Health Psychology Commons^™

Dance And Well-Being In Older Adult Communities: Exploring Efficacy As A Mediator, Beth M. Mcgowan

Honors Thesis

As the population of older adults expands, it becomes increasingly important to develop effective interventions to ensure high levels of well-being. Previous research in a variety of populations has shown that dance produces broad benefits including improving physical mobility, social relationships, autonomy, and self-image. Given this, the present study attempted to clarify the mechanisms through which dance might lead to these improvements. Specifically, this research examined the role of self-efficacy, or beliefs that one can accomplish certain tasks, have in explaining the psychological benefits of dance. I hypothesized that when dance is a social activity it instills a sense of …

Tired, Hungry, And Grumpy: Understanding The Direct And Indirect Relationships Among Child Temperament, Sleep Problems, Feeding Styles, And Weight Outcomes, Alyssa Lundahl

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Research indicates that temperament is related to later obesity risk in both childhood and adulthood (e.g., Anzman-Frasca et al., 2012; Darlington & Wright, 2006), but less research has examined the mechanisms underlying this relationship. It is likely that temperament influences factors that increase one’s risk for obesity, such as parental feeding practices and child sleep problems. As such, the primary aim of the present study was to provide rigorous concurrent and longitudinal examinations of temperament, feeding practices, sleep problems, and child zBMI in a sample of healthy preschool children. In addition, the moderating role of SES was examined. A secondary …

Spirituality And Psychological Well-Being Among Als Caregivers: Hope And Perceived Stress As Mediators, Bridget R. Jeter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The empirical study of the salutary relationship between spirituality/religiousness and psychological well-being is burgeoning. However, mechanisms of this association have received less empirical attention. Theory suggests that spirituality/religiousness may lead to positive psychological characteristics such as hope, which may function as a means of coping in the context of a significant stressor or stressful situation. The perceived burden and stress associated with caring for individuals with chronic illnesses such as ALS is significant, and caregivers may be at risk for increased symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, somatic symptoms, and other deleterious psychological well-being related outcomes. Within the context of …

Attitudes To Wards Prenatal Genetics Among Southeast And East Asian Women: A Qualitative Pilot Study, Ginger J. Tsai

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

From 2000-2010, the Asian population in the United States grew five times faster than the overall US population. As Asians become incorporated into the US health care system, it is important to recognize cultural differences that may arise between Asian patients and their health care providers. Prior studies show that cultural values influence genetic perceptions within Asian populations. The reputation of the family unit factors into decisions such as pregnancy termination and disclosure of family medical history, and the non-directive model of American genetic counseling conflicts with the historical Asian model of paternalistic health care. Previous studies also provide conflicting …

The Role Of Emotional Distress In Predicting Opiate Analgesic Medication Use In Chronic Pain Patients, Amy E. Kupper

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Chronic pain is a common, costly, and debilitating problem. The biopsychosocial model purports that biological, psychological, and social factors are involved in the experience of chronic pain. Multidisciplinary pain management programs adhere to the biopsychosocial model and successfully treat and manage chronic pain. Depression, anxiety, and opiate analgesic medication misuse and abuse are significant problems faced by many individuals with chronic pain, however these relationships are not well understood. This study examined a sample of 248 chronic pain patients who completed a multidisciplinary pain management program. Two hypotheses were tested. First, it was hypothesized that the relationships amongst change in …

Post-Traumatic Growth In Cancer Survivors: Narrative Markers And Functions Of The Experience's Transformation, Maria Luisa Martino, Maria Francesca Freda

The Qualitative Report

The concept that a traumatic experience, such as a cancer, can lead to a positive change and transformation of self, life and relationships was named as post-traumatic growth (PTG). A large amount of research measured PTG in cancer survivors arguing an interpretation of the construct as an outcome. Recently, qualitative research shows different types of narrative of PTG, but the narrative markers and their functions of transformation remain still unclear. Within a mixed-method, we aim to highlight the narrative markers and their transformative functions, underlying the PTG, within 12 cancer survivors’ narratives with medium/high and medium/low level of PTG. A …

Stigma, Abuse, And Hate Crimes: Effects On Mental Health In Transgender Population, Daisy Guerra

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

A comprehensive literature review that examines the ways in which stressors unique to the LGBT population affect transgender mental health. Specifically this paper will explore stigma, and various forms of abuse that contribute to depression, substance abuse, and risky sexual behavior in the transgender community.

Religiousness, Coping, And Social Support Predict Well-Being Among Cancer Patients, Kathleen Shelton, Manpreet Narwal, John Pérez

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between intrinsic religious motivation (IRM), coping styles, social support, and well-being among cancer patients. IRM refers to the internalization of faith as the primary motive in a person’s life. Previous research has established a correlation between IRM and well-being; however, little is known about the role of coping style s and social support in this relationship. The sample included 179 predominantly white, Christian, female patients with stage II through IV cancer. We used a cross- sectional, correlational design with self-report measures of the constructs. We hypothesized that higher levels of …

The Relationship Between Resilience And Sleep Quality, Tyler S. Mccuistion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Complaints about sleep quality are common and some epidemiological surveys indicate that 15-35% of adults complain of frequent sleep disturbances. Impaired sleep is also a central feature in a number of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. This study was aimed at examining the relationship between sleep quality and resilience (the ability to cope and deal with stress). The hypothesis was that the two variables would be related; as resilience increased, it was predicted that sleep quality would also increase. Individuals (N = 167) were given the opportunity to complete a number of brief, self-report inventories assessing …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of People With Dementia Through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Helen F. Johnson

The Qualitative Report

Dementia is arguably one of the biggest challenges facing society today, impacting millions of people worldwide. Nonetheless, there is only a relatively small body of research exploring what it is like to live with dementia from the perspectives of people who have this condition. This is partly because of the (implicit or explicit) belief that people with dementia lack insight into their condition and cannot talk about their experiences clearly. In this article, I argue that such beliefs are typically both erroneous and unhelpful, and that there is great value in seeking to illuminate the lived experiences of people with …

A Human Factors Approach To Improve The Department Of Defense's Patient Handoff Protocol, Nathan Walters, Agnes S. Fagerlund, Elizabeth H. Lazzara, Joseph Keebler, Elizabeth Blickensderfer

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Courage, Psychological Well-Being, And Somatic Symptoms, Christopher J. Keller

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between courage, psychological well-being (PWB), and somatic symptoms in an adult population. Courage is the ability to pursue goals or a purpose despite risk or fear. While courage has been shown to be associated with decreased mental health symptoms, little is known about health outcomes associated with courage. The hypotheses of this study were that higher reported levels of courage would predict lower reported somatic symptoms, and that PWB would account for significant variance in the relationship between courage and somatic symptoms. Participants, mean age 38, were given online surveys …

The Effect Of Bedside Handoffs On Patients’ Perceived Fears, Maija Paldan

Honors Theses

Background and Significance: Fear, anxiety, and apprehension can have a profound effect upon patient outcomes, possibly leading to a worsened health condition or delay in recovery. Current literature finds that communication and social support by the nursing staff may foster patients’ understanding of their care and their experiences of feeling safe. The bedside handoff is one way of enhancing communication and providing support within nurse patient interactions. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of bedside handoffs on patients’ perceived fear, anxiety, and apprehension.

Methods: A secondary analysis was performed upon a larger quantitative data set from …

Too Much Of A Good Thing? Overexertion Of Self-Control And Dietary Adherence In Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Brooke N. Jenkins, Karen S. Rook, Raquel Borges-Garcia, Melissa M. Franks, Mary Ann Parris Stephens

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives

The resource model of self‐control posits that self‐control is a finite resource that can be depleted. Individuals with diabetes must continually restrict their diet, requiring self‐control. As a result, dietary adherence is difficult, and lapses are common. People with diabetes who overexert self‐control following a lapse may be especially likely to experience a subsequent relapse, as suggested by the resource model. This investigation used the resource model of self‐control to test whether overexertion of dietary self‐control following a lapse would be predictive of a subsequent relapse in dietary control.

Design

We tested this prediction in a daily diary study …

Nature Connection: Theory, Evidence And Practice, Matt V. Bukowski

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

This presentation explores scholarly work at the intersection of mental health and the natural world in a variety of disciplines. My intent is to provide an overview of theoretical perspectives, research-based evidence, and clinical practices that support the idea that experiencing the natural world can improve human mental health outcomes.

The Effect Of Mobile Health Applications On Health Behaviors: A Pilot Study, Danielle M. Shilling, Cindy Miller-Perrin, Elizabeth Krumrei Mancuso

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The present research examined the effectiveness of mobile Health (mHealth) fitness and nutrition applications where effectiveness was defined as eliciting behavior changes towards national guidelines for minutes of weekly exercise and daily water consumption. In this study, it was hypothesized that an mHealth Application condition using the MyFitnessPal application would be more effective at altering water consumption and exercise behaviors when compared to a Daily Monitoring condition and a Paper Dairy condition. All 92 participants of this randomized trial participated in a one-week baseline collection and three weeks of intervention for a total of four weeks of participation. Results indicated …

Type D Personality And Injury Relationship In Collegiate Track Athletes, Annmarie Tuxbury

Honors Projects in Applied Psychology

The purpose of this study was to examine Type D personality as an internal factor for injury risk in collegiate track athletes. A survey was administered to 275 track athletes across each of the three NCAA divisions. The survey included general questions about injury history, which included demographic type questions. A Type D Personality Inventory assessment was administered which measured negative affectivity and social inhibition (Blum, 2009). Additionally, the survey included a version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), measuring an athlete’s evaluation of situations that invokes a stress response (Cohen et al, 1983). Lastly, the survey included the Athletic …

How Health Claims On Product Packaging Influence Consumer Perceptions And Purchase Decisions, Taylor Vanasse

Honors Projects in Marketing

The goal of this investigation was to expand upon research from the field of consumer behavior, with a specific focus on food product packaging and health claims. It specifically focused on how these health claims impact consumer perceptions and purchase decisions related to everyday food items. Students at Bryant University were asked to take part in a study which measured their overall health knowledge and nutritional interest. They were then presented with different variations of a product packaging label to assess its impact on their attitude towards a product. Findings indicated that both females and those who score highest on …

Dispositional Mindfulness Uncouples Physiological And Emotional Reactivity To A Laboratory Stressor And Emotional Reactivity To Executive Functioning Lapses In Daily Life, Greg Feldman, Jayne Lavalle, Kelsea Gildawie, Jeffrey M. Greeson

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Both dispositional mindfulness and mindfulness training may help to uncouple the degree to which distress is experienced in response to aversive internal experience and external events. Because emotional reactivity is a transdiagnostic process implicated in numerous psychological disorders, dispositional mindfulness and mindfulness training could exert mental health benefits, in part, by buffering emotional reactivity. The present studies examine whether dispositional mindfulness moderates two understudied processes in stress reactivity research: the degree of concordance between subjective and physiological reactivity to a laboratory stressor (Study 1); and the degree of dysphoric mood reactivity to lapses in executive functioning in daily life (Study …

Exploring The Stigmatization Of Anorexia: A Focus On The Structural, Interpersonal, And Individual Levels Of Stigma, Paraskevi Evelyna Kambanis

Student Works

This paper will review the literature that outlines the stigmatization of anorexia nervosa within society. I will focus on the structural, interpersonal, and individual levels of the ecological system, providing explanations and examples of how the stigmatization of anorexia nervosa manifests on each level. I will describe the consequences of societal stigmatization on individuals’ psychological and emotional health and well-being, and will examine how interpersonal stigmatization affects individuals and relationships. I then offer conclusions based on my literature findings, and offer future directions, focusing on all three levels of the ecological system, for dismantling the stigmatization of anorexia nervosa.

Participation In Organizational Health And Wellness Programs, Sarah C. Adams

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Health and wellness programs are being utilized by organizations at growing rates. Research on health and wellness programs is typically confined to the program of a single organization and the employees participating in that specific program. Typically, this research examines the outcomes of health and wellness programs in organizations, such as return on investment in terms of medical costs, as well as improvements in the health of the employees. However, little information is known about those who choose to participate in health and wellness programs and the characteristics that may influence their participation.

This study examined the relationship between demographic …

Church Attendance And Intrinsic Religiosity Predict A Lower Likelihood Of Hypertension In 18 To 60 Year Olds, Andrea D. Clements, Natalie Cyphers

ETSU Faculty Works

Abstract available through the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

The Relationship Between Religiosity And Health-Promoting Behaviors In Pregnant Women At Pregnancy Resource Centers, Natalie Cyphers, Andrea D. Clements, Jody L. Ralph

ETSU Faculty Works

Abstract available through the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

The Interrelations Between Spiritual Well-Being, Pain Interference And Depressive Symptoms In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Sheri A. Nsamenang, Jameson K. Hirsch, Raluca Topciu, Andrew D. Goodman, Paul R. Duberstein

ETSU Faculty Works

Depressive symptoms are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), and are frequently exacerbated by pain; however, spiritual well-being may allow persons with MS to more effectively cope with pain-related deficits in physical and role functioning. We explored the associations between spiritual well-being, pain interference and depressive symptoms, assessing each as a potential mediator, in eighty-one patients being treated for MS, who completed self-report measures: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Pain Effects Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised. At the bivariate level, spiritual well-being and its subscale of meaning and peace were negatively associated …

A Mobile Health Approach To Assist Veterans Reintegrating Into Civilian Life, Rizwana Rizia

Dissertations (1934 -)

Civilian reintegration is the process of transitioning from military service to civilian life. For any active or reserve member of armed force, reintegration into civilian life can be very challenging. The reintegration phase has far larger impact than just a change in profession. It is actually a change in every aspect of life, which includes changes in lifestyles, responsibilities, home life, communities and much more. If a veteran is unable to survive the challenges of civilian reintegration it can adversely impact his or her personal and social life. Furthermore, in the long run it may even result in serious psychological …

The Construct And Predictive Validity Of Psychosocial Correlates Of Television Viewing, Raheem Paxton, Pascal Jean-Pierre, Saehwan Park, Yong Gao Dr., Stephen Herrmann, G J. Norman

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Many studies have examined the consequences of prolonged television viewing, but few studies have examined the psychological states that contribute to this behavior. In this study, we evaluated the construct and predictive validity of psychosocial correlates of television viewing in a population of African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Methods: AA BCS (N = 342, Mean age = 54 years) completed measures of decisional balance, self-efficacy, family support, and time spent watching television online. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was used to examine the construct and predictive validity as well as the differential item functioning of the instruments …

An Identification Of The Social And Emotional Needs Of People Living With Post-Lingual Hearing Loss, Dianne Briffa, Fiona Davidson, Danielle Ferndale Ms

JADARA

Hearing loss is associated with challenges in achieving effective communication which can constrain an individual’s ability to participate in social and work environments, affecting their social and emotional well-being. Through a thematic analysis of focus groups, interview and survey responses from 41 people experiencing post-lingual hearing loss, we identified an overarching theme of adjusting to impaired communication and three sub-themes in which we were able to identify the unmet social and emotional needs of people who are hard of hearing. In light of our analysis we discuss and offer recommendations specific to meeting the needs of this population.

Depression And Body Mass Index, Differences By Education: Evidence From A Population-Based Study Of Adult Women In The U.S. Buffalo-Niagara Region, Ashley Wendell Kranjac, Jing Nie, Maurizio Trevisan, Jo L. Freudenheim

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The relationship between obesity and depression is well described. However, the evidence linking depression and body mass index (BMI) across the broad range of body size is less consistent. We examined the association between depressive symptoms and BMI in a sample of adult women in the Buffalo-Niagara region between 1997 and 2001. Using logistic regression, we investigated whether increased weight status beyond normal-weight was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, and if educational attainment modified the association between obesity and depression. There was a trend for increased weight status to be associated with higher depressive symptoms (obese II/III, …

Relationship Of Optimism And Suicidal Ideation In Three Groups Of Patients At Varying Levels Of Suicide Risk, Jeff C. Huffman, Julia K. Boehm, Scott R. Beach, Eleanor E. Beale, Christina M. Dubois, Brian C. Healy

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Optimism has been associated with reduced suicidal ideation, but there have been few studies in patients at high suicide risk. We analyzed data from three study populations (total N=319) with elevated risk of suicide: (1) patients with a recent acute cardiovascular event, (2) patients hospitalized for heart disease who had depression or an anxiety disorder, and (3) patients psychiatrically hospitalized for suicidal ideation or following a suicide attempt. For each study we analyzed the association between optimism (measured by the Life-Orientation Test-Revised) and suicidal ideation, and then completed an exploratory random effects meta-analysis of the findings to synthesize this data. …

Trait Hope And Preparation For Future Care Needs Among Older Adult Primary Care Patients, Jodi L. Southerland, Deborah L. Slawson, Robert Pack, Silvia Sörensen, Jeffrey M. Lyness, Jameson K. Hirsch

ETSU Faculty Works

We examined associations between trait hope and preparation for future care needs (PFCN) among 66 older adult primary care patients in western New York. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing PFCN (awareness, information gathering, decision-making, concrete planning, and avoidance), and the Adult Trait Hope Scale. In multivariate regressions, lower hope, particularly less agency, was associated with more awareness of needing care, whereas higher hopefulness, particularly pathways thinking, was associated with increased decision-making and concrete planning. Greater hopefulness appears to be linked to goal-directed planning behaviors, although those with lower hope may actually be more aware of the need for planning. Evidence-based …