<p> The study investigated the relationship of physical activity (domain, frequency, amount, and intensity) on mental health (depression, stress, and anxiety) in the general population. Two hundred and fifty-three individuals eighteen or older completed either an online or paper survey for the study. Pearson Correlation, T-tests, and multiple regression were used in the data analysis. Results indicated vigorous activity correlated negatively with stress (<i>r</i> = -.16 <i>p</i> &lt; .01) and anxiety, (<i> r</i> = -.15 <i>p</i> &lt; .01). Amount of activity correlated negatively with anxiety, <i>r</i> = -.15 <i>p</i> &lt; .05. Leisure time activity, frequency of activity, and amount of activity were significant predictors of stress among females, R² = .07, <i> p</i> &lt; .05 and anxiety among males, R² = .09, <i> p</i> &lt; .05 (vigorous for men and moderate for female). Males were found to participate in significantly more vigorous leisure activity than females, <i>t</i> = 2.50, <i>p</i> &lt; .01. Given the limited research on factors of physical activity, results of the study offer useful information for future research into the complexities of physical activity and its effects on mental health.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to characterize sexual harassment in public, or &lsquo;eve teasing&rsquo;, in rural India, develop a measurement tool, and to estimate its prevalence and association with common mental disorders (CMD) and suicide ideation (SI) among young women. Mixed methods included focus group discussions, direct observation of questionnaire administration, and both qualitative and quantitative data gathering with a novel questionnaire. Females ages 14&ndash;26 were recruited through purposive sampling in nine villages for the initial pretest (N=89). Using the finalized questionnaire, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a randomized cluster sample of 19 villages and recruited 198 women ages 15-24 using house-to-house probability sampling. Eve teasing was described as staring, stalking, passing comments, or inappropriate physical touch. Most participants perceived significant negative consequences, including tight restrictions on girls&rsquo; mobility, inability to attend school or work, girl&rsquo;s being blamed, and causing family problems. Among those who reported eve teasing victimization, psycho-social responses included feelings of fear (88%), anger (78%), and shame (68%) (N=59). The internal reliability of the questionnaire was high for key measures (Cronbach&rsquo;s alpha: .65 to .84) and principal components analysis suggested two underlying constructs in the eve teasing instrument. Nearly 30% of participants reported ever having been eve teased, 21% screened positive for a CMD, and 27% reported recent suicide ideation (N=198). In multivariate analyses, spending more than 1 hour in public daily was associated with reported eve teasing (OR: 3.1 (CI: 1.26-7.49) p=0.016). The odds of screening positive for CMD were significantly higher if eve teased, but only among participants who reported adverse childhood events (ACEs) (OR: 4.5 (CI: 1.18-11.43) p=0.003). Eve teasing was significantly associated with SI among participants who reported ACEs when CMD were included in the model (OR: 3.1 (CI: 1.119-8.472) p=0.032). This is the first study, to our knowledge, to assess the association between eve teasing victimization and mental health outcomes in a community setting. We found that eve teasing may negatively impact the mental health of young women, especially victims of child abuse, and offer a reliable and valid questionnaire for future research.</p>

Records of 667 of 1242 Western Massachusetts Department of Mental Health clients, meeting age and diagnostic criteria established for the study, were analyzed for their use of inpatient and community mental health services. Clients from four geographic areas were compared on the dependent variables: admissions and inpatient days per year, before and after the initiation of community mental health services. Socio-demographic and clinical variables, as well as the utilization of community mental health services also were measured for each individual. Dramatic reductions in the utilization of inpatient care were demonstrated, with admissions per year decreasing by 56%, from 1.40 to.61; and inpatient days per year decreasing by 80% from 128 to 28. Increased admissions were related to increased use of outpatient care, medication services, diagnosis of Major Mood Disorders, shorter total duration in the mental health system, fewer inpatient days prior to community mental health services and increased inpatient days after community mental health services. Increased inpatient days were associated with increases in education, total years in the mental health system, years in community mental health services, admissions prior to community mental health services, and decreased use of outpatient therapy. Decreased admissions were related to increases in the use of inpatient days prior to community mental health services. Decreased inpatient days were associated with the use of staffed residential, day treatment, and other day programs, as well as increased admissions prior to community mental health services, and years in the mental health system. The use of community mental health services in predicting decreased inpatient utilization improved the R$\sp2$ by 16.7%. There were no differences in patterns of inpatient utilization among catchment areas after initiating community services, although differences existed in mix and availability of services, as well as resources. The availability of selective community services were related to inpatient utilization. It is suggested that there may be a threshold of service availability beyond which additional resources, although they may contribute to the quality or diversity of opportunities, do not impact inpatient utilization. These findings suggest that the paradigm for future research must included service variables in the predictive models.

<p> Individuals diagnosed with dementia make up the majority of the population in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are the primary caretakers of older adults living in SNFs. The purpose of this grant project was to write a proposal for funding to provide Person-Centered Care (PCC) training to help CNAs enhance their skills to better enhance the quality of life of older adults living with dementia in SNFs. </p><p> The goal of PCC training is to help CNAs better understand the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer&rsquo;s and dementia, improve communication skills, and provide strategies to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Previous research on PCC has found it to be effective in improving the quality of care of older adults who are affected by dementia and who are living in nursing homes. </p><p> Actual submission or funding of the grant was not required for the successful completion of this project.</p>

<p> This research explores the cultural, sociopolitical, biological, and psychological aspects of spanking. Utilizing a hermeneutic methodology, it reviews the language used around spanking, such as abuse, trauma, violence, corporal punishment, maltreatment, adverse childhood experiences, interpersonal victimization, and discipline; its history in indigenous and post-Columbian America; and empirical findings about its effects on mental health. It concludes with suggestions as to how to use this information clinically, noting perspectives on treating intergenerational transmission of trauma and the ethical duties of mental health practitioners to advocate against abuse.</p>

<p> Drug injection is an increasingly important risk factor in the transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of social network factors on HCV and HIV. The study was grounded in social network theory and sought to determine whether social network characteristics affect high-risk sexual and drug injection behavior as well as self-reported HIV and HCV status. The study design was a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A total of 181 participants in a needle exchange program completed a survey in Spanish assessing individual drug and sex risk practices as well as gathering information to describe the characteristics of participants&rsquo; personal networks from an egocentric perspective. General estimating equation techniques were used to analyze the data. Results showed that only social network size was related to risky sexual behavior. Injecting risk behaviors were only impacted by personal network exposures, measured by the average number of years network members had injected. HIV self-reported serum status was correlated with trust, closeness, and number of family members named among the closest 5 network members. Last, HCV self-reported serum status was only related to the years that network members had been injecting drugs. This study has implications for positive social change in that public health practitioners may gain a better understanding of the social network characteristics associated with high-risk behaviors of those infected with HCV and HIV in order to develop health promotion programs to lower infections and mortality.</p>

<p> Instagram (IG) is a social media application that allows users to upload personal images in a public forum by including a searchable link (e.g. hashtag) along with a posted image. An IG community devoted to a pro-recovery (i.e., #anarecovery) perspective on eating disorders (EDs) stands alongside the pro-ana lifestyle IG community (i.e., #ana). Research has yet to examine the nature of visual representations associated with pro-ana and pro-recovery social media imagery and moreover, not much empirical attention has been given to the nature of this content on IG. Thus, the first aim of this qualitative content analysis was to examine how the underlying theoretical constructs of objectified body consciousness (OBC) and positive body image (PBI) were represented among #ana and #anarecovery content. A second aim was to compare the frequency of the themes present for #ana versus #anarecovery images. A coding guide was developed and high levels of interrater reliability were established for the primary codes (kappa &ge; .80). One hundred and fifty IG images each from #ana and #anarecovery were systematically coded. Within- and between-hashtag comparisons of images were performed using frequency counts and chi-square analyses. Within #ana images, the theme of body shame (62.7%) was more frequently depicted relative to body surveillance (22%) and appearance control (22%) themes. Within #anarecovery images, the theme of body protection was most prevalent (67.3%) followed by body functionality (38.7%) and body acceptance (11.3%) themes. All three OBC themes were more likely to be present in #ana images. Conversely, PBI themes of body protection and body functionality were more frequently represented in the #anarecovery images. The frequency of body acceptance themes did not differentiate the images sampled from both hashtags. This research calls for more expanded and distinguished definitions of the constructs that comprise the continuum of PBI. Findings also suggest how the lack of distinction in the frequency of body acceptance observed between the two hashtags may be clinically relevant for exploring potential risk factors that persist in the process of ED recovery.</p>

<p>The purpose of the study is to conduct research and bring awareness to war related events experienced by female refugees. Refugees from war torn countries arrive to the United States with various forms of trauma&mdash;some war related and others not. Trauma experienced by refugees can significantly impact their mental health and overall quality of life. Reliable and valid screenings/interventions, that use quantitative and qualitative methods, have proven to be beneficial. Currently there is limited information regarding the range of war related trauma and health outcomes experienced by female refugees of Middle Eastern (Kurdish) and Asian (Vietnamese) descent. This study examines the difference in migration, employment, education, health insurance, mental health, and personal problems experienced by 60 Vietnamese and 44 Iraqi women. An exploratory, qualitative and quantitative, research design was employed to detect war related, traumatic events. The ultimate aim of the study was to focus on the cross-cultural impact of war related trauma and its mental health and overall effects on female refugees. </p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Syracuse University, 2005. / "Publication number AAT 3194020."

<p> This study explored the perceived effects of microaggressions on Peer Support Specialists (PSS). Although some research exists on the perceived effects of microaggression on individuals with lived experience of mental illness, known culturally as a marginalized group (Sue, 2010); none exists on PSS. The mental health movement began in the early 1900&rsquo;s, which later evolved into mental health recovery and psychiatric rehabilitation. This movement brought forth the development of psychopharmacology, supportive services, and mental health programs. During the early phases of mental health recovery and treatment, individuals with lived experience of mental illness were utilized as peers and eventually as peer support specialists, or liaisons. Peer support specialists (PSS) provide an invaluable resource to individuals struggling with mental illness, as the literature supports. Despite strides towards societal acceptance, individuals with mental illness, continue to experience discrimination, stigma and microaggressions. Research on historical trauma, although beyond the scope of this research will be reviewed to provide an understanding of how microaggressions are passed on and additionally a narrative review of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), aimed to contribute to the understanding of the history of trauma, engagement, and recovery. This research qualitatively explored the experience of sixteen participants who are PSS and in active recovery of mental illness. Semi structured focus group interviews revealed five major themes: Category 1&ndash;Microinvalidation: (1.1) Invalidation; (1.2) Second Class Citizen; Category 2&ndash;Resilience: (2.1) Advocacy; (2.2) Belonginess; (2.3) Perseverance.</p><p>