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Resiliency, Mindset, and Academic Performance: A College Athlete\u27s Perspective
Get PDFThe problem addressed in this qualitative case study was the low graduation rates self-reported by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics institutions when compared to the general student population at a small Christian university in the Southern United States. In this study, I sought to acquire a deeper understanding of the degree to which an athlete’s mindset and psychological resilience influenced their perseverance and academic achievement on their path toward graduation. Utilizing semistructured interviews as the primary data collection method, I used purposive, convenience, and snowball selection methods to enlist a total of 10 participants from a pool of 52 qualified candidates meeting the specific criteria: being 18 years of age or older and a full-time student-athlete engaged in a varsity sport, completion of the institution’s Best Achievement Strategies for College course, and enrollment in their third or higher semester of college. Female volleyball players, golfers, and education majors were excluded from the study to avoid any potential biases. An anonymous questionnaire was used to gather demographic data on SurveyMonkey. One recorded semistructured interview generated verbatim transcripts where NVivo coding was employed to identify initial codes and themes. Three major themes emerged—growth mindset, resilience, and persistence—with three minor themes—coping actions, God and faith, and motivation or purpose. Findings indicated participants who self-identified possessed higher levels of growth mindset, resiliency, and persistence in the face of challenges associated with their academic success. Participants associated with possessing a fixed mindset, low resilience, and persistence experienced less academic success. Minor themes of appropriate coping actions were implemented by 60% of athletes, while only 40% associated their faith, motivation, or purpose with academic success. This dissertation not only offers valuable insights into how college athletes implement their mindset, resilience, and persistence toward academics but also provides a foundation for tailored support strategies that institutions can implement to foster both athletic and academic excellence
Comparative Analysis of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy’s Effectiveness in an Intensive Outpatient Program Setting
Get PDFThis thesis presents a comparative analysis of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and treatment as usual (TAU) within an intensive outpatient program setting, evaluating their effectiveness in enhancing various dimensions of psychological well-being. Guided by two main research questions, the study investigates whether ACT demonstrates greater or equal effectiveness compared to TAU and if it provides more immediate effects on psychological well-being within three weeks. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the research incorporates a comprehensive array of measurement tools to assess outcomes related to anxiety, depression, stress, psychological flexibility, cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, mindfulness self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among participants. The findings indicate that both ACT and TAU significantly improve psychological outcomes, with no substantial difference in effectiveness between the two treatments. This suggests that ACT, while effective, may not be superior to TAU in the short-term intensive outpatient context. The study highlights the importance of offering a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches within mental health care settings. The study underscores the need for further research to explore the long-term effects and individual predictors of treatment response. This research contributes to the literature by affirming the value of ACT in diverse clinical settings, albeit calling for more nuanced studies to optimize mental health interventions
Illness Perceptions and Health-Promoting Behaviors: The Buffering Role of Resilience in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Get PDFCongenital heart defects (CHD) are one of the most prevalent genetic abnormalities, impacting the lives of millions of children, teens, and young adults. Conservative diagnoses estimate that 2.4 million children and adults are living with CHD in the United States (Gilboa et al., 2016). CHD requires consistent cardiac support with multiple surgeries and hospitalizations expected throughout the lifetime, which significantly impacts psychological health. Specifically, patients present with a host of extra-cardiac conditions that impact their quality of life. With advancements in medical technology, mortality rates continue to improve for this population; however, individuals face a number of consequences that impact their overall quality of life. The negative symptoms of single ventricle congenital heart disease present a detrimental impact on psychosocial processes including healthcare management, comorbidity, and adaptive coping strategies. Resilience is the elasticity or tendency to rebound in the face of hardship (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). It is a dynamic, malleable process which may preserve well-being and sustain functioning; however, limited research has investigated the nuances which enhance resilience. The present study assessed the buffering effects of resilience on illness perceptions and health-promoting behaviors in congenital heart disease patients. Participants were asked to complete five assessment measures designed to assess resilience, illness perceptions, health behaviors, and affective distress. Data were analyzed with multiple and hierarchical regression analyses. Resilience was found to be positively correlated with illness perceptions, with spirituality as a positive predictor for treatment control. Implications of the present study and recommendations for further research are also considered
Implementation of Bedside Shift Report on a Medical Surgical Unit in a Private Acute Care Hospital in Jamaica
Get PDFThis project aimed to address the critical issue of patient safety by improving the quality of patient handoffs in a small private hospital in Jamaica. Guided by the Iowa model and Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, the pilot study focused on implementing evidence-based practices and fostering a culture of critical thinking among nurses. The study assessed the impact of an educational intervention on handoff quality and nurse satisfaction using a quasiexperimental pre- and posttest design. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality bedside shift report checklist measured accuracy and completeness, revealing a baseline accuracy of 46% preintervention, significantly improving to 87.3% postintervention (p \u3c .001). Nurse satisfaction, while slightly higher postintervention, did not reach statistical significance. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the educational intervention in enhancing patient handoff quality, laying the groundwork for larger-scale initiatives to promote evidence-based, high-quality care and patient safety
Efficacy of Suicide Prevention Trainings: An Analysis of Gatekeeper and Bystander Intervention Modalities
Get PDFMany organizations and resources exist to help mitigate the factors leading to the completion of suicide. Yet, the proficient identification of risk factors and warning signs, alongside the impactful intervention by gatekeepers, has emerged as a formidable strategy in the battle against suicide. How best to train these gatekeepers to ensure their efficacy and confidence in intervention is an area of active research and was the primary purpose of the present study. The participants were a sample of 100 undergraduate students from Abilene Christian University and were separated into three training groups. Each was assigned a different suicide prevention training module developed locally by the investigator. Two of the modules represented prevailing prevention ideologies, Gatekeeper and Bystander Intervention, while the last group was a combination of both. Concept knowledge and intervention confidence were assessed both pre-and post-training by investigator-developed screeners. Analysis of performance changes between phases determined a significant main effect between pre-and post-test results. However, while the hypothesized effects of each training type on concept knowledge did show potential at p = .052, a significant main effect was not observed. Meanwhile, the magnitude of effects on intervention confidence were virtually indistinguishable between training styles. The findings suggest a possible precedent for the combination of modalities as an efficient prevention and intervention training method. Additionally, the results of the modalities investigated appear to imply that the gatekeeper ideology is sufficient as a standalone training module and requires further research
