<p> The purpose of this research is to gain an understanding of the mental health needs of Latino university students particularly those who are participants of the AB 540 program by assessing their level of psychological distress. Comparing Latino college students who are AB 540 program participants to non-program participants will add to the social work knowledge base by providing information regarding the mental health service needs of AB 540 program participants. A survey was administered to determine if there was a difference in psychological distress, anxiety, and stress among documented Latino college students and Latino college students enrolled in the AB 540 program. According to the data that was collected and analyzed Latino AB 540 students reported experiencing more symptoms of depression and anxiety than Latinos who are not enrolled in the AB 540 program.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to develop a grant to obtain funding to train two San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Department staff as certified instructors for the <i>Mental Health First Aid </i> program. These instructors will train staff in the San Luis Obispo County school districts with the goal of increasing the staffs knowledge, thus enabling them to respond better to the mental health needs of their students. This mental health training program covers: risk factors, symptoms, and the role of stigma in mental health issues, as well as resources and action plans. A literature review was completed on the prevalence of youth mental health issues, the effects of mental illness on youth, current youth mental health treatment, a school settings' role in dealing with these issues, early intervention services, and stigma. Actual submission and funding of the grant was not required for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> The purpose of this project was to design a program, identify potential funding sources, and write a grant to fund a support group for spouses and partners of returning veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The diagnosis of PTSD is difficult for the individual and his or her loved ones as well. An extensive literature review increased the knowledge of PTSD and its affects on the veteran and his or her loved ones. A search was conducted for potential funding sources via the Internet, CSULB library, and other public libraries. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) was selected as the best funding source for this project. Information is provided about practices that assist spouses and/or partners of individuals diagnosed with PTSD, which were used in the program design. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> A majority of inpatients in acute psychiatric settings have histories of trauma, especially sexual violence. The purpose of this content analysis review of the periodical literature was to gain a better understanding of the issues faced by involuntarily held female survivors of rape and sexual assault within acute inpatient psychiatric settings and explore what existing inpatient trauma-informed training was in place. Often times, the external coping mechanisms for these individuals appear in the form of self-injurious behaviors, which are then responded to by professionals with the mindset of impending suicide. As the content analysis of the 30 reviewed studies demonstrated, the lack of education and training regarding the connections between sexual assault and coping mechanisms continues to be reflected in the modern interventions utilized within psychiatric settings. For this reason, a paradigm shift is warranted, so as to reduce the risk of re-traumatization for rape and sexual assault survivors under involuntary hold, within these institutions.</p>

<p> Unrequited love is a form of love in which a person&rsquo;s feelings of romantic love toward another are not reciprocated. This thesis is an exploration of unrequited love from a depth psychological perspective, taking into account the powerful yet mysterious influence of the archetypes of the collective unconscious on this common human experience. Utilizing a hermeneutic methodology to amplify theories from both psychology and mythology, the author seeks to provide a road map for understanding how and why unrequited love can be used as a means of initiating the process of individuation. Readings of the literature serve to provide a solid foundation for understanding depth psychological concepts and to articulate the difference between the two sides of unrequited love. The author uses the protagonist from the film <i> Angus</i> to exemplify the way in which the projection of unconscious archetypes can eventually lead one toward a balance of psyche and self-knowledge. </p>

<p> This critical analysis of the literature explores the potential of liberation psychology to address the sequelae of historical trauma in Native American communities. 21st century Native America faces significant health and wellness challenges including socio-economic disparities, interpersonal violence, substance abuse, psycho-spiritual distress, and physical health issues (Brave Heart, 2004; Dickerson &amp; Johnson, 2010; Manson, 2000; Manson, Beals, Klein, Croy, &amp; AI-SUPERPFP, 2005; United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). The literature questions the validity of mainstream psychological science to effectively conceptualize and treat Native Americans, and calls for the identification of specific, culturally relevant interventions to increase physical and psychological wellness (Duran, 2006; Manson, 2000; Wendt &amp; Gone, 2011). The concept of historical trauma helps to elucidate the psycho-spiritual distress experienced by many Native Americans, including internalized oppression, as the sequelae of unhealed wounds from 500 years of physical and cultural genocide (Brave Heart, Chase, Elkins, &amp; Altschul, 2011; Duran, 2006; Gone &amp; Alcantara, 2007; Manson, 2000; Struthers &amp; Lowe, 2003; Whitbeck, 2006). Duran, Firehammer, and Gonzalez (2008) suggest a liberation psychology approach may alleviate suffering related to historical trauma. This dissertation further integrates the literature on the historical trauma response with the literature on liberation psychology. Native American wellness goals are identified in the literature of scholars, researchers, practitioners, activists, community members, and allies. Concepts and strategies from a liberation psychology framework are then explored for their potential to help illuminate challenges, address needs, and support goals, in alignment with cultural values and work currently being done in this field. Implications in the areas of epistemology, research, clinical practice, practitioner training, and public acknowledgement are explored in depth, and recommendations for incorporating liberatory strategies in therapeutic interventions are made. This dissertation also identifies its own theoretical and methodological limitations, and proposes areas for future investigation. Emerging hypotheses suggest that incorporating liberatory practices in therapeutic work with Native American communities may offer a congruent and compatible pathway to promote psychological well-being in this community.</p>

<p> Two six-week research studies in two different geriatric facilities were conducted on how art making affects the anxiety levels, depression levels, and symptomology of geriatric patients with a diagnosis of COPD. There were 10 participants total between the two studies, all with varying stages of COPD and different symptoms of depression and anxiety.</p><p> The participants attended a one-hour creative arts therapy group once a week for six weeks. During each week, a different art directive was presented with new materials and new themes. Through pre- and post- self assessments each group, research showed how these art materials, discussions, and directives affected their medical and emotional symptoms. Research demonstrated how medical and emotional symptoms are intertwined, often greatly affecting one another. Providing art directives and group support, this study provided ways to observe how affecting one symptoms may possibly benefit other underlying symptoms and even a person's well-being as a whole.</p>

<p> Clinical nursing practice requires intensive education, yet anxiety can interfere with student learning. A gap exists in the nursing literature on how nursing students can manage anxiety during clinical practice. Since the clinical portion of nursing education may be especially anxiety provoking for nursing students, a new teaching strategy has been developed to help reduce anxiety during clinical practice. In this quasi-experimental research study, a new teaching strategy known as mindfulness meditation intermixed with humor was used for four weeks with nursing students to examine whether there was a reduction in anxiety during clinical practice. A sample of 73 male and female junior and senior nursing students from a nursing program at a university in the southern region of the United States completed pretest and posttest questionnaires, which included the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS). One-way ANOVA and correlation analysis were conducted to assess whether gender, race, and age were significantly related to the measures of STAI, MSHS, and MAAS scores. The findings indicated there was a significant reduction in STAI scores when participants were exposed to the new teaching strategy, which indicated a reduction in anxiety levels of junior and senior clinical nursing students. The results also signified a significant increase in the MAAS and MSHS scores, which revealed that participants became more mindful and humorous when exposed to the new teaching strategy. Implications include the use of mindfulness meditation intermixed with humor being implemented by nurse educators as a teaching strategy in clinical nursing courses to help reduce anxiety levels.</p>

<p> Attachment theory has been applied in examining an individual's relationship with God through various research studies. Few research studies, however, have examined a romantic couples' relationship with God and each other as part of a family system. The purpose of this constructivist grounded theory study was to develop a deeper understanding of the relational system of married couples and God. I interviewed nine marital couples from multiple Christian denominations that reported having a strong relationship with each other and a strong relationship with God together. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using constructivist grounded theory techniques presented by Charmaz (2006). I analyzed emergent categories of behaviors, emotions, and cognitions to construct a theory and model of marital couples and their shared relationship with God. I compared and contrasted the results and theory to existing literature on attachment theory as well as theology on kinship covenant to demonstrate a shared attachment to God that reflects a covenant attachment system. Finally, I discuss clinical, pastoral and future research implications. </p>

<p> Having a partner as a part of the military induces a level of great stress. There is an absence of literature focusing on the unique circumstances that Reservist and National Guard soldiers and their families face with deployment. This project aimed to explore the unique challenges of part-time military families, looking specifically into how partners of reservist military and regular military soldiers significantly differ in their description of the deployment experience and relational/marital satisfaction, as well as if deployment experience factors or certain demographic characteristics of partners of soldiers predict reported rates of marital satisfaction. A snowballing method to recruit participants was used in which participants accessed an internet-based survey, which consisted of demographics, deployment information, and contact during deployment, and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). Dyadic adjustment of regular army and reservist partners revealed a minor difference of relational cohesion based on partner's military affiliation. Differences in reported martial satisfaction were also found to be influenced by age and the interaction of age and partner's military affiliation. Partners of regular army soldiers also indicated having a greater number of resources available for support during deployment and utilizing a greater number of methods to maintain contact during deployment. Qualitative analysis of participants' descriptions of challenges and recommendations suggested parenting and childcare to be the most common challenge among regular and reservist components. Partners of regular army soldiers also appeared to frequently specify the need for social supports to be military affiliated. Limitations and contributions of findings are also discussed.</p>