Mindfulness – nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment - has recently garnered significant attention in psychological literature for decreasing clinical symptoms. Certain personality traits such as emotionality, however, can predict higher levels of anxiety and depression. The present study examines whether mindfulness mediates the relationship between personality traits and perceived stress and depression in nonclinical populations. A total of 321 participants from two samples—American and Japanese undergraduates —self-reported scores on measures of mindfulness, personality, perceived stress and depression. Cross-cultural comparisons following measurement invariance tests also allow for insight into the definition of mindfulness, especially given the Eastern religion origin of mindfulness. Results demonstrate that mindfulness partially mediates the relationships between personality clinical symptoms, particularly for extraversion and conscientiousness. These results can play an important role for developing mindfulness-based treatment and prevention programs and bridge an important gap between Western conceived and Eastern religion mindfulness. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This is the first study to investigate the relationship of perceived stress, religious coping styles, and mental health symptoms in university students within a single, faith- based institution. Students face a variety of stressors that may be directly, indirectly, or not related to the college experience. If these stressors are left unmanaged, there are multiple implications including reduced retention, declines in academic performance, physical health concerns, and mental health symptoms. University personnel are reporting increases in the number and severity of mental health symptoms presented by university students. This study investigated whether religious coping strategies provide a mediating effect on the relationship between stress and mental health symptoms. The sample was comprised of 209 undergraduate students, between the ages of 18-32, from a single faith-based university. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

University attendance includes various activities and experiences that can have a unique impact on psychosocial development and adult health behaviors, and can influence life course outcomes such as short- and long-term health and quality of life. College attendance and health are cyclical and reinforcing factors. Healthier students do better while at college, which allows them to effectively progress through university. College graduation is closely associated with improved health status in later life. In addition, students' personal development as part of their transition to adulthood during college, which includes psychosocial and interpersonal growth, is associated with greater gains in health and personal success in later life. Identifying the factors associated with enhanced health status while in college would ensure that a greater number of the overall population has access to the potential health benefits of progressing through and graduating from an institution of higher education. Because health behaviors can have a significant impact on how well a student progresses through college, as well as future quality of life, colleges and universities should recognize the role health is playing in the student experience. This study explored the connection of how factors such as student sub-group participation, health behaviors, and particular negative experiences affect the health status of college students attending a large, urban, top-tier university. It investigated which students were at an increased risk for negative mental health symptoms and overall lower general health and how students' participation in various groups (student athletes, students who are members of sororities and fraternities, and students who volunteer) is associated with health behavior (alcohol and other drug use, sexual behavior, and sleep), negative experiences (bias/discrimination and interpersonal violence), and health outcomes. In addition, the study analyzed how personal development at college mediates those relationships. This study is based on non-experimental cross-sectional survey data from the National College Health Assessment that was collected in collaboration with the American College Health Association at Columbia University (CU). All enrolled undergraduate students at CU in Columbia College or the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the spring semester of 2009 (n=5708) were invited to participate in the survey, and 31.8% of the sample responded. This research used the Baron and Kenny model to examine the mediation effects of personal development on general health and mental health via a series of bivariate and regression analyses. While the overall general and mental health of respondents was good, particular groups were less likely to report overall excellent or very good general health and more likely to report mental health symptoms. Negative experiences and health behaviors varied significantly between student sub-groups. Health behaviors and negative experiences were predictive of overall general health and mental health symptoms. Sleep, drug use, and experiences of bias/discrimination and interpersonal violence (IPV) were most predictive of health. Personal development was found to partially mediate the relationship between IPV, sleep and overall general health. In addition, personal development was found to partially mediate the relationship between IPV, drug use other than or in addition to marijuana, and sleep and mental health symptoms. The findings from this study suggest that college and university administrators should consider directing resources into targeting particular groups of students for focused health promotion interventions related to specific topics as a method for improving overall general health and reducing mental health symptoms of students. College and university administrators are encouraged to consider the role of personal development as a unique factor in improving student health.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Psychology

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Αυτή η εργασία με θέμα «Οι αντιλήψεις των δασκάλων ως προς την ετοιμότητα τους να αναγνωρίζουν και να αντιμετωπίζουν ζητήματα ψυχικής υγείας των μαθητών» πραγματοποιήθηκε για να μελετήσει, να αναλύσει και να καταγράψει πόσο έτοιμοι, προετοιμασμένοι νιώθουν οι δάσκαλοι που εργάζονται στα σχολεία να αναγνωρίζουν και να αντιμετωπίζουν τις ανησυχίες ψυχικής υγείας που εκδηλώνουν οι μαθητές. Με δεδομένο το γεγονός ότι στο σύγχρονο σχολικό περιβάλλον παρουσιάζονται συνεχώς ποικίλα προβλήματα ψυχικής υγείας από τους μαθητές, έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να αυξάνονται οι αρμοδιότητες και ευθύνες των δασκάλων και να δημιουργείται εντονότερη η ανάγκη για μια πιο συστηματική παροχή βοήθειας στους μαθητές τους αλλά κυρίως προβάλλει επιτακτικότερη η ανάγκη ενίσχυσης της ετοιμότητας, γνώσης/προετοιμασίας των δασκάλων για την έγκαιρη αναγνώριση και την κατάλληλη αντιμετώπιση των δυσκολιών ψυχικής υγείας των παιδιών. Η έρευνα διεξήχθη το σχολικό έτος 2013-2014 με συγκέντρωση ερωτηματολογίων σε δείγμα 193 δασκάλων μονίμων και αναπληρωτών. Από την στατιστική ανάλυση και επεξεργασία των δεδομένων προκύπτουν στοιχεία που αποδεικνύουν διαφορετικά επίπεδα ετοιμότητας, αυτοπεποίθησης των δάσκαλων για τα ποικίλα ζητήματα ψυχικής υγείας και της προετοιμασία τους μέσω της εκπαίδευση τους σχετικά με αυτά. Επίσης από τα αποτελέσματα παρατηρούμε συμφωνία και διαφωνία μεταξύ των απόψεων των συμμετεχόντων για την ετοιμότητα, προετοιμασία και εκπαίδευση τους για τον εντοπισμό και την αποτελεσματική διαχείριση/επίλυση των διαφορετικών προβλημάτων ψυχικής υγείας των μαθητών. Ακόμη δίνονται στοιχεία για το ποιοι παράγοντες (π.χ. φύλο, έτη υπηρεσίας κ.τ.λ.) επηρεάζουν ή όχι, διαφοροποιούν ή όχι τις αντιλήψεις των δασκάλων μεταξύ τους για το υπό μελέτη θέμα μας. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας έρευνας μπορούν να αξιοποιηθούν από τους αρμόδιους φορείς, ώστε να βελτιωθεί η εκπαίδευση των δασκάλων και να τους εφοδιάζει με την κατάλληλη προετοιμασία, ώστε να ανταπεξέλθουν ικανοποιητικά στις σύγχρονες απαιτήσεις του ρόλου τους ως εκπαιδευτικών και στον τομέα ανάπτυξης/στήριξης της ψυχικής ευεξίας των παιδιών. / This study on "Perceptions of teachers regarding their readiness to recognize and treat mental health issues of students” conducted to study, analyze and record how ready they feel prepared teachers who work in schools to recognize and deal with mental health concerns that students exhibit. Given the fact that the modern school environment is constantly varied mental health of students, the effect of that has led to increased powers and responsibilities of teachers and creating a stronger need for a more systematic assistance to students but rather raises the urgent a need enhancing preparedness, knowledge / preparation of teachers for early recognition and appropriate treatment of mental health problems of children The survey was conducted during the school year 2013-2014 with questionnaires concentration in sample 193 permanent teachers and substitutes. From the statistical analysis and processing of data obtained evidence of different levels of readiness, confidence of teachers for a variety of mental health issues and prepare them by educating them about these. Also from the results observed agreement and disagreement between the participants' perceptions of readiness, preparation and training them to identify and effectively manage / resolve differences of mental health of students. Even given of what factors (e.g., gender, years of service, etc.) affect or not, differentiate or not the perceptions of teachers together to study our subject. The results of this research can be used by the responsible bodies in order to improve the training of teachers and to equip them with the proper preparation to cope well in the modern demands of their role as teachers and in development / support mental wellness of children.

The aim of this research was to test a series of theoretical models based on Beck (1967) cognitive diathesis-stress and Kwon and Oei (1994) linear mediational models as well as earlier research findings to determine the best-fitting model to explain the aetiological processes of suicide attempts in Taiwanese people. The participants were patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) recruited from three hospitals in Taiwan. They were used for data analyses in both cross-sectional (main) study and longitudinal (follow-up) study. In addition, a sample of students recruited from three universities in Taiwan was used for data analyses in the generalized study to examine the generalization of the results from clinical depressed patients to nonclinical university students. In the main study, by the application of structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, four initial models were compared using the MDD patients (N = 162). The SEM analyses showed that two interactional models failed to provide an adequate fit to the given data, suggesting that the hypothesis of interaction between dysfunctional attitudes and negative life events in predicting the psychopathology of Taiwanese MDD patients was not supported. The SEM analyses supported two mediational models in terms of goodness-of-fit. Because the two mediational models were very similar, they were combined to form a combined mediational model. The SEM analyses indicated that the combined model provided an adequate fit to the given data. After modifying the model to improve its goodness-of-fit, the final modified combined mediational model was selected as the most appropriate in representing the data of Taiwanese MDD patients. The final model revealed that dysfunctional attitudes mediated the relationship between negative life events and depressive hopelessness, which in turn increased depression, which then precipitated suicidal ideation, which finally resulted in suicide attempts. In addition, it was found that negative life events exerted direct influences on depressive hopelessness and suicide attempts; sex and age exerted direct influences on negative life events. However, social support buffered the impact of negative life stress on dysfunctional attitudes and compliance with medications prevented the development of depression. In the follow-up study, the final modified combined mediational model was validated and reexamined with two-wave panel data gathered from the same population of Taiwanese MDD patients who participated in assessments twice, separated by a six-month interval (N = 142). The SEM analyses showed that the model provided an adequate fit to the two-wave panel data, suggesting that the model can be applied for predicting suicide attempts over six months in Taiwanese MDD patients. In the generalized study, the findings obtained from the MDD patients were replicated in a sample of Taiwanese university students (N = 324). Results revealed that the final modified combined mediational model failed to fit the given data. The result suggests that the most appropriate model for Taiwanese MDD patients can not be generalized to Taiwanese students. Some cautions and limitations should be noted. First, the models obtained from clinical and nonclinical people in Taiwan should not be directly generalized to people outside Taiwan. Further research using clinical and nonclinical samples from other countries to cross-validate the models was suggested. In addition, the researcher’s interventions during the follow-up period may disturb the relationship between predictor variables and subsequent suicide attempts. However, the problems appear to be unavoidable because of the research ethics of protecting participants from suicidal risk. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1339675 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2008

Medical students experience elevated levels of psychological distress and they are reluctant to seek professional help for mental health problems. They are also reticent to notify authorities about colleagues experiencing psychological distress. Yet, young people are more likely to seek help from peers than from any other source and we know very little about the help that these peers provide to their distressed colleagues. The current research explored medical students’ approaches to colleagues experiencing psychological distress: firstly, to determine whether they notice the distress of colleagues; secondly, to explore what determines consideration to intervene and help colleagues; and thirdly, the range of helping behaviours provided. Comparisons were made with students from other professional tertiary disciplines. Students from all six years of an undergraduate medical course were compared with convenience samples from Psychology, Law and Mechanical Engineering at The University of Adelaide. Students were recruited for one of three studies which employed a variety of measures, including the Kessler Measure of Psychological Distress (K10), a Retrospective Helping Behaviour Instrument (RHBI) and a Hypothetical Helping Behaviour Instrument (HHBI). Psychological distress (as determined by the K10) among the disciplines surveyed (N = 949) was 4.4 times that of age-matched population normative data. Despite this high rate of distress, students consistently rated the distress of their colleagues as significantly lower than the colleagues’ own self ratings. All disciplines were equally inaccurate in detecting the distress of their colleagues. Analysis of hypothetical helping behaviours, in response to a vignette, indicated that medical students offered more help to non-medical students than they did to fellow medical students; however, the quality of help delivered to fellow medical students was superior. Non-medical students offered more help to medical students than they did to students from their own discipline, but the quality of help they offered did not change between the two disciplines. Analysis of the mixed method RHBI indicated that discipline had an effect on the types of help provided to distressed colleagues, the reasons for and for not helping a colleague, and general helping concerns. Three main types of help were provided: social support, academic assistance and therapeutic assistance. Medical students from Year 3 onwards offered a diverse array of helping behaviours, whilst law and mechanical engineering students primarily offered academic support. Help was considered more frequently than it was actually given and reasons for and against providing help were associated with belief or doubt about the benefit of helping, positive or detrimental effects for the helper, the closeness or lack of friendship with the helpee, and confidence to help. This research has improved our understanding of the mechanisms that produce helping behaviour. It has also provided a rich inventory of the type of help offered by the medical students and by other tertiary students. This knowledge is crucial in the development of effective approaches to assisting distressed students, particularly in regards to the theoretical and practical development of peer support programmes. Peer support programmes take into account young peoples’ preferences to speak to peers. Peer support programmes that build on the students’ existing behaviours and resources (those behaviours identified in this research) have an increased chance of acceptance and validity. Such programmes may offer a viable adjunct to formal support services and, more importantly, may have far reaching effects in breaking down the stigma of mental health problems within professions such as Medicine. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2009

Medical students experience elevated levels of psychological distress and they are reluctant to seek professional help for mental health problems. They are also reticent to notify authorities about colleagues experiencing psychological distress. Yet, young people are more likely to seek help from peers than from any other source and we know very little about the help that these peers provide to their distressed colleagues. The current research explored medical students’ approaches to colleagues experiencing psychological distress: firstly, to determine whether they notice the distress of colleagues; secondly, to explore what determines consideration to intervene and help colleagues; and thirdly, the range of helping behaviours provided. Comparisons were made with students from other professional tertiary disciplines. Students from all six years of an undergraduate medical course were compared with convenience samples from Psychology, Law and Mechanical Engineering at The University of Adelaide. Students were recruited for one of three studies which employed a variety of measures, including the Kessler Measure of Psychological Distress (K10), a Retrospective Helping Behaviour Instrument (RHBI) and a Hypothetical Helping Behaviour Instrument (HHBI). Psychological distress (as determined by the K10) among the disciplines surveyed (N = 949) was 4.4 times that of age-matched population normative data. Despite this high rate of distress, students consistently rated the distress of their colleagues as significantly lower than the colleagues’ own self ratings. All disciplines were equally inaccurate in detecting the distress of their colleagues. Analysis of hypothetical helping behaviours, in response to a vignette, indicated that medical students offered more help to non-medical students than they did to fellow medical students; however, the quality of help delivered to fellow medical students was superior. Non-medical students offered more help to medical students than they did to students from their own discipline, but the quality of help they offered did not change between the two disciplines. Analysis of the mixed method RHBI indicated that discipline had an effect on the types of help provided to distressed colleagues, the reasons for and for not helping a colleague, and general helping concerns. Three main types of help were provided: social support, academic assistance and therapeutic assistance. Medical students from Year 3 onwards offered a diverse array of helping behaviours, whilst law and mechanical engineering students primarily offered academic support. Help was considered more frequently than it was actually given and reasons for and against providing help were associated with belief or doubt about the benefit of helping, positive or detrimental effects for the helper, the closeness or lack of friendship with the helpee, and confidence to help. This research has improved our understanding of the mechanisms that produce helping behaviour. It has also provided a rich inventory of the type of help offered by the medical students and by other tertiary students. This knowledge is crucial in the development of effective approaches to assisting distressed students, particularly in regards to the theoretical and practical development of peer support programmes. Peer support programmes take into account young peoples’ preferences to speak to peers. Peer support programmes that build on the students’ existing behaviours and resources (those behaviours identified in this research) have an increased chance of acceptance and validity. Such programmes may offer a viable adjunct to formal support services and, more importantly, may have far reaching effects in breaking down the stigma of mental health problems within professions such as Medicine. / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2009

Differences in college student's psychological well-being, extrapunitiveness, and intropunitiveness were related to the presence or absence of maltreatment during childhood years, and its acknowledgement by the student. Subjects were 56 male and 85 female undergraduate students at the University of North Texas. Subjects were given structural scale v.3 of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI), the Extrapunitive (E), and Intropunitive (I) indices of the Hostility-Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ), and the Physical Punishment scale (PP-scale) of the Assessing Environments Questionnaire (AEIII). Results indicate no significant differences in psychological well-being, extrapunitiveness, or intropunitiveness, which would be explained by the presence of maltreatment or its acknowledgement.