Browsing by Author "Crain, Tori, committee member"
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Item Open Access 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 memberLGBTQ+ 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.Item Open Access Communication patterns and conflict: effects of forgiveness on rumination, sleep, and relationship evaluations(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Prosser, Julie Lanette, author; Harman, Jennifer J., advisor; Faw, Meara, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee member; Graham, Daniel, committee memberA research method commonly used in relationship science involves asking participants to engage in a conversation with their partner regarding an area of conflict within their relationship. It was predicted that for participants who engage in conflictual or withdrawal communication patterns, asking couples to further explore their conflict in a laboratory could lead to short-term increases in stress. It was further predicted that engaging in a forgiveness writing intervention may circumvent additional negative short-term outcomes compared to those in a control writing condition. Results showed that while controlling for baseline levels of serial conflict, short-term stress, and initial baseline levels of stress, men's conflict communication patterns, as opposed to withdrawal communication patterns, predicted increased stress for women. The forgiveness intervention mitigated some of the effects of withdrawal communication patterns as opposed to conflict communication patterns on several outcomes. Specifically, men's withdrawal scores predicted decreased stress and negative mood for themselves and increased perceived support from their partner after engaging in the forgiveness writing condition. Unexpected patterns emerged for the moderated effect of condition and withdrawal on sleep, as women slept less, and men had decreased sleep quality after having been in the forgiveness condition and experienced withdrawal patterns from their partner. The significance of the study and future directions are discussed.Item Open Access Evaluating graduate student experiences related to success and resiliency: the influence of mentor relationship, stress, and motivation(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Ratajack, Ellen M., author; Graham, Daniel J., advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee member; Florant, Gregory, committee memberObtaining a graduate degree is a commendable task due to the amount of time and effort required from the individual student. A great deal of past research has examined the undergraduate experience, but few studies focus specifically on the graduate student experience which is drastically different. The following studies both examined the graduate experience with specific focus on the following topics: the importance of resilience and utilizing coping tactics to reduce the impact of stress, discrepancies between actual and ideal mentors, discrepancies between personal goals and program requirements, and finally exploring how graduate students become and stay motivated while earning their degrees.Item Open Access Examining the relationship between work stressors and mental health among women in academia(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Clancy, Rebecca L., author; Fisher, Gwenith, advisor; Crain, Tori, committee member; Prince, Mark, committee member; Henle, Chris, committee memberThis study aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between work stressors and mental health outcomes for female faculty members in American colleges and universities. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to identify how work stressors and the work and nonwork interface (e.g., work/nonwork interference, work/nonwork enhancement) related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and burnout for female faculty members, and sought to examine how these relationships differed amongst women who were parents and those who were not. I distributed an anonymous online survey to faculty members employed by colleges and universities across the United States. The final sample size included 216 women. Results indicated that general job stress and work interference with personal life were positively related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and burnout, and work enhancement of personal life and personal life enhancement of work were negatively related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and burnout. However, organizational support and nonwork social support generally did not moderate these relationships. Further, parents and non-parents had similar ratings (i.e., non-significant differences) of work stressors and mental health symptoms. The present study provides incremental information about women's experiences in academia and lends support to existing theories in the occupational health psychology literature regarding the occupational stressor-strain process. This study can be used to inform the development of interventions in academia to reduce work-related strain. Importantly, implications for preventing employee burnout and supporting psychological recovery in academia are discussed.Item Open Access Intersectional identity, sense of LGBTQ+ community, substance use, and mental health outcomes among college students(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Tuthill, Shelby Diane, author; Prince, Mark, advisor; Crain, Tori, committee member; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee memberPrior research has shown disparities in mental health outcomes and substance use between LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and more) and non-LGBTQ+ people. Factors such as social support and LGBTQ+-specific social support have been shown to mitigate such disparities. A similar construct, sense of LGBTQ+ community has been less widely studied. In this study, LGBTQ+ (n = 154) and non-LGBTQ+ (n = 1232) undergraduate students at a large university participated in a survey. In a propensity score matched sample of LGBTQ+ students and demographically similar non-LGBTQ+ students showed no disparities in overall mood concerns, depression, anxiety, and stress; they also showed no disparities in alcohol use, cannabis use, and alcohol and cannabis co-use. Among LGBTQ+ students, sense of LGBTQ+ community was not significantly associated with mood outcomes or substance use. However, some notable disparities emerged when students were compared across racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation identities simultaneously. These findings underscore the importance of an intersectional approach to research and subsequent recommendations for intervention.Item Open Access Meaning making and faith-work integration: a qualitative study of university students(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Alayan, Alexandra J., author; Dik, Bryan J., advisor; Anderson, Sharon, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee memberRecent interest in the interface of religion, spirituality, and work has grown, with scholarly developments in the areas of the Faith at Work movement, workplace spirituality, and vocational psychology. Most research exploring religion/spirituality and work has focused on working adults. To date, research examining religion/spirituality and career choice and development has been sparse, despite calls for further research in this area. The current study used a meaning- making approach to explore religion/spirituality and work integration related to career development in an undergraduate student population. Written responses from 170 religiously- identifying students were coded and analyzed using a six-phase inductive qualitative thematic analysis approach. Several themes related to students' experiences of faith-work integration emerged, including support and comfort, calling/purpose, guidance and influence on ethics and values, path/plan, prosocial, separation/boundaries, lifestyle impact, work fact, personal fit and fulfillment, talents/strengths, and work ethic. Of note, many participant responses were coded into two or three themes. These findings indicate that for many undergraduate students who identify as highly religious, their religious belief systems do play a role in their career development process. Also, undergraduate students seek to integrate their religion/spirituality and their career development process in ways that do not neatly fit into single integration strategies, particularly during developmental stages characterized by discovery, exploration and crystallization. Future research should continue to explore formal integration typologies related to career development within undergraduate student populations to provide added insight in this area.Item Open Access Occupational physical activity in sedentary and active workers(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Thompson, Janalee, author; Rosecrance, John, advisor; Anderson, Brooke, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee memberWith the increasing use of technology in the workplace, many jobs are becoming more sedentary. The purpose of this study was to establish a quantitative baseline measure of occupational physical activity (OPA) in active and sedentary workers. Two activity trackers (Fitbit Charge HR™ and Hexoskin) were used to assess activity measures (step count, heart rate and energy expenditure) among workers during their work shift. The first objective of the study was to assess the agreement between two types of accelerometer-based activity trackers as measures of OPA. The second objective of this study was to assess differences in measures of OPA among workers in physically active and sedentary work environments. There was a statistically significant difference in measures of total step counts between the two devices. When comparing active and sedentary workers there were also statistically significant differences in measures of step counts, mean percent heart rate increase, maximum heart rate range and energy expenditure. Conclusion: The Fitbit Charge HR™ and Hexoskin had significant differences in measures of step counts and heart rate. When comparing active and sedentary workers, there were significant differences in measures of step counts, mean heart rate, maximum heart rate range required by job, and energy expenditure. The results of the present study provide quantitative evidence that active workers require greater physiologic demands than sedentary workers.Item Open Access Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among marginalized groups using an intersectionality framework(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Holm, Abby K. Johnson, author; Henry, Kimberly L., advisor; Crain, Tori, committee member; Faw, Meara, committee memberThis work uses Crenshaw's (1989) Intersectionality to quantitatively study intersectional experiences of discrimination and depressive symptoms among historically marginalized and ignored populations. Using a series of multiple mediation models, discrimination (attributed to gender, sexual orientation and/or race/ethnicity) was modeled as a mediator between identity and depressive symptoms among seven diverse identity-based subgroups from Project STRIDE (75% sexual minority, 50% racial/ethnic minority; Meyer et al., 2006). I hypothesized marginalized subgroups would experience more discrimination, and in turn, more depressive symptoms. All models were compared against the eighth, least marginalized subgroup: straight White men. Discrimination partially mediated the effect of identity on depressive symptoms for sexual minority Black women, but only when accounting for discrimination on the basis of all three marginalized identities (woman, Black, and lesbian/bisexual). Sexual minority Black men experienced significantly less/less frequent depressive symptoms relative straight White men; after holding constant discrimination (at 0 for both groups), this was also true for sexual minority White men. Despite the nuances to quantitatively modeling intersectionality and potential issues of generalizability, this work might serve as a framework for carrying out future quantitative intersectionality-based studies. Enacted, this work has the potential to create a healthier and more equitable society for allItem Open Access Planning for parental leave: a qualitative analysis exploring planning decisions during pre-leave(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Daigle, Kelsie L., author; Fisher, Gwenith G., advisor; Crain, Tori, committee member; Harman, Jennifer, committee member; Aoki, Eric, committee memberThis inductive, exploratory study aimed to increase our understanding about the parental leave and return to work process. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to identify how expectant mothers make decisions about parental leave before they take leave, to identify personal and workplace factors that predict expectant mothers' decision-making about parental leave pre-leave, and to understand how expectant mothers and employers plan ahead at work and in their career for taking leave and returning to work. I constructed semi-structured interview questions to address these research questions. I used an exploratory qualitative analysis method to analyze the data. The research team coded the data through first-level and second-level strategies, and then I identified major themes. The six main findings from the themes are 1) the monetary cost of things (e.g., childcare) in relation to household income played a major role in planning and decision making for parental leave, 2) participants varied in their perceptions on how much of a role their coworkers and supervisors play, 3) qualification for parental leave benefits (e.g., such as qualifying for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits) or available sick or vacation time strongly influenced plans for when to take leave and for how long, 4) participants believe that supervisors and leaders in organizations can better support pregnant working women by supporting paid leave, knowing more about the policies and procedures around leave, and more flexibility around work hours and location, 5) participants expressed, and it became a clear theme, that each pregnancy and work situation around parental leave is different, and 6) culture may or may not play a role in the experience of parental leave. These data may be a foundation to inform the development of interventions to help expectant mothers and their employers navigate this process successfully.Item Open Access The orthorexia nervosa scale: updated and tested in a targeted community sample(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Kramer, Melanie E., author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Conner, Bradley T., committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee memberIn 2000, physician Steven Bratman coined the term Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) based on his observations that some individuals were so obsessed with healthy eating that it reached a pathological level (Bratman & Knight, 2000). He conceptualized ON as a way to describe an obsession about proper nutrition and a "fixation" on healthy eating (Bratman & Knight, 2000). Currently, very little is known about ON, as evidenced by lack of a formal operational definition or standard diagnostic criteria. Although there are three existing scales that measure ON (Bratman & Knight, 2000; Donini, Marsili, Gaziani, Imbriale, & Cannella, 2005; Gleaves, Graham, & Ambwani, 2013), none of them appear to completely capture all of the facets of ON. This dissertation details the attempt to develop a psychometrically valid and reliable scale, the Orthorexia Nervosa Scale (ONS), that more accurately and fully captures the construct of ON, followed up by examining ON and its relationship to other related constructs – obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and disordered eating symptoms. Initial analyses (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis) of a 103 item pool indicated a 10-factor solution with an adequate model fit once model modifications were made (Kramer, 2016). As part of the current study, items were examined and adjustments were made (e.g. removing and revising items). An EFA and CFA were conducted (n=537 and n=465, respectively), and revealed a 6-factor structure. Additionally, the CFA revealed a good model fit, X2 (650) = 1531.115, p < 0.01, CFI = 0.903, SRMR = 0.07. The six dimensions assessed by the six factors were: 1) Social Concerns, 2) Knowledge/Superiority, 3) Fulfillment/Control, 4) Pureness/Natural Quality of Food, 5) Detox, and 6) Online Forums/Blogs. Data were then collected using a targeted community sample (i.e. targeting healthy eating groups on Facebook) to examine relationships between the ONS, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and disordered eating symptoms. Two alternative models were tested using path analysis. Analysis revealed good model fit for both models. This highlights the complex factor structure of ON, and indicates the difficulty in replicating the scale. The current study provides a strong foundation for determining a definitive factor structure for ON. While more research is needed to clarify the factor structure, the overall results suggest that the six factors captured by the ONS in the current study will be a useful tool for future research and scale development related to ON.