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Focus Groups: Perceived Stress And Stress Management Techniques Of Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students, Emily Karevold

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This qualitative study examined the stress that occurred, and strategies used to alleviate stress during the first semester of Minnesota State University Moorhead Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Master program. Participants were assigned into focus groups of 3-4 individuals and asked open-ended questions and prompts regarding stress encountered during their time in the program but not exclusively related to course work and degree requirements. Students had the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about stress experienced during their first semester of graduate school as well as efforts they used to manage stress. Focus group sessions were recorded and transcribed into typed …

Exploring The Link Between Self-Distancing And “Stress Is Enhancing” Mindsets, Kyle Green

Masters Theses, 2020-current

While stress is generally framed as debilitating, past research has shown that adopting a mindset that focuses on the positive aspects of stress, referred to as a “stress is enhancing” mindset, can improve the ways in which one engages in stressful experiences. Researchers in this area have called for further investigation of the ways in which “stress is enhancing” mindsets are adopted. This study sought to explore the practice of self-distancing as a potential mechanism. It was hypothesized that participants who were instructed to write about a personally relevant future stressor from a distanced, third-person perspective would have more positive …

Chronic Stress-Induced Neuroinflammation: Relevance Of Rodent Models To Human Disease., Abigail G White, Elias Elias, Andrea Orozco, Shivon A Robinson, Melissa T Manners

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

The brain is the central organ of adaptation to stress because it perceives and determines threats that induce behavioral, physiological, and molecular responses. In humans, chronic stress manifests as an enduring consistent feeling of pressure and being overwhelmed for an extended duration. This can result in a persistent proinflammatory response in the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS), resulting in cellular, physiological, and behavioral effects. Compounding stressors may increase the risk of chronic-stress-induced inflammation, which can yield serious health consequences, including mental health disorders. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding the neuroinflammatory response in rodent models of chronic stress-a …

Assessing The Link Between Stress, Anxiety, And Depression In College Students And Their Academic Major, Intersectionality, Support, And Demographics, Joisy A. Santa

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the relationship between academic major, intersectionality, support, and housing as predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression in college students. The subject population was Hunter College students. Results indicated differential effects of the predictor variables as a function of students’ financial situation, gender, race, and peer support.

Student-Parent Needs: A Study At Coastal Carolina University, Breton Poster

Honors Theses

This article focuses on Student-Parents as an under-represented group on Coastal Carolina University’s (CCU) campus. Student-Parents face many additional difficulties in their college experience, compared to traditional students. The goal of this study is to bring attention to the needs of student-parents on CCU’s campus and determine how certain stress factors related to being a student-parent can influence their college experience. We found that a majority of student-parents on CCU’s campus faced high levels of financial stress, academic stress, and social stress. As a result, we suggest providing additional resources for student-parents to use on CCU’s campus to help combat …

Addressing Burnout, Stress And Self-Care In Graduate Students At Arcadia’S University Counseling Program, Lorraynne Moura De Amorim

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

Burnout is a threat to both graduate and licensed level clinicians (Warlick et al., 2021). Burnout and stress can lead to professional impairment and result in unethical practice (Daly & Gardner, 2020; Warlick et al., 2021). Self-care is described in the literature as a protective factor to cope with burnout and stress (Butler et al., 2017; Callan et al., 2021; Daly & Gardner, 2020; Warlick et al., 2021). The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics reinforces professional’s ethical duties of monitoring sign and symptoms of impairment, which could interfere with their practice (ACA, 2014). The purpose of this study was …

The Impact Of Stress During Adolescence And The Prevalence Of Pediatric Obesity, Olatunbosun Olakunri, Venkat Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Obesity is a chronic condition that can be attributed to myriad factors including socioeconomic status, biological risk factors, and various environmental factors. These factors can be considered stress factors, and exposure to various levels of stress can impact the development of stress within the pediatric patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between the environmental, mental, social, physical, and psychological stress adolescents are exposed to and how they contribute to the prevalence of pediatric obesity throughout the United States. Understanding these risk factors can help us as a community and most importantly as clinicians develop better …

Exploring The Nexus: The Influence Of Acculturation And Stress On Infant Outcomes Among Hispanic And Black/African American Adolescents, Mia I. Moreno

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Numerous studies on acculturation and acculturative stress exist; however, findings are inconsistent and overlook an exploration of differences between Hispanic and Black/African American (B/AA) adolescents’ acculturation, stress, and birth outcomes. Despite societal and cultural challenges for both minorities, Hispanic women typically have positive birth outcomes comparable to White women, but B/AA women show an increased risk for negative birth outcomes. Further, minority and adolescent childbearing women frequently receive fewer prenatal care (PNC) visits than recommended which may impact birth outcomes. Therefore, my study sought to compare Hispanic and B/AA women’s birth outcomes assessing acculturation and stress and examine the relationship …

Maternal Experience-Driven Changes In Oxytocin Neuron Co-Localization With Crf Receptors In The Hypothalamus Of Mice, Katherine Parra

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The postpartum period is a time of adaptiveness for new mothers who have to not only maintain their own health and well-being, but also that of a brand-new life. In both humans and across various common laboratory species like rats, mice, and non-human primates, priorities must shift greatly for a new mother to now include initiation and maintenance of offspring-focused behaviors regardless of her circumstances.The neurobiology of this adaptivity includes a complex sequence of changes that amount to suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) is a receptor involved with initiating the physiological stress response and …

Stimulate The Senses: How The Great Outdoors Affects Mental Health, Kayleigh Hite

University Honors College

Mental health disorders and illnesses are a majority concern in societies across the globe in our current age. This paper examines the impacts and the benefits of the outdoors in relation to mental health. Various aspects of the outdoors, such as connection, nature-based therapies, and specific elements, will be addressed to see what kind of an impact the outdoors can have. Studies on these aspects will be reviewed and compared to determine if it is hugely beneficial and worth trying before starting new medications with a long list of side effects for mental health disorders. The findings have shown that …

Heart Rate Metrics In Surgical Residents Performing An Educational Task Under Stress, Harkirat Jawanda, Kathryn K. Howard, Rose E. Callahan

Posters

Although a moderate amount of stress can be beneficial for performance, excess stress can lead to a decrease in fine motor skills, focus, decision-making skills, and communication.1-3.

• These effects can be especially detrimental in the operating room, where a stress-induced lapse in performance can lead to catastrophic outcomes for patients.
• One unique stressor experienced by surgical residents is observation by an attending surgeon during procedures, which has been shown to lead to an increase in stress related behaviors.4
• Mimicking the stress of the operating room in simulation environments presents the opportunity for residents to improve their ability to recognize and …

Understanding Stress And Coping Among Adults In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jocy-Anna Chevalier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, individuals in the United States (U.S.) and across the globe have experienced unprecedented levels of stress. The purpose of this study is to understand the stress experienced among adults in the U.S. and which coping processes affect their overall emotional well-being. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC), this study conducted a secondary data analysis (n=404) of adults across the U.S who completed an online survey examining their experiences with stress and coping. A Pearson correlation was utilized to explore the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. Paired samples …

Stress And Help-Seeking In Farmworkers In The Coachella Valley, Alexis Garcia, Daniela Mejia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

California farmworkers are a vulnerable population who face unique stressors that may increase their risk for mental health problems. The study’s purpose is: (1) to quantitatively investigate the relationship between stress and help-seeking attitudes among Coachella Valley farmworkers and (2) to qualitatively explore the factors affecting the utilization of mental health services. Data came from 28 participants recruited through the snowball sampling method. Quantitative data from the Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory (MFWSI) and the Mental Health Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS) suggests no relationship between help-seeking attitudes and stress levels. Qualitative data analysis revealed themes that reflected cultural views. Results show …

The Aftermath Of The Pandemic’S Effect On College Student Depression, Lorena Sedano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The present study examines how stress from the aftermath of the pandemic has affected college student depression. Using qualitative methods, ten college students voluntarily participated in recorded interviews. During these interviews students shared how the return to normality affected their experiences with depression, and the experiences of other students on campus. The study examined coping mechanisms to their adaptations, student’s individual stories, the effects that were viewed on campus, and their experiences during this transition. Students also completed the PHQ-2 and brief questions from the perceived stress scale. During the completion of the PHQ-2, 60% of students reported to have …

The Utilization Of Music And Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response In Reducing Stress, Robert Scott

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Stress is often identified as a “silent killer” and the negative impact on one’s mental and physical well-being is greatly impacted without intervention. This study sought to determine which form of coping, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) or music, is an effective strategy for reducing stress. The study was conceptualized using the positivist paradigm of research. An electronic survey was dispersed to participants via the website SurveyMonkey. Descriptive data was collected using demographic information gathered during the first portion of the survey. Participants’ self-identified stress levels were gathered before and after they viewed their randomly assigned coping strategy (ASMR or …

An Examination Of Products That University Of Mississippi Students Consume For Managing Their Stress, Kiersten Rickard

Honors Theses

Students are notoriously one of the most stressed groups in our society. Stress is a complex topic; causes, mitigation methods, and manifestations of stress all vary in an individual. Being that stress is an universal experience, this research capitalizes on the importance of stress and the methods used to mitigate stress. This study looks at, among other ideas, stress on the University of Mississippi campus in regards to demographics and the products (caffeine, sleep aids, over the counter medicines, stress supplements, and CBD) that students use. Results demonstrate that, overall, higher stress levels correlate to higher product usage rates. The …

Examining The Effects Of Acute And Chronic Stress On The Interrogative Suggestibility Of Young Adults, Claudia Cota

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

High-stress situations, like police interrogations, can hinder an individual's decision-making and critical-thinking ability (Liston et al., 2009), making them more susceptible to suggestive or leading messages during questioning. While research on suggestibility mainly focuses on children and adolescents, young adults may also be vulnerable to suggestion because of their sensitivity to social feedback (Blakemore & Mills, 2014; Redlich & Goodman, 2003). Since the legal consequences of suggestibility for young adults are more severe than for children or adolescents, it is essential to examine the role of stress in young adults' suggestibility. The present study used objective and subjective methods to …

The Importance Of Framing The Context Of Black/African Americans' Livelihood To Enhance Health Outcomes And Mitigate Health Inequalities, Elvis Gyan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study investigates the portrayal of Black/African Americans in Health Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs, which predominantly follow Eurocentric models while examining how social and structural determinants (e.g., community context) influence stress levels, general health, and relationship satisfaction through two main objectives. Firstly, it aims to scrutinize the acknowledgment of biases towards non-Eurocentric communities in published Administration of Children and Families HMRE programs, analyzing 39 research studies. Secondly, it examines the interplay between perceived community context, stress as a mediator, general health, and relationship satisfaction among Black/African Americans across three distinct articles by testing hypothesized process models. Results for …

Incorporation Of Mindfulness Application Use In Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia Curricula For Mitigation Of Stress And Anxiety In Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Kerrie Rodgers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The nurse anesthesia specialty is highly stressful, with educational training being no exception. High didactic demands and intensive clinical experiences are placed on student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs), increasing stress and anxiety in their personal and professional lives. High levels of psychological distress can lead to inadvertent consequences in students’ mental, emotional, and physical health and can contribute to illness, burnout, substance use, and compromise in patient safety. Some degree of stress is necessary for motivation to succeed and perform at high levels, and encountering stress while enrolled in a doctoral nurse anesthesia program is expected and unavoidable. A search …

The Effects Of A Guided Mindful Walk On Mental Health In University Students, Ashley V. Burdick, Sarah M. Camhi

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 590-601, 2024. College campuses in the United States are experiencing high levels of mental distress without adequate psychological resources to address the need. In addition, the majority of university students do not meet the physical activity guidelines for mental and physical health. Effective and time efficient resources are needed to address poor mental health and low physical activity among university students on college campuses. Mindful walking may be a promising solution. The purpose was to 1) measure change in mental health and 2) estimate physical activity from participation in a guided mindful walk in …

Stress And Exercise In Part 141 Flight Students, Reece Curcio, Thomas Vincent Hayes, Reon Porter, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

This study explores how stress levels relate to exercise habits among aviation students in a Part 141 collegiate flight program. There was no correlation between stress and exercise. This outcome was unexpected as the hypothesis was an inverse relationship between perceived stress and exercise.

Associations Between Stress, Health Behaviors, And Quality Of Life In Young Couples During The Transition To Survivorship: Protocol For A Measurement Burst Study, Dalnim Cho, Michael Roth, Susan K Peterson, Kristofer Jennings, Seokhun Kim, Shiao-Pei Weathers, Sairah Ahmed, J Andrew Livingston, Carlos Barcenas, Y Nancy You, Kathrin Milbury

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a life-threatening, stressful event, particularly for young adults due to delays and disruptions in their developmental transitions. Cancer treatment can also cause adverse long-term effects, chronic conditions, psychological issues, and decreased quality of life (QoL) among young adults. Despite numerous health benefits of health behaviors (eg, physical activity, healthy eating, no smoking, no alcohol use, and quality sleep), young adult cancer survivors report poor health behavior profiles. Determining the associations of stress (either cancer-specific or day-to-day stress), health behaviors, and QoL as young adult survivors transition to survivorship is key to understanding and enhancing these survivors' health. …

When They Just Don’T Sleep: Differential Impacts Of Reduced Child Sleep On Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among Caregivers Of Children With And Without Neurogenetic Syndromes, Kimberly Galvez-Ortega, Kristine Marceau, Dan Foti, Bridgette Kelleher

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Introduction: Children with neurogenetic syndromes commonly experience significant and pervasive sleep disturbances, however, associations with caregiver mental health remains unclear. Previous studies have linked sleep disturbances with increased caregiver depression in typically developing populations, and heightened caregiver stress among neurogenetic populations. The present study expands on findings by exploring the longitudinal association between child sleep duration and caregiver mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) throughout development (infancy to school-aged children) in dyads with and without a child affected by a neurogenetic syndrome.

Methods: Participants were drawn from the Purdue Early Phenotype Study, including 193 caregivers (Age: M = 34.40 years, SD …

Burnout Prevention In Christian Public And Private Middle School Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Rhonda Grider Purchase

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a momentous problem in academic settings today regarding stress and burnout among academic school leaders (Francis et al., 2017). The focus of this study was to examine the prevention of professional stress in the lives of middle school academic leaders. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of what the selected participants believed was the prevention of stress and burnout in middle school leaders in Newton County, Georgia. For this study, school leaders were defined as certified principals who hold a bachelor’s level or above degree and contribute to the academic environment …

Trajectories Of Self-Management And Independence In Youth With Spina Bifida: Family-Related Predictors Of Growth, Monique Ridosh, William Howard Adams, Colleen F. Bechtel Driscoll, Fabiola Magana, Kathleen J. Sawin, Grayson Holmbeck

Nursing: School of Nursing Faculty Publications and Other Works

The purpose of this study was to assess family-related predictors of self-management trajectories in youth with spina bifida (SB). Participants with SB completed the Adolescent/Young Adult Self-Management and Independence Scale (AMIS II) interview across four time points. Family functioning, family-related stress, and perceived family support were assessed by multiple reporters and multiple methods. Growth in AMIS II total self-management and the AMIS II subscales (Condition and Independent Living) were estimated using linear mixed effect models as a function of family factors, after controlling for socio-demographic, condition-related, and neuropsychological variables that had been found to be significant predictors of self-management in …

Current Awareness And Tools Available For Stress-Induced Ibs In Children, Tripta Rughwani

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Introduction: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that affects 13-38% of children (4-17 years) worldwide. Early life stresses like trauma, family pressure, abuse, and parenting factors may alter the HPA axis leading to GI sensitivity. IBS symptoms can impact an individual’s quality of life, affect school attendance, and can be emotionally and financially stressful for the caregivers. To date, there is no known cure for IBS. While antidepressants have shown some efficacy in treating moderate to severe IBS in adults, prescribing a universal antidepressant drug, especially to the pediatric population is challenging due to the variability …

Individual Differences In Cannabis Use Disorder With Implications For Endocannabinoid Modulation In Therapeutics Development, Erin L. Martin

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is increasingly prevalent in the United States, but there is no effective pharmacological means to treat it. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has emerged as a candidate therapeutic target demonstrating some evidence of efficacy in treating CUD. However, clinical trials evaluating eCB-modulating therapeutics have historically undervalued individual differences that could contribute to variation in treatment outcome (e.g. sex, comorbid psychiatric illness). To address this gap in the literature, the present set of studies (a) compared plasma eCB tone in groups underrepresented in treatment trials for CUD (females, individuals with comorbid major depressive disorder; MDD/CUD) with males or …

Development And Evaluation Of A Nurse-Leader Driven Restorative Break Initiative On Medical Surgical Unit And Its Impact On Burnout And Stress, Heike Miriam Doody

Dissertations

COVID impacted nurses on many levels, but most significantly accelerating the nursing shortage, increasing acuity, burnout, and stress (Khammissa et al., 2022). These interrelated factors created high turnover rates. Therefore, the aim of this project was to improve the burnout and stress scores of medical surgical nurses by 10% by the end of six weeks after assigning restorative breaks to be taken at specified times during the day.

The Stress Of Measuring Plantar Tissue Stress In People With Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: Biomechanical And Feasibility Findings From Two Prospective Cohort Studies, Chantal M Hulshof, Madelyn Page, Sjef G Van Baal, Sicco A Bus, Malindu E Fernando, Lisette Van Gemert-Pijnen, Kilian D R Kappert, Scott Lucadou-Wells, Bijan Najafi, Jaap J Van Netten, Peter A Lazzarini

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Reducing high mechanical stress is imperative to heal diabetes-related foot ulcers. We explored the association of cumulative plantar tissue stress (CPTS) and plantar foot ulcer healing, and the feasibility of measuring CPTS, in two prospective cohort studies (Australia (AU) and The Netherlands (NL)). Both studies used multiple sensors to measure factors to determine CPTS: plantar pressures, weight-bearing activities, and adherence to offloading treatments, with thermal stress response also measured to estimate shear stress in the AU-study. The primary outcome was ulcer healing at 12 weeks. Twenty-five participants were recruited: 13 in the AU-study and 12 in the NL-study. CPTS data …

Using Therapeutic Writing To Deconstruct Recovery From Postraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Pamela Phillips

Dissertations

Exposure to physical and psychological trauma has produced a post-millennial epoch of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating anxiety disorder that occurs after exposure to an extreme stressor or prolonged victimization. After an extensive review of treatment protocols in 2008, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) exhorted clinicians to focus on defining the concept of recovery, concentrating on symptom reduction, removal of the PTSD diagnosis, and end-state function. Although the IOM report mobilized large-scale efforts to quantify treatments and standardize delivery of treatment protocols, PTSD recovery remains a concept that has been largely unexplored. The primary aim of this study was …