Schools' health screenings can identify students' missed health concerns. Data from the 2016 School Health Policies and Practices Study were used to determine the proportion of U.S. school districts with physical and mental health screening policies and the proportion that arrange off-campus mental health services. We also examined differences…

Increasingly, immigration policies are understood as structural determinants, rooted in racism, nativism, and ethnocentrism, which raise serious public health concerns for Latinx adolescents' mental health. Our objective was to examine how immigration policy enforcement affects mental health of Latinx youth raised in a county with an aggressive…

We developed and validated scores on the Lifestyle Practices and Health Consciousness Inventory (LPHCI)-2: Brief Version, a short form for measuring global wellness (mental and physical health). Tests of internal structure (EFA, CFA, and higher-order CFA) as well as convergent validity supported the psychometric properties of LPHCI-2: Brief…

Research has shown that ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) predicts education and mental health outcomes for adolescents. However, limited research has evaluated the ERS experiences of Latinx students. The current study examined ERS experiences of Mexican American youth in four focus group interviews that were transcribed and analyzed at both the…

Firearm-related violence is the leading cause of death for adolescents and can have lifelong ramifications, including to one's mental health and well-being. Through a scoping review of existing literature published since 1980, the current study describes nuanced pathways through which exposure to firearm violence (direct or indirect) can…

Pairing is a commonly recommended practice used to build rapport and create positive therapeutic environments. However, there are limited evaluations of training procedures to teach pairing skills to direct-care staff. The purpose of the present study was to formalize and improve the efficiency of the training process for the initial stages of…

Background: Sleep problems are common in adults with ADHD and may be bidirectionally associated with ADHD severity and other psychiatric symptoms. We investigated the prevalence of positive screenings for various sleep disorders, and their association with psychiatric comorbidities in a large sample of adults with ADHD from a specialized…

University study is a period of psychological vulnerability for many individuals. International college students may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing distress and developing a mental illness due to challenges of relocation and acculturation. The aim of this meta-analytic review was to synthesize the literature on the mental health…

This dissertation explores the impact of mindful meditation on imaging students, aiming to determine whether meditation practices can enhance students' overall outlook and mood amidst the numerous stressors encountered within their academic program. Imaging students often face high-pressure situations, including the emotional toll of caring for…

The growing prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) among mental health professionals (MHPs) has contributed to an ongoing mental health workforce shortage in the United States. Literature has shown strong evidence of workforce and organizational risk factors for STS, with inconsistent conclusions about the role of personal trauma. Previous…

Positive psychology is a valuable framework for understanding teacher candidates' mental health perceptions. In the current study, we examined how the presence of meaning in life, search for purpose in life, psychological grit, and hope influenced teacher candidates' subjective happiness and depressive symptoms in a Hispanic Serving Institution.…

The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated depression, anxiety, and executive function (EF) difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). EF skills have been positively associated with mental health outcomes. Here, we probed the psychosocial impacts of pandemic responses in children with and without ASD by relating pre-pandemic EF…

Objective: To describe the changes in sleep health domains and examine the associations between the repeated measures and intraindividual variability (IIV) of these domains and perceived stress. Participants: A diverse racial and ethnic group of first-year college students (N = 23, 78.3% female, aged 17-18) attending in-person classes during the…

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a brief, self-guided, Internet-based version of the mantram repetition program (MRP) for undergraduate students, a population with mental health challenges and high reliance on Internet-based resources. Participants: Undergraduate students (n = 60) receiving course credit had a mean age of 20.66 years and…

Objective: This study aimed to explore the mental health status, coping strategies, and social support of international students in Canada. Participants: Undergraduate and graduate international students studying at one Canadian university participated in an online survey. Methods: The survey consisting of four assessments--the Mental Health…