Impaired Executive Function in Concussed Athletes

Concussions are classified as mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). An individual that has sustained a concussion will experience symptoms such as nausea, possible memory loss, blurry vision, or loss of balance. Most symptoms subside within a few days, but a large pool of research raises concern for the recovery of executive function, specifically impulse control. Executive function relates to all tasks that require deliberate attention. Past research has shown adolescents record the highest number of sports concussions when compared to collegiate and professional athletes. The frontal lobe, which controls executive function, is not fully developed during the time of adolescence. Injured players of this developmental stage typically experience a prolonged recovery period. This study performed a battery of cognitive tests, well-recognized as effective means of testing impulse control, on both concussed and non-concussed athletes. A permanent marker of concussion was identified at 6 months post-injury. Participants with a history of concussion demonstrated impulse control and attention issues. Such behavior is characteristic of individuals diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. The evaluation of executive function prior to return to play can be useful for the prevention and treatment of long-term consequences

Examining Social Media Use, Connectedness, and Depression in Graduate Students

This study examined the relationship between social media use, sense of connectedness, and depression among graduate students. Graduate students are at risk of depression and often disconnect from their social supports due to their program\u27s demands. Literature on the impact of social media on depression is discrepant. The relationship between a sense of connection, the use of social media, and depression in a graduate student population is a novel area of research. Graduate students at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and other universities, including healthcare and non-healthcare-related disciplines, were included. Participants were recruited via social media or email. The current study included the following measures: The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R), The Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2), and The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A Pearson correlation demonstrated that higher levels of depression were correlated with higher levels of social connectedness. Higher levels of problematic internet use indicated significantly higher levels of depression than lower levels of problematic internet use. Social connectedness was significantly higher among higher problematic internet use in comparison to low problematic internet use. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that Preference for Online Social Interaction (POSI) and compulsive internet use were predictors of problematic internet use

Social media use, connectedness, and depression in graduate students

This study will examine the relationship between social media use, sense of connectedness, and depression among graduate students. Graduate students are often disconnected from their social supports due to their program\u27s demands; additionally, the risk of depression in this population has been established in the literature. The impact of social media on depression has been investigated, and the results are discrepant. The relationship between a sense of connection, the use of social media, and depression in a graduate student population has not yet been explored. Graduate students at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and other universities studying psychology, medicine, biomedical science, or physician assistant studies will be included. Participants will be recruited through email and social media platforms. A control group of participants that do not use social media will be included. The following measures will be used: The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R), The Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2), and The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). An inverse relationship is predicted between connectedness and depression. Participants with high scores on problematic internet use are anticipated to have elevated levels of depression and a low sense of connection compared to participants with low scores on problematic use. The subscales from the GPIUS2 are hypothesized to be predictive of participants\u27 sense of connection