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A study of the Relationships between Psycho-Social factors and Self-Perceived Treatment Regimen Adherence in a New York Metropolitan Community Sample of Black Race Diagnosed with HypertensionMadu, Ednah N. 21 December 2018 (has links)
<p> <b>Background:</b> Hypertension (HTN), also referred to as a silent killer, has been the leading cause of mortality in the world for more than 10 years. Uncontrolled HTN is associated with cardiovascular complications like stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Disparity is noted in hypertension prevalence, blood pressure control, cardiovascular burden and adherence to hypertension treatment regimens, with worse consequences for Blacks/African Americans compared to their racial counterparts. Multiple factors account for these differences and include biological, psychological and socio-cultural issues. Despite the many salient factors identified to be associated with adherence to hypertensive treatment regimens, as well as current strategies in place, high cardiovascular burden from uncontrolled HTN persist in Black communities.</p><p> <b>Purpose:</b> To determine the strongest factors associated with adherence to hypertension treatment regimens among all of the most salient factors identified by prior research, within the context of a community sample of Black/African Americans residing in an urban setting.</p><p> <b>Design:</b> Cross-sectional, correlation design.</p><p> <b>Theoretical Framework:</b> The Biopsychosocial model framework. Data Analysis: Data analysis consisted of descriptive and bivariate analysis of the predictor variables. Significant variables was analyzed using multiple linear regression model to identify the strongest variables predicting adherence. </p><p> <b>Result:</b> Four factors remained significant predictors to adherence in the final regression model: Annual income [$10,000-$20,000 (β= .21, p = .04); annual income $40,001-$80,000 (β = .25, p = .03), Full-time work status (β= -.23 p = .04), Last blood pressure within normal range (β= .19, p = .02) and Depressive symptoms (β = -.20, p = .02).</p><p> <b>Implications:</b> The identification of mainly inter-related psychosocial factors (depressive symptoms, income and employment status) as significant predictors of adherence in this sample has implications for priority psychosocial assessment (depression screening in particular), when rendering care to hypertensive Black/African American patients.</p><p> <i>Keywords:</i> hypertension, hypertension control disparity, Blacks or African Americans, antihypertensive treatment regimens, adherence </p><p>
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Cognitive Changes Across the Menopause Transition: A Longitudinal Evaluation of the Impact of Age and Ovarian Status on Spatial MemoryJanuary 2015 (has links)
abstract: Aging and the menopause transition are both intricately linked to cognitive changes
during mid-life and beyond. Clinical literature suggests the age at menopause onset can differentially impact cognitive status later in life. Yet, little is known about the relationship between behavioral and brain changes that occur during the transitional stage into the post-menopausal state. Much of the pre-clinical work evaluating an animal model of menopause involves ovariectomy in rodents; however, ovariectomy results in an abrupt loss of circulating hormones and ovarian tissue, limiting the ability to evaluate gradual follicular depletion. The 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) model simulates transitional menopause in rodents by selectively depleting the immature ovarian follicle reserve and allowing animals to retain their follicle-deplete ovarian tissue, resulting in a profile similar to the majority of menopausal women. Here, Vehicle or VCD treatment was administered to ovary-intact adult and middle-aged Fischer-344 rats to assess the cognitive effects of transitional menopause via VCD-induced follicular depletion over time, as well as to understand potential interactions with age, with VCD treatment beginning at either six or twelve months of age. Results indicated that subjects that experience menopause onset at a younger age had impaired spatial working memory early in the transition to a follicle-deplete state. Moreover, in the mid- and post- menopause time points, VCD-induced follicular depletion amplified an age effect, whereby Middle-Aged VCD-treated animals had poorer spatial working and reference memory performance than Young VCD-treated animals. Correlations suggested that in middle age, animals with higher circulating estrogen levels tended to perform better on spatial memory tasks. Overall, these findings suggest that the age at menopause onset is a critical parameter to consider when evaluating learning and memory across the transition to reproductive senescence. From a translational perspective, this study informs the field with respect to how the age at menopause onset might impact cognition in menopausal women, as well as provides insight into time points to explore for the window of opportunity for hormone therapy during the menopause transition to attenuate age- and menopause- related cognitive decline, and produce healthy brain aging profiles in women who retain their ovaries throughout the lifespan. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2015
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Normalization of Stressors among African American College and Graduate Students| Looking through a Cultural LensButler, Eartha S. 24 April 2018 (has links)
<p> <b>Introduction:</b> Obtaining higher education increases the amount of stressors physically, mentally, and emotionally. College is more than parties, pledging, and freedom from authoritative figures. For many young adults, it is the time to learn independence, responsibility, and roads to success. Today’s students are making life-altering decisions under the influences and pressures of society. Coping with stress is just one of the challenges students will endure while in college. Stressors are often considered normal, and students may not immediately recognize certain stressors as being problematic. They may also fail to identity and differentiate between eustress and distress. </p><p> <b>Purpose:</b> This exploratory study defines the role of stress in coping mechanisms (healthy and unhealthy decision making) as it relates to African American college students’ success (ability to strive academically) at Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWI). <b>Methodology:</b> A mixed method research design was applied to determine the effects of culture on stressors and coping mechanisms of African American college and graduate students at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Florida State University (FSU). The <i> Transactional Model of Stress and Coping</i> framework was utilized to evaluate the processes of coping with stressful events. To ensure rigor and validity, the study was segmented into two phases, qualitative (Phase I) and quantitative (Phase II). Phase I consisted of the primary researcher transcribed 17 interviews. A second researcher reviewed and coded for themes. Phase II consisted of 300 student respondents to the College Student’s Stressful Event Checklist (CSSEC) and the Brief COPE (COPE) surveys. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted for each variable using quantitative software, SPSS Statistics. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to identify new or merging themes bases on the research questions. </p><p> <b>Results:</b> African American college and graduate students perceived both their susceptibility and severity to stress to result in negative outcomes (problems or health issues). The problems were categorized as maladaptive (overeating, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol) and non-maladaptive (prayer, meditation, and exercising) behaviors. The health issues experienced, are listed as the following but not limited to: Unwanted pressure, feeling overwhelmed, tired, embarrassed, and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). As an individuals’ perception of susceptibility and severity increased in regards to demographics so did their level of stress (CSSEC scoring). Although there was almost an even split about culture being an influence, it played a factor in normalizing stress. A positive relationship was discovered between a student’s academic matriculation (classification) and their amount of coping (COPE score). </p><p> <b>Discussion/Conclusion:</b> The findings from phase I were consistent with Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and the importance of evaluating harm, threat, and challenges among African American college students. Students perceived both their susceptibility and severity as high due to the pressures of life and past experiences. Students perceived expressions to stress as maladaptive and non-maladaptive behaviors. Students also responded to adaptation with actual style of coping mechanisms. The findings from phase II shows a positive relationship between an individual’s classification and the amount of coping mechanisms developed. All four hypotheses were accepted. As students matriculate throughout school (classification) they will adopt coping mechanisms. Stressors may also become more common and easier to normalize; however, adaptation will allow for coping mechanisms to augment from other stressful events. Students utilized the revision of goals and spiritualty as a meaning-based coping mechanisms. The cultural lens influences the coping styles of students within their particular way of life, traditions, and beliefs. As a preventative measure, it is essential to seek counseling services that will assist in obtaining effective ways of coping and possibly healing past issues. Further, exploration of stigma and discrimination among those who self-identify as being a racial/ethnicity or gender/sexual identity minorities in both Historically Black College and Universities and Predominantly White Institutions.</p><p>
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A Description of Authentic Leadership in Retail Sales Environments| A Qualitative StudyThackeray, AmberMarie 24 April 2018 (has links)
<p> Contemporary organizational leadership scholars classify the ancient, persisting need to find one's true self as the study of authentic leadership. Authentic leadership scholarship is still very much in its infancy. There have been many calls by leading researchers to study it further in both qualitative and quantitative realms (Walumbwa, Avolio, Gardner, Wernsing, & Peterson, 2008). The current study explores authentic leadership factors qualitatively, as described by leaders and constituents working in a retail sales-based environment. The qualitative methodology of grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) is used in conceptualizing and implementing the research. In-depth interviews we conducted with individuals both in leadership and non-leadership roles. For the purposes of this study the terms "non-leadership role" are operationalized as non-supervisory positions. The data collected for the study center around participants' perceptions of authentic leadership relative to their personal experience within the retail sector. In accordance with grounded theory, these areas are subject to change as the interviews developed. Data was organized in two major themes, relational and instructional, with several sub themes. Data suggested that most behaviors associated with authenticity have to do with self-awareness and that most leaders exhibited a larger sense of awareness, or situational awareness. Further study in this area should be performed to include a more diverse population, detail suggestions are made.</p><p>
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Strangers to the Village| Social Media Use among Displaced Assyrian Christians in Ankawa, IraqGardner, Jeff 05 May 2018 (has links)
<p> This study employs a mixed method, sequential explanatory design strategy, one in which the interpretation of the quantitative data is weighted more heavily than that of the qualitative data, to record social media usage among Assyrian Christian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were held in the Asti 2 IDP camp in Ankawa, Iraq, from 2014 to 2017. Through a quantitative survey instrument and a series of oral interviews, this study explores the social media habits of 315 respondents, paying particular attention to types of social media applications used, attitudes of the IDPs towards the useful of SMA in making the world aware of their plight and resolving their displacement. </p><p>
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Development of a brief rating scale for the formative assessment of positive behaviorsCressey, James M 01 January 2010 (has links)
In order to provide effective social, emotional, and behavioral supports to all students, there is a need for formative assessment tools that can help determine the responsiveness of students to intervention. Schoolwide positive behavior support (SWPBS) is one framework that can provide evidence-based intervention within a 3-tiered model to reach students at all levels of risk. This dissertation begins the process of developing a brief, teacher-completed rating scale, intended to be used with students in grades K-8 for the formative assessment of positive classroom behavior. An item pool of 93 positively worded rating scale items was drawn from or adapted from existing rating scales. Teachers (n = 142) rated the importance of each item to their concept of “positive classroom behavior.” This survey yielded 30 positively worded items for inclusion on the pilot rating scale. The pilot scale was used by teachers to rate students in two samples drawn from general education K-8 classrooms: a universal tier group of randomly selected students (n = 80) and a targeted tier group of students with mild to moderate behavior problems (n = 82). Pilot scale ratings were significantly higher in the universal group than the targeted group by about one standard deviation, with no significant group by gender interaction. Strong results were found for the split-half reliability (.94) and the internal consistency (.98) of the pilot scale. All but two items showed medium to large item-total correlations (> .5). Factor analysis indicated a unidimensional factor structure, with 59.87% of the variance accounted for by a single factor, and high item loadings (> .4) from 26 of the 30 factors. The unidimensional factor structure of the rating scale indicates its promise for potential use as a general outcome measure (GOM), with items reflecting a range of social, emotional, and behavioral competencies. Future research is suggested in order to continue development and revision of the rating scale with a larger, more diverse sample, and to begin exploring its suitability for screening and formative assessment purposes.
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Habit Formation and Its Applications in Medication Compliance Using Tic TacsSmith, Rachel M. 07 May 2021 (has links)
No description available.
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DORSAL RAPHE PROJECTIONS TO THE MESOCORTICOLIMBIC SYSTEM MODULATE CORE ASPECTS OF APPETITIVE LEARNING AND RESPONDINGTapp, Danielle N. 07 July 2021 (has links)
No description available.
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms as a Moderator of Affective Reactions to Perceived Interpersonal BehaviorsSingh, Narayan B. 01 January 2022 (has links)
Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms often struggle with heightened sensitivity and arousal in response to perceived threats. Moreover, interpersonal dysfunction in GAD has become increasingly a focus of empirical investigation and treatment, given the possibility that responses to social interactions may contribute to GAD symptom maintenance. Laboratory studies and cross-sectional trait assessments of interpersonal problems comprise most of our understanding of interpersonal dysfunction in GAD. However, how GAD symptoms interact with perceived interpersonal threats to predict affective responses (increased arousal, lower valence) within daily life remains poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine effects of in vivo social perceptions on state affect, and how GAD symptoms may moderate those relationships. Participants (N = 161) completed baseline measures of trait GAD and depression symptoms (as a covariate). Then participants completed 30 social interaction surveys over the subsequent 10 days. In each survey, participants rated interaction partners’ dominant, cold, and immoral behavior (each conceptualized as interpersonal threats) as well as their own arousal and valence in response to the behavior. Multilevel modeling analyses of between- and within-person effects revealed that mean perceptions of cold and immoral behavior predicted higher arousal and lower valence as hypothesized, whereas mean perceived dominance unexpectedly predicted only lower valence. All within-person fluctuations in social perceptions predicted both higher arousal and lower valence. Regarding the moderating effects, GAD symptoms unexpectedly buffered the effect of average perceived cold behavior on valence and strengthened the effect of average perceived immoral behavior on valence. These results provide a deeper understanding of how social perceptions may contribute to affect in naturalistic interactions, and add to the literature on interpersonal correlates of GAD symptoms.
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A Phenomenological Study of Methamphetamine and Heroin Users’ Arrest ExperiencesBardon, James 01 January 2018 (has links)
The costs in terms of both monetary and human lives lost due to substance abuse in the United States is well documented and it is publicized that it is increasing. There has been a large amount of research completed that has examined methamphetamine users, heroin users, and the drug-crime nexus; however, there is a paucity of research that provides insight into these users’ arrest experiences. Using a phenomenological approach, this research examined methamphetamine and heroin users’ incidents of being arrested to gain a greater understanding of their lived experiences. The analysis was based on interviews that were conducted with five adults that had been regular users of methamphetamine and/or heroin and had been arrested for an offense that was either directly or indirectly a result of their drug use. The results revealed four general themes that indicated: (1) the users felt they were living self-destructive lifestyles at the time of their arrest; (2) they experienced shock and confusion at the time of the arrest and afterwards; (3) interactions with the police were commonplace and they each had mixed experiences dealing with the police; (4) each of the participants expressed directly or indirectly that they needed to be arrested, complete long term confinement, or the possibility of long-term confinement, after a charge to successfully achieve sobriety and positive changes in their lives. These findings were discussed, reviewing evaluations of drug court diversion, incarceration, or the concept of an individual hitting rock-bottom as a prerequisite for lasting positive change and rehabilitation. Future research comparing the success of these post-arrest outcomes is suggested.
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