Browsing by Author "Howard, Meredith"

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Exploring Perceptions of a Computerized Cognitive Behavior Therapy Program in a U.S. Rural Western State
(2018-10) Schure, Mark B.; Howard, Meredith; Bailey, Sandra J.; Bryan, Bill; Greist, John
Computerized mental health interventions have the potential to address existing mental health care disparities in rural communities. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory examination on the acceptability of an interactive computerized cognitive behavior therapy program to reduce depressive symptoms for adults in a rural Western state. Partnering with the land-grant university Extension system and a state non-profit organization, we identified and interviewed 18 key informants and conducted 19 focus groups in 15 rural communities to ascertain attitudes and perspectives about the program. Key informants were provided access to the Thrive program prior to the interviews. Focus group participants were provided a brief demonstration of the program and asked to provide feedback. Content analyses of interview and focus group transcripts yielded four general themes of program acceptability: privacy, accessibility, user-friendliness, and cultural inappropriateness. Overall, participants indicated that the Thrive program would be useful for many in their communities. They also reported that the program could be improved by making videos that better represent rural community members' lifestyles and experiences. The study team members acted on these findings to improve the Thrive program for rural Western populations.
Farmer and Rancher Perceptions of Climate Change and Their Relationships with Mental Health
(2020-04) Howard, Meredith; Ahmed, Selena; Lachapelle, Paul; Shure, Mark B.
The impacts of climate change are having negative consequences on agricultural communities in the United States and other regions of the world. More specifically, these impacts are expected to increase in both scale and complexity and will continue to pose challenges both in terms of agricultural production and capacity. The purpose of this study was to understand ranchers’ and farmers’ perceptions of climate change’s impact on their businesses and their mental well-being in a rural U.S. western state. Surveys were administered online and in-person to farmers and ranchers in fall of 2017. Descriptive statistics and correlational tests were conducted to evaluate if climate risk perception was related to levels of mental distress. Open-ended survey questions explored specifically how climate change is impacting mental well-being. The majority of respondents agree that climate change is having an impact on agricultural business, and nearly three quarters of respondents are experiencing moderate to high levels of anxiety when thinking about climate change and its effects on agricultural business. A moderate correlation was observed between climate risk perception and climate-related anxiety. Qualitative data showed the impact of climate change on profitability was perceived as the main cause of distress. This study demonstrates that climate change is generating anxiety and distress for farmers and ranchers. To maximize public health preparedness efforts, interventions are warranted to provide climate adaptation education and therapeutic outreach specific to agricultural workers experiencing economic struggle in the context of climate change.