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Increasing Student’s Knowledge of Occupational Therapy Through Informational Lectures and Development of Pre-OT Degree Plan
No full textA common challenge in the field of occupational therapy is the lack of awareness and knowledge of the role of an occupational therapy practitioner. This capstone sought to increase awareness and knowledge of the scope and purpose of occupational therapy through informational lectures as well as the creation of a pre-OT degree plan. Analysis of surveys administered to participants before and after informational presentations suggests that the lectures were effective in increasing knowledge and awareness of occupational therapy.University of St. Thoma
Increasing Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Healthcare Practices for Older Adults
No full textThis paper describes the process of conducting a systematic review on the impact of interdisciplinary teams for older adults in outpatient settings, conducting a needs assessment, and writing a grant proposal to increase age-friendly and dementia-friendly practices in healthcare.LSU Healthy Aging Research Cente
The Impact of Peer-Mediated Leisure Activities to Promote Social Interactions for Students with Disabilities: A Buddy Program
No full textThe Buddy Program has demonstrated key elements that promote social interactions for students with disabilities by actively engaging them in leisure activities with same-aged peers. The program illustrated how individuals’ occupational performance is influenced by their physical and social environments, personal characteristics, and the occupational task. Additionally, building rapport with individuals and tailoring the environment and activities to meet the needs of each student fosters overall engagement. The buddy program facilitated increased social interaction skills among students by encouraging participation in leisure activities with their peers. These findings provide opportunities for the field of occupational therapy to bridge the gap regarding buddy programs facilitated within the school setting.Seminole Independent School Distric
Capable: Navigating Teen Motherhood with Confidence
No full textCapable: Navigating Teen Motherhood with Confidence is a program that aims to empower teen mothers by educating them with practical tools and strategies to increase their self-efficacy in caring for themselves and their child, and to hope for their future. The program consists of five holistic educational modules and three areas of connection to community resources to address barriers that teen mothers face in engaging in meaningful occupations and promote overall health and wellness.Lewisville-Flower Mound YoungLive
Empower: A Psychosocial Activity Group for Adult Brain Injury Survivors
No full textThe aim of this capstone project was to implement a psychosocial activity group for adult brain injury survivors at the Brain Injury Network (BIN). BIN is a nonprofit organization that empowers brain injury survivors to participate in functional activities within a clubhouse setting under the work ordered day model. The recovery process continues after discharge and certainly across the lifespan. Group based activities can be powerful tools to increase the sense of belonging and connection. Therefore, in collaboration with the clubhouse, the goal of this project was to provide resources and engaging activities to address continued challenges post-injury. This was accomplished by strengthening emotional well-being, social participation and self management skills through an occupational therapy lens with group based wellness activities.Brain Injury Networ
The impact of idealized motherhood portrayals on working mothers' well-being
No full textThe rise of visually dense social media platforms has reshaped how motherhood is portrayed and perceived. Idealized depictions of maternal life, particularly on platforms like Instagram, contribute to heightened social expectations that may impact the well-being of working mothers. With nearly 74% of American mothers in the workforce, the pressure to balance professional and family responsibilities is compounded by the curated portrayals of motherhood online. This study examined the psychological impacts of exposure to idealized social media portrayals of motherhood on the well-being of full-time working mothers of infants and toddlers, with a focus on perceived similarity, state anxiety, and negative social comparison orientation.
This 2 x 2 within-subjects factorial study analyzed how idealization and source interacted to impact maternal self-perception and well-being. Participants (N =70), full-time working mothers with children three or younger, were exposed to 16 Instagram posts portraying various versions of motherhood before completing the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) short-form, the Negative Social Media Comparison Scale, and a self-reported measure of perceived similarity. Additionally, participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Maternal Employment Guilt Scale, and a self-reported measure of average daily Instagram use to assess how self-esteem, employment guilt, and social media engagement influenced these relationships.
Paired samples t-tests analyzed the impact of idealization and source on perceived similarity, state anxiety, and negative social comparisons. Repeated measures ANOVA assessed interaction effects between portrayal type and source, and a mixed-repeated measures ANOVA examined how Instagram use, self-esteem, and employment moderated these relationships.
The findings indicated that idealized portrayals significantly decreased perceived similarity and increased state anxiety, while everyday mothers elicited stronger negative social comparisons than influencers, particularly when portrayals were non-idealized. Low self-esteem and high employment guilt intensified these effects, suggesting that certain mothers may be more vulnerable to the pressures of social media portrayals. Notably, Instagram use did not follow a linear trend, as moderate users were most sensitive to portrayal differences, challenging prior assumptions about social media engagement and well-being. The findings provide critical insights for maternal mental health professionals, policymakers, and digital literacy advocates seeking to support working mothers navigating the competing demands of career and motherhood in an era of curated social media representation
Impacts of cerebellar tDCS on functional connectivity and social cognition in ASD
No full textAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypicalities in social cognition and social communication. Recent research has identified the cerebellum as a key hindbrain structure involved in social cognition processes. Additionally, cerebellar abnormalities are the most reported neuroanatomical difference in ASD as compared to healthy controls. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a novel non-invasive treatment method, that has been shown to impact functional connectivity. The current research reviews data from a clinical trial examining the neural impacts and social cognitive impacts of cerebellar tDCS in children with ASD
The Experiences of Hematology-Oncology Nurses With Grief Following The Death of Their Patients
No full textThis study investigates the emotional, ethical, and
professional challenges faced by oncology nurses in end-of-life care settings. Interviews with 13 nurses revealed core
themes of ethical dilemmas, emotional strain, and burnout.
Nurses frequently navigate conflicts between patient
autonomy and family expectations, contributing to
emotional distress. Stress is exacerbated by high patient-nurse ratios and limited time for emotional processing,
making peer support and informal debriefing crucial.
Younger nurses reported higher emotional strain compared
to older, more experienced nurses, highlighting the
generational divide in job satisfaction and retention. The
findings suggest the need for improved emotional support
systems, including debriefing sessions and better access to
mental health resources. Recommendations include
integrating emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making,
and grief management into nursing education, and
enhancing mentorship programs to support resilience. The
study emphasizes the importance of fostering a supportive
environment to improve nurse well- being and ensure high-quality patient care
Stay Steady and the effects of holistic evidence-based fall prevention programs on reducing fall risk in older adults
No full text"Stay Steady," a comprehensive fall prevention program, is tailored specifically for older adults living independently in the community. This program is designed to combat the issue of falling by incorporating exercises focused on enhancing strength, balance, and coordination. Additionally, informative workshops are included to educate participants on home modifications for fall prevention. The program also addresses how fear of falling, anxiety, and depression can affect daily activities. By integrating the latest research in geriatric health with practical strategies, this program aims to improve balance, strength, and overall well-being in seniors. The ultimate goal is to decrease the risk of falls and enhance the quality of life for older adults.Brenda and John Duncan YMC
Blood flow restriction on lower extremity increased neuromuscular timing on proximal musculature while performing a resisted sled push in healthy subjects
No full textBlood flow restriction (BFR) is beneficial in various settings; however, the neuromuscular activation during low-speed tasks is poorly understood.
Objective: This study investigated the effect of BFR on the electromyography (EMG) timing of six lower extremities (LE) musculature during a resisted sled pushing activity at two different walking speeds, 80 bpm and 140 bpm at the beginning (acceleration) of the walking tasks.
Methods: This study recruited 32 healthy individuals, an average of 23.8 years old (±1.42 SD). The study utilized surface electromyography on the dominant lower extremity (LE) of subjects, focusing on the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (GA), vastus medialis (VM), biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GMax), and gluteus medius (GMed). Participants pushed a resistive sled for 40 feet across three trials at 80 and 140 beats per minute. Researchers repeated all trials after applying BFR at 80% limb occlusion pressure. The analysis focused on the time to peak, decay, and interpeak of the first three muscle activations in each trial.
Statistical Analysis: A 2x6 (BFR group and muscle) repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tested for significant interactions and main effects during each speed and BFR condition. The time to peak, decay, and interpeak EMG values are presented for each muscle pairing.
Results: Statistical analysis of the MANOVA revealed significant decay at 80 bpm with GMax regarding BFR (p=.018). Also, the nter peak of the at140 bpm (p=.013) for the biceps femoris.
Conclusion: At 80 bpm, BFR affected the GMax regarding EMG decay. At 140 bpm, BFR significantly affected the biceps femoris, with increased interpeak values due to BFR. Rehabilitation specialists can use these findings to accurately target GMax and biceps femoris activation patterns with BFR use, most notably using shorter training intervals to reduce fatigue