Fostering Resilience: A Pilot Study for Mindful Yoga as an Intervention for Adolescents Exposed to Chronic Adversity

The effects of ongoing stress can cause chronic affect dysregulation, destructive behavior against self and others, learning disabilities, dissociative problems, somatization, and distortions in concepts about self and others (Bessel van der Kolk, 1994, p. 259). There may be particular benefits for youth who live in urban, underserved populations as they have experienced social challenges such as poverty, violence, drugs, racism, and immigration. Given the historical tendency of youth to express their emotions externally as a coping strategy, there is rationale to support a physically based treatment, like yoga, as an intervention for this population (Beltran et al., 2016). This study explores using yoga to build resilience as a mindfulness-based intervention for children who have experienced chronic adversity, particularly for students living in underserved communities. The primary research questions for this mixed methods study are (R1): Does mindfulness-based yoga improve adolescents’ perception of their ability to emotionally self-regulate; and (R2): How does mindfulness-based yoga improve adolescents’ perception of their ability to self-regulate? This mixed-methods study used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-C) as a pre-post methodology, interview methods, along with application of the spiritual capitol theory, to examine the effectiveness of yoga as an intervention for increased emotion regulation for underserved, minority school settings. Adolescents (n = 12) participated in an eight-session, four-week pilot yoga intervention that targeted increasing resilience as evidence by perceived stress and emotion regulation. There was not a statistically significant difference from pre to post yoga program despite the decrease in participants’ perceived stress (t (11) = .114; p \u3e.05). Overall, participants scored higher before the yoga program on the perceived stress measure (M = 17.58, SD = 3.370) but decreased once the program concluded (M = 15.50, SD = 4.583). Positive affect was not statistically significant although the scores increased from before to after the yoga program (t (11) = .276; p \u3e.05). Despite this trend, students scored lower before the yoga program on positive affect (M = 39.25, SD = 10.515) and trended towards significant increase after the program (M = 42.25, SD =8.001). There was a statistically significant difference from the pre to post yoga program for negative affect (t (11) = .029; p \u3c.05] experienced by the participants. Overall, the students scored higher before the yoga program (M = 30.75, SD = 9.265) and significantly decreased after the program (M = 25.25, SD =8.740) indicating a reduction in negative affect. Despite limited statistical significance, the participants expressed positive experiences, increased emotion regulation, and reduced stress. These are significant outcomes for adolescents who have experienced chronic adversity to build resilience. Yoga, in school settings, has many implications to include fostering the development of resilience for children who have experienced chronic adversity. Future researchers may work towards understanding how yoga strengthens resilience among increased sample sizes within the same target population

Effects of Oxygen Deprivation on Pilot Performance and Cognitive Processing Skills: A Pilot Study

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, pilots flying above 14,000 ft. are required to use supplemental oxygen. The purpose of this study was to examine how oxygen deprivation below 14,000 ft. affects pilot performance using the Frasca Mentor Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD), and cognitive processing skills using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM(TM)) cognitive test. The study was conducted in a Normobaric High Altitude Laboratory at simulated altitudes of 5,000 ft. and 14,000 ft. In this pilot study, only five participants were tested; non-significant results of the analysis were anticipated; however, as oxygen levels decreased and time of exposure increased, cognitive processing skills decreased and pilot performance degenerated. The conclusion from this pilot study was that further research is warranted

Investigation of Breath Counting, Abdominal Breathing and Physiological Responses in Relation to Cognitive Load with University Students

Ph.D.Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 201

A Pilot Study of an Online Stress Intervention for P-12 Teachers

Researchers (e.g., Greenberg, Brown, & Abenavoli, 2016) suggest that P-12 teachers are routinely exposed to high levels of stress and prone to burnout, which is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of personal accomplishment (Maslach, Leiter, & Johnson, 1996). Burnout has been associated with deleterious effects on teachers’: (a) health and wellbeing; (b) job performance; (c) job commitment; and (d) workplace relationships (Greenberg et al., 2016). Thus, burnout is a critical issue that must be addressed in order to maintain a solid workforce of engaged and effective teachers who influence positive student outcomes. According to the transactional model of stress, stress is the gap between an individual’s demands and resources for meeting those demands (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987). As such, teachers may benefit from opportunities to develop effective coping resources. Chapter One is a systematic review of 18 studies of stress interventions for P-12 teachers in the United States. Participant groups included special educators as well as general educators. Results suggested that teachers who participated in stress interventions reported a range of benefits that included reduced stress, burnout, health-related symptoms, and student misbehaviors as well as increased job satisfaction, teacher efficacy, and mindfulness. The discussion section focuses on the implications for policy and practice. Chapter Two is an experimental study that explored the preliminary outcomes of Mindfulness and More for School Personnel (MMSP), an online stress intervention for school personnel. MMSP instructed scientifically-supported individual coping strategies and addressed ways to build supportive relationships with others in the school workplace. Results demonstrated large positive effects of MMSP on study outcomes. In comparison to a control group, MMSP participants demonstrated significant: (a) decreases in burnout, (b) increases in teacher efficacy; and (c) greater use of coping strategies. Thus, MMSP holds promise as a feasible program that may improve teacher stress management skills and prevent burnout

Combating Stress with Yoga: A Theoretical Model of Self-Regulation

Exposure to environmental stressors may challenge children’s developing self-regulatory abilities and increase their risk of developing emotional and behavior problems. Interventions aimed at improving children’s self-regulatory skills, specifically emotion regulation and attentional control, may reduce children’s risk for adjustment problems. The present study proposed a novel theoretical model which describes how participation in yoga may increase children’s self-regulatory skills and increase children’s mindfulness, or the ability to focus attention on the present moment. Both self-regulation and mindfulness were expected to be associated with fewer anxiety problems. Components of the theoretical model were evaluated using a very small sample of at-risk, elementary-aged children who participated in a school-based yoga program. Consistent with expectations, emotion regulation was statistically and significantly associated with better mindfulness and less anxiety; attentional control was associated with fewer anxiety problems. Contrary to expectations, attentional control was unrelated to mindfulness. Moreover, mindfulness did not interact with either attentional control or emotion regulation to predict anxiety. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical implications and critical next steps needed to evaluate yoga as a potential tool for reducing children’s risk for problem behavior by way of strengthening self-regulatory mechanisms

Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 141)

This special bibliography lists 267 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in April 1975

Effect of Psycho-Pharmacological Modulation of the Autonomic Nervous System on Human Oesophageal Pain Hypersensitivity

Background: Altered autonomic nervous system (ANS) function has been proposed as a mechanism in the development of central sensitisation (CS) and visceral pain hypersensitivity (VPH). The contribution of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) and the factors that mediate differences in sensitisation to acid are unclear and their study will clarify risk factors for oesophageal pain hypersensitivity (OPH) in gastrooesophageal reflux disease. Aims: To investigate psychophysiological and pharmacological manipulation of PNS tone in the development of OPH, and to determine factors which predict the development of OPH to acid infusion in healthy volunteers in a validated model of acid induced OPH. Methods: Pain thresholds to electrical stimulation in the proximal oesophagus were determined before and after a 30-minute distal oesophageal infusion of 0.15 mol/L hydrochloric acid in subjects. Sympathetic (SNS) and PNS parameters were measured at baseline and continuously thereafter. Subjects underwent psychological profiling for anxiety, depression, attachment vulnerability and personality type. Using this model, five studies were undertaken: Study 1 a pilot study to trail modulation suitability for further study used. In Study 2, subjects who demonstrated secondary hyperalgesia in the proximal non-acid-exposed oesophagus performed deep or sham breathing. Study 3 subjects, who did not sensitise to acid, underwent a validated stress test to induce OPH. With Study 4, deep breathing with IV saline (placebo) or atropine (PNS antagonist) was used to evaluate deep breathing’s induced PNS tone in OPH reduction. Study 5, a genetic pilot study, exploring the role of the GCH-1 haplotype in VPH. Results: ANS control’s key role in CS was clarified. Deep breathing increased PNS tone and prevented acid-induced OPH in comparison to sham breathing and confirmed increased PNS tone’s reversal of OPH. Psychological factors of anxiety, alexithymia and attachment status influence ANS modulation of CS. Individuals’ predisposition to VPH due to psychogenetic profiles were clarified and their biopsychosocial role illustrated. Conclusions and Inferences: A mechanistic explanation for the analgesic effect of deep breathing is provided with potential therapeutic implications in the treatment of VPH syndromes. Further clinical study is warranted to develop cost-effective treatments for chronic VPH syndromes

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 183

This bibliography lists 273 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in July 1978

Technology applications

A summary of NASA Technology Utilization programs for the period of 1 December 1971 through 31 May 1972 is presented. An abbreviated description of the overall Technology Utilization Applications Program is provided as a background for the specific applications examples. Subjects discussed are in the broad headings of: (1) cancer, (2) cardiovascular disease, (2) medical instrumentation, (4) urinary system disorders, (5) rehabilitation medicine, (6) air and water pollution, (7) housing and urban construction, (8) fire safety, (9) law enforcement and criminalistics, (10) transportation, and (11) mine safety