Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Factors Associated With Binge Drinking During The Transition Into Adulthood: Exploring Associations Within Two Distinct Young Adult Age Ranges, Tamara Leech, Sarah Jacobs, Denis Watson

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background:

Binge drinking among young adults aged 18-21 years has declined over the past decade, but binge drinking rates among people 22-25 years old have remained largely the same. This steady trend in later years represents a departure from the traditional course of maturing out of risky alcohol use, perhaps because young adults are delaying the transition into adulthood.

Aims:

This paper explores the relationship between binge drinking and aspects of the transition into adulthood that could inform interventions targeting these two distinct groups of young adults.

Methods:

We use survey data on 1,081 young adults aged 18-25 living in …

An Examination Of Hiv Risk, Testing And Prevention Intervention Participation Among Vulnerable Youth, Bianca V. Lopez

Dissertations and Theses

Background: Young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (YGBM) of color are disproportionately affected by HIV and bear the burden of the disease in the United States. Gay and bisexual men – referred to in surveillance systems as men who have sex with men (MSM) – continue to be the risk group most severely affected by HIV in the United States. The dissertation study explored factors related on HIV prevention intervention participation, HIV testing and sexual risk behaviors among YGBM ages 13-29 in the Bronx. Additionally, this dissertation endeavored to study the concept of “intervention fatigue”, …

Individual Choices And Global Well-Being, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

The article focuses on how individuals might modify their behaviors as a critical part of helping to improve not only individual health and well-being, but also helping to reduce our impact on the world around us.

Active Husband Involvement During Pregnancy: A Grounded Theory, Brandon P. Eddy, Stephen T. Fife

Couple & Family Therapy Program Faculty Research

Objective: The purpose of this grounded theory qualitative study was to build a theory describing how husband involvement during pregnancy impacts the couple relationship. Background: The transition to parenthood presents a significant life change for couples. Although many couples experience this life cycle change, there is relatively little empirical research on how husbands can meaningfully contribute during pregnancy and how husband involvement influences the couple relationship postpartum. Method: Eleven heterosexual, married couples were interviewed regarding husband involvement during the couple's most recent pregnancy. Data collection included separate interviews with each partner and with each couple. Results: The results are presented …

We All Feel Feelings, Ben Ohene

Theses and Dissertations

Consisting of three illustrated books, We All Feel Feelings is designed as a vehicle for the discussion of emotional and mental health with young boys. These books will help foster a mindset of openness and acceptance through different methods of displaying and understanding emotions.

Wellness Review 2020, Part 1, Jacob Shreffler, Brian A. Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Welcome to Part 1 of the bi-annual Journal of Wellness review of 2020 wellness literature (January – June). In this review, JWellness editors continue the goal of bringing a cohesive awareness of recent publications within the wellness domain, encompassing wellness leaders from all disciplines in healthcare. We provide insight into unique perspectives and new science published outside of JWellness, dealing with burnout prevention and wellness initiative implementation.

Methods: PubMed was searched for empirical research studies, review articles, and editorials using keywords such as “wellness,” “well-being,” “burnout” and “healthcare professionals.” We have included 26 articles in this review.

Literature in …

Management Practices For West Syndrome In South Asia: A Survey Study And Meta-Analysis, Priyanka Madaan, Prem Chand, Kyaw Linn, Jithangi Wanigasinghe, Mimi Lhamu Mynak, Prakash Poudel, Raili Riikonen, Amit Kumar, Pooja Dhir, Sandeep Negi, Jitendra Kumar Sahu

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objectives: Considering the dearth of literature on West syndrome (WS) from South Asian countries, this study aimed to evaluate the management practices in South Asia by an online survey and meta-analysis.
Methods: An online questionnaire was sent to 223 pediatric neurologists/pediatricians in India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Their responses were evaluated and supplemented by a meta-analysis.
Results: Of 125 responses received (response rate: 56%), around 60% of responders observed male preponderance and an approximate lead-time-to-treatment (LTTT) of 4-12 weeks. The commonest etiology observed was a static structural insult (88.6% of responders). Most commonly used first-line drug …

Suicidal Behaviours Among Adolescents From 90 Countries: A Pooled Analysis Of The Global School-Based Student Health Survey, Susan C. Campisi, Bianca Carducci, Nadia Akseer, Clare Zasowski, Peter Szatmari, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background: Understanding the burden and determinants of suicide during adolescence is key to achieving global health goals. We examined the prevalence and determinants of self-reported suicidal ideation and attempts among younger (13-15 years) and older adolescents (16-17 years).
Methods: Pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence interval, were calculated for suicide ideation and attempts for 118 surveys from 90 countries that administered the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) to adolescents (13-17 years of age) from 2003 to 2017. Indicators (including individual and social factors) associated with suicidal ideation and attempts were determined from multivariable linear regressions on key outcomes.
Results: …

Therapeutic Potential Of A Ketogenic Diet In The Treatment Of Major Depressive Disorder, Jordan A. Murrin

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the second most common mental health condition and a leading cause of disability in the world. It is theorized that MDD develops from a combination of biological, psychological, and social stressors. The condition is typically treated using pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy. However, not all individuals with MDD have access to or choose to use these treatments, or may prefer to incorporate therapeutic lifestyle changes such as exercise, sleep, and healthy eating. Even with treatment, MDD can alter brain structure and function, leading to the development of comorbid mental health and chronic metabolic conditions like obesity, cardiovascular …

Harm Reduction In Prison Settings: A Relevant Approach To Reduce Hiv Transmission?, Amine Ghrabi

International Programs

Harm reduction defines a set of policies and interventions aiming to address the adverse health consequences associated with drug use. Compared to the general population, prisoners are disproportionally affected by HIV. Thanks to its strong emphasis on public health and human rights principles, harm reduction can effectively reduce transmission of HIV inside prison settings.

Why Some People Consume Counterfeit Drugs In Benin, Maxime A. Ahouansou

International Programs

Despite the threat counterfeit drugs represent to health and the government’s endeavor to discourage their consumption, some people in Benin still prefer buying medicine in the underground economy. This research purported to understand the causes of the phenomenon. The research method used a survey of a sample of sixty-eight people randomly selected at Cotonou, a city with a population representative of Benin general population status regarding socio-economic conditions. The data about people's habits regarding drug consumption, monthly income, insurance coverage, and reasons why people chose to buy counterfeit medicines were collected and analyzed using Excel Spreadsheet. The analysis of those …

Program Evaluation: Bring Change To Mind High School Club, Rachel Goldberg

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction. Mental illness (MI) stigma is common and causes adverse consequences such as reduced self-esteem and discrimination in housing and employment. Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), a national non-profit organization, strives to reduce this stigma through their high school club program. The evaluation goals were to assess the program’s operations and measure club members’ and advisors’ attitudes and perceptions around mental health (MH) and MI.

Methods. Qualtrics surveys were used to gather information from general club members (GCMs) (N=645), club advisors (N=97), and graduating seniors (N=57). BC2M staff held 52 small group discussions with club leaders. Data analysis was conducted …

Flattening The Curve Of Distress: A Public-Facing Webinar For Psychoeducation During Covid-19, Grant Smith, Stephanie Harman, Keri Brenner

Patient Experience Journal

This case report describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a public-facing webinar that provided psychoeducation addressing the emotional distress that has accompanied the coronavirus pandemic. Using a webinar was an effective strategy for reaching a large, public audience and making content from expert clinicians accessible. Participants were likely to recommend the webinar to friends or family. Participants appreciated that the webinar acknowledged the presence of distressing emotions and provided practical advice for reducing the negative psychological sequelae of the coronavirus pandemic. Areas for improvement included addressing technical issues and incorporating additional information into the webinar.

Experience Framework

This article …

Insights From Individuals With Chronic Conditions In The Context Of Covid-19, B. Stephen Burton, Jonathan Patterson, Mackenzie Robinson, Dhiren Patel, Matt Allison, Kelly J. Brassil

Patient Experience Journal

The objective of this prospective survey series was to evaluate knowledge and concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with one or more chronic conditions, including cardiometabolic, autoimmune, respiratory and cancer diagnoses. Two surveys were distributed consisting of up to 55 items (March; n=1069) and up to 71 items (April, n=1126), with 24 items repeated from the first survey. Questions focused on healthcare access, barriers and concerns related to the COVID-19 virus. Descriptive analysis evaluated central tendencies, spread, and frequencies of the demographic data, disease states, and survey results within and between the two survey timepoints. Results from 416 …

School-Based Mindfulness Program And Anxiety Prevention In Eighth Graders: A Randomized Pilot Study, Sarah Sass, Staci Zolkoski

Diversity, Social Justice, and the Educational Leader

Adolescence is a period marked by challenges, and an adolescent’s sensitivity to stress and anxiety can interfere with resilient coping. Educational leaders should consider mindfulness programs because they appear promising in preventing mental health issues in adolescents and are acceptable to youth from diverse backgrounds. The present randomized school-based pilot study addressed whether mindfulness was associated with preventing stress, anxiety, or depression, and whether resilience would increase in healthy eighth graders randomized to 8-sessions of a mindfulness program or a wait-list control group. Self-report measures of psychological functioning (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression, resilience) were completed before and after a mindfulness …

Mechanisms Study: Using Game Theory To Assess The Effects Of Social Norms And Social Networks On Adolescent Smoking In Schools—Study Protocol, Ruth F. Hunter, Felipe Montes, Jennifer M. Murray, Sharon C. Sanchez-Franco, Shannon C. Montgomery, Joaquín Jaramillo, Christopher Tate, Rajnish Kumar, Laura Dunne, Abhijit Ramalingam, Erik O. Kimbrough, Erin Krupka, Huiyu Zhou, Laurence Moore, Linda Bauld, Blanca Llorente, Olga L. Sarmiento, Frank Kee

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

This proof of concept study harnesses novel transdisciplinary insights to contrast two school-based smoking prevention interventions among adolescents in the UK and Colombia. We compare schools in these locations because smoking rates and norms are different, in order to better understand social norms based mechanisms of action related to smoking. We aim to: (1) improve the measurement of social norms for smoking behaviors in adolescents and reveal how they spread in schools; (2) to better characterize the mechanisms of action of smoking prevention interventions in schools, learning lessons for future intervention research. The A Stop Smoking in Schools Trial (ASSIST) …

Current Practices, Perceptions And Challenges Of Telehealth In The Treatment Of Mental Health In The U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs, James E. Plummer

Full-Text Theses & Dissertations

Currently there are 17,964,242 million Veterans living in the U.S. Around 50% of these Veterans are over 65 years of age. Many U.S. service members – both active and retired, experience trauma and dysfunction in restructuring their lives. Mental health problems are reported in over 50% of Veterans both in active service and retired. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), ten times more suicides are reported among Veterans who did not register with the VA compared to those who do register. Longer deployments, shorter times at home between the deployments and combat exposure are the greatest contributors …

Application Of Self-Efficacy Training In Group Aural Rehabilitation: An Interprofessional Collaborative Model, Stephen D. Roberts, Nancy A. Delich

JADARA

Few studies have explored self-efficacy training with persons with hearing loss (PHLs), yet alone with their communication partners (CPs). The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine the impact of self-efficacy training as a framework for an Interprofessional Psychosocial Group Aural Rehabilitation (IPGAR) workshop with PHLs and their CPs. Four PHLs and their four CPs consented to participate in the IPGAR workshop that employed interventions including short lectures, psychosocial exercises, communication strategies training, speech perception training, adaptive/stress reduction exercises, and group discussions relevant to mutually established shared goals for each couple. The participants reported improved communication abilities in the …

Guided Imagery And Deep Breathing: Minimizing Anxiety Experienced By Pediatric Cancer Patients, Bethany Grace Aney

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This particular research study examined the impact of guided imagery and deep breathing as coping tools to reduce the anxiety levels experienced by pediatric cancer patients ages 6-12 years of age at a children’s hospital in Central Pennsylvania. This quantitative study utilized a pretest-posttest design, in addition to utilizing the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC™) as the baseline and post-test assessment. The STAIC™ is a questionnaire tool that assesses individuals’ state and trait anxiety through a total of 40 questions. This particular study had a total of five patients, two male and three female that consented to undergoing three …

The Use Of Animal-Assisted Therapeutic Interventions In The Hospital Setting During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alicia Cesare

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Handlers of therapy and/or facility dogs working within hospital settings have experienced various barriers and challenges within their practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Animal-assisted interventions, specifically therapeutic working dogs, are a valued source of support to individuals, communities, hospital settings, and disaster sites during times of community distress. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and solutions to the continued use of animal-assisted therapeutic interventions in support of patients and families within the hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. This researcher’s position within the research is the knowledge and experience of being a facility dog handler within the …