Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Qualitative Exploration Of Well-Being In Cancer Survivorship: Implications For Counselors, Hallie M. Sylvestro, Lindsey K. Umstead, Heather Delgado, Christopher Lawrence, Keith Mobley, Kelly L. Wester, Andrew Wood

Adultspan Journal

Adult cancer survivors represent an important–and growing–population that could benefit from counseling services. This study employed consensual qualitative research to examine the well-being experiences of eight cancer survivors. Findings suggest a broad range of changes to individual well-being following cancer diagnosis and treatment, and indicate counseling can provide an ideal setting for processing such changes. Recommendations for counseling practice and future research are provided.

Examining The Impact Of Internal Family Systems (Ifs) Theory Versus Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (Efit) On Depression For College Students: A Comparative Study, Laura Anne Bowlin, Hillary Bucher-Brown

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

In light of the prevalence of depression in modern society, researchers persist in the quest for effective treatment approaches. This research proposal aims to examine the impact of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Theory and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) on depression among college students. The study will involve 20 college students recruited from local universities experiencing depression, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Each participant will undergo ten psychotherapy sessions, randomly assigned to a certified IFS or EFIT therapist. Subsequently, participants will complete a post-test using the BDI. Comparative analysis of the outcomes between the two groups will …

Effect Of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy On Couples' Reported Satisfaction And Intimacy: A Comparison Between Participants With And Without Simultaneous Individual Therapy, Aishleen O'Brien

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

While there is ample Emotionally Focused Therapy based research, exploration of simultaneous individual therapy’s importance is limited. This study aims to establish the significance of participating in individual therapy while also joining a partner in emotionally focused couples’ therapy. Individual therapy, in tandem with couples therapy, provides an opportunity to explore one’s own attachment style, as it is interwoven into a romantic relationship. Ultimately, by discerning the nuanced interplay between individual and couples therapy, clinicians can offer tailored, efficacious recommendations that enhance the likelihood of successful outcomes and promote enduring relationship satisfaction.

Is Emotionally Focused Family Therapy Effective In Alleviating Symptoms Of Bulimia Nervosa In Adolescents?, Susan Leonardson

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This study will investigate the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) in alleviating symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN) in adolescents. Participants will consist of twenty adolescents enrolled in the Emily Program, with a DSM diagnosis of moderate to severe BN, and at least one of their caregivers. The subjects will attend twelve family therapy sessions with a therapist trained in EFFT, and complete the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) questionnaire. This study aims to determine if EFFT can effectively improve family dynamics to reduce symptoms of BN in adolescents.

Internal Family Systems And Codependency: Finding Self In Relationship With Another Person’S Addiction, Jillian Ostlund, Mandah Gombosuren

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Codependency is a concept that is currently not considered a disorder in the DSM-V, yet people have been identifying with the traits of codependency since the 1940's (Bacon et al., 2018). In IFS the concept of blending means Parts are not able to differentiate from one another, making it difficult to sense Self Leadership (Schwartz & Sweezy, 2020). The researchers for this proposal were not able to find literature on the treatment of codependency using IFS. It is believed that IFS can help a codependent person to gain access to Self and be able to recover from the effects of …

Therapist Secret Policies And Client Retention, Alexandria Packard, Allison Hanigan

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

No-secrets policies are commonly used by many couple therapists to ensure transparency between each individual and the therapist. The current literature is divided on whether the existence of a no-secrets policy creates barriers to treatment. The present study aims to assess the impact of a no-secrets policy on couple retention rates in therapy. We propose to study this by assigning a group of couples to a therapist without a no-secrets policy, and another group of couples to a therapist with a no-secrets policy. Therapy retention will be measured and analyzed as influenced by the independent variable: the no-secrets policy.

What Is The Comparative Effectiveness Of Specific Therapy Modalities In Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Black And Indigenous Clients?, Hailey Clum

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Black and Indigenous clients are frequently underrepresented in therapeutic research and treatment, despite the increase of individuals from these communities seeking therapy services. This qualitative study has been initiated to highlight the lack of supporting evidence for best treatment practices for Black and Indigenous-identifying clients. The goal of this study is to provide evidence-based treatment for master's and doctoral-level clinicians who work with Black and Indigenous patients. The study will analyze various treatment groups, including Black and Indigenous adult participants; and will utilize treatments and interventions from Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Art Therapy.

Navigating Transnational Ties And Belonging: An Intergenerational Family Therapy Approach With South Asian Immigrant Families, Shreya Rangwani

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The diversity of transnational experiences of families and the challenges to their sense of belonging have important implications for the broader sociocultural mental health system. This study aims to examine intergenerational family therapy to support South Asian immigrant families as they deal with the challenges of maintaining cross-cultural relationships. Family therapy for South Asian immigrants have focused on cultural stress and intergenerational conflicts, rather than family-level methods and systemic elements that form the reports of those transnational families. Through this research, the study targets to provide vital insights and realistic techniques for MFT therapists working with South Asian immigrant populations. …

Impact Of Sibling Support On Mitigating The Effects Of Parental Divorce On Children's Attachment Security, Alana Harris

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The study aims to explore the potential mitigating effects of supportive sibling relationships on the attachment security of children from divorced families. Utilizing the Child Attachment Interview (CAI) and Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ), attachment security and sibling relationship quality will be assessed. We anticipate that supportive sibling relationships will alleviate the adverse impacts of parental divorce on children's attachment security. This study will involve a sample of 80 siblings (40 sibling pairs) aged 7-17 years from divorced families. Findings may inform interventions enhancing attachment and resilience in children during family transitions, emphasizing sibling relationships as a valuable resource for well-being.

Exploring Intergenerational Attachment Transmission: How Are Children's Attachment Styles Affected By Changes In Their Caregiver’S Attachment?, Aisa Gibbons, Anahi Tapia

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Past studies have researched various connections between attachment styles of children and parents. However, no studies have explored how changing parents’ attachment style could impact change in children’s attachment style. This research proposal aims to investigate the relationship between caregiver attachment and child attachment change. We hope to recruit 100 parent-child pairings from schools and therapy clinics. Subjects will complete attachment measuring scales pre- and post parent-treatment. Parents will have 10-15 sessions of EFT to increase secure attachment. Attachment change differences will be analyzed through one-way ANOVA methods. We hypothesize that as parents’ secure attachment increases, their children’s will too.

Exploring The Impact Of The Blamer-Softening Change Event In Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy On Partners' Self-Esteem: A Longitudinal Intervention Study, Grace Lee

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

It is no question that positive romantic relationships are connected to deep feelings of belonging, life satisfaction and positive self-esteem in individuals. However, throughout the course of the relationship, individuals can experience depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and negative affect. A significant marker of progress for couples in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy is the presence of the blamer-softening change event. This event can help alleviate some of the negative symptoms partners experience. Given the well-accepted and understood importance of self-esteem on one’s overall mental health, this study seeks to understand the impact of the blamer-softening change event on each partner’s self-esteem.

Parenting Styles Of American And Filipino Mothers: Internal Family System’S Influence On Self-Leadership, Parent-Adolescent Communication, Conflict, Self-Esteem, And Depression, Maria-Sofia Paco, Gracie Cannon

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This abstract investigates the levels of Self-leadership among Filipino, European-American, and African-American mothers, and explores its implications for mother-daughter communication, conflict, depression, and overall self-esteem . Research has demonstrated that Filipino mothers have significantly higher mother-daughter communication and conflict compared to European-American and African-American mothers (Paco, 2007), positing a potential correlation between Filipino mothers (in the Philippines) and their Self-led nature compared to their European-American and African-American counterparts. Furthermore, this study proposes implementing Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy as a means to enhance Self-leadership and improve mother-daughter communication and self-esteem across these three racial groups, potentially mitigating conflicts and depression. …

Group Narrative Therapy For Adolescents With Eating Disorders, Ramsey Ramsey

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Eating Disorders tend to be treatment-resistant, moreover, adolescents with eating disorders tend to disengage from standard treatments, such as (CBT-E) the standard intervention in treating eating disorders. Research shows that children and adults have greater positive outcomes with the addition of narrative approaches to treatment. Studies show that children and adults have positive outcomes with the addition of narrative approaches to treatment, in addition, group narrative therapy with adults is effective at treating eating disorders beyond behavioral change. This proposal is to explore the efficacy and client engagement of a group narrative therapy curriculum alongside standard CBT-E group treatments.

Zoom Dysmorphia: An Eye-Tracking Study Of Self-View And Attention During Video Conferences, Kathleen H. Stimson

Cognitive Science Senior Theses

This study investigates Zoom Dysmorphia, a heightened self-awareness and self-criticism of perceived physical flaws due to prolonged self-view on video conferencing platforms, with associated behaviors resembling symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Drawing on Veale’s (2001, 2004) and Neziroglu’s (2004) cognitive-behavioral models of BDD and prior studies on BDD which suggest the development and maintenance of BDD through excessive self-focused attention and attentional bias, this study explores the potential cognitive and emotional implications of this phenomenon. Participants engaged in two mock video conferences with self-view enabled in one meeting and disabled the other for comparison. Eye tracking technology monitored their …

A Quantitative Study Examining The Mental Health Needs Of African American Students Compared To Their Counterparts In Higher Education, Luxury Bryant

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

African American students are entering into higher education institutions at higher rates. This population has specific needs and faces various challenges entering college at predominantly white institutions compared to their counterparts of different races. While college is already a stressful time with academic pressures as well as navigating a new setting, African American students also face unique experiences that can impact their mental health. It has been found that African American students are less likely to seek out mental health services especially those that are attending predominantly White institutions (Anderson, 2018). This study will highlight African American undergraduate students' perceptions …

Factors Associated With Intention To Implement Sbi And Sud Treatment: A Survey Of Primary Care Clinicians In Texas Enrolled In An Online Course, Alicia Kowalchuk, Tiffany G Ostovar-Kermani, Kylie Schaper, Larissa Grigoryan, Jacqueline M Hirth, Maria Carmenza Mejia, Kiara K Spooner, Roger J Zoorob

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) presents a range of public health challenges and consequences. Despite the prevention potential of screening and brief intervention (SBI) in the primary care setting, implementation is low. The purpose of this study was to assess associations of primary care clinicians' knowledge of SBI and SUD treatment, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control with intention to incorporate SBI and SUD treatment into regular clinical practice.

METHODS: This online survey was administered to primary care clinicians who practice in Texas between March 1, 2021, and February 5, 2023. Survey questions were mapped to factors in the Theory …

Glioblastoma Disrupts Cortical Network Activity At Multiple Spatial And Temporal Scales, Jochen Meyer, Kwanha Yu, Estefania Luna-Figueroa, Benjamin Deneen, Jeffrey Noebels

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The emergence of glioblastoma in cortical tissue initiates early and persistent neural hyperexcitability with signs ranging from mild cognitive impairment to convulsive seizures. The influence of peritumoral synaptic density, expansion dynamics, and spatial contours of excess glutamate upon higher order neuronal network modularity is unknown. We combined cellular and widefield imaging of calcium and glutamate fluorescent reporters in two glioblastoma mouse models with distinct synaptic microenvironments and infiltration profiles. Functional metrics of neural ensembles are dysregulated during tumor invasion depending on the stage of malignant progression and tumor cell proximity. Neural activity is differentially modulated during periods of accelerated and …

Brain Cell-Type Shifts In Alzheimer’S Disease, Autism, And Schizophrenia Interrogated Using Methylomics And Genetics, Chloe X Yap, Daniel D Vo, Matthew G Heffel, Arjun Bhattacharya, Cindy Wen, Yuanhao Yang, Kathryn E Kemper, Jian Zeng, Zhili Zheng, Zhihong Zhu, Eilis Hannon, Dorothea Seiler Vellame, Alice Franklin, Christa Caggiano, Brie Wamsley, Daniel H Geschwind, Noah Zaitlen, Alexander Gusev, Bogdan Pasaniuc, Jonathan Mill, Chongyuan Luo, Michael J Gandal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Few neuropsychiatric disorders have replicable biomarkers, prompting high-resolution and large-scale molecular studies. However, we still lack consensus on a more foundational question: whether quantitative shifts in cell types-the functional unit of life-contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. Leveraging advances in human brain single-cell methylomics, we deconvolve seven major cell types using bulk DNA methylation profiling across 1270 postmortem brains, including from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism. We observe and replicate cell-type compositional shifts for Alzheimer's disease (endothelial cell loss), autism (increased microglia), and schizophrenia (decreased oligodendrocytes), and find age- and sex-related changes. Multiple layers of evidence indicate that endothelial …

A Pilot Acceptability Evaluation Of Mommind: A Digital Health Intervention For Peripartum Depression Prevention And Management Focused On Health Disparities, Alexandra Zingg, Amy Franklin, Angela Ross, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Health disparities cause significant strain on the wellbeing of individuals and society. In this study, we focus on the health disparities present in the condition of Peripartum Depression (PPD), a significant public health issue. While PPD can be managed through therapy and medication, many women do not receive adequate PPD treatment due to issues of social stigma and limited access to healthcare resources. Digital health technologies can offer practical tools for PPD management. However, current solutions do not integrate behavior theory and are rarely responsive to the transient information needs stemming from women's unique sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial profiles. We …

Determinants Of Implementation For Group Medical Visits For Patients With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review, Isabel Roth, Malik Tiedt, Carrie Brintz, Ariana Thompson-Lastad, Gayla Ferguson, Erum Agha, Jennifer Holcomb, Paula Gardiner, Jennifer Leeman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite the critical need for comprehensive and effective chronic pain care, delivery of such care remains challenging. Group medical visits (GMVs) offer an innovative and efficient model for providing comprehensive care for patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify barriers and facilitators (determinants) to implementing GMVs for adult patients with chronic pain.

METHODS: The review included peer-reviewed studies reporting findings on implementation of GMVs for chronic pain, inclusive of all study designs. Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched. Studies of individual appointments or group therapy were excluded. The Mixed …

Prediction Of Disease-Free Survival For Precision Medicine Using Cooperative Learning On Multi-Omic Data, Georg Hahn, Dmitry Prokopenko, Julian Hecker, Sharon M Lutz, Kristina Mullin, Leinal Sejour, Winston Hide, Ioannis Vlachos, Stacia Desantis, Rudolph E Tanzi, Christoph Lange

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In precision medicine, both predicting the disease susceptibility of an individual and forecasting its disease-free survival are areas of key research. Besides the classical epidemiological predictor variables, data from multiple (omic) platforms are increasingly available. To integrate this wealth of information, we propose new methodology to combine both cooperative learning, a recent approach to leverage the predictive power of several datasets, and polygenic hazard score models. Polygenic hazard score models provide a practitioner with a more differentiated view of the predicted disease-free survival than the one given by merely a point estimate, for instance computed with a polygenic risk score. …

No Longer On Fire, Vikki M. Parker

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

Capturing the poetic, lyrical essence of the ethereal universe, the pencil portal births whispers of the self in these Sourcedoodle collections, beginning as intuitive drawings and revealing their deeper essence through digital wizardry, healing art comes through for remembering the soul's purpose. A journey to gently collect the fragmented parts of a broken self. Like little souls dancing, each image has a story, a capturing of energy, an anchoring of light intensity, a glorious weaving of fluidity and a playful curiosity. A permission to be whole & a celebration of source discovering embodiment underpins this spiritual quest for discovering existence …

A Microcosting Approach For Planning And Implementing Community-Based Mental Health Prevention Program: What Does It Cost?, Sharmily Roy, Henry Shelton Brown, Lisa Sanger Blinn, Sarah Carter Narendorf, Jane E Hamilton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Estimating program costs when planning community-based mental health programs can be burdensome. Our aim was to retrospectively document the cost for the first year of planning and implementing Healthy Minds Healthy Communities (HMHC), a mental health promotion and prevention multi-level intervention initiative. This Program is among the first to use the Community Initiated Care (CIC) model in the US and is aimed at building community resilience and the capacity for communities to provide mental health support, particularly among those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Our objective is to share our methods for costing a program targeting 10 zip codes that …

A Microcosting Approach For Planning And Implementing Community-Based Mental Health Prevention Program: What Does It Cost?, Sharmily Roy, Henry Shelton Brown, Lisa Sanger Blinn, Sarah Carter Narendorf, Jane E Hamilton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Estimating program costs when planning community-based mental health programs can be burdensome. Our aim was to retrospectively document the cost for the first year of planning and implementing Healthy Minds Healthy Communities (HMHC), a mental health promotion and prevention multi-level intervention initiative. This Program is among the first to use the Community Initiated Care (CIC) model in the US and is aimed at building community resilience and the capacity for communities to provide mental health support, particularly among those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Our objective is to share our methods for costing a program targeting 10 zip codes that …

Impact Of The Department Of Defense Maternity Leave Policy Change On Retention And Postpartum Depression And The Air Force Postpartum Physical Fitness Policy Change On Physical Readiness Outcomes, Minette S. R. Herrick

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Understanding the implications of health policy is paramount to support continued execution and further wide-spread distribution. The Department of Defense has made many recent family friendly policy changes in effort to improve the health and morale of the force. Two such policies were analyzed in this study. The first was the change in maternity leave, in 2016, from allotting women six weeks time off to twelve weeks time off in the postpartum period. The second was executed by the Air Force to permit postpartum women a longer duration for their required physical fitness assessment (an increase from six months to …

Animals In Prison: Is There Value In Inmate-Animal Rehabilitation Programs?, I. H. C.

Tredway Library Prize for First-Year Research

This paper demonstrates the benefits of animal rehabilitation programs in alleviating the mental harm of incarceration and improving outcomes for individuals upon their release. I.H.C. details the overwhelming mental health crises and conditions that inmates face in prison, arguing to redefine rehabilitation to center both practical preparations and on healing the underlying traumas and mental health concerns before release. His numerous examples drawn from prisons around the world thoroughly uphold the evidence that animal rehabilitation programs improve inmate wellbeing, decrease violent incidents in prison, enhance vocational and employment opportunities post-incarceration, and overall change inmates’ behavior – all benefits that ultimately …

Deconstructing Drugs: Addressing The Stigma, Harm Reduction, And Policy Solutions, Charlotte Theriault

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Black and homeless people who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), especially opioid use disorder (OUD), have experienced unique obstacles due to inequalities relating to their social determinants of health (SDOH). Historical context and peer-reviewed research were used to evaluate racial bias and expand upon the factors that contributed to the opioid crisis, the effects of COVID-19 on drug overdoses, and the presence of fentanyl in illicit drug supplies. Various studies combat the stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) by acknowledging the disease as a chronic health condition. Research showed that the most effective way to combat these inequalities and …

Exploring Attachment Through Clay-Based Therapy: A Parent-Child Community Engagement Project, Hilari Stahler

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This research project explores the therapeutic potential of clay, particularly as a creative, sensory-rich process that facilitates access to pre-verbal memories. Grounded in attachment theory and the innovative approach to trauma healing by Cornelia Elbrecht, known as Trauma Healing at the Clay Field®, the study investigates clay's regressive and healing qualities. It examines how its smooth, skin-like texture can activate our implicit memories through sensory experiences. Utilizing a community engagement format, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of parent-child clay field sessions in addressing intergenerational attachment trauma and unmet attachment needs. The research revealed that the unique properties of …

Artistic Expression Of Medical Experiences Of Mothers Of Color: Perspectives Using Art Therapy, Lauren Barrett

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine perspectives of mothers of color living in the US and their experiences in the healthcare system through art therapy. The study aimed to further identify personal narrative experiences of mothers of color navigating the healthcare system, promote individual voices, and acknowledge disparities impacting those within marginalized communities. The participants in this study included a total of eight identified mothers of color (non-White) living in the US. Participants took part in four weeks of consecutive art therapy sessions either in 60-minute group or individual virtual meetings. One art therapy directive was provided …

A Trauma-Informed Socially Just Approach To Working With Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth Utilizing Expressive Arts Therapy, Ciara Carr

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Youth involved with the juvenile justice system often have a history of trauma and oppression resulting from their positionality and circumstances. Most juvenile justice-involved youth are boys, youth of color, low-income, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, and traumatized. This literature review explores the history of the juvenile justice system, issues with the present-day model, and trauma-informed and transformative justice approaches to practice. The implementation of socially just, trauma-informed expressive arts therapy programs is proposed as a more equitable practice to replace commonly used punitive practices across the United States. More research is needed to understand the impact of such programs on this population …