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Measuring the Mental Illness Identity
Despite efforts to broaden public perceptions of mental illness, individuals who suffer from mental illnesses continue to experience the negative impact of public stigma. Negative consequences of stigma include its erosive effect on self-evaluation and mental health, particularly among individuals who internalize harmful stereotypes. The proposed research draws from identity and stigma theories to examine mental illness as a stigmatized identity. Identity theorists have traditionally focused on normative or socially acceptable identities; finding that individuals seek consistency between how they view themselves (self-view) and how they think others view them (reflected appraisals). This process, referred to as identity verification, has not been confirmed with stigmatized identities. Stigma scholars focus on non-normative identities such criminals or individuals who suffer from mental illness; however, while these scholars make a case for the negative impact of public perceptions on the self-evaluation of individuals suffering with mental illness, empirical support for this relationship has been mixed. This may be because some individuals use coping strategies to deflect (that’s not me) and/or challenge (that’s not accurate) stigmatizing stereotypes about mental illness. In this study, we use quantitative and qualitative techniques to develop measures for stigmatized self-views and reflected appraisals for the mental illness identity. We then explore the relationship between these identity measures and well-being for individuals with mental illness. Finally, we explore extent to which coping strategies such as deflection and challenging help to reduce the negative impact of stigma.
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The Rise in African American Children Suicide
Suicidal behaviors among Black children has become a growing health concern. Recent statistics reveal that suicide rates among Black children age 5-11 have surpassed their white counterparts. Researchers have yet to determine exactly what is causing the spike. For this reason, I have conducted a literature review in hopes of pinpointing potential causes for the spike. During my presentation, I will discuss 1) suicide trends for black children in the United States, 2) apparent risk factors for suicide among Black children, and 3) demographic themes in recent cases of suicide deaths. The purpose of this literature review is to fill a gap in the literature regarding the implications for a spike in suicide amongst black adolescent youth. Implications of this literature will help to create initiatives more culturally effective for African American youths.
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Is This Lady Like? Portrayals of Single, Career Based Women’s Relationship With Food in American Sitcoms.Exposure to popular culture is an important dimension of gender role socialization. The literature shows that there are specific gender norms that are reflected in the way individuals of a gender consumes, chooses, and thinks about food (Counihan, 1992, Oakes and Slotterbeck, 2005). In this paper, we report the results of a content analysis of six popular and influential American television situation comedies depicting a single, working woman. We are interested in the main character and the supporting cast’s eating habits and attitudes toward food. We are also interested in how the female protagonists eating habits and relationship with food changes between the first major TV sitcom starring an employed single woman, That Girl in 1966, and the most recent TV sitcom in our sample, The Mindy Project. Our findings indicate a paucity of food in TV programs portraying single working women, especially in more recent programs. Women are rarely shown eating, and when they do eat, they are shown consuming “feminine foods” such as salads. We observe a change in the portrayal of women’s domestic roles, with a gradual shedding of any domestic roles or skills in more recent programs and an emphasis on role reversal, with men depicted as more skilled in cooking and self-care. We contribute to the literature on the portrayal of women in popular culture and add a new focus by using the lens of eating and domestic roles in TV sitcoms to study gender roles. |
Physician Communication of Terminal Prognosis and Patient Satisfaction
Clear communication between health care providers and their patients is seen as “best practice” in medicine, especially for patients facing serious, life limiting illness. The purpose of this study is to understand how hospice patients and their family members perceive the quality of their communication with care providers when discussing diagnosis, prognosis, and care planning. Data are drawn from in-depth interviews with a sample of hospice patients (n=20) and family members involved in care (n=37). Findings suggest that the majority of patients feel very positive about hospice care in general. However, patients also indicate that providers generally do not communicate in explicit or clear terms with them about prognosis, leading to confusion about life expectancy. Patients who report that clinicians communicated prognosis in a more direct way are more confidant in care received. Patients also reported physicians that displayed empathy and consideration of patient input about care decisions were perceived as more trustworthy and competent than those that didn’t. We suggest that physician communication skills when giving terminal prognosis may have a significant effect on patient satisfaction and quality of life.
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There is hope and there is help: Reframing messages for families of opioid misusers
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 47,000 Americans died of opioid overdose in 2017, and more than two million Americans live with an addiction to opioids (HEAL Initiative Research Plan, 2019). This epidemic has affected the nation as a whole but hit the states of West Virginia and Ohio the hardest as of 2017 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2019). Due to widespread effects, the opioid epidemic has received considerable media coverage and societal awareness, for example, scholars found that social media and news outlets have covered the epidemic extensively (Russell, Spencer & Thames, 2018). As coverage of the epidemic spreads, messages have reached platforms like social media (Russell, Spencer & Thames, 2018). This leads to affected family members being inundated by messages about opioid misuse. Despite the number of messages affected families encounter, little is known about the efficacy of such messages. In fact, more information exists about the importance of patient-doctor communication (Impact of Communication in Healthcare, 2011). This study seeks to fill this gap in the research by exploring communication elements geared toward family members of opioid misusers. 10 in-depth interviews (5 with family members of opioid misusers and 5 with health care communication specialists) were conducted to understand the current messaging. Five message themes were discovered: reframing the story of addiction, seeking credible media sources, meet face-to-face, educate young children, and target and tailor messages. In this study, I contend that currently there is a lack of messaging available for families and loved ones of opioid misusers and those that exist could be more effective.
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Medicaid Expansion and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Projects
Medicaid was expanded in a number of states under the Affordable Care Act. This expansion changed eligibility requirements to allow for those whose income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), including childless adults, to gain coverage. Prior to expansion, eligibility was more stringent, affecting many individuals experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is a major risk factor contributing to poor health outcomes. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide primary care services for underserved populations such as those in poverty and uninsured, regardless of ability to pay. Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Projects assist those experiencing homelessness specifically. This project is an analysis of how Medicaid expansion has impacted the homeless population by exploring the impact Medicaid expansion had on FQHCs and HCH projects. We used data from the Uniform Data System (UDS) and HCH specific data to describe differences between Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states in terms of patient characteristics, insurance coverage, services provided, clinical data, and cost across the years 2012 through 2018 to determine the impact Medicaid expansion has had on serving the homeless population. This is a preliminary study reporting trends found in these categories.
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SURE Program Collective Efficacy
Over the summer, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Julie Globokar, in which we researched the impact of community youth organizations and crime. During the summer, I spent much of my time researching different youth organizations in cities like North Lawndale and how when communities come together, they can make a difference. We researched how a variety of neighborhood youth organizations, programs and centers can predict adolescent participation in community-based activities. Also, that an influx of community-based organizations lower crime rates and youth exposure to violence. Creating familiarity and common expectations between neighbors, which establishes a baseline for trust and neighborhood norms through social networks that expand community resources like Derek Brown's North Lawndale Boxing program. Youth organizations don’t necessarily stop crime and violence completely, but it engages kids to put their energy towards positive goals, aspiring them to have a brighter future. Think about how helping members of your own community can positively impact your life, as well as, those around you. Volunteering for your local community organizations can make a difference.
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A Rhetorical Analysis of Mary Fisher's "A Whisper of AIDS"Beginning in the early 1980s, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) began to sweep minority populations throughout the United States. During the early years of this crisis, the Reagan presidential administration did little to promote accelerated research to help control and eradicate HIV/AIDS. However, in 1992, Mary Fisher delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention (RNC) to address the stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS and the lack of political action towards the health crisis. This was a significant event, as Fisher spoke as a straight, white woman living with HIV, projecting an image that was not aligned with society’s expected profile of people with HIV/AIDS. Fisher’s address to the RNC became a nationally recognized speech due to her stark contrast in messaging and values compared to the Republican political party at that time. In this paper, I employ neo-Aristotelian and feminist lenses to analyze Fisher’s rhetoric, the political impact of her communication, and the social significance of her speech within the timeline of the HIV/AIDS crisis. This rhetorical analysis addresses themes on countering the stigma of HIV/AIDS, political action before and after the speech, and Fisher’s ethos as an established figure of the Republican party and as a person living with HIV/AIDS. This critique also addresses larger implications for understanding the context for breaking disease stigmas and progressing epidemiological agendas through communication-based strategies within public health initiatives. |
Oral History Project: KSU 50th Anniversary of LGBTQ Studies
Through audio-visual recordings, we are collecting LGBTQ+ oral history from LGBTQ+ Kent State University alumni, faculty, and staff, with a focus on 1) LGBTQ+ activism and 2) being LGBTQ+ at Kent State University. Methodology consists of open-ended interviews conducted in the style of the Oral History Association’s “OHA Principles and Best Practices”, making the interviews less of a questionnaire and more of a guided conversation. Planned topics of discussion include a) biographical information, b) LGBTQ+ activism, c) life at Kent State, d) love and relationships, and e) coming out as LGBTQ+. Subjects were gathered via snowball sampling, with an approximate sample size of 30. The results will be presented as video excerpts and oral presentations that contribute to the growing body of LGBTQ+ oral history research. A video compilation was shown at the KSU theatrical and art event Stonewall +50: The Uprising Continues on March 21-22 2019, and another will be shown at the 50th anniversary of Kent State’s LGBTQ Studies program in 2022. Beyond public viewing all material will be submitted to the LGBTQ archives at the Kent State University Library, documenting and preserving LGBTQ+ experiences for future generations.
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Migratory Effects of SNAP Waiver Status
The “welfare magnet hypothesis” contends that an area offering generous welfare attracts more households to that area seeking to take advantage of its additional benefits. If true, this theory bears significance for policymakers, as more substantial welfare programs could increase the number of individuals on those programs; and, moreover, increase the burden on the area’s budget and taxpayers. We evaluate this theory by analyzing a recent policy change in Ohio, namely the rollback of work requirement waivers for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in many Ohio counties in 2014. As a result of this change, several Ohio counties newly require that households who previously qualified for SNAP work 30 hours a week (with some exemptions) in order to qualify for the program. If the welfare magnet hypothesis applies in this circumstance, we would expect to see households disproportionately migrating to counties that retained the work requirement waiver (and thus did not require beneficiaries to work) than to counties that enforce the restriction. Using household tracking data from a marketing company and supplementary data from the American Community Survey, we evaluate the migration patterns of Ohio households both before and after the policy change. While this research is ongoing, initial findings indicate that the SNAP policy change has little to no effect on migration between counties.
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Africa is Different from Here: A Qualitative Exploration of Newly Resettled Congolese Refugee Women in the United States
The notion of family is highly regarded within the Congolese culture. Unfortunately, on any given day, natives of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are desperately fleeing their own country in search of asylum, often having to leave behind the only family that they have ever known. Over 2,000 refugees from the DRC have resettled in Ohio since 2002. The majority of these refugees are women, many of which have experienced loss of possessions, bouts of trauma, and familial separation in pursuit of a safer life. The aim of this study was to gain knowledge of Congolese women’s cultural beliefs in relation to family which is often times a major source of stress. The qualitative data in this research was gathered via translator-assisted in-depth semi-structured interviews with refugee Congolese women (n=10). After undergoing thematic analysis, three overarching themes emerged: 1) child rearing, 2) living together peacefully, and 3) working and living as one. The findings from this study increased our understanding of the issues faced by Congolese women immigrating to the U.S., specifically to the Midwest region, and identified culture-specific tools to minimize stress and provide better support to Congolese women and their families upon resettlement.
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Technology's Influence on Dating Violence in Emerging Adults
Technology- assisted dating violence is partner isolation via the controlling or monitoring of mobile or online accounts. Through electronic communication technology (ECT), partners can argue with one another, send threatening texts or voicemails, perpetrate emotional or verbal aggression, limit access to friends and family, utilize online emotional violence, humiliate or embarrass a partner, and instigate sexual pressure or unwarranted sexting. The mediums of electronic communication have developed throughout the years, allowing young adults to consume almost eleven hours of media daily. The facilitation of media and technology allow for communication in all stages of a relationship, including the establishment, maintenance, and ending of relationships. A recent study discovered that the most relevant forms of ECT that contribute to technology- assisted dating violence were texting and social networking sites. The research also concluded that females who experienced a continuum of emotionally abusive and controlling behaviors may feel pressured to send sexual images and interpret it as normal. The perceived norms of pressure to send and share sexts may be considered bullying and dating violence. For this project, I will be doing a literature review of a research piece that examines dating violence and electronic communication use in adolescent relationships. The findings of the study concluded the strong, negative effects that technology can have, along with the trends of ECT use in relationships. The research reviewed will help me gain a better understanding of technology’s role in romance.
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You Cool Bro?: Masculinity, Identity and Mental Health
Conformity to traditional masculine gender norms may deter men from seeking help for mental health disparities. Racism, prejudice and everyday stressors negatively impact mental health in black men. Primary non-economic and secondary economic stressors are forms of race related stress that intersect and combine with socio-economic status. Through secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA), my research investigates the associations between traditional masculinity, racial identity, and mental health in African-American males. The NSBA collected data from 659 Black United States citizens 18 years or over. The purpose of this data collection was to provide an appropriate theoretical and empirical approach to concepts, measures, and methods in the study of Black Americans, and developed with input from social scientists, students, and a national advisory panel of Black scholars. The survey investigates neighborhood-community integration, services, crime and community contact, the role of religion and the church, physical and mental health, self-esteem, life satisfaction, employment, the effects of chronic unemployment, the effects of race on the job, interaction with family and friends, racial attitudes, race identity, group stereotypes, and race ideology. Demographic variables include education, marital status, income, employment status, occupation, and political behavior and affiliation. Respondents answered questions about masculinity, their racial identity, and their depressive symptoms. Data will be analyzed and the implications of the findings for African American men’s mental health will be discussed. Understanding these identities and their outcomes for African-American males is important, and findings will inform training for mental health providers.
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Drinking Water from a Fire Hydrant: Stressors and Suicidal Ideation of Pre-Medical Students
Prior research on medical students highlights the stress they encounter while pursuing their professional degree. Little is known, however, about the stressors impacting pre-medical students still in their undergraduate coursework. Using a mixed method study, we seek to understand the experiences of pre-medical students in relation to stress and burnout. By surveying 132 pre-medical students, 28 nontraditional and 104 traditional, we were able to complete a quantitative analysis. Quantitative data show that life satisfaction and self-rated health were greater in nontraditional than general pre-medical students, but generally high for both. Burnout and depression were fairly high in both groups, but lower in nontraditional students. A subset of 23 nontraditional pre-medical students were also interviewed independently. Qualitative findings suggest these students experience stress associated with curriculum, achievement, and lack of time. We argue that understanding pre-medical students’ stressors and suicidal ideation is crucial to preventing future burnout in these students prior to and during medical school.
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Breaking the Brass Ceiling: An Oral History of Professional Women Brass Players
This documentation of pioneer women in brass is critical to write into history because their achievements cultivated a more inclusive professional music world. In their careers, the women in this study became the first to secure what are traditionally considered masculine positions. To collect their oral histories, the four women were interviewed in-person. These pioneer women are Carole Dawn Reinhart, Marie Speziale, Jan Duga, and Laura Lineberger. Each of these women had something that kept them pushing the boundaries and eventually breaking through, for some it was primarily the influence of their parents, for others, it was the joy of brass bands and performing on their instruments. While their stories align in many ways, their experiences differ greatly. Reinhart, one of the most prominent trumpet soloists of her time, was heavily influenced by her mother. Lineberger fell in love with the brass bands and subsequently, she became the first woman to play the euphonium in the United States Army Band. Jan Duga has been the only woman to play tuba for the United States Air Force Band and was heavily influenced by her father, a tuba professor. Speziale was the first woman to play the trumpet for a major symphony orchestra as associate principal. Their interviews give us insight into what it took to break the boundaries in the brass world and how their influence has allowed other women to follow their lead.
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The Period Project
It is our goal to make menstrual products available in every building across campus. Sixty three percent of Kent State students are women, yet there are only 16 dispensers on campus. We are working towards having 73 total. This includes all academic halls and student life buildings including dining halls, the library and the student center. This is an issue on campus because there are plenty of times where women start their periods during class and find themselves without any products. The university should be accountable for making students feel comfortable. If the university did implement more dispensers, it could help students save money, make them feel more confident going to class. This will increase attendance rates and grades, therefore benefiting the overall performance of the university. Kent State is known for its adversity and history and this could be another example for other schools they could set to implement change across the nation. The root causes of this issue are derived from lack of menstrual product dispensers across campus, dispensers being empty and having unpredictable periods. This is an issue because the data is already collected and the project is in motion. Many other campuses have already done this and we need to follow suit and make Kent State just as responsible for accommodating menstruation needs.
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Capitalistic Transparency
Regardless of the number of dollars spent on marketing or cleaning up the past, we know that customers have the final say when it comes to brand image. That is why brand transparency is essential to any successful business of this generation. An issue, however, is that brand transparency is becoming a marketing device for major apparel brands to make them appear more likable and thus, establishing customer’s trust and loyalty. The purpose of our research is to examine apparel brands that label themselves as “transparent”. Recently, the label “transparency” has been clouded with lies and uncertainty by brands who use it in a capitalistic way. Our research aims to clear the air and re-establish the truth in brands that say more than they do. To do so we examined consumers’ understanding of “brand transparency” and how it impacts consumers’ overall perception of the brand’s image. Specifically, we conducted a content analysis of consumer comments in various social media platforms, and also distributed an online survey. Our results suggested that brand image can be easy to build up but difficult to change once the public already associates the company as being trustworthy or not.
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Rates of Self-Reported Depression in Children with Epilepsy
Children with epilepsy have a high prevalence rate of depression and suicidal ideation, making it critical that pediatric healthcare providers are monitoring their patients’ mental health. The Patient Health Questionnaire, or PHQ-9, is used by epileptologists to screen for depression. If scores indicated a minimum total that was reflective of moderate symptoms, patients were referred to pediatric psychologists. We were interested in seeing if our target population reflected the increased prevalence rate shown in the literature. This was measured through the participants’ scores on the PHQ-9. Our hypothesis predicted that epileptologists at Akron Children’s Hospital were refering to pediatric psychology if patients had higher scores that signified more or more severe symptoms.Using this questionnaire, we determined the rate of referral after the first administration and subsequent scores at Akron Children’s Hospital main campus. Using a retrospective chart review study design, statistical analysis found that 14.6% of patients had a score that qualified as moderate depression. Our findings support the hypothesis that those with elevated scores were being referred to mental health treatment. Additionally, patients who followed through on the recommendation for pediatric psychology had subsequent PHQ-9 scores that were lower than the one leading to referral. This suggests that the measure was identifying those who needed intervention and was reflective of progress from those who received treatment. These results support the practice of administering the PHQ-9 in epilepsy patients to track the severity of depression symptoms and refer to pediatric psychology.
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African Americans and Depression
The topic of depression remains highly stigmatized in the Black community. Research shows that African Americans are less likely to seek help from formal outlets and more likely to live undiagnosed with depression. For these reasons, I conducted a literature review in hopes of answering the questions as listed:1) What does the research say about African Americans who suffer from depression? 2) What are the prevalence rates of African Americans who suffer from depression? 3) What are their help-seeking behaviors? 4)What are the perceptions of depression among African Americans? The literature review will help to reveal what is still missing in the information known about African Americans and depression. Implications of this literature review will help to better understand previous research on depression in the Black Community.
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Systematic Literature Review of Adult Physical Activity and Community Health Workers
Community health workers (CHWs) are public health leaders with a close connection to the members of their communities. These mentors play vital roles in marginalized populations. Previous research has shown CHWs can significantly increase physical activity (PA) in their communities. Despite the numerous studies that investigate the relationship between CHWs and PA, no systemic review has been completed in the United States. As a result, this systematic literature review aims to fill the existing gap in research by providing a thorough examination of the impact CHWs have on adult PA in the United States. Articles were included in the review if they were peer-reviewed, conducted in the United States, studied only adults, and had PA as the primary or a secondary outcome measure. All research methodologies, including reviews, were considered, dependent on research outcomes being reported. From January to February 2019, we searched Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, MEDLINE Complete, PsychINFO, SPORT Discus, PubMed, and Web of Science using a combination of: “community health worker,” “exercise”, “promotor”, and “physical activity.” Quality assessment was performed using a two-reviewer process. In total, our search yielded 786 articles, with 69 studies included in the final analysis. The review revealed a high degree of evidence in support of CHWs ability to increase PA within their communities. This increase in PA was observed at varying levels depending upon the community and intervention strategy. For communities looking to create public health programs, CHWs should be incorporated into the intervention due to their potential for improving program results.
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An Exploration of Black Children's Suicide Rates
Suicide rates in Black children increased to 2.54 from 1.36 per one million children whereas, in white children decreased to 0.77 per million from 1.14. The overall rates for suicide in Black children rose 1.18 per million and for white children fell 0.37 per million. Recent statistics show that Black children (between the age of 5-12) suicide rates are now twice that of white children in the United States. Researchers are unsure are baffled by this discovery. I conducted a literature review in hopes of finding an explanation for this disparity. We turn to existing research to answer the following questions: 1) what are the statistical trends, 2) what does existing research say about Black children and suicide, and 3) whose most at risk and why 4) what does the research recommend to tackle the disparity.
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Black Children and Suicide
The rising of African American suicide is a problem that not many know about. The literature review will uncover these unknowns and try to bring a clearer picture of this disparity. During the literature review, a multitude of questions will be examined. Starting with the main question, what does existing research say about Black children and suicide. Along with that, go through the trends if any about it and see what the statistics are showing those who are looking. The review will look to see if the trends are increasing or decreasing and look to see what the risk factors are. The literature would then create a profile of the statistics which encompasses; whose most at risk, an overview of how most of the data has been collected, and the suicide vs suicide attempt rates. Along with this, it will look into what the research is recommending on how to address this health disparity. Within this, the review will see what are some of the best for working with at-risk youth and seeing how others are tackling the disparity. Lastly, the review looks into why is the issue of suicide and suicide attempt is important and what are the protective factors.
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