Health Studies
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/15831
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Browsing Health Studies by Author "Amuta, Ann"
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Item Cognitive function and mental health: Findings from the Dallas Heart Study cohort(Dec-23) Curry, Karrie 1977-; Rigby, Brandon; King, George; Amuta, Ann; Berry, JarretPurposes: 1) Explore the relationship between hypertension and cognitive functioning among older adults who participated in the second phase of the Dallas Heart Study (DHS-2) and the Dallas Hearts and Minds Study (DHMS); 2) Understand how cognitive functioning evolves among older adults who participated in the DHS-2 and DHMS; 3) Explore the relationship between depression symptoms and mild cognitive impairment in older African American and Caucasian adults who participated in the DHS-2 and DHMS. Methodology: Cross-lagged correlations determined relationships between hypertension, education, income, depression (measured using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology), and cognition (measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) at baseline (DHS-2) and 12 years later (DHMS). Education, income, depression, and resting blood pressure were predictors, with change in cognition as the outcome variable. Multiple standardized correlation coefficients were compared to determine potential paths of relationship between variables across time. A paired samples t-test, with a significance of 0.05, was used to determine how depression and cognitive scores changed over 12 years within African Americans and Caucasians. Results: Participants with hypertension in the DHS-2 had lower scores of cognitive impairment in DHMS (β = .073, p = .026). Participants with lower educational attainment (β = .265, p = .006) and lower income levels (β = .210, p < .001) in the DHS-2 had lower scores of cognitive impairment in the DHMS. The same participants with more depression symptoms had more cognitive impairment in both the DHS-2 (β = -.170, p < .001) and the DHMS (β = -.113, p = .009), and participants with more depression symptoms in the DHS-2 had lower cognitive impairment scores in the DHMS (β = -.088, p = .009). Both African American and Caucasian participants with depression symptoms in the DHS-2 had significantly fewer depression symptoms in the DHMS when controlling for depression symptoms in the DHS-2 (p < .001). The same participants had significantly more cognitive impairment in the DHMS (p < .001). Conclusion: A diagnosis of hypertension may elicit negative changes in cognition over a 12-year period. Individuals from lower socioeconomic status (SES) communities may experience cognitive impairment 12 years later. The presence of depression symptoms may elicit negative changes in cognition over a 12-year period.Item COVID-19: a pandemic's impact on psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life of breast cancer patients(2023-05-01T05:00:00.000Z) Corona, Irma Marie 1976-; Dillon, Suzanna R; Dillon, Suzanna R; Dillon, Suzanna R; Nichols, David; Menn, Mindy; King, George; Johnson, Ruth; Amuta, Ann; Dillon, Suzanna RIn January of 2020, the coronavirus, or SARS-COV2, quickly became a pandemic and was detected across the globe, including in the United States. The exponential transmission of the virus was unprecedented, caused an astounding loss of life, and in an instant, it shut down an entire nation. The purpose of this explanatory sequential research study was to examine the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the breast cancer community in terms of disruption of life, resiliency, medical care decision making, and health-related quality of life based on their personal COVID-19 status as well as that of their family members. A total of 33 participants were recruited all of whom were female breast cancer patients who were or had recently completed radiation therapy at a medical center in Texas. All the participants completed the COVID-19: Impact of the Pandemic and HRQOL in Cancer Patients and Survivors quantitative survey. From the 33 participants, 15 participated in a qualitative follow-up interview to provide a more in-depth understanding of the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic. Based on the findings of descriptive statistics and independent t-tests, the researcher concluded that there were no statistically significant disruptions in patients daily lives or health care or on measures of resilience based on individual or familial COVID-19 status (i.e., testing positive or negative for COVID-19). However, a moderate effect size (d = -.69) was determined for resilience with individuals whose personal status remained negative maintaining resilience despite the pandemic. Regarding health-related quality of life, the researcher concluded that individual as well as familial COVID-19 status had no statistically significant impact on a breast cancer patients’ quality of life, though a medium effect size (d = -.61) was found when examining individual COVID-19 status. As determined through Fisher’s Exact Test, breast cancer patients attended general medical appointment similarly regardless of COVID-19 status; however, breast cancer patients who were COVID-19 negative were statistically more likely to attend cancer related appointments in person than breast cancer patients who tested positive for COVID-19. As concluded from the results of Chi-Square analyses, breast cancer patients’ decisions to attend general medical appointments were impacted if a family member tested positive for COVID-19, though no statistically significant differences were found for attendance of cancer related appointment based on a family member’s COVID-19 positive status. These results were supported by qualitative evidence provided by the breast cancer patients, which offered greater insights on disruption, resilience, quality of life and medical decision making and has implications for community health and medical service providers.Item The role of available resources to identify and treat low-income women with postpartum depression during COVID-19(May-23) Cedeño Dávila, Roselyn 1982-; Amuta, Ann; Menn, Mindy; Porras Pyland, Claudia; Porras Pyland, ClaudiaEfforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the sexual and reproductive health of women with increased cases of domestic violence, deaths among women, and depression. This study aimed to uncover the role of available resources in identifying and treating low-income women with postpartum depression (PPD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to interview low-income women of childbearing age (18-51), pregnant, or with children aged 2 or younger to learn from their experiences accessing resources to report symptoms and get treated for PPD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five themes emerged from the interviews including 1. Fear, anxiety, and loss of interest 2. Social support 3. Lack of access to screening 4. Lack of resources for PPD 5. The COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences reflect the lack of communication between patients and healthcare providers as well as the absence of resources offered to low-income women.Item Vicarious resilience among employees and volunteers at a rape crisis center(7/28/2021) Gallegos, Irene Denise; Amuta, AnnVicarious resilience is a newer concept to combating burnout and improving the health and wellness of sexual assault trauma workers at rape crisis centers (RCCs). The primary goal of the study was to explore the predictive nature of intrapersonal and interpersonal and organizational factors for vicarious resilience among trauma workers at a RCC. A targeted cross-sectional research approach was used to predict the relationship between: 1) intrapersonal factors and vicarious resilience; and 2) interpersonal and organizational factors and vicarious resilience. A quantitative questionnaire was administered to trauma workers at a RCC in North Central Texas (n=46) using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, subscales from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III (COPSOQ III), the Vicarious Resilience Scale, and questions based on recommendations from experts in the field. A descriptive analysis was used to establish the context of trauma worker demographics and work environment. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine whether trauma workers’ intrapersonal, interpersonal, or organizational factors were predictive of high vicarious resilience. The results of the multiple regression analyses indicated statistical significance for intrapersonal factors (total time of service in IPV field, age, and chronic health conditions) and interpersonal and organizational factors (coping strategies) predictive of high vicarious resilience. Findings from this study may be used for RCC management to improve trauma worker wellness and expand trauma-informed training curricula beyond self-care strategies for sexual assault trauma workers. Vicarious resilience is a promising multidimensional approach to adapting to trauma work and transforms trauma workers’ perspectives on a valued field.Item Who is really teaching adolescents about sexual health?(2024-05) Weaver, Jesse Lee 05/28/1987-; Dr. Mandy Golman; Amuta, Ann; Dr. Nila RicksSexual health is impacted by the implementation of social media platforms (SMP) among entire communities. Late adolescents are among the most vulnerable groups to social media norms toward personal attitudes and sexual health behaviors. This dissertation examines the relationship between social media platforms and sexual health behaviors and impressions among adolescents. Results of this study did not provide statistical significance in correlations for social media platforms and behaviors. However, the practical significance from the descriptive analysis is beneficial to understanding the new generation of adolescents perceptions toward sexual health. The findings from this study will assist in examining what influences social media platforms may have on behaviors and impressions that occur in everyday life among adolescents. In addition, findings will assist health educators in developing more lines of communication to disseminate sexual education information to adolescents.