Search Results Within Category "Mental & Behavioral Health"
Understanding the relationship of financial difficulties and mental health among a sample of American Undergraduate Students.
Aim is to explore how student's financial status and experiences influence their emotional, psychological, and social well being while being in university.
Participants, upon their consent, will be required to fill a Qualtrics survey on their personal laptop or computer.
18 years or older
Penn State Undergraduate Student
Fluent in English
Non U.S Citizen
Non Penn State Undergraduate Student
Pennsylvania Adoptees Longitudinal Study (PALS)
This study will examine various factors within the home of children adopted from the child welfare system between the ages of 4 and 10 that may impact their development. The first visit will occur remotely via Penn State Health Microsoft Teams; the second visit is optional and will occur within 4 weeks of the first visit at the Transforming Lives of Children Center in Harrisburg, PA; and the third visit will occur one year after the first visit, when research staff will travel to participants' homes. This research will help understand the factors that impact the development of children adopted from the child welfare system and how we may better serve these children and their families.
The child and parent will be asked to complete interviews, questionnaires and various tasks. Parents may also be asked to complete questionnaires online.Participation will last for one year and include the following:-One visit occurring remotely via PSH Microsoft Teams-One visit at the Transforming the Lives of Children Center in Harrisburg, PA, four weeks after Zoom visit (optional)-Final visit at home will occur one year after the first Zoom visit
$225
Child legally adopted by the caregiver
The same caregiver will participate in each of the visits
A biological parent resides in the same home as the child
Women and Infants' Stress and Health
The goal of this study is to understand how babies and their mothers learn to respond to stress during the early years of the baby's life. Participating women complete questionnaires and do a mildly stressful task alone (during pregnancy) or with their babies (at four different times over the first two years of the baby's life) and collect saliva samples that tell us about stress responses, either at home or at one of our lab sites. We aim to use what we learn to better support expecting parents who may be at risk for stress-related health problems and improve their children's resilience to stress throughout life.
Women are asked to participate in six sessions over Zoom and/or at the PACT Center between their 28th week of pregnancy and when their child is 2 years old. During these sessions, which last up to 2 hours each, mothers and babies will1.participate in mildly stressful tasks (like having the mother leave the room for up to 3 minutes and then return) and games to assess the baby’s emotional and cognitive development2.provide saliva samples by drooling into a tube (for the mother) or holding a cotton swab in their baby’s mouth to get it wet3.fill out questionnaires about themselves and their baby4.take part in clinical interviews that ask about mood and other markers of psychological ill-being
$220
18 or older
English speaking
Psychopathy and Affective Priming
This is a study which examines whether priming for fear can influence affective empathy in persons high in psychopathic traits.
Able to read and write in English
Persons under the age of 18
The Blended4Blues Study
An intervention using an internet-based platform for coping and mood difficulties. Participants will be able to use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) based online self-help modules over the course of a 10-week program.
Participants will engage with online materials on a weekly basis for 10 weeks.
$25
U.S. resident currently residing in the United States
Fluent in the English language in terms of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Aged 18-19 years
Presence of depressive symptoms as measured by a score ≥ 10 on the QIDS-17-SR
Unable to speak, read, listen, and write English fluently.
Do not meet inclusion criteria for clinical depression on the QIDS-17-SR, i.e., score ≥ 10
Does not fulfill DSM-5 Criteria for MDE on the MINI Clinical Interview.
Expressed suicidal ideation defined as score >1 on the suicide ideation item on the PHQ-9, and/or on the MINI.
A qualitative exploration of rurality, physical activity, and intervention preferences among older residents in Pennsylvania
This study will use interviews to explore to explore perceptions of rurality, physical activity behaviors and physical activity intervention preferences among rural older adults who live in Pennsylvania
Currently residing in Pennsylvania
Able to speak, read, and write in English
Not currently residing in Pennsylvania
Not able to speak, read, and write in English
Penn State SELF - Student Engagement, Learning and Flourishing
Substance misuse is a leading national problem, with young adults at high risk. We aim to develop a university resource that elucidates biobehavioral underpinnings of problematic student substance use at University Park campus. This initiative would inform services needed, provide engaged learning opportunities, connect with faculty, and catalyze high-impact, interdisciplinary research. In addition to this primary rationale, this study will allow us to capture detailed information about other critical student experiences such as food and housing insecurity, experiences of discrimination, and daily health practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. Participants will be asked to take a baseline survey followed by a 21- daily diary protocol (brief 5 minute survey each day for 21 days. For more information or to register interest in participating please see: https://projectself.psu.edu/register-your-interest/
Enrolled at UP
18-24 years old
Part-time students
Students located in the EEA
Older than 24
No graduate students
The association between perceived parenting styles, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety among young adults
This study aims to understand the association between young adults' perceived parenting, intolerance of uncertainty, and trait anxiety. Participant will be asked to complete a questionnaire that aims to answer the environment and parenting beliefs around which they were brought up, and if they face stressors and anxieties associated with them. This is a correlational study
Geographical location: USA
All genders
All ethnicities
Individuals over 34 years
Individuals residing outside USA
Longitudinal Associations Between Food Insecurity, Diet, Mental Health, Sleep and Academic Outcomes in College Students
This is a questionnaire study that seeks to discover the prevalence of food insecurity at PSU's University Park campus over the course of a semester and the relationship between long-term food insecurity and academic outcomes, as mediated by mental health and sleep outcomes.
Must be in their 2nd semester during Spring 2021
Must have internet access
Must be at least 18 years old
Must not have children or other dependents
Has diagnosed mental disorders
Is unable to read, write or understand English fluently
Contempt as a Mixed Emotion
This study will investigate whether contempt is a positive, negative, or mixed emotion.
Examining executive functioning deficits, affective deficits, and social functioning to better understand disruptive behaviors and callous-unemotional traits
This research seeks to better understand functioning in children who differ in symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), conduct problems (CP), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits, ages 6 - 13. Specifically, this research is being done to find out how these different types of behaviors impact cognitive skills (like attention, impulsivity, working memory, emotion identification) and social functioning to help inform future treatment with these children.
Estimated IQ of 80 or above
Willing and able to discontinue psychoactive medication treatment for the experiemental session, if relevant
Caregiver and child must be fluent in written and spoken English
Psychiatric symptoms requiring urgent treatment, such as mania or suicidal ideation/homicidal ideation
Unable to be tested off medication
Physical disabilities that are incompatible with completing laboratory tasks such as hearing or speech impairments, or visual impairments that cannot be corrected with visual aids
The effect of repetitive thinking on emotional reactivity to daily events in depression and generalized anxiety disorder: Application of the contrast avoidance model
This is an ecological momentary assessment study that will examine the relationship between daily events, emotion, and repetitive thinking using a mobile application. The participants will be required to answer 2 minutes questionnaire and monitor their heart rate 8 times a day for 8 consecutive days.
If you are eligible based on the screening survey, there will be one Zoom study session where you will complete a brief videotaped clinical interview to further determine your eligibility to participate in the study. If you are eligible and decide to continue in the study, you will complete a brief questionnaire and be trained on how to complete the study. Starting the next day, you will complete eight 2-minutes questionnaires per day and monitor your heart rate using smartphone application for 8 days.
Up to $20 (Amazon gift card)
Owns iPhone.
Scores high or low on depression and anxiety symptoms measure
Fluent in the English language in terms of speaking, listening, reading, and writing
Meets diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia-related disorders
Has suicidal thoughts
Unable to speak, read, listen, and write English fluently.
Expanding Family Foundations to 2nd-Time Parenthood - Focus Group
This focus group study, funded by Penn State's Social Science Research Institute, brings together couples with preschool-aged firstborns who are pregnant with their 2nd child or who have given birth to their 2nd child within the last 12 months. Couples will be interviewed about how they worked together as a team (as coparents) to prepare their firstborn for the birth of the second child and to prepare themselves for 2nd-time parenthood.
2.Each caregiver is over 18 years of age.
3.Caregivers are living together in the same household and are either married or living with a partner.
4.Families living independent of parents’ families of origin.
5.Both caregivers fluent in communicating in English.
2.Caregivers are under 18 years of age.
3.Caregivers not living together
4.Caregivers not living independently of their families of origin
5.Single-parent families with no live-in partner.
Identifying the Cognitive, Psychological, and Neuroimaging Signatures of Head Trauma in Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
We aim to investigate the impact exposure to head trauma in intimate partner violence (IPV) has on cognitive, psychological, and neural processes. Physical trauma as an outcome of IPV impacts an estimated 10 million people in the United States each year, with up to 90% of women exposed to IPV reporting episodes of abuse with head trauma. Women exposed to IPV are at a high-risk for developing mental illness and impaired cognitive function, which seems to be compounded in those with exposure to head trauma (HT).
The study includes interviews to discuss your any experiences you have had with physical abuse and head trauma, as well as current and past mental health history. Then you will complete questionnaires to see how you feel about your mental and physical health, followed by tests to assess your thinking abilities. Finally you will complete a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session to examine brain structure and function. All of the testing should take approximately 6 hours to complete.
$90
Aged 18-60
Has previously experienced intimate partner violence
Currently experiencing intimate partner violence (within the past 3 months)
Non-English speaker
Neurological and developmental disorders
Development of Adolescent and Young Adult Social Health (DASH)
Adolescence is a unique developmental period that prepares individuals for adulthood. We are studying the behavioral and brain basis of this important time, particularly in terms of how adolescents understand and think about other people. To study this important developmental transition, we are inviting typically developing children (6-8 yrs), adolescents (10-14 yrs), and young adults (18-22 yrs) to help us with this study. Participants answer questionnaires, play games of face recognition, and have pictures of their brains taken in a neuroimaging session. Child and adolescent participants also have physical exams. Volunteers are compensated for time (between $185-630) in the lab and for the neuroimaging session.If you are a parent and want to begin the screening process for you child, please go here https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_51lN8sODiukYOONIf you are an adult, and want to begin the screening process please go here:https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5cXMng6ybKe0WwJ
Participants answer questionnaires, play games of face recognition, and have pictures of their brains taken in a neuroimaging session. Child and adolescent participants also have physical exams. This study requires multiple in-person visits.
between $185-630
Normal vision and hearing (with correction)
Free of neuroneurologic, psychiatric, endocrinology disorders
Free of concussions with loss of consciousness
History of working with metal
Irremovable metallic implants in the body (e.g. braces)
Pregnancy
Weigh more than 250lbs or get claustrophobic in small spaces
Stressors under food insecurity and short-term cognitive change in rural older adults
The study is recruiting older adults of age 60 or older in rural Central Pennsylvania to track their food insecurity, diet, mood, stress and cognitive functions in two seasonal months in the winter and in the summer. Each day, participants will use a provided survey phone to answer the survey questions on food situations, mood and stress (20-30 mins) and diet (10 - 30 mins). Participants will also be asked to complete the short cognitive assessments (<3 mins) on smart phones. Following the social distancing guideline during COVID-19 pandemic, remote virtual training will be provided via Zoom and device pick-up and return will be via USPS services. All data collection will take place at participant's home. Up to $400 study compensation in check will be provided.
There will be up to two in-person trainings. Participants will be provided a smartphone for data collection. Each data collection period last for a month. There are up to two months of data collection periods. All data collection will take place at participants' home using the provided smartphone.
Up to $400
No difficulty with activities of daily living
Connected to internet at home
Has any diagnosed neurodegenerative diseases
Has significant cognitive impairment
Has a chronic mental illness
Is heavy drinker of alcohol
The Impact of Menstrual Cup Distribution Programming on College Student Perpetuation of Period Stigma
This is a social sciences study to analyze the effect of menstrual cup introduction through the "CampusCup" free menstrual cup distribution program on the tendency of college students to perpetuate period stigma. A survey will be conducted across samples of students who participated in the CampusCup program, students who use menstrual cups independent of the CampusCup program, and students who have never used menstrual cups. The survey will address motivations behind menstrual cup usage and personal attitudes towards periods. The study seeks to investigate relationships between menstrual cup usage & CampusCup participation and impacts on community attitudes towards menstruation.
At least 18 years of age
Has experienced a menstrual period in the last calendar year
Less than 18 year of age
Has not experienced a menstrual period in the last calendar year
Penn State Hershey Sitting and Health Study
This study aims to examine the effect of pedaling a compact elliptical device at the desk on employees' work productivity. This study also aims to evaluate the effect of different types of incentives on promoting desk-based pedaling.
Overweight or obese
Spend at least 5 hours per day sitting at a desk
Have eligible overweight/obese coworker who can do study together with you
18-70 years old
Planned surgical or medical treatment that will prevent ability to complete study
Heart condition, or chest pain during physical activity
Planned travel or relocation during study period
Already have desk cycling device or treadmill at desk
Neurophysiological Markers of Pediatric Irritability and its Response to Intervention
This study uses specific computer tasks to predict irritability in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as the effect of ADHD medication (stimulants) on irritability symptoms in children with ADHD. Children ages between the ages of 5 and 12 years are eligible and must have an established diagnosis of ADHD or suspected symptoms of ADHD.
Children diagnosed with ADHD or suspected ADHD Symptoms
Children who are able to stop ADHD medication for testing days
Parent/child fluent in English
Children with visual or hearing deficits or sensitivity to loud noise
Neurological conditions such as active seizure disorder
Prominent traits or diagnosis of Autism, marked developmental delay, mania, psychoses, or suicidal ideation.
Strengths, Outcomes, Adversity, and Resilience in College-Aged Childhood Cancer Survivors: The PSU SOAR Study
The purpose of this study is to analyze the strengths, outcomes, adversity, and resilience, as indicated by self-reported experiences in college students who may or may not be childhood cancer survivors. We are asking college students aged 18-23 years attending 4 year universities in the United States to report on their childhood health experiences and their current mental, physical, and social well being during college using a confidential survey. We plan to recruit students who have or have not had a childhood history of cancer and will also ask questions about their demographic information and health habits.
The participants will be asked to complete a confidential online survey that will take 10-15 minutes to complete.
Participants are eligible to earn a $75 Amazon gift card through a random drawing that they can choose to enter after submitting their survey responses
College student attending 4 year university
English as primary language
Not attending a 4 year university
Does not have English as primary language
Epigenetics and Bipolar Disorder: The Role of Reelin in Bipolar Disorder
This study is designed to compare biological markers of mood in participants with bipolar disorder to individuals without bipolar disorder. Participants will answer questions, give blood, and undergo a clinical interview. This study is a 1 time appointment lasting no longer than 1.5 hours and participants will be compensated $50.
One in person visit with interviews, questionnaires, and a blood sample.
$50
18 Years or Older
No diagnosis of psychiatric disorder
Pregnancy
Investigator discretion regarding ability to participate in the study
Elucidating the Necessary Active Components of Training (ENACT) Study
This study will examine the effects of different brain games on cognitive and everyday activities in middle-aged and older adults. Participants will play either 20 or 40 hours of ENACT brain games on a study provided laptop. They will also complete daily surveys on a study-provided mobile phone for the duration of the study. These surveys will take approximately 5-6 minutes to complete per day. The study will last either 6 or 9 months depending on the brain game training time. The study will be done remotely from the comfort of home using study-provided mobile devices. Participants are compensated for their time.
Participants will play either 20 or 40 hours of ENACT brain games on a study provided laptop. They will also complete daily surveys on a study-provided mobile phone for the duration of the study. These surveys will take approximately 5-6 minutes to complete per day. The study will last either 6 or 9 months depending on the brain game training time. The study will be done remotely from the comfort of home using study-provided mobile devices.
$230
Strong English writing and comprehension
Willing to participate for 5 to 9 months
History of dementia or Alzheimer's Disease
Use of video games for more than 2 hours/week over the previous 2 years
Decision-Making in ADHD: An Evaluation of the Subjective Value of Rewards and Costs
Children with attention and behavior problems often need external rewards to motivate them to perform challenging tasks, but we don’t yet know much about how children weigh potential rewards and the effort required to obtain the rewards. This research is being done to find out how children with varying levels of ADHD symptoms value rewards and costs when making decisions about whether or not to perform a difficult task.
There will be one in-person visit. Children will complete two computerized cognitive tasks (thinking games), and will be able to earn prizes from the points they earn on these tasks. Parents will also be asked to complete a few questionnaires that should take about 25 minutes to finish. Children can earn up to $50 in compensation for completing the study.
$50
Children with normal or corrected vision
Caregiver and child must be fluent in written and spoken English
Willing to stop stimulant medications, when appropriate, for research testing
Current or past diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.
Current use of non-stimulant medication due to its extended washout period.
Physical disabilities that are incompatible with completing laboratory tasks such as hearing impairments, or visual impairments that cannot be corrected with visual aids (i.e., glasses, contacts).
Examining Maternal Reward Responsiveness and the Intergenerational Risk for Depression
Children of depressed mothers are at high risk for developing depression, particularly as youth age into adolescence, yet relatively little is known about the mechanism underlying risk for depression in youth with depressed mothers. The present study examines maternal reward responsiveness, measured across neurophysiological, behavioral, and self-report measures as a marker of depression in mothers of adolescents. Associations between maternal reward responsiveness and parenting difficulties often associated with maternal depression, as well as adolescent functioning will be examined, to explore the clinical impact of maternal reward responsiveness on the intergenerational transmission of depression.
Capacity for informed consent
Fluent in verbal and written English
Adolescent between the ages of 13 and 16 years (inclusive)
Any hearing or visual impairments
Investigator discretion regarding ability to participate in the study
Young Children’s Representations of Parent-Child Negotiation
The goal of this study is to learn how young children think and tell stories about challenges between parents and children. Children will play games and tell stories using toys while caregivers fill out surveys and talk to researchers. This will occur twice, about 6 months apart. Qualities of children's stories, their language and regulation skills, demographic information about children and caregivers, and parenting behaviors will be examined.
At least one caregiver of a child between ages 5 and 7
English-speaking
Middle income
Caregiver at least 18 years old
Children that are not fluent in English
Children who are unable to tell stories with a researcher due to developmental disability or language delay
Children who are younger than 5 or older than 7
Low or high income
The opioid epidemic among Pennsylvania immigrants: Insights from prescribers and rehabilitation professionals
We will interview prescribers and rehabilitation professionals who have provided services and treatment to immigrants in PA with a history of opioid abuse. The goal is to highlight best practices, resources needed, cultural awareness, and training needs to support the rehabilitation and recovery of this client group.
One 45-minute, recorded interview via Zoom
$50.00 Amazon gift card
Substance abuse treatment provider
Opiate pain medication prescriber
Service provider in PA
Provide services to immigrants (non-citizens)
No experience with immigrant patients/clients
No experience with opioid use disorder
My Character is...Myself? Exploring Attachment Styles, View of Self, Virtual Self-Discrepancy, & Character Attachment
The goal of this research is to confirm the relationships between virtual self-discrepancy, character attachment, view of self, attachment styles, and the potential for a moderating variable within the relationships as a starting point for future research tying in player/character relationship and gaming addiction.
Players that engage in role-play gaming using a character they have spent a significant amount of time creating.
Participants that can understand English
Players that do not engage in role-play gaming using a character they have spent a significant amount of time creating.
People who do not speak and read English.
Mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic: a study of essential workers and social media use
Through in-depth interviews, we examine how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the daily lives and mental well-being of essential workers, as well as their use of social media.
Social media users (e.g. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
Adults 18 or older
Social media users
those working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic
minors (those under 18)
those who do NOT use social media
Depressive Symptomatology and Inflammation
The purpose of this research is to investigate the associations between depressive symptoms and inflammation. The researchers are studying how specific symptoms of depression (such as fatigue, sadness, impaired concentration, and loss of pleasure) are related to markers of inflammation, which is a key component of our immune system. Volunteers with depressive symptoms, as well as volunteers without depressive symptoms are needed for this research study. This study includes an online survey to determine eligibility and one in-lab visit. Participants who are eligible will be scheduled for one in-lab visit (2.5-3h for participants with depressive symptoms & 1-2h for participants without depressive symptoms), where they will be asked to answer surveys with questions related to depressive symptoms and complete a number of tasks (using an iPad and a touch screen phone) that measure thinking skills including attention, memory and reaction time. Participants will also undergo a single blood draw to assess inflammatory markers.
Participation will require one in person visit at the CRC that takes from 1 to 1.5 hours total where they will have their blood drawn, fill out surveys about their mood, and complete cognitive tests.
30
No history of depression
Free of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune disorders
If female, not pregnant or nursing
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents or statins everyday within the past month
Taking antipsychotics or mood stabilizers
If female, are post-menopausal or pregnancy/lactation
Personalized assessment of daily experiences
The purpose of this voluntary research study is to understand how experiences that might change moment-to-moment influence suicidal thoughts and behaviors for individual people. In other words, the purpose of this research is to understand how much the experiences that lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors might differ from person to person. This research includes people living in rural areas of the United States because people living in rural areas are not often represented in suicide research, even though suicidal thoughts and behaviors are important issues for people in rural communities. We want to make sure that we understand how suicidal thoughts and behaviors might develop specifically for individual people living in rural areas. We also want to understand how suicidal thoughts and behaviors develop specifically for LGBTQIA+ people who live in rural areas.
First, you will complete surveys at a baseline assessment. Second, following the baseline assessment, you will be asked to complete short assessments of your mood, thoughts, and behaviors, 5 times per day for 21 days. Each assessment should take less than 2 minutes to complete. Third, at the end of the 21-day period, you will provide feedback on your experience rating your mood, thoughts, and behaviors. Fourth, you will complete 12 brief weekly assessments. Fifth, you will complete surveys four months after completing the baseline assessment.
$300
own a smartphone with internet and email access
English language fluency
Lifetime suicide attempt with past-year suicidal ideation or a suicide plan or suicide intent within the last 12 months
Live in a rural area of the United States
mania
psychosis