Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Assessment Of The Interplay Between Regional Β-Amyloid Burden And White Matter Hyperintensities On Cognition And Default Mode Network In Clinically Normal Older Participants, Doaa G. Ali

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subcortical vascular dementia are considered the most common pathologic contributors to dementia in the aging population. Both frequently coexist in over 80% of community dwelling adults with dementia. The neuropathological development of AD arguably begins with β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain. This series of studies aims to test the hypothesis that early focal regional amyloid deposition in the brain is associated with cognitive performance in specific cognitive domain scores in preclinical AD (pAD) (study1). Since mixed dementia is widely recognized as the norm rather than the exception, the second study aimed to explore the …

Exploring The Distinction Between Support And Enabling In Families With Substance Use Disorder, Krystal N. King

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Substance use disorders (SUD) are a pervasive public health problem facing families in the United States. Although families are frequently urged to support loved ones who have SUD and cautioned against enabling them, there is a dearth of literature that distinguishes between supporting and enabling. Through qualitative interviews, this phenomenological study examined the experiences of eight parents with adult children with SUD who were currently in recovery. Five themes emerged from the data including: (a) living in despair, (b) addiction and recovery knowledge, (c) support group philosophy, (d) coping with addiction, and (e) differentiation. The results from this study suggest …

Trauma-Informed Care: A Collaborative Strategy To Address Hiv-Infection Rates Among Black Gay And Bisexual Men, Willie T. Boddie Jr.

DSW Capstone Projects

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) continues to be an epidemic among gay and bisexual men or men who have sex with men (MSMs). For Black MSMs, the HIV infection rate is disproportionate compared to the number of Black or African American citizens in the U.S. Black MSMs have the highest HIV infection rate in the U.S. This Capstone Project seeks to explore the possible impact of trauma experiences among this group and determine how providing trauma-informed care, along with the standard HIV education and awareness can be used to effectively reduce this disparity and ultimately …

An Investigation Of Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives On The Tasks Of Mental Health Counselors In Hospital Settings, Suelle Micallef Marmara, Gülşah Kemer

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

In this study, we attempted to understand what other healthcare professionals considered mental health counselors’ (MHCs) tasks in their hospital setting to facilitate medical and mental health services and enhance patients’ well-being. Using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design (concept mapping), we obtained 3 regions of MHCs’ tasks (i.e., Overarching Roles and Responsibilities of MHCs in the Hospital Setting, MHCs’ Specific Roles in the Hospital Setting, and MHCs’ Roles and Responsibilities as a Multidisciplinary Team Member) represented in 11 clusters. We discussed the results with implications for MHCs, healthcare professionals, counselor educators, and researchers, along with the current study's limitations.

Social Determinants Of Mental Health Considerations For Counseling Children And Adolescents, Kaprea F. Johnson, Patrick D. Cunningham, Camila Tirado, Oswaldo Moreno, Nancy N. Gillespie, Bisola Duyile, Dequindre C. Hughes, Emily Goodman Scott, Dana Brookover

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Childhood is a crucial period for developing a strong social and emotional foundation critical for mental well-being. Given that the childhood developmental period is vital for mental health, it is essential to address social determinants that can disrupt development and have lasting adverse effects on psychological and physical health. Therefore, professional counselors specializing in children and adolescent mental health care can benefit from understanding and utilizing the social determinants of mental health (SDOMH) framework in practice. This article details the SDOMH framework and considerations for SDOMH-informed treatments for professional counselors working in settings with children and adolescents.

Covid-19 Vaccination And Alcohol Consumption: Justification Of Risks, Pavel A. Solopov

Bioelectrics Publications

Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have been actively working to develop vaccines, and the mass roll-out of vaccinations against COVID-19 began in January 2021. At the same time, during lockdowns, the consumption of alcoholic beverages increased. During the peak of vaccination, consumption remained at high levels around the world, despite the gradual relaxation of quarantine restrictions. Two of the popular queries on search engines were whether it is safe to drink alcohol after vaccination and whether this will affect the effectiveness of vaccines. Over the past two …

Time-Out For Well-Being: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Attitudes And Likelihood To Engage In Different Types Of Online Emotional Well-Being Programmes In The Perinatal Period, Jacqueline A. Davis, Amy L. Finlay-Jones, Natasha Bear, Susan L. Prescott, Desiree T. Silva, Jeneva L. Ohan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Positive maternal mental health during the perinatal period contributes to general well-being and positive emotional bonds with the child, encouraging an optimal developmental trajectory. Online interventions to enhance maternal well-being and develop coping skills, such as meditation-based interventions, can be a low-cost way to improve mother and child outcomes. However, this depends on end-user engagement. To date, there is limited evidence about women’s willingness to engage and preferences for online programmes. Objectives: This study explored pregnant women’s attitudes towards and likelihood to undertake minimal online well-being training programmes (mindfulness, self-compassion, or general relaxation), engagement barriers and enablers, and programme …

Community-Based Tuberculosis Contact Management: Caregiver Experience And Factors Promoting Adherence To Preventive Therapy, Micaela Sandoval, Godwin Mtetwa, Tara Devezin, Debrah Vambe, Joyce Sibanda, Gloria S Dube, Thandeka Dlamini-Simelane, Bhekumusa Lukhele, Anna M Mandalakas, Alexander Kay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Delivery of tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) for children with household exposure to tuberculosis is a globally supported intervention to reduce the impact of tuberculosis disease (TB) in vulnerable children; however, it is sub-optimally implemented in most high-burden settings. As part of a community-based household contact management program, we evaluated predictors of adherence to community based TPT in children and performed qualitative assessments of caregiver experiences. The Vikela Ekhaya (Protect the Home) project was a community-based household contact management program implemented between 2019 and 2020 in the Hhohho Region of Eswatini. At home visits, contact management teams screened children for TB, …

Barriers To Outdoor Recreation For Marginalized Groups At The University Of Montana, Sabine R. Englert, Beatrix Frissell, Adrienne Liebert, Sophia Rodriquez, Margaret Jensen, Rachana Harris, Abby Doss

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Exclusion from outdoor recreation reflects legacies of oppression of marginalized communities and makes access to the outdoors not equally available. In the United States, approximately 38% of Black Americans and 48% of Hispanic Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2020. This is compared to 55% participation among Caucasian Americans. Many other intersecting identities are actively excluded, including people with disabilities, fat populations, and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community; furthermore, class-based hierarchies are shown through the restricted outdoor access of low-income populations.

While numerous studies show a lack of diversity in outdoor recreation, little to no research has been conducted on …

Management Of Opioid Use Disorder In Primary Care, Carolyn Jeffries

Capstone Showcase

The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States, and worldwide, has drastically increased in the span of 2-3 years. OUD is considered chronic condition and as such requires routine care over a lifetime. This makes OUD patients excellent candidates to be managed by primary care providers (PCPs). This article discusses the various barriers to treatment of OUD in a primary care setting as well methods and models that aim to mitigate these barriers. We will also review how to take a detailed assessment of an OUD patient, mainstays of medication assisted treatment (MAT), and management of side …

Cme: Vitamins, Antidepressants, And The Placebo Effect - How To Help Your Patients, Nicko Inocencio

Capstone Showcase

Depression affects roughly 280 million people globally. The disease puts patients at increased risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The psychosocial causes of depression are well-known, but the biochemical causes are multifactorial. Theories range from homocysteine excess, calcium modulation at the neuron, inflammation, cortisol elevation, and disruption of the HPA axis. At the center, however, is serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Pharmacologic treatment directly aims at modulation of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. First-line treatment is a combination of SSRIs/SNRIs with cognitive behavioral therapy. If patients do not see improvement with the above therapy other agents such as bupropion, mirtazapine, …

The Role Of Porn Literacy In Comprehensive Sex Education To Reduce Endorsements Of Gendered Sexual Violence And Support Healthy Adolescent Development, Kiana Harnish

Scripps Senior Theses

Due to stigmatization of sex and insufficient sexual education, modern-day adolescents rely on free online pornography as a source of education about sex and relationships. This thesis provides a review of the connections between adolescent porn use and the socialization of sexual violence (SV) and coercion against women, comprehensive sex education (CSE) and healthy adolescent sexual development, and porn literacy (PL) and sexual attitude or behavior changes. Porn literacy aims to equip adolescents with tools to critically analyze sexualied media and messages, to empower them to make informed decisions to engage or disengage with porn and their sexuality in a …

Business And Psychological Aspects Of Viable Mental Health Digital Tools, Dar Bejerano

Honors Program Theses

This study aims to understand the industry potential of the mental health mobile tool market and articulate how it intersects with consumer attitudes to determine the viability of digital tools in the mental health space. Themes regarding the prevalence of mental health concerns, the role of technology, and the ethics of integrating technology into mental healthcare can be found throughout the study. Market research was conducted to understand the industry in terms of the Porter’s Five Forces framework, recognizing low supplier power, a medium threat of new entry, and a high threat of substitution, competitive rivalry, and buyer power. A …

Coh 1700: Health Care Coordination Syllabus, Sasha Harry

Open Educational Resources

This is the syllabus for a Health Care Coordination course.

The goal of health care coordination is to improve patient outcomes with better health care services. Care coordinators play a critical role in improving patient care. Students will learn how to effectively advocate for patients and interact with members of the healthcare team in finding solutions to provide high quality, value-based, and efficient care. Effective communication styles, assessing patient’s needs and goals, and helping with patients’ transitions of care are among many topics covered in this course. Upon course completion, students will have acquired basic knowledge and skills to educate, …

Flourishing With Chronic Illness(Es) And Everyday Stress: Experiences From Soweto, South Africa, Megan Schmidt-Sane, Lindile Cele, Edna Bosire, Alexander C. Tsai, Emily Mendenhall

Brain and Mind Institute

The pursuit of flourishing, or living a good life, is a common human endeavor with different meanings across individuals and contexts. What is needed is a further exploration of the relationship between flourishing and health, particularly chronic illness, which affects individuals across the life course and is affected by experiences of stress derived from social and structural vulnerability.

Drawing on data from the Soweto Syndemics study, including a locally derived stress scale and in-depth interviews, we explore the connections between flourishing and health for those living with multiple chronic illnesses in Soweto, South Africa within a syndemic of communicable and …

Facing The Climate Crisis: The Plaintiffs Of Held V. Montana Find Agency And Voice, Richard H. Forbes

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

16 young people, in a lawsuit titled Held v. Montana, are suing the state of Montana on the grounds that its state energy policy contributes to climate change, harming them physically and psychologically and violating their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment. This project explores the plaintiffs’ perspectives on the lawsuit, describes how their involvement is changing their relationships to their own climate-related mental health and explains how their psychological concerns reflect larger societal issues related to climate change.

Utilizing Outpatient Telehealth As A Treatment Approach For Patients With Substance Use Disorder: A Quality Improvement Project, Veronica Kwegyir-Afful

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: The issue of substance use disorder (SUD) has demonstrated a growing prevalence both in the United States (U.S.) and globally. Effective treatment modalities have been devised for individuals afflicted by SUD, thereby enabling their post-treatment prognosis to be parallel to that of patients with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes. However, several factors or barriers impede individuals with SUD from assessing treatment. These barriers encompass financial constraints stemming from inadequate insurance coverage and high cost, the stigma surrounding SUD, which results in patient's hesitancy to seek treatment treat, adverse societal attitudes, collateral social percussions like work hour losses and …

Evidence-Based Suicide Assessment And Managment Training For Mental Health Professionals, Clara Abit

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Suicide is a significant public health concern both nationally and globally. While the suicide rate has been decreasing in recent years, evidence shows that the rate of suicide among teenagers and adolescents has been on the rise. Teenage suicide accounts for 14% of all deaths by suicide in the United States, calling for effective interventions in various settings. However, inadequate knowledge of the potential signs and risk factors of suicide hinders mental healthcare professionals' ability to recognize at-risk patients.

Purpose: The project's objective was to evaluate the effects of the intervention on mental health workers' knowledge, skills, and screening …

Memes To Cope And Communicate, Priscilla (Nox) Ngo

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

The study’s objective was to observe the benefits of creating meme imagery around the participant’s stressors and how it affected the participants’ mood. This mixed-method study also looked into the meme’s ability to communicate their experience of their stressor to others to test whether it would be useful in a therapeutic setting. In order to measure affect change, the researcher utilized the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) before and after the meme creation process. The researcher tested communication through utilization of inter-raters to observe the created meme and respond upon what they believed the participant was going through. This …

Altered Stories, Altered Lives: An Exploration Of Post Traumatic Growth From A Narrative Perspective With A Strengths Based Focus, Andrea Jones

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Complex trauma is prevalent, underrecognized, and difficult to treat. Left untreated, the ongoing negative consequences impact individuals, families and society. Literature indicates traditional modes of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder have high attrition rates and are ineffective for approximately 30% of clients (Schouten et al., 2018). Art Therapy provides the opportunity to offer effective, well tolerated treatment for ongoing adverse consequences of trauma symptoms and recontextualization of the trauma due to the highly nonverbal nature of trauma memory (Hass-Cohen et al., 2014). A nested mixed methods design (Neubauer et al., 2019) combining arts-based research with pre and posttest survey analysis …

Exploring The Connection Between Social Media & Body-Image And The Impact Of Art Therapy Interventions On A Woman’S Self-Esteem, Courtney Engelhardt

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This current study desired to illuminate the connection between social media and body image, as well as determining if art therapy interventions may impact a woman’s self-esteem. An individual’s body-image and self-esteem are very much correlated, as both concepts directly influence one another. Fourteen participants were recruited through social media after meeting the qualifications: being eighteen years old and/or older, identifying as a woman, and being active on social media. A mixed-methods research design was utilized for this research using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Qualitative data was obtained through semi structured interviews, participant’s artwork, and reflections on their art. …

Exploring Whether A Collage Art Intervention Enhances Levels Of Resilience In Asian Americans Who Have Experienced Emotional Suppression, Casey Galaura

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Emerging research has shown cross-cultural differences when coping with negative emotions (Yoshie & Sauter, 2020). The Asian American population uniquely experiences both western and eastern cultures, which have different ideologies around expressing negative emotions. In Eastern Cultures, it is common to suppress negative emotions, while Western cultures find it more accepting. Suppressing emotions is a form of emotional dysregulation and can cause a negative effect on one’s psychopathology. This mix-methods study explores whether collage art-based intervention enhances levels of resilience with Asian Americans who have experienced emotional suppression. The theoretical orientation, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), was used as a guide …

Complex Narratives Of Individuals Living With Alpha-Gal Syndrome (Ags). A Mixed-Methods Investigation: Examined Through Self-Reported Data, In-Person Interviews, And A Group Body Mapping Art Therapy Intervention, Sylvan Streightiff

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) Syndrome or AGS is an under-recognized chronic condition which coincides with tick-bite exposure, resulting in a unique allergy to non-primate mammalian products and byproducts (in addition to other items caring the α-gal epitope such as carrageenan, agar-agar, and nori). This paper explores the experiences of individuals with this illness, establishing psychological context for expressed symptomatology, while emphasizing the complex trauma rooted in the population’s experiences of the life-altering and life-threatening contexts associated with managing AGS. This research is structured with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory and utilizes a mixed-methods approach to arts-based research with the goal of …

Postpartum Depression And The Availability Of Support Resources In The Era Of Covid-19, Colleen Steward, Amy Claridge, Tishra Beeson, Sarah L. Feeney

All Master's Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically influenced women’s experience of pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum phase. New research shows rates of postpartum depression were higher than typical during the pandemic. This study expands on existing research by examining postpartum depression at 12-30 months postpartum and exploring the role of perceptions of access to social support in predicting depressive symptoms.

This survey assessed postpartum women’s perceptions of the availability of supports during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether access to support was associated with experiences of postpartum depression 12-30 months after birth. In total, 242 participants responded to an online survey including the Edinburgh …

Cannabis Cues And Effects On Social Anxiety, Erica Steinberg

All Master's Theses

Prior research has shown that individuals experiencing social anxiety may use cannabis for self-medication; therefore, the current study evaluated if viewing cannabis cues would reduce feelings of social anxiety. Central Washington University undergraduates enrolled in psychology courses (n = 124; 66.7% female; M_age = 19.8, SD_age = 4.7) were shown cannabis cues after viewing expressive facial images that prior research has shown induces feelings of social anxiety. Contrary to prior research, the current study found that emotional faces did not significantly affect state-trait anxiety as measured by the 6-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) but that trait social …

The Expected Risks And Exacerbations Of Poverty, Mental Health Disorders, And Maternal Mortality From Abortion Bans: A Comparative Literature Analysis, Daniel J. Francisco

All Master's Theses

Background. Early termination of a pregnancy (hereinafter referred to as an “abortion”) has been debated in the United States (U.S.) for decades, without much regard to the negative outcomes that forced pregnancies have for those assigned female at birth regarding poverty, mental health and maternal mortality. In 1973, access to safe abortions was protected so long that the procedure was done within the legal gestational period and/or was necessary for the health and safety of the patient (Blackmun, 1972). Unfortunately, in 2022, the Supreme Court took that protection away and made it legal for states to determine the reproductive rights …

Clay Use As Mindfulness For Women In Early Substance Use Recovery, Cheryl Feldman

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are an epidemic in the United States comprising 4.4 million women, including high rates of recidivism, and often accompanied by comorbid mental health issues. Recognizing the need for effective tools to support women in recovery, this research aligns the key tenets of present focus and personal control within Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) with various established mindfulness-based therapies, while using a Positive Psychology framework to conceptualize strategies to help enhance mindfulness in women in early recovery. Although engaging in clay work has been linked to mindfulness for its capacity to foster a state of presence and self-centering, scant …

สุขภาวะทางจิต การรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเอง และความชื่นชอบศิลปินไอดอลเกาหลีของแฟนคลับไทยวัยผู้ใหญ่ตอนต้น, วริญญา เพริศพริ้ง

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยนี้เป็นการวิจัยเชิงพรรณนา ณ ช่วงเวลาใดเวลาหนึ่ง มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อทราบถึงสุขภาวะทางจิต การรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเอง ระดับความชื่นชอบศิลปินไอดอลเกาหลี และปัจจัยอื่นๆ ที่เกี่ยวข้องในแฟนคลับไทยวัยผู้ใหญ่ตอนต้น รวมถึงศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างปัจจัยดังกล่าว โดยใช้แบบสอบถามออนไลน์เป็นเครื่องมือในการศึกษา และเก็บข้อมูลเดือนกรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2566 จากแฟนคลับไทยวัยผู้ใหญ่ตอนต้นอายุระหว่าง 20 – 40 ปี เป็นผู้ติดตามโซเชียลมีเดียประเภทเฟซบุ๊กแฟนเพจของศิลปินไอดอลเกาหลี เครื่องมือวิจัย ได้แก่ แบบสอบถามข้อมูลส่วนบุคคล แบบวัดพฤติกรรมความชื่นชอบศิลปินเกาหลี แบบวัดการเห็นคุณค่าในตนเอง และแบบวัดสุขภาวะทางจิต วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลโดยใช้สถิติ Pearson correlation, One-way ANOVA, Independent T-test และ Stepwise multiple linear regression กลุ่มตัวอย่างมีทั้งสิ้น 241 คน อายุเฉลี่ย 28.6 ปี ส่วนใหญ่เป็นเพศหญิง (ร้อยละ 80.5) เป็นแฟนคลับมาแล้วตั้งแต่ 0.08 - 22 ปี เฉลี่ยที่ 7.04 ปี ติดตามข่าวและผลงานของไอดอลเกาหลีผ่านทางโซเชียลมีเดีย (Official page) ของวง (ร้อยละ 93.8) โดยติดตามผลงานทุกวัน (ร้อยละ 75.1) วันละ 1 – 2 ชั่วโมง (ร้อยละ 46.1) มีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมที่เกี่ยวข้องกับไอดอลเกาหลีด้วยการซื้อสินค้าและผลงาน (ร้อยละ 85.5) รวมถึงชมคอนเสิร์ตหรือแฟนมีทติ้ง (ร้อยละ 80.9) กลุ่มตัวอย่างส่วนใหญ่มีสุขภาวะทางจิตและการรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเองระดับสูง (ร้อยละ 42.3 และ ร้อยละ 39.0 ตามลำดับ) และชื่นชอบศิลปินไอดอลเกาหลีระดับปานกลาง (ร้อยละ 57.3) สุขภาวะทางจิตมีความสัมพันธ์ทางบวกในระดับสูงกับการรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเองอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ (r = 0.768, p < 0.001) ขณะที่ไม่พบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างสุขภาวะทางจิตกับความชื่นชอบไอดอลเกาหลี หรือกล่าวได้ว่าระดับความชื่นชอบไอดอลเกาหลีไม่ส่งผลต่อสุขภาวะทางจิต ทั้งนี้สุขภาวะทางจิตของแฟนคลับไทยวัยผู้ใหญ่ตอนต้นอยู่ในระดับสูงกว่าเกณฑ์มาตรฐาน นอกจากนี้ พบความแตกต่างของสุขภาวะทางจิตอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติในตัวแปรอายุ รายได้ อาชีพ การมีอาการเจ็บป่วยทางร่างกาย เหตุผลชื่นชอบไอดอลเกาหลี และการมีส่วนร่วมในกิจกรรมที่เกี่ยวข้องกับไอดอลเกาหลี ซึ่งการรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเองและเหตุผลชื่นชอบไอดอลเกาหลีเพื่อหนีปัญหา เป็นปัจจัยทำนายสุขภาวะทางจิตได้ร้อยละ 57.4 โดยการรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเองมีความสัมพันธ์ทางบวก (ß = 0.718, p < 0.001) ขณะที่เหตุผลชื่นชอบศิลปินไอดอลเกาหลีเพื่อหลีกหนีปัญหาต่างๆ มีความสัมพันธ์ทางลบกับสุขภาวะทางจิต (ß = -0.110, p = 0.020) ซึ่งการศึกษานี้ได้ชี้ให้เห็นว่า ควรมีการส่งเสริมการรับรู้คุณค่าในตนเอง ทักษะทางสังคม และการรับมือกับปัญหาที่เหมาะสมในประชากรกลุ่มนี้

Staff Education For Nurses And Providers On Rapid Mood Screener, Lolade Adekemi Ogunleye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advances in the psychiatric field have led to the development of valuable tools that can be used in screening patients to understand their condition better. Indeed, instruments such as the Rapid Mood Screener (RMS) have been significantly used to help diagnose conditions such as bipolar disorder. The implication is that such tools need to be appropriately used by health care practitioners such as nurses for better and more accurate diagnostic results. A more accurate diagnosis is a foundation for better patient management and outcomes. Therefore, as part of a bigger plan, mental health facilities should make deliberate efforts to ensure …

The Human-Canine Bond: Levels Of Stress Among Military Spouses During Deployments, Angela L. De Leon-Muniz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous research has found that deployment may impact military spouses’ emotional wellbeing and attachment with family members. There remains a critical gap in the literature regarding difference in stress levels between military spouses who own canines and those who do not. The theoretical foundations for this study were Bowlby’s attachment theory and Bowen’s family systems theory. Research questions included exploring the relationships between (a) pet canine ownership, deployment length of time, and military spouses’ stress levels, and (b) pet canine owners’ pet attachment and stress experienced, when their significant others are deployed. The sample comprised 82 spouses with deployed military …