Erin L. Woodhead

This study compares experiences of traditional-aged college students (≤ 24) to nontraditional-aged students (≥ 25) in disclosing medical and mental health problems or learning differences to faculty. Two studies representing qualitative (Study 1; n = 39) and quantitative (Study 2; n = 190) data were collected from participants attending two different 4-year public universities. Nontraditional-aged students used the strategy of practical focus/obtaining resources more frequently (35.48% vs. 0%) and reported more positive experiences disclosing to faculty than traditional-aged students.

Understanding associations between chronic pain and health outcomes among detoxification patients may help improve treatment outcomes and abstinence rates. Exercise is a modifiable lifestyle factor that may reduce the effect of pain on outcomes in this population. The current study examined whether baseline pain, exercise, and their interaction were associated with psychiatric and medical severity, and abstinence self‐efficacy, over six months following detoxification. Participants were veteran patients in alcohol or opioid detoxification treatment ( N = 298) who were followed for six months (91.1%). Psychiatric severity and abstinence self‐efficacy improved over the six months after detoxification; medical severity was stable. More intense pain at baseline was associated with poorer psychiatric and medical outcomes during the post‐detoxification period. Regular exercise at baseline was associated with less psychiatric severity and more abstinence self‐efficacy during the post‐detoxification period. A significant pain by exercise interaction at baseline indicated that regular exercise was associated with more abstinence self‐efficacy during the post‐detoxification period only among participants with less intense pain. Pain by exercise interactions was not significant for the outcomes of psychiatric and medical severity. Among detoxification patients, exercise may be beneficial in improving outcomes among those with less intense pain.

This study examined associations among cannabis use disorder (CUD), 12-step program participation, and cannabis and other drug use at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Participants were age 50 or older in a study of veterans receiving medical management of alcohol and/or opioid withdrawal (N = 171). Generalized estimating equations examined the extent to which time point, 12-step program participation, and CUD were associated with change in number of cannabis and non-cannabis drug use days. Also examined was whether having CUD was associated with 12-step program participation. From baseline through the 6-month follow-up, 12-step program participation increased, non-cannabis drug use decreased, and cannabis use remained stable. Twelve-step program participation at baseline was associated with better outcomes at follow-ups. Participants with CUD reported less 12-step program participation and more cannabis use days at follow-ups. Older adults with CUD may need other types of psychosocial treatments due to low participation in 12-step programs.

Although studies have examined how depressed patients’ baseline characteristics predict depression course, still needed are studies of how depression course is associated with modifiable long-term ...

Objective: To explore, in two studies, student experiences with disclosing diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health problems to faculty, staff, and peers. Participants: Participants for both studies were college students at two 4-year public universities. Study 1 was conducted in June 2016 and Study 2 in August 2017. Methods: In Study 1, participants had a formal diagnosis of a mental health condition, were registered for accommodations, and completed semi-structured interviews (n = 6). In Study 2, participants (n = 66) were mostly non-diagnosed and completed an online survey. Results: Study 1 interviews were coded for interactions with faculty (52% positive, 40% negative), staff (100% positive), and peers (31% positive, 54% negative). In Study 2, participants reported better experiences disclosing to peers than faculty. Disclosure experience varied by type of mental health problem. Conclusions: Collaboration across campus and community agencies will better support students with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health problems.

Aim: The current study compared disclosure of mental health problems to staff, faculty, and peers among college students from different ethnic backgrounds. Background: Although there are differences in mental health stigma between college students from different ethnic backgrounds, there is limited research on whether these differences are associated with negative experiences disclosing mental health conditions on campus. Methods: The sample (N = 66) was 71% female; average age was 19.03 years (SD = 1.14). Participants identified as Latino/a (35.4%), Asian American (33.8%), Caucasian (13.8%), or other/mixed ethnicity (16.9%). Results: For disclosure to staff, there was a main effect of ethnicity. Post-hoc analyses found that Latino/a students were significantly more comfortable disclosing mental health problems to staff than Asian American students. There were no significant effects for disclosure to faculty or peers. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that universities must optimize outreach and mental health services for different ethnic groups to improve campus experience around mental health conditions.

Older and younger adults are susceptible to a decisional bias when faced with medical decisions, which results in different treatment decisions when presented with survival or mortality data. Although this bias, termed the framing effect, has been demonstrated in multiple studies, no published studies have attempted to determine the decisional process older and younger adults engage in when presented with different information frames. The current study used a think-aloud procedure to examine decisional process differences in younger and older adults who did and did not demonstrate a framing effect. All participants were presented with two data formats (interval and cumulative probabilities) in both survival and mortality wording. Data were analyzed quantitatively to determine the presence of a framing effect. Think-aloud data were analyzed qualitatively to determine decisional process differences stratified by age and demonstration of the framing effect. Interpretation of results for the interval probability format was limited by typographical errors that were found to exist in the scenario after data collection was complete. No statistically significant framing effects were found for either format among both younger and older adults. Older and younger adults had relatively equal personal and vicarious experience with the decision. Qualitative analyses performed on a subset of the data suggest that, among those older adults who did not demonstrate the framing effect, there was a reliance on pertinent experience with the decision, and little reliance on the presented data. In contrast, among younger adults who demonstrated the framing effect, there was a tendency toward incomplete analysis of the data when younger adults had knowledge about the decision. Across age groups, those that demonstrated the framing effect were significantly more likely to reference the presented data. Older adults were significantly less likely to reference the presented data than younger adults. Younger and older adults did not differ significantly on time-to-decision or word count for the think-aloud transcripts. Results are discussed in terms of age-related differences in decision making processes.