Digital Commons Network^™

What Is The Relationship Between Quality Of Life And Coping Strategies Of Adults With Celiac Disease Adhering To A Gluten Free Diet?, Melissa Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, celiac disease was thought to be rare in the United States. However over the past ten years, the reported prevalence has increased from 1 in 4600 persons to 1 in 133 persons. The latest estimate makes the prevalence comparable to the prevalence in Europe, where the disease is considered to be common.

Celiac disease is a chronic illness occurring in genetically susceptible persons resulting in inflammatory changes in the upper small bowel as a consequence of intolerance to the gliadin in ingested wheat, rye, and barley. Fortunately, celiac disease can be effectively managed by strict adherence to a …

Social Ties And Cardiovascular Function: An Examination Of Relationship Positivity And Negativity During Stress, Wendy C. Birmingham, Bert N. Uchino, Timothy W. Smith, Kathy C. Light, David M. Sanbonmatsu

Faculty Publications

The quality and quantity of one’s relationships have been reliably linked to morbidity and mortality. More recently, studies have focused on links between relationships and cardiovascular reactivity as a physiological mechanism via the stress-buffering hypothesis. However, not all social relationships are consistently positive which points to the importance of a more comprehensive examination of relationship that includes negative qualities. In this study, we manipulated relationship positivity and negativity with an experimenter and examined its influence on cardiovascular reactivity. Results revealed that relationship positivity was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity for men and women. Relationship negativity, on the …

Effects Of Physical And Mental Tasks On Heart Rate Variability, Satya Anasuya Paritala

LSU Master's Theses

Demands at work are associated with an increased risk of cardio vascular diseases, but little is known about its underlying connection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of physical and mental tasks that induced stress, on Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Another aim was to observe the trends in subjective workload ratings in conjunction with the physiological response of the heart and also to assess the comfort level of the participants while wearing the heart rate monitor and performing tasks. Heart rate was recorded while at rest and while performing the tasks. Subjective workload ratings were obtained …

Professional Psychology Training Programs: Program Interventions And Prediction Of Doctoral Student Stress And Life Satisfaction, Crista Montgomery

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A growing literature on professional training and practice ofPsychology advocates that psychologists must be educated on risks and effects of impairment and the importance of self-care. Despite the general recognition of the importance of these issues, they have not been incorporated into training standards such as the American Psychological Association (APA) Guidelines and Principles of Accreditation (2007). In order to assess the approaches that programs currently adopt to address impairment and self-care, this study extended and updated previous research. A large sample of students ( n = 591) enrolled in APA accredited doctoral training programs in professionalPsychology completed surveys regarding …

Stressful Life Events And Interpersonal, Religious, And Spiritual Changes, Paul Murdock

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Survivors of stressful life events and traumatic experiences often report positive psychological changes "...as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances" (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004, p. 1). Three often reported areas of growth include having a greater appreciation for life in general, new priorities, and an increased significance placed on interpersonal, spiritual or religious issues. Despite reports of positive changes, the literature on stress-related growth (SRG) is inconclusive as to whether SRG is an illusion or represents actual change. For example, no studies to date appear to use longitudinal data, objective indictors, or behavioral measures of change. …

Effects Of An Evidence-Based Intervention On Stress And Coping Of Families Of Critically Ill Trauma Patients, Sandra Knapp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem/Purpose: Critical care nurses are frequently exposed to the stress experienced by their patients' families, yet they often do not have the knowledge or skills to help family members cope with the stress of critical illness. While needs and stressors of families of the critically ill have been researched extensively, no prior studies have been conducted to determine the effects of an evidence-based nursing intervention for reducing family members' stress and improving their coping skills. The purpose of this study was to determine if an evidence-based nursing intervention designed to address the needs of family members would reduce stress and …

The Stressors And Coping Strategies Of Women In Leadership Positions, Patricia Ann Bernard

Dissertations

Purpose

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) survey, 60% of employed women cited stress as their most serious problem at work. Working outside the home and balancing a family create conflicts between work and family obligations which become a likely cause of stress for women. While stress may be a problem among working women in general, it seems highly probable that women who function in leadership positions may experience additional stressors. Consequently, this study focused on investigating the stressors of women who currently function in leadership positions and the coping strategies they use to combat …

The Ability Of Firefighting Personnel To Cope With Stress, David Milen

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of the coping strategies and resources that firefighters use to deal with personal and workplace stressors. One hundred and fifteen firefighting personnel from 4 fire departments in Illinois and Indiana participated. The Coping Resources Inventory for Stress (CRIS) Scale measured stress levels and coping strategies. The results showed that firefighters who were not physically fit, who lacked social support, and who were unable to control tension and structure daily activities experienced feelings of low confidence. The findings from this study can provide fire department administrators and company officers with ways …

Disorders Of Extreme Stress, Not Otherwise Specified, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, And Borderline Personality Disorder: A Vignette Study Exploring Clinicians' Diagnostic Perceptions, Awen Knowles

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that some individuals who suffer invasive, early childhood trauma develop significant character pathology, and may meet the criteria for both Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Trauma researchers have proposed a new diagnostic category for these individuals, called Disorders of Extreme Stress, Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS), also known as Complex PTSD. The present study compared clinicians' symptom ratings for two case vignettes to determine if DESNOS was a better description of the cases than PTSD, BPD, or comorbid PTSD/BPD. Additionally, potential sex bias in diagnosis was examined by manipulating the sex of the client in …

Social Support As A Moderator Between Health Status And Self-Esteem, Psychosocial Stress, And Mood In Old Order Amish Women, Christina L. Abbott

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The Amish population is growing in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Kraybill, 2008) and Amish use of medical and psychological services provided by the outside world is increasingly common (Cates & Graham, 2002; Weyer et al., 2003). Yet, little is known about how Amish women perceive their health status or how these variables interact in this population. This study revealed an identifiable relationship between health status and psychological functioning in 288 Amish women, ages 18 to 45. As health improves, self-esteem and mood also improve. Of greater importance is the fact that when good social support is available, even Amish women in …

Small Individual Loans And Mental Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among South African Adults, Lia C. H. Fernald, Rita Hamad, Dean Karlan, Emily J. Ozer, Jonathan Zinman

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: In the developing world, access to small, individual loans has been variously hailed as a poverty-alleviation tool – in the context of "microcredit" – but has also been criticized as "usury" and harmful to vulnerable borrowers. Prior studies have assessed effects of access to credit on traditional economic outcomes for poor borrowers, but effects on mental health have been largely ignored.

Methods: Applicants who had previously been rejected (n = 257) for a loan (200% annual percentage rate – APR) from a lender in South Africa were randomly assigned to a "second-look" that encouraged loan officers to approve their …

Sense Of Humor, Stress And Coping, And Outcomes In Children's Lives, Lambertha Okhuizen-Stier Phd, Mph, Rn

Dissertations

Children are confronted with many stressors in their environment which may bring about symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, worry, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, restlessness, or low self esteem (Sharrer & Ryan-Wenger, 2002). To prevent the short and long term effects of stress, children may use coping strategies to manage or alter stressful life events (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). This study explores the relationships between stress and sense of humor among school-age children. A sample of 106 students (and parents/guardians) in the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) returned self-report instruments packets containing the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale for Children, and the …

Organisational Commitment: Buffer Of Work Stress?, Laura Jones

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Work stress has been linked to negative health outcomes; however, evidence has shown that organisational commitment can act as a buffer to work stress. This is known as the buffering hypothesis of commitment. It was hypothesised that affective commitment would buffer negative effects of specific work stressors and reduce ill health. A convenience sample of 52 urban bus drivers (44 male and 8 female) completed the ASSET questionnaire (an organisational stress screening tool). Limited evidence to support the buffering hypothesis was found, although high levels of commitment were associated with low levels of psychological ill health. Suggestive gender differences were …

The Effects Of Acute Stress On Human Prefrontal Working Memory Systems, Anthony J. Porcelli, Daniel Cruz, Karen Wenberg, Michael D. Patterson, Bharat B. Biswal, Bart Rypma

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

We examined the relationship between acute stress and prefrontal-cortex (PFC) based working memory (WM) systems using behavioral (Experiment 1) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI; Experiment 2) paradigms. Subjects performed a delayed-response item-recognition task, with alternating blocks of high and low WM demand trials. During scanning, participants performed this task under three stress conditions: cold stress (induced by cold-water hand-immersion), a room temperature water control (induced by tepid-water hand-immersion), and no-water control (no hand-immersion). Performance was affected by WM demand, but not stress. Cold stress elicited greater salivary cortisol readings in behavioral subjects, and greater PFC signal change in fMRI …

Enduring Mental Health Morbidity And Social Function Impairment In World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery, And Cleanup Workers: The Psychological Dimension Of An Environmental Health Disaster, Jeanne Mager Stellman, Rebecca P. Smith, Craig L. Katz, Vansh Sharma, Dennis S. Charney, Robin Herbert, Jacqueline Moline, Benjamin J. Luft, Steven Markowitz, Iris Udasin, Denise Harrison, Sherry Baron, Philip J. Landrigan, Stephen M. Levin, Steven Southwick

Publications and Research

Background The World Trade Center (WTC) attacks exposed thousands of workers to hazardous environmental conditions and psychological trauma. In 2002, to assess the health of these workers, Congress directed the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to establish the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. This program has established a large cohort of WTC rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers. We previously documented extensive pulmonary dysfunction in this cohort related to toxic environmental exposures. Objectives Our objective in this study was to describe mental health outcomes, social function impairment, and psychiatric comorbidity in the WTC worker cohort, as well as …

Crowding In Context: An Examination Of The Differential Responses Of Men And Women To High-Density Living Environments, Wendy C. Regoeczi

Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications

This study examines the question of gender-equivalent outcomes of mental health and social behavior in the context of crowding stress. It tests the hypothesis that gender will influence the exhibition of stress outcomes resulting from exposure to high-density living environments, with women displaying internalized responses and men responding with externalized styles. Expanding on the types of gender-appropriate disorders examined in this area of research, I selected depression, aggression, and withdrawal as gender-specific disorders based on theory and prior research. Multilevel analyses of data from a survey of Toronto residents indicate that, while the effects of household density are conditioned by …

Biology And Therapy Of Fibromyalgia. Evidence-Based Biomarkers For Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Dina Dadabhoy, Leslie J. Crofford, Michael Spaeth, I. Jon Russell, Daniel J. Clauw

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Researchers studying fibromyalgia strive to identify objective, measurable biomarkers that may identify susceptible individuals, may facilitate diagnosis, or that parallel activity of the disease. Candidate objective measures range from sophisticated functional neuroimaging to office-ready measures of the pressure pain threshold. A systematic literature review was completed to assess highly investigated, objective measures used in fibromyalgia studies. To date, only experimental pain testing has been shown to coincide with improvements in clinical status in a longitudinal study. Concerted efforts to systematically evaluate additional objective measures in research trials will be vital for ongoing progress in outcome research and translation into clinical …

A Stressor-Strain Model Of Organizational Citizenship Behavior And Counterproductive Work Behavior, Kimberly E. O'Brien

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prior research has attempted to develop a model of organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) and counterproductive work behaviors (CWB), but limited testing remains a problem. The purpose of the current study is to examine OCB and CWB from a job stressor-strain approach. The sample consisted of 235 employees throughout the United States and their supervisors. Results of the study suggested OCB and CWB are affected by stressors (including interpersonal conflict, low interactional justice, job demands, and organizational constraints). Additionally, trait emotion and attributional styles affect the amount of stressors perceived. The implications as well as limitations of the study are discussed.

Sticking It To The Man By Standing By Your Man: Social Support As An Act Of Resistance , Andrew Middleton Wallace

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize literatures on stress, social support, symbolic interaction, and de Certeau as they pertain to the recovery of a homosexually-identified individual from a homophobic interaction. A model of the initial stressful interaction as well as the interaction between a homosexually-identified individual and his socially-supportive network is posited with the consumption of culturally-disseminated roles and the salience of role-identities as the mechanisms by which it works. The model is then considered as a form of resistance in the light of broader gay liberation social movements. The study focuses on white, middle-class, American, homosexually-identified males …

Increasing Paramedic Student's Resiliency To Stress: Assessing Correlates And The Impact Of Intervention, Shirley Porter

Faculty and Staff Publications - CRI

The daily occupational stressors that paramedics must deal with, place these individuals at higher risk for physiological distress and burnout than the general population. Recently, attention has been focused on trying to identify the correlates of occupational stress. A review of the literature indicated that peer support, attitude towards emotional expression, and ways of coping may be predictive of psychological distress and burnout symptoms among this group of professionals. The current pilot study focused on paramedic students in the final year of their college program. Using a pre-test, post-test design, including a treatment and control group, this study sought to …

Romance In College: Effects Of Relationship Stress And Commitment On Scholastic Performance, Lauren Alderson, Kate Gruenloh

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

Due to the increased number of observed college students involved in romantic relationships, we decided to conduct a study to see if any correlation existed between those involved in romantic relationships and the students’ academics. In addition to this hypothesis, we were also interested in the varying levels of stress and commitment of a romantic relationship and their influence on academic performance. However after surveying 66 college participants regarding their feelings and opinions about their current or past relationships, our statistical findings did not support our initial research hypothesis.

Yoga As An Intervention For Stress Reduction And Enhanced Wellbeing In African American Athletes, Jennifer Fallon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study explored the preventive impact of a brief Hat ha yoga program on stress-reduction and enhanced wellbeing in a sample of healthy African American college athletes. African Americans suffer higher rates of hypertension and sudden cardiac death syndrome, both linked to stress. Study design was single case, with six replications, utilizing comparison of pre- and post-intervention scores on physiological and psychological indicators of distress and wellbeing. Findings were inconsistent across participants and measures, though generally included beneficial increases in positive affect (i.e ., C = 0.567 , Z = 2 071, p < 0.05) and perceived physical health (i.e., C = 0489, Z = 1. 721, …

Professional Burnout: Are Social Workers As Crispy As We Think?, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

This presentation focuses on burnout among social workers. The presentation will include historical and empirical information, findings from current research on the topic, and suggestions for identifying and managing burnout.

Escape From Death Row: A Study Of “Tripping” As An Individual Adjustment Strategy Among Death Row Prisoners, Sandra Mcgunigall-Smith, Robert Johnson

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] “The literature on stress and coping in American prisons tends to focus on the social dimensions of prison life. This literature describes a prison culture that shapes prison adjustment; such a culture entails norms, roles, and groups (including gangs) that dictate norms of adjustment. The literature also suggests that prisoners have to find a way to get along in the more public areas of the prison (such as the prison yard or mess hall) or retreat to smaller worlds within the prison while carving out “niches” that allow them to adjust in ways they find more familiar—in their jobs, …

Jurisdictions And Causes Of Action: Commercial Considerations In Dealing With Bullying, Stress And Harassment Cases-Part Ii, Niall Neligan

Articles

In the concluding part of this two part article, the author will
examine how the courts have developed rules for dealing with
tortious claims for psychiatric injuries arising out of bullying, stress
and harassment cases. The article will examine whether it is
desirable to consolidate and codify employment rights law in order
to provide clarity to prospective litigants. Finally, the author will
argue that if codification is required, then this will necessitate a
change in the nature of present jurisdictions for bringing claims
involving bullying, stress and harassment in the workplace.

Effects Of Sex, Age, And Season On Plasma Steroids In Free-Ranging Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma Cornutum), Corina L. Wack, Stanley F. Fox, Eric C. Hellgren, Matthew P. Lovern

Publications

The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is protected in several states due to its apparently declining numbers; information on its physiology is therefore of interest from both comparative endocrine and applied perspectives. We collected blood samples from free-ranging P. cornutum in Oklahoma from April to September 2005, spanning their complete active period. We determined plasma concentrations of the steroids, progesterone (P), testosterone (T), and corticosterone (CORT) by radioimmunoassay following chromatographic separation and 17β-estradiol (E2) by direct radioimmunoassay. T concentrations in breeding males were significantly higher than in non-breeding males. P showed no significant seasonal variation within either sex. …

The Relationship Between Early Life Stress And Microstructural Integrity Of The Corpus Callosum In A Non-Clinical Population, Robert H. Paul, Lorrie Henry, Stuart M. Grieve, Thomas J. Guilmette

Psychology Faculty Works

Background: Previous studies have examined the impact of early life stress (ELS) on the gross morphometry of brain regions, including the corpus callosum. However, studies have not examined the relationship between ELS and the microstructural integrity of the brain. Previous studies have examined the impact of early life stress (ELS) on the gross morphometry of brain regions, including the corpus callosum. However, studies have not examined the relationship between ELS and the microstructural integrity of the brain. Methods: In the present study we evaluated this relationship in healthy non-clinical participants using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and self-reported history of ELS. …

Religiosity And Successful Aging, Jessica L. York

ETD Archive

There has been an increasing amount of elderly individuals who have avoided the crippling health and physical problems that appear to vex so much of the older adult population. These successful agers have also learned to cope more effectively with both the normative and traumatic stressors they encounter over time. Successful aging has been defined in numerous ways and studied in a variety of contexts. This study set to define successful aging in terms of anxiety, depression, and subjective well-being, while also examining the relationship of successful aging with religiosity. The fundamental goal of this study was to examine the …

Developing Higher Consciousness: The Effects Of Mantra Meditation On The Development Of Self-Actualizing Qualities In Teachers, Lisa M. Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study focuses on teachers ranging from the elementary to secondary level who have practiced mantra meditation for at least three years while also teaching. By utilizing the methodology of portraiture, this study endeavored to determine if the practice of mantra meditation creates self-actualizing qualities in teachers, how teachers who practice mantra meditation perceive their response to stress and conflict in the classroom, and how teachers who practice mantra meditation perceive the effects of meditation on their personal and professional lives. The methodology of portraiture was chosen because according to Lawrence-Lightfoot, "with its focus on narrative, with its use …

A Comparison Of Coping Responses To Stress Among Counselor Education Students At The Beginning Stage, Practicum Stage, And Graduating Stage From Their Program Of Studies, Jill Maloney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in coping responses to stress among students in a Master's level counselor education program. The study was an investigation of the difference between three nonequivalent groups: Group A- Beginning counseling students, Group B- Practicum counseling students, and Group C- Graduating counseling students. Data was obtained through a demographic sheet developed by the examiner and a self report measure. The COPE inventory was administered to 65 graduate counselor education students to assess 15 different coping styles. The study had 15 hypotheses based on the 15 scales of the …