Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Stallones, Lorann, committee member"

Browsing by Author "Stallones, Lorann, committee member"

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Open Access
A theory-driven logic model of equine-assisted psychotherapy for at-risk youth
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Kelly, Erin, author; Wood, Wendy, advisor; Schmid, Arlene A., committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
Mental health issues among adolescent and young adult populations are highly prevalent. Mental illness can impact long term success and puts individuals at risk of negative quality of life outcomes. Equine-assisted psychotherapy interventions for at-risk youth are intended to support the development of important life skills and mitigate the risk factors one may be facing. The purpose of this study was to assess an equine-assisted psychotherapy program for at risk youth, the Equine Assisted Life Skills Training (EALST) program, using the structure of a theory-driven logic model. Using a qualitative description approach, I developed a theory-driven logic model to understand the underlying aspects of the EALST program. The aspects included the theoretical assumptions, resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact of the program. I conducted semi-structured interviews with eight program stakeholders, with the questions aimed at explicating stakeholder's conceptualizations of each of these logic model categories. The results of the analysis of these interviews were mapped into a logic model format. This particular type of logic model focused on elucidating the theoretical assumptions of the program stakeholders in order to develop existing program theory. These theoretical assumptions, along with the other aspects of the logic model, will support the program providers in further developing their working theories and more effectively implementing the program. Next steps include identifying measures of hypothesized outcomes in order to test and further refine the identified program theory.
Embargo
Acquiring stakeholder input on the clinical usefulness of measuring outcomes of therapeutic horseback riding
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Brenneman, Moriah, author; Peters, Caiti, advisor; Schmid, Arlene, advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
Therapeutic riding (TR) is a recreational activity which provides mounted and ground-based horsemanship opportunities adapted to the abilities of the participants Click or tap here to enter text.. TR provides physical and psychological benefits to participants with diverse disabilities, including physical, developmental, cognitive, and age-related disabilities, promoting higher quality of life (QoL); however, certified therapeutic riding instructors (CTRIs) and centers are limited in their capacity to implement outcome assessments and report the benefits of their community-based TR programs to a broad audience due to credentialing requirements, time restraints, and limited financial resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify whether and how TR professionals are currently measuring participant outcomes; benefits and barriers to implementing standardized assessments in TR; and characteristics which would make TR assessments clinically useful in the community TR environment. To address this purpose, we conducted a computer-based survey among TR stakeholders. We identified that while TR professionals measure outcomes among their participants, they typically do not use standardized assessments. Benefits of implementing standardized assessments included bolstering the TR profession, acquiring funding, and communicating about TR services with a broad audience. Barriers to implementing standardized assessments included time, systemic, and expertise constraints. Respondents reported that standardized assessments should be relevant to all age groups and populations who receive TR services. Finally, our respondents reported that for standardized assessments to be clinically useful, they would need to be low-cost (free or $1 – 2 per use), require less than 20 minutes, and available in either paper or computer format. This study revealed that standardized assessments may be a strong support to the TR profession; however, assessments must meet the needs of TR providers in the community.
Open Access
An adapted group yoga intervention: the lived experience of individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Roney, Megan A., author; Schmid, Arlene A., advisor; Sample, Pat L., advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) who participated in an adapted group yoga intervention. Participants attended one-hour yoga sessions twice a week for eight weeks and described their experiences through focus groups and individual interviews. Data accumulated were analysed using a coding process to generate themes of what experiences occurred, how experiences occurred, and why experiences occurred. Participants described experiencing the yoga intervention as a progression from initially expecting physical benefits from yoga to feeling safe and comfortable in the yoga intervention classes and among fellow participants, and to experiencing physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. Participants stated that these experiences carried over into their daily lives, positively impacting their health maintenance and social participation. Participants attributed their experiences to various structural strategies of the intervention including commonalities among participants, the instructor's dual knowledge of yoga and therapeutic rehabilitation, as well as the adaptability of yoga to their personal needs. Additionally, participant experiences were attributed to a re-conceptualization of what yoga should look and feel like, enhanced body awareness, and feeling supported. The fact that the participants generally expressed beneficial outcomes indicates the need to further research adapted yoga interventions for the population of individuals with chronic TBI.
Open Access
Association between fathers' parental mindfulness and adolescent behavioral development and academic grades
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Carlson, Michelle, author; Coatsworth, Douglas, advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, committee member
This study examined the association of fathers' mindful parenting with adolescent problem behaviors and academic grades. Past research shows positive associations between mindful parenting and youth outcomes and supports the efficacy of parental mindfulness training for improving parent-child relationships and decreasing adolescent problem behaviors. Yet, much of this research is conducted with mothers, whereas fathers are less represented in these studies. Parenting research that has been done with fathers has highlighted the significant impact that a father-child relationship can have on a child's development, suggesting that mindful parenting might also be a useful avenue for study with fathers. In a sample of 244 families with participating fathers, this study tested the association between fathers' mindful parenting and adolescent internalizing behavior, externalizing behavior, and grades after controlling for fathers' general parenting and demographic characteristics. Results indicated that mindful parenting in fathers was associated with youth outcomes above and beyond fathers' general parenting and demographics, but only for youth-report of fathers' mindful parenting. These results indicated that when youth reported more mindful parenting by their father, they also had lower levels of externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Mindful parenting did not significantly predict grades. Outcomes of this study indicate a promising area of research regarding fathering and mindful parenting.
Open Access
Association of pet ownership with eating, exercise, nutritional status, and heart health of seniors
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1995) Dembicki, Diane Florence, author; Anderson, Jennifer, advisor; Melby, Chris, advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Auld, Garry, committee member; Barber, Clif, committee member
The familiar adage "pets are good for your health" is an interesting but largely untested theory. Numerous anecdotal remarks on the health benefits of companion animals to the elderly refer to eating and exercise. Research is needed to examine if any health benefits result from pet ownership, and, if so, models must be developed to explain the reasons. An early empirical study found increased survival rate of heart patients due to pets (Freidmann et al., 1980). A theoretical framework is developing based on pet attachment and substitute social support (Stallones et al., 1990). Recent research investigated the effects of pets on risk factors for cardiovascular disease (Anderson et al., 1992). A new model was developed, based on pet ownership leads to better self care, to show possible associations between pet ownership with eating, exercise, nutritional status, and specific cardiovascular risk factors. The major hypotheses tested were pet owners have significantly lower serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than non-owners and these differences are explained by diet and physical activity. The experimental design was a cross-sectional, observational study of a self-selected convenience sample. Seniors aged sixty and above were solicited at senior congregate meals program sites in north-central Colorado (n=127). Instruments used were questionnaires on eating and exercise, emotional and physical health, social support, and pet attachment, biochemical analyses of diet and blood, and anthropometric and physiological measures. Statistical procedures included two-tailed t-tests, Chi-square, multivariate analysis, correlation coefficients and partial coefficients, and analysis of covariance ; a value of p <0. 05 was considered significant. There were few significant differences in diet, nutritional status, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and no significant differences in number of exercise activities and duration of walking between pet and nonowners. Dog owners walked significantly longer than nonowners. Pet owners had significantly lower triglycerides than non-owners. It could not be concluded that pet ownership is associated with better diet and nutritional status, greater physical activity, and reduced cardiovascular risk compared to non-ownership in seniors.
Open Access
ATV mortality in the United States, 2011-2013
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Lagerstrom, Elise, author; Gilkey, David, advisor; Rosecrance, John, advisor; Magzamen, Sheryl, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
The purpose of this study is to examine contributing factors of ATV injuries and deaths through application of the Agent-Host-Environment epidemiological model. By analyzing the associations between contributing factors and classifying these factors based on the model, appropriate intervention strategies may be identified. All US incident reports of ATV fatalities and injuries between 2011 and 2013 were obtained from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Each report was read and coded based on information available in the narrative incident report. Each coded variable was classified as relating to a section of the epidemiologic triangle: agent, host, or environment. Descriptive statistics were obtained for the coded variables and Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis was performed in order to identify associations between predictor variables. A total of 1,230 incident reports were obtained and, after data cleansing, a total 1,193 fatality reports remained. While only 12% of cases occurred on farms, the calculated incidence rate in the farming population (.62 per 100,000 population/year) is higher than the overall incident rate in the United States (.13 per 100,000 population/year). Descriptive statistics showed low helmet use (11.85% of fatal cases) and high use of alcohol and drugs (84.2% of fatal cases). The CHAID results showed significant associations between all types of variables: agent, host, and environment. The present study provides nationwide statistics on ATV fatalities, approaching risk factor analysis with regard to the agent-host-environment epidemiological model. The three aspects of the epidemiologic triangle each contribute, and build upon each other, to create the combination of risk factors that lead to a fatal event. By modeling and categorizing risk it is possible to develop targeted solutions to the root cause of the hazard. Through use of legislation and training, many host-related risk factors can be controlled, use of engineering controls can mitigate risk due to the agent and/or physical environment, and use of targeted marketing strategies and education may be able to limit risk due to the social environment.
Open Access
Barriers to nutrition management among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Maertens, Julie A., author; Harman, Jennifer J., advisor; Chen, Peter, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member; Dik, Bryan J. (Bryan Jay), committee member
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks and impairs the body's natural defense system against disease and infection, in part through depletion of nutrients that are implicated in malnutrition and weight loss. Many nutritional problems among people living with HIV can be managed via nutrition intervention. No wide scale evaluation of HIV patient access or adherence to comprehensive nutrition intervention exists; however, there are potential barriers among patients to following nutrition advice from healthcare providers even when delivered. An online questionnaire among healthcare providers, along with focus groups and semi-structured interviews among patients living with HIV at three healthcare settings in Colorado were utilized in the current study in an effort to identify the barriers to nutrition management among people living with HIV. Healthcare providers reported being limited in the amount of nutrition intervention they could provide based on a lack of time and in-house referral services, and the co-occurrence of multiple illnesses among patients that demanded time and energy during appointments. Patients were limited in their ability to optimally manage their diet based on finances and transportation available for acquiring food, side effects associated with ARV (antiretroviral) medications, and their own cooking and meal planning skills. The nature of the barriers identified in the current study suggested a systems approach to optimizing nutrition management among HIV-positive patients may be an appropriate future direction of action.
Open Access
Beauty and the treatment of addiction
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Czyszczewski, Justin, author; Kneller, Jane, advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Tropman, Elizabeth, committee member
Drug and alcohol addiction are highly destructive, reaping significant damage on society, on addicts, and on their families and friends. The past century has seen a vast increase in the treatment of addiction, but these methods have failure rates of 50% or greater. This work seeks an alternative approach to addiction treatment, using the concept of reflective aesthetic judgment presented by Immanuel Kant in the Critique of Judgment. This approach is justified by an examination of the experiences of addicts, working from the problem as it is understood to a possible solution. Because the problem is an inadequacy of willpower, cognitive treatment methods are unlikely to be successful. An aesthetic conception of treatment, which appeals to a common human aesthetic sense for the beautiful, offers a non-cognitive method that is universally communicable. This would appeal to people trapped in the isolated and alienated experience of addiction. The focus is a philosophical understanding of the mechanism of addiction, and identifying some of the necessary conditions for treatment of it. In light of this, suggestions are given for possible components of such treatment, such as art therapy, spiritual practices, and appreciation of nature.
Open Access
Conflicting health-related scientific evidence in news reports: effects of presentation format and hedging on perceived issue uncertainty and source credibility
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Zhang, Hui, author; Long, Marilee, advisor; Anderson, Ashley, committee member; Gloeckner, Gene, committee member; Martey, Rosa Mikeal, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
This study examined the effects of two journalistic practices in reporting conflicting health-related scientific evidence on journalists’ and scientists’ credibility and whether the effects were mediated by perceived issue uncertainty. The two practices examined were presentation format and hedging. When conflicting findings are reported, journalists can use either a one-article format, using one story to report the conflict, or a two-article format, using two stories with each story representing one side of the conflict. When conflicting findings are reported, journalists can use hedging (e.g., reporting the limitations of scientific studies) to present the conflicting information. An online experiment was conducted to examine the two journalistic practices’ effects. Results include the following: 1) the one-article format was beneficial to journalists’ competence, but detrimental to scientists’ competence, as compared with the two-article format; 2) journalists’ and scientists’ credibility in the hedged news conditions did not differ from those in the non-hedged news conditions; and 3) perceived issue uncertainty did not mediate presentation format’s or hedging’s effects on journalists’ or scientists’ credibility. An exploratory follow-up mediation analysis found that perceived message believability mediated presentation format’s effects on journalists’ and scientists’ credibility. Theoretical, practical, and methodological implications are discussed.
Open Access
⁶⁴Cu-ATSM internal dosimetry in a computational tumor-bearing mouse model
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Witter, Paige, author; Brandl, Alexander, advisor; Leary, Del, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
The radiopharmaceutical Copper-64 diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazones) (64Cu-ATSM) has growing clinical interest as a theragnostic agent; that is, one that can be used as both a diagnostic tool and a treatment for certain tumors. The ATSM ligand selectively distributes to hypoxic tissues, traditionally difficult targets for chemotherapy and radiotherapy cancer treatments. The copper radionuclide dissociates in the reducing environment, at which point the unique decay scheme of 64Cu offers multiple imaging and clinical pathways. Using an anatomically accurate voxelized phantom of a cancer-bearing mouse, a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) radiation transport code assessment of absorbed fractions and absorbed dose to major organs was carried out. In decay scenarios in which the organ of interest was the source organ, approximately 60% of the total energy transferred from a 64Cu decay came from the beta decay, approximately 30% from the positron decay, and approximately 1% from the Auger electrons. These results were used in conjunction with 64Cu-ATSM biodistribution data from two published studies to estimate organ and whole-body absorbed doses from administered activities. The differences in organ absorbed doses between the studies shows the mouse model variances that can impact dose and lead to variability in dose-response curves down the line. An MCNP model allows for a better understanding of the organ-specific doses and should be considered in the development of future studies assessing the theragnostic properties of 64Cu-ATSM in translational models while sparing these models' healthy organs and tissues.
Open Access
Decoding U.S. media through framing theory: examining the coverage of Hugo Chavez in the New York Times and the Washington Times
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Richardson, Heather, author; Kodrich, Kris, advisor; Kim, Jangyul, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
The U.S. media frame news stories with certain keywords, sources, themes, tones, and concepts that influence what media consumers think about and how they think about certain issues or public figures, particularly international issues and leaders. In order to examine media framing of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, this qualitative content analysis compares media coverage in the liberal The New York Times and the conservative The Washington Times during the last year of the Bush administration and the first year of the Obama administration. By utilizing framing theory and Robert Entman's definition of political framing, this study explores how article themes, tones, and sources may differ among newspapers and may differ during different U.S. presidential administrations. This study suggests that U.S media often reflect the views of the American president and government, that a change in presidential administrations did affect how Chavez is portrayed in the U.S. newspapers, and that different newspapers framed the Venezuelan president differently.
Open Access
Does mindfulness moderate the association between interparental conflict and depressive symptoms in adolescents?
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Carson, Jana, author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Shomaker, Lauren, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
The main goal of this study was to examine the interactions between perceived interparental conflict dimensions (i.e., threat, conflict property, and self-blame) and trait mindfulness in relation to depressive symptoms among adolescents. Age was also tested as a moderator of these associations. One hundred and fifty adolescents (range: 14-21 years old) visited the laboratory at the Colorado State University campus where they completed various questionnaires on a computer. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were significantly and negatively associated with mindfulness. Of the perceived interparental conflict variables, threat was the only dimension significantly—and negatively—associated with mindfulness. There were no significant interactions between conflict dimensions and mindfulness in relation to depressive symptoms, and age was not a significant moderator. Although causality cannot be determined, the results indicate that perceived threat may be a risk factor for adolescent depression, and the results are in line with evidence that mindfulness based treatments may reduce depression for adolescents. Future research may want to examine whether other aspects of trait mindfulness (i.e., self-compassion and non-judgement) are more effective for buffering depressive symptoms in adolescents perceiving interparental conflict.
Open Access
Effects of decoupled elliptical training on interlimb coordination
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Keene, Abbey Rae, author; Tracy, Brian L., advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Reiser, Raoul F., II, committee member
During human locomotion, the spinal cord produces predictable alternating muscle activation to the lower limbs to produce functional gait. The Shifter is a novel elliptical trainer with mechanically decoupled foot pads, forcing the user to deliver precisely timed alternating foot forces to maintain cadence. A 15-20 hr training program has been developed to enhance interlimb coordination. Training consists of a demanding progression of increasingly difficult skills that require the user to move their legs independently. PURPOSE: To determine if the training produced neural adaptations that underlie more independent control of the leg muscles. It was hypothesized that progressed subjects (PS) would have enhanced interlimb coordination compared to control subjects (CS), as assessed by suppression of contralateral neural overflow. METHODS: PS (N=5) and CS (N=5) were of similar age, leg press strength, adiposity, and VO2 max (all P>0.05). The subjects exerted an isometric force with the non-dominant knee extensors at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force under two conditions – alone (CF) or with an oscillating task by the dominant leg (OSC). For the OSC task, subjects exerted an oscillating force with the dominant knee extensors at a frequency of 0.25Hz between 0-50% of MVC, without visual feedback. Both the CF and OSC tasks were performed with (VIS) and without (NOVIS) visual force feedback of the non-dominant target force. RESULTS: The force oscillations of the dominant knee extensors were performed at approximately the same frequency, average intensity, and peak force between PS and CS groups for both VIS and NOVIS. For the CS group, during VIS and NOVIS, respectively, the target matching (P=0.015, P=0.004) and control of fluctuations (P = 0.02, P=0.015) for the non-dominant leg was degraded for OSC compared with CF conditions. In contrast, the PS group showed no change in the ability of the non-dominant leg to stay on target (P=0.2) and control force fluctuations (P=0.07) during VIS. During NOVIS the PS group exhibited no change in target matching (P=0.47) and a slight increase in force fluctuations (P= 0.018) between CF and OSC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an adaptation of the nervous system that allowed the PS subjects to reduce the effects of contralateral neural overflow. Prolonged use of the Shifter could produce enhanced interlimb control in rehabilitation, athletic, and elderly populations.
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 member
Obtaining 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.
Open Access
Examining the association between emotional availability and mindful parenting
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Benton, Julie, author; Coatsworth, Doug, advisor; Biringen, Zeynep, advisor; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
This study examined the relationship between Emotional Availability (EA) and Mindful Parenting (MP), as well as their independent and combined associations with indicators of adolescent well-being. EA is a well-established measure of parent-child relationship quality, but the existing literature for EA is limited to infancy and childhood, with minimal emphasis on adolescence. There is, however, expansive support for the importance of the parent-child relationship in adolescence for well-being in adolescence and early adulthood. Mindful Parenting is one construct shown to be associated with both positive parent-child relationships and adolescent well-being. The current study tests the association among EA, MP and indicators of adolescent well-being in a sample of 30 adolescent-mother dyads participating in a longitudinal study of the Mindfulness Enhanced Strengthening Families Program (MSFP) 10-14. EA and MP were assessed through observational coding of parent-adolescent interactions. Results indicated significant associations between EA and MP, and between each construct and adolescent outcomes. Additionally, individual EA Scales and MP dimensions were established as unique predictors of adolescent outcomes. These results indicate there is a significant relationship between EA and MP and both constructs are related to adolescent outcomes, with some specific contributions to indicators of adolescent well-being.
Open Access
Heterosexual ally development in counseling psychologists: experiences, training, and advocacy for the LGBT community
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Asta, Elizabeth L., author; Vacha-Haase, Tammi, advisor; Banning, Jim, committee member; Bloom, Larry, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
When focusing on advocacy for minority rights, it is beneficial to explore the role allies play in advocating for and supporting their peers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine how counseling psychologists working in university counseling settings conceptualize their ally work, as well as how their counseling psychology training impacted their ally development. This study was guided by the tradition of phenomenological qualitative study, and constant comparison analysis served as the strategy for inductive analysis. Pre-doctoral interns and senior staff psychologists, who self-identified as heterosexual, were interviewed regarding their experiences and development with ally work. Results indicated that there is wide variation regarding how psychologists view the ally experience, but that individuals find common meaning, challenges, and training experiences within their ally development. In particular, results showed a predominant need for increased training in social justice advocacy and LGBT support within counseling psychology training programs.
Open Access
Hospice services as experienced by long term care nusring staff and their perception of resident experiences
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Aeling, Jennifer, author; Vacha-Haase, Tammi, advisor; Borrayo, Evelinn, committee member; Fruhauf, Christine, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
The current study utilized qualitative methods to understand long term care (LTC) nursing staff's experience with hospice services and their perceptions of how their residents have experienced hospice services. More specifically, this study sought to understand nursing home residents choices to utilize hospice services, as well as understand differences LTC nurses have experienced in regards to these deaths. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was utilized to extract themes and subthemes from 10 interviews that occurred with LTC nursing staff. Four main themes were extracted from the data. These main themes are: LTC nursing participant's positive view of hospice, their perception that residents view hospice very negatively, why residents choose to utilize hospice services, and why residents choose not to utilize hospice services. A number of subthemes were extracted as well. Content analysis was also utilized to extract one noteworthy concept that did not fit within the guidelines of IPA, which was a comparison of two resident deaths, one that occurred with and without the utilization of hospice services. These themes and the noteworthy concept pointed to a contradiction between the LTC nursing staff's positive view of hospice and their belief that their residents view hospice services very negatively.
Open Access
Impact of a cookstove intervention on exposure and blood pressure in rural Honduran women
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Heiderscheidt, Judy Marie, author; Peel, Jennifer, advisor; Keefe, Thomas, advisor; Clark, Maggie, committee member; Magennis, Ann, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
Open Access
Impact of client death on clinical geropsychologists. The: a qualitative analysis
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Foster, Amanda N., author; Vacha-Haase, Tammi, advisor; Banning, James, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member
Although clinical psychologists who work with older adults are expected to work competently in areas of death and dying, there has been little research that explores how client death impacts these professionals. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, interviews with 10 professional geropsychologists were transcribed and analyzed for common themes across participants. Identified themes included: development of a different mindset in geropsychology; circumstances of memorable client deaths; personal/professional boundaries; impact of client death on clinical work; and developing specific coping strategies. Results from the present study suggested that despite grief reactions, participants believed that experiencing client death led to both personal and professional growth that helped them to become better clinicians. They also identified immediate reactions to client death that ranged from a sense of joy and peace to feelings of loss and regret. Participants identified specific coping strategies they used to cope with this phenomenon.
Open Access
Is meaningful work a luxury? An interpretative phenomenological analysis on lower socioeconomic status workers' experience of meaningful work
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Shim, Yerin, author; Dik, Bryan, advisor; Steger, Michael, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Doe, Sue, committee member
The growing empirical literature on meaningful work suggests that experiencing meaningful work is associated with many psychological benefits to the individual. However, very little is known about how lower socioeconomic status (LSES) workers experience meaningful work due to the lack of research with this population and assumption that pursuing meaningful work is a luxury. The present study sought to explore the experience of meaningful work among LSES workers through an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight LSES workers. Seven domains were constructed as a result of the data analysis: definitions of meaningful work, perception and psychological experience of meaningful work, internal conditions of meaningful work, external conditions of meaningful work, personal impact of meaningful work, strategies to enhance meaningfulness in work, and perspective on the relationship between meaningful work and SES. Participants defined meaningful work as similar to previous conceptualizations, perceived and experienced their current work as meaningful in diverse ways, and appeared to be generally positively impacted through meaningful work. Participants also identified direct and indirect conditions that support or hinder meaningfulness in their work and suggested strategies to enhance meaningfulness in their work. Finally, participants viewed meaningful work as an attainable psychological resource for LSES workers despite barriers.