Browsing by Subject "Anxiety"

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Anxiety reducing nursing activities
(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1962) Beaton, Patricia Eugenia
Benzodiazepine prescription evaluation on inpatient psychiatry
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2018) Loven, Jill Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Maria Wines
Since the Food and Drug Administration announced on August 31, 2016 it was requiring boxed warnings regarding the risk of respiratory depression and death when benzodiazepines are combined with opioid, facilities face growing scrutiny of benzodiazepine utilization. Benzodiazepines are an effective treatment for acute anxiety and often administered to patients who require inpatient psychiatric treatment. Medication Utilization Evaluation (MUE) is a multidisciplinary quality improvement method that can evaluate safety and utilization of medications in a facility. This MUE pilot project identified 261 records of patients prescribed benzodiazepines in a facility from January 1, 2017-March 31, 2017. Results showed that 75% of the sample received appropriate orders for benzodiazepine. Potential factors to predict inappropriate orders were depression and alcohol withdrawal. More information is needed pertaining to the actual utilization of benzodiazepines on the inpatient unit.
Catharsis
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 1982) Dunayer, Allan Stuart; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael Peed
My work is about finding my way through a process of letting go of myths, security blankets, and unrealistic expectations in order to bring about changes and personal growth in myself. By expressing anxiety, frustration and confusion in my art, I allow myself to release tensions of daily routine that manifest themselves in my mind. The images I use are from my interior world. I become so obsessed with them that I become them- in this way they are visual substitutes for myself. Although my work contains identifiable images, narration is not my primary intent. My objective is more a visual expression of energy and emotions. Because of my background as a potter, I feel the need to treat the painting as a tactile surface. An expressionistic quality comes from dense building up of a variety of material to achieve a rich surface. The work is as much involved with the process of assemblage as it is with painting. My work evolves out of conflicts and dialogues between the intuitive and the intellectual. The intuitive stage is the impulsive and spontaneous response to certain images, forms and marks. The intellect struggles to go beyond the traditions and restrictions of my cumulative experience. Putting together these influences allow me. to draw upon my own imagination. The end of a piece comes when these two forces reach a balance and an order. This dialogue interlocks in a structure that communicates a sense of wholeness.
Evaluation of innate anxiety in Ta1tubulin-cre/Ikbkap -/- mice : the effects of the IKAP protein deletion from the central nervous system
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2014) Kujawa, Katharine Jacobs; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: A. Michael Babcock
Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is a hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (Type III) marked by a mutation within the Ikbkap gene encoding the IKAP protein. This mutation is prevalent in 99% of the clinical FD population (Shobhat & Halpern, 2010). Symptoms include emotional labiality, cardiovascular instability, vomiting crises and decreased pain and temperature sensation. One clinical symptom associated with FD is increased anxiety in response to stressful situations (Axelrod, 2006). Dr. Lefcort in the department of Biology and Neuroscience at Montana State University has generated a novel mouse model of FD in which Ikbkap is selectively deleted from CNS neurons. The present study characterized the expression of anxiety behaviors in this mouse model using a standard elevated plus maze task. It was observed that FD mice spent significantly more time in the open arms relative to control mice. These mice exhibited significantly greater instances of unprotected head-dipping and fewer protected head-dipping compared to controls. The FD mice also traveled slower than controls but time immobile and distances traveled were found to be similar. These data suggest that the FD mice presented as less anxious, an observation that is inconsistent from observations in the clinical population. Additional research aimed at characterizing the behavioral phenotype of these mice is under investigation.
The impact of acoustic stimulation and daytime napping on heart rate variability and sleep architecture
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2023) Nicevski, Jennifer Rose; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Dawn Tarabochia
Receiving adequate overnight sleep is imperative for proper autonomic nervous system function. Recent studies utilizing acoustic stimulation (AS) have shown an improvement in sleep quality when applied during nighttime sleep, although the implications of AS on napping are not known. The purpose of the current study was to assess the impact of AS during a daytime nap on sleep and autonomic function. We hypothesized that AS (0.8 Hertz monaural beats at 30 decibels) would improve heart rate variability (HRV) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and increase time spent in slow wave sleep in young adults. 25 young healthy adult subjects (12 men, 13 women, age: 23 + or - 1 yrs, BMI: 24 + or - 1 kg/m2) took part in the study. Participants were enrolled into a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover design where they completed two 90-minute afternoon nap opportunities with or without AS, at least one day apart. During each testing session, participants were fitted with gold-standard polysomnographic (PSG) equipment and five-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Subjective questionnaires assessing sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and anxiety (Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory) were given prior to and following each nap opportunity. ECG was recorded continuously starting 5 minutes prior to lights out until awakening, allowing assessment of wake and sleep HRV. Contrary to our hypothesis, there were no significant changes in total sleep time (Control: 73 + or - 4 vs. AS: 72 + or - 4 min, P=0.850), slow wave sleep (Control: 30 + or - 4 vs. AS: 31 + or - 4 min, P=0.855), or other objective sleep measurements between conditions (All P>0.05). AS did not impact sleep HRV measures (All P>0.05). However, there was a significant main effect for time where napping resulted in a significant increase in the R-R interval (F(1,19)=25.683, P<0.001) and reduction of self-report anxiety (F(1,24)=8.229, P=0.008), but these responses were not different across conditions (time x condition, P>0.05). Napping elicited a paradoxical increase of diastolic (F(1,24)=14.483, P=0.001) and mean (F(1,24)=10.857, P=0.003) arterial pressure, but again these responses were not different across conditions (time x condition, P>0.05). In summary, the current study supports beneficial impacts of daytime napping on anxiety levels, but minimal effects of AS on sleep architecture and autonomic function.
The impact of trait anxiety and psychosocial stress on sympathetic neural control in humans
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2023) Bigalke, Jeremy Andrew; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Cara A. Palmer; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
Anxiety is highly prevalent, and while it is often adaptive, excessive stress and anxiety may predispose individuals to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease. While excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) may underlie this association, direct measures of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) indicate little, if any, alterations in resting sympathetic outflow in individuals with anxiety disorders. Assessment of the relationship between trait anxiety, MSNA, and blood pressure using a large cohort of healthy adults has not yet been conducted. Further, utilization of stress tasks within microneurographic settings that minimize the potential influence of breathing alterations, muscle movement, and other variables on the typically observed inter-individual variability in MSNA responsiveness to mental stress are needed to adequately assess the sole contribution of psychological stress on sympathetic neural activity. In Study 1, the association between trait anxiety, MSNA, and resting blood pressure was assessed in a population of 88 healthy adults, representing the largest study to date pairing trait anxiety with directly recorded sympathetic outflow to the periphery. Our findings indicate an independent relationship between trait anxiety, MSNA, and blood pressure when controlling for both age and sex. In Study 2, we utilized the trier social stress test (TSST) to assess the impact of anticipatory stress on MSNA and blood pressure in 28 healthy adults. Our findings showed that anticipatory stress is associated with increased blood pressure and reduced MSNA. Additionally, this appears to be baroreflex mediated as the magnitude of changes in blood pressure were directly proportional to reductions in MSNA, a relationship that was weakened or nonexistent during the active speech portion of the task. Lastly, anticipatory MSNA responsiveness accurately predicted reactivity to subsequent stress tasks. Together, these studies highlight a key relationship between both chronic, and acute psychological stress and anxiety on sympathoneural function in healthy adults.
Implementation of a school nurse-led anxiety screening protocol within an elementary school: a quality improvement project
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2024) Sanders, Donna Ruth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Margaret Hammersla; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.
Childhood anxiety disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent in the US, with reported cases rising from 7.1% in 2016 to over 9.2% by 2020. This increase is often manifested through somatic symptoms in children, highlighting the urgent need for early detection and intervention, particularly in school settings where these symptoms frequently result in visits to school nurses. In a rural elementary school in Montana, there was a lack of systematic screening for anxiety among students aged 8-12. These students often present with somatic complaints that lack a clear medical diagnosis, leading to under-identification and inconsistent referral practices. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework guided the implementation of a school nurse-led anxiety screening initiative using the SCARED tool. This project focused on systematic screening of English-speaking students who exhibited recurrent, unexplained somatic symptoms. Key interventions included training the school nurse on the SCARED tool, the establishment of structured screening protocols, and improved communication with parents to meet legislative consent requirements. The initiative was highly successful, achieving a 100% identification rate for students meeting the anxiety criteria, with all positively screened students referred for further support. These results demonstrate a significant enhancement in schools' capacity to manage childhood anxiety. This quality improvement project effectively addressed the rising prevalence of anxiety disorders in elementary students, emphasizing the value of structured, nurse-led screening processes. It successfully met and exceeded the set SMART goals, offering a replicable model for early detection and management of anxiety in schools. This model also highlights the importance of considering somatic complaints as potential indicators of anxiety disorders.
Improving detection and treatment of anxiety and depression in a southwest Montana women's clinic: a quality improvement project
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2023) Waldeisen, Hillary Joi; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Alice Running
Background: Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health disorders affecting women. Primary care providers predominantly screen for and manage depression and anxiety, improving detection and treatment when adequate systems are in place. As many as 30% of women utilize an OBGYN provider for primary care yet are not typically screened for either diagnosis. Local problem: Rates of anxiety and depression in Montana are higher than the national average. Women utilizing the clinic's OBGYN providers for primary care were not being screened for these disorders. Methods: Over five weeks, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were completed weekly. Participants included women utilizing the clinic for annual wellness exams. Data gathered during the project included documented PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, and management metrics including behavioral health or psychiatry referrals, prescribed medications, immediate evaluations, and monitored patients. Interventions: Staff education occurred before the implementation date. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were entered into the EHR during wellness exams. Staff surveys were emailed weekly to elicit feedback. PDSA cycles were performed utilizing data from chart audits and survey results. Results: The implementation was well received by both staff and patients. In the first five weeks following the implementation, chart audits demonstrated an average of 86 % of PHQ-9 and 81% of GAD-7 scores entered into the EHR. In addition, management metrics showed improvement in the last week of data collection. Conclusions: Implementation of screening for anxiety and depression during annual wellness exams allowed for early identification and treatment after shared decision-making. Screening was considered a valuable addition to the care provided by the clinic.
Improving experimental methods: exploring procedural mechanisms affecting participant behaviors
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2016) Page, Lenore Trinette; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: David Claudio
Research with human participants involves a complex combination of procedural elements in order to establish internal, external and measurement validity. Examining the accuracy of research equipment and methods that elicit similar behaviors as the general public is difficult. This research used driving as a model to address elements in the procedures that participants experience to elicit realistic behaviors. An instrumented vehicle (IV) and driving simulator (SIM) measured experimental behaviors for average approach speed (in the 20m before the legal stop line); lateral distance from curb at 20m; lateral distance from curb at legal stop line (0m) and the stopping location (distance before or after 0m); and, compared with measured general driving public behaviors at stop-controlled intersections. The linear mixed effect analyses combined two experiments. In both, surveys were administered to gather driver's trait anxiety, driving anxiety and social desirability scores. Experiment One drivers (36% female) were grouped as Novice (5, 16-17 year olds who just obtained driving license), Young (4, 16-17 year olds who obtained license over a year ago) and Adult (5, 30-55 year olds licensed near age 16). Experiment Two drivers (47 SIM, 44 IV; 35% female) were College age (18-21 year olds licensed near age 16) and exposed to 1 of 16 different combinations (one of those treatments matched Experiment One's procedure) of procedural changes for: researcher attire (casual or formal), researcher proximity (control room, front or rear passenger seat), mode of instruction delivery (spoken, read or video) and hypothesis statement (none or explicit). At the end of Experiment Two, participants' understanding of the experiment was coded into three debriefing variables. Absolute behavioral validity of the IV to public behavior was achieved in one treatment (formal, front seat, spoken and no hypothesis) and including the debriefing variables in the model; no SIM combination achieved this. Trait anxiety scores appeared to explain behaviors in the IV or SIM and improved result interpretation as interactions with other independent variables. For improved research methods, it is recommended that coded debriefing variables, specific procedural elements, and trait anxiety scores be included and used to explain interactions or differences in participant behaviors.
Influence of alpha intrusion during sleep: psychological and physiological implications
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2022) Greenlund, Ian Mark; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jason Carter
Poor sleep quality is pervasive in developed societies from chronic sleep disturbances or self-imposed sleep curtailment. Sleep disorders like insomnia are associated with regular sleep difficulties including sleep initiation and maintenance. Anxiety and depression exhibit a bidirectional relationship with insomnia, potentially exacerbating poor sleep quality and altering sleep microarchitecture via high frequency electroencephalographic (EEG) intrusion. This includes wake EEG alpha and beta rhythms. An association between high frequency intrusion and psychological dysfunction is present, but little is known regarding alpha and beta frequency intrusion 1) presence with state and trait anxiety symptoms, 2) impact on nocturnal blood pressure regulation, and 3) exacerbation with binge alcohol consumption. In study 1, we examined the relationship between state and trait anxiety severity with alpha and beta intrusion during stage N2 sleep, slow wave sleep (SWS), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in 32 participants. We demonstrated that alpha and beta frequency intrusion was augmented in participants with higher state, but not trait anxiety. In study 2, we investigated whether alpha and beta frequency intrusion impacted nocturnal blood pressure regulation in 36 young, healthy adults. Overall, systolic arterial pressure (SAP) dipping and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cvBRS) were not related alpha and beta spectral power during sleep. In study 3, we explored whether binge alcohol consumption could further exacerbate alpha and beta intrusion during sleep in higher state and trait anxiety participants in 31 participants. A secondary aim of this study was to determine if high frequency spectral power was different between sexes following alcohol consumption. Following laboratory familiarization night (study 2), participants were tested twice, ~1 month apart in a randomized, crossover design consuming either an alcohol dose (study 3) based upon biological sex and body weight, or fluid control beverage (study 1) two hours prior to lights out. Alpha and beta spectral power was not different between lower and higher state and trait anxiety, but was augmented in females compared to age-matched males. Collectively, these studies are the first investigate alpha intrusion presence with state and trait anxiety symptoms, impact on nocturnal blood pressure regulation, and sex specific exacerbation following alcohol consumption.
The influence of anxiety, age, and retrieval demands on memory
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2021) Whillock, Summer Rain; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michelle L. Meade
The present dissertation sought to determine if anxiety and hypervigilance can be activated outside the confines of specifically threatening stimuli by examining different situational pressures such as age and retrieval demands. In both experiments, participants studied categorized word lists and were randomly assigned to complete an initial recall test under free, forced, or warning (Exp. 2) recall instructions, followed by a second test under free recall instructions, and a final recognition test. For older adults, forced recall influenced the relationship between trait anxiety and memory such that heightened levels of trait anxiety were associated with greater correct recall and lower false recognition. In contrast, for younger adults, free recall influenced the relationship between memory-specific anxiety, hypervigilance, and memory such that heightened levels of memory-specific anxiety and hypervigilance were associated with lower levels of correct recognition. Further, warning recall influenced the relationship between memory-specific anxiety and memory in young adults, such that heightened levels of memory-specific anxiety were related to greater correct recall at test 1. Across two experiments, results show that it is possible for situational pressures to influence the relationship between anxiety and memory in the absence of specifically threatening stimuli. Additionally, the relationship between anxiety and memory depends on age, the type of anxiety being measured, and the retrieval demands of the task.
An investigation of two theories concerning evasion and failure of personal growth
(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1976) Trafton, Keith Leslie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard K. Horswill
Lessons learned: evaluating the implementation of a yoga-cognitive behavioral therapy group
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2020) Hamilton, Karlee Renee; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tracy Hellem
There is a significant need for those with depression and anxiety to have complementary treatment options to help treat the multifaceted symptoms of these illnesses. Evaluating programs for the complementary treatment of depression and anxiety is essential for organizations to measure the outcomes of their programs and to offer quality comprehensive care to clients. This project evaluated the outcomes of a yoga-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group started at a community mental health center in Montana using the CDC's Guide to Effective Evaluation as a guideline. The yoga-CBT group did not show any positive results in either BDI or GAD-7 scores, and a discussion of limitations of this program was had with stakeholders. Despite the number of limitations, lessons were learned about effective implementation of programs at the community mental health center.
Mitigating Rural Adolescent Trauma: Remote Delivery of a Trauma-Informed Yoga Intervention During COVID-19
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2022-12) Davis, Lauren; Aylward, Alexandra
Given the prevalence of childhood trauma in rural Montana, this project is intended to help mitigate stressors that may contribute to poor behavioral and mental health in high school-aged children, which may be exacerbated by the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate goal was to measure physical and mental health outcomes in adolescents resulting from a remotely delivered trauma-informed yoga intervention designed to foster positive youth development. Our study builds on the successes from an initial feasibility pilot study one year prior in order to evaluate a more robust intervention comparing experimental and control group outcomes. Students at a small, rural high school in Montana volunteered to participate in a 6-week, twice-weekly trauma-informed yoga intervention in their physical education class. Validated survey measures, including the PHQ-A, GAD-7, and ACE-Q instruments, were utilized to measure mental health outcomes pre- vs. post-intervention. Salivary cortisol levels were also measured pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Statistically significant declines in cortisol levels and improvements in sleep duration were noted when comparing experimental vs. control groups. Noteworthy declines in depression and anxiety levels were also seen when comparing the treatment to control groups. Descriptive differences between the control and experimental groups illustrate the mental health benefits of reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms in rural adolescents resulting from a remotely delivered trauma-informed yoga intervention. Our study holds the potential for a long-term public health impact in reducing adolescent rates of anxiety and depression while mitigating trauma in geographically isolated settings.
On life and death: vitality, mortality salience, and worldview defense
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2018) Sanders, Courtney Suzanne; Co-Chairs, Graduate Committee: Jessi L. Smith and Ian Handley
Human experience is most notably characterized by feeling or being 'alive.' However, according to Terror Management Theory (TMT), humans possess the awareness of their own mortality, and the resulting potential for existential anxiety produced by mortality salience might interact with vitality, or the subjective experience of enthusiasm and aliveness. The construct of vitality includes attributes such as resilience and self-esteem, which is why vitality was predicted to be a more holistic approach to dealing with the potential death anxiety triggered by mortality salience. TMT operates under the notion that anxiety from the realization of one's mortality is managed in part by embracing cultural worldviews, or psychological systems that provide life with meaning. When one fails to employ such a psychological buffer in the face of mortality concerns, this results in an increased defensiveness toward those who threaten or violate cultural worldviews. As such, Study 1 hypothesized that, under mortality salience, those low in a self-report measure of vitality would react more defensively to a moral transgressor than those high in vitality. To test this prediction, 176 individuals completed a self-report measure of vitality and were randomly assigned to provide a written response to two open-ended questions about their own death or to two parallel questions about watching television. Then, following a necessary delay, all participants provided judgments of moral transgressors; previous work shows that reminders of death lead to harsher judgments on this scale. No evidence for buffering was found in the results of Study 1, and findings failed to replicate past TMT research. To better understand vitality as a construct, Study 2 randomly assigned 90 individuals to view photos of either natural, outdoor scenes, or photos of built, outdoor scenes and were subsequently measured on vitality. Results of Study 2 conceptually replicated findings of previous work illustrating that those exposed to photos of nature reported higher levels of vitality than those exposed to photos of built environments. These findings strengthen evidence of the vitalizing effects of nature and supports contact with nature as a potential factor in future studies on vitality. Alternative explanations and implications are discussed.
Relaxation response: an evaluation of a technique for anxiety reduction among college graduate students
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 1979) Salsbury, Janice Chrestensen
Screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders during well-child appointments: a quality improvement project
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2023) Buscher, Jennifer; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christina Borst
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are prevalent among birthing individuals. Conversely, PMAD screening rates are insufficient to support assessment, making PMADs the most underdiagnosed obstetrical complication in the United States. This quality improvement project aimed to improve PMAD screening and referral rates within one pediatric clinic. Prior to implementation, the pediatric clinic was screening with the PHQ-2 at 2-month well child checks. The purpose of this initiative was to update the clinic's screening process to align with current clinical practice guidelines as outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was provided to birthing individuals at each 2-week, 2- month, 4-month, and 6-month well-child check appointment. Individuals who screened positive were provided with follow-up support. Over six weeks 152 birthing individuals were present for 2-week, 2-mo, 4-mo, and 6-mo well-child check appointments. Among these women, 129 (85%) were screened with the EPDS. Among those individuals, 14 (11%) had a positive score. Among the positive scores, 8 (57%) were addressed for follow-up recommendations. When following clinical practice guidelines, more birthing individuals were screened for PMADs and referred for follow-up support as compared to the previous screening intervention used by the pediatric clinic which was misaligned with clinical practice guidelines. This quality improvement project effectively increased PMAD screening rates and amplified awareness of the topic. Additional PDSA cycles are recommended to bolster adequate follow-up among individuals scoring positive.
The search for moderation: does anxiety enhance the unconscious thought advantage?
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2017) Whillock, Summer Rain; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ian M. Handley
When people face a large amount of information on which to base a decision, common sense suggests that they should slowly and deliberatively think about that information. However, Unconscious Thought Theory (UTT) suggests that a slow yet unconscious mechanism can process complex information and output decisions that rival, and perhaps exceed, the quality of decisions that result from deliberative thought (Dijksterhuis & Nordgren, 2006). However, this idea is controversial and research into UTT reveals that an unconscious thought advantage (UTA) over conscious thinking is small and manifests unreliably (Nieuwenstein et al., 2015; Strick et al., 2011). The aim of this thesis was to identify and test a potential moderator of the UTA. Logically, situations that hinder conscious thought but leave unconscious thought relatively unaffected should enhance the UTA. The Attentional Control Theory (ACT) offers one such situation, that anxiety compromises conscious processes that rely upon attentional control and working memory (Eysenck, Derakshan, Santos, & Calvo, 2007). Because conscious thought relies heavily on working memory relative to unconscious thought, experiencing anxiety may lead the two thought processes to diverge. Specifically, anxiety should negatively influence conscious thought but not significantly influence unconscious thought. In the present study, participants viewed information about roommate candidates and made judgments after a period of either distraction or focused deliberation, while under calm or anxious conditions. Results did not support the hypothesis that the experience of anxiety would increase the UTA; participants performed comparably in the conscious thought and unconscious thought conditions. Further, participants in the conscious thought condition performed better under anxious compared to calm conditions. Exploratory analyses and future directions are discussed.
Untitled
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 1983) Tapola, Bruce Charles; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard Helzer
It's not the rational or logical workings of the intellect but rather the illogical, irrational workings of the heart (soul), which are the catalysts of my pictures. By in some way giving the ambiguities of the emotional self visual substance, either through metaphor or the invention of personal symbols, I am attempting to make those ambiguities tangible. The intent is that once tangible they become easier to understand. Many of my paintings are born of anxiety. I wonder (WORRY) about my future constantly. What my paintings are about is the end result of the emotions they are born of. Where a more logically based approach to art making yields the results of a pre-planned effect or is illustrational of an idea or theme, my approach yields the evidence of the questioning process. At any one time I hold a multitude of contradictory feelings and viewpoints. By including a visual conglomerate of information which is both central and peripheral to a particular experience I can more fully understand and represent my interpretation of that event as a multifaceted 'thing'. I feel that it is the inclusion of contradictions and the absence of 'answers' which gives my work an unsettling quality. Humor or satire plays a role in the making of each piece and in the approach to subject matter. Their 'homemade' quality serves as something of a nose thumbing towards the notion of high art. The inclusion of 'dumb' imagery is a counterpoint to the heaviness of the territory explored. Truth, regardless of how it is defined by different artists, is one of the most desirable qualities of a work. Bruce Nauman's piece 'True Artist,' reads, 'The true artist helps the world by revealing mystic truths.' I believe in this as an artistic ideal. Though this revealing must be the intent of the artist I believe these truths are revealed by accident. If I have anything 'important' or truthful to say with my work I believe it must begin with an examination of my self. My pictures are the evidence of this examination.
Utilizing retrieval practice and narrative writing to reduce the achievement gap in high school anatomy physiology students
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Bearg, Johannah J.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Greg Francis
The researcher utilized retrieval practice and anxiety reducing techniques prior to assessment in an attempt to improve performance and narrow the achievement gap between students of color and their peers. In order to answer the question of whether 'utilizing retrieval practice and narrative writing could reduce the achievement gap in high school anatomy physiology students', baseline anxiety surveys, pre and post-assessment interviews, performance on assessment content covered by retrieval practice were collected. Data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively, with results which suggested that students performed better on content that received the retrieval practice treatment. Data was inconclusive regarding the result of narrative writing on anxiety.