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A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring How Licensed Marriage And Family Therapists Describe The Emotional Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Melissa Lund

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) in private practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was viewed through the lens of resilience theory, which suggests that an individual's ability to adapt and overcome adverse experiences is based on their individual level of resilience. Eight LMFTs varying in demographics, such as age, gender, and ethnicity, as well as length of time in practice participated in individual interviews exploring their lived experiences during the pandemic. The study's questions aimed to gain a better understanding of the emotional impact of …

Wearable Device Case-Study: Unveiling Physiological Stress Patterns In A Neurosurgeon Operating Multiple Surgeries, Andy Suarez, Justin Braun, Gabriel J. Sanders, Yoav Ritter, Steven Vanni, Jaime Tartar, Corey A. Peacock

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Introduction

Utilizing a wearable device, this case study aims to measure stress at different surgical durations to bridge the gap in research regarding the physiological stress of surgery. Significant stress variations throughout the surgeries are anticipated, which will provide valuable insight into the patterns of physiological stress experienced by our neurosurgeon.

Materials and Methods

One male neurosurgeon subject (n=1; age: 48; height: 188 cm; weight: 87.3 kg) conducted 82 surgeries (2023-2024). A wearable device (Whoop 4, Boston, MA) was used to monitor maximum heart rate (MAXHR), average heart rate (AVGHR), calories (CAL), strain (STR) and surgery duration (MIN). Surgeries were …

Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Amputees, Zachary Elmore

Dissertations

Problem: depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are more commonly diagnosed in the amputee population related to changes in mobility, activities of daily living, and quality of life (Turner et al., 2020.) As the amputation population is projected to reach over 3 million Americans in the next 25 years, additional screening is imperative to identify patients at high-risk for mental health deterioration (Ziegler-Graham et al., 2018).

Methods: this was a project that included screening all patients with the Personal Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-8) meeting the inclusion criteria of being admitted to 7500 Vascular Surgery at Barnes-Jewish …

Student Stress In Animal Science, Jayden Lynn Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

Anecdotally, college students have high levels of stress when compared to the rest of the population. There have been many studies that support this idea in programs outside of animal science, but with the shift in animal science from students that have prior livestock experience to those that do not, it is important to acknowledge how this shift impacts the student population. By evaluating courses in animal science, and how they impact student stress it is possible to determine if the present-day curriculum causes any additional stress on students that have less prior experience. In the United States, a majority …

Institutional Change And Employee Commitment In The United States Space Force, Daniel M. Dempsey

M.S. in Leadership

Change is desirable by organizations seeking to increase their competitive advantage and the United States Space Force is not immune to those same demands. As the United States’ newest military service, the Space Force initiated sweeping changes in an attempt to modernize how space operations are performed. Each of these changes imposed themselves upon stakeholders across the Space Force enterprise and my project sought understanding about their effects. With an increasing rate during the preceding decades, literary publications show linkages between the success or failure of an organization’s desired change outcomes and the level of commitment demonstrated by its employees. …

Reducing Stress And Improving Mindfulness Practices Among Mental Health Professionals Through Guided Meditation., Liara G. Patton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Abstract

Background: Chronic exposure to psychological stress places mental health providers in a vulnerable position when coping skills are not learned or available. Mental health providers are at risk for both mental and physical illness due to the empathetic demands of their client’s stressors. The deficit in adequate coping skills can cause provider-client relationships to suffer and create an undesirable work environment.

Setting: This project took place in Somerset, KY, at a mental health company called A New Beginnings Achievement Center (ANBAC). Twenty-six employees work at ANBAC, all of whom are involved in providing mental health services to developmentally delayed …

Exploring Burnout Program Effectiveness With Adult Day Health Providers, Katy R. Maguire

OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

"Stress and burnout are frequently experienced by those in healthcare professions. While extensive research has been done on the impact of stress and burnout on nurses and physicians, other healthcare fields are less researched. One of these populations of health providers excluded from current studies is adult day health providers. Health providers at adult day health centers provide specialized services to persons with acquired, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. They orient these individuals to the community, administer their medications, provide opportunities for socialization and learning, accommodate leisure activities, and many other services that promote community and personal independence for their clients. …

Impact Of Lifetime Stressor Exposure On Neuroenergetics In Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Joshua Chiappelli, Anya Savransky, Yizhou Ma, Si Gao, Mark D Kvarta, Peter Kochunov, George M Slavich, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

N-acetylasparate and lactate are two prominent brain metabolites closely related to mitochondrial functioning. Prior research revealing lower levels of NAA and higher levels of lactate in the cerebral cortex of patients with schizophrenia suggest possible abnormalities in the energy supply pathway necessary for brain function. Given that stress and adversity are a strong risk factor for a variety of mental health problems, including psychotic disorders, we investigated the hypothesis that stress contributes to abnormal neuroenergetics in patients with schizophrenia. To test this hypothesis, we used the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) to comprehensively assess the lifetime stressor exposure profiles of …

Mitochondrial Health, Physical Functioning, And Daily Affect: Bioenergetic Mechanisms Of Dementia Caregiver Well-Being, E Lydia Wu-Chung, Luis D Medina, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, Vincent Lai, Jennifer M Stinson, Itee Mahant, Paul E Schulz, Cobi J Heijnen, Christopher P Fagundes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Chronic stress adversely affects mental and physical well-being. However, health outcomes vary among people experiencing the same stressor. Individual differences in physical and emotional well-being may depend on mitochondrial biology, as energy production is crucial for stress regulation. This study investigated whether mitochondrial respiratory capacity corresponds to individual differences in dementia spousal caregivers' mental and physical health.

Methods: Spousal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias ( N = 102, mean age = 71, 78% female, 83% White) provided peripheral blood samples and completed self-report questionnaires on quality of life, caregiver burden, and a 7-day affect scale. …

Learning From Health Care Counselors’ Perspectives On Health Care Worker Distress: A Qualitative Analysis, Nancy Downs, Judy Davidson, Angela Haddad, Sidney Zisook

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Health care provider stress and emotional distress were well documented long before the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is growing data suggesting these have increased in response to the pandemic. The goal of this study was to take advantage of the unique experiences of licensed mental health (MH) clinicians working with health care trainees and clinicians before and during the pandemic to identify how this crisis affected both ongoing as well as new sources of stress. The Healer Education, Assessment and Referral Program (HEAR) provides MH screening, support, and MH referrals to ~19 000 health care students, trainees, staff, and …

Examining Burnout Among Collegiate Athletic Trainers: The Relationship With Age, Gender, And Years Of Experience, Stephanie M. Singe, Alexandrya Cairns, Christianne M. Eason

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Burnout continues to be a concern for healthcare providers who work in sport organizations. More research is needed on variables such as age, gender, and years of experience and its relationship with burnout. The purpose of this study is to better understand burnout within athletic trainers in a collegiate setting, specifically how burnout differentiates between men and women, age, and years of experience. Methods: Athletic trainers (n=1,006) working in the collegiate setting completed a cross sectional survey via Qualtrics (Provo, UT) that consisted of 2 main sections: 1) demographic information, and 2) Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Results: Seventy-two percent …

Make It Funny! Developing A Novel Humor-Based Digital Positive Psychology Intervention To Investigate The Influence Of Duchenne Laughter And Mirth On Psychological Distress In Daily Life, Joshua Semko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present research was to develop a novel digital humor-based PPI (Make it Funny!) to investigate the influence of Duchenne laughter and mirth on psychological distress in daily life. Participants (N = 159; Age_­median­ = 39 years; 47.77% biologically female; 68.15% White) were tasked with completing Make it Funny! or a placebo activity every day for 7 days. Duchenne laughter frequency had a small negative cross-sectional moderation effect on the relationship between the occurrence of stressful events psychological distress (t(79.71) = -2.33, b = -10.89, p = .022). Within participants, Duchenne laughter …

Legal Education And The Threat Response, Jane Mitchell

The Journal of Law Teaching and Learning

Law students struggle with disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, addiction, and disconnection. This paper offers a novel explanation for these negative outcomes that thus far has been absent from conversations on the subject: Law schools fuel students’ sense of threat. According to psychology’s well-established cognitive appraisal model, students “appraise” stressful situations as either challenging or threatening. Educational environments appraised as threatening consistently lead to negative outcomes—lower student performance, decreased student engagement, and increased anxiety. Situations appraised as challenging lead to positive outcomes—improved academic performance, increased participation, and better overall health.

Law schools facilitate students’ threat response rather than a …

Determining The Effectiveness Of Deep Breathing Exercises In Alleviating Stress In Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Lovette Okoh

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychiatric disorder that affects veterans following deployment from combat. Medication side effects and re-exposure to trauma while undergoing psychotherapy hinder the effectiveness of recommended treatments. There is evidence supporting the effectiveness of deep breathing exercises in stress management, which is a common feature among PTSD patients. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the effectiveness of deep breathing exercises in alleviating stress among veterans with PTSD. Nursing staff at the project site were educated about the benefits of deep breathing exercises and how to perform them and educated veterans …

Investigating Coping Mechanisms: A Qualitative Study On Well-Being Among Senior High School Students, Angel Erika R. Arcillas

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

This study investigates the effectiveness of coping strategies among senior high school students at De La Salle University Manila, focusing on how these strategies affect their well-being. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the research selects a diverse sample of 8-12 participants by purposive sampling to capture a wide range of experiences and insights about students' coping behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during the second term of the Academic Year 2023-2024 to ensure rigorous ethical standards, such as informed consent and confidentiality. The thematic analysis, propelled by Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, allowed for a thorough assessment of …

Collegiate Athletes’ Use And Perceptions Of Institutional Sources Of Support For Role-Related Stressors, Sarah J. Hatteberg

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Scholarship shows that in managing role-related strains, collegiate athletes have access to a wide range of institutional sources of social support, yet few studies have examined college athletes’ use or perceptions of these institutionally-based sources. Drawing on qualitative interviews conducted with a sample of athletes participating in a big-time collegiate athletic program, this study examined the extent to which athletes solicited social support from various institutional sources in coping with their role-related stressors. Findings suggest that while the majority of athletes solicited aid from institutional sources and appreciated the specialized support those sources were able to provide, athletes also believed …

An Epigenetically Driven Relationship Between Parental Ptsd And Inflammatory Disease In Offspring: A Proposal, Emma Griffith, Kevin P. Kaut

Journal of Neuropsychology and Behavioral Processes

Could a combat veteran's horrific experiences in early-2000s Afghanistan have a direct, biological impact on his or her now-adult daughter's risk of a heart attack later in her life? This concept would have been unapologetically mocked a mere twenty years ago, and it has only been in the past decade that the new field of epigenetics has revealed a distinct possibility for this event to actually take place—for parents' experiences to profoundly influence the biology of their children. The major objective of this research project is to argue for the legitimacy of this theoretical phenomenon by discussing the latest data …

Prevalence And Predictive Factors Of Poor Sleep Quality Among The Elderly In The Urban Areas Of Lampang Province, Northern Thailand, Pornrapath Jamwong, Punyanuch Borisuth, Kunyanut Chaiwoot, Supang Wattanasoei, Supa Vittaporn, Ruchirada Changkwanyeun, Kasama Pooseesod, Patcharin Khamnaun, Surangrat Pongpan, Sayambhu Saita

Journal of Health Research

Background: The rapidly increasing aging population and urbanization may affect the sleep quality of the elderly. This study aimed to identify predictive factors of poor sleep quality among the elderly living in the urban areas of Lampang Province, Northern Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 elderly people in Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province. The participants were interviewed using constructive questionnaires and the Thai version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Predictive factors were examined using multivariable logistic regression with a backward elimination process.

Results: Overall, 35.91% of the participants had poor sleep quality (PSQI >5). …

An Interdisciplinary Review Of Stress Mechanisms, Health Effects, And The Influence Of A Growth Mindset, Nathaniel Hayes Barnes

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

The human experience of stress plays a pivotal role in directing overall health and wellbeing. Stress manifests in our minds and bodies, influences our relationships, and weaves collectively into the fabric of shared society. The current capstone project essentially comprises two sections. First, a comprehensive literature review delves into an interdisciplinary depiction of chronic stress, exploring its wide-ranging impact from biological, psychological, behavioral, social, and economic perspectives. The following section presents original research focused on the moderating effects of growth mindset on the relationships between chronic stress and negative stress-related health outcomes, including a discussion regarding effective preventative measures and …

Subjective Socioeconomic Status Moderates How Resting Heart Rate Variability Predicts Pain Response, Jacinth Jia Xin Tan, Chin Hong Tan, Michael W. Kraus

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Higher resting heart rate variability (HRV)—an index of more flexible response to environmental stressors, including noxious stimuli—has been linked to reduced perception of experimentally induced pain. However, as stress responses are adapted to one’s chronic environments, we propose that chronic exposure to threats captured by one’s subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) may shape different adaptations that produce distinct pain responses linked to higher resting HRV. Specifically, lower SSS individuals with more threat exposures may prioritize threat detection by upregulating sensitivity to stressors, such as acute pain. Therefore, higher HRV would predict greater perceived acute pain among lower SSS individuals. In contrast, …

Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio (Nlr) In Captive Olive Baboons (Papio Anubis): The Effects Of Age, Sex, Rearing, Stress, And Pregnancy, Sarah J. Neal, Angela M. Achorn, Steven J. Schapiro, William D. Hopkins, Joe H. Simmons

Anthropology Faculty Publications

In apes and humans, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be used as a predictive indicator of a variety of clinical conditions, longevity, and physiological stress. In chimpanzees specifically, NLR systematically varies with age, rearing, sex, and premature death, indicating that NLR may be a useful diagnostic tool in assessing primate health. To date, just one very recent study has investigated NLR in old world monkeys and found lower NLR in males and nursery-reared individuals, as well as a negative relationship between NLR and disease outcomes. Given that baboons are increasingly used as research models, we aimed to characterize NLR …

Relationship Between Heart Rate Variability And Differential Patterns Of Cortisol Response To Acute Stressors In Mid-Life Adults: A Data-Driven Investigation, Meghan M. Bennett, Carissa W. Tomas, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Cortisol and heart rate variability (HRV) are well‐established biomarkers of the human stress response system. While a relationship between cortisol and HRV is assumed, few studies have found evidence of their correlation within single study designs. One complication for isolating such a relationship may lie in individual variability in the cortisol response to stress such that atypical cortisol responding (i.e., elevated or blunted) occurs. To‐date, studies on the cortisol response have employed traditional mean‐difference‐based approaches to examine average magnitude change in cortisol over time. Alternatively, data‐driven trajectory modelling, such as latent growth mixture modelling, may be advantageous for quantifying cortisol …

Individual Longitudinal Changes In Dna-Methylome Identify Signatures Of Early-Life Adversity And Correlate With Later Outcome, Annabel K. Short, Ryan Weber, Noriko Kamei, Christina Wilcox Thai, Hina Arora, Ali Mortazavi, Hal S. Stern, Laura M. Glynn, Tallie Z. Baram

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Adverse early-life experiences (ELA) affect a majority of the world's children. Whereas the enduring impact of ELA on cognitive and emotional health is established, there are no tools to predict vulnerability to ELA consequences in an individual child. Epigenetic markers including peripheral-cell DNA-methylation profiles may encode ELA and provide predictive outcome markers, yet the interindividual variance of the human genome and rapid changes in DNA methylation in childhood pose significant challenges. Hoping to mitigate these challenges we examined the relation of several ELA dimensions to DNA methylation changes and outcome using a within-subject longitudinal design and a high methylation-change threshold. …

A Qualitative Inquiry Into Female International Doctoral Students Challenges And Stressors, Sameer Ahmed, Maya Jaber

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Objective: A qualitative inquiry to explore the challenges and stressors female international doctoral students experience. Background: Student challenges and stress result in attrition and non-completion of doctoral programs. Using Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory framework, the study connected the theory subsystems to the challenges and stressors female international doctoral students experience. Method: The study analyzed the lived experiences of five female international doctoral students at an Illinois research institution, using a qualitative approach (phenomenology). The participants were interviewed using themed theoretical framework questions. Results: The results identified concerns related to all subsystems. Academic (microsystem and mesosystem) challenges included a lack …

There’S An App For That: Reducing Stress In Peri- And Post-Menopausal Women, Roxane M. Brown, Bsn, Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: This evidence-based Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to demonstrate the impact of Calm mobile application mindfulness activities on perceived stress levels in peri- and post-menopausal women ages 45 - 60 years old in a community setting.

Background: In 2020, 31.8 million women in the United States (U.S.) were between 45 and 60 years old. They are mothers, daughters, employees, and bosses, navigate intimate and social relationships, and are often caregivers. It can be a stressful stage of life. Meanwhile, these women experience menopausal changes, including hot flashes, mood changes, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties. Peri- and post-menopausal women …

Impact Of Mindfulness Education And Resources On Stress In Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jacqueline James

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

The purpose of this project was to reduce stress levels of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by teaching them mindfulness practices and education on free and accessible methods to integrate mindfulness into their daily lives, as well as the benefits of mindfulness in reducing stress and improving psychological well-being.

Parents of children with ASD experience high levels of stress and numerous research studies support the use of mindfulness techniques to reduce stress levels in adults. The participants in this project included mothers who have at least one child with ASD who attend the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental …

Executive Function And Stressed College Students: A Phenomenological Study To Inform Instructional Design, Donna-Maria Trewhella

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe college student stress experiences that impact executive function (EF) and cognition at one community college in California. The conceptual framework guiding this study was cognition and executive function concepts that are impacted by the stressed learning experience. The central research question asked: What was the lived experience of EF deficits for stressed college students when learning content from instructional design (ID)? The methodology employed a qualitative phenomenological study that sampled 13 college students who self-identified as experiencing stress during the learning cycle. The research was conducted via the Internet and Confer …

A Quantitative Study On Operational And Organizational Stress On Game Wardens, Lori A. Perez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been a notable gap in research concerning stress among game wardens within the law enforcement field. Game wardens encounter operational and organizational stressors similar to those faced by traditional law enforcement officers. Previous research on stress in game wardens has predominantly focused on operational stress, the transition of their duties towards more traditional law enforcement roles, and various stress-inducing factors. This quantitative study utilized the Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) survey to analyze both operational and organizational stress in Maine Game Wardens. The research aimed to address two primary research questions: firstly, examining organizational and occupational stress utilizing the …

Mental Health Training For Teachers Since Covid-19, Patricia M. Van Prooyen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used a qualitative case study approach to examine teachers’ experiences returning to school following the COVID-19 pandemic and determine if mental health training for teachers to support student mental health would ease the return to school. The researcher recruited 12 Christian school teachers that taught in the classroom pre- and post-COVID-19. Inclusive criteria included teaching two years before the shutdown, teaching during the shutdown, returning to in-person teaching, and being at least 25 years old with no gaps in teaching between 2018-2022. All participants participated in a 30-45-minute audio-recorded, semi-structured, one-on-one interview in a discreet safe venue, such …

Exploring The Literature On Art Therapy Interventions In Mitigating The Negative Effects Of Loneliness In College Students, Molly Hoekman

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Experiences of loneliness and social isolation among college students pose a concern for emerging adults’ mental and physical health, as well as greater impacts on university systems across the country. While social isolation and loneliness are subjective experiences, there are a range of factors rooted in developmental psychology and sociocultural theory that influence the rising rates and acuity of loneliness. Attachment theorists posit that secure attachment early in life can impact how individuals make lasting interpersonal connections long after their childhood. Secure and insecure attachment styles combined with the dramatic transition to college for a young adult are influencing factors …