Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Expression Of Satanist Identity: Does Visible Identification Of Satanism Predict Discrimination And Depression?, Allyson Dudley

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The current research examines the relationship between visible expression of religion, identification within Satanism, experiences of discrimination, and depression in a sample of modern Satanists (n = 1,272). Historically, Satanism has been scrutinized as immoral and a threat to public safety. The current research attempts to challenge that viewpoint by employing culturally competent methods and understanding of modern Satanism. Findings indicate a negative relationship between expression of Satanism and discrimination, expression of Satanism and depressive symptoms, in-group ties and discrimination, and identification (in-group ties and in-group affect) and depressive symptoms. Results show a positive relationship between identification with Satanism and …

Stress Coping Responses Of Undergraduate University Students Prior To & Since The Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kaylee Diefenderfer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The stress coping mechanisms used by undergraduate university students affects their psychological well-being, stress level, and mental health outcomes. Increasing students’ use of positive coping mechanisms may increase academic outcomes, and overall health and well-being. This study evaluated the stress coping mechanisms used by undergraduate university students prior to and since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Brief COPE inventory was used to measure stress coping responses. The results of this research indicated a significant change in 9 out of the 14 main coping mechanisms used by undergraduate university students prior to since the pandemic began. The top two stress coping …

Perceptions Of Well-Being Among College Majors, Baylee Jahraus

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to assess the well-being perceptions of selected college students at a midsize midwestern university. To collect data, an adaptation of the Open Science Framework’s (n.d) College Student Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire and the CDC’s (2018b) Health-related Quality of Life scale was used. The 26-item survey was distributed to junior and senior students enrolled in 300-400 level courses in a variety of majors. The findings for each research question are presented in the cross-sectional study. The results of the study indicate there are differences in perceptions of physical and mental health between males and females and …

Younger Hmong People’S Willingness To Communicate About Depression, Wa Yang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research examines the underlying issues about mental illness, particularly depression within the Hmong community. Previous scholars have focused on the Hmong culture’s origins, mental health status of Hmong refugees arriving in the United States, martial roles and mental health on Hmong females, and comparisons of Hmong traditional healing and Westernized medicine. These studies intersect in fields including psychology, medicine and public health, Hmong history, and social work. However, one missing component to this body of scholarship has been communication. Thus, my study focused on younger Hmong people’s willingness to communicate about depression within their families. Specifically, I conducted semi-structured …

The Effects Of Therapist Expertise And Concerns Of Involuntary Hospitalization On The Disclosure Of Suicidal Ideations And Behavior, Zane Hensel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Suicide continues to grow as a complex and multi-faceted problem in prevention and treatment, particularly for college students with an increased predictor of risk of suicidal behaviors. Previous research has indicated that one of the largest concerns for suicide disclosure is a fear of involuntary hospitalization. Over 200 college students participated in examining therapist expertise and understanding information on involuntary hospitalization on their rate of suicide disclosure. A 2x2 MANOVA, a 2x2x2 MANOVA that included gender, and a factor analysis were performed on an ad-hoc 11-question survey assessing suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior disclosure. The results indicated that there was …

Examining Differences In Rural, Micropolitan, And Metropolitan School Psychologists Roles And Delivery Of Mental Health Services, Ashley A. Williamson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Mental health service delivery in rural settings has become increasingly limited while rates of mental health concerns among youth have increased. Schools form a common hub in rural areas and they present an opportunity for the assessment of developing disorders as well as a means for delivering mental health services in an affordable and acceptable fashion. School psychologists supporting rural school districts are presented with a unique opportunity to provide various aspects of rural mental health service delivery. Over the last 40 years, little research has been published on rural school psychologist’s roles and responsibilities and their relationship to mental …

The Impact Of Social Isolation And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review, Jody L. Doll-Wilhelm

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and dementia patients surged. Increased social isolation and decreased activity levels in older adults have been suggested as contributing factors to accelerating AD and dementia. However, assessment tools to gauge interventions and outcomes of cognitive decline are variable among the literature.

Objective: Examine the impact of social engagement versus social isolation, like that experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, on cognitive decline/dementia in older adults (greater than 60 years of age).

Method: A systematic search for studies evaluating the relationship between social isolation and social activity in cognitive …

Treatment Of Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review, Bethanie M. Miller

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: To compare treatment with stimulant medications to nonstimulant medications and/or nonpharmacologic interventions on professional and interpersonal functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Systematic literature review of five databases; 22 articles containing 323 studies (N=21,370) were included in this review.

Results: Psychostimulants remain the most studied treatment for adults with ADHD and boast larger effect sizes than nonstimulant and nonpharmacologic therapy. Among nonpharmacologic therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has proven most successful in randomized controlled trials. Effects of CBT are enhanced when combined with pharmacotherapy.

Conclusions: Psychostimulants continue to be the most frequently prescribed treatment for adults with …

The Critical Need For A Culturally Sensitive Suicide Risk Assessment Instrument For American Indian And Alaska Native Youth, Courtney E. Shaw

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: This systematic literature review was conducted to better understand why there has been a significant increase in America Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth suicides in tribes across the United States today. The intent of this review is to understand key issues surrounding the increasing numbers of AI/AN youth with suicide ideation, plans, and attempt in order to be able to answer the following clinical question: Is there a valid and reliable culturally sensitive assessment tool designed to recognize at-risk AI/AN youth presenting for primary care? If not, what are key aspects to consider for developing an instrument that could …

Paternal Postpartum Depression Screening: A Critical Measurement That Is Long Overdue, Nicholas C. Mcclellan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The birth of a child is one of the most important events in a parent’s life. It is a time of intense emotion, the characteristics of which vary greatly depending on individual circumstances and the relationship between the mother and father. Joy is mixed with feelings of being overwhelmed by the multitude of responsibilities that come with caring for an infant. Changes in relationships and feelings of isolation are common and can be a source of duress for parents. Fortunately, the severity of these emotions is often mild and self-limiting. Sometimes, however, they are severe enough to negatively affect daily …

Comparing The Acceptability Of Treatment Rationales For Two Psychotherapies, Marin Gail Olson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

An effective treatment rationale is important because it can affect whether or not a client decides if they will commit to the therapeutic approach. In recent years, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has developed as an approach that, although related to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is philosophically distinct. CBT typically places a greater emphasis on changing/eliminating “symptoms” of psychological disorders and the role thoughts play in directly influencing emotional and behavior problems. ACT, on the other hand, places a heavier emphasis on accepting and changing one’s relationship to aversive private experiences. When comparing the assumptions and goals underlying CBT and ACT, …

Predicting Mental Health Counseling Professionals’ Willingness To Discuss Sexuality Issues With Clients, Becca L. Thompson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sexuality is fundamental to the human experience and sexuality issues will affect every individual across the lifespan. Mental health counseling professionals (MHCPs) will likely encounter a client in their practice that presents with some facet of sexuality concern. MHCPs may be challenged by these disclosures or neglect to inquire about these needs due to underlying factors that contribute to decreased willingness to discuss sexuality with clients. This study explored the relationships of some of these factors, including sexual intervention self-efficacy, state anxiety, and trait anxiety, and further examined the extent to which these factors predict willingness to discuss sexuality with …

Supporting Resilience In Reserve Component Spouses During Deployment: The Impact Of Family Life Cycle Phase And Deployment History On Social Support Needs, Jennifer L. Ceminsky

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This exploratory study used a researcher developed survey to examine the relative value of instrumental, emotional, and informational support for Reserve Component spouses during deployment. Although all types of support were valued by nearly all study participants, significant differences were found between ratings of helpfulness for each type of support. Emotional support was the support type most valued by 73.1% of spouses in this study. Instrumental support was most valued by21.1%, and only 2.8% of spouses valued informational support most. Regression analyses were used to identify factors that were predictive of value placed on each type of social support. The …

The Relationship Between The Stigmatization Of Mental Illness, Communication Apprehension And The Willingness To Communicate, Madeleine Louise Winkler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project explores how mental health stigmatization influences communication apprehension and the willingness to communicate about mental illness. A total of 153 people completed an online survey regarding three variables. Perceived stigma and communication apprehension when communicating about their own mental health were found to be positively correlated. Perceived stigma and communication apprehension when communicating about someone else’s mental health was also found to be positively correlated. Communicating about one’s own mental illness lead to higher levels of communication apprehension compared to communicating about someone else’s mental illness. Communication apprehension when talking about one’s own mental health and willingness to …

The Impact Of Yoga On Symptom Management In Adults With Depression, Laura S. Eggen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions worldwide. Despite continual advances in the fields of psychiatry and psychology, hundreds of millions of individuals continue to suffer due to ineffective treatment, adverse effects, lack of access to care, and the relapsing nature of the disease. Depression extends beyond the affected individual and burdens families, healthcare systems, and societies. Yoga is a mind-body modality, growing in popularity, that has been cited in the literature as a promising treatment for depression. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review recent literature on the impact of yoga on depression management …

Childhood Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And/Or Pharmacological Treatment, Jennifer S. Mccarthy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: Evaluate best practice in managing anxiety in the pediatric population, including both school age children and adolescents. This literature review compared pharmacological treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)’s effectiveness on the management of anxiety within the pediatric population.

Background: Up to 25% of children in the United States are affected by a mental health disorder, anxiety being the most prevalent. Childhood anxiety can have a distressing impact on social, family, and academic functioning. If persisting into adulthood it increases the risk of developing other co-occurring mental health conditions, substance abuse issues, and contributes to impaired employment retention and socioeconomic …

The Efficacy Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy In The Treatment Of Adults With Obesity, Hallie M. Tiffany

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Obesity is a complex condition increasing in prevalence and consequence throughout the United States and the world. Obesity is affected not only physiologically but by one’s psychological aspects of life. Obesity contributes to countless chronic health conditions and thus greatly impacts a person’s wellness. A literature review was conducted to identify the following if in obese adults the benefit of cognitive behavioral therapy for weight loss and/or maintenance. A total of 10 articles met inclusion criteria from searches from databases that included ProQuest, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO as well as bibliography review. Level of evidence includes two articles that …

Search For The Cause Of Vaping Associated Lung Injury In Adolescents, Alexandra E. Krueger

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In August 2019 an unexplained, exponential rise in severe respiratory illnesses in previously healthy young adults, swept across America catching the attention of medical providers. Hospital admissions for lung injury increased 10-fold over two months’ time leaving practitioners scrambling for answers. All affected patients were found to have used e-cigarettes prior to symptoms and endorsed using nicotine and marijuana vape pens. The medical community quickly began to search for the cause of these vaping associated lung injuries. Understanding the mechanism of injury is important in order to assist in educating the public about the risks associated with e-cigarettes. The aim …

Coaching Women On The Impact Of Alcohol Intake On Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review, Amy Maloney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Alcohol intake among women has increased in recent years. Women’s bodies metabolize alcohol differently when compared to men and are at increased risk for adverse effects, both physically and mentally. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to explore the evidence related to the impact of coaching in primary care on drinking behaviors and over-all well-being of women. Four databases including PsycInfo, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Plus with full text, and Gender Studies Database were searched using a variety of key words. Studies were included if they focused on female alcohol use and abuse, interventions specific to female alcohol …

Positive And Negative Effects Of Social Media On Adolescent Well-Being., Katie Kennedy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Social media use is rapidly growing among adolescents, studies cite that the rates of “constant use” doubled from 2015 to 2018 (Anderson & Jiang, 2018; Lenhart, 2015). Social media use can have a serious negative impact on areas of well-being including feelings of depression, anxiety, fear of missing out, body image, bullying and sleep. Mojtabai, Olfson and Han (2016) cite the problematic use of mobile phones and social media applications as one of the trends aligning with the increase in major depressive episodes. Conversely, use of social media can promote positive feelings of well-being including creating a sense of community, …

Program Review Of Naloxone Training Within The Wisconsin Department Of Corrections’ Community Corrections Division, Chelsea Calhoon

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

One of the fastest growing drug problems in the United States is the abuse of opioids (United States Department of Health & Human Services, 2018). With the rising overdose rates, the criminal justice system may offer a pivotal role in the decrease of overdose deaths through opioid overdose recognition and naloxone administration training (World Health Organization, 2014). Training evaluation based on the Effectiveness Theory find significant predictors of training effectiveness and retention to be correlated with the training program, age, and employment tenure (Cowman & McCarthy, 2016). This thesis’ research question is, “Do demographics correlate to training retention for opioid …

Demography, Risk, And Power: An Examination Of The Deceased Patient Population At The Hastings State Hospital, 1900-1978, Dawn T. Whitney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to investigate the Hastings State Hospital (HSH) and its cemetery (HSHC) within a multidisciplinary framework, invoking discourse analysis, demography, and critical race theory to examine how power and risk factors impact the treatment and disposal of the body at death. It incorporates perspectives from both anthropology and sociology to interpret the data, relying heavily on the ideas of Michel Foucault. Integrating these diverse analytical tools is important to this research because social and structural forces all intersect in the creation of identity, power, and inequality.

All data in this study represent patients that have …

Assessment Of Stress Related Issues And Coping Mechanisms Among College Students, Emeka Okoro

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to identify frequency of stressors and evaluate current levels of stress of undergraduate students. This study also analyzed and identified coping strategies implemented by college students. Two surveys were used in this study. The University Stress Scale developed by Stallman (2009) was used to identify perceived stressors and measure stress levels of participants. Brief Cope Inventory developed by Carver (1997) was used to assess coping strategies.

SPSS was used for data analysis and computation of scores. Academic/coursework demands was the highest perceived stressor among sampled undergraduates. Procrastination, study/life balance, finances and money problems were …

Evaluation Of A Cognitive Training Program For Older Adults With Mild To Moderate Cognitive Decline, Kelly Bergstrom

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Older adults often experience varying levels of cognitive decline. Several interventions intended to help slow the effects of cognitive decline have been studied, including cognitive training. Cognitive training involves engaging individuals, typically in a group setting, in exercises that target specific cognitive domains, such as attention, perceptual speed, memory, language, and executive functioning. Literature on cognitive training provides mixed support for its efficacy. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether a manualized, in-person cognitive training program for individuals with mild to moderate cognitive decline would lead to an improvement in cognitive performance. The program targeted six cognitive …

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Characteristics And How Social Support Plays A Role, Stephanie Smith-Kellen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

NSSI affects many young adults and is associated with suicidal ideation, as well as numerous mental health disorders and other psychological variables. There were a total of 59 participants that participated in this study from an undergraduate college sample who endorsed self-injuring. An online platform for research was used to recruit participants and provide them with the online survey link. Self-injuring more than one bodily location may result in feeling more stigma than individuals who self-injure one bodily location. Self-stigma and self-injuring multiple bodily locations both significantly predicted suicidal ideation, but gender and social support did not predict suicidal ideation. …

The Effect Of Clinician Competence And Religiosity On The Trainee Clinician’S Ability To Identify Problematic Sexual Behavior, Cody Butcher

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Models in psychology do not consider the concept of sex addiction the same way as other substance or behavior addictions. For example, sex addiction, which is not a DSM-5 disorder, is often assigned as a label to clients based off of high frequency of sexual behavior. Despite sex addiction not being a diagnosable disorder, sex addiction therapists are conducting treatment with people who identify as sex addicts. Due to this lack of a definition, previous research has found that clinicians may identify sex addiction in clients based on their own preconceived worldviews of what types of sexual behaviors or frequencies …

The Relationship Between Religiosity And Depression Among Sampled Kenyans In The Twin Cities Metro Area, Dorcas Waite

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a relationship between the self-reported level of religiosity and the self-reported level of depression among sampled Kenyans in the Twin Cities Metro Area, in Minnesota. The sample consisted of 63 individuals who were members or visitors at Destiny Faith Ministries and United Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Results showed that 98.4% (n=60) of participants identified themselves with a specific religion, 90.4% (n=57) scored 40 and above on the religiosity scale, which indicated strong religiosity. Majority of participants (66.8%, n=42) indicated that they had been bothered for several days by at least …

Adolescents' Experiences Returning To School After A Mental Health Hospitalization, Pamela Iverson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This qualitative study explores how adolescents experience transition when they return to school after an acute mental health hospitalization. For this study, the term transition is used to describe the process of adjusting to the return from an acute mental health hospital to school. Eight adolescents from southern Minnesota, ages 15-17, were interviewed about their transition experience for this study. Each participant had experienced an acute hospitalization within 12 months of their interview. Each participant interview was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using phenomenological research methods. For each participant, an individual textural description, structural description, and textural/structural description was provided through …

Bullying In Senior Living Facilities: A Qualitative Study, Felicia Jo Vandenest

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Resident-to resident bullying has attracted some attention in the popular press and is well-known to many who work with seniors in long-term care facilities. However, this is very little empirical literature that has address the topic of "senior bullying". The aim of the proposed qualitative study is to better understand the phenomenon of resident-to-resident bullying from the perspective of staff who work in long-term care facilities. Staff members (n=45) responded to a combination of open- and close-ended interview questions regarding their observations of senior-to-senior bullying. Results indicate that the majority of staff members (98%) have observed resident-to-resident bullying within senior …

North Minneapolis Residents' Knowledge And Awareness Of Indoor Air Quality In Older Residences, Blisse Marie Cajacob

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Older housing stock is one suspected cause of poor indoor air quality and poor indoor air quality can cause many negative health conditions. Four hazardous conditions related to indoor air quality were examined for this study: lead, asbestos, dampness causing mold and radon. North Minneapolis residents, specifically low-income, disproportionately live in older stock houses and have higher rates of asthma compared to other parts of the state. In this study, data was collected to understand North Minneapolis residents' knowledge and awareness of indoor air quality in older residences. Fifteen minute interviews followed by a brief sociodemographic questionnaire were used to …