Mental and Social Health Commons^™

The Politics Of Caregiving: Taking Stock Of State-Level Policies To Support Family Caregivers, Walter D. Dawson, Lauren Bangerter, Micheal Splaine

Institute on Aging Publications

The U.S. population is aging rapidly. The changing demographics offer several benefits and opportunities at local, national, and global levels (Kluge, Zagheni, Loichinger, & Vogt, 2014). Yet, living to an advanced age remains a significant risk factor for the need of care and support during one’s lifetime. Half of all adults 65 years of age and older will reach a point where they require a high level of support due to either physical or cognitive challenges (Tumlinson, Juring, & Alkema, 2016). At the same time, the number of older adults living with chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, …

Treating Substance Use Disorders Through An Attachment Lens: A Case Example, Kathleen Locker

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Substance use treatment addresses addiction behaviors, increasing coping skills, and sobriety but current modalities do not address the insecure attachment styles that may contribute to substance use for many individuals. Insecure attachment styles seemingly have a bidirectional relationship with substance use and are therefore are likely an important aspect of treatment. This case example focuses on an attachment therapist’s work with a young man with a substance use disorder and attachment insecurity. Attachment theory interventions are proposed to address potential contributors of continued substance use. This paper proposes that using attachment theory in combination with existing treatment modalities for substance …

Feminist Therapy With Severe Mental Illness And Complex Trauma: A Case Example, Mimiko Watanabe

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Feminist therapy emphasizes empowerment through an egalitarian therapeutic relationship and collaborative approach of understanding symptoms and treatment. Feminist therapy can be used with all types of clients, including those with severe mental illness (SMI) as well as complex posttraumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD) which refers to the unique presentation of those who have experienced chronic developmental trauma (Herman, 1992). This case example focuses on a feminist therapist’s work with a young woman who has both SMI and complex PTSD, resulting in struggles across several domains. Feminist therapeutic interventions of developing an egalitarian relationship, exploration of intersectional multicultural dynamics, building empowerment, …

Hear Me Roar, Abigail R. Seethoff

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Hear Me Roar, a compilation of personal essays interspersed with short forms, grapples with the nuances of compliance versus autonomy in the context of the male gaze, beauty standards, and pop culture. The collection also explores what it means to treasure something—another person, an object—and how to express and deepen that affection.

A Qualitative Investigation Into The Influence Of A Mental Health Physical Activity Intervention On University Students, Heather M. Tunks

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Among the university student population, mental illnesses are highly prevalent. Adults aged 20-30 years have the highest rates of mood and anxiety disorders than any other age group, with approximately 12.0% diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and 7.0 to 9.0% experiencing clinical depression (Nunes et al., 2014; Pedrelli, Nyer, Yeung, Zulauf, & Wilens, 2015). Reducing or preventing the effects of mental illness among this population may have lifelong implications including improvements in coping and management of mental illness throughout the lifespan(Jaworska, DeSomma, Fonseka, Heck, & MacQueen, 2016). This research examines the lived experiences of volunteers and participants in a …

“This Is My Little World…”: Navigating The Group Exercise Experience Of Stay-Fit Members, Olivia Jones

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Objective

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, with one in two Canadians expected to develop cancer over their lifetime (Canadian Cancer Society, 2019). Exercise is reportedly a safe therapy to help ease the common side effects of cancer and its treatments (Schmitz et al., 2010). Past research has shown the benefits of group exercise while in treatment for cancer, but there is a dearth of research regarding the impact of long-term group exercise programming for cancer survivors. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of group exercise participation for individuals who previously had cancer and were enrolled …

Fall Reading Week: Exploring The Effects On Student Well-Being, Roobina Medhizadah

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Mental health is a concerning issue in post-secondary institutions across Ontario. Post-secondary students are challenged with many stressors such as time management and living independently for the first time (Wagner & Rhee, 2013). In an attempt to help students, maintain or improve their mental health, universities across Ontario have implemented fall reading week, a mid-semester break (Poole et al., 2017). Previous studies (Cramer & Pschibul, 2017; Poole et al., 2017) provided mixed results in whether fall reading week positively influences student mental health and well-being. To date, few studies have explored the influence of fall reading week on student health …

Assessment Of Self-Reported Mental Health And Acculturation Stress Among Foreign-Born And U.S.-Born Latinos In Immokalee, Florida: A Pilot Study, Payal Kahar, Lirio K. Negroni

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The population of Immokalee in Southwest Florida is 75% Latinos, with nearly half being foreign-born. Several documented stressors contribute to poor mental health among Latinos. However, little is known about Latinos’ mental health in this region. This study sought to assess self-rated mental health (SRMH) and acculturation stress (AS) and predict SRMH based on stress from life events, AS, sociodemographic characteristics, and social support among U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinos. Face-to-face interviews and assisted self-administered surveys were used to collect information among 158 Latinos on sociodemographic characteristics, AS, major life events that caused stress, social support, and SRMH. AS was elicited …

The Relationship Between Social Media Engagement And Psychological Well-Being In College Students At The University Of New Hampshire, Emily G. D'Antonio

Honors Theses and Capstones

Social media use has increased substantially in recent years, and for the college-aged population, social media is often the leading method of communication. Research indicates this reliance on digital connection could have a negative impact on the health of young adults (Bagroy et al., 2017). The college years are a time of personal growth and defining actions, yet can also be burdened by mental health issues related to stress, anxiety, and depression (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Acknowledging these trends, the current study explores how college students’ specific frequency and intentionality while interacting on social media relates to their psychological well-being. …

Occupational Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals In Obstetrics And Gynecology Department Of A Public Hospital In Islamabad, Pakistan, Kashif Sabin

Student Works (2020-2029)

The general purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of burnout experienced by healthcare professionals working in obstetrics & gynaecology units in public hospital of Islamabad, Pakistan. Specifically, this research attempted to explore the contributing factors of burnout, by correlating the burnout scores of exhaustion and disengagement, with the sociodemographic variables. The main objectives of the study were: (i) to assess the levels of burnout as determined by the extent of exhaustion and disengagement among the study participants, and (ii) to compare the mean scores of exhaustion and disengagement among healthcare professionals based on different demographic characteristics: (a) …

Mixed Features Specifier In Mood Disorder: The Prevalence And Associated Factors, M. Paramannantha Veloo Tesini

Student Works (2020-2029)

Introduction: Mixed episode has been an unrelieved source of discussion in the field of psychiatry over the course of two decades as the DSM-IV criteria for both a depressive and manic episode had to be fulfilled to make this diagnosis. Nevertheless, in practice, this threshold was demonstrated to be too high. Therefore, the DSM-5 introduced a less stringent ‘specifier’ in which three symptoms of the opposite pole suffice thereby creating depression and mania with mixed features, respectively. Literatures points out that approximately 40% of patients have mixed episodes, but this figure may be much higher within the context of DSM-5. …

Psychometric Properties Of Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (Bsmas) In Malay Version, Kee Hui Romi Tiong

Student Works (2020-2029)

Background The percentage of internet users in Malaysia has recorded continuous increment annually, in which it increased from 76.9% in 2016 to 87.4% of users in 2018. The prevalent use of all sorts of social media platform and the convenient access to the internet regardless of time and place has massively enhance the potential of social media addiction. After many years of research, the researchers have yet to reach the consensus in identifying criteria to diagnose problematic attachment to social media. The aim of the study was to validate the Malay version of Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), by …

Effectiveness Of Reminders Via Messaging Apps In Improving Clinic Attendance And Medication Compliance Among Patients With Depression, Pei Teeng Low

Student Works (2020-2029)

Background: Non-attendance at clinic appointments and medication non-compliance are both common issues within psychiatric settings, with forgetting being specified as one the most common reasons. This phenomenon may be worse for patients who are suffering from depression. Thus, the use of regular reminders in some format for such patients could be potentially very beneficial. With cognizance of the exponential growth of smartphone usage and social media awareness during the past decade, a messaging apps maybe a potentially efficient and cost-effective method of sending such reminders in a healthcare setting. Objective: To determine the potential effectiveness of sending reminders via messaging …

Development Of A Protection Motivation Theory Based Questionnaire For Measuring Parental Digital Security Practice In Malaysia, Ismail Muhd Zulfadli Hafiz

Student Works (2020-2029)

Knowledge on parental digital security, which is the parental practice of maintaining the safety of their children online, is crucial to produce good digital citizens. Protection motivation theory (PMT) is a useful theoretical model for explaining protective behaviour and understanding this practice. Many studies and tools for exploring protective behaviour have been produced based on PMT, but there is no assessment tool available for assessing parents’ digital security practice in the Malaysian context. Thus, the development of an assessment tool that reflects Malaysian parents’ digital security practice based on established frameworks such as the PMT is essential. Therefore, this study …

Association Between Stigma, Psychological Distress, And Quality Of Life Among People Living With Hiv In Federal Territory Of Kuala Lumpur, Ibrahim Khairiah

Student Works (2020-2029)

Quality of life is an important component in the evaluation of the well-being of PLHIV. However, HIV stigma and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress) continue to be a barrier to obtain a good quality of life among PLHIV globally. This study assesses the level of QOL, stigma and psychological distress among PLHIV in Kuala Lumpur by determining the association between QOL, stigma and psychological distress. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 305 PLHIV attendees of the infectious disease clinic in a teaching hospital, primary health clinic and three Community-Based Organisations (CBOs). The sampled respondents completed face to face interviews …

Prevalence And Determinants Of Tabacco Use Among Adolescents In Khartoum - Sudan, Mohammed Alshaikh Mohammed Othman

Student Works (2020-2029)

Globally, 25 million adolescents aged 13-15 years, smoke cigarettes while 13 million use smokeless tobacco. In 2014, 22.8% of adolescents had ever smoked cigarette in Sudan while current cigarette smokers were 4.5%; moreover, studies about shisha smoking and smokeless tobacco were limited in Sudan. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents and to describe determinant factors associated with tobacco use. Descriptive school based cross-sectional study was conducted, and multistage random sampling was used to recruit participants from secondary schools in Khartoum State, Sudan. Self-administered questionnaire of Arabic version of Global Youth Tobacco …

Association Of Mental Health Literacy And Depression Symptoms Among Young Adolescents In Selangor, Lakha Singh Sarbhan Singh

Student Works (2020-2029)

Mental health literacy (MHL) relating to depression (depression literacy) is a multifaceted concept comprising of knowledge of depression, help seeking and stigma components, that plays an important role in depression outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the association of depression literacy components namely knowledge of depression, help seeking, stigmatising attitudes and adequacy of depression literacy with depression symptoms among adolescent in Malaysia. This study reports on the common tools used to examine depression literacy, validation of the MHL and Stigma questionnaire and Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) Malay version questionnaire, findings of the depression literacy …

The Association Between Connectedness Towards Religion, Family, And School, And The Symptoms Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among Malaysian Adolescents, Samian Siti Sabariah

Student Works (2020-2029)

The unmet alignment between reality and expectation in addition to immaturity in the development of the prefrontal area means adolescents have tendencies to embark on poor decisions, making them vulnerable to acquiring mental health problems. Abiding by their religion and strong connections with family and school has been proven in European/Western nations to promote adolescent mental well-being, provide ventilation to release stress and protect the youngsters from acquiring anxiety and depression. Given the vast differences between European/Western social norms and Eastern culture, this study was conducted to examine the association between adolescent connectedness towards religion, family and school on the …

Translator Of Soliloquies: Fugues In The Key Of Dissociation, Seo-Young J. Chu

Publications and Research

Chu, Seo-Young. “Translator of Soliloquies: Fugues in the Key of Dissociation” (chapbook). Black Warrior Review 46.2, Spring 2020.

Seafarers’ Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, B. Pauksztat, M. Grech, M. Kitada, R.B. Jensen

Reports

This report provides an overview of preliminary findings of a study on the experiences of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose was to examine the impact of the pandemic on seafarers’ work and life on board as well as on their mental health and exhaustion, and identify factors that may mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic

On The Proposed Legalization Of Commercial Surrogacy: I Thought We Had Abolished The Sale Of Human Beings, Phyllis Chesler

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.