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Browsing by Author "Brenner, Rachel, committee member"

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    Building connection and reducing isolation: a group therapy intervention for LGBTQ+ young adults
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Tuthill, Shelby D., author; Prince, Mark, advisor; Brenner, Rachel, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee member; Quirk, Kelley, committee member
    LGBTQ+ people experience poor mental health outcomes relative to their non-LGBTQ+ peers, which may be exacerbated by chronic disconnection from self and others that results from discrimination and other minority stressors. Many LGBTQ+ people find strength and relief from mental health concerns by connecting with supportive, affirming communities. These findings are aligned with relational-cultural theory, which posits that people are wired to be in connection with one another, and that building mutually empathic relationships is central to healing. Although research supports that connecting with LGBTQ+ community is beneficial, there is a paucity of research on how LGBTQ+ people connect with community, what barriers exist to doing so, and how clinicians may help facilitate these healing connections. The present study consisted of two parts. Focus groups were conducted to better understand the nuances of LGBTQ+ community connection and to develop proof of concept for a group therapy intervention for LGBTQ+ emerging adults using both the focus group data and existing scholarship and theory on LGBTQ+ group therapy and relational-cultural theory/therapy. Focus group data was coded using qualitative content analysis and incorporated into the development of a 6-session group intervention, which was then implemented with a group of LGBTQ+ young adults in Colorado. Group therapy participants completed measures of relational health, depression, anxiety, social isolation, sense of LGBTQ+ community, and loneliness before, during, and after the intervention. Changes in scores were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and effect sizes were estimated; medium to large effects were found in the direction of symptom reduction, reduced loneliness and isolation, and improved relational health and sense of community. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
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    Resonance: memory and emotion
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Shelby, Mariah, author; Bates, Haley, advisor; Brenner, Rachel, committee member; Dineen, Mark, committee member; Plastini, Johnny, committee member
    Through an investigation into the trauma responses of my body, from dissociation to panic attacks, I have built a body of work that relies on the associations and interactions of material and process. I have developed a sensitivity to material and processes guided by the desire to communicate feelings and emotions that are difficult to put into words. These materials vary based on clinical properties, historical contexts, or personal memory. While working, I am concerned about what materials may communicate beyond their intended purpose, pushing the material to broaden my conceptual ideas.
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    Testing trans identity pride as a mental health resilience factor among trans and gender diverse adults
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Egli, Madison R., author; Prince, Mark, advisor; Brenner, Rachel, committee member; Matsuno, Em, committee member; Dockendorff, Kari, committee member
    Trans and gender diverse (TGD) people in the US report disproportionately higher rates of mental health concerns than cisgender heterosexual and LGB individuals, as well as the U.S. population more broadly (Borgogna et al., 2019; James et al., 2016; Su et al., 2016). This study tested part of the recently introduced Transgender Resilience Intervention Model (TRIM; Matsuno & Israel, 2018) to examine the moderation effects of identity pride on the relationships between two TGD minority stressors (rejection, negative expectations for the future) and mental health outcomes with a sample of 514 TGD adults in the United States. Originally, I tested a moderated mediation path model using PROCESS syntax in MPlus wherein rejection predicted depression and anxiety through negative expectations for the future, with identity pride moderating the relationship between negative expectations for the future and mental health outcomes. However, the model was not interpretable due to poor model fit indices. Post-hoc model revisions revealed a model wherein rejection predicted greater negative expectations for the future through increased depression and anxiety. In contrast with hypotheses, conditional indirect effects revealed a trend in which TGD individuals high in identity pride were more negatively impacted by experiences of rejection. These results suggest that identity pride, although important for promoting wellness among TGD individuals (Singh et al., 2013), may render TGD adults more vulnerable for developing depression and anxiety following gender-identity-based rejection. Given the relatively small sample size in the current study for detecting moderation effects, future research should examine these relationships in larger studies of TGD individuals in the United States to further understand the impact of identity pride on minority stress in TGD communities.