Coach-Athlete Relationships: Impacts, Motivation, Coach Mental Health

Ryan Healey, Verrazzano Class of 2026, completed major in Psychology

As someone who enjoys keeping up with sports, I chose to research this topic because I have seen so many careers ruined due to poor relationships between the athlete and coach. In addition to their careers falling apart, players and coaches’ mental health can be negatively impacted from these relationships.

My expectations for the capstone was for it to be difficult because research for this subject is limited, as it is something that has really only become popular after the 2010’s. Mental health was an overlooked factor in sports before that time, and if you had a problem with a coach and/or were underperforming you were dropped, no questions asked. However, it was surprising to find that there was new research from the coach’s perspective on said relationships with athletes and how they too are affected. I was originally going into this project only focusing on athletes, but after seeing this additional research, I changed course a bit.

After completing my capstone, I am satisfied with what I found because it gives me hope. In recent years there has been evidence of support for coaches and athletes going through issues like this and they are no longer completely on their own. I do believe though that more can be done in the future to further accommodate people in situations with mental health. An example could be sports organizations as a whole taking accountability for the athletes and coaches that represent them. They could do this by making required training regimens for all members who are involved in the organization about the concern for safety not just physically, but mentally.

Impact of Night Shift on the Mental Health of Nurses

Melanie Akilova, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Nursing 

After conducting research and trying to find the perfect topic to develop a capstone on, I landed on mental health and the impact it holds on nurses who work the night shift. I was inspired by reading blogs and listening to stories on how some nurses do not enjoy working the night shift due to the impact it has on their mental and physical well-being.

I learned a lot while developing the paper and the poster and I would like to share this experience with others to prepare them for their capstone as a Verrazzano student.

Originally, I was lost on how to begin my research, what websites to look for, which articles to apply, and how to narrow down my search. I reached out to my mentor, Professor Hunton, in the Nursing department. She helped me tremendously in making this capstone come to life. My biggest advice to anyone starting their capstone is, do not wait until the last minute and research something you are interested in and passionate about!

My capstone highlights how disruption of sleep patterns can significantly impact a nurses’ wellbeing, causing them to feel burnout, increase the likelihood of making mistakes, and possibly struggle with mental health issues. I discovered that young and less experienced nurses are the most vulnerable population within nursing, which applies to me. To help minimize these effects for me as a new graduate nurse, I have learned that I need to have a consistent sleeping routine, even on days off, and practice relaxation techniques to ease the mind and body.

With all this information at hand, I had to sit down and put everything on paper which seemed easier said than done. After sorting out and trying to cut down bits and pieces of data, I found myself having a hard time meeting the 12-page count requirement, even when I thought this topic would be detail heavy enough to write continuously.

Throughout my capstone experience I learned the importance of mental health, which is a topic that is not discussed as openly as it should be. Devoting every single hour of my day to develop my paper showed me how dedicated I was in voicing this idea to the nursing community.

The most important takeaway is, always advocate for yourself and put your well-being before others. Feeling burnt out as a nurse is more likely to do harm than good and can put patients at risk. Taking a mental health day, learning how to say no, and going to sleep a few hours earlier on days of work can tremendously play a role in improving mental health.

Echoes of Understanding: Exploring Schizophrenia's Ripple Effect on Relationships: A Literature Review

Jordan Pernice, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Psychology

My research area was inspired by a deep interest in understanding the correlation between mental health and human relationships. As a psychology major, I’ve always been fascinated by how mental health disorders affect interpersonal connections. Schizophrenia stood out as particularly misunderstood, yet profoundly impactful to those who have it. My motivation stemmed from a desire to bridge the gap between clinical understanding and human empathy.

Initially, I thought the capstone would be a straightforward academic exercise. In reality, it was much more. It became a journey of discovery, pushing me to question stereotypes, connect with the emotional narratives behind the data, and explore the societal implications of stigma. It was intellectually challenging, but also deeply personal. By the end, I felt like I had not just written a literature review, but had also contributed to promoting understanding and compassion for those impacted by schizophrenia.

I found that confronting the depth of stigma and misinformation surrounding schizophrenia to be deeply challenging. Sifting through dense research articles was tough, but even harder was digesting the emotional toll the disorder takes on individuals and their relationships. At times, the statistics and stories felt overwhelming. However, what came naturally was my passion for the topic. I never doubted my commitment to shedding light on this important issue. What surprised me the most was how interconnected everything was. This project proved that addressing mental health is not just about discussing treatment, but also about promoting societal change.

This research is only the beginning, I’d love to explore interventions that improve relationship dynamics for individuals with schizophrenia, particularly focusing on romantic relationships, which are often overlooked. Expanding the study to include personal narratives and interviews with individuals and their families could provide richer, more human perspectives. Additionally, exploring cross-cultural differences in how schizophrenia is perceived and managed could highlight areas for global improvement in mental health care and societal support systems.

This experience has been incredibly personal for me. My stepfather’s struggle with schizophrenia was my first glimpse into how this disorder affects not only the individual but also their loved ones. Witnessing his journey, the challenges he faced in maintaining relationships, and the misconceptions he endured gave me a unique perspective and a deep empathy for those living with mental illness.

Through this research, I’ve come to appreciate the resilience of individuals like my stepfather and their families. I’m walking away with a renewed sense of purpose to advocate for mental health awareness and a commitment to fostering understanding in both my personal and professional life as I continue my journey in psychology.

Researching the Benefits of Exercise

Raphael Pollante, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Psychology and minor in Cinema Production

When I was deciding on a topic for my Verrazzano Honors capstone, I was told to find a topic that I was personally invested in, because I would be immersed with this topic for an entire school year. The only thing I could think of was that I am extremely passionate about exercise, primarily powerlifting.

After competing in my first powerlifting competition I realized how much I loved the sport, and how it made me feel joyful to be part of a community where everyone works to get stronger. Lifting completely changed my view on life because I am doing something to benefit me for the short-term and long-term.

Creating my hypothesis was probably the most difficult thing throughout the capstone process because lifting was too broad of a topic to discuss in terms of mental health. I decided that powerlifting, weightlifting and bodybuilding could be grouped as just exercise.

From there, I decided that resistance exercise and aerobic exercise are two forms of exercise that I see people working on at gyms, or on social media. I incorporated sub-sections of mental health to include how self-esteem, anxiety/depression, and body dysmorphia changes when a person participates in either resistance training, aerobic exercise, or both.

One thing that I learned while writing my capstone was that no matter the age, gender, ethnicity, or body type, we could all participate in any form of exercise, depending on what that person prefers.

Another thing I learned is that exercise can do so much for our mental health by making us feel good about ourselves, and making us more confident in our body. Exercise is inexpensive to do, and there are a wide range of options like powerlifting, calisthenics, running, swimming, etc.

If my project was to be developed further, I would make sure that the researchers had common knowledge between the different forms of exercise and how each exercise could affect the participants differently. I would also make sure that there is a large sample size in the experiment, as well as proper demographics for each participant before joining the experiment. To properly pursue this research, one needs to have baseline measurements throughout the experiment, as well as one year after the experiment.

All-in-all, I enjoyed writing the capstone because I was able to learn and understand reasons why people enjoy exercise, and how well it can benefit us by doing something that we enjoy. It was a tough process to complete, but I was able to do it and learn something new.

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health

Kyle Hapuarachchi, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in Biology Health Science Science 

When thinking about my capstone, I knew I wanted to work with Psychology and how the mental health in the U.S. differs to the mental health of third world countries. With some adaptation and the help of my mentor Professor Sukhram, we came up with the idea of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of both college students and frontline healthcare workers (FHCWs).

My purpose in doing this research was to ensure that the mental health issues that arose during the pandemic would be mitigated in the case of another mental health crisis.

In order to do this narrative review in a structured way, I looked at four different studies. Two of the studies dealt with CUNY students that had mental health issues, while the other two studies were about frontline healthcare workers and their struggles with mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think recognizing the areas that make for poor mental health is important to understand. As a CUNY student and someone who wants to work in the healthcare field, it is important to understand the potential mental health crises I may be working in.

With the help of Professor Sukhram and the Writing Center, I was able to write an insightful narrative review that explained the importance of looking at mental health issues due to COVID-19. My mentor assisted me with similar peer-reviewed articles to read since I had been unsure on what to do and how to format my paper. This allowed me to get used to another version of writing reports; it was a completely new ballgame. Understanding the difference between facts and opinion was something that I had to get accustomed to. 

Overall, working on this project showed me that although things are tough in the beginning there is a light at the end of the tunnel in which you will find success. 

 

Studying the Issues of Mental Health in College Students and Mental Health Accessibility

 Alexandra Agosta, Verrazzano Class of 2022, completed major in Social Work 

In my research, I learned about and explored the barriers in college counseling services for current college students, from the students’ perspectives.
Through interviews it was found that many students were unaware of the counseling services provided to them on their campus, and participants shared their experiences on the issue. I was able to receive many recommendations on behalf of the students on how they believe the issue needs to be addressed and what needs to be done to prevent mental health issues.
As a result, I gained an understanding of what causes the barriers and became aware of how they might impact individuals in college.
To overcome these barriers, colleges need to first address the issue, then provide better advocacy and programs, advertise available services in a more effective way, and eliminate stigmas or change the mindset of ideas surrounding mental health issues on their campuses. The study proved that there is a need that has to be accounted for in order for mental health awareness to be present on college campuses, as well as college counseling services to be more effective for the well-being of the students.
Researchers may want to further explore the gaps in mental health awareness on college campuses or explore what are the best ways to receive input from students to help colleges address the issue of mental health awareness on campuses. This may lead to further research on how to decrease the number of students experiencing mental health issues and how to make a positive change in the community.
Lastly, researchers may consider using random methods when selecting their sample group to avoid any biases from occurring during the research process.

Importance of Nurse-Patient Communication in Young Adults with Anxiety

 Ronnel Martin, Verrazzano Class of 2021, Completed major in Nursing 

Communication is an essential skill in the field of nursing.  I think of the quote by Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Mental health awareness is something I am passionate about, as anxiety can be disabling in people’s lives.  Nurses and health care professionals need to use effective communication skills that meet the needs of their patient. Because it can be intimidating and unpleasant for patients to be in a hospital, understanding the need for inter-personal communication skills and the effects of anxiety in young adults is critical for nurses and other health care professionals.

Throughout the process of this project, I learned so much about myself as a nurse and as a person. I have always wanted to become a psychiatric nurse because I wanted to help this vulnerable population. My research has reinforced my awareness of the need for empathy and compassion.

In a time of global uncertainty, nurses and other health care professionals are also suffering from mental health issues as they are working on the front lines of this pandemic. I have learned that there needs to be adequate mental health resources available for all individuals. From my research, studies have shown that the prevalence of anxiety has risen for the young adult population, aged 18 to 25. In addition, this population is least likely to receive or seek mental health services due to factors such as belief in self-management, fear of stigma, and the inability to afford treatment. As a nurse myself, I believe it is important to be knowledgeable in effectively using our communication skills to prevent the onset of anxiety for young adults and enhance their patient experience.

If I continued to pursue this research, I would further develop my project by interviewing nurses regarding their use of communication skills. I would ask them if they believe their skills are adequate in providing patient satisfaction and reducing their anxiety. Moreover, I would interview patients and ask them how important they believe nurse-patient communication is in alleviating anxiety.

Considering we are in a pandemic, the prevalence of anxiety has greatly increased for all populations. I believe the way nurses and other health care professionals communicate and interact with their patient has so much impact on the quality of care and in the reduction of anxiety. Humanistic and compassionate communication skills are fundamental for nurses to provide the best care possible to their patients.