• Refine Query
  • Source
  • Publication year
  • to
  • Language
  • 81
  • 28
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • Tagged with
  • 150
  • 71
  • 58
  • 19
  • 17
  • 17
  • 16
  • 15
  • 15
  • 15
  • 14
  • 13
  • 13
  • 12
  • 12
  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
41

Why do people worry and ruminate? : investigating factors that maintain repetitive negative thought

Kingston, Rosemary Emeline Fluellen January 2013 (has links)
The overarching aim of this research was to understand factors implicated in the maintenance of rumination and worry, conceptualised as a transdiagnostic process of repetitive negative thought (RNT), through the use of cross-sectional, prospective, and experimental research designs. Rumination and worry have been repeatedly implicated in the development and maintenance of various forms of psychopathology, in particular, depression and anxiety disorders. Given the negative outcomes for mood and psychopathology, there is a need for a better understanding of vulnerability factors that maintain this unconstructive thinking. Based on a review of the literature, an integrative theoretical model was developed and tested using structural equation modelling. Using cross-sectional data, the model was tested in a large sample of adults (n = 506). Of the broad range of proximal and distal vulnerability factors examined, only neuroticism and beliefs about the function of repetitive thought remained significantly associated with RNT once current symptoms were statistically controlled. Emotional abuse and abstract processing were indirectly associated with RNT. Following on from this, a prospective study examined which of these vulnerability factors prospectively predicted change in RNT over six to eight weeks. Only neuroticism and the specific belief that repetitive thought aids instrumental understanding predicted change in RNT, after controlling for depression and anxiety symptoms. Next, two experimental studies were conducted to explore the causal relationship between RNT and the belief that RNT aids insight and understanding, by experimentally manipulating this appraisal and measuring the impact on state RNT. Whilst methodological issues with the first experimental study precluded clear conclusions being drawn about the nature of the relationship, the second experimental study demonstrated that participants manipulated to believe that RNT is helpful for increasing insight and understanding had greater levels of state RNT after exposure to a stressor, relative to participants manipulated to believe that RNT is unhelpful. Finally, in order to see whether rumination has any consequences that may potentially reinforce its further use, an experimental study was conducted to manipulate processing mode (abstract rumination versus concrete thinking) and examine the effect on a range of outcomes relating to insightfulness and avoidance. Whilst rumination did not lead to increased insight, it did afford more justification for avoidance, relative to concrete thinking. The clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed with respect to existing theories of repetitive negative thought.
42

Transcranial Ultrasound as a Potential Intervention for Depression

Reznik, Samantha Jill January 2016 (has links)
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent and often comorbid disorders that cause significant personal and economic burdens (Lépine, 2001). Because a significant number of people with depression do not respond to therapy (Fava, 2003), the development of alternative treatment methods may lessen the burden of such mental disorders. Recent research has focused on brain stimulation methods, many of which require invasive surgery or have limited precision in targeting specific areas. Transcranial ultrasound (TUS) is an alternative, noninvasive brain stimulation method that has greater spatial precision than existing methods (Tufail, 2011). TUS has been found to excite neurons in animal brains (Tufail et. al, 2010) and increase positive mood in humans (Sanguinetti et al, 2013). The present study examined TUS, for the first time, as a potential mood intervention. Twenty-four college students with mild to moderate depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to TUS stimulation or TUS sham (no power administered). Participants completed one TUS session each day for five days. Although depression scores did not change differentially for TUS/Sham, trait worry decreased in the stimulation but not the sham condition. Additionally, those in the stimulation condition rated themselves significantly less tense ten minutes after stimulation compared to those in the sham condition. TUS stimulation did not impact a brain electrical activity index associated with approach motivation, frontal asymmetry. These results have significant implications for the potential utility of TUS as an intervention for anxiety disorders or worry-related psychopathology, warranting future investigation of implicated brain electrical activity and mood changes.
43

Artful living and the eradication of worry in Søren Kierkegaard's interpretation of Matthew 6:24-34

Warhurst, Paul January 2011 (has links)
Danish thinker Søren Kierkegaard published fourteen discourses, across four collections, on Matthew 6:24-34. The repeated readings of the biblical text, whose themes include the choice between God and mammon, worry, what it means to consider the birds and lilies, and how to seek first the kingdom of God, converge with Kierkegaard's interest in anxiety, despair, worry, subjectivity, indirect communication, choice, the moment, and life before God. Accordingly, the discourses make connections with his larger works, elucidate frequently explored Kierkegaardian themes in recent scholarship, and contribute to his critique of nineteenth-century Copenhagen. Additionally, the collections present an interpretation of each verse and phrase of Matthew's text and, held up against modern Matthew scholarship, they correlate with and contribute to Sermon on the Mount and New Testament studies. Kierkegaard's reading of Matthew also holds implications for the practice of biblical interpretation as it promotes the importance of awareness of sin, interestedness, and appropriation as central to proper reading. His emphasis on Christ as the primary exemplar of Matthew's text adds an additional Christological element to his hermeneutic. Furthermore, the discourses serve as spiritual treatises which provide the reader with theological terminology to help confront the problem of worry and suffering. In light of a human being's distinctiveness as imago Dei, Kierkegaard elucidates ways an individual may respond artfully to the ongoing possibility of worry, a possibility which the discourses connect with Christian anthropology and external labels associated with possessions and status. The Matthew 6 discourses intimate Kierkegaard's sympathy with classic Christian spirituality and, in combination with the cultural-ecclesiastical critique, the creative exegesis, and the in-depth analysis of the cause of and cure for worry, his work emerges as an excellent example of spiritual theology.
44

Hope and Worry among Mothers of Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or Down Syndrome

Ogston, Paula 15 January 2010 (has links)
The present study used quantitative and qualitative methodology to examine mothers’ hope and worry. Participants were recruited via autism and Down syndrome organizations. Two hundred fifty-nine mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (n = 199) and Down syndrome (n = 60) responded to the online questionnaire. Most mothers were white (n = 230); eighty-seven percent were married and their average age was 39.06 years. Findings support previous research suggesting that hope is a protective factor against psychological distress: mothers with higher hope reported lower dispositional worry. Mothers were asked to describe what they worried about when they woke up at night; a thematic analysis of their responses resulted in identification of a number of self-focused and child and family-focused concerns. Results suggest that maternal level of education as well as child’s age, diagnosis and severity of impairment may impact mother’s level of hope and worry.
45

An examination of worry as a mediator of the effect of stress on somatic health and cognition

Quade, Tina 15 August 2016 (has links)
Background: Previous research has demonstrated that chronic stress negatively impacts cognition and overall health. Perseverative cognitions such as worry can hold the physiological response of a stressor in the body (Brosschot, Gerin, & Thayer, 2006). The current study consists of two components: 1) a conceptual replication examining whether worry mediates the effect of stress on somatic health and stress and 2) extension of the model with cognition as the outcome. Methods: This study used data from the second wave of the Midlife in the United States data collection: Project 1 (cross-sectional), Project 2 (daily diary), and Project 3 (cognition). Doing so approximated the time-series requirement of a mediation model and enabled access to the variables of interest. Mediation models were run via PROCESS software with covariates adjusted for at each path. Results: Controlling for age, gender, education, household income, and chronic health conditions, the mediation models revealed mediation of the effect of stress severity on somatic health by worry frequency, duration, and self-identification. Conclusions: Worry may be the process through which the physiological response to stress is prolonged thereby increasing the prevalence of effects on somatic health and cognition. By understanding the nuances of how stress impacts somatic health and cognition, prevention and intervention strategies can be implemented to reduce potential long-term outcomes. / Graduate
46

Perseveration and health: An experimental examination of worry and relaxation on autonomic, endocrine, and immunological processes

Renna, Megan Elizabeth January 2019 (has links)
The field of psychoneuroimmunology seeks to examine the impact of stress and other psychological processes on physical health. While some theories suggest that processes such as worry may have a significant impact on prolonging the physiological stress response and subsequently increasing risk for long-term health issues, to date, this research has not yet thoroughly examined the impact of worry on physical health processes. The current study sought to combine theories from clinical and health psychology to investigate the impact of experimentally-induced worry and relaxation on cortisol, heart rate variability (HRV), and inflammation. Participants (N = 85) were community members from the New York City area. They completed worry and relaxation inductions within the laboratory while HRV was collected continuously. Three blood samples were taken throughout the study to test for inflammation and cortisol. Results indicated changes in HRV, IL-6, and IFN-γ throughout the study conditions that were not moderated by levels of trait worry. HRV, cortisol, and inflammation did not covary throughout the different experimental conditions and changes in cortisol and/or HRV did not temporally precede changes in inflammation throughout the study. Overall, the findings from the current study offer insight into the contrasting impact that worry and relaxation have on physiological biomarkers and highlights important directions for future research in the field of psychoneuroimmunology.
47

The Effects of Repetitive Thought and Construal Level on Alcohol Consumption

Kiselica, Andrew Mark 13 January 2015 (has links)
Repetitive thought, or the recurrent, often cyclical, focus on self-relevant concerns and experiences, is one liability that may be common across internalizing (INT) and externalizing (EXT) disorders. One particular area of interest for examining repetitive thought as a transdiagnostic process is in relation to alcohol use because alcohol abuse and dependence are the most common, and possibly most costly, EXT disorders. This study experimentally induced abstract repetitive thought, concrete repetitive thought, or distraction to test if repetitive thought and construal level have an effect on drinking behavior. It was hypothesized that individuals in both repetitive thought conditions would drink more than those in the distraction condition. Second, it was expected that individuals in the abstract condition would drink more than those in the concrete condition. Neither of these hypotheses was supported. Additionally, to assess for evidence of repetitive thought as a transdiagnostic process, the interaction between repetitive thought and INT was examined. If repetitive thought is truly transdiagnostic, then the relationship between repetitive thought and drinking should be stronger for individuals with more internalizing symptoms. Results did not indicate a significant interaction effect. The lack of findings in this study may be due to an ineffective experimental manipulation. Alternatively, they may suggest that repetitive thought does not have an effect on drinking.
48

Worry Domains, Perceived Stress and Social Anxiety Among Tertiary-Level Students in New Zealand

Richards, James Desmond January 2008 (has links)
Contemporary research into the health concerns of students is sparse, particularly in New Zealand. Overseas literature indicates that students in tertiary education institutions may be at increased risks for physical health problems, stress-related syndromes and emotional dysfunctions. Of particular concern are anxiety disorders as, in addition to their negative impact on quality of life, they are associated with impaired academic performance and poorer educational outcomes. Skilled, educated individuals are a social asset and it is therefore surprising that so little interest has been paid to the ways in which involvement with the tertiary education impacts on student welfare and anxiety levels. As a first step towards redressing the lack of health data for tertiary populations, this thesis investigates aspects of anxiety among students at a New Zealand university. The primary research aims were to establish an estimate of the levels of anxiety experienced by students and to outline the requirements of tertiary study that students perceive to be the most anxiety-inducing. To achieve the former, students (n = 1,082) were invited by e-mail to participate in an online psychometric survey; to explore the latter, discussion groups were arranged wherein students (n = 18) were asked to talk about their anxiety-related experiences. Anxiety has many forms and can be conceptualised in a number of different ways. In recognition of the diverse nature of tertiary study, it was decided that a broad framework would be needed to thoroughly investigate the ways in which it might manifest in tertiary student populations. Thus, a tripartite conceptualisation was constructed, viewing anxiety in cognitive, physiological and interpersonal terms. Specifically, the study assessed worry, stress and social anxiety among tertiary students and invited participants to comment on personal experiences in each of these areas. Comparing study data to norms for student populations in America revealed that New Zealand tertiary students report greater levels of worry, stress and social anxiety than their American counterparts. Within-group comparisons were made as a function of student gender, age, school of study, ethnicity and birth status. Significant differences on at least one survey measure were noted within each of these categories, with the exception of school of study. The possible implications of and explanations for these findings are discussed.
49

Var rädd om dig! : Rädsla för brott enligt forskning, intervjupersoner och dagspress / Take care! : Fear of crime in the research literature, interviews and the daily press

Heber, Anita January 2007 (has links)
<p>The object of this project is to investigate people’s fear of crime. By means of three studies, the dissertation illustrates how the fear of crime is understood in Anglo-Saxon and Nordic research, by a group of interview subjects and also how this fear is depicted in Stockholm’s daily press.</p><p>In the research, fear of crime is viewed as an individual problem that is not linked to exposure to crime. Instead the fear is explained by reference to individual factors, situational factors and societal conditions. The views described in the research have changed over time, with inter alia an increasing number of groups being described as experiencing fear.</p><p>The interview study is based on 28 in-depth interviews with persons living in different areas of Stockholm. In summary, the interview subjects are not afraid of crime, and they say they do not think about crime in the course of their daily lives. They may perceive fear in certain situations, in specific locations and when faced with unknown people. These situations are characterised by a lack of control, which tends to be linked to the fear of crime. This fear also appears clearly to be influenced by the media.</p><p>In the press, the fear of crime is not only depicted in relation to public places, but also in the home and at the workplace. The absence of police is described as one of the reasons for this fear. It is also acceptable for men to express a fear of crime in the newspaper articles. The descriptions expressed in the interviews and in the press reflect some of the theories propounded on the risk society. Risk appears to be perceived as separate from fear. A reduction in crime would therefore be likely to lead to a reduction in the risk of exposure to crime, but not always in the fear of crime. This fear may instead probably be reduced by measures that increase people’s sense of control.</p>
50

Idag student, imorgon arbetslös? : Högskolestudenters oro inför eventuell arbetslöshet efter studier

Nilsson, Louise, Granberg, Charlotta January 2009 (has links)
<p>Andelen individer med eftergymnasial utbildning ökar på arbetsmarknaden samtidigt som antalet arbetstillfällen inom vissa akademiska yrken inte ökar i samma takt. Denna studie syftade till att undersöka om förekomsten av oro bland högskolestudenter inför eventuell arbetslöshet hade något samband med självkänsla och kontrollupplevelse. Studien avsåg även att undersöka huruvida tidpunkt för avslutad utbildning och utbildningsinriktning hade någon betydelse för studenternas nivå av oro. En enkätundersökning med 101 deltagare mellan 19 och 59 år genomfördes. Resultatet visade att det fanns en signifikant skillnad i orosnivån mellan studenter när det gällde hur lång tid de hade kvar på sin utbildning. Studenter med längre studietid kvar oroade sig mindre. Denna undersökning kan hjälpa till att belysa studenters oro inför en allt hårdare arbetsmarknad.</p>

Page generated in 0.1012 seconds