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Articles 1 - 30 of 30
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
A Longitudinal Study Of The Development Of Social Anxiety In Young Autistic Children, Gillian K. Marshall
A Longitudinal Study Of The Development Of Social Anxiety In Young Autistic Children, Gillian K. Marshall
Senior Theses
Social anxiety is a prevalent anxiety disorder marked by fear and discomfort in social situations where scrutiny or evaluation by others is anticipated. This thesis investigates the interplay between social anxiety and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and communication challenges. Individuals with ASD often face heightened levels of anxiety, intensifying their social difficulties and impeding their social development. Early identification of social anxiety symptoms, particularly in ASD children, is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes. However, diagnosing social anxiety in preschool-aged children, especially those with ASD, presents challenges due to the complexity of symptoms …
Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel
Senior Theses
Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …
Focus Group And Survey Responses To Postural Feedback During Creative Movement Exploration, Mary C. Matthews
Focus Group And Survey Responses To Postural Feedback During Creative Movement Exploration, Mary C. Matthews
Senior Theses
John H. Riskind’s “appropriateness hypothesis” states that posture, positions, and gestures can be emotionally self-regulating if an individual holds a posture that is appropriate for its context. A litany of studies on power posing suggests expansive postures could increase Feelings of Power. One meta-analytic review demonstrates the “robust” significance for evidence of “power feelings, emotion, or self-esteem” due to postural feedback while cautioning researchers on the empirical invalidity of evidence for behavioral and physiological variables. A qualitative description of individuals’ experiences as they change posture, gesture, and position would direct future research on postural feedback. The current project qualitatively examines …
The Emergence And Predictive Utility Of Early Markers Of Social Anxiety In Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome, Conner James Black
The Emergence And Predictive Utility Of Early Markers Of Social Anxiety In Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome, Conner James Black
Theses and Dissertations
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by elevated rates of intellectual disability, autism, and anxiety. Social anxiety affects approximately 60 percent of individuals with FXS and is cited as one of the most impairing comorbid disorders in FXS; however, little is understood about the developmental patterns of social anxiety markers in young children with FXS. The current study investigates cardiac and behavioral markers of social anxiety across the first five years of life and tests the predictive utility of these variables on social anxiety symptomatology. Participants included 80 children with FXS and 50 neurotypical controls. Participants …
An Exploration Of The Social And Economic Factors That Influence The Mental Health Of Lgbtq College Students, Alexandria Mh Fossum
An Exploration Of The Social And Economic Factors That Influence The Mental Health Of Lgbtq College Students, Alexandria Mh Fossum
Senior Theses
LGBTQ individuals face a much higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders and mental health issues than their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts. The added academic pressures of college introduce a unique set of challenges that LGBTQ students face. This thesis includes a review of academic literature and data examining the intersections between social isolation, institutional discrimination, and financial insecurity and the effects they have on the mental health outcomes of LGBTQ college students. The paper is accompanied by a documentary consisting of a set of interviews of LGBTQ college students, giving a more personal insight into the multitude of factors that affect their …
Role Of Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Receptor Signaling In The Suppression Of Punished Reward Seeking, Grace M. Joyner, Anna Caroline Toburen
Role Of Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Receptor Signaling In The Suppression Of Punished Reward Seeking, Grace M. Joyner, Anna Caroline Toburen
Senior Theses
Previous studies have shown that within the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region associated with motivation and reinforcement learning, activity of neurons expressing the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R neurons) act as a “break” on risky behavior associated with negative outcomes. Moreover, when these neurons are stimulated, rats were found to become more risk averse. However, the impact of dopamine signaling through NAc D2R neurons in risk avoidance is still unclear. To further explore the role of NAc dopamine signaling in punished reward-seeking, we tested rats in a novel punished food-seeking paradigm in which subjects are trained to choose between a …
Moral Injury To Inform Analysis Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Amanda Julia Manea
Moral Injury To Inform Analysis Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Amanda Julia Manea
Senior Theses
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that almost one out of ten veterans struggle with. Although the National Center for PTSD has made extensive progress in characterizing and developing new treatments for PTSD, most veterans still experience symptoms of PTSD following treatment. Novel avenues of investigation, such as developing algorithms to review electronic health record (EHR) data and better understanding moral injury, are being pursued to address the gap that still exists when it comes to treating veterans. Moral injury is the individual evaluation of exposure to a potentially morally injurious event (PMIE) and can lead to …
How To Survive College As An Acoa: The Effectiveness Of University Resources On Helping Acoas Socially And Psychologically Succeed During Their Academic Career, Kelly Buchan
Senior Theses
In 2019, 14.5 million people ages 12 and older had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), but only 10% received treatment (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], 2022). Parental drinking problems can directly affect children, or “Adult Children of Alcoholics.” Of the few studies targeting ACoAs, results show that ACoAs not only have higher risks of mental illness, but they also have lower GPAs and social health (Schroeder & Kelley, 2008). Thus, this study assessed the extent to which perceptions of the college drinking environment are related to higher depression rates in ACoAs, certain drinking motivations, and reluctance to use …
Adolescent Mothers And Kangaroo Mother Care: A Scoping Review, Genna K. Rivers, Robin B. Dail Phd, Rn, Faan, Robin Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc
Adolescent Mothers And Kangaroo Mother Care: A Scoping Review, Genna K. Rivers, Robin B. Dail Phd, Rn, Faan, Robin Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc
Senior Theses
Kangaroo mother care (KMC), the practice in which mothers hold their infants skin-to-skin against their bare chest, can increase bonding and attachment between mothers and their infants. However, there is not much research on the benefits of KMC within the adolescent or teen mother population (13-19 years old). The purpose of this scoping review was to identify how common KMC is within the teen mother population, determine how KMC varies based on social determinants of health and race/ethnicity within the adolescent mother population, and how KMC impacts adolescent mothers’ maternal attachment and bonding with their infants. PubMed and CINAHL databases …
Music And Mental Health: Increasing Awareness And Promoting Wellness, Catherine Sarah Black
Music And Mental Health: Increasing Awareness And Promoting Wellness, Catherine Sarah Black
Senior Theses
“Music for Mental Health: Increasing Awareness and Promoting Wellness” examines how music might raise mental health awareness and act as a coping resource. Specifically, it 1) argues for the connection between music and mental health, 2) presents a case study of select BTS songs that have been useful in promoting mental health, and 3) describes the efforts of Classical Healing Keys, a non-profit organization designed by the author as a proposal to promote mental health through classical music.
Testing Models Of Context-Dependent Outcome Encoding In Reinforcement Learning, William M. Hayes Iv
Testing Models Of Context-Dependent Outcome Encoding In Reinforcement Learning, William M. Hayes Iv
Theses and Dissertations
Previous studies of reinforcement learning (RL) have established that choice outcomes are encoded in a context-dependent fashion. Several computational models have been proposed to explain context-dependent encoding, including reference point centering and range adaptation models. The former assumes that outcomes are centered around a running estimate of the average reward in each choice context, while the latter assumes that outcomes are compared to the minimum reward and then scaled by an estimate of the range of outcomes in each choice context. However, there are other computational mechanisms that can explain context dependence in RL. In the present study, a frequency …
The Role Of Interior Design In The Psychotherapist's Office, Vincent Ylagan
The Role Of Interior Design In The Psychotherapist's Office, Vincent Ylagan
Senior Theses
A growing body of research in environmental and design psychology indicates that our surroundings can have subtle but significant effects on how we feel and think. One setting where thoughts and feelings are at the forefront of the work done is the psychotherapist’s office, where clients go to process stressors and learn strategies to overcome emotional difficulties. The current study aimed to investigate how therapists and clients view the therapist office and identify the features associated with the “ideal” therapist office. Therapists, current or past therapy clients, and individuals who have not been to therapy completed short surveys. Surveys asked …
The Role Of Paraprofessionals In The Mental Health Structure Of India, Amy Abraham
The Role Of Paraprofessionals In The Mental Health Structure Of India, Amy Abraham
Senior Theses
The mental health treatment gap in India is part of a growing public health crisis, with over 95% of those in need of services never receiving them. Over 197 million Indians suffer from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder, and this number continues to grow given the treatment gap. The treatment gap is a result of four major factors: lack of government support, stigma, limited treatment facilities, and the dearth of professionals able to provide treatment. The current study aimed to analyze several factors of paraprofessional led mental health interventions including setting, treatments delivered, treatment models, and client outcomes. …
Peer Intervention With Suicidal Disclosures On Social Media: Does The Bystander Effect Play A Role?, Carissa M. Orlando
Peer Intervention With Suicidal Disclosures On Social Media: Does The Bystander Effect Play A Role?, Carissa M. Orlando
Theses and Dissertations
Suicide is an increasing public health concern in adolescents and young adults, and many individuals discuss mental health concerns with friends in lieu of professional avenues. Thus, peers can serve as valuable gatekeepers for friends experiencing suicidality. The prevalence of social networking websites means that individuals are likely to encounter suicidal disclosures on the internet, but little research has investigated if young adults possess the skills and motivation to intervene in these contexts. Additionally, there have been virtually no investigations into how the presence of other online users impacts intervention behavior—in short, if there exists a bystander effect. This study …
Feasibility And Preliminary Outcomes Of A Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention (Bmbi) To Decrease Stress And Improve Well-Being In Secondary School Teachers, Alex M. Roberts
Theses and Dissertations
Teachers often experience symptoms of stress and burnout due to the chronicity of their occupational demands. These symptoms can negatively impact teachers’ coping abilities and have implications for their physical and psychological health. Research indicates that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have potential to help alleviate these symptoms of stress and burnout. Increasing numbers of MBIs for teachers have been implemented in the past five to ten years. However, few teacher-focused MBIs measure intervention feasibility and little data exist informing how to design and implement feasible MBIs in this context while simultaneously maximizing their potential positive effects. The current study examined the …
The Moderating Effects Of Parenting Factors And Perceived Stress On African American Adolescent Weight Related Outcomes, Colby Kipp
Theses and Dissertations
African American adolescents experience a higher prevalence of obesity than nonminorities with approximately 40% being overweight or obese. Chronic stress, both among parents and adolescents, may be important to consider when assessing the factors that influence adolescent weight status. Baseline data were collected from one hundred forty eight African American adolescents (Mage = 12.93, SD = 1.75; MBMI% = 96.7, SD = 3.90) and their caregivers (Mage = 44.5, SD = 8.6; MBMI = 37.63, SD = 8.21) enrolled in the Families Improving Together (FIT) for Weight Loss trial. Adolescents self-reported their perceptions of …
The Relationship Between Social Functioning And Anxiety Symptoms In Preschoolers With Autism, Kaylee L. Cox
The Relationship Between Social Functioning And Anxiety Symptoms In Preschoolers With Autism, Kaylee L. Cox
Senior Theses
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social functioning. Furthermore, children with ASD have been found to have high rates of comorbid anxiety. Understanding the relationship between ASD and comorbid anxiety is essential in raising awareness of anxiety symptomology in children with ASD in hopes of better informing treatment and support. The present study examines the relationship between social functioning and general anxiety in children with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) children. The first objective of this study was to examine group differences in social impairments and anxiety symptoms between children diagnosed with ASD and TD children. …
Contexts Of Recovery And Displacement: Investigating The Impact Of The 2015 South Carolina Floods Across Communities, Van Phan
Theses and Dissertations
In October 2015, South Carolina was devastated by weather complications related to hurricane Joaquin that lead to historic amounts of rainfall and flash floods that destroyed local communities and infrastructure, ultimately displacing over 400,000 people. Natural disasters are destructive and have shown to be correlated with a variety of negative outcomes, including high levels of stress and hopelessness. These effects can be even more pronounced when compounded with displacement as these victims not only have to deal with the usual consequences in the aftermath of a natural disaster, but also the stress of integrating themselves into a different community and …
An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Academic Pressure And Non-Medical Prescription Stimulant Use Among University Of South Carolina Undergraduate Students, Arslan Valimohamed
An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Academic Pressure And Non-Medical Prescription Stimulant Use Among University Of South Carolina Undergraduate Students, Arslan Valimohamed
Senior Theses
One hundred and six undergraduate students of the University of South Carolina were surveyed to understand misuse of prescription stimulants and how perceived academic pressure may play a role in this behavior. Overall, the survey revealed that 33.0% of participants reported illicit use of prescription stimulants in the last 30 days, and 52.8% reported illicitly using prescription stimulants at least once during their time in college. Data from the survey responses indicated that students perceiving academic pressure were more likely to have misused prescription stimulants at least once during their time in college, but only if these students also reported …
An Investigation Of Social Communication Behaviors In Children With Siblings Who Have Asd, Nicole Vonada
An Investigation Of Social Communication Behaviors In Children With Siblings Who Have Asd, Nicole Vonada
Senior Theses
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is distinguished by deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted, repetitive, and stereotypic behavior. Research into familial patterns of ASD has indicated there is a behavioral phenotype in relatives, including siblings, that is milder but qualitatively similar to behaviors within ASD. This broader ASD phenotype (BAP) is characterized by sub-clinical impairments in cognition, language, and social communication, but more research is required to understand the developmental trajectory of these high-risk siblings (ASIBs). Thus, this study utilizes the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC), a behavioral coding assessment intended to track subtle change in …
Referential Indexing: The Role Of Space In Reference Processing, Cameron Smith
Referential Indexing: The Role Of Space In Reference Processing, Cameron Smith
Theses and Dissertations
A number of studies have suggested that spatial representations are used during language comprehension in a number of different paradigms (e.g. Ferreira et al., 2008; Gunter et al., 2015). These studies have largely focused on the visual modality, suggesting that people may use spatial cues in the visual environment to aid them in language comprehension. Importantly, the primary modality of spoken language is audition, which raises the question of whether the reliance on spatial information is specific to referents that are visible or at least were visible at some point. Thus, in this study, we examined whether spatial representations are …
Alleged Insanity: Frank Johnson Sr., Racial Injustice, And The Failure Of The Mental Health Care System In South Carolina, Jonathon P. Johnson
Alleged Insanity: Frank Johnson Sr., Racial Injustice, And The Failure Of The Mental Health Care System In South Carolina, Jonathon P. Johnson
Senior Theses
This thesis is about Frank Johnson Sr. and the circumstances that led to his downfall as a farmer and father of six, to his tragic death in the isolation of a racially segregated mental institution 18 miles away from his home. Using his life and incarceration at the South Carolina State Park mental health facility, I argue that racial injustice contributed to his tragic death and the woefully inadequate treatment thousands of African Americans in South Carolina received during Jim Crow. Additionally, I argue that the tragic circumstances around my great grandfather’s institutionalization and death were part of an enduring …
Hiv-1 Transgenic Rat: Selective Alterations In Motivation And Histological Examination Of Medium Spiny Neurons Of The Nucleus Accumbens, Michael N. Cranston
Hiv-1 Transgenic Rat: Selective Alterations In Motivation And Histological Examination Of Medium Spiny Neurons Of The Nucleus Accumbens, Michael N. Cranston
Theses and Dissertations
Motivational alterations in HIV-1+ individuals are associated with decreased performance on tasks involving frontal-subcortical circuitry and the nucleus accumbens. In the present study, the HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rat was used to assess long-term HIV-1 viral protein exposure on motivated behavior using activity chambers (40x40cm) and voluntary wheel running. Adult ovariectomized female HIV-1 Tg animals (n=21) to F344 controls (n=26) were pair-housed under a 12:12 light/dark cycle. Voluntary running was measured with 34 cm-diameter running wheels for ~60 minutes/day for 3 ½ months. There were no significant differences between HIV-1 Tg and F344 control rats in voluntary wheel running during the …
Phonological And Orthographic Repetition Effects Across Words In Adult Skilled Sentence Reading: An Eye Movement Analysis, Ti Yan
Theses and Dissertations
Visual word recognition is central to skilled silent reading. This project investigated the situation in which two words within a sentence share phonological information. Previous eye movement reading studies have made attempts to understand how prior exposure to a word could influence the speed of recognizing another phonologically and/or orthographically similar word. Results have been accounted for by different visual word recognition models which agree on the competition among similar words in the lexicon. However, a closer inspection revealed several concerns. First, there is little direct evidence demonstrating the across-word effect in normal reading. Second, the existing work in English …
Social Communication As An Early Indicator Of Autism In High-Risk Infant Populations, Alexis Marie Brewer
Social Communication As An Early Indicator Of Autism In High-Risk Infant Populations, Alexis Marie Brewer
Senior Theses
This senior thesis analyzes the social communicative profiles of children at high-risk for autism compared to typically developing controls. The project focuses specifically on the differences in initiating joint attention gaze shifts and joint attention gestures at 12 months in two high-risk groups, children with fragile X syndrome and younger siblings of children already diagnosed with autism. Their frequencies of gaze shifts and gestures were also analyzed to determine whether the joint attention behaviors are indicative of later autism symptom severity at 24 months.
Standpoint: Black Queer Southern Revelations, Mitchell Joseph Sewell
Standpoint: Black Queer Southern Revelations, Mitchell Joseph Sewell
Senior Theses
This senior thesis project is a collection of spoken word poetry organized around the theme of the experience of one black, southern, queer man.
What Do We Know About Gmos: A Comparison Of Regulations And Labeling In The United States And Netherlands, Alexa Nicole Black
What Do We Know About Gmos: A Comparison Of Regulations And Labeling In The United States And Netherlands, Alexa Nicole Black
Senior Theses
This senior thesis will articulate the similarities and differences in food regulations related to organic and GMO foods in the US versus the Netherlands and identify factors that contribute to these differences. The main goal of this thesis is to explain, through research and my own observations, the need for more comprehensive research and labeling of GM foods.
A Critical Analysis Of The "Young Life" Program: Implications For The Creation Of A "Leader" Manual, Christina Anne Romano
A Critical Analysis Of The "Young Life" Program: Implications For The Creation Of A "Leader" Manual, Christina Anne Romano
Senior Theses
The goal of this project was to create a useful and informative manual for current Young Life leaders in Columbia, South Carolina based on research from developmental literature about adolescent needs. Young Life is a nondenominational Christian youth group made up of volunteer leaders and staff people who go into local high schools to build relationships and develop an opportunity for ministry and sharing the Gospel. This project intends to critique what Young Life could be doing better in terms of catering to the needs of adolescents in this critical stage of development while coming from the perspective that the …
Adhd And Social Impairment Among Children: Problem Solving Skills As A Potential Mediator, Rebecca Mccord
Adhd And Social Impairment Among Children: Problem Solving Skills As A Potential Mediator, Rebecca Mccord
Senior Theses
This study tested the hypothesis that problem solving skills mediate the relation between ADHD symptoms and social impairment in children. Problem solving skills were evaluated by the Test of Problem Solving 3 – Elementary Version (TOPS), which separated problem solving skills into six different subtypes: making inferences, sequencing, negative questions, problem solving, predicting, and determining causes. ADHD symptoms were assessed through the parent report of the Disruptive Behavior Disorder Scale (DBD). Social impairment was assessed through the parent report of social skills using the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS). Three hundred seventy-two (372) children between the ages of eight and …
Impacts Of Adolescents' Emotional And Behavioral Concerns And Social Skills On Parenting Stress, Marissa Miller
Impacts Of Adolescents' Emotional And Behavioral Concerns And Social Skills On Parenting Stress, Marissa Miller
Theses and Dissertations
Minimal literature has examined predictors of parenting stress for parents of adolescents and what may contribute to the impact of these predictors, particularly those regarding adolescent behavior. The current study sought to evaluate whether adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing behaviors significantly predicted parenting stress and whether adolescent social skills moderated the relationship. Covariates of gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status were entered first into a multiple regression moderation model and followed by internalizing and externalizing behaviors, social skills, and interaction terms, respectively. The overall model explained 19 percent of the variance in parenting stress. While internalizing behaviors significantly predicted parenting stress, …