Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Manualized Occupational Therapy Communication Skills Module For Clients With Ptsd, Lacey Kinard, Steven M. Gerardi

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience a variety of barriers and challenges that impact their daily occupational performance, engagement, well-being, and quality of life. There is a lack of research in the area of manualized occupational therapy (OT) treatment options for people with PTSD. Literature has expressed a need for the development of a manual-based OT treatment program for people with PTSD with communication skills training as an intervention component. The purpose of this project is to create a manualized OT communication skills intervention module for occupational therapists to implement with clients with PTSD for improved occupational performance and …

Sex Differences In The Effects Of Cortisol On Muscle Characteristics: A Meta-Analysis, Natalie Bitetti

CMC Senior Theses

Background: Cortisol plays a central role in both muscle breakdown and growth. These effects are highly dependent on dose and interactions with other hormones. It is known that men and women show considerable differences in their muscle structure and physiology, which are largely driven by hormonal differences. Cortisol release patterns may also vary between the sexes, with current research showing considerable disagreement. The interplay between cortisol and muscle, two highly variable and sexually dimorphic factors, may prove to have different effects in males versus females.

Objective: This meta-analysis integrates existing research on sex differences in cortisol-muscle physiology with existing research …

The Impacts Of Caregiving And Social Support On Stress For Multiple Sclerosis: A Study On Informal Caregivers, Jacqueline Mercado

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present quantitative study was to gain an increased understanding of the impacts of caregiving and social support on stress for unpaid informal caregivers of persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Caregiving for MS can be rewarding yet stressful. Informal caregivers are the primary source of ongoing home care for family members or friends with MS. Due to the complexity of care, caregivers are especially vulnerable to higher strain as they often feel unprepared for this role. This study examined perceived social support and demographic variables on caregivers' stress to gain insight into mediating caregiver psychosocial challenges. …

Use Of Formal And Informal Strategies To Manage Stress During Level Ii Occupational Therapy Fieldwork, Ryan Thomure

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Stress may play a role in the performance of occupational therapy students during Level II fieldwork, but little research exists regarding the causes of stress or the stress management strategies students use. The objective of this study was to determine factors that contribute to fieldwork-related stress and strategies students use to manage that stress on Level II fieldwork.

Students or recent graduates of occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant programs who completed at least one Level II fieldwork experience in the previous 36 months were eligible to participate. An online survey was distributed to participants through snowball sampling. The participants …

Life Balance, Stress, And Occupational Burnout In Occupational Therapy Assistant Students: An Exploratory Study, Olivia W. Hammond, Mba, Otr/L, Cht

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

The United States healthcare worker burnout crisis demands immediate attention. College is critical for preparing occupational therapy assistant students (OTA) to address life balance, stress, and burnout as they transition into the workforce. However, little is known about these factors in this population. In this doctoral presentation, the primary author presents her doctoral project, which explored OTA students' life balance and its association with their perceived stress and occupational burnout across employment status, residential status, years of study, and age. A cross-sectional Qualtrics e-survey was distributed to OTA students ages 18 and older, including a demographic survey, Life Balance Inventory …

Effects Of A Mindfulness Intervention To Improve Teachers’ Well-Being, Andrea P. Almaguer-Botero, Eva L. Miller, Roy K. Chen, Ralph Carlson

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

Teacher attrition has increased by 50% over the past 15 years. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a mindfulness-based intervention would be effective for reducing stress and increasing mindfulness, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and well-being among teachers at Title I (low-income) schools. The researchers evaluated the effects of a mindfulness intervention created specifically for teachers using a four-way ANOVA (2 × 3 × 2 × 5) with two between subjects’ factors, groups and levels, and two within subjects/repeated measures factors, pretest-posttest and scales. While the study did not show significant effects for mindfulness, stress, self-efficacy, and well-being, teachers …

Therapeutic Gardening For Addiction Recovery, Hugo A. Rivera Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: The use of evidence-based alternative forms of therapy like horticulture therapy and therapeutic gardening is underutilized in substance use recovery programs in the United States. As the country continues to struggle with addiction, it is important that recovery programs look to and incorporate these alternative therapies into official curricula. Currently, 46.3 million individuals living in the United States are living with a substance use disorder (U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2022).

Context: The intervention was implemented at an all-male substance use treatment facility in San Jose, CA that houses up …

Impact Of Perfectionism, Social Media, And Sleep Hygiene, On Stress In Students From Health Professions Programs, Dayton Duane Braley Spt, Madisyn Ann Dingmann Spt, Brooke Elizabeth Grussing Spt, Justin Daniel Heinrichs Spt, Trystin Renae Nilson Spt

Physical Therapy Student Research Projects

Title: Impact of Perfectionism, Social Media, and Sleep Hygiene, on Stress in Students from Health Professions Programs

Purpose: Explore the impact and relationships of perfectionism, sleep, and social media on stress in health profession students.

Methods: After IRB approval, 62 health pre-professional/professional students completed this non-experimental survey via Qualtrics. The survey consisted of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), questions about social media usage, and demographic characteristics. Surveys were completed in 2021.

Results: Participant demographics included: 50 female, 12 male; Mean Age (24.16); Program of Study (23 PT, 9 OT, 13 …

Stress, Mindfulness And Occupational Engagement: A Pilot Study Of The Home Protocol, Laura Gerig, Patricia Henton, Megan Butterweck, Jory Swider, Laura Cameron, Kaylee Marihugh, Kathryn Close

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Stress and disengagement from meaningful occupations are barriers graduate students face daily. This mixed methods study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the nine-minute Huntington Occupational Mindfulness and Engagement (HOME) protocol for occupational therapy (OT) graduate students to re-engage in meaningful occupations. Participants (N=29) were selected through a convenience sample at a Midwestern university’s OT doctoral program and randomly assigned to either an experimental HOME Protocol group or a control journaling group. Students completed the Coping Orientation to Problems (COPE) Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) as pre and post assessments and received training in the assigned protocols. For …

Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perceptions Of Workplace Stressors In One Nursing Home Post Pandemic, Owen T. Tabelisma

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Executive Summary

Background:

Multiple stress-related issues brought on by the pandemic affected healthcare staff, including occupational therapists. Nursing home settings were particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to understand how occupational therapy practitioners in nursing home settings managed stress during the pandemic and how they perceived stress after it passed.

Purpose:

The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate occupational therapy practitioners ’perceptions of workplace stressors in one nursing home during the pandemic and to understand how these stressors may have changed post-pandemic.

Theoretical Framework:

The Occupational Adaptation (OA) model was the theoretical framework that served …

Work-Family Spillover, Family Functioning, And Life Satisfaction Of Pastors, Marcos Rosa

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The current study is quantitative research that used a web-based survey from multiple religious denominations in the United States to examine the relationships among perceptions of stress, work-family spillover, marital satisfaction, and family functioning of pastors. Emotional exhaustion, hours worked, personal accomplishment, and social support were analyzed as predictors from the work domain. Two measures of spillover were used to evaluate family stressors and enhancers. The stressors and enhancers were tested as mediators between work domain and personal/family life. Life satisfaction, marital satisfaction and family dysfunction were analyzed as outcome variables. The sample included 83 pastors from a convenience sample …

Stress Matters: A Case Report In Occupational Therapy For Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment, Amy Driga, Naomi Dolgoy, Julie Hunley

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This case report details occupational therapy (OT) for a woman with breast cancer experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), referred to OT for memory strategies.

Method: Preliminary subjective and cognitive screenings were completed with further/finer assessment diarized.

Results: While the cognitive aspect of CRCI is often addressed via OT, in this case, stress was the most prevalent barrier to function reported. Stress was identified as: impacting occupational engagement, CRCI presentation, interfering with return-to-work goals, and accentuated given the COVID-19 pandemic. A common cancer-specific stress screening tool appeared inadequate in identifying the impact and interplay of stress on function, necessitating a …

Investigating Doctor Of Physical Therapy Student Stress During Pandemic Related Curricular Changes, Keithann Halle, Jennifer D. Hastings

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: Stress level in physical therapy students has been a focus of research due to multiple documented effects related to physical health, mental health, and ability to learn. Self-reflection has also been a focus of education research, relating it to personal learning, critical thinking, and demonstrable development of professional behaviors and skills. The aim of this study is to investigate student stress in response to programmatic changes wrought by the pandemic and whether stress impacted student self-reflection. Review of literature: Self-reflection is positively associated with growth of professional behavior and academic performance. Student level of self-reflection has been shown to …

Exploring Occupational Therapy In Perinatal Care: Promoting The Mental Health And Well-Being Of Women During And After An Unplanned Pregnancy, Sydney M. Korn

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Unplanned pregnancy can have a significant effect on the health and well-being of both the mother and her child. Those who experience an unplanned pregnancy are two times more likely to experience maternal depression or stress than those who plan their pregnancies which can negatively impact the mother-infant bond. This capstone sought to explore occupational therapy’s role within perinatal care, specifically addressing the mental health needs of women in unplanned pregnancies by collaborating with already established programs at a pregnancy resource center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and incorporating the principles of occupational therapy. It explored the use of modules …

Applying Self-Compassion And Stress Management Techniques To Increase Healthy Behaviors Among Women At The New Beginnings Center, Payton Knupp

OTD Capstone Projects

The New Beginnings Center is a nonprofit organization that serves as an empowerment program for women from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Nashville area. Current curriculum includes a 12-week program focused on nutrition, exercise, and positive lifestyle changes that provide a holistic approach to long-term behavior change and a lasting support system. The objective for this project was to provide updated programming based on current research and relevant topics for the population, utilizing the cognitive behavioral frame of reference to facilitate behavior change, reframing negative and distorted thinking into healthy and productive habits. The subjects of the two workshops focused on …

Shifting The Focus Of Mental Health Onto Graduate Students, Rosanna Jaramillo

Graduate Research Showcase

The transition from undergraduate to graduate school has the potential to increase demands among students surrounding coursework as well as fiscal responsibilities. The increased demand has the potential to alter the student’s physical activity which can negatively affect mental health. Physical exercise has the potential to reduce depression as well as negative mood symptoms, such as stress. Exercising also allows for boosting energy, improvement of sleep quality, and relaxation quality. The purpose of this research study was to examine the mental health of the graduate participants prior and after a two-week exercise regimen. The presented study focused on a two-week …

Educational Level As A Moderator Between Stress And Suicidal Ideation Among Law Enforcement Officers, Sittipong Permsookjit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are exposed to occupation-related stress at a level greater than any other occupation, save war combatants, such stress can lead to suicidal ideation. There is a growing trend of suicidal ideation among law enforcement officers. This trend will threaten the stability of society if it is allowed to continue. Educational level has been shown to improve quality of life and is considered a quantitative resource. Using the theoretical framework of appraisal theory, this study’s purpose was to examine the moderating effects of educational level on stress and suicidal ideation among law enforcement officers. A total of 72 …

The Implications Of Yoga As A Coping Mechanism For Stress During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ellie Hunter Madenberg

Masters Theses

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely devastating across the globe. In the United States specifically, Covid-19 has taken over 545,000 lives and climbing. Over the past year of the pandemic, the rate of mental health concerns has grown significantly. Yoga has been paralleled in growth throughout the course of pandemic with countless new yoga students and advanced students who have dove deeper into the yoga practice.

The study examined the perceived stress levels of yogis and using yoga as a leisure coping strategy for stress reduction during the Covid-19 pandemic. A survey was sent via email to yoga instructors …

Reducing Stress, Anxiety, And Depression For Nicu Parents, Amy Patton, Kylie Dunavan, Kyla Key, Steffani Takahashi, Kathryn Tenner, Megan Wilson

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

This project aims to appraise evidence of the effectiveness of various practices on reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The project contains six research articles from both national and international journals. Study designs include one meta-analysis, one randomized controlled trial, one small scale randomized controlled trial, one prospective phase lag cohort study, on pretest-posttest study, and one mixed-methods pretest-posttest study. Recommendations for effective interventions were based on best evidence discovered through quality appraisal and study outcomes. All interventions, except for educational programs and Kangaroo Care, resulted in a statistically significant …

Exploring The Usefulness Of Mindfulness Practices Through Zoom Meetings In Reducing Anxiety And/Or Stress Of Adults With Learning And Developmental Disabilities During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thatiane Abra

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explored which mindfulness meditations or mindfulness practices could be beneficial in the online sessions, the extent to which adults with learning and developmental disabilities could learn the practices remotely, and how stress and anxiety disorders could be reduced through online mindfulness interventions. Furthermore, it was also necessary to address the online sessions as the only mental health treatment possibility during the Coronavirus pandemic for the clients observed and the benefits and limitations of these interventions. Additionally, the importance of structure and routine for this population, the multi-modal structure of the interventions, and how attunement plays an important role …

Dance/Movement Therapy In Response To Continuous Race-Based Trauma, Aliesha Bryan

Dance/Movement Therapy Theses

Trauma is concomitant with a lack of safety; as such, where there is a threat to safety, there is likely to be trauma. Afrodescendants living in the United States, through an ongoing lack of human regard, are often powerless to ensure their safety, and are regularly subjected to continuous, race-based trauma. Racism is deeply embedded in the nation’s institutions as well as in every relationship, and this deeply pervasive and penetrating ideology influences strongly how individuals of any race interact with others. Race-based aggression, from micro- to macro-, has a profound and continuously traumatizing effect on Afrodescendants, with similarly profound …

Exploring Occupational Therapy Student Stress: Professor And Student Perspectives, Jessica Grab, Meghan Green, Julianna Norris, Kristen Pilchik, Grace S. Fisher

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to identify occupational therapy student stress levels and determine factors influencing this emotional response. The study also sought to obtain the perspective of occupational therapy professors on this issue. This mixed-methods study utilized an online quantitative descriptive survey and a telephone or face-to-face qualitative open-ended interview. Online survey respondents included a nationwide sample of 340 occupational therapy professors and 459 occupational therapy students. Additionally, nine professors and five students served as the interviewees. All professors were certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and employed either full or part time …

Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Wellness: Focus Group Findings, Kelsey Lawrence, Katherine Chin, Stacy Smallfield

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Despite the evidence of significant consequences stemming from the intense demands on students, most graduate-level programs have insufficiently considered components of students’ wellness. Thus, the purpose of this research study was two-pronged: 1) to evaluate current occupational therapy students’ perceptions of wellness and 2) to explore student perceptions on using communities of practice as a program delivery method to enhance wellness. A qualitative study design was selected to gather experiences and feedback from occupational therapy graduate students. Participants were recruited via email from a convenience sample of a large, research-based Midwestern occupational therapy program. Participants attended one focus group and …

Building Stress Resilience And Wellbeing: Introducing Mindfulness Training To Reduce Stress In Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students, Jen Willoughby Vogtmann, Ingrid Provident

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Given the high levels of stress in college students and its impact on academic achievement, a purposefully designed curriculum-based mindfulness stress reduction program was implemented for entry-level occupational therapy students to support student mental health. The small-scale, seven-week study, used a combination of mindfulness-based stress reduction strategies, including a meditative technique known as inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR), and coping strategies using the Occupational Performance Coaching Model to help students cope with their stress levels. Sixteen student participants explored a variety of stress reduction strategies to best suit their individualized needs. Strategies included phone applications, podcasts, guided meditation, yoga, mindfulness of …

Implications For Occupational Therapy Student Stress, Well-Being, And Coping: A Scoping Review, Pamela Lewis-Kipkulei, Leah S. Dunn, Amanda M. Carpenter

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Scholarly literature and non-scholarly news sources have highlighted stressors in higher education. The rigor of occupational therapy education can compound student stress. Although the profession recognizes these stressors, insufficient literature exists regarding strategies to cope with and manage these sources of stress. This scoping review explored the literature examining stress and the implications for occupational therapy student well-being and coping, and also identified strategies for faculty to support student well-being. Using PRISMA Scoping Review guidelines, a systematic, multi-phase process was used to identify relevant literature. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, MEDLINE Complete, Web of Science, ERIC, and Education Database. …

Physiological Factors Of Female Runners With And Without Stress Fracture Histories: A Pilot Study., Therese E Johnston, Colleen Dempsey, Frances Gilman, Ryan Tomlinson, Ann-Katrin Jacketti, Jeremy Close

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Female runners are at increased risk of stress fractures (SFs) compared with men. Literature is lacking with regard to best practice for preventing and treating SFs in women. The purpose of the study was to compare physiological measures and running-related factors between women of various ages and running abilities with and without a history of running-related SFs.

HYPOTHESIS: Women with and without SF histories will differ with regard to medical and menstrual history, bone health, body composition, nutrition, and running history.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

METHODS: A total of 20 female runners with …

Do High Amounts Of Stress And Anxiety Lead To A Higher Injury Rate Among Student Athletes?, Meghan Koch, Jennifer Walker, Erika Smith-Goodwin

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Please enjoy Volume 6, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue, you will find Professional, Graduate, and Undergraduate research abstracts, and case reports.

Thank you for viewing this 6^th Annual OATA Special Edition.

Perceptions Of Risk For Stress Fractures: A Qualitative Study Of Female Runners With And Without Stress Fracture Histories., Therese E Johnston, Jeremy Close, Phil Jamora, Susan F Wainwright

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into perceived factors related to bone health and stress fracture (SF) prevention for female runners and to understand their experiences within the medical community.

DESIGN: Cohort qualitative study.

SETTING: University health system.

PARTICIPANTS: Forty female runners, 20 who had SF histories and 20 age-and-running-distance matched women without SF.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women participated in audiotaped qualitative semi-structured interviews. For women with a SF history, questions sought their perspectives on factors that they felt contributed to SF, experiences with the medical community, and changes made post SF. For women without a SF history, questions sought perspectives on …

Effect Of Animal-Assisted Intervention On Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Well-Being: Insights From Occupational Therapy, Christine Kivlen

Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Problem Statement: There is a growing concern regarding college student well-being that requires a need for implementation of cost-effective interventions addressing the increasing number of students experiencing negative mental health symptoms. Studies from medical and educational settings suggested positive mental health benefits from animal assisted intervention (AAI). Researchers studying college students exposed to animals during periods of high academic stress demonstrated successful reductions in stress and anxiety; however, researchers have not examined a specific area of dosage, including the influence of recurring AAI (more than one session) in the graduatestudent population. Furthermore, researchers have failed to include each element of …

Stress And Job Satisfaction As Predictors Of Teacher Turnover Intentions, Alrick Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High teacher turnover is problematic because of the costs associated with recruiting and training new hires. However, some of the factors originating outside of the working environment that may influence teacher turnover intentions are not fully understood. The purpose of this quantitative correlational design study was to examine the extent to which job satisfaction, commuting stress, and financial stress are predictors of teacher turnover intentions. The study involved a purposive sampling of 227 teachers within a school district in the South Eastern part of the United States. Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Validated …