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Cortisol In Hair As A Measure Of Chronic Stress During Sow Gestation And The Pattern Of Cortisol In Blood During Parturition In Sows, Talia Everding

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, as it influences many metabolic processes to maintain glucose homeostasis during stressful experiences, including physical and psychological stress. It can be detected in biological matrices such as blood and hair and is released rapidly during sudden stressors and continuously during longterm stress. Blood cortisol fluctuates rapidly in response to acute stressors like pain, exertion, and fear; in hair cortisol accumulates steadily over the period of hair growth and may be useful for detecting chronically elevated cortisol resulting from long-term stress. The objective of this research was to, 1) determine the influence of a …

Distinguishing Relational Turbulence, Marital Satisfaction, And Parenting Stress As Predictors Of Ineffective Arguing Among Parents Of Children With Autism, Kellie St Cyr Brisini, Denise Haunani Solomon

Faculty Publications

Relational turbulence theory suggests that relational turbulence causes pervasive patterns of dysfunctional communication in romantic relationships, such as an inability to resolve conflicts. Other research traditions link marital conflict to marital satisfaction and also exposure to stress. This study assesses the discriminant validity of relational turbulence by examining its association with reports of ineffective arguing, above and beyond the associations with marital satisfaction and parenting stress. The study tests the theoretical claims within the high stress context of parents raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Married, parents of children with ASD (N = 298) completed measures of parenting stress …

Oral Cbd Administration: Assessing Bioavailability And Behavioral Outcomes In A Rodent Model, Jordan Skully

Wayne State University Theses

There has been a recent surge in popularity for cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotropic constituent of cannabis, due to numerous claims of potential therapeutic properties, which include, but are not limited to, anxiolytic, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, as previous scientific literature on CBD's effectiveness in providing such therapeutic effects is limited, this project was aimed to evaluate the potential beneficial properties of a hemp derived 99% pure CBD compound provided from Ellipse Analytics (Denver, CO) in a rodent model. We analyzed the pharmacokinetics of this CBD product as well as the behavioral outcomes after acute and chronic administration. Pharmacokinetics …

Methamphetamine-Induced Modulation Of Anxiety/Depressive-Like Behaviors And Hpa Axis Output : Contributing Factors Within Stress Associated Brain Regions, Jason Jacobskind

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Methamphetamine (MA) is a psychostimulant drug of addiction that induces a wide range ofeffects. Among its many side effects is the potentiation of cellular, physiological, and behavioral changes in the stress response system. Upon exposure, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is initiated. This process entails many factors. Receiving input from other brain regions, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus secretes corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin into the anterior pituitary gland. These together stimulate the synthesis and release of adrenocorticotropic hormone, which circulates via the blood stream to cause the release of glucocortoicoids, the stress hormone (CORT). Binding of glucocorticoids …

Behavioral, Endocrine, And Neural Responses To Stress In Postpartum And Nulliparous Rats : Potential Mechanisms Of Postpartum Stress Resilience, Joanna Medina

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Major depressive disorder is one of the most pervasive psychiatric illnesses in the United States. Women are at greater risk for developing depression, particularly during their childbearing years. Approximately 17% of new mothers develop postpartum depression within 4 weeks after parturition. The risk for postpartum depression is even greater in women who do not breastfeed or stop breastfeeding early. Major depressive disorder and postpartum depression share the same symptomology and common etiological bases. Dysregulated stress responses, dopamine activity, and neuroinflammation are recognized mechanisms for depression. The transition to motherhood encompasses physiological and behavioral adaptations in the brain essential for ensuring …

Black Women Social Workers : A Qualitative Exploration Of Stress And Coping, Collina D. Cooke

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Black women social workers (BWSW) represent essential workforce members. They are burdened by overlapping expectations associated with their multiple marginalized and unique identities. Their definitions of stress and creation of strategies to deal with highly stressful situations have been absent from the research literature, leaving intervention strategies to support highly stressed BWSW unknown. This study was developed to explore stress perceptions and holistic manifestations of stress. A primary focus was to highlight the coping responses used by BWSW to decrease stress levels. In addition, the researcher sought to investigate various ways organizations have created stressful situations for BWSW and identify …

Implications For Occupational Therapy Student Stress, Well-Being, And Coping: A Scoping Review, Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, Leah S. Dunn, Amanda M. Carpenter

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Scholarly literature and non-scholarly news sources have highlighted stressors in higher education. The rigor of occupational therapy education can compound student stress. Although the profession recognizes these stressors, insufficient literature exists regarding strategies to cope with and manage these sources of stress. This scoping review explored the literature examining stress and the implications for occupational therapy student well-being and coping, and also identified strategies for faculty to support student well-being. Using PRISMA Scoping Review guidelines, a systematic, multi-phase process was used to identify relevant literature. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, MEDLINE Complete, Web of Science, ERIC, and Education Database. …

Exploring Occupational Therapy Student Stress: Professor And Student Perspectives, Jessica Grab, Meghan Green, Julianna Norris, Kristen Pilchik, Grace S. Fisher

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to identify occupational therapy student stress levels and determine factors influencing this emotional response. The study also sought to obtain the perspective of occupational therapy professors on this issue. This mixed-methods study utilized an online quantitative descriptive survey and a telephone or face-to-face qualitative open-ended interview. Online survey respondents included a nationwide sample of 340 occupational therapy professors and 459 occupational therapy students. Additionally, nine professors and five students served as the interviewees. All professors were certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and employed either full or part time …

Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Wellness: Focus Group Findings, Kelsey Lawrence, Katherine Chin, Stacy Smallfield

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite the evidence of significant consequences stemming from the intense demands on students, most graduate-level programs have insufficiently considered components of students’ wellness. Thus, the purpose of this research study was two-pronged: 1) to evaluate current occupational therapy students’ perceptions of wellness and 2) to explore student perceptions on using communities of practice as a program delivery method to enhance wellness. A qualitative study design was selected to gather experiences and feedback from occupational therapy graduate students. Participants were recruited via email from a convenience sample of a large, research-based Midwestern occupational therapy program. Participants attended one focus group and …

Building Stress Resilience And Wellbeing: Introducing Mindfulness Training To Reduce Stress In Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students, Jen Willoughby Vogtmann, Ingrid Provident

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Given the high levels of stress in college students and its impact on academic achievement, a purposefully designed curriculum-based mindfulness stress reduction program was implemented for entry-level occupational therapy students to support student mental health. The small-scale, seven-week study, used a combination of mindfulness-based stress reduction strategies, including a meditative technique known as inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR), and coping strategies using the Occupational Performance Coaching Model to help students cope with their stress levels. Sixteen student participants explored a variety of stress reduction strategies to best suit their individualized needs. Strategies included phone applications, podcasts, guided meditation, yoga, mindfulness of …

Veteran Teachers Are Like A Rooted Tree: Comprehensive Formal Mentoring As A Mitigating Factor For Stress, Burnout, And Attrition For K-8 Public School Veteran Teachers, Heidi Akin

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Teaching is known to be a highly stressful occupation. Experiences of prolonged stress can lead to teacher burnout and attrition. Veteran teacher attrition, primarily teacher migration, negatively impacts students with the greatest needs and does not address antecedent factors driving the pattern of attrition. Comprehensive formal mentoring has been documented as a mitigating factor for stress, burnout, and attrition for new teachers. Although veteran teachers also face several salient causes of stress and burnout, there appears to be very little research on, or programs of, comprehensive formal mentoring designed specifically for veteran teachers. Therefore, this qualitative, phenomenological study explored the …

Obesity-Related Health Behaviors And Stress Among Sexual Minority Women, Kristen Andrea Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adult obesity rates have continued to rise with 40% of the adult population in the United States currently being categorized as obese. Sexual minority women are more prone to obesity than heterosexual women. Obesity has been linked to several causes of premature and preventable death and has often been attributed to changeable health behaviors such as physical activity, diet, and sleep. Additionally, stress has been shown to impact health behaviors as well as rates of obesity. Sexual minority women are known to experience more stress due to their minority status, a concept described in minority stress theory which states that …

The Effects Of Humor When Coping With Stress, Rahmel Dixon

CMC Senior Theses

Although humor is often used in professional, social, and political settings, its empirical importance is usually laughed at. I argue that scholars should give more attention to the topic. Building on prior research, the present work will explore the relationship between stress relief and the use of humor. Specifically, it will reveal the usage of humor to cope among historically stressed groups of people. Lastly, as stress and marginalization are linked, the study will also look at the relationship between a racially marginalized group, Black people, and their use of humor to relieve stress or cope.

Viability Of Physiologically Timed Relaxation Interventions In Children With Asd, Nicholas Mendez

CMC Senior Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an increasingly common developmental disorder that changes how people experience the world and affects individuals’ social interactions and often leads to many adverse behaviors. Current literature dictates that a primary contributor to these adverse behaviors is that those with ASD have difficulty determining their own emotional states and determining the physiological signals that their body sends them. A study by Dr. Sarabadani et al. determined that it was possible to monitor the physiology of an individual with ASD and correlate certain signals to emotions, such as stress. These findings indicate the feasibility of establishing a …

Implementing The Mothers And Babies Program To Reduce Preterm And Low Birth Weight Deliveries, Tan Frison

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Georgia ranks fourth (4th) in the nation for the highest low birth weight rate at 10%, and sixth (6th) in the nation for preterm birth rate at 11.7%, among the states. Based on statistical data Bulloch county has maintained an average low birth weight statistic of 10% for over a decade. In 2019, there were 107 preterm and 79 low weight births in Bulloch county, Georgia. These numbers confirm there is a need for more preventive resources for mothers and children within this community. To address this burden, the Bulloch County health department has decided to implement the Mothers and …

Designing A Program To Help Urban Pastors Cope With Compassion Stress, Valerie Andrews

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Clergy are in a unique position as emotional and spiritual first responders to individuals and families during times of crisis including the current global pandemic due to COVID-19. While the most rewarding part of ministry is helping people by offering spiritual direction, these services can also be the very things that threaten and inflict harm on their personal, physical and spiritual lives (Ferguson, 2007). The purpose of this dissertation is to help clergy effectively cope with and manage the stressors of ministry that can lead to compassion stress, fatigue or vicarious trauma and other distress responses. To this end, I …

Novel Machine Learning And Wearable Sensor Based Solutions For Smart Healthcare Monitoring, Rajdeep Kumar Nath

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The advent of IoT has enabled the design of connected and integrated smart health monitoring systems. These health monitoring systems can be utilized for monitoring the mental and physical wellbeing of a person. Stress, anxiety, and hypertension are the major elements responsible for the plethora of physical and mental illnesses. In this context, the older population demands special attention because of the several age-related complications that exacerbate the effects of stress, anxiety, and hypertension. Monitoring stress, anxiety, and blood pressure regularly can prevent long-term damage by initiating necessary intervention or clinical treatment beforehand. This will improve the quality of life …

Effects Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Pt150 On Stress-Induced Fentanyl Seeking In Male And Female Rats, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Emily D. Denehy, Benjamin A. Carper, Tracy L. Nolen, Mark A. Prendergast, Michael T. Bardo

Psychology Faculty Publications

Rationale Opioid use disorder (OUD) is highly comorbid with stress-related disorders, and stress can serve as a trigger for reinstatement of drug seeking. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonists such as mifepristone (RU-486) may be effective against stress-induced drug seeking. In the current study, PT150 (formerly ORG-34517), a more selective GR antagonist, was tested using two models of stress-induced drug seeking, namely footshock and yohimbine.

Methods Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer fentanyl (2.5 μg/kg/infusion, i.v.) in a model of escalation. Rats then received 7 days of abstinence, followed by extinction; PT150 (0, 50 or 100 mg/kg in …

Developing A Nomological Network To Incorporate Learned Helplessness Into Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Nicholas Kovacs

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Employees are facing personal traumas, higher stress, and work pressures that are likely to result in both short- and long-term impacts. To mitigate these negative impacts, organizations should focus on applying research related to employees’ responses to trauma and stress. Learned helplessness, which is well-established within clinical psychology and less established within the industrial-organizational literature, occurs as a direct response to perceived control over trauma and could thus relate to the ability to overcome trauma. In relation to control-related constructs, industrial-organizational researchers have focused on resilience, hardiness, and work locus of control (LOC). However, each of these constructs account for …

The Relationship Between Stress And Quality Of Life In People With Multiple Sclerosis: The Mediating Role Of Resilience, Byung Jin Kim

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system encompassing the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve, in which the patient’s immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues. Due to the unpredictable characteristics of the disease, MS can lead to an unusually high level of stress and may negatively impact the individual’s QoL. Resilience is a psychological structure that shows positive coping and adaptive ability from difficult or stressful situations. Resilience also indicates a buffering effect on the stressors of individuals with disabilities and serves to protect psychological health and function from disability. The purpose of this …

A Comparative Study Of Stress, Trauma, Well-Being, And Future Orientation Among Community College Students, Melinda A. Lemaster

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This study measured perceived stress, past trauma, well-being, and future orientation in a sample of community college students located in the Southeast United States. The sample included 412 participants (78%) female; 59% of student participants reported living in a rural community and 41% in a non-rural community. The mean age was 22 for 70% of participants, while 30% were over age 30. Framed by Family Stress Theory and Human Ecological Systems Theory, the study tested whether rural college students would report higher levels of stress, more past trauma, lower well-being and future orientation when compared with non-rural students. In addition, …

The Comfort Watch: Psychology And Media Theory Perspectives On Nostalgia And Film, Sohni Kaur

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis explored the relationship between nostalgia, film, and coping mechanisms,

using both media theory and psychological lenses. Nostalgia, a concept with roots in both media theory and psychology, is best defined as homesickness for a time rather than a place. Nostalgia, when combined with film, leads to the concept of “comfort watches”, a scarcely researched topic. From a psychological standpoint, research suggests that nostalgia and media usage are commonly used coping mechanisms, yet there has been little to no research combining the two. The psychological study included in this thesis was conducted online in the United States using 83 …

Frontal Alpha Wave Asymmetry In Regard To Affect, Monica Leigh Sewell

All Master's Theses

This study examines frontal alpha brain wave asymmetry (FAA) in relation to emotion processing. Previous research has shown that differences between left versus right FAA could exhibit a neurological marker for emotional intelligence (EI), mental health, and stress. Behavioral data were collected using Profile of Emotional Competence Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. This was followed by a series of resting EEG recordings. This study hypothesizes that participants who are mentally healthy, have higher EI scores and lower stress will display greater left FAA. The hypothesis is partially supported; participants with depression had greater …

Evaluating The Impact Of Resilience Training In The Group Home Care Provider Population, Gwangia O. Hudson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Stress, compassion fatigue (CF), and burnout are all potential problems faced by those who have adopted a career in caring for others. Poorly managed stresses are associated with strained work interactions, dysfunctional personal connections, poor health, and poor quality of work (Edwards & Burnard, 2003; Richardson et al., 2015; Zajac et al., 2017). Organizations do well to focus on preventing stress, CF, and burnout; and or at a minimum providing, employees with tools to build resilience (Edwards & Burnard, 2003; Gentry, 2018; Zajac et al., 2017).

An Examination Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Health Threat, Stress, And Social Isolation On Lifestyle Habits As Analyzed Through The Protection Motivation Theory, Luciana Adib Soares

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 emerged in China in 2019 and quickly spread to other countries, leading to mandated lockdowns and social isolation. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of the COVID-19-generated stress, health threat, and social isolation on dietary, physical activity, and self-care habits of adults in Florida, utilizing the PMT as a framework. Participants (n = 478) completed online surveys about demographics, perceived stress, and changes in lifestyle habits. Significant positive changes were reported in cooking at home (p < .001) frequency, sweets (p < .001), and breakfast (p = .009) consumption, outdoors physical activity (p = .005), self-care (p < .001), relaxation (p < .001), and rest (p < .001) habits. Significant negative changes were reported in fast food (p = .004) and snack (p < .001) consumption. A significant relationship existed between self-reported stress, perceived threat, (r = .33, p < .001), and perceived efficacy, (r = -.15, p = .002). Perceived threat was the most important predictor of changes …

High School Student-Athlete Sleep Habits Using Activity Monitoring, Corey Thomas Ungaro

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Sleep research is an area of scientific inquiry that impacts all individuals due to sleep's effects on health, well-being, and performance. Healthy sleep habits have been shown to improve academic and athletic performance in collegiate student-athletes. Surprisingly, no sleep research has been conducted on high school student-athletes during a semester. High school student-athletes can benefit from understanding their sleep habits and how sleep can affect the development of the adolescent brain and improve performance giving athletes the potential for a competitive advantage. This retrospective analysis aims to examine the sleep habits of student-athletes while balancing their academic and athletic responsibilities …

Evaluating Students’ Perceived Stress, Sleep Quality, And Physical Activity In Exercise Is Medicine® On Campus Student-Led Health Consultation Program, Nickolas Saade Rahawi, Aaron D. Espitita Gonzalez, Ellea E. Bachmeier, Joanna L. Morrissey, Lisa J. Leininger

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The American College of Sport Medicine created the Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) initiative to improve health through the promotion and prescription of physical activity. The EIM-On Campus (EIM-OC) initiative uses physical activity as a vital sign for promoting healthy behaviors among students and employees on a college campus. The EIM-OC initiative was launched at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) in Fall 2019. The purpose of this research project was to promote and evaluate college students’ health behaviors associated with the implementation of the EIM-OC initiative at CSUMB. We hypothesized significant improvements in perceived stress, sleep quality, and total physical …

The Relationship Between Stress And Emotional Eating In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Rachel Gasser, Sydney Dominek

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Nursing students consistently report high levels of stress. This replication study examined the relationship between stress and emotional eating in undergraduate nursing students and compared findings with the original 2012 study. The non-experimental study was guided by the Psychosomatic Theory. Sampling and data collection occurred using three waves of recruitment emails to all sophomore and senior nursing students in spring of 2021. Stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Tool. Emotional eating was measured with the Weight and Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire. Emotional eating was higher in seniors, there was no level difference in stress, and BMI was higher in sophomores, …

Exploring Early Signaling Associated With Complex Stressors, Julia A. Penatzer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Humans are constantly exposed to a vast number of stressors in our everyday lives from social interactions to physical activity to chemical exposures, to name a few. These stressors have significant impacts on an individual, from the cellular to whole organismal level. The body contains an intricate communication system that elicits a number of both biological and physiological responses as it attempts to maintain homeostasis. Observing these responses to stressors, can offer insight into a number of outcomes, which can be beneficial (increasing life longevity) or detrimental (leading to a disease state). By measuring specific biological adaptations at particular time …

The Effectiveness Of Mixed Personality Trait Analysis With Multiple Stress Education Model In Coping With Stress Among International Students In American, Xiaoyang Mei

DNP Research Projects

No abstract provided.