Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

One Can Only Dream, Sophia V. Yacca

Theses and Dissertations

One Can Only Dream is an interactive installation in which players are invited to navigate a liminal, dream-like game, engage with a branching series of questions, and introspect upon the relationships between unconscious expression, conscious self-perception, and the inherent difficulty of depicting, sharing, and understanding subconscious thought.

Rooted in both my personal experience with a rare neurophysiological condition and in my desire to create, this project examines dreams not only as a medical and cultural phenomenon, but also as a means to form identity, reflect trauma, and inspire creativity. Drawing from modern interactive storytelling and my lived experiences, this work …

Finding Freedom In Appalachia: Evaluating A Mental Health Intervention In West Virginia, Elizabeth A. Claydon, Karen Haring, Jessica Haring, Kelsey Riggi, Beth Currence

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rural areas have limited capacity to provide comprehensive mental health treatment and resources. This creates the need for interventions to ensure individuals with mental health concerns have access to resources to improve their mental health.

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods evaluation was to assess the effectiveness and impact of Libera, a mental health program tailored for girls and women within the Appalachian region.

Methods: Quantitative surveys, including validated measures for depression, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms, and life satisfaction, were collected pre- and post-Libera intervention for participants. Simultaneously, annual surveys were sent to Listeners in addition to qualitative …

Affordable Architecture: Promoting Mental Health Through Cost-Effective Design In Underfunded High Schools In Dallas-Fort Worth, Raphaella Malicay

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Mental health awareness has increased over the years as well as numerous strategies to support mental health. Some of these strategies include addressing the built environment. This paper explores the intersection between mental health and the built environment through the lens of affordable architectural methods that would be effective in underfunded secondary schools. This study examines how architecture influences students’ well-being and how certain design strategies can be implemented even in schools that lack the financial resources for adequate infrastructure. Here the focus is on investigating affordable solutions such as improving ventilation, optimizing natural light, having flexible learning spaces, and …

Beyond The Flames: Occupational Therapy Approaches To Address Pain Management, Mental Health, And Occupational Engagement In Burn Patients, Mackenzie Mertz

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project centered around gaining advanced clinical skills and knowledge, advocating for occupational therapy’s role in burn rehabilitation, and creating education on topics such as pain management and mental health. This project was completed at the Medical University of South Carolina Burn Center with a diverse population throughout the continuum of care and various functional and psychosocial needs. The theoretical framework supporting this project was the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement. Assessment tools included range of motion, manual muscle testing, sensation, a pain analogue scale, and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Clinical skills were gained throughout the …

Occupational Therapy Intervention Program Addressing Mental Health For Student Athletes Navigating Transition And Recovery, Taylor K. Pfrommer

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project aimed to develop and evaluate an occupation-based mental health program for student-athletes navigating the transitions in and out of sports. Guided by the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), Occupational Adaptation (OA), and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), intervention sessions contained six one-on-one sessions focused on identity reformation, building adaptive responses, and restructuring a meaningful routine. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate outcomes from two participants using the Brief-COPE, Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), satisfaction surveys, and thematic analysis of qualitative feedback. Results indicated growth in self-awareness and emotional expression for both participants. Participant …

Rural Access To Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (Ccbhcs), Aaron P. Smith, Jeffrey Talbert

Rural & Underserved Health Research Center Publications

Overview of Key Findings

▪ The number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) expanded from 2022 to 2023, increasing from 371 to 480. Most of the growth was driven by rural counties (57.9% increase, 126 to 199) while urban counties increased by 14.7% (245 to 281).

▪ The number of services offered at CCBHCs is similar in both rural and urban localities, but urban CCBHCs were more likely to offer services that cater to a diverse client base, such as speaking different languages, and nicotine cessation programs. Rural CCBHCs were more likely to have programs for minors, veterans, and …

Advancing Postpartum Mental Health Services At White River Health, Hannah Crowl

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This doctoral capstone project focused on addressing gaps in postpartum mental health care by developing two complementary resources: a comprehensive mental health assessment tool (Maternal Occupational Mental Health Assessment - MOMHA) and an educational manual, both grounded in CBT principles and framed within the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th edition (OTPF-4).

Restoring Connection: Promoting Social Participation & Mental Wellness In A Rural Assisted Living Facility, Madison Rogo

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The Doctoral Capstone Project highlights the important role of occupational therapy in addressing emotional well-being and promoting occupational justice within rural assisted living facilities.

Who’S In Control? Perceived Stress And Emotional Regulation Partially Mediate The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) On Mental Health And Life Satisfaction., Mary A. Burdan

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur during the first 18 years of life and have a strong potential to negatively impact health and well-being in adulthood. The exploration of this connection is important because health and lifestyle behaviors have been linked to the leading causes of death in the United States. ACEs have been found to alter brain development and have been associated with mental health issues and lower life satisfaction, but information about the pathway between these connections is scarce. The present study aimed to investigate if inadequate emotional regulation and higher levels of perceived …

The Role Of Ect In Ocd: A 10-Year Review (2014-2024), Mariana Sales, Tainiz Polanco, Amy Nguyen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects up to 2.5% of the population with significant impacts on everyday functioning and relationships. First-line treatment includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and cognitive behavioral therapy; however, studies have found that up to 40-60% of patients do not respond to SSRIs. ECT is an alternative approach that has demonstrated limited efficacy in OCD.

Objective: The current review aims to summarize the results of published work between 2014-2024 to assess the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of OCD.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using eight studies from 2014-2024 to assess the effectiveness of ECT …

Mental Health Crisis Of Medical Staffs During The Pandemic – How Has The Covid-19 Impacted Health Care Workers’ Mental Status, Yue Chen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The COVID-19 pandemic has waged a relentless battle against humanity, but amidst the physical toll lies a hidden front: the war on the mental health of our healthcare workers (HCWs).

Previous reviews have demonstrated a potential prevalence of mental health problems among HCWs, but these reviews necessitate updating and inclusion of more studies, along with a comparative analysis of pre- and post-pandemic backgrounds. Therefore, the aim of my study is to deliver updated prevalence estimates for mental health concerns among HCWs in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The results show not only a drastic increase in the percentage of …

The Physical And Mental Health Implications On Patients Of Childbearing Age Following The Dobbs Deicison, Jaclyn M. Schultz, Mariana A. Sales, Amy C. Nguyen, Chloe M. Triolo, Melissa K. Crisci

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: In June 2022, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson case which allowed for individual states to determine the legality of abortion. Thirteen states had “trigger” laws in place that immediately restricted abortion access. Since then, many states have enacted laws restricting access to abortion, increasing the total number of states where abortion is outlawed or heavily restricted.

Hypothesis: The goal of this review was to examine the potential implications of restricted access to abortion care on the physical and mental health of patients of childbearing age, which was hypothesized to be …

Assessing The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Mental Health In Patients Presenting To A Student-Run Free Clinic, Sabah Iqbal, Kirsten Carlberg, Emily Reilly, Jessica Ivanov, Victoria Youssef, Lily Roessler, Maikel Monsour, Nils Brolis

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Mental health is an important part of patient care, therefore it is imperative to understand how it’s recognized and treated. Socioeconomic status and the COVID19 pandemic contribute to disproportionate incidences of mental illness^{1, 2, 10, 11, 12}. This study uses data from a student-run clinic, the Rowan-Virtua Community Health Center (RVCHC), to examine disparities in mental health needs and screenings among the local population.

Hypothesis

It was hypothesized that underserved populations are at a disadvantage when it comes to both mental health screenings and treatment due to restricted access to healthcare and other unmet needs. Additionally, the …

Unbridled Healing: Identifying The Barriers Of Equine-Assisted Therapy, Sally A. Hamm

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the documented benefits of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for mental health conditions, this complementary approach remains underutilized. This qualitative study investigated barriers preventing wider EAT implementation by examining challenges faced by clients, facilities, and volunteers. Data collected through open-ended surveys from 33 participants and the researcher's autoethnographic observations revealed eight common barriers: Accessibility (48 mentions), Money (43), Time (30), Awareness (23), Physical Factors (13), Relationships (13), Risk (13), and Weather (7). Clients identified financial constraints as their primary barrier, particularly insurance limitations. Facilitators struggled most with accessibility challenges, including lack of resources, trained staff, suitable horses, and appropriate facilities. Volunteers …

The Burden Of Care: Understanding Burnout Among Pediatric Healthcare Workers, Navya Khandavalli

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Burnout among pediatric healthcare professionals is a growing concern that impacts both employee well-being and the overall quality of patient care. The aim of this study is to analyze the definition of burnout and how healthcare organizations can implore strategies to help improve the mental and physical well-being of their staff. Analysis was done through a survey administered to healthcare employees recruited from pediatric clinics, the neonatal ICU, pediatric research, and pediatric rehabilitation facilities. Findings from the methods found that burnout is often defined as prolonged occupational stress in an individual and are often characterized by symptoms of emotional exhaustion, …

Dr. Doctor: A Look At Life In Medicine, Alexandra Hausmann

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The life of a medical professional is not easy. The road to get there and the lifestyle when practicing is mentally draining and results in many physicians experiencing burnout. This project and paper explore the stigma surrounding mental health in medicine, examining how fear of professional repercussions prevents many physicians from getting help. Through research and interviews with medical professionals of various specialties, this project looks at the different mental health struggles that each specialty faces. Additionally due to increased social media, medicine continues to evolve at a fast rate. Looking forward, medical professionals will have to deal with increased …

The Relationships Between Behavioral And Sociocultural Constructs And Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends) And Cannabis Patterns In Hispanic Young Adult University Students, Kevin Sandoval Medina

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of both electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and cannabis has contributed to a concerning trend of dual usage, posing a greater public health risk, particularly pronounced among at-risk populations of increased substance use, such as Hispanic young adult college students. This study utilized the socioecological framework and social cognitive theory to observe behavioral and sociocultural constructs associated with dual use and identify potential risk and protective factors. Four hundred and twenty-one Hispanic young adult university students completed a cross-sectional survey assessing sociodemographics, depression, anxiety, stress, familism, acculturation, self-efficacy, and past month dual use and dual use recency of …

Exercise As An Intervention For Postpartum Depression (Ppd), Kylie P. Mistretta

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: To illustrate the applications of exercise for preventing the development of postpartum depression (PPD) and addressing associated risk factors identified in the literature. Data Sources: PubMed and EBSCO: Academic Search Premier were accessed using the search terms exercise OR physical activity OR yoga AND postpartum depression OR postnatal depression. A secondary search of PubMed was conducted using the search terms exercise AND pregnancy AND depression OR gestational diabetes OR weight gain OR sleep quality.

Study Selection: Studies selected for inclusion were peer-reviewed, published after January 2012, written in English, and relevant to the PPD risk factors examined. Only clinical …

Perception Of Mental Health Among Students In Higher Education, Kasibah Baig, Leia Aguilar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health in higher education environments is a topic that has the need for exploration and discussion. Students with poor mental health face additional stressors and challenges in their academic and personal areas of life. It is critical for colleges and universities to address the topic of mental health and understand how it can affect students, as well as to be able to provide the proper support and services. By having more conversations about mental health on campus and providing easily accessible and inclusive resources for students, it can create a comfortable environment on campus for students to be able …

Investigating Mental Health Outcomes Of National Collegiate Athletic Association (Ncaa) Division I Student-Athletes At The University Of Louisville, 2019-2023., Paul Harvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health outcomes among collegiate student-athletes, has become a broader concern in the 21^st century. This study examines prevalence and incidence of anxiety and depression amongst student-athletes at the University of Louisville from 2019-2023 across different Sports Groups. The prevalence of anxiety was found to be 20.22% and risk of anxiety was 15.65%. The prevalence of depression was found to be 13.11% and risk of depression was 18.75%. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between sports groups and anxiety/depression. There was a borderline association between sports groups and prevalence of anxiety after confounder adjustment (OR=1.86, 95% CI: …

Impaired Mental Health In Adolescents: Socioeconomically Challenged Geographic Locations, Brittany E. Kunkel

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

This capstone project aligns occupational therapy strategies with the environmental, social, and institutional contexts that shape adolescent mental health, enabling holistic and culturally responsive interventions that address not only individual needs but also broader systemic influences.

#Helpplz: Mental Health Representation In Theatre For Young Audiences, Kate Elizabeth Dirrigl

Theses and Dissertations

#HELPPLZ is a play for young theater audiences that depicts four teenagers with various mental health challenges. It’s target audience is for children ages ten to fifteen and should be performed by actors of similar ages. #HELPPLZ is an immersive theatre experience, as a audience members watch four actors perform from four different lifestyles and point of views, all while broadcast on screens behind the actors. Every seat is a good seat in the house. This play follows a shift in trends of mental health depiction in contemporary theatre. No longer demonized and much more accessible, plays such as Dear …

#Toomuchcontent: A Quantitative Analysis On Social Media Time Usage And Its Impact On Young Adult Anxiety And/Or Depression In The United States, Sarah Juarez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As technology continues to advance and grow, society has seen a surge in popularity of various social media sites. Social media has become increasingly popular among young adults, with some spending over 10 hours each day on social media. Social media can be utilized for community building, fostering relationships, providing safe spaces, inspiration, creative expression, and may even provide users with acceptance, validation, and a sense of belonging. Considering these factors, social media may also affect individuals negatively— specifically mental health-wise, in terms of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to identify whether a correlation exists between time spent on …

Fatigue Level Associated With Quality Of Life For Prostate Cancer Patients: Results From The All Of Us Research Program, Hui-Yi Lin, Masuma Mannan, Yu-Wen Chiu, Ya-Hsin Li, Rajasree P. Chowdry, Tung-Sung Tseng

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Prostate cancer (PCa) patients frequently experience extended survivorship, highlighting the importance of quality of life (QoL) in cancer care. QoL has been shown to influence survival and PCa progression. For PCa patients, fatigue is a common issue due to cancer itself or its treatments. However, many QoL studies on PCa patients are limited by small sample sizes in clinic settings and often overlook the impact of fatigue and health-related behaviors. To fill this gap, this study aims to evaluate fatigue associated with QoL and related health measures among PCa patients. METHODS: This study used the All of Us cohort …

Depressive Symptoms And Associated Factors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In Malaysia, Fiora Lena

Honors Scholar Theses

There is a high prevalence of mental health issues, including depressive symptoms, among men who have sex with men (MSM) globally. Such a study has not been done in Malaysia, a setting where stigma and discrimination are particularly high and same-sex behaviors are criminalized. While HIV and sexual behavior among MSM in Malaysia are well studied, their depressive symptoms remain underexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of MSM in Malaysia who experience depressive symptoms. In this study, we conducted a secondary data analysis of the baseline data of the Project JomPrEP, which is a …

Improving Access To Mental Health Care Using Telehealth, Lavern Palmer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

More than half of adults with mental illness in the United States live in mental health deserts—geographic areas with limited access to mental health services and persistent barriers to care. This study investigates the impact of telehealth implementation on patient no-show rates at a rural community clinic in Georgia. The aim was to determine whether the use of telehealth for psychiatric care would decrease the no-show rate of mental health appointments. A retrospective analysis was conducted using patient attendance logs collected 12 weeks before and after the implementation of telehealth services. Quantitative data were analyzed using a Pearson correlation to …

The Inner Blueprint: Unlocking Your 24/7 Potential, Mackenzie Zurcher, Becky King

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Inner Blueprint is a trauma-informed, occupation-based intervention designed to address the complex needs of adolescent girls with histories of trauma, substance use, and mental health conditions. Grounded in occupational science, the program emphasizes the integration of brain function, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and hormonal influence to promote self-awareness, resilience, identity development, self-worth, and functional independence. The intervention incorporates manualized content delivered through interactive group activities, reflective exercises, and routine-based skill building to support gains in emotional regulation, self-concept development, and daily life performance. A central therapeutic emphasis is placed on enhancing interoceptive awareness and empowering participants to recognize that their …

An Ot Program For Amputation Individuals And Their Caregiver, Ashley Hradecky, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Amputation individuals and their caregivers currently lack sufficient education regarding residual limb management, limb positioning, mental health, and phantom limb pain. These gaps in health management skills ultimately result in relationship strains, technology abandonment, and decreased independence. The goal was to develop and implement an educational program for new amputation individuals and their caregivers targeting these topics. Six pairs successfully completed this four-week program, with each pair responding to pre and post surveys. Interventions included lower extremity positioning, prosthetic care management, residual limb management, mirror therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and tactile point discrimination. When comparing the pre and post …

Electronic-Based Determinants Of Health Screening On An Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, Anyaku O. Okpara

Dissertations

Problem: Approximately 14.1 million Americans are diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). These individuals experience death 10-20 years earlier compared to the general population, primarily due to chronic medical comorbidities and unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs). Mortality rates, increased healthcare utilization, and frequent readmissions in patients with multiple, unmet HRSNs are likely to remain high unless developments such as the incorporation of standardized, multi-domain, social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings into electronic health records (EHRs). The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project, guided by the Institute for Healthcare (IHI) model for change utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, was …

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Collegiate Athlete Mental Health Care: A Concept Analysis, Jacquelyn Arnett, Lesley Khan-Farooqi

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Adverse mental health outcomes in collegiate athletes are on the rise in the United States, prompting concerns about the impact of external surroundings on their well-being. Occupational therapy (OT) is a profession that specializes in environmental- and occupation-centered intervention, approaches to mental health care not currently being utilized in collegiate athlete populations. Despite these potential benefits, OT practitioners (OTPs) are not an established member of the care team in current athlete mental health care structures, likely because many stakeholders do not understand the unique services OTPs can offer. Walker and Avant’s eight-stage concept analysis was employed to examine the role …