ScholarWorks (California State University)
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The Effect on the Father's Mental Health when a Child is Introduced into the Family
No full textPurpose: Given the information regarding the current societal trend of fathers actively involved in caring for their children, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects a new child has on the father's mental health to increase knowledge of how to identify and detect signs of postpartum depression. Research Question: How is a father's mental health affected when a child is introduced to the family? Methods: This study uses a qualitative design conducted through an in-depth interview for a duration of 45 minutes. Participants (N=10) were obtained through the snowball sampling method. Statements were categorized using grounded theory methods. Results: Out of the 10 participants, all were married, and 8 out of the 10 were first-time fathers. The following four themes were identified: building a village, emotions of fatherhood, fatherhood work balance, and relationship with spouse, highlighting the commonalities of father's experience. Discussion: The stories provided a higher level of complexity about fatherhood. Not only is the male as an individual changing and adapting to his new role as a father, but other aspects of his life are changing as well
Healthcare Providers Stigma Towards Substance Use Disorder Patients: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFStudy Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the prevalence and nature of stigma among healthcare providers toward patients with substance use disorders in a hospital setting. Methods: Three databases and five keywords were used to select a total of fifteen peer-reviewed articles dated between the years 2014 and 2024. Findings: Findings indicate healthcare provider's perspective about substance use disorder and the way this affects the treatment patients receive. Higher stigma and lack of knowledge about substance use negatively influenced the type of treatment SUD patients received. Evidence-based interventions were identified within the hospital. Discussion: The findings show the need for greater awareness of substance use disorders and foster new research within the hospital setting. This study aims to educate healthcare staff and create new policies to help remove barriers to treatment
Antioxidants in Seedlings: A Comparative Study of Agricultural Systems
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant capacity of sweet bell peppers, curly kale, and Swiss chard grown from seedlings in conventional soil versus hydroponics (HP). The experiment consisted of raised bed setups for the outdoor systems. Environmental factors such as pH, temperature, humidity, and daylight hours were monitored throughout the study. After the plants' maturation period, antioxidant capacity was assessed using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay. This research aimed to explore how different agricultural systems impact the nutritional value of crops, in particular antioxidant properties. It was hypothesized that produce grown in sustainable systems, particularly hydroponics, would demonstrate higher antioxidant capacity levels compared to those grown in conventional soil. Our findings revealed that hydroponics yielded produce with significantly higher antioxidant content. This study contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable farming practices and their potential influence on crop quality, with implications for food and nutrition security
Integrating ABA and Evidence-Based Reading Strategies to Assist Children Identified At-Risk for Reading Difficulties
Get PDFReading proficiency is a critical skill that impacts students far beyond the classroom. Yet, national data continues to show that many children- especially those with diverse learning profiles such as ADHD, autism, or dyslexia- struggle to develop foundational reading skills through traditional instructional methods. This literature review explores how integrating principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with evidenced-based reading instruction can better support all students. The review begins by examining behavioral and cognitive theories that serve as the foundation for ABA-based strategies like reinforcement, prompting, shaping, and self-regulation. It then highlights the behavioral components that influence reading developments, including motivation, task-persistence, and executive function. The review also outlines research-based reading interventions aligned with the Five Pillars of Reading and presents behaviorally-rooted practices that support fluency, comprehension, and engagement. Finally, the review analyzes studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of merging behavioral strategies with reading interventions to enhance academic and behavioral outcomes. This body of research supports the development of a project that integrates ABA and literacy instruction to meet the needs of struggling readers in both general and special education settings
Caffeine Use, Anxiety, and Insomnia in Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFStudy Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between caffeine consumption, anxiety, and insomnia in young adults aged 18 to 25. Methods: Four databases were searched using ten keywords to identify 34 peer-reviewed studies on caffeine intake, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. Findings: Findings indicate high caffeine consumption was linked to increased anxiety and sleep disturbances. However, moderate intake (≤200 mg/day) was not consistently associated with anxiety and, in some cases, showed cognitive benefits. Discussion: Findings suggest social workers should address caffeine use in mental health interventions, promote responsible consumption, and advocate for caffeine regulation. Future research should explore socioeconomic and cultural influences on caffeine-related mental health effects. Keywords: caffeine consumption, anxiety, insomnia, sleep disturbances, mental health, young adults, and energy drinks
Mindfulness and its Effects on Cancer Related Stress in Adult Women: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textStudy Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in reducing cancer-related stress among adult women. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across five databases using ten keywords, leading to the selection of twenty-five peer-reviewed articles that met the inclusion criteria. Findings: Findings indicated that MBIs, including meditation and mindful awareness, were associated with reduced self-reported stress and improved psychological well-being. However, methodological limitations, such as reliance on self-reported data and variability in intervention design, suggest the need for further research. Discussion: The findings suggest that MBIs can be integrated into holistic cancer care to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes. Culturally adapted mindfulness interventions may also help address health disparities among marginalized populations
Exploring the Successes and Challenges of Mindfulness Interventions of Project Outcomes
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of program participants at Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) regarding the projects they formulated as a result of previous mindfulness training. This qualitative case study involved in-depth interviews with seven Mindfulness Intervention attendees who created and implemented a project for their departments to better understand their process of creating and implementing a mindfulness action or activity for their agency or unit. The guiding questions for this study are: a) What are the views of BHRS supervisors of the projects that they have created? b) What were the challenges and successes of each project? c) How do BHRS supervisors think their project has influenced the department or agency? The three major findings of this study were: the participants wanted to create a mindfulness intervention action that mitigated the stress of the social work environment; the participants wanted to use their projects to educate and bring awareness of mindfulness to clients and staff; and all projects included some form of togetherness. The study's findings imply a need for agency-wide mindfulness initiatives to improve social worker well-being and suggest that incorporating mindfulness-based interventions can enhance both staff well-being and potentially client care. Further research should explore the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions, address potential barriers to success, and incorporate perspectives from those outside the training to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact on the workplace
Educational Reference Guide for Families to Improve Access to Breastfeeding and Donor Breast Milk
No full textThis project aims to address disparities families face in accessing breast milk and breastfeeding education. Several factors that contribute to the barriers surrounding breastfeeding include lack of education and support and inadequate prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding support. Research supports the creation of this project as it aims to dismantle barriers for infants and families. In this graduate project an educational reference guide, a fourteen-page PDF document, was created for community members to access indefinitely. The educational reference guide is organized into four major sections which provides community members with valuable information about breast milk and breastfeeding, accessing donor milk and valuable resources. To maximize the tools in the educational reference guide, it is important to improve access, encourage healthcare providers to use it in their practice, and create resources for families to easily access this information
CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES AND ENGAGEMENT WITH HIGH-RISK FOSTER YOUTH
No full textThe goal of this graduate project was to develop and implement a training that emphasizes the importance of engagement between child welfare social workers and high-risk foster youth. This training incorporated evidence-based practices, including Trauma-Informed Practices and Harm Reduction Approach, and featured interactive exercises to help social workers develop practical skills for working with high-risk foster youth. To bring this training to fruition, I partnered with Aspiranet's Turlock Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program and Stanislaus County Community Services Agency to ensure the training is tailored to high-risk foster youth. This project is significant because it addresses a gap in existing training for child welfare social workers, specifically focusing on engagement and building connections with high-risk foster youth. Policymakers and child welfare agencies can use this graduate project to make modifications to existing training, ensuring they are more responsive to the unique circumstances of high-risk foster youth such as incorporating trauma-informed practice specifically focused on this population. Although the trajectories of high-risk foster youth are not guaranteed, they can be positively influenced by policies and practices that ensure these youth receive the connections and support to achieve better outcomes. With this training, the feedback indicated that attendees had a better understanding of how to apply evidence-based practices when engaging with high- risk youth and the importance of strengthening their connections with youth on their caseloads
The Bare Minimum? Love Languages: An Exploration Of Their Popularity and Applicability
Get PDFThis article explores the concept of author Gary Chapman's five love languages and subsequent claims related to relationship satisfaction. In the book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate (1992), Chapman introduces five separate love languages and their influence on romantic relationships. These love languages include: physical touch, words of affirmation, gifts, quality time, and acts of service. In addition, Chapman's work encompasses three main assertions. These conclude that every individual has a primary love language, that there are five distinct love languages, and that "speaking" the preferred love language of a partner results in greater relationship satisfaction. Yet, current data on love languages is limited, and the findings are inconsistent in determining the validity of these assumptions. Despite this, love languages have become a prevalent idea among the general public. Whether or not Chapman's main assumptions are supported, his ideas still should be considered in their applicability, especially regarding their generality and pervasiveness. This article examines the existing literature on the popularity and validity of love languages and compares this research to other established relationship satisfaction measures. The societal effect of love languages with regard to social dispersion and impact will also be explored. Current interpretations of love languages will similarly be analyzed in comparison to Chapman's initial ideas