Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Mindfulness And Stress Among College Students, Elizabeth Marie Vonderheyde

Theses and Dissertations

College students who have high levels of stress have reported difficulties with functioning on a daily basis, whether it be high anxiety due to classes or an increase in unhealthy habits like smoking or overeating. Studies have shown that those who practice mindfulness every day learn how to live with accepting the stresses in their lives (Siegel & Allison, 2016). This study explored the relationship between mindfulness and stress in college students from a medium size public university in the northeast. Two self-report measures were used to collect data though an online survey. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential …

Stress Exposure Training As A Means For Athletes To Prevent Paradoxical Performance, Adam M. Fulton

Student Works

Paradoxical performance has been studied for years, with an emphasis on helping athletes prevent choking under pressure. However, although progress has been made, too many athletes are still underperforming due to anticipated and unanticipated stressors (Baumeister & Showers, 1986, p. 362). Stress exposure training is suggested as a solution to choking under pressure, even though little research has been done. A review of the literature on paradoxical performance is presented, emphasizing skills that appear to be effective and could be inserted into a stress exposure training program. Skills such as self-consciousness training, positive self-talk, self-confidence, pre-performance routines, and others could …

Lysozyme Association With Circulating Rna, Extracellular Vesicles, And Chronic Stress, Sarah K. Abey, Yuana Yuana, Paule V. Joseph, Natnael D. Kenea, Nicolaas H. Fourie, Lee Anne B. Sherwin, Gregory E. Gonye, Paul A. Smyser, Erin S. Stempinski, Christina M. Boulineaux, Kristen R. Weaver-Toedtman Phd, Acnp, Anp, Christopher K.E. Bleck, Wendy A. Henderson

Publications

Background Stress has demonstrated effects on inflammation though underlying cell-cell communication mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that circulating RNAs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients with chronic stress contain signals with functional roles in cell repair. Methods Blood transcriptome from patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome versus controls were compared to identify signaling pathways and effectors. Plasma EVs were isolated (size-exclusion chromatography) and characterized for effectors’ presence (immunogold labelling-electron microscopy). Based on transcriptome pathways and EV-labelling, lysozyme's effects on cell migration were tested in human colon epithelial CRL-1790 cells and compared to the effects of CXCL12, a migration inducer (wound assay). …

Preadolescent Sensation Seeking And Early Adolescent Stress Relate To At-Risk Adolescents' Substance Use By Age 15, Nora E. Charles, Charles W. Mathias, Ashley Acheson, Donald M. Dougherty

Faculty Publications

Background and aims

Substance use during adolescence can lead to the development of substance use disorders and other psychosocial problems. These negative outcomes are especially likely for individuals who use substances at earlier ages and those who engage in heavier use during adolescence, behaviors which are both more common among youth at higher risk for developing a substance use disorder, such as those with a family history of substance use disorders (FH +). Factors such as increased sensation seeking and greater exposure to stressors among FH + youth may influence these associations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to …

Understanding The Roles Of Connection To Nature, Mindfulness, And Distress On Psychological Well-Being, Tuyen N. Huynh

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A plethora of research has documented the negative effects of distress on physical and psychological well-being. However, past research showed that connection to nature and mindfulness reduce distress and improve psychological well-being. Unfortunately, the processes through which mindfulness is associated to connection to nature during the recovery from distress is unknown. Understanding the aspects of how connection to nature and mindfulness independently and jointly relate to well-being increases our existing knowledge of the health benefits associated with these constructs. Therefore, the current study had three foci: (1) the relationships between connection to nature (CN), mindfulness, and distress to psychological well-being …

A Web-Based Stress Reduction Program For Occupational Health, Michelle N. Kabakibi, Karen Macauley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose: The purpose of this evidenced-based practice project is to implement a sustainable 6-week mindfulness web-based program to reduce stress of call center employees in a corporate setting.

Background/significance: Stress is a major public health issue, calling for a need of better stress management programs to prevent and manage chronic stress. Stress is caused when an individual perceives environmental demands as beyond his/her adaptive capacity. In the workplace, stress leads to emotional exhaustion, job dissatisfaction, lower productivity, and impaired performance (Allexandre et al., 2016). According to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report, 40% of workers reported …

Mindfulness And Law Enforcement: An Effective Approach To Implementing Mindfulness For First Responders, Gina White

Mindfulness Studies Theses

An increasing number of studies show that people employed as first responders in high trauma service jobs tend to experience a high level of stress, at work and after hours. Studies suggest that constant exposure to job related stress leads to both physical and mental dysregulation. This study looks at the effects of implementing mindfulness tools and techniques to those working in law enforcement. Other works on this topic report mindfulness as a successful tool to increase wellbeing to a broad spectrum of populations. The methodology used in this study was designed specifically for first responders. The data findings were …

An Exploration Of Irish Teachers' Experiences Of Stress, Dearbhail Buckley, David Abbott, John Franey

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Only limited research is available on teacher stress in Ireland. This study explores teachers’ individual experiences of stress, the supports they recommend in schools to help them cope with stress and any differences apparent in stress levels based on experience: a) working as a primary or secondary teacher and b) working as a recently qualified or experienced teacher. It utilises interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to do so. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted which suggested that teachers have different interpretations of stress and an influencing factor in teacher stress is the self. The teachers recommended a range of supports to help …

Does Social Support Diminish Depression In Students? Evidence From Athletes And Greek Life, Benjamin Chartoff, Myra Beth Bundy

Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Depression and stress are extremely prevalent in college students. The goal of the current study was to examine if social support from athletic teams and fraternities or sororities are related to lower levels of depression and stress than that found in students normally. Participants (N=134) were asked to fill out a questionnaire with scales of depression, stress and social support. It was hypothesized that members of Greek life and student-athletes will show higher levels of social support and lower levels of depression compared to a control group of students. The results supported these hypotheses and suggest that joining social groups …

Food For Thought: The Neuroscience Of Nutrition To Fuel Cognitive Performance, Debra S. Austin

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

Almost nothing is more personal than the decision lawyers make about what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In a two-year study examining the health of lawyers, Sharon McDowell-Larsen, Ph.D., discovered that while ninety-two percent of the participants understood that eating habits have health impacts, half reported they consumed unhealthy diets. Additionally, none of these lawyers were vegetarians or vegans, fifty-eight percent consumed meat on a daily basis, and sixty-four percent wanted more health and wellness support from their law firms. Some law firms and law schools are cultivating wellness cultures, but little work has been done in the …

Who Wants To Join? Variation And Strength In Social Networks, Timothy D. Immelman

All College Thesis Program, 2016-2019

The main hypothesis of the present study was that more variation in an emerging adult’s social network should predict higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress. It was also predicted that introversion–extraversion would moderate these relationships. Participants were 318 college students from two small, Catholic liberal arts institutions in the Upper Midwest. The variation (i.e., friends with varied interests and activities) of an individual’s social network was measured by a researcher-developed inventory (Social Network Variation Scale; SNVS). Social network strength was measured by the researcher-developed Social Network Strength Scale (SNSS). Results showed strong support for nine of ten …

Reward Preferences In Domestic Horses (Equus Caballus), Elizabeth E. Jaeger

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined stress response in domestic horses (Equus caballus) to determine if horses show preference for either traditional or natural horsemanship training methods to test the hypothesis that natural horsemanship would induce less stress. Our results show that natural horsemanship rewards elicited lower stress response in horses.

Is Meaning In Life A Positive Resource When Adjusting To Stressful Life Events?, Login S. George

Doctoral Dissertations

Having a sense of meaning in life is often considered to be a positive resource that can facilitate better adjustment to major stressors. However, few studies have directly and adequately examined this idea. The present study addresses this question by examining 1) if meaning predicts trajectories and changes in key distress-exacerbating factors and distress 2) if meaning buffers negative effects of distress-exacerbating factors on distress, and 3) if the different dimensions of meaning are differentially important in adjustment. The sample consisted of 180 undergraduates prescreened to have had a recent stressor that they found stressful at prescreening. Participants were assessed …

Improvements In Mood During Greenwood Music Workshops, K Keogh, M Atkins, J May

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

The Caffeine Consumption Habits, Sleep Quality, Sleep Quantity, And Perceived Stress Of Clinical Nurses, Mykin R. Higbee

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance worldwide. Energy drinks are a relatively new beverage type that contain three to five times more caffeine than regular sodas. In several workplace settings, energy drinks have become popular as individuals chose to consume these beverages in an attempt to combat fatigue, deal with stress, and boost energy. There is no information regarding the energy drink and caffeine consumption habits of nurses working in the clinical setting. Clinical nurses provide the majority of patient care in the health care setting. Nursing is a mentally and physically demanding profession due to heavy patient …

The Phenomenon Of Teacher Burnout: Mitigating Its Influence On New Teachers, Kaila Sanford

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Burnout is a psychological condition with physical, emotional, and mental dimensions. Burnout often includes feelings of exhaustion, long-term fatigue, negative self-concept, despair or hopelessness, frustration, and a lack of productivity at work.

Teacher burnout is a well-known and researched field. It has been documented in the literature that teachers experience high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion, which leads to high levels of burnout and professional attrition. This study examined the incidence of burnout in new elementary school teachers and offered recommendations for changes to organizational structure that may reduce professional burnout.

For the purpose of this study five new …

Exploring Mindfulness: College Students' Journey Through An Abbreviated Program, Nicole M. Long, Kathryn E. Barrall

Senior Honors Projects

The transition into college is the first time that students are given control over their own schedules and routines. Despite this newfound freedom, more than 80 percent of college students have reported feeling overwhelmed by all the demands placed on them (American College Health Association, 2013) and studies have shown that poor time management is a predictor of academic stress (Misra & McKean, 2000). Without a structured routine, many college students struggle to find a balance between academics and their social lives, leading them to procrastinate on their coursework.

Studies in mindfulness and mindfulness programs have been on the rise …

Evaluating A Personal Stress Monitoring System, Sneha Gogineni

Theses and Dissertations

Now-a-days, Life is generally much more stressful than in the past. "Stress" is the word that we use when we feel that we are overloaded mentally in our thoughts and wonder whether we can really cope with those placed upon us. Sometimes, stress gets us going and they are good for us but at other times, it could be the cause to undermine both our mental and physical health. The way we respond to a challenge can be considered as a kind of stress. Part of our response to a challenge is physiological and affects our own physical state. When …

The Moderating Effects Of Stress On The Relationship Between Self-Control, And Desire For Control, On Impulsive Purchasing, Katelynn Reed

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The current study examined the effect of self-control and desire for control on impulsive purchasing with stress as a moderator. Self-control has been found to be lower in individuals who engage in impulsive purchasing (Baumeister, 2002b), whereas little to no research on the effect of desire for control on impulsive purchasing has been completed. Stress has been found to relate with self-control and desire for control (Galla & Wood 2015; Leotti, Iyengar, & Ochsner, 2003). This study hopes to fill the research gap by exploring if stress moderates self-control and desire for control’s effect on impulsive purchasing. Participants were recruited …

Stress As A Badge Of Honor: Relationships With Employee Performance, Health, And Well-Being, Kristen S. Jennings

All Dissertations

The present study was designed to develop a measure to capture the perception of being "stressed" as honorable or impressive, termed Stress Badge. The sentiment that having a high amount of stressors is positive and laudatory has been highlighted in the popular media, yet has not received research attention. The study examined construct validity evidence for the Stress Badge, which was proposed to have three primary internal dimensions: Stress as Achievement, Relaxation Remorse, and Stress-Related Social Comparison; and one external dimension of Stress-Related Impression Management. In Study 1, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) conducted with a sample of 248 employees …

Stereotype Threat In Higher Education: The Role Of Psychological Capital On Student Satisfaction And Commitment, Lei J. Shirase

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Stereotype threat refers to being at risk or confirming, as self-characteristic, a negative group stereotype about one's group. Past research has linked stereotype threat to a multitude of detrimental outcomes including decreased test performance, the drainage of cognitive resources, and increased stress levels. However, many of these findings were confined to laboratory settings and focused only on immediate effects. Research on stereotype threat framed as a macro-level product in a non-laboratory setting is limited at this time. In an attempt to bridge this gap, the present study examined the lingering effects of stereotype threat on minority satisfaction / commitment in …

Workplace Bullying: A Validation Study, Brooke Christine Bengel

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Bullying in the workplace is a difficult construct to define. Research has largely used questionnaires developed based upon the inclusion of self-reported incidents rather than a theoretical model of the construct. This study utilized a six dimension model (emotional abuse, professional discredit and denigration, control and manipulation of information, control-abuse of working conditions, isolation, and devaluation of the role in the workplace). Items from the most frequently used bullying and incivility scales were presented to participants and factor analyzed to determine if the model could be reproduced. Convergent validity was assessed by examining the relationship with known correlates, job satisfaction …

The Psychophysiological Correlates Of Personality, Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Social Support, Meghan E. Pierce

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Theories considering the etiology of psychopathy suggest that trauma exposure, specifically childhood maltreatment and sexual abuse, is related to the development of callous-unemotional traits in children and adolescents, which are precursors to psychopathic traits in adulthood. Furthermore, posttraumatic stress disorder has an opposite relationship with many of the emotional and behavioral components of the two-factor model of psychopathy. Specifically, PTSD is positively associated to IA and traits associated with it and negatively associated with FD. Thus, this study sought to expand upon the current theories of a trauma-based etiology of psychopathy by investigating the relationship between trauma, PTSD, and psychopathic …

Meditative Art: A Diversion From Stress And Anxiety, Hannah T. Justis 4239670221

Undergraduate Honors Theses

I wished to present a body of work that visually represented my own meditative process of managing stress and anxiety. Towards the end of studying for my undergraduate, I began preparing for my Final Exhibition Show, and with these preparations, my life, as well as my work, changed drastically. Within the past two years, my drawings began to take on a meditative therapeutic process. It was this development that then helped manage my growing stress levels and well as the symptoms that stemmed from high levels of anxiety and bloomed from losing control in my day to day life. It …

Organic Cation Transporter 3 (Oct3) Is Localized To Intracellular And Surface Membranes In Select Glial And Neuronal Cells Within The Basolateral Amygdaloid Complex Of Both Rats And Mice, Paul J. Gasser, Matthew M. Hurley, June Chan, Virginia M. Pickel

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) is a high-capacity, low-affinity transporter that mediates corticosterone-sensitive uptake of monoamines including norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, histamine and serotonin. OCT3 is expressed widely throughout the amygdaloid complex and other brain regions where monoamines are key regulators of emotional behaviors affected by stress. However, assessing the contribution of OCT3 to the regulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission and monoamine-dependent regulation of behavior requires fundamental information about the subcellular distribution of OCT3 expression. We used immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy to examine the cellular and subcellular distribution of the transporter in the basolateral amygdaloid complex of the rat and mouse brain. …

Burnout Among African American Pastors: A Biblical And Practical Solution, Ronald Strong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors are dropping out of the Christian ministry at an alarming rate. These spiritual leaders often experience burnout due to excessive demands, which lead to physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, impairing their pastoral effectiveness. Qualitative and quantitative surveys and interviews were used to determine the relationship between burnout and ministry effectiveness by focusing on three mitigating factors: physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. The results identified overall fatigue as the primary cause of spiritual aridness and pastoral failings. Using this research, this thesis provides a model for holistic health with specific solutions for ministry burnout, thereby, improving pastoral effectiveness.

Trust-Based Prayer Expectancies, Attachment To God, And Perceived Stress, Sadie Davis

Senior Honors Theses

The current study analyzed the impact of trust-based prayer expectancies on the relationship between attachment to God and perceived stress levels. High trust-based prayer expectancies indicate a high trust in God to answer prayers in His time and in His way. It was hypothesized that trust-based prayer expectancies would mediate the relationship between attachment to God and perceived stress, since prayer expectancies are heavily reliant on trust in and a belief that God is a secure base. Three-hundred fifteen college students were surveyed on their trust-based prayer beliefs, perceived stress, and attachment to God. Results of the study indicated a …

Expression Of Mammalian Dna In A Non-Native Cell System, Taylor Hyatt

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction between glucocorticoid receptors and calcium channels. To begin our research, we began to optimize the transfection efficiency of a glucocorticoid receptor within human embryonic kidney cells. Results found that this non-native cell was able to be transfected with pK7-GR-GFP DNA. Although it was unexpected, we were unable to obtain a transfection efficiency of 10% to move forward with other planned experiments. However, through our efforts, we were able to achieve a transfection efficiency of 0.04% and troubleshoot many difficulties that prevented obtaining a higher transfection efficiency. It was found that the …

Maternal Stress And Stress Symptomatology In Children, Emily Klipa

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

With stress being referred to as the “health epidemic of the 21^st century” by the World Health Organization, questions arise about not only how this epidemic affects adults, but also how stress may affect today’s children. Research indicates that stress impacting parents trickle down to children, and the effects can be palpable. In this study the author examined maternal stress as well as stress related symptoms and illnesses in their children. Participants are mothers of children age’s five to ten. The protocol included completion of a four part online survey addressing demographic information, perceived stress, and recent stressful life …

A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Middle-Class Parents Facilitating Homework, Megan A. Aichler

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This study explored middle-class parents’ descriptions of their experience of the emotional “essence” of the conflicts that arose between themselves and their children as parents facilitated the homework process. This study on homework experiences sought to gain a deeper understanding and meaning experienced firsthand from the middle-class parents’ point of view. The use of phenomenological methods allowed for the deep and thick description necessary to uncover the essence of the middle-class parental perspectives on the parent-child emotional experience embedded in the homework process. The identified themes included creation of a homework routine, emotions of resistance and stress, and …