Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Parity Is Associated With Cumulative Effects On Memory, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if reproductive experience is associated with cumulative effects on human memory performance during pregnancy and if these effects persist into the postpartum period.

METHODS: Verbal recall memory performance was assessed in 254 women four times during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum. The relation between parity and memory function was evaluated with hierarchical linear modeling and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

RESULTS: The data indicate that the previously documented adverse effects of pregnancy on memory performance are compounded with successive pregnancies. During gestation and postpartum, multiparity was associated with poorer memory function, …

Drinking Buddies And Their Prospective Influence On Alcohol Outcomes: Alcohol Expectancies As A Mediator, Cathy Lau-Barraco, Abbly L. Braitman, Kenneth E. Leonard, Miguel Padilla

Psychology Faculty Publications

The process by which peers or the social network influence individual alcohol use, particularly among adults, remains a necessary area of research. The purpose of the present study was to examine the longitudinal influence of "drinking buddies" on alcohol outcomes (i.e., alcohol use, heavy drinking, and alcohol-related problems) as mediated by alcohol expectancies of social facilitation. Participants were 1347 (men = 660, women = 687) newly married individuals recruited from the community. They were assessed at the time of marriage and through the fourth wedding anniversary. Longitudinal mediation across time was evaluated using latent growth modeling. Overall, the prospective association …

Altering A Secondary Tier Intervention To Examine The Effects Of Negative Reinforcement Contingencies On Elementary School Students, Stevie-Marie Swift

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Problem behaviors in the school setting have become more frequent as well as challenging for teachers and faculty to decrease while attempting to help their students attain their academic goals. Within the last decade, school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) has become more widespread as an evidence-based practice within the school system. SWPBS uses a multi-tiered support structure in order to affect behavior change across an entire school population. Several common secondary interventions have been utilized with high success rates. However, the research conducted thus far using the Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) program, a secondary intervention, has shown a lesser degree of success …

Art Therapy In A Bereavement Camp Setting To Aid In Emotional Expression And Processing Of Loss, Rebecca Snyder

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the effects of art therapy on children ages six to eight who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Children experience death in ways that are different from adults due to their level of development. Research indicates that children benefit from creative approaches to processing the death of a loved one as they can rely on symbolic language rather than the use of words. Within this study, art therapy sessions were implemented at a weekend long bereavement camp in order to increase knowledge about the effects of art …

A Dual-Factor Model Of Mental Health In High School Students: Group Characteristics And Social Functioning, Amanda Lynn Thalji

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A dual-factor model of psychological functioning examines the presence of wellness (i.e., subjective well-being; SWB) and psychopathology (i.e., internalizing and externalizing behavior problems) in explaining youth mental health functioning. Using a dual-factor model, previous research has yielded four unique groups of elementary and middle school youth as well as college-age adults with distinct levels of wellness and psychopathology. The present empirical investigation included valid data from 500 adolescents from two high schools (grades 9 to 11). This exploratory study produced four groups of students with unique mental health profiles aligned with previous studies investigating the dual-factor model. Tukey-Kramer comparisons determined …

A Longitudinal Investigation Of Stress, Complete Mental Health, And Social Support Among High School Students, Ashley Chappel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Examinations of stress in relation to adolescent mental health have not often utilized a comprehensive definition of psychological functioning. Recent literature has found support for the importance of examining optimal psychological functioning as the presence of high life satisfaction in addition to low psychopathology (Antamarian, Huebner, Hills, & Valois, 2011; Suldo & Shaffer, 2008). Most research on stress has focused on either major stressful events or chronic environmental stressors; further research is needed on the psychological model of stress, which conceptualizes stress as involving both environmental events and one's cognitive appraisals of the stressor. The current longitudinal study determined how …

The Health And Housing Specialist: An Emerging Job Classification To Support Aging In Place In Subsidized Housing, Paula C. Carder, Jenny Weinstein, Jacklyn Nicole Kohon

Institute on Aging Publications

As the U.S. population ages, the availability of workers with a basic understanding of aging and health-related services has not kept pace. This is true in traditional health care organizations such as hospitals and primary care clinics as well as in long-term care settings and senior housing, including subsidized housing, the focus of this report. Nearly 1.8 million older persons receive some form of publicly-subsidized rental assistance. Some subsidized housing providers, including those that operate buildings designated for older persons, are developing new systems of service delivery that would either coordinate or provide health screenings, physical activity programs, nutrition programs, …

The Role Of Animal-Assisted Therapy In Initial Psychotherapy Sessions With Adolescents, Erin B. Stromberg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is defined as "a goal directed intervention in which an animal, meeting specific criteria, is an integral part of the treatment process" (Nebbe, 1995, p. 40). Since its first introduction into the scientific community in the 1960s, AAT has grown in both recognition and application. This is primarily attributable to the characteristics of AAT that allow it to be appropriate for a wide range of populations. These qualities are shown to be especially effective in research with children (Menzies Inc., 2003). Interventions that exercise the advantageous qualities of AAT, and its service in promoting the well being …

Family Value Transition In A Changing Turkey, Yudum Akyil

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation consists of two articles. The first article presented is a literature review written to identify and review studies of intergenerational value transmission and social change. The main outcomes fell into five subsections (a) culture and values (b) social change and values, (c) continuing and changing values in Turkey, (d) parent-adolescent relationship adaptation to social change, and (e) implication for clinicians working with changing families. Overall, the literature review illustrated the complexity of value transmission process for families in rapidly changing societies and the need for more understanding of those families' experiences for the clinicians. The second article extends …

Capp: A Comprehensive Preventative Program Model Addressing Alcohol Misuse Among College Freshmen, Laura Tsotsis

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Alcohol consumption by college students in the United States has increased in quantity and frequency over the past five years. With this increase, there has come evidence of a rise in negative consequences caused by alcohol misuse. To help reduce these problems, colleges and universities nationwide have begun implementing alcohol programs for their undergraduate students. The vast majority of these programs are intervention programs for students who have previously displayed dangerous drinking habits, often seen through campus judicial violations. Research shows that preventative program models, as compared to intervention programs, provide longer lasting changes in individuals and groups. Thus, a …

The Phenomenology Of Court-Ordered Treatment: From The Perspective Of Methamphetamine Dependent Adults, Justin Steffener

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This phenomenological study was designed to explore with a sample of methamphetamine dependent adults their perceptions of the process involved in their experiences of court-ordered treatment. The motivation for this study derives from the researcher's wish to unearth ways to better understand and support the needs of adults suffering from addiction. A significant amount of research has already been conducted in regards to the treatment of methamphetamine addiction from the standpoint of quantitative measurements of treatment outcomes, but limited information is presently available from the perspective of the suffers. The stringent selection of the sample was composed of six individuals …

Risk Factors For Homelessness Among Community Mental Health Patients With Severe Mental Illness, Rupert Talmage Van Wormer

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with homelessness, assess the relationship between housing status and consumption of costly publicly funded resources, to identify characteristics associated with service retention, and to evaluate whether length of treatment is associated with better outcomes. The target population was homeless and formerly homeless adults with SMI enrolled in community mental health services at the Downtown Emergency Service Center SAGE mental health program located in Seattle. The sample consisted of 380 SAGE patients who had continuous enrollment in 2005. These patients formed the cohort for the study. Agency records for these …

Motivation, Need Support And Need Satisfaction In Youth Soccer Players, Erica Lippitt

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Author's abstract: Physical activity levels and obesity rates vary greatly across ethnic groups in the United States (CDC, 2011). One popular way to increase physical activity levels in youth is through youth sport participation, which may be influenced by athlete motivation. Numerous studies have determined motivation levels in youth sport participants, but very little done in comparing levels across different ethnic groups. Identifying differences in motivation levels based on ethnicity can allow coaches and sport administrators to adjust practices and program setups to increase participation and meet needs of player competence. The purpose of the study was to determine if …

The Collaborative Role Of Psychologists In Rural Pediatric Primary Care Settings, Kimberly M. Russo

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In this dissertation I discuss research conducted to gain a greater understanding of the unique collaborative needs and desires of medical professionals working with pediatric patients in rural communities. Specifically, I researched the following question: Do medical professionals working in rural areas desire more in-depth collaborative relationships with mental health professionals than they currently have? I acquired information on this subject by mailing surveys to primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and family practice doctors to learn more about their opinions regarding collaboration with mental health professionals. I collected data over a one-month period, resulting in 11 completed surveys being returned. …

Bracing For Idiopathic Scoliosis: Improving Adherence Through Psychological Intervention, Shoshana J. Fagen

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Poor treatment adherence is increasingly being recognized as a significant problem in pediatric medicine. For the condition Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, poor adherence rates to the most non-surgical intervention, orthotic bracing, have become a well-established fact. This treatment modality has been correlated with multiple psychosocial areas of difficulty, including low self image, suicidal ideation, feelings of isolation, social discomfort, depression, an external locus of control, increasing risk taking behavior, high levels of stress, anger, fear, shame, and eating disorders. Since the orthotic bracing has been linked to both poor adherence and to psychosocial problems, an intervention is created to increase adherence …

Hospital Loneliness And The Patient-Physician Relationship: A Preliminary Analysis Of Associations With Recovery In Bone Marrow Transplant Patients, Lindsay E. Balfour

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine general loneliness, hospital loneliness, and the patient-physician relationship in regards to their associations with Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) recovery outcome variables (days until engraftment and quality of life). Fifteen (66.7% female, 33.3% male; 93.3% white, 6.7% Black/African American; average age 61.73) individuals who had an allogeneic or autologous BMT at The Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville completed the FACT-BMT, UCLA-Loneliness Scale Version 3, the CARE Measure, and provided disease and treatment information at the 6 month posttransplant date (+/- 30 days). Patients recovering from BMT indicated significantly higher scores of hospital loneliness …

Research Brief: "Military Service And Men’S Health Trajectories In Later Life", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the health and age-related changes of wartime male veterans during later years in life as compared to non-veterans and non-wartime veterans. In policy and practice, veterans reaching retirement age, with help from their families, should pay attention to their health in case any conditions arise, and health policies should look at early-life health in addition to later-life health. Suggestions for future research include performing studies over time on younger veterans as they age and clearing up biases within the sampling processes.

The Development And Initial Validation Of The Glassboro Inventory For Twelve-Step (Gifts), Andrew Assini

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present research was to collect qualitative data regarding twelve-step programs which was then used to inform the creation of a new measure of twelve-step engagement. Focus groups were conducted, consisting of twelve-step members, to ascertain an insider perspective on the twelve-step experience. Results showed that "successful recovery" was considered more than just time abstinent by these insiders. These findings were then used to guide the creation of the Glassboro Inventory For Twelve-Step (GIFTS), a new measure of twelve-step engagement which improves upon previous twelve-step measures. The GIFTS was validated against the Alcoholics Anonymous Involvement (AAI; Tonigan, …

Health And Wellness Using Occupations To Explore Internal Motivators For Change, Shayal Ram, Susan Macdermott, Becki Cohill, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

The purpose of this capstone project was to create an occupation-based program that could be integrated into the lifestyle patterns of adults to potentially assist reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The number of Americans living with AD is expected to grow up to 16 million by 2050 (Smallfield & Heckenlaible, 2017). The risk for developing the disease could be reduced through lifestyle modifications (Hussenoeder & Riedel-Heller, 2018). Using occupation as a means for health promotion and disease prevention is an emerging area for occupational therapy practice (AOTA, 2014). This capstone sought to increase awareness of internal motivators that …

An Investigative Study Of The Influence Of Religion On Help Seeking Behaviors In The Field Of Mental Health, Kristen Darroch

Theses and Dissertations

The present study was undertaken to assess the influence of religion on help seeking behaviors regarding mental health. Participants (n = 167) were volunteers from three different churches of Christian denominations who anonymously completed questionnaires regarding their religiosity and their attitude toward seeking help from a mental health professional. Analysis of the data found that subjects who belonged to liberal denominations of Christianity were more likely to seek help from a mental health professional for mental health issues than subjects belonging to more traditionally conservative denominations of Christianity. The study also found that subjects belonging to conservative denominations of Christianity …

The Blend Of Traditional And Modern Medicine: Case Studies From Latin America As Lessons For The United States, Jessica Worley

World Languages, Literatures and Cultures Undergraduate Honors Theses

Through the examination of the interactions between modern and alternative healthcare practices in five Latin American countries (Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, and Cuba), this thesis explores the strengths of a variety of indigenous medical practices while laying the foundation for building bridges to the modern medical establishment in the United States as a means to benefit the health of both immigrants and native citizens.

Teachers’ And Parents’ Perspective As How The Social Environment Of Immediate Vicinity Can Affect The Academic Learning Of A Child 4-6 Years Age Group, Salma Amin Rattani, Deedar Shah

School of Nursing & Midwifery

In the process of human development environment plays a pivotal role. At the age of 4 -6 years, children's immediate vicinity expands from home to school and in his social environment parents and teachers play a vital role. Therefore, in this study which was conducted in Phander district Ghizer, Northern areas; of Pakistan, employing descriptive research design five parents and five school teachers were enrolled. Participants shared their definition and understanding about social environment and immediate vicinity and its effects on academic learning. This research is part of Advanced Diploma in Human Development: Early Child Development Programme, Aga Khan University. …

The Effect Of Gender Role And Males' Attitudes Toward Receiving Mental Health Therapy, Christina H. Thomas

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this research study was to build upon previous research pertaining to gender role and young adult male attitudes towards receiving mental health therapy. An additional purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between media exposure and attitude toward mental health therapy. The first hypothesis was that there would be a positive correlation between gender role scores and attitudes with the BEM Sex- Role Inventory (BSRI) and with scores on attitudes with the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS) in young adult males. The second hypothesis was that young adult males who watched a …

The Influence Of Ethnic Identity And Family Support On Posttraumatic Symptoms In Maltreated Youth, Harpreet Kaur

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Maltreated children are at greater risk of developing PTSD than nonmaltreated children (Ackerman et al., 1998; Epstein et al., 1997; Famularo et al., 1996; Kilpatrick et al., 2003; Widom, 1999). This study sought to assess the role of ethnicity, ethnic identity, and family support on the effects of maltreatment and trauma in adolescents. Participants (n=145) included adolescents from Child Haven, a Department of Family Services (DFS)-related site in Las Vegas, and youths in foster care assessed at the offices of Dr. Stephanie Holland. The first hypothesis was that non-Caucasian youth would have higher levels of PTSD-related symptoms than Caucasian youth. …

Retrospective Investigation Of Course Content Evaluation By Students: A Survey Of Domestic Violence Education And Experience Among Current Unlv-Sdm Dental Students, Rhonda J. Everett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The overall purpose of this research project is to survey experience and education of current dental students regarding domestic violence. Domestic violence has been recognized as one of our nation's most serious public health issues. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and sometimes death. Dentists can act as one of the first lines of intervention in recognizing common dental and facial trauma which may be associated with domestic violence victims including: broken teeth, facial bruising, and jaw fractures.

Current data suggest that education about domestic violence can help the dental professional in overcoming some of the barriers …

Trauma Of The Sudden Death Of A Child: The Impact On Couple Relationship, Blessing Okoro Rellias

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A traumatic life event such as the death of a child can be very devastating and confusing for many couples and people tend to respond in different ways to such trauma due to different factors such as gender differences. Research studies have traditionally focused on the personal effects of trauma on individual family members, whereas less attention centered on the systemic outcomes and consequences that trauma has on family functioning especially from the couples' perspective. Previous research has indicated that parents who lost their children to sudden death are likely to have serious mental distress and some disruption in functioning. …

Building An Mft Outpatient Practice Through Contract Procurement: A Case Study, Anthony T. Alonzo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

A Study Of Expressed Emotion In Psychiatric Nurses And Its Relation To The General Role And Effects Of Emotions In Nursing, Lauren A. Buck

Senior Honors Theses

Nurses play a vital role in the health and care of a patient. Through that care, the nurse has the ability to improve the patient’s experience or ruin it. A vital component influencing the care provided are the emotions the nurse displays toward her coworkers, patients, and patients’ family members. The emotions of a nurse may positively or negatively impact a patient. The studies that examine the impact of the nurse’s emotions on patient’s outcomes are varied and few. The communication and emotion of nurses are likely to impact their care and, from that, the patient’s outcome; however, there is …

Emergency Room Use By Undocumented Mexican Immigrants, Ayse Akincigil, Raymond Sanchez Mayers, Fontaine H. Fulghum

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This study examined emergency room use by undocumented Mexican immigrants and their sources of health care information. Thirty-eight percent of the respondents reported that they would use a hospital emergency room (ER) for primary medical care. ER use rates declined with time spent in the United States. Emergency room use rates varied significantly by region. Respondents receiving information from a church reported less ER use, compared to all others; respondents receiving information from U.S. newspapers reported higher ER use rates. Lack of health care access for undocumented immigrants remains a public health issue as well as a social justice concern.

Health Service Access For Rural People Living With Hiv/Aids In China: A Critical Evaluation, Xiying Wang, Xiulan Zhang, Yuebin Xu, Yurong Zhang

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The increasingly serious HIV/AIDS epidemic creates a significant burden for the public health system; however, little attention has been paid to the issue of health service access in rural China. Based on a qualitative study of 34 Chinese rural People Living with HIVIAIDS (PLWHA) and 13 health providers, this study fills a gap by examining health service access from both the demand and supply-side. Utilizing access theory, this study explores the availability, affordability and acceptability of health services in rural China. Moreover, this study focuses on access barriers and institutional obstacles that PLWHA meet during their illness and considers the …