<p> This research replicated Dunlap, dePerczel, Clarke, Wilson, Wright, and White&rsquo;s (1994) single-subject ABAB reversal design using choice/no choice conditions with a 3 year-old Native American boy exposed to trauma. The IV consisted of the child being able to select books to be read during story time vs. no choice. The dependent variables consisted of 2 target behaviors impeding his learning in his Head Start classroom: disruptive and aggressive behaviors. Rate of Behavior 1 during Baseline 2 was 10% higher than during Intervention 1, and considerably higher than Baseline 1. During Intervention 2, rate of Behavior 1 was 10% lower than during Baseline 2, but 24% higher than Baseline 1. Therefore, Behavior 1 responded as expected to the 3 final experimental phases, but was unexpectedly low during Baseline 1 due to uncontrollable, extraneous environmental variables. Rate of Behavior 2 during Intervention 1 was 57% lower than during Baseline 1. During Baseline 2, rate of Behavior 2 was 50% higher than Intervention 1. During Intervention 2, rate of Behavior 2 was 43% below Baseline 1 but 40% higher than Baseline 2. Because occurrence rates for Behavior 2 were low, often 0-3 per session, minor changes in occurrences inflated change percentages. In essence, Behavior 2 improved substantially between Baseline 1 and Intervention 1, then remained stable at low rates across the remaining study phases. During Intervention 2, half the sessions had 0 occurrence rates for Behavior 2, spiking in the final 2 sessions due to an uncontrollable extraneous variable. Overall results appear promising. Future research, with greater observation times and control of extraneous variables, is needed to fully demonstrate intervention effectiveness with young Native American children exposed to trauma. </p><p>

<p> Untreated depression among older American adults has serious consequences. Individuals experiencing symptoms of depression, as well as those providing care to these older adults, habitually overlook symptoms or dismiss them as normal in this age group. Strategies are urgently needed to overcome this practice. In the study presented here, this researcher provides analyzed content regarding caregiver responses to focused interview questions about recognizing symptoms of depression in the older adults for whom they care and how to engage those with depression in treatment. The researcher considered this analysis within the framework of mental health literacy and knowledge brokering. Outcomes are presented in terms of how to improve components of mental health literacy, specifically regarding geriatric depression, among caregivers for older adults. Participants in this case study were volunteers in one of three identified categories providing care to older adults: Professional, paraprofessional, and nonprofessional. The sample size consisted of four participants in each category, with 12 participants in total. Participants demonstrated a baseline level of mental health literacy regarding geriatric depression. Based on corresponding implications, the researcher suggests which components of caregiver mental health literacy are sound, as well as areas where interventions could be used to improve caregiver mental health literacy.</p><p>

<p> Wellness is enough of a vital concern in the United States that as of 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted to encourage employers to adopt evidence-based workplace wellness programs. Although it is believed that these wellness programs will decrease both chronic disease and healthcare costs, participation has been minimal. Existing research has identified the positive impact of both the individual&rsquo;s role and the use of technology in wellness planning. This inquiry used an action research case study design to explore how theory-driven web-based wellness planning impacted study participants&rsquo; decisions, actions, and perceptions about wellness. The researcher created a free, open access, proprietary web-based wellness planning tool based on stages of change and integral theory. Over the 4-month period of this study, the web site had 307 visitors and 29 registered users, 12 of whom also were employees of technology companies and were recruited to take part in the case study. Web site observation, the wellness-planning tool, and individual interviews served as the primary sources of data. Analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics, the findings demonstrated that this web-based planning tool increased the users&rsquo; wellness awareness and may impact their intention to make improvements. Although the tool had a positive impact on users&rsquo; wellness planning skills and enhanced their understanding of wellness, most users continued to overemphasize physical wellness and underemphasize spirit and community, as represented by the lower quadrants of integral theory. Interviews further revealed that there may be an interest for employers to expand workplace wellness (WPW) program offerings, involve employees in program design, and expand WPW activities, with the intention of increasing self-care of both employees and their family members. These findings are limited to the participants and conditions of this research but warrant further study with more participants spanning a longer time period to determine whether changes may be generalizable and sustainable.</p>

<p> Treatment of addictive processes is one of the specialties of clinical psychology. Practitioners hone their skills to relieve the suffering and ill affects of substance use. This dissertation explored sugar use, as an addictive process, through the lens of emotional regulation, addressing the research question: What is the lived experience of emotional regulation through sugar addiction? The study specifically excluded treatment. </p><p> Review of literature revealed ways to treat, supplement, or kick the sugar habit, examined sugar addiction qualifiers by comparing them to neural correlates of other drug dependencies, and provided recovering food and sugar addicts&rsquo; insights into America&rsquo;s food supply and the harmful deceptions perpetuated by its food industry. The Food Addiction Institute&rsquo;s library maintains over 2,700 peer reviewed articles. </p><p> The study employed a phenomenological research method to look at six co-participants&rsquo; lived experience&mdash;idiographically, to determine what characteristics and themes are unique to each co-participant, and nomothetically, to determine what universally characterizes the whole group. </p><p> Co-participant entry into the study required meeting the thresholds for the Yale Food Addiction Scale, abbreviated version. Interview transcripts provided a rich data base for analysis. Idiographic essential descriptions were used to create a narrative for each co-participant. The nomothetic aggregate used common denominators to create a universal picture of the whole group. </p><p> This study aimed for a greater understanding of the interdependent nature of sugar and emotions. What might a sugar addicted population express that facilitates recovery and emotional regulation? Due to its qualitative approach to data acquisition the research was personal and explored beyond the surface to obtain a unique and individualized story, yet was able to identify a picture common to the whole group. </p><p> The lived experience revealed that envy, deprivation, fear of sugar&rsquo;s control, and lack of support from authority figures contributed to an inability to get enough of comfort foods or to stop overconsumption, and contributed to feelings of guilt, shame, and loss. Co-participants expressed excitement and gratitude that someone was interested in this topic.</p>

<p> Children diagnosed with ASD and their parents often find themselves in difficult situations concerning their child's behavior while in public, and the responses from the public are usually negative (Chambres, Auxiette, Vansingle, &amp; Sandrine, 2008). The purpose of this study was to describe responses towards a child with ASD having a tantrum. We evaluated how knowing the child's diagnosis, understanding of the behavioral characteristics of ASD, and dispositional empathy related to the responses towards the tantrum. The findings from this study suggest that while it is helpful to disclose an ASD diagnosis, it is not necessarily more helpful to explain the characteristics and nature of ASD in order to elicit an empathic response from others. Revealing that the child was diagnosed with ASD leads to more empathic responses regarding the child and mother. The level of dispositional empathic concern and perspective taking an individual had correlated with their responses to the child and mother's behavior in the tantrum situation.</p>

<p>Background: Type 2 diabetes is a complex chronic condition. To achieve positive outcomes patients must have an understanding of diabetes and self-efficacy to carry out self-management. Studies have shown that diabetes self-management education interventions positively affect physical and mental health outcomes, thereby improving the patient?s diabetes self-management. Purpose: The purpose of this article was to determine if four diabetes self-management programs (DSMP) on the Island of Hawaii are providing competent care based on national standards of curriculum components, addressing mental health concerns affecting diabetes self-management, and providing culturally adapted care. Methods: This study was carried out in three stages: 1) selecting programs for analysis; 2) comparing evaluated programs based on American Association of Diabetes Educators Self-care behaviors through the review of program manuals and supplemental materials; and 3) interviewing program directors. Results: A review of community-based, self-management programs on Hawaii Island reveals that they provide competent care based on national Diabetes Self-Management Education standards. The reviewed programs appear to be successful and include culturally adapted education. However, assessments for mental health are not currently being used to assess a patient?s need for treatment of common mental health problems such as depression. Conclusion: The current evidence of a connection between diabetes and depression indicates that DSMPs should assess for depression and provide effective treatment, especially for ethnic groups that have a high prevalence of diabetes and diabetes-related hospitalizations. More research is needed to determine how programs could better address culture and mental health concerns related to diabetes self-management education.

<p> Patients diagnosed with cancer often require interventions for the accompanying mental health distress of their diagnosis; patients&rsquo; mental distress can lead to hopelessness and noncompliance. Improvements for assessment and interventions are needed. This project provides recommendations for improving oncological nursing knowledge by implementing competencies for nurses through educational modules, focusing on nursing approach, confidence, and interventions necessary for understanding methods of treatment and the measurement of distress in oncology and oncological treatment. Using established standards and competencies will improve knowledge and skill in inpatient settings. Current established nursing standards from the American Nursing Association, Institute Of Medicine/National Comprehensive Cancer Network, C-Change, and Public Mental Health Essentials were explored in order to identify gaps and create a list of recommended competencies for oncology nursing. Six associated adaptable educational modules were developed based on the adult education framework of Knowles, and participant training entailed proper use and comprehension of the Distress Thermometer for measurement of distress. The C-Change observation displayed participant (<i>n</i> = 102) results of approximately 119% improvement, which was observed in knowledge, communication, and confidence. Participants used the resources to reduce distress levels by initiating the selected established interventions for management, all of which was made evident in patient self-reported outcomes, using resources from published, established, standardized competencies. Having such training will allow for improved care for patients with cancer, thus having an influence on positive social change. </p>

<p> As a disengaged and underutilized community resource, young people have the potential to develop leadership skills and express themselves in community action. For this study, the researcher interviewed 13 young adults from rural areas of Alabama. These 18- to 20-year-olds had taken part in community leadership skills programs during their high school years. In this qualitative investigation, the researcher used a multiple case study model that included in depth, one on one interviews and personal observations. Analysis of the data revealed three themes for civic engagement: (a) the participants expressed their ideas and feelings, orally and in their writings; (b) they discussed their leadership skills; and (c) they applied their leadership skills. These results further suggested to the researcher that motivation, confidence, self esteem, and relationship building skills were reinforced by the leadership skills programs, and those factors were applied within the participants' communities. Based on the evidence derived from this study, the ideas and leadership skills of young people have value and strength, especially for rural communities.</p>

<p> Previous research indicates that ecstasy use is positively associated with higher levels of impulsivity and risky sexual behaviors. In addition, methamphetamine use, which is chemically related to ecstasy, has been associated with higher levels of adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. This study adds to the existing literature by investigating the relationship between adult ADHD symptoms, impulsivity, ecstasy use, and unprotected anal sex. Participants were recruited from the Center for Behavioral Research and Services in Long Beach, California. Adult ADHD symptoms were associated with unprotected anal sex among women, but not for men. Furthermore, ecstasy use was found to be associated with unprotected anal sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) but not for women or men who have sex with women (MSW). In addition, higher levels of impulsivity were associated with both ecstasy use and unprotected anal sex among women, MSM, and MSW.</p>

<p>This thesis uses a heuristic research methodology to investigate the patterns of cognition and emotion that are present when one practices self-discipline. A sample of several studies on the subject are presented, compared, and analyzed via a personal experience. The theories presented include ego depletion theory, self-determination theory, organismic integration theory, cognitive evaluation theory, self-control failure, goal setting, and goal visualization. The analysis herein suggests the clinical and counseling applications of incorporating self-discipline techniques into psychotherapy. </p>