Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Suicidal Ideation Among United States Veterans: A Systematic Review, Champagne D. Moore

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: The goal of this study was to conduct a systematic review of suicidal ideation and associated factors among US veterans.

Methods: PRISMA guidelines for identifying and collecting published peer-reviewed articles were employed. Article characteristics were assessed, and trends were analyzed.

Results: Study results show that US veterans have higher rates of suicide as compared to non-US veterans. Among US veterans, the most common means of suicide was firearms, especially among males. Factors such as gun legislation was related to suicide rate among the population.

Conclusion: Veteran suicide prevention must be a public health priority. Prevention measures should further address …

What Are The Relationships Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Age Of Initiaton Of Substance Use?, Alisha Dozier

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Child abuse and substance abuse are significant health problems in the United States and they negatively impact the physical, emotional, and biological health of millions of individuals. It is estimated that one in four children experience child abuse, which is a risk factor for the development of substance abuse problems later in life (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2018). Rates of substance abuse are increasing nationally, making the relationship between child abuse and the development of substance abuse problems important to study.

This research project analyzes the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and subsequent age of …

Cohort Profile: The Kaloleni/Rabai Community Health And Demographic Surveillance System, Anthony Ngugi, Rachel Odhiambo, Felix Agoi, Amyn Lakhani, James Orwa, Jerim Obure, David Mang’Ong’O, Stanley Luchters, Catherine Munywoki, Anisa Omar, Marleen Temmerman

Population Health, East Africa

Why was the cohort set up?In many resource-constrained settings, availability of reli-able vital statistics and health information is limited bylack of proper system for civil registration and health infor-mation. This is further limited by the fact that the majorityof population health events, such as births, morbidity andmortality, occur outside the reach of these systems. In par-ticular, obtaining credible data from rural and remote ge-ographies can be even more constrained. The developmentof population-based surveillance systems in resource-constrained countries to monitor demographic and healthevents in these countries has as its basis the limited capac-ity of civil registration and health information systems.Locally rooted …

Individual And Community Supports That Impact Community Inclusion And Recovery For Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses, Rachel Elizabeth Terry

Dissertations and Theses

The current dissertation presents two published manuscripts and discusses a third study that explored the role of social support in promoting community participation for individuals with serious mental illnesses. The first manuscript investigated sense of community as a potential mediating factor between community participation, psychological distress, and mental health functioning utilizing quantitative methods. The results indicated that sense of community acted as a partial mediator between community participation and psychological distress, as well as mental health functioning. The second manuscript is a literature review that explored the influence of social support on community integration for individuals with serious mental illnesses. …

Exploring Effects Of Background Music In A Serious Game On Attention By Means Of Eeg Signals In Children, Fettah Kiran

LSU Master's Theses

Music and Serious Games are separately useful alternative therapy methods for helping people with a cognitive disorder, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The goal of this thesis is to explore the effect of background music on children with and without ADHD. In this study, a simple Tetris game is designed with Beethoven, Mozart music, and no-music. There are different brainwave techniques for recording; among others, the electroencephalography (EEG) allows for the most efficient use of BCI. We recorded the EEG brain signals of the regular and ADHD subjects who played the Tetris we designed according to our protocol that …

Assisting Children With Velocardiofacial Syndrome Who Have Developmental Disabilities And Delays Associated With Speech, Communication, And Education, Mckenzie K. Holty

Honors Thesis

Children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) have a variety of complex needs. Research shows that VCFS is characterized by a combination of medical problems, developmental delays, and learning disabilities, which vary from child to child. This syndrome also puts adolescents at a higher risk for developing psychiatric and psychotic disorders. The complexity of symptoms that can arise from VCFS can influence the ability of these children to communicate, socialize, and learn effectively. This literature review aims to discuss literature for caregivers, educators, and physicians to aid children effectively and understand their challenges relating to speech, communication, and education. This topic is …

Why Monitoring Your Media Consumption During Covid-19 Is Important, Dessa Bergen-Cico

Population Health Research Brief Series

Are you spending more time consuming media (news, television, video games) than before COVID-19? Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have led to a surge in media consumption. This brief explains how too much media consumption (including the news) can affect your psychological and physiological wellbeing and provides strategies for monitoring your media consumption.

Utilizing Evidence-Based Trauma Trainings In The Prevention Of Secondary Trauma, Aria Hudson, Marissa Mackey, Stephanie Armes

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Secondary trauma (ST) is a risk mental health clinicians face when treating trauma clients. To our knowledge, research has not explored how a clinician’s trauma training could protect against developing secondary trauma. We used data from a larger national project examining ST in a sample of Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs; N = 200). A majority of the sample (n = 149; 64.5%) reported receiving specific trauma training. We explored qualitative reports of the specific trauma trainings clinicians received; the most commonly reported were Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT; n = 36) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR; …

Equine Therapy’S Effect On Attachment For Former Foster Children, Joanna Frazier, Bryn Knapp

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Research has shown the importance of secure attachment, and the negative impact that insecure or disorganized attachment can have, especially for foster or adopted children. Attachment interventions have helped improve behavior problems and increase emotion regulation. Studies have shown that equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) can help participants increase emotion regulation and decrease behavior problems. In this study, 50 adolescent former foster children will participate in weekly psychotherapy or EAP for one year. The primary aim of this study is to measure the effectiveness of EAP against traditional psychotherapy within this population, measuring outcomes on emotion regulation, behavior problems, and attachment.

Narrative Therapy With First-Generation College Students : Impacts On Anxiety, Depression, And Retention Rates., Nicole Ruttenberg, Lisa Christensen

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Over 50% of students entering higher education represent the first generation in their family to do so. These students experience unique stressors related to educational background, finances, membership in underrepresented populations, and other identities which shape their worldview. Grappling with such complexities can lead to increased likelihood of depression and anxiety, contributing to a 400% drop-out rate when compared with continuing-generation students. Narrative Therapy (NT) has shown promise in treating anxiety and depression and may be beneficial in integrating the intersectional experiences of first-generation students. Our proposed research would examine the impact of NT on depression, anxiety, and retention rates.

Does Marital Satisfaction Mediate The Relationship Between Maternal And Paternal Postpartum Depression (Ppd)?, Karen Touboul Futerman, Leah Smith

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Research suggests that the presence of maternal postpartum depression (PPD) increases the likelihood of experiencing paternal PPD. Low marital satisfaction is significantly related to paternal PPD. Using a sample of 372 heterosexual couples, data was gathered at 1 month and 9 months postpartum for both mothers and fathers to assess PPD and marital satisfaction. Using a multiple regression model, results suggest that marital satisfaction mediates the relationship between maternal and paternal PPD. We also found that the severity of paternal PPD symptoms were negatively correlated with marital satisfaction. This study highlights the importance of supporting the couple relationship as they …

Factors Of Resiliency In Adolescents With Divorced Parents: Do Adolescents Who Become Part Of A Blended Family Report More Resilience Than Adolescents With Divorced Parents Who Do Not Become Part Of A Blended Family?, Makenzie Kinloch

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

It is not a surprise that non-traditional families are becoming more common. One of the increasingly prevalent forms of non-traditional families are blended families. Adolescents who have gone through parental divorce are faced with unique challenges as they must navigate a changing family structure, and possibly entering into a blended family. This research proposal aims to examine resilience within adolescents in different family systems, exploring if adolescents who have gone through a parental divorce yet not blended with any other family report more resilience than adolescents who have gone through a parental divorce but who have blended with another family.

Attachment Styles And Perceived Parental Acceptance And Rejection Of Sexual Orientation In Lgbq Individuals, Emily Grossmann, Michelle Tran

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Individuals who identify as LGBQ can face challenges with social acceptance. This study seeks to measure the relationship between sexual orientation and attachment style, and how parental response to coming out as non-heterosexual might impact this relationship. Participants completed an online survey measuring adult attachment via the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) and perceived parental acceptance or rejection via the Parental Acceptance and Rejection of Sexual Orientation Scale (PARSOS). The authors posit that perceived parental acceptance serves as a protective factor for attachment insecurity and explore Emotionally Focused Therapy as a treatment to increase attachment security in LGBQ individuals.

An Argument For Marriage And Family Therapy Treatment Of Grief With Adolescent Clients, Nicole Wilson, Boone Butler

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This proposal argues when treating adolescents who experience grief, Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) treatment provides more beneficial outcomes for the processing of grief. Previous research suggests that adolescents who experienced exclusively family therapy exhibited decreases in internalizing behavior and their capacity to process their emotions was stronger comparative to their peers. Suggestions for further research to be conducted will prove that compared to individual therapy, MFT is more efficacious in treating adolescent grief. Further research suggestions include the utilization of Beck’s Depression Inventory and a comparative analysis of paired data between two groups – MFT treatment versus individual treatment.

The Efficacy Of Virtual And In-Person Treatment Of Substance Use, And Mediating Effects Of Social Connection, Nga Chi Wong, Cody Moberg

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Telehealth increases accessibility of treatment for SUD patients who need the social connection but do not have access to a treatment facility due to financial, geographical or other limitations. However, empirical evidence is needed to validate the efficacy of virtual SUD treatment as well as explore the mediation effects of social connection. We hope to carry out a quantitative longitudinal cohort study by looking at treatment outcomes between two groups of adults randomly assigned to in-person or virtual SUD treatment. We will then reassess the occurrence of drug use to understand any longitudinal differences and mediation effect of social connection.

Child-Parent Family Therapy And Conflict With A Romantic Partner, Ethan Blackstone, Mike San Martino

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This study aims to show a correlation between family therapy with an adult child and their caregiver, and conflict in romantic relationships. The study will take place at a community mental health center clinic, aiming at a population that already plans to receive therapy. Conflict will be measured on a scale to determine if there is a change before and after therapy. If a connection is established, this study will help to further emphasize how relationships within a system can have an important impact on other relationships within the same system, even if it is indirectly.

Comfort In Mental Health Treatment For Transgender And Gender Nonconforming Individuals, Alex Rabern

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people often encounter insensitive treatment in health care settings (Gessner et al, 2020). TGNC patients or clients are then more likely to avoid going to the doctor or seeking out therapy (Puckett et al, 2018). Health care professionals report a lack of education or training in how to be more sensitive (Carabez et al, 2016). This study focuses on providing the reportedly missing training to marriage and family therapists, to increase TGNC client comfort in participating in therapy. A training seminar, based on available models of TGNC sensitivity (Kort, 2018), will be provided to a …

Exploring Loneliness In Committed Relationships: What Role Does Quality Of Relationship Play?, Amanda Mcgovern, Kate Belbutoski

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Loneliness is an aspect of the human experience that has garnered increasing attention as links between loneliness and negative health outcomes have been discovered across medical and mental health fields. Research on loneliness has highlighted relationship status as a prominent influencing factor on individual’s experiences of loneliness, underscoring findings that those in more committed relationships may experience less loneliness. This has clinical implications for therapists, particularly those working with couples who might assume that individuals in committed relationships are unlikely to experience loneliness because of their committed relationship status. This study focuses on the experience of loneliness in committed relationships …

Treatment Of Female Anorgasmia Using Narrative Therapy And Therapeutic Masturbation – A Practice-Based Study, Leslie Martin

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

This research study will use a practice-based model to explore orgasm and sexual pleasure with female clients who report that they are unable to experience an orgasm. By thickening their definitions and stories around orgasm and pleasure; and by engaging in therapeutic masturbation weekly between sessions, clients will experience increased pleasure and orgasm. The use of a guided therapeutic masturbation exercise is used from Emily Nagaski’s book Come As You Are. And quantitative data will be gathered using questions 11, 12, 13, and 16, from an adapted version of the Female Sexual Functioning Inventory.

Anjaneyasana: Yoga As An Intervention For Sexual Shame, Caitlin Minniear, Kathy Smith

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

While literature exists about the benefits of yoga through mindfulness, and on mindfulness and sex, little is known about the use of yoga as an intervention to promote healthy female sexuality. This study will explore the efficaciousness of yoga in reducing sexual shame. Data from 60 female participants will be collected via surveys. Using statistical analyses, changes in participants levels of sexual shame and sexual enjoyment will be examined as impacted by weekly yoga practice with an emphasis on body awareness, relaxation, and body positivity. We hypothesize a negative correlation between a weekly yoga practice and feelings of sexual shame …