularly in adolescence. This dissertation utilized microaggressions theory and a critical participatory action research framework to describe (1) the manifestation of colorism in the lives of darker-skinned Black girls, (2) the impact of colorism on Black girls’ mental health, (3) the ways in which Black girls cope with and resist colorist experiences, and (4) create a taxonomy of colorist microaggressions. Ten Black …

“Education Would Be Step Number One”: Community Mental Health Clinicians’ Training And Support Needs To Treat Anxiety In Autistic Youth, Daylin Delgado, Whitney S Shepherd, Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Eric A Storch, Brenna B Maddox

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Autistic youth experience high rates of anxiety, which has been treated with modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), often integrating exposure therapy. Such anxiety treatments are effective for this population; however, there remains a gap between these evidence-based mental health interventions and their implementation in community mental health (CMH) services where autistic youth receive care.

Method: This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with four types of community members in the United States: 15 autistic youth with anxiety, 15 caregivers of autistic youth with anxiety, 11 CMH clinicians, and 8 CMH clinic leaders. Participants identified the training needs of CMH clinicians to …

Mining Safely: Examining The Moderating Role Of Safety Climate On Mineworkers' Mental Health And Safety Behavior Nexus, Emmanuel K. Amoako, Saviour A. Nubuor, Abdul-Razak Suleman, Amin A. Bawa, Bridget Akwetey-Siaw

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the impact of anxiety and depression (dimensions of mental health) on mineworkers' safety behaviors (safety compliance and safety participation) while examining the moderating role of safety climate on these relationships. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach with an explanatory cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. A total of 274 purposively selected mineworkers participated in the study. Responses were obtained from participants through a structured questionnaire which was analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings: Anxiety had a significant negative effect on safety compliance but not participation. However, depression was found to have …

Leveraging The Science Of Early Life Predictability To Inform Policies Promoting Child Health, Laura M. Glynn, Sabrina R. Liu, Candice Taylor Lucas, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Addressing the tremendous burden of early-life adversity requires constructive dialogues between scientists and policy makers to improve population health. Whereas dialogues focused on several aspects of early-life adversity have been initiated, discussion of an underrecognized form of adversity that has been observed across multiple contexts and cultures is only now emerging. Here we provide evidence for “why unpredictability?”, including: 1. Evidence that exposures to unpredictability affect child neurodevelopment, with influences that persist into adulthood. 2. The existence of a translational non-human animal model of exposure to early life unpredictability that can be capitalized upon to causally probe neurobiological mechanisms. 3. …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Ability To Provide Mental Health Supports In The Classroom To Preschool-Aged Children, Stacie Linette Parham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the pre-service or continuing professional training needs of early childhood teachers in regard to providing support for mental health and challenging behaviors displayed in children ages three to five years old. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Knowles’ andragogy theory guided the study. The guiding research question was as follows: What are early childhood teachers’ classroom experiences regarding providing instruction to address mental health, ACEs, childhood trauma or other factors that cause young children to display challenging behaviors? The study’s sample included 11 preschool teachers with two to 26 years of experience …