Mental and Social Health Commons^™

The Journey Of Psychotherapy: Understanding Therapeutic Technique Through Ultralight Thru Hiking, Emma Bossier

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper explores several principles of ultralight backpacking as metaphors for developing one’s therapeutic technique. The tenets of ultralight thru hiking, when interpreted through a clinical lens, offer early clinicians insight into the importance of moving through fear and leaning into exploration, discomfort, and authenticity while on the journey of becoming a therapist. The experiences of numerous thru hikers are synthesized into five principles: Don’t Pack Your Fears, Be Present for the Journey, Slow Simplicity, Embrace the Suck (and The Stink), and Trail Legs. These principles do not define ultralight as carefreeness but rather offer a metaphor for the careful …

Psychosocial Challenges As Predictors Of Transactional Sex Among Undergraduates In Ondo State, Nigeria, Ifeoluwa Blessing Michael, Oyedotun Dolapo Ilori, Patrick O. Akerele

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The study investigated the psychosocial challenges predictive towards engaging in transactional sex among undergraduates within Ondo State, with the moderating role of demographic variables weighed heavily. Employing a descriptive survey design, data were gathered from 404 undergraduates by means of a validated questionnaire (reliability = 0.86) randomly sampled from two public and two private universities. Amongst the findings from descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were that peer pressure, financial instability, family dysfunction, and emotional health challenges had significant correlations with involvement in transactional sex while jointly explaining 46.6% of the variance. Financial instability was the strongest predictor, followed by …

A Religious Etiology Of Genito-Pelvic Pain And Pain With Penetration, Emily L. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pelvic pain during penetration (PPDP) has been described using various diagnostic terms, including vaginismus, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia. The most recent and comprehensive classification is Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) which is characterized by psychological distress associated with pain during or in anticipation of vaginal penetration (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). The etiology of PPDP is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and relational factors. Religious and cultural influences may play a significant role in shaping individuals’ experiences of sexual pain. This study investigated the etiology of PPDP in relation to the religious influences among women raised in Judeo-Christian …

Effectiveness Of Kipas Counseling In Reducing Students' Academic Procrastination, Dimas Ardika Miftah Farid, Mochamad Nursalim, Evi Winingsih

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Academic procrastination is a common issue that hinders students' academic success and psychological well-being. In junior high school, where self-control is still developing, students are particularly vulnerable to distractions and delay in completing academic tasks. To address this issue, counseling approaches grounded in cultural values may offer effective solutions. This study aims to measure the effectiveness of KIPAS (Intensive Progressive Adaptive Structure Counseling) in reducing academic procrastination in junior high school students. A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measurements was employed, involving seven students who exhibited high levels of academic procrastination. The measurement scale used assessed the amanah dimension, …

Using The Personal Health Inventory To Support Engagement In Mindfulness For Veterans With Ptsd: Mixed Methods Secondary Data Analysis, Emily M. Johnson, Mia R. Zappala, Jacob Scharer, Kyle Possemato

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Mindfulness has many potential benefits to physical and mental health but requires many hours of practice to attain the strongest benefits. Mindfulness interventions delivered within the context of primary care settings are often brief, so independent practice beyond the training context is important. Motivational factors are important predictors of sustained practice and different types of motivational factors are associated with different likelihood of sustained practice. The Personal Health Inventory (PHI) is a publicly available personal health planning tool that assesses motivational factors related to self-care behaviors like mindfulness. Our objective was to understand how the PHI can support patient engagement …

More Than A Feeling: A Mixed-Methods Examination Of Transgender Community Connectedness And Associations With Suicidality, Erin Rook

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Transgender adults experience significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation than the general population. A sense of transgender community connectedness (STCC) may reduce this risk, but predictors of STCC and its association with suicidal ideation are understudied. This cross-sectional mixed methods study examined STCC and past-year suicidal ideation in relation to dimensions of transgender community connectedness (TCC) at each level of the Social Ecological Model using data from a U.S. survey of transgender adults (n = 126). About half (52.4%) felt connected to the transgender community, and 27.0% reported past-year suicidal ideation. Hierarchical logistic regression models for both outcomes showed good …

The Impact Of Family Violence On Bullying Behaviour Among Secondary School Students In Ilorin Metropolis, Oyedotun Dolapo Ilori, Patrick O. Akerele, Ifeoluwa Blessing Michael

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Family violence remains a significant social issue with far-reaching consequences for adolescents, particularly in shaping their behavioural tendencies, including bullying. This study examines the impact of family violence on bullying behaviour among secondary school students in Ilorin Metropolis, which comprises three Local Government Areas (Ilorin South, Ilorin West, and Ilorin East). The study adopts a descriptive survey research design to assess the extent to which exposure to family violence influences students' bullying behaviours, while also considering the role of peer influence. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 417 students from both public and private secondary schools in Ilorin …

Increasing Implementation Of The Comfortable Cafeteria Program To Promote School-Age Children’S Mental Health And Well-Being, Reinecka Mondesir, Angela Labrie Blackwell Phd, Otr

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Every Moment Counts (EMC) is a positive mental health promotion initiative that offers several initiatives to create inclusive environments that support student participation and emotional well-being throughout the school day. Comfortable Cafeteria, part of EMC, fosters positive mealtime experiences supporting peer interaction, emotional regulation, and inclusion. Many SBOT practitioners lack the resources to implement Comfortable Cafeteria, despite its benefits. This capstone project addresses the need for practical tools to help school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) practitioners integrate the Comfortable Cafeteria program into daily practice. Using the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, the project developed and disseminated an interactive, evidence-based video …

Addressing Psychosocial Barriers To Participation In People Experiencing Homelessness: An Occupational Therapy Workshop, Preston Bender, Steven M. Gerardi, Lacey Spark

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Despite the occupational therapy (OT) profession's emphasis on holistic, person-centered care, many OT practitioners and students report feeling a lack of self-efficacy and preparedness to navigate the complex psychological, social, and systemic barriers that hinder occupational participation in people experiencing homelessness (PEH). This capstone project aimed to address the perceived unpreparedness among clinicians through the creation of an 8-hour interactive educational workshop aligned with Experiential Learning Theory. The content is grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and informed by the Bridging the Transition from Homelessness: A Social Justice Framework (BTTF), trauma-informed care (TIC), harm reduction, and diversity, equity, …

Kind Kids, Healthy Teens: Child Prosociality And Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Farah Qureshi, Krista P. Woodward, Laura D. Kubzansky, Julia K. Boehm

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Methods

Understanding Hispanic Cultural Strengths Through Parents’ Voices: Insights For Interdisciplinary School Personnel, David Moran, Johana Rocha, Kristy Carlisle

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Examining the strengths of Hispanic cultural values among K-12 school students is a generally understudied concept, and from their parents’ perspective specifically. This study sought to take a qualitative approach toward the exploration of Hispanic parents’ perspectives on how their cultural values promote strengths within their school-aged children. Hispanic parents (N = 8) participated in bilingual (i.e., Spanish and English) focus groups, with the results providing content that can inform culturally responsive prevention and intervention strategies to support the roles of interdisciplinary school personnel who regularly interact with the children. Findings pointed to (a) interaction with peers and school …

The Relationship Between A School Psychologists Workplace Stressors To Their Home Life Functioning, Trevor Burns

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

School psychologists face increasing professional demands due to rising caseloads, paperwork requirements, and staffing shortages, which contribute to elevated levels of occupational stress. Although prior research has examined job-related stress within the profession, little attention has been given to how these stressors may impact practitioners’ personal and home lives. The purpose of this study was to examine how occupational stress experienced by school psychologists relates to stress experienced in their home lives. A total of 176 practicing school psychologists from across the United States completed an anonymous online survey, which included the School Psychologist Distress Inventory (SPDI) and a newly …

Caregiver Perceptions, Knowledge, And Likelihood To Intervene With Suicidal Youth, Amber L. Willwerth

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized an online survey to target primary caregivers of a child aged 5-18. The survey highlighted factors regarding caregiver involvement in suicide prevention efforts, such as their knowledge, comfort and confidence intervening with a youth experiencing suicidality, and barriers to doing so. It was found that caregivers who had experienced suicide prevention training reported higher levels of comfort and confidence intervening with their own child and another child than those who had not, as well as lower levels of worry. Higher levels of education were also found to predict lower levels of worry, suggesting that further training and …

Hormonal Modulation Of Sexual Approach And Avoidance Among Women With A History Of Sexual Trauma, Anneliis Susan Sartin-Tarm

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

A history of sexual trauma places women at a high risk for sexual dysfunction and other health sequelae, yet the influence of ovarian hormones in this population is poorly understood. This dissertation tested the theory that the effects of ovarian hormones are mediated by cognitive approach-avoidance systems to shape sexual well-being, and that this process is moderated by sexual trauma history. This was investigated across three studies examining the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, and menopause. Across each chapter, I present complementary evidence demonstrating that hormones interact with the interpretation of ambiguous internal and external cues with respect to sexual …

How Was Rehab? A Follow-Up To A Randomized Effectiveness Control Trial Of A Brief Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Protocol For Inpatient Detoxification Patients, Alexander J. Twohy

Dissertations

Residential treatment for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) is a common treatment modality. However, the literature is sparse on modifiable predictors that affect change during the residential treatment stay. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for SUDs. Weststrate et al. (2023), in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial, compared ACT plus medication management to medication management during detoxification. The addition of ACT increased consumer satisfaction and ACT skills use, while decreasing psychological inflexibility and reducing withdrawal symptoms.

This study explored whether the brief ACT intervention had impacts during participants' subsequent residential stay. Forty out of …

Intergenerational Family Dynamics Among Caregivers And Children’S Social-Emotional Development In China, Weiman Xu

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

The early years of a child’s life are pivotal for social-emotional development. While extensive research has explored the role of family settings in fostering children's social-emotional development (Bornstein, 2005), the impact of grandparental involvement, particularly the caregiving dynamics between generations, remains less well understood. This study aims to fill this gap by examining two critical aspects of intergenerational dynamics among caregivers (i.e. parent-grandparent coparenting and parent-grandparent relationship quality) and their associations with children’s social-emotional development (i.e. social skills and problem behaviors). Two specific aims were delineated: 1) examine the unique contribution of parent-grandparent coparenting, especially the power and authority domain …

Exploring The Relationship Between Cannabis Use Motives And Readiness To Change Among Young Adult College Students, Emma Kathryn Rawls

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Cannabis use among young adult college students has risen steadily over the past decade, raising concerns about the associated health, academic, and psychological consequences. While cannabis use motives and readiness to change have each been linked to use patterns and outcomes, limited research has examined how these factors interact. The current study investigated whether readiness to change, based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), moderates the relationship between cannabis use motives and cannabis-related consequences as well as past-30-day use frequency. A sample of 100 college students 18-25 years old (M_age = 20.08, SD = 2.12; 67% female; 55.0% Black or …

Seeking Existential Meaning In The “Sea Of Trees:” A Qualitative Exploration In The Depths Of Japan’S Aokigahara “Suicide” Forest, Sophia Bates

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis explores the intercultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions have on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of my journey walking through Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide” Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through suicide forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, …

Dermatoglyphic Fluctuating Asymmetry In Schizotypy, Marcus R. Thomas

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schizotypy has been linked with many of the proposed endophenotypes of schizophrenia, but research is limited on the relationship between schizotypy and dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry. The present study sought to examine relationships between schizotypy, dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry, handedness, and season of birth. 146 undergraduate students were identified as schizotypes (n = 52) or controls (n = 94) based on the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale and had their finger and palm prints collected along with completing additional measures of schizotypy and handedness. Schizotypes did not exhibit a greater degree of dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry, negative schizotypy was associated with increased absolute finger ridge …

A Focused Ethnography: Mental Health Therapists In Pediatric Integrated Care, Melanie Agustin

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The scope of practice for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and counseling residents (LPC-R) in integrated behavioral health (IBH) settings is grounded in accredited, theory-informed education and training. The benefits of IBH models are well-documented, however there is limited research that addresses how counselors develop professionally and clinically function, while navigating within pediatric inpatient environments. This qualitative dissertation used a focused ethnographic design to explore the lived experiences of ten purposively sampled counselors (n = 10) through demographic surveys, field observation, and semi-structured interviews. Reflexive journaling bracketed researcher bias, and thematic analysis, supported by NVivo and new member checking, guided interpretation. …

“Medication Is Only 10% Of Recovery”: A Mixed-Method Analysis Of Facilitators And Barriers To The Equitable Implementation Of Medications For Opioid Use Disorder Treatment, Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant

Psychology ETDs

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), the gold standard treatment for OUD, are underutilized. Yet, research on MOUD clinical encounters is limited. Attention to social determinants of health (SDOH) can help improve engagement and retention in MOUD treatment. This dissertation project describes development of a clinical vignette-based survey using a two phase exploratory sequential design to examine the extent to which SDOH influence clinical decision-making among MOUD providers. Study 1 included interviews with 23 providers to learn their perspectives on facilitators/barriers to MOUD treatment and the clinical and social determinants most influential to their clinical decision-making. Study 2 involved development …

Study Habits And Examination Anxiety As Correlates Of Academic Performance Among Secondary School Students In Kwara State, Nigeria, Oyedotun Dolapo Ilori, Falilat A. Okesina, Patrick O. Akerele, Ifeoluwa Blessing Michael

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Examination anxiety and study habits seem to be a significant factor of academic performance. This study examined study habits and examination anxiety as correlates of academic performance among secondary school students in Kwara State, Nigeria. This study adopted a descriptive survey of correlational type. The population for the study consists of 235, 652 secondary school students, and the sample consists of 400 secondary school students. Two research questions were answered using frequency count, percentage and mean rank order while the three hypotheses formulated were tested using inferential statistics of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation statistics (PPMC) and multiple regression analysis at …

Mental Health Counselors’ Perceptions Of Professional Identity As Correctional Counselors In An Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Setting, Jeanel L. Franklin, Kevin C. Snow, Edward S. Neukrug

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

This interpretive phenomenological study of four individuals examined clinical mental health counselors (MHCs) in a correctional integrated behavioral healthcare (IBH) setting to the purpose of examining how the unique experiences and roles of MHCs employed as correctional counselors in an IBH setting impacted the perceptions of their professional identity/development as counselors. Findings indicated how environment, work relationships, and multiple foci of mental health roles contributed to professional growth and identity development. Participants experienced an adaptive transitional process when applying counseling styles to the setting and population as well as integrating experiences as correctional counselors into pre-existing professional identities. Practical implications …

Feasibility Of A Peer-Facilitated Video-Based Mental Health And Substance Use Service-Learning Program, Mara Carmina A. Tamayo, King Filart, Maria Regina Hechanova

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study examined the feasibility of implementing a peer-facilitated mental health and substance use video-based program delivered by psychology students as part of service learning. The program was delivered on-site and online. Findings reveal improvements in knowledge, attitudes, refusal self-efficacy, and adaptive coping among on-site participants. However, there was no effect on online participants given many implementation challenges. Recommendations include delivering the program on-site, strengthening training for facilitators, increasing program duration, and shortening the videos.

Teaching About Substance Use Recovery: The Pedagogical Power Of Community-Based Learning, Jumi Hayaki, Isabelle Jenkins

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Community-based learning (CBL) is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic theory and content with active service in an applied setting. CBL is especially well suited for teaching about complex social issues. We present the case study of a psychology course on substance use recovery that leverages CBL to dismantle stereotypes, humanize a highly stigmatized mental health problem facing society, and afford students the opportunity to consider their own privilege and positionality.

Sex-Specific Effects Of Early-Life Unpredictability On Hippocampal And Amygdala Responses To Novelty In Adolescents, Elysia Poggi Davis, Bianca T. Leonard, Robert J. Jirsaraie, David B. Keator, Steven L. Small, Curt A. Sandman, Victoria B. Risbrough, Hal S. Stern, Laura M. Glynn, Michael A. Yassa, Tallie Z. Baram, Jerod M. Rasmussen

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Unpredictable childhood experiences are an understudied form of early-life adversity that impact neurodevelopment. The neurobiological processes by which exposure to early-life unpredictability impact development and vulnerability to psychopathology remain poorly understood. In the current study, we investigated the sex-specific consequences of early-life unpredictability on the limbic network, focusing on the hippocampus and the amygdala.

Methods

Participants included 150 youths (54% female). Early-life unpredictability was assessed using the Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC). Participants engaged in 1 or more task–functional magnetic resonance imaging scans between the ages of 8 and 17 (223 total observations) measuring blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) …

Exploring Buffering Effects Of Interpersonal Relationships On The Impacts Of Stress On Physical Health, Hadley Freedman, Sophie Forcier, Emma Slatnick, Keely Wright, Kevin M. Summers, Sarah Huff

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

We examined the potential moderating effects of interpersonal relationships on the association between stress and physical health. We hypothesized that there would be a significant main effect of stress on physical health, a significant main effect of relationships on physical health, and a significant interaction between stress and relationship quality on physical health, such that quality relationships provide a buffering effect, reducing the negative impacts of stress on physical health. Data was collected through a self-report Qualtrics survey on CloudResearch. We found a significant main effect of stress on physical health and a significant main effect of relationship quality on …

A Systematic Review Of Flotation-Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (Rest), Elnaz Lashgari, Emma Chen, Jackson Gregory, Uri Maoz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) is a therapeutic technique that involves immersing an individual in an environment with minimal sensory input or stimulation. The goal of REST is to induce a state of relaxation that is deeper than what can be achieved through other forms of relaxation techniques. Research suggests that REST can help reduce anxiety, alleviate chronic pain, improve sleep, and enhance creativity and cognitive function. Flotation-REST is a popular type of REST that utilizes an enclosed tank filled with buoyant saltwater to facilitate relaxation. This study aimed to synthesize the evidence on studies that investigate the effects …

Community Engagement In Music Therapy: Reflections From The Field, Jess Rushing, Denise M. Cumberland

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This paper reflects on a music therapy community engagement project that incorporates clinical training, service learning, and community music therapy. Two faculty members and a practicum student in a Midwestern university engaged community members connected to Parkinson’s disease to create a music-based program. We offer a conceptual framework that connects approaches situated within community music therapy (CoMT) qualities and community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. We share project processes, findings, and recommendations, emphasizing all as equal stakeholders.

Interprofessional Collaboration To Address Social Isolation And Facilitate Intergenerational Service Learning Within Graduate Education, Angela Lavery, Erin Knight, Stephanie Cole, Stacie Metz

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article presents an interdisciplinary collaboration to address the needs of older adults at risk of social isolation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. An intergenerational service-learning program developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging was offered to several universities across the state of Pennsylvania. The authors share their experience and lessons learned from pairing older adults with graduate students studying in the fields of Gerontology, Public Health, and Social Work.