Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Examining Differences In Rural, Micropolitan, And Metropolitan School Psychologists Roles And Delivery Of Mental Health Services, Ashley A. Williamson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Mental health service delivery in rural settings has become increasingly limited while rates of mental health concerns among youth have increased. Schools form a common hub in rural areas and they present an opportunity for the assessment of developing disorders as well as a means for delivering mental health services in an affordable and acceptable fashion. School psychologists supporting rural school districts are presented with a unique opportunity to provide various aspects of rural mental health service delivery. Over the last 40 years, little research has been published on rural school psychologist’s roles and responsibilities and their relationship to mental …

Younger Hmong People’S Willingness To Communicate About Depression, Wa Yang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This research examines the underlying issues about mental illness, particularly depression within the Hmong community. Previous scholars have focused on the Hmong culture’s origins, mental health status of Hmong refugees arriving in the United States, martial roles and mental health on Hmong females, and comparisons of Hmong traditional healing and Westernized medicine. These studies intersect in fields including psychology, medicine and public health, Hmong history, and social work. However, one missing component to this body of scholarship has been communication. Thus, my study focused on younger Hmong people’s willingness to communicate about depression within their families. Specifically, I conducted semi-structured …

The Effects Of Therapist Expertise And Concerns Of Involuntary Hospitalization On The Disclosure Of Suicidal Ideations And Behavior, Zane Hensel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Suicide continues to grow as a complex and multi-faceted problem in prevention and treatment, particularly for college students with an increased predictor of risk of suicidal behaviors. Previous research has indicated that one of the largest concerns for suicide disclosure is a fear of involuntary hospitalization. Over 200 college students participated in examining therapist expertise and understanding information on involuntary hospitalization on their rate of suicide disclosure. A 2x2 MANOVA, a 2x2x2 MANOVA that included gender, and a factor analysis were performed on an ad-hoc 11-question survey assessing suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior disclosure. The results indicated that there was …

The Critical Need For A Culturally Sensitive Suicide Risk Assessment Instrument For American Indian And Alaska Native Youth, Courtney E. Shaw

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: This systematic literature review was conducted to better understand why there has been a significant increase in America Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth suicides in tribes across the United States today. The intent of this review is to understand key issues surrounding the increasing numbers of AI/AN youth with suicide ideation, plans, and attempt in order to be able to answer the following clinical question: Is there a valid and reliable culturally sensitive assessment tool designed to recognize at-risk AI/AN youth presenting for primary care? If not, what are key aspects to consider for developing an instrument that could …

Paternal Postpartum Depression Screening: A Critical Measurement That Is Long Overdue, Nicholas C. Mcclellan

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The birth of a child is one of the most important events in a parent’s life. It is a time of intense emotion, the characteristics of which vary greatly depending on individual circumstances and the relationship between the mother and father. Joy is mixed with feelings of being overwhelmed by the multitude of responsibilities that come with caring for an infant. Changes in relationships and feelings of isolation are common and can be a source of duress for parents. Fortunately, the severity of these emotions is often mild and self-limiting. Sometimes, however, they are severe enough to negatively affect daily …

Comparing The Acceptability Of Treatment Rationales For Two Psychotherapies, Marin Gail Olson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

An effective treatment rationale is important because it can affect whether or not a client decides if they will commit to the therapeutic approach. In recent years, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has developed as an approach that, although related to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is philosophically distinct. CBT typically places a greater emphasis on changing/eliminating “symptoms” of psychological disorders and the role thoughts play in directly influencing emotional and behavior problems. ACT, on the other hand, places a heavier emphasis on accepting and changing one’s relationship to aversive private experiences. When comparing the assumptions and goals underlying CBT and ACT, …

Predicting Mental Health Counseling Professionals’ Willingness To Discuss Sexuality Issues With Clients, Becca L. Thompson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sexuality is fundamental to the human experience and sexuality issues will affect every individual across the lifespan. Mental health counseling professionals (MHCPs) will likely encounter a client in their practice that presents with some facet of sexuality concern. MHCPs may be challenged by these disclosures or neglect to inquire about these needs due to underlying factors that contribute to decreased willingness to discuss sexuality with clients. This study explored the relationships of some of these factors, including sexual intervention self-efficacy, state anxiety, and trait anxiety, and further examined the extent to which these factors predict willingness to discuss sexuality with …

Supporting Resilience In Reserve Component Spouses During Deployment: The Impact Of Family Life Cycle Phase And Deployment History On Social Support Needs, Jennifer L. Ceminsky

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This exploratory study used a researcher developed survey to examine the relative value of instrumental, emotional, and informational support for Reserve Component spouses during deployment. Although all types of support were valued by nearly all study participants, significant differences were found between ratings of helpfulness for each type of support. Emotional support was the support type most valued by 73.1% of spouses in this study. Instrumental support was most valued by21.1%, and only 2.8% of spouses valued informational support most. Regression analyses were used to identify factors that were predictive of value placed on each type of social support. The …

The Relationship Between The Stigmatization Of Mental Illness, Communication Apprehension And The Willingness To Communicate, Madeleine Louise Winkler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project explores how mental health stigmatization influences communication apprehension and the willingness to communicate about mental illness. A total of 153 people completed an online survey regarding three variables. Perceived stigma and communication apprehension when communicating about their own mental health were found to be positively correlated. Perceived stigma and communication apprehension when communicating about someone else’s mental health was also found to be positively correlated. Communicating about one’s own mental illness lead to higher levels of communication apprehension compared to communicating about someone else’s mental illness. Communication apprehension when talking about one’s own mental health and willingness to …

The Impact Of Social Isolation And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review, Jody L. Doll-Wilhelm

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and dementia patients surged. Increased social isolation and decreased activity levels in older adults have been suggested as contributing factors to accelerating AD and dementia. However, assessment tools to gauge interventions and outcomes of cognitive decline are variable among the literature.

Objective: Examine the impact of social engagement versus social isolation, like that experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, on cognitive decline/dementia in older adults (greater than 60 years of age).

Method: A systematic search for studies evaluating the relationship between social isolation and social activity in cognitive …

Treatment Of Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review, Bethanie M. Miller

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Objective: To compare treatment with stimulant medications to nonstimulant medications and/or nonpharmacologic interventions on professional and interpersonal functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Systematic literature review of five databases; 22 articles containing 323 studies (N=21,370) were included in this review.

Results: Psychostimulants remain the most studied treatment for adults with ADHD and boast larger effect sizes than nonstimulant and nonpharmacologic therapy. Among nonpharmacologic therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has proven most successful in randomized controlled trials. Effects of CBT are enhanced when combined with pharmacotherapy.

Conclusions: Psychostimulants continue to be the most frequently prescribed treatment for adults with …