Using social network analysis as a theoretical framework, the current study examined the associations between self-reported egocentric network characteristics and depression among a sample of United States college students. It is important to understand factors related to depression among this population due to the severity of its potential outcomes (e.g., suicide and interpersonal problems at school). Drawing inspiration from a recent study conducted by Christina Falci and Clea McNeely (2009), the current investigation used OLS regression to test for both linear and curvilinear relationships between egocentric network size and depression. Potential interactions between network size, density, and gender were also explored. As an additional line of inquiry, this project examined whether or not (and to what extent) perceptions of reciprocity mediate the relationships between network characteristics and depression. Data were collected using an online survey, which was proctored to students enrolled in three large undergraduate sociology courses during the fall 2010 semester. In contrast to findings reported by Falci and McNeely (2009), no significant relationships were observed between network characteristics and mental health. However, support reciprocity was found to be a significant predictor of depression at the multivariate level. Additional research will be necessary in order to confirm (or refute) the results of Falci and McNeely (2009) and to further assess the mediating effects of perceived equity.

Women with breast cancer commonly experience depression. However, this condition often goes unrecognized, undertreated, and understudied, especially in ethnic minorities. If left untreated, co-existing depression in women with cancer can complicate cancer treatment, lead to poor treatment adherence for both conditions, and decrease survival. These negative consequences are considerably higher among Latinas. With the growing number of Latinos and diversity within the Latino community, the literature has identified the need to disaggregate Latinos by region of origin. Unfortunately, few studies account for these differences and no study to date has examined risk factors of depression among Latinas diagnosed with breast cancer within 5 years or by region of origin. To begin exploring predictors of depression among Latina breast cancer survivors, a theory-driven mixed-methods approach was used to identify potential risk factors for depression as a group and by region of origin (e.g., South and Central America, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries). This study also sought to contextualize Latina breast cancer survivors' perceptions of risk factors of depression, necessary to shape culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions and programs. The guiding theoretical framework for this study was Lazarus and Folkman's Cognitive Stress Theory and McLeroy and colleagues' Ecological Model for Health Promotion. Sixty-eight Latinas meeting eligibility criteria were recruited from Latino cancer support groups and other community organizations in the West Central Florida area. Both purposive and snowball-sampling procedures were used to recruit participants. A researcher-administered closed-ended questionnaire, followed by a semi-structured interview addressed research aims and the primary outcome variable. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviations, frequency, percent), bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were completed using IBM SPSS V20. Thematic and content analyses were completed for qualitative data using Atlas.ti 6.2. Findings revealed the need for easily accessible, culturally and linguistically appropriate psychosocial services to help women adjust to cancer diagnosis and emphasized the need to disaggregate Latinos in future studies as findings may differ by Latino region of origin. Multivariate analyses showed appraisal variables (more perceived harm, more perceived threat, less perceived challenge - overcoming cancer), coping variables (less active coping and more self-blame), and poor body image to be significantly associated with an increased risk for the likelihood of depression. Appraisal variables accounted for greatest explained variance (36%). Risk factor differences by region of origin were observed in sub-group multivariate analyses, but this study was unable to conclude if risk factors play a different role by region of origin in a combined model. Twenty-two salient themes emerged from the thematic analyses of the qualitative data on all levels of the ecological model (e.g., acceptance of illness, lack of family and peer support, lack of access to care, language barriers). Content analyses demonstrated agreement on a majority of salient themes amongst groups (presence of depression symptoms and by region of origin) about the perceptions of risk factors for depression. "Helping oneself" and "discrimination" demonstrated significant difference in terms of the frequency these themes were discussed by presence of depression symptoms and "poor body-image" by region of origin. In conclusion, data from this study provided quantitative and qualitative data of potential risk factors of depression, which in turn can be used to conduct additional epidemiological studies to examine prognostic factors longitudinally. Study findings may also contribute to the existing literature of risk factors for depression to encourage future intervention and programs to reduce mental health disparities, to raise the awareness of the need for mental health services, and to inform mental health screening guidelines.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is thought to be characterized by emotion regulation deficits, including decreased use of adaptive strategies such as reappraisal, but little is known about the exact nature of these deficits and whether or not they are specific to the depressed mood state. The late positive potential (LPP) is a sustained positive deflection of the event-related potential (ERP) associated with responding to emotionally-valenced stimuli, and reappraisal strategies have been found to reduce LPP magnitude in response to emotional stimuli in healthy individuals, but this effect has not been examined in MDD. This study utilized ERPs to examine emotional reactivity to positive and negative pictures during passive viewing and a reappraisal condition in a sample 25 of individuals with current MDD, 26 with remitted depression (RMD), and 26 healthy controls. The LPP was greater for passive viewing of positive and negative relative to neutral pictures in all groups, with no significant group findings emerging. For positive pictures, all groups showed reduced LPP's for positive reappraisal relative to passive viewing with no group by condition interactions. For negative pictures, both the MDD and RMD groups exhibited abnormalities, with the MDD group failing to show a reduction in LPP for reappraised pictures relative to passive viewing and the RMD group demonstrating an unexpected increase in LPP magnitude for reappraised negative pictures. The LPP for emotional pictures and reappraisal instructions may reveal deficits in emotional reactivity and regulation among mood-disordered individuals, particularly for negative stimuli, and may suggest targets for clinical intervention.

Traditional college students are members of an age bracket noted for high levels of risky behavior, and research has shown that certain risky behaviors, such as disordered eating and problematic alcohol use, are particularly common among undergraduates. It is well established that certain events in the learning history predispose vulnerable persons to engage in maladaptive risky behaviors. What is less clear is why some persons facing these events go on to develop maladaptive behavior while others do not, or why people facing similar events develop different varieties of maladaptive behaviors. Current research has focused extensively on risk factors that are common across dysregulated behaviors (e.g., affect dysregulation, impulsivity, etc.); however, few studies have yet explored which risk factors differentiate risk for different maladaptive behaviors. Likely, certain mediating factors, such as beliefs about one's capability to tolerate the aversive aspects of a specific behavior, may differentiate groups at-risk for engaging in different maladaptive behaviors. Being able to determine specific risk factors for maladaptive behaviors would have obvious predictive value for targeted prevention and intervention efforts. Nevertheless, current research in the fields of risky behavior has relatively neglected the exploration of these specific risk factors, leading to theoretical, measurement, and application gaps in the literatures surrounding these problematic areas. This study aspires to address some of those gaps, by extending the construct of acquired capability (i.e., the role of exposure and habituation to certain events in the learning history that predict the development of the ability to engage in risky behaviors despite emotional or physical discomfort) from the field of self-harm to other risky behaviors. Acquired capability as a differentially-specific risk factor has been widely validated in the field of self-harm, but has been relatively unexplored in the fields of disordered eating and problematic alcohol. As such, this study aims to develop a measure of acquired capability for disordered eating and problematic alcohol use, then validate this measure by exploring associations between acquired capability-enhancing events in the learning history, acquired capability-related beliefs, and actual risk behaviors, over and above the contributions of other common risk factors (e.g., affect dysregulation, sensation seeking) in a sample of female college undergraduates.

ABSTRACT Sexual issues are common among the general population; therefore it is likely that clients suffer with them whether or not they are presenting issues. Because unresolved sexual issues may contribute to harm, counselors have an ethical obligation to ensure these issues are addressed during therapy. Yet, many fail to do so for a variety of reasons. Because clinical supervisors are in a unique position to nurture and mentor novice counselors, their influence is salient to this issue. Although some research has been done to address this issue, results are inconclusive and somewhat contradictory. This study attempts to fill in the missing data and to address some of the discrepancies by exploring how counselors perceive addressing sexual issues, identifying some of the influencing factors that allow this issue to persist, and exploring how clinical supervisors can be supportive. Sixty-three mental health professionals from the state of Florida participated in a survey where they were asked about both their experiences as clinicians and as interns under supervision. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected, and descriptive statistics, as well as chi-square test of independence were calculated. The degree to which counselors reported being very comfortable with addressing clients' sexual issues did not align with the reported frequency of initiation of the topic nor the reported levels of discomfort on specific sexual topics. Comfort levels related to discussing sexual issues were found to be positively associated with frequency of initiation, and in couples cases, female counselors raised the topic significantly more often than male counselors. Other findings are analyzed and discussed, conclusions are drawn, and recommendations for future study and implications for the field are included.

Broadly, the purpose of this study was to address the gaps in the knowledge base of caregiver strain through an examination of this and other theoretically related constructs in a sample of parents of high-risk youth. In the last two decades, a growing body of research has pointed to the significance of strain that can result from this caregiving experience, particularly as it relates to patterns of mental health services utilization. Despite the fact that the majority of children who receive mental health receive them from the school, few studies have examined caregiver strain in the context of school-based mental health services or with caregivers of youth in special education for Emotional Disturbance (ED). Additionally, while the Modified Double ABCX Model of family stress and coping has been identified as a useful model to understand caregiver strain and its related constructs, questions remain about how all of the components of this model work together to influence caregiver strain and the mechanism by which caregiver strain influences youth mental health service use and parent engagement in services. The specific aims of this study were to: (1) explore the construct of caregiver strain and its relationship with theoretically related constructs in caregivers of youth in special education for ED, and (2) examine the factors, including caregiver strain, that predict school-based mental health services utilization and parent engagement in services. Secondary analyses were conducted using data collected as part of a randomized controlled trial of a parent support intervention for caregivers of youth in special education for ED. Participants included 112 caregivers and you their youth recruited from 22 schools and special education centers. Data were provided by caregivers and school-based mental health service providers. Caregivers completed phone interviews conducted upon entry into the study and again approximately nine months later. These semi-structured interviews included measures of youth functioning, caregiver strain, and caregivers’ perceptions related to their child’s problems and engagement in services. School-based mental health service providers supplied data related to the amount of school-based mental health counseling services received by youth and whether caregivers consulted with service providers during the study period. Data were analyzed using a variety of quantitative methods, including descriptive statistics, dependent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), multiple linear regression, and multiple logistic regression. Results revealed that caregivers reported the highest levels of subjective-internalizing strain, and that the level of three types of caregiver strain decreased from time 1 to time 2. Additionally, caregivers of males tended to report higher levels of strain than caregivers of females, and parents tended to report higher levels of strain than other caregivers. Consistent with previous studies, non-Hispanic Black caregivers tended to report the lowest levels of caregiver strain compared to all other racial/ethnic groups. Findings from SEM analyses revealed that following slight modifications to the originally hypothesized model, the model tested fit the data well and all of the paths included in the model (other than those related to race/ethnicity) had statistically significant parameter estimates. Findings from the multiple linear regression analyses revealed that collectively the predictors included in the model accounted for only a small percentage of the variance in the outcome (11.9%), and none of the predictors included in the regression model significantly predicted the amount of school-based counseling received by students. Results from the multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that only youth gender and youth conduct problems were significant predictors of the outcome; caregivers of male youth and caregivers of youth with more conduct problems were less likely than caregivers of female youth and caregivers of youth with fewer conduct problems, respectively, to have consulted with their child’s school-based mental health services provider during the school year. Collectively, findings from this study demonstrate that caregivers of youth in special education for ED experience caregiver strain to a similar degree as caregivers of youth receiving services through mental health systems. Further, findings provide evidence for the usefulness of the Modified Double ABCX Model in studying and understanding caregiver strain in this population. While findings from this study provide support for the relationships among the constructs of this model, findings from this study also suggest that this model may not hold up in terms of predicting the amount of school-based services received by youth or the likelihood of parent engagement with their child’s school-based mental health service provider. Additional research is needed that includes a more complete representation of the constructs of this model to determine if this model holds for school-based service use and engagement.

This non-experimental, quantitative study explored the effects of the Buddhist-derived practices of mindfulness and loving-kindness meditations on the wellness of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people. LGB people are at higher risk of mental illness and increased social isolation due to minority stress; Buddhist-derived mindfulness practices mediate these effects in other groups. Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model of stress and coping was the theoretical model explaining how positive cognitive appraisal induced by meditation can mediate effects of stress. This study examined whether mental health scores on the Emotional Symptoms Checklist (ESC), social attitudes measured on the Unjust World Views Scale, and self-perception measured by the Remoralization Scale improved individually and collectively after LGB participants engaged in 1 of 3 meditation conditions: mindfulness practice, loving-kindness practice, or a relaxation control group. ANOVA analyses revealed no significant improvements in participants' scores on the 3 measures as a result of either one of the meditation conditions or the control group. An unexpected finding emerged between participants who reported a history of depression and those who did not; ESC scores among those with depression significantly improved after the meditation or relaxation interlude regardless of group assignment, possibly due to disruption of ruminative thought processes. Future studies could build upon this study by training participants to meditate using more interactive means than online videos used here. The mental health needs of LGB people remain urgent, and further explorations of promising techniques such as mindfulness are the foundation of future social change.

A dual-factor model of psychological functioning examines the presence of wellness (i.e., subjective well-being; SWB) and psychopathology (i.e., internalizing and externalizing behavior problems) in explaining youth mental health functioning. Using a dual-factor model, previous research has yielded four unique groups of elementary and middle school youth as well as college-age adults with distinct levels of wellness and psychopathology. The present empirical investigation included valid data from 500 adolescents from two high schools (grades 9 to 11). This exploratory study produced four groups of students with unique mental health profiles aligned with previous studies investigating the dual-factor model. Tukey-Kramer comparisons determined that among groups classified as having elevated symptoms of psychopathology, those that also report high levels of SWB (i.e., symptomatic but content youth) are more likely to be rated as having externalizing problems, and those with low levels of SWB (i.e., troubled youth) are more likely to report symptoms of internalizing problems. Evaluation of group differences on positive mental health indicators suggest that differences between groups with elevated SWB versus low SWB were due to differences in life satisfaction and negative affect. Tukey-Kramer comparisons indicated that youth with complete mental health reported optimal functioning in terms SWB. Youth identified as having low levels of SWB, appeared to report similarly low levels of life satisfaction and positive affect, but those that also reported elevated levels of psychopathology, particularly internalizing problems, had greater levels of negative affect. Additional findings from this study demonstrate the utility of classifying high school students' mental health according to a dual-factor model. Results of a MANCOVA suggest a significant effect for mental health group membership as yielded from a dual-factor model on students' social-functioning. Follow up ANCOVAs and Tukey-Kramer comparisons suggest that high SWB in tandem with low levels of psychopathology (i.e., complete mental health) is associated with a host of optimal functioning in terms of teacher-rated social skills, perceptions of interpersonal relationships, receipt of social support, reduced likelihood of victimization, and high quality romantic experiences. For youth with psychopathology, average to high levels of SWB (i.e., as in symptomatic but content students), may buffer them from experiencing poor social functioning, particularly in terms of perceived social support, peer victimization, general interpersonal relations, and satisfaction with romantic experiences. Overall results from this study support the presence of dual-factor model in high school students and the importance of assessment of positive and negative indicators in order to effectively gain a comprehensive understanding of adolescents' social functioning.

Vagal tone, a measure of parasympathetic activity via the vagus nerve, is known to be associated with positive emotion because it promotes social engagement and self-soothing behavior. Heart rate variability (HRV), especially high frequency oscillation, is a direct measure of vagal tone, and has been used in previous studies to test the correlation between vagal tone and positive emotion. This study aims to determine if the two major oscillations of heart rate variability, high frequency (HF-HRV) and low frequency (LF-HRV) can predict pro-social behavior, which is classified as giving donations to charities. Baseline LF- and HF-HRV levels were recorded, and compared to how much each participant donated after watching several donation appeals by charities. Results showed there was no significant difference in either LF- or HF-HRV levels between donors and non-donors. A negative correlation was found between both LF and HF-HRV levels and donation behavior, contradicting research that predicts a positive correlation between the two variables. There was no significant effect of gender on donation amount. This research gives insight in to how physiological changes can affect psychological processes, such as emotional expression.

Atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) (also known as second-generation antipsychotics) are the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications for schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, depression and autism. Compared to the typical antipsychotics, AAPs were marketed as reducing adverse side effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms. This resulted in extensive use of AAPs for not only the FDA approved indications but also other conditions that are not approved. However, several post-marketing clinical trials evaluated the use of AAPs and reported serious adverse side effects, including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular events, or death. The extensive use of AAPs by pediatrics is an important policy problem that imposes serious concerns on public health and economy in the US. A large proportion of total pediatric AAP use is off-label in which the safety and effectiveness are not yet established. Moreover, among the off-label conditions for which AAPs were used, ADHD was the most common primary mental diagnosis. From public health perspective, the risk of type II diabetes in pediatric AAP users was estimated. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and a twice higher risk of developing type II diabetes was estimated for AAP users compared to non-users in pediatrics. From economic efficiency perspective, the cost-effectiveness of AAPs compared to other ADHD medications in pediatric ADHD patients was estimated. Among non-stimulant ADHD medication treatment strategies, AAPs resulted in the lower expected health outcome than other ADHD medications. Also, AAPs were not a favored choice with respect to cost-effectiveness. A comparative effectiveness study that compares resource utilization and costs between atypical antipsychotic (AAP) users and non-AAP users in ADHD revealed that AAP users were likely to visit a healthcare facility for outpatient and inpatient services more frequently than non-AAP users. Total health care costs were significantly higher for AAP users with additional costs of $1,393 (2012 dollars) during six months and $2,784 (2012 dollars) during a year after initiating the AAP treatment.