Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Wellness Research & Programming For Bodybuilders, Victoria Castillo, Karen Park, Kersten Laughlin

Spring 2024 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

This project explores the occupational impact on bodybuilders and wellness & program development for competitive bodybuilders. Phase one focuses on research to understand the occupational impact on bodybuilders during competition. Phase two, which focuses on program development, highlights the alignment to the objectives as they allow for the development of an educational program intended for bodybuilder coaches to help with health prevention and wellness with their bodybuilder clients.

Implementation Of A Standardized Suicide Screening Process In A University Student Health Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Addie Grace Strong, Kathryn Dambrino, R. David Phillippi, Linda Wofford

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among college age students, prompting the need for evidence-based screening tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to enable early detection and timely intervention. Inconsistencies in suicide screening may pose a risk of missed intervention opportunities. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project specifically aimed to improve the quality and consistency of suicide screening in a university student health clinic by implementing the C-SSRS tool into the clinic workflow during mental health appointments. Methods: Employing a quality improvement framework, this scholarly project followed the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement …

International Students And Mental Health And Wellness, Rebecca Ramos Rosas

Capstone Research Posters

Despite concerns raised by previous literature about the undertreatment of mental health issues among international students, findings from this study suggest varied experiences during the pandemic. While some participants reported challenges accessing healthcare due to pandemic restrictions, others noted improved accessibility to healthcare services, including mental health resources. Furthermore, the study explores international students' perceptions of their college or university's supportiveness in navigating the Canadian education system. Recommendations for healthcare providers to enhance accessibility to resources for college and university students include improving communication and expanding health and wellness services. Additionally, participants highlighted financial issues and the availability of healthcare …

Gut Feelings: A Literature Review On The Gut-Brain Axis And Its Potential Influence On Mood, Grace Johnson

University Honors Theses

In recent decades, research on the gut-brain axis has evolved due to an increasing interest in the connection between gut health and mental health. The gut-brain axis presents a new frontier of health for both medical professionals and psychologists as there is expanding evidence illustrating the comorbidity of gut disorders and mood disorders. Due to the complex nature of studying the gut-brain axis and the myriad of influences on mood disorders such as depression, research has yet to find significant results definitively tying the two together. Nonetheless, the current body of literature on the topic provides a promising outlook on …

An Evidence-Based Approach For Decreasing Burnout In Health Care Workers, Leonor T. Salalila

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Health care worker (HCW) burnout is a pervasive phenomenon within the healthcare industry, affecting professionals across various disciplines. Emotional exhaustion is a prominent feature, leading to feelings of being emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and unable to cope effectively with the demands of the job. Additionally, burnout often results in a significant lack of motivation among HCWs, who may struggle to find meaning and purpose in their work, exacerbating feelings of frustration and disillusionment. Consequences extend beyond individual well-being, impacting healthcare organizations with reduced work efficacy, low productivity, increased absenteeism, and high turnover rates. Addressing burnout requires a multifaceted approach, …

Cross-Sectional And Descriptive Study On The Challenges And Awareness Of Hispanic Parents Regarding Their Adolescents’ Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jihye Kim, Robin Scott

Faculty and Research Publications

Research has shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 20% of children and adolescents in the United States experienced mental health issues that became a significant social concern. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the majority of adolescents maintain positive emotions despite the crisis. This cross-sectional and descriptive study delves into the emotional states of adolescents during the pandemic, considering the viewpoints of both adolescents and their parents, with a specific focus on Hispanic adolescents. Survey results revealed that most adolescents reported positive and happy moods. However, a percentage of adolescents experienced worry, significant changes in feelings, and loneliness as …

Recovery Capital, Mental Health And Substance Use Among Individuals Initiating Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Hannah R. Callahan, Karen Dugosh, Emily Hurstak, Patty Mccarthy, Emily Garber, Daniel Dejoseph, Julia Dejoseph, Michelle R. Lent

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Recovery capital refers to the internal and external resources available to support an individual in their recovery from substance use disorders. Using data from an ongoing trial, the current study examined recovery capital among 225 individuals initiating office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) at Federally Qualified Health Centers in the mid-Atlantic region. At baseline, participants completed the Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital-10 (BARC-10), a validated measure assessing the 4 major domains of recovery capital and completed a urine toxicology screening. Participants reported BARC-10 scores of 49.22 on average (SD = 8.14). Average scores were highest for the …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Well-Being Of People Incarcerated In United States Prisons, Kimberly Rivera

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the population as a whole. However, the incarcerated population (which also experiences a variety of health disparities) has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, and lack of resources, the incarcerated population already is at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes, made worse by the recent pandemic. To adapt to the rapidly changing conditions during the pandemic in 2020 and into 2022, new safety measures were implemented, but the unintended consequences associated with the implementation of these procedures have yet to be examined empirically. I conducted a qualitative content …

A Helping Hand Out Of The River: Refugee Perspectives For Provider Engagement, Brian L. Isakson, Elizabeth R. Stein, Alexandra Olson, Destiny Waggoner, Jill Holtz, Sara Ali, Suha Amer, Martin Ndayisenga

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: A growing number of refugee groups are seeking care within the U.S. health care system for medical, psychological, and social needs. Research is limited in understanding refugee-specific conceptualizations of helping relationships and provider characteristics that improve interactions in health systems. This study aimed to identify provider characteristics that facilitate engagement and helpfulness in a refugee-specific population from refugee participant voices to inform future practices of health care clinics.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with refugee participants were conducted to assess 1) experiences moving on from difficult experiences, 2) engagement with the health system, and 3) provider characteristics that facilitated engagement and …

The Eyes Beyond The Screen: Digital Media Policy And Child Health, Yahia Al-Qudah

Research Symposium

Background: Modern communication technology and digital media have provided society with a foundation for instant messaging. Pictures, videos, and texts connect individuals with families, friends, and the world. Consequently, digital media has accelerated exposure to risk in which children and adolescents are most vulnerable. This project’s objective is to 1) congregate and highlight current knowledge about the impact of digital media on child health, and 2) underline deficiencies in related laws and regulations as well as offer solutions in digital media policy.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted through the JAMA Pediatrics database with keywords such as “digital media,” …

Perceptions Of Mental Health Among Pakistani Women With Micro-Finance Loans: An Interpretive Descriptive Study, Farhana Irfan Madhani, Catherine Tompkins, Susan Jack, Carolyn Byrne

The Qualitative Report

Mental health has gained significant recognition and importance as a crucial aspect of overall well-being. An individual's mental health is influenced by the intersection of individual, social, cultural, and systematic sources of stress and resilience. It is important to include subjective conceptualizations of mental health and well-being to develop culturally sensitive approaches to mental health promotion. This qualitative study aimed to understand how urban-dwelling women living in Pakistan who are micro-finance loan recipients conceptualize the meaning of mental health. Using interpretive description methodology, data were collected and analyzed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in Urdu with a purposeful sample of …

The Impact Of School-Based Support Services On Mental Health And Academic Performance, Joshua A. Kent

2023 Symposium

Background: There has been a continued presence of mental health issues among high-school aged youth. As a result, many have a diminished ability to be successful in school. It is a societal problem as discussed in the literature. Legislation within the last 23 years has created more access for students but there is still a gap in services. This gap is mostly seen by not having enough personnel to address the amount of students that need assistance. There is also an inconsistent use of school-based health centers and other school-based interventions. Too many schools are using different interventions and …

The Effects Of Mental Health First Aid Preparation On Nursing Student Self-Efficacy In Their Response To Mental Health Issues, Kristen E. Mcgregor, Shannon E. M. Boyd, Emma C. M. L. Collins, Amy M. Mcdonald, Marlo P. A. Pereira-Edwards, Sarah J. Scott, Tamara D. Neufeld, Tom Harrigan, Breanna L. Sawatzky, Meagen A. Chorney, Kim M. Mitchell

Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées en formation infirmière

Background: Past studies show a high prevalence of nursing students experience depressive symptoms at varying levels of severity. Teaching nursing students early in their studies how to recognize these symptoms in themselves, their peers, or clients, and how to take appropriate action, may promote better outcomes. Studies in Australia and England have found that Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) increases nursing students’ self-confidence when supporting those experiencing mental health crises. Limited Canadian studies regarding MHFA training exist.

Purpose: To examine the effect of MHFA training on the self-efficacy of nursing students to deliver mental health first aid in a …

Understanding Mental Health As Public Health, Christi M. Navarro

Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches and Lectures

In this interactive workshop, we will utilize a multi-level public health framework to illustrate factors of risk and prevention that influence mental health and well-being. We will discuss shifting the narrative of mental health as an individual issue to the responsibility of society, culture, and environment. Participants will reflect on their role and level of influence in this model as well as their potential for action and positive impact.

Fostering Resilience In Children Of United States Navy Seals Using A Social Media Platform, Riley Walker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Having resilience helps children overcome, cope, and manage stressors that they encounter throughout life and provides intrinsically protective factors to help a child thrive in the face of adversity.

Local problem: Children of United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Operators (SEALs) face consistent stress as their parent is away from home more than 240 days per year doing high-risk training exercises.

Methods: Resilience education to mothers of children whose fathers are United States Navy SEALs delivered virtually on a social media platform. Pre- and post- intervention surveys using the Likert scale were conducted to measure the mothers’ understanding …

Tackling The Complexities Of The Obesity Pandemic Among The Bame Population In The Uk Through Identification Of The Social Determinants Of Mental Health And Wellbeing: A Narrative Review, Johnson Mbabazi, Fiona Macgregor, Jeff Breckon, Dorothy Irene Nalweyiso, Alan Rhodes, Edward Kunonga, Barry Tolchard, Jennifer Teke, Lawrence Achilles Nnyanzi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Obesity's multifaceted causes give rise to a complex and diverse range of health associated morbidities and comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, particularly among British Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations within in the UK. As found within the recent COVID-19 pandemic these can have wider reaching implications including increased risk of mortality within this population group. Understanding the potential social determinants of the causes of obesity is essential if effective strategies are to be developed to tackle this. A comprehensive search of the CINAHL, ASSIA and Web of Science databases was undertaken with 148 papers identified. Through application …

Therapeutic Gardening For Mental Health In Substance Use Recovery, Stephanie E. Schafer

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

As the clinical nurse leader (CNL) in this project, I used the “[CNL]

Essential 1: Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities” (Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader Education and Practice, 2013) and its competencies to focus on designing nursing care for a clinical or community-focused population based on biopsychosocial, public health, nursing, and organizational sciences and to synthesize evidence for practice to determine appropriate application of interventions across diverse populations. With the help of the CNL competencies and collaboration with the healthcare team, we created and implemented a therapeutic garden for residents in a substance use …

Medical Interpreters' Work Impact On Their Lives: Understanding Medical Interpreters' Work Experience, Nicholas M. Herrarte Smith

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Medical interpreters in the US are crucial health workers that specialize in facilitating communication between non-English-speaking patients and English medical professionals. Although much research has been done regarding the positive impact of professional medical interpreters on LEP (limited English proficient) patients' health, it is less known how medical interpreters’ lives are impacted in this line of work. Thus, this study was aimed at gaining a better understanding on the impact that this line of work has on the lives of medical interpreters. For this study, a survey was created with questions regarding demographics, interpretation’s certification process, interpreter’s satisfaction/experience, and mental …

Exploring Barriers To Rural Mental Health Practice: A Pilot Study, Caitlin Vu

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

There is a shortage of mental health professionals in rural areas around the world. Current literature on barriers to healthcare professionals choosing to practice in rural areas mainly focuses on medical professionals, with few studies examining the barriers to rural practice for mental health professionals. Along with examining the perceived barriers and enablers to rural mental health practice, researchers wanted to further examine the reliability of the revised Barriers to Rural Mental Health Practice instrument. Researchers distributed the survey to mental health professionals across the United States. Preliminary findings support high internal reliability for the total scale and three of …

Prescribing Music To Forensic Settings: A Literature Review, Sydney A. Bouchard

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Though prison is inherently musical, evidence-based forensic music therapy is rather understudied. This thesis critically reviews musical experiences in forensic environments and synthesizes its intersection with inmates' psychological distress. Additionally, the literature explores how forensic music therapy can act as a health and social resource for the incarcerated and their communities. Engaging in this work is vital because healthier correctional systems mean healthier communities (Hopwood, 2021). This review synthesizes relevant literature to inform better practices in music therapy, counseling, and healthcare and seeks to popularize discussion around an otherwise unpopular population, incarcerated folx. Emerging themes include (1) incarceration breeds negative …

Mental Health Awareness Month Display, Isabella Piechota, Arianna Tillman, Kalea Brown

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to accompany a display about Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2023 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

Examining The Marketing Strategies Of Campus Mental Health On A Minority Student Population, Rochelle Bernarte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Public health, particularly mental health services aimed at making a positive impact can be difficult to market to populations. Promoting mental health services to a target demographic of predominantly minority students at a university comes with its own set of unique variables making the task especially tough. This can be concerning as studies have shown that minority students experience greater amounts of stress than their White counterparts but are less likely to seek mental health services (DeFreitas et al., 2018; Duffy, 2019; Lipson, et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to gauge the Attitudes and Practices …

Initial Validity And User Experience Of A Dynamic Assessment Of Occupational Performance For Transitional Age Youth, Christine Haworth, Genevieve Cyrs, Chi-Kwan Shea

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Double OT (DOT) assessment is occupation-based and dynamic, designed with a client-centered format requiring skill demonstration. It was developed to support youth transitioning into the workplace. This research intended to analyze initial validity and users’ experience.

Method: This study includes qualitative and quantitative analyses of data collected from surveys from 169 client participants (APs) and 30 recipient participants (ARRs) from eight sites in the USA and Europe. AP were 14­ to 25 years of age and engaged in residential, educational, and vocational settings. The ARRs comprised partners who had received DOT assessment summaries about APs with …

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 …

The Musical Touch On Mental Illness, Skylar Dunn

Senior Honors Theses

To understand the relationship amongst anxiety, depression, and music therapy, this integrative review synthesizes the major themes and relevant education of articles discussing mental health and the benefit of music. While most existing studies focus on using music therapy to treat pain and clinical anxiety, the content of this paper is written to emphasize how the same principles can be used in unmanageable stress and emotional decomposition. Each topic is analyzed and reviewed individually, pooling several sources for a thorough examination, and understanding of the subject. Once each area is fully summarized, the gap is addressed by pulling evidence from …

Do Semantics Matter In Empathetic Person Perception Of Children Or Adults With Mental Illness?, Rylie Hansen, Caroline Polak, Emma Gries, Stevie Ostman, Gina A. Paganini, E. Paige Lloyd

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Experiences of stigma, discrimination, or aggression negatively affect the well-being of people experiencing symptoms of psychopathology. However, empathy is thought to undermine prejudice and discrimination and is linked with positive outcomes (e.g., greater well-being, more social support, etc.) among those with stigmatized mental illnesses. The current work investigates the influence of target age (adult or child) and language type (person-first or identity-first) on how much empathic concern perceivers report toward individuals with a hypothetical mental health condition. This research contributes to an ongoing debate about whether person-first or identity-first language carries stigmatizing or protective effects, while also considering a novel …

Mental Health And Physical Activity Motivation During Covid-19, Cian Foley

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in worldwide lockdown measures which saw individuals confined to their homes and isolated from one another. This isolation led to reduced opportunities to engage in physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on individuals’ motivation to be physically active. Subsequently the impact of COVID-19 on various motivation types was investigated. Individuals
who reported higher levels of autonomous physical activity motivation did not report greater satisfaction with mental health than participants with less autonomous motivation. However, 90.9% of individuals who reported less autonomous motivation reported that they …

A Scoping Review Of Campus-Based Animal-Assisted Interactions Programs For College Student Mental Health, Tanya K. Bailey

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: People have long found support by interacting with animals, which has developed into a health care modality called animal-assisted interactions (AAI). In the past 10 years, AAI has increased as a way to support college students’ mental health; however, there is no comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness of these programs.
Method: A scoping review was conducted using the JBI and PRISMA-ScR criteria. Empirical articles were identified through Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost), PsychINFO (Ovid), and Web of Science using three groups of keywords: AAI, college students, and mental health.
Results: Of the 1,195 publications identified, 37 met this study’s eligibility …

Role Of Nativity In Mental Health Service Utilization Among Asian Americans: A Weighted Analysis Of Complex Survey Data, Anne Dumadag, Hadiza Galadima

College of Health Sciences Posters

Asian Americans represent both the fastest-growing population and the smallest group of consumers of mental health services (MHS) in the United States. The current study aimed to identify factors associated with MHS use and explore differences in MHS use by nativity among Asian Americans. Data from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to examine past-year MHS use among Asian Americans ages 18 and older. Weighted analyses were used to determine the distribution of the population by nativity and other covariates, and Rao-Scott Chi-Square tests were used to explore the association between past-year MHS use and …

What Does It Look Like For Mental Healthcare Organizations To Be Healthy Places To Work? An Action Research Study, Stephanie L. Fox

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Mental healthcare organizations have a reputation for being unhealthy places to work. The irony of this reputation is keenly felt by its workforce who report unsustainable workloads, high levels of stress, and lack of support or engagement from higher-level leadership. As a mental healthcare provider now in a position of leadership, who has worked across all levels of care within the sector, it was of interest to me to explore how a mental health organization can become a healthier and more sustainable place to work. I approached this study with the assumption that if an organization was healthy and intentional …