Digital Commons Network^™

Early Exposure To Traumatic Stressors Impairs Emotional Brain Circuitry, Robert H. Paul, Mayuresh S. Korgaonkar, Cassandra Antees, Leanne M. Williams

Psychology Faculty Works

Exposure to early life trauma (ELT) is known to have a profound impact on mental development, leading to a higher risk for depression and anxiety. Our aim was to use multiple structural imaging methods to systematically investigate how traumatic stressors early in life impact the emotional brain circuits, typically found impaired with clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety, across the lifespan in an otherwise healthy cohort. MRI data and self-reported histories of ELT from 352 healthy individuals screened for no psychiatric disorders were analyzed in this study. The volume and cortical thickness of the limbic and cingulate regions were assessed …

Stress And Eating: A Dual Role For Bombesin-Like Peptides, Zul Merali, S. Graitson, J. C. Mackay, P. Kent

Brain and Mind Institute

The current obesity "epidemic" in the developed world is a major health concern; over half of adult Canadians are now classified as overweight or obese. Although the reasons for high obesity rates remain unknown, an important factor appears to be the role stressors play in overconsumption of food and weight gain. In this context, increased stressor exposure and/or perceived stress may influence eating behavior and food choices. Stress-induced anorexia is often noted in rats exposed to chronic stress (e.g., repeated restraint) and access to standard Chow diet; associated reduced consumption and weight loss. However, if a similar stressor exposure takes …

Ethnic Differences In Family Stress Processes Among African- Americans And Black Caribbeans, Bridget J. Goosby, Cleopatra Howard Caldwell, Anna Bellatorre, James S. Jackson

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Several theories of stress exposure, including the stress process and the family stress model for economically disadvantaged families, suggest that family processes work similarly across race/ ethnic groups. Much of this research, however, treats African-Americans as a monolithic group and ignores potential differences in family stress processes within race that may emerge across ethnic groups. This study examines whether family stress processes differ intraracially in African- American and Black Caribbean families. Using data from the National Survey of American Life, a national representative data set of African-American and Black Caribbean families, we assess the extent to which parents’ stress appraisals …

Prevalence Of Stress, Anxiety, And Depression Among Byu Students According To Levels Of Physical Activity, Curtis Read, Dr. Ray Merrill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Studies have shown that regular physical activity reduces stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression and loneliness, and improves mood and psychological well-being , . Much of the research to date has focused on youth grades K-12 and adults in the workplace. Because of the diverse nature of college life compared to that of the workplace or grade school, policy for promoting wellness is typically directed towards the latter, and information on student wellness at the university level is lacking. This study initially sought to give further understanding to health educators on the effects of physical activity on stress levels among …

Equivalence Of Students' Scores On Timed And Untimed Anatomy Practical Examinations., Guiyan Zhang, Bruce Fenderson, Richard R Schmidt, J J. Veloski

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Untimed examinations are popular with students because there is a perception that first impressions may be incorrect, and that difficult questions require more time for reflection. In this report, we tested the hypothesis that timed anatomy practical examinations are inherently more difficult than untimed examinations. Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Thomas Jefferson University were assessed on their understanding of anatomic relationships using multiple-choice questions. For the class of 2012 (n = 46), students were allowed to circulate freely among 40 testing stations during the 40-minute testing session. For the class of 2013 (n = 46), students …

Mental Illness Prevention: Exploring Effective Coping Strategies For School-Aged Children, Julie-Anne Mccarthy

Psychology Graduate Publications

Anxiety Disorders are the most prevalent mental illnesses in Western society, affecting the population in multiple ways. Onset for many anxiety disorders is as early as childhood or adolescence. The earlier the onset, the more chronic or severe it may be; it is important to focus on preventing anxiety disorders before they are developed. Research has shown that adaptive coping strategies can work as a mediator between stress and mental health. The current study explored effective coping strategies for young children in the general population, in an effort to further expand our knowledge about coping in children, and increase the …

Using A Resiliency Framework To Examine Natural Mentoring Relationships And The Coping Efficacy As Buffers Of The Negative Impact Of Stressors On Academic Outcomes In Urban, Low-Income Ethnic Minority Youth, Rachel M. Feuer

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

This paper used Resiliency theory to examine natural mentoring and coping efficacy as protective factors that may buffer the negative impact of stressors on academic and psychosocial outcomes in urban, low-income, Latino youth. Research has demonstrated that natural mentoring may serve a protective role for youth who are experiencing high levels of stressors, and that coping efficacy may correlate with positive outcomes. The present study used Structural Equation Modeling to test the compensatory and protective factors models of resilience to examine the ways in which stress, coping efficacy and natural mentoring interact to predict a variety of academic outcomes for …

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For The Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Among Adolescents, Michelle R. Woidneck, Kate L. Morrison, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

The number of individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a small percentage of those exposed to trauma; many youth who do not meet criteria for PTSD continue to experience problematic posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptomology. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has shown preliminary effectiveness in the treatment of adult PTSD, but its effectiveness in treating PTS in youth is unknown. Using a multiple-baseline design, this study investigated the effectiveness of 10-weeks of ACT to treat PTS in youth. Four adolescents from a community sample and three adolescents from a residential sample participated. The Clinician Administered PTSD …

Interactive Effects Of Ethnic Identity And A Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Intervention On Subjective And Objective Stress In Low-Income Minority Women Living With Hiv, Corina Reyes Lopez

Open Access Dissertations

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is more prevalent among minority ethnic groups, with mortality rates highest among African-American women. Additionally, low-income minority women with a positive HIV diagnosis experience a variety of stressors that influence their psychological and physical well-being. Research has found that ethnic identity, an intrapersonal resiliency factor, is associated with lower perceived stress in low-income minority women living with HIV, in part through greater levels of coping self-efficacy and social support. Given the benefits of group-based interventions in reducing stress in HIV positive populations, it is important to understand whether ethnic identity influences the efficacy of these interventions in …

Controlled Attention And Sleep Deprivation: Adding A Self-Regulation Approach?, June J. Pilcher, Holly A. Geldhauser, J. Adam Beeco, Tracy A. Lindquist

Publications

The current study examined performance on an automated task battery under short-term sleep deprivation and non-sleep deprivation conditions. Twenty-six volunteers completed the sleep deprivation study. Twenty-three volunteers completed the non-sleep deprivation study. Performance was examined across five test sessions during 25 hours of acute sleep deprivation conditions and during two days of non-sleep deprivation conditions. ANOVAs examining changes in performance from baseline levels indicated that performance under sleep deprivation conditions resulted in a decrease in performance in some tasks and an increase in estimated blood alcohol concentration. Non-sleep deprivation resulted in stable or increasing performance and a decrease in estimated …

Racial Microaggressions, Stress, And Depression In African Americans: Test Of A Model, Jessica Ra'chel Roberts

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationships between daily hassle stressors (i.e., racial microaggressions and college hassle stress), racial identity, perceived stress, and depression among Black/African American college students. It was hypothesized that perceived stress would partially mediate the relationships between daily hassle stressors and depression. Racial identity was hypothesized to moderate the relationship between racial microaggressions and perceived stress. Data were analyzed from a sample of 142 Black/African American college students from a medium sized university in the Midwest. Utilizing EQS, a path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized model. Findings from the analysis revealed …

Anxiety-Reducing Strategies In The Classroom, Robin K. Buchler

Dissertations

This case study research explored how sixth grade students experience and respond to anxiety prior to, during, and after receiving 10 sessions of instruction in anxiety-reducing strategies in the classroom compared to a group of similar students who do not receive instruction in anxiety-reducing strategies in the classroom. Three research-based strategies were taught: (a) progressive muscle relaxation, (b) breathing exercises, and (c) positive self- talk. Qualitative data were collected through journals the students kept, pre-questionnaires and post-questionnaires, observation notes, and field notes. Four strong themes, in the words of the students, were identified: (a) “I like it” – demonstrating autonomy; …

Psychosocial Interventions For Patients With Head And Neck Cancer., Cherith Semple, Kader Parahoo, Alyson Norman, Eilis Mccaughan, Gerry Humphris, Moyra Mills

School of Psychology

BACKGROUND: A diagnosis of head and neck cancer, like many other cancers, can lead to significant psychosocial distress. Patients with head and neck cancer can have very specific needs, due to both the location of their disease and the impact of treatment, which can interfere with basic day-to-day activities such as eating, speaking and breathing. There is a lack of clarity on the effectiveness of the interventions developed to address the psychosocial distress experienced by patients living with head and neck cancer. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life and psychosocial well-being for patients …

Maternal Modulation Of The Experience Of Novelty On Offspring Hormonal Stress Reactivity, Sarah Dinces

Psychology ETDs

Background: Studies have shown that both maternal and non-maternal environmental influences affect the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It remains unclear how these influences jointly interact to program offspring HPA function. Here, we test the hypothesis that non-maternal environmental effects on offspring HPA function depend contextually on maternal self-stress regulation. Methods: To examine individual differences in maternal self-stress regulation, mothers basal circulating and evoked corticosterone (CORT) response were measured shortly after weaning. The effects of the non-maternal environment were assessed by employing both the neonatal and the early adulthood novelty exposure procedures. The neonatal novelty exposure procedure occurred from …

I Tie Flies In My Sleep: An Autoethnographic Examination Of Recreation And Reintegration For A Veteran With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Warren D. Price

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic account details the author's ongoing struggle with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how leisure was integral to his journey toward recovery. By showing the mental and emotional struggles of life with the disorder, this paper offers an alternative viewpoint from the traditional scientific studies of PTSD which bury soldier's voices under layers of analysis. The purpose of this paper is to deepen and expand an understanding of both combat-related PTSD and the power of leisure in an individual's recovery from combat trauma

Mindfulness Meditation: Effects Of A Brief Intervention On Cardiovascular Reactivity During Acute Stress, Dustin Lamar Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness has historically been cultivated via formal meditation practice and the majority of meditation research examines individuals with extensive training or participants in Mindfulness based stress reduction programs that require considerable expense, a trained facilitator, and take approximately 8 weeks to complete. However, current literature does not speak directly to those who do not have the time or ability for such commitments. Formal mindfulness meditation practice and interventions reduce stress in various populations; however, the outcomes of a one-time intervention are relatively unknown. This study aims to examine whether a one-time (20-min) mindfulness meditation intervention would improve cardiovascular variables during …

The Effects Of Coping, Self-Esteem, And Social Support On Stress And Wellbeing, Emily Meyerhoffer-Kubalik

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The present study aimed to add to the literature on the internal and external factors that may buffer the negative effects of stress. Specifically, the present study examined the effects of coping styles, self-esteem, and social support on both psychological wellbeing and stress. Participants (N = 198) were administered a measure of coping styles (COPE), self-esteem (Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale), social support (SSQ-R), psychological wellbeing (MHI), and stress (ICSRLE). Results showed problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping were associated with better psychological wellbeing and lower stress. Avoidant coping was associated with lower psychological wellbeing and higher stress. Self-esteem was also related to …

A Curriculum Of Experiences: Environmental Elements That Facilitate Or Mediate Stress, Compassion Fatigue And Burnout Among Educators, Scott David Mcmanus

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

This study is a qualitative phenomenological exploration of the curriculum of experiences with environmental elements that contribute to, or mitigate, stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout among educators that work with special education students. A convenience sample of 24 participants representing 10 different job types was drawn from four schools in a single school district adjacent to a large metropolitan area in the Southern United States. Focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and prompted journal writings provided data that was systematically analyzed through holistic and contextually sensitive inductive processes to reveal seven emergent themes. Findings include narratives telling the stories of: how participants …

The Effects Of Acute Psychosocial Stress On Cognitive Performance, Anne I.S. Gray

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute psychosocial stress on cognitive performance. Psychosocial stress evolves from the perceived presence of a social evaluative threat and results in the activation of the home hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. As part of this reaction the stress hormone cortisol is secreted into the blood stream, ultimately crossing the blood-brain barrier, where it can have profound effects on various aspects of cognition. A review of the literature reveals that that attention, working memory, spatial judgment and cognitive processing efficiency are particularly susceptible to stress induced changes in performance level. A test battery …

Human Milk Cortisol Is Associated With Infant Temperament, Katherine R. Grey, Elyssia Poggi Davis, Curt A. Sandman, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The implications of the biologically active elements in milk for the mammalian infant are largely unknown. Animal models demonstrate that transmission of glucocorticoids through milk influences behavior and modifies brain development in offspring. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between human milk cortisol levels and temperament of the breastfed infant. Fifty-two mother and infant pairs participated when the infants were three-months old. Milk cortisol levels were assessed and each mother completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), a widely used parent-report measure of infant temperament. Analyses revealed a positive association between milk cortisol and the negative affectivity …

We Must All Work To Solve Childhood Obesity, Lisa Barkley

UCF Forum

Obesity is a global epidemic. It is particularly affecting our children and adolescents. This new phenomenon of having a chronic medical condition affecting such a large proportion of those under 18 years old is unprecedented.

Causes Of Stress And Coping Strategies Adopted By Undergraduate Health Professions Students In A University In The United Arab Emirates, Kadayam G. Gomathi, Soofia Ahmed, Jayadevan

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to compare causes of stress and coping strategies adopted by a sample of undergraduate health-profession students at the Gulf Medical University, United Arab Emirates. Methods: An anonymous voluntary questionnaire-based survey was conducted, from January to July 2011, among first- and second-year medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy students (N = 212) to identify causes of stress. Coping strategies were studied using the Brief COPE Inventory. Results: Worries regarding the future (54.2%) and parental expectations (40.1%) were the major stressors. Poor diet (36.8%) and a lack of exercise (36.3%) were also reported to cause stress. Students used multiple …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Relationship Between Hoarding And Stress, Ashley M. Shaw

Open Access Theses

Hoarding is an impairing disorder characterized by difficulties with discarding one’s belongings and often excessive acquisition, which lead to extreme clutter. Of the hypothesized risk and maintenance factors for hoarding, stress has emerged as an important risk construct. Traumatic and stressful life events have been associated with greater hoarding symptoms and possibly the onset of symptoms; yet, past research is marked by methodological limitations. Using experimental methodology and multi-method assessments, the current study investigated the direct effect of a stress manipulation on subsequent hoarding behaviors; the associations of biological and subjective stress response with hoarding behaviors, symptoms, and cognitions; and …

All Work And No Play: New Reference Librarians And Stress, Anne Larrivee

Library Scholarship

Poster presented on the stresses of new reference librarians.

Stress, Depression, Quality Of Life, And Language Recovery In Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy (Ciat), Brian Sharp

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Traditional aphasia treatment approaches focus initially on restoration of language, but quickly move to use of alternative modes of communication when progress is slow. Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT), a more intensive form of treatment, is based on the concept of frequent, long sessions and forced use of the impaired language system. Prior to the present study, the relationship between CIAT and stress had not been explored; therefore, this study compared cortisol stress levels and improvement of language skills in two groups of subjects, all of whom presented with expressive aphasia. Ten subjects participated in CIAT, and received 10 days …

Volunteering Among Surviving Spouses: The Impact Of Volunteer Activity On The Health Of The Recently Widowed, Kimberly J. Johnson

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Numerous studies link volunteering to positive mental and physical health for older adults, and recent studies have suggested that volunteering may be particularly beneficial for those who are widowed. This research examines the potential of volunteering to buffer participants from stress-related health declines associated with the death of a spouse.

Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research investigates the moderating role of volunteering on the self-rated health and depressive symptoms of recently widowed older adults. Consecutive waves of the HRS are used to identify respondents who experience the death of a spouse or who remain married, and those …

Identifying Medical Resident Stress With Work Domain Representation, Daniel Nystrom

Theses

Resident physicians must endure substantial amounts of stress to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to become competent, certified physicians. Multiple factors that contribute to high levels of stress in different areas of the healthcare domain have been identified, but stress continues to be a major problem despite this knowledge and efforts to reduce it. This thesis describes a holistic approach to the problem of resident stress by employing methods of Cognitive Work Analysis to systematically review and organize relevant research literature, observations, interview responses, and survey information according to the area of the work domain where each stressor is …

The Investigation Of Risk Factors For Upper Respiratory Infections Among College Students, Romie Barnes

Honors Theses

Upper respiratory tract infections and cold-like illnesses are common sources of morbidity among college students. The emphasis of hand-washing and reducing the dispersal of aerosol droplets by covering coughs and sneezes reduces the spread of the common cold. However, less emphasis is placed on other risk factors for reducing cold-like illness such as: stress level and physical activity (Doyle and Cohens 2009). An increase in stress and a decrease in physical activity are common among college students (Nichol et al 2005). For this reason, the present study analyzed the effects of stress and physical activity on the incidence of upper …

Exploring The Relationships Of Perceived Workplace Incivility, Stress And Burnout On Nurses' Turnover Intentions, Turnover Rate And Perceived Level Of Psychological Empowerment Through The Lens Of Complexity Science, Olubunmi O. Oyeleye

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Session presented on Sunday, April 14, 2013:

This study was designed to explore the relationships between perceived workplace incivility, stress and burnout on turnover intentions, turnover rates and perceived level of psychological empowerment among critical care and medical surgical nurses in community and tertiary hospitals through the lens of complexity science. Nurses' turnover and empowerment have become a workplace priority in healthcare. A non- experimental study was done using a 72 item survey. Findings demonstrated significant relationships (P

Examining Stress And Performance Anxiety As Predicting Factors Of Athletic Burnout In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Drew Barnard

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

In the past, burnout has been a popular topic for research. However, within the realm of athletics, a majority of such research has been focused on coaches, athletic department staff, and athletic trainers. The purpose of this study was to assess potential contributing factors of burnout among student-athletes at Lindenwood University, an institution with National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and Student-Life athletic programs. Completion of four questionnaires was required in this study; a Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, 1983), a Self-Rated Anxiety Scale (Zung, 1979), a Modified Burnout Questionnaire (Harris, 2005), and a Demographic Questionnaire. The student-athletes who participated …