Digital Commons Network^™

Regulating Anger Under Stress Via Cognitive Reappraisal And Sadness, Jun Zhan, Xiaofei Wu, Jin Fan, Jiayou Guo, Jianshe Zhou, Jun Ren, Chang Liu, Jing Luo

Publications and Research

Previous studies have reported the failure of cognitive emotion regulation (CER), especially in regulating unpleasant emotions under stress. The underlying reason for this failure was the application of CER depends heavily on the executive function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), but this function can be impaired by stress-related neuroendocrine hormones. This observation highlights the necessity of developing selfregulatory strategies that require less top-down cognitive control. Based on traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine, which examine how different types of emotions promote or counteract one another, we have developed a novel emotion regulation strategy whereby one emotion is used to alter another. …

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction In Women With Overweight Or Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial., Nazia Raja-Khan, Katrina Agito, Julie Shah, Christy M Stetter, Theresa S Gustafson, Holly Socolow, Allen R Kunselman, Diane K. Reibel, Richard S Legro

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and cardiometabolic effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in women with overweight or obesity.

METHODS: Eighty-six women with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m

RESULTS: Compared to health education, the MBSR group demonstrated significantly improved mindfulness at 8 weeks (mean change from baseline, 4.5 vs. -1.0; P = 0.03) and significantly decreased perceived stress at 16 weeks (-3.6 vs. -1.3, P = 0.01). In the MBSR group, there were significant reductions in fasting glucose at 8 weeks (-8.9 mg/dL, P = 0.02) and at 16 weeks (-9.3 mg/dL, P = 0.02) compared to baseline. Fasting glucose did …

Sibrava Studies, Teaches About Stress And Anxiety, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

“There’s a cliché answer that you get from a lot of folks who say, ‘Well, I’ve always been interested in people,’ and that is true, but for me I always fan- tasized about being a lawyer when I grew up.” This is how Dr. Nicholas Sibrava explains his choice of career. In fact, he envisioned himself in a courtroom, just like in the movies.

It also explains why this native of Cleveland, Ohio obtained a bachelor’s degree in both criminology and psychology. The psychology part crept up on him while taking some psych courses. “Somewhere along the way I flip-flopped …

Experience Of The Neophyte Science Teachers: Through Their Eyes, David Thornton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A variety of lenses were used to examine the world of the novice science teacher. A degree of agency was provided by looking through the eyes of the beginning teacher. Previous studies focused on researcher or program’s orientation, the successes of various educator preparation programs, or were limited in scope to elementary teachers of science. This study was conducted to better understand and appreciate the high school novice science teacher’s view of science, teaching, and teaching science in the today’s contextual setting. Experiences encountered during the initial year of teaching high school science and as perceived by teachers without previous …

A Mindfulness-Based Approach To Student Self-Care, Brenda Kucirka

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This experimental pilot study explored the effectiveness of an 8 week mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive behavioral intervention in impacting wellbeing among first semester junior nursing students. Findings indicate that MBSR and cognitive behavioral approaches are effective in supporting student wellbeing.

Impact Of Social Support And Stress On Blood Pressure Among West African Immigrants, Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran, Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, Ozioma A. Amadi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Cardiovascular health may be influenced by stress and social support. However, this relationship has not been examined in African immigrants to the United States. The relationship between perceived stress, social support. and mean systolic blood pressure was examined in a sample of West African immigrants living in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Complementary And Alternative Therapies For Stress Relief, Elizabeth V. Kinchen, Victoria W. Loerzel

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Student nurses" experience of stress while enrolled in educational programs is well-documented in the global literature (Cleary, Horsfall, Baines & Happell, 2012; Fornes-Vive, Garcia-Banda, Frias-Navarro & Rosales-Viladrich, 2016; Galbraith, Brown & Clifton, 2014; Graham, Lindo, Bryan & Weaver, 2016; Suresh, Matthews & Coyne, 2012); however, strategies to alleviate, manage, and cope with education-related stressors have not been fully explored.

Stressors to which nursing students are particularly vulnerable can have significant effects on ability to navigate educational and clinical environments, often contributing to ‘burnout", dissatisfaction, and attrition in the profession (Asuero, Queralto, Pujol-Ribera, Berenguera, Rodriguez-Blanco & Epstein, 2014). In addition, the …

Self-Reported Parenting Stress And Salivary Cortisol Following Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention, Lisa R. Roberts, G. Griffin Boostrom, Salem Omar Dehom, Cameron L. Neece

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: To examine the correlation of self-reported stress and salivary cortisol, a stress biomarker.

Parents of children with developmental delays (DD) experience higher levels of stress than parents of typically developing children. Roughly one- to two-thirds of parents of children with DD experience clinical levels of parental stress (Davis & Carter, 2008). Children with DD have significantly more behavior problems, experience more emotional difficulties, and are more likely to have clinical levels of behavior problems than typically developing children (Emerson & Einfeld, 2010). Parenting stress and child behavior problems appear to have an interdependent, reciprocal relationship (Neece, Green, & Baker, …

Development And Validation Of The Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (Dtq), Elizabeth C. Rojas

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Distress tolerance (DT) is the perceived ability to withstand psychological stress, and has been studied for its relationship to psychopathology, personality features, mood states, and behaviors. Previous work suggests that the two existing modalities of DT measurement (behavioral and self-report) are tapping conceptually and empirically different constructs. The current developed a novel, self-report measure of DT that conceptually mapped onto behavioral DT in two samples: community participants (N = 982) and undergraduates (N = 282). Two separate factors emerged, non-goal oriented distress intolerance (DI), and goal-oriented distress tolerance (DT). Fit indices were acceptable in the community sample, but poor in …

Stress, Burden, And Health Status In Caregivers Of Heart Failure Patients, Ya-Ching Liu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Exploring the relationships between stress、burden, heath status and disease prognosis in patients with heart failure will help to improve the care cognition in caregivers of heart failure patients. In this study, we tried to investigate the stressors, load, and health-related factors of major caregivers in patients with heart failure

Methods: During a period of one year, a total of 116 participants was recruited. A descriptive method, structured questionnaires and physiologic variables were conducted in this cross-sectional study. Received the location for the Cardiology Department of Cardiology and Cardiology Internal Medicine ward.The participants were the caregivers of patients with …

Stress And Psychotherapy Outcome: Implementation Of A Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Intervention To Improve Psychotherapy Outcome, Louise Fidalgo Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that psychotherapy patients experience increased physiological responsivity to stress which might negatively impact their experience in psychotherapy and their overall progress and outcome. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a heart rate variability biofeedback intervention on the physiological stress responsiveness and the psychotherapy outcomes of participants in psychotherapy. Forty college students attending psychotherapy at their university counseling center were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in a 6-week biofeedback intervention and we assessed their physiological stress reactivity before and after implementation of the intervention, …

Effects Of An Early Life Immune Challenge On Body Growth, Personality, Mating Behaviors, And Brain Development Of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia Guttata), Ahmet Kerim Uysal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The developmental stress hypothesis predicts that an aversive condition, such as decreased food intake, predation, and social isolation, in the early developmental stage could have long term effects on behaviors and brain development of an animal. In nature, bird nestlings are susceptible to various factors, such as malnutrition, infections, and parasites. Effects of early life stress on adulthood have been extensively studied with some stressors including malnutrition. However, immune challenges as an early life stressor and their long-term programming effects on adult behaviors are yet to be studied in detail. The goal of the current study was to investigate changes …

The Effect Of Therapy Dogs On Children In A Learning Environment, Kimberly Ann Sheckler

Theses and Dissertations

Having a dog in school can seem exciting for many students, but can these furry companions actually help students attain higher levels of academic success? The benefits of therapy dogs in an educational setting can be seen in many research studies. Dogs in the classroom can be used to calm fears, relieve anxiety, and teach skills to students (Lessons Learned from Dogs in the Classroom, 1996). Even though there is much evidence of the positive benefits of therapy dogs in a school, many schools still choose not to have therapy dog programs. This thesis looks at the benefits of therapy …

Beyond Access Towards Success For First-Generation College Students Of Underrepresented Ethnic Backgrounds: The Role Of College Adjustment And Perceived Stressors On Academic Achievement During The First Year, Shannon Williams

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The current study explored the first year college transition between traditional and underrepresented student groups (ethnic minorities and first-generation college students; N = 500; M age = 18.34) at a diverse institution, comparing GPA and college adjustment over time. Using Tinto’s retention model (1975), the aim of the current study explored whether social and academic adjustment differences would explain any gap in academic achievement among underrepresented students groups. Results indicated that first-generation college students (FGC) of minority ethnic backgrounds reported significantly lower GPA scores, and had lower adjustment subscale scores compared to all other student groups by the end of …

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 …

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 …

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). …

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 …