Social Work

The Effect of Reduction of Time Spend on Social Media on Perceived Stress and Quality of Sleep

Presenters: Jenna Brasfield, Ashley Cioto; Miracle Gray, Jadelynne Green, Haley Henley, Aletta Jensen, Victoria Kersey, Allison Pananas, Mya Putman, Charlotte Richardson, Kara Stallsmith, Cara Stevenson, Kelsey Yarbrough, and Rhonda Hudson
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

As research producers and participants in SW 421-1, students voted and agreed that they wished to explore the association between reduction of time spent on social media, perceived stress and quality of sleep. Current research supports these phenomena among college students (Rebello, Kallingappa & Hedge, 2018; Samaha & Hawi, 2016; and Hampton, Lu & Shin, 2016). During this 9-week study, students contributed to the literature review, developed the method for their research, logged the weekly total of hours slept for each week of the intervention and the number of nights each week that they turned off technology no later than 11 pm (0-7 nights), completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen, S., & Janicki-Deverts, 2012), and their quality of sleep, using the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) (Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989).

The Effect of Caffeine Decrease on Perceived Stress in Undergraduate Students

Presenter: Ashley Cioto
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

For my SW 421 class project, I decided to explore the association between caffeine intake and stress. Current research sees some correlation between stress levels and increased caffeine intake (Prajapati, S. K., Dangi, D. S., & Krishnamurthy, S. (2019). I therefore tested the question, “Does decreasing my caffeine intake improve my stress levels?” For the first week, I drank my average of 3 cups of coffee a day, and recorded my stress level on the Perceived Stress Scale. For the following six weeks, I drank a maximum of 1 cup of coffee each day, and recorded my stress on the Perceived Stress scale each week.

The Effect of Bible Meditation on Perceived Stress on University Students

Presenter: Kara Stallsmith
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

For my class project in SW 421, I decided to research literature that shows and explains the correlation between perceived stress in college students and meditation through Bible reading and prayer. Current research observes a strong relationship between these two variables (Lemay 2018; Singh, Sharma & Talwar 2012; Crowley & Monk 2017; Tollefson, Kite, Matuszewicz, Dore & Heiss 2018). During this 9-week single-subject study, I took the first hour of each morning to focus on my chosen form of meditation which was Bible reading and prayer. I logged my perceived stress scale weekly (Cohen 2012). I also logged the number of minutes each day that I spent in the chosen meditation form. Data analysis was completed by evaluating correlations between Bible meditation and my stress level.

The Influence of Daily Art Making on Anxiety Levels (P)

Presenter: Sarah McLeod
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

Anxiety is a severe mental illness that plagues millions of Americans each year (Ducharme, 2018). While two interventions for anxiety disorders are found to produce positive results, access to these interventions is limited and their effects are not proven to extend across all categories of anxiety (McBride, 2015). Because clinical treatment is limited and costly, self-help anxiety treatment methods have been rising in popularity throughout the past several years (Fenger et al. 2016). Early research in art-making as an anxiety intervention method has yielded positive results for immediate anxiety relief, but research regarding long-term effects of daily art-making is not readily available (Sandmire et al. 2012). In this ongoing single-subject research study, thirty minutes of daily art-making is applied to a junior level college student with a history of anxious tendencies. The Clinical Anxiety Scale is used to record weekly anxiety levels over a ten week intervention period. If the results are positive, this study can provide new insight on the long-term effects of art making as a self-help method for chronic anxiety relief.

Procrastination and College Student Workload (P)

Presenters: Callie Wright and Sarah McLeod
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

Procrastination is a problematic habit for many people, and is seen immensely in college students (Ferrari, 2001). The academic form of procrastination has consequences including, but not limited to, poor academic performance and stress (Clariana, Gotzens, del Mar Badia, & Cladellas, 2012; Joubert, 2015; Tice & Baumeister, 1997). There are also a variety of known causes for procrastination, though many contributing factors may be unknown (Ferrari, 2001). The authors aim to expand the research base of academic procrastination through a descriptive, survey-driven study of approximately 300 college students. In this ongoing study, the researchers explore to see if any relationship exists between number of class hours taken by these students and their tendency to procrastinate. If a correlation is present, the researchers hope the results will provide new insight for students and their faculty advisors when planning their course loads.

Technology Reduction and Stress Study

Presenters: Dr. Rhonda Hudson and Students in SW 421-1

Current research supports the phenomenon among technology use among college students (Samaha & Hawi, 2016, Hampton, Lu & Shin, 2016). Students in SW 421-1 decided in explore the effect of reduction of time spent on social media (specifically Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snap Chat, from 10 pm -6 am) on perceived stress, as an in-class research project. During this 9-week study, each student used his/her mobile phone alarm as a reminder to turn these identified social media sites off for the specified time, and also completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen, S., & Janicki-Deverts, 2012). The PSS is reprinted with permission of the American Sociological Association, from Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelson (1983). In addition to deciding on and developing the question, the students also contributed to the literature review, in addition to developing the method and analyzing the data for the results of their research.

The Effect of Freshmen Year on College Students' Mental Health: A Research Proposal

Presenters: Tammi Heflin, Danerry Miller, and Nicole Sears
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

Current research supports how freshmen college students experience an increase in stress and difficulty adjusting to college lifestyle seen through poor mental health (Punia & Malaviya 2017). The population the researchers will focus on is College Freshmen. This population was chosen because one out of three college freshmen begin to show signs of mental health issues at the onset of the first college experience. (Guppy & Temple, 2013). The researchers predict college freshmen will have a decrease in mental health during their freshmen year. According to Awang, Kutty, & Ahmad (2014), social support, academic adjustment, and emotional adjustment with freshmen students are linked to their mental health (Awang et. al., 2014). The researchers will use the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) assessment tool (Pfizer Inc.1999) to survey students every two months during the first year on depressive symptoms.

The Effects of Burnout on Child Welfare Workers: A Research Proposal

Presenters: Britton Crenshaw, Hannah Graves, and Bethany Pawley
Faculty Advisor: Ronda Hudson

Current research supports the phenomenon of burnout among social work professionals within child welfare (Lizano & Mor Barak, 2015; McFadden, Campbell, & Taylor, 2014; Hamama, 2012; Van Hook & Rothenberg, 2009; Powell, 1994; Salloum, Kondrat, Johnco, & Olson, 2015). The researchers will explore the effect of burnout (including compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and coping/self-care strategies) within this population. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researchers plan to ask 300 participants to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) (Maslach & Jackson, 1986) and respond with their personal coping strategies (Kim, Ji, & Kao, 2011; Diaconescu, 2015). The MBI-HSS will be reprinted with permission of the Mind Garden, Inc., from Maslach, Jackson, Leiter, & Schaufeli (1986). The researchers will use SPSS Version 17 to analyze the data with inferential statistics (e.g. ANOVA, SEM). The researchers will group common responses aligned with percentage data.

Caffeine and Its Effect on College Students Academic Performance: A Research Proposal

Presenters: Carly Jo Archie, Kirstie Hurt, and Gabby Maxwell
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

There has been a recent increase in caffeine consumption among college students to supposedly improve academic performance. (Reissig,2009) It is unknown if caffeine truly improves academic performance, or if it may hinder it. The researchers are planning to gain demographic information through an online survey where college students will self-report caffeine consumption and their GPA. The students will report their cumulative GPA and report their caffeine consumption in how many cups they consume per week. The researchers will seek to recruit a goal 130 participants. The researchers will graph the information received and analyze based on past research examples. The study is quantitative. The research question is: How does caffeine consumption affect academic performance in college students?

The Effect of Hurricane Michael on Children: A Research Proposal

Presenters: Hannah Mead, Crista Karns, and Kaitlyn Stutz
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

Past research has shown that hurricanes have had major effects on the survivors' distressing feelings and anxiety (Hensley & Varela, 2008). Our research group in SW 421-1 has decided to study the effects Hurricane Michael had on 100 children (4th to 12th grade), and the possible presence of anxiety and distressing feelings among this population, by asking the parents of the children. Specifically, the researchers would like to explore children's sleeping patterns and school grades after the recent devastation of Hurricane Michael (Kronenberg et al.) The schools in Bay County, FL., will send out a notice letting parents know that the researchers are looking for participants. Those who respond will complete The Disaster Assessment and Referral Tool for Children and Adolescents (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2005), and asking parents how their child is sleeping, and obtaining their child's grades (Kronenberg et. al 2009). The researchers will use a mixed method to analyze the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. We will analyze the descriptive data (sleeping patterns and school grades), using NVivo qualitative software, and use SPSS Version 17 to analyze the data from the "Disaster Assessment and Referral Tool for Children and Adolescents" (e.g. independent T tests and ANOVA).

International Student Recruitment: Purpose, Strategies, and Ethics (O)

Presenter: Breanne Vailes
Faculty Advisor: Elizabeth Wilson

What benefits do international students bring to a university campus? How does an institution attract them? International students enhance a campus socially and academically, and, with globalization, domestic students’ intercultural competence is becoming essential within the workforce. No doubt, a larger international student population would enrich a university that spends the resources to reach them. Based on historical data, Union’s international student population has declined in the past 10 years, and many who are enrolled have deep discounts. Moving forward with a strategic recruitment plan would help to broaden the campus culturally as well as bolster it financially. Learning objectives: (1) Demonstrate the benefits of recruiting international students. (2) Describe the global climate for international student recruitment. (3) Understand the current and historical trends in international student enrollment and recruitment. (4) Articulate three strategies for international student recruitment.

Overeating Self-Efficacy

Presenter: Dawn Bailey
Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Hudson

The purpose of this exercise was to decrease overeating by moderating caloric intake and replacing the desire to overeat with low calorie fluids and Yoga exercises. A log will be kept of caloric intake, reasons for the desire to overeat, and amount of time performing Yoga. Consistent patterns of overeating, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, were identified, by the participant, as two primary causes of unwanted weight gain. In the International Journal of Obesity, Johnson, Pratt, and Wardle (2012), pointed out that, in the Western world, pleasing food is easily accessible, and, without self-control, weight gain is likely. To monitor overeating, caloric intake during the three weeks of intervention was set to a maximum of 1,800 calories per day, as recommended for a 44-year-old female, 5’, 3” tall, with a sedentary lifestyle, in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2015).