Masters of Social Work Research: Behavioral Factors and Mental Health

This research proposal, submitted by a Master of Social Work student, investigates the intricate relationship between behavioral factors and mental health. The proposal begins by establishing the rationale for studying the impact of behaviors, particularly tobacco consumption, on psychological well-being. It outlines aims and objectives, followed by an extensive literature review that examines smoking habits, their connection to mental health issues, and the application of models like PERMA to understand happiness. The research design details the epistemology, research approach, data collection methods, sample size justification, data analysis techniques, dissemination plans, and ethical considerations, including consent forms. The study aims to assess the clear understanding of the affect of behavior in a person’s mental health to examine the various risks to mental health. The proposal highlights the adverse effects of smoking on mental health, including mood swings and potential for mental disorders, supported by statistics from various health organizations. The study aims to explore the effects of smoking on mental health and well-being, offering valuable insights into the relationship between behavioral choices and psychological outcomes.

Running head: MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK
Research Proposal on The Impact of Behavioral factors on the mental health of individuals
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
2. Rationale behind selecting the topic............................................................................................2
3. Aims and objectives.....................................................................................................................3
4. Literature review..........................................................................................................................3
4.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................3
4.1 Smoking.................................................................................................................................4
4.2 Psychological wellbeing........................................................................................................4
4.3 Tobacco consumption affects the psychological well-being.................................................5
4.2 Smokers with mental disorder problems...............................................................................7
4.3 PERMA model: A scientific theory to happiness..................................................................9
5. Research design.........................................................................................................................10
5.1 Epistemology.......................................................................................................................10
5.2.1 Research approach........................................................................................................11
5.2.2 Data collection method.................................................................................................12
5.2.3 Sample size and its justification...................................................................................12
5.2.4. Data Analysis...............................................................................................................13
5.2.5 Dissemination...............................................................................................................13
5.2.6 Ethical consideration....................................................................................................14

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5.2.7 Ethical consent forms...................................................................................................15
6. References and bibliography.....................................................................................................16

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1. Introduction
This research proposal has evaluated the existing data on mental health and its connection
with the different factors that contributes to it. This research proposal shall deal with the
determinants of mental health and well-being as well as the risk to mental health. This proposal
shall contain the literature review on the various readings that has encouraged the importance of
this research to be conducted and it provides an outline of a research project aiming to identify
the types of behavioral factors that contribute to mental health of an individual. Moreover, this
study also illustrates a brief idea concerning the methodologies that are to be used in the project.
2. Rationale behind selecting the topic
Psychological well-being or mental health makes up the integral part of a person’s
potential to lead a healthy life that includes the ability to study, to maintain or to form his
relationships, to work, to pursue interests, or to make a decisions in his employment, educational
or housing field (Steptoe, Deaton & Stone, 2015). Disturbance in his mental health can adversely
affect these capacities and compromise them, leading to diminished the functioning of the
person’s level and with the same, it broader the welfare of the losses at the societal and
household level. The intrinsic value of positive psychological health is enshrined in World
Health Organizations’ definition of health as- “A state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Each of the persons with mental
disorders does not possess these disorders from the time of their birth. In most of the cases,
people gain mental disability after few incidents that took place in their life, or due to
consumption of drugs or other sort of medicines that leads to such mental conditions (Diener,
Oishi & Lucas, 2015). However, this case is not the same at every time. It has been seen that

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sometimes, a person’s behavioral attitude alone can affect his mental health and makes him
suffer from psychological disorders.
3. Aims and objectives
The aim of this paper is to gain deeper knowledge of some of the
behavioral factors that can result in psychological disorder in an individual.
The major objectives of this research are:
 to assess a clear understanding of the affect of behavior in a person’s mental health
 to examine the various risks to mental health
4. Literature review
4.0 Introduction
The individuals expose different behavior in different circumstances. This is applicable in
all situations. However, when the people are placed in stressful situations, they experience stress.
Most of the people are unable to cope up with the stress and indulge into smoking, drinking and
other addictions. These addictions lead to several and unusual kind of behavioral changes within
the people (Jetten et al., 2014). The following chapter would highlight the issue of tobacco
consumption as one of the major causes of behavioral changes within the persons. Through the
reference of various articles, journals, the chapter would shed light on the ways and means, in
which tobacco adversely the mental health of individuals. Therefore, the researcher would focus
on the variables, “tobacco smoking” and “psychological wellbeing”.

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4.1 Smoking
Smoking is an activity, which the people undertake to relieve stress and energize
themselves. Psychologists are of the view that limited tobacco consumption enables the
individuals to reduce stress levels. Some health professionals counts smoking within one of the
pleasures, which people wish to take for having a meaningful existence. However, excessive
tobacco consumption generates the risk of serious illness like lung cancer among others. These
diseases severely affects the mental health of the individuals, compelling the, to suffer from
lethargy (Midford et al., 2014). According to the opinion of the psychologists, smoking is a
pleasurable activity for the smokers with mental illness. They are also of the view that smoking
brings noticeable changes in the behavior of the individuals. Specific examples of these
behavioral changes are mood swings among others. If they are restricted from smoking, these
people secretly smoke or adopt wrong means for smoking.
4.2 Psychological wellbeing
Wellbeing indicates the extent to which the people are happy and satisfied with their life.
It has several dimensions- physical, emotional, social and psychological. Psychological
wellbeing is the mental wellness of the individuals. According to the psychologists, exercise,
healthy eating habits and routined life enhances the psychological wellness of the people.
Confidence towards dealing with the stress assists the people to be mentally strong. However,
most of the time, people find it difficult to cope up with the stress and indulge into habits like
smoking, drinking among others (Degenhardt et al., 2017). Excessive smoking and drinking
adversely affects the health of the individuals in the form of long terms diseases. Timely
precaution proves beneficial in terms of preventing the harmful effects of the diseases into the
body of the individuals, especially the smokers.

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Smoking excessive cigarette can be considered as the attempts of the individuals to
reduce the stress of work pressure. Along with this, the major drive behind smoking cigarettes
can be maintaining the balance between personal and professional life. Delving deep into the
aspect, smoking cigarettes provides an escape to the individuals from these stresses, where the
individuals search out for ways to achieve solutions for the problem (Prochaska, Das & Young,
2017).
4.3 Tobacco consumption affects the psychological well-being
Tobacco and wellbeing cannot be placed side by side. In terms of the traditional believes
of the people, connection can be established between tobacco consumption and wellbeing of the
persons. This is because smoking helps the individuals to reduce stress levels. On the contrary, in
terms of the psychologists’ views, this relation is negated. The basis for this negation is the risks
of long-term diseases, which possess flexibility to affect the wellbeing of the individuals. Herein
lays the appropriateness of the aspect of “behavioral changes”. This is because affectation of
mental health is reflected in the facial expressions of the individuals in the form of depression,
anxiety, stress among others (Young et al., 2017). The previous sentence reflects the conjoined
significance of the variables in the subject matter of the research.
According to Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, alcohol and tobacco
are the commonly used drugs in the threshold of Australia. One of the striking facts here is that
alcohol and tobacco consumption are perceived as one of the cultural practices. In spite of this,
evidences regarding the misuse of alcohol and tobacco are found among the indigenous tribes.
Overconsumption of tobacco has doubled in the number of deaths and hospital accommodations
(Aracy.org.au, 2018). The intensity of these issues has compelled the scientists to delve deep into
the effects of tobacco consumption. The results of these are indeed shocking, as they indicate

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psychological impact. Excessive tobacco smoking results in mood swings of the individuals,
affecting their mental health.
On the other hand, some of the psychologists are of the view that cigarette smoking
uplifts the mood of the smoker. This mood uplift is pleasurable, which provides energy for
tackling challenging and enduring tasks. Release of high-level epinephrine, adrenaline
simultaneously increases the blood pressure and heart beat. Increase in these makes the
individuals alert and energized for the happenings, which takes place in their surroundings. This
alertness results in spontaneous reaction and response. The major drive behind this is the
nicotine buzz (Rahman et al., 2015).
People think that the more cigarette they smoke, they would be more energized. This
feeling obliterates the harmful and negative impacts. On the contrary, they fail to understand that
consuming excessive tobacco reduces the energy level. Along with this, it compels the people to
conceal their feelings. Depression and anxiety are the immediate outcome, which strains all
kinds of relationship. All these impacts make the life of the people claustrophobic and stressful.
In view of this, it can be said that people, who are addicted towards smoking are of the opinion
that they have prescribed medicines for them.
Ingestion of nicotine in the body of the smokers, tends to relieve stress. Therefore,
missing smoking or restrictions to smoke makes the smokers angry, which can lead to self- harm
or harm to others (Haines, Bell & Dennis, 2015). Delving deep into the aspect, it is smokers’
perception that smoking tobacco relieves stress. However, in actuality, tobacco consumption
reduces their ability to tackle the stress, which they encounter in their life.

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4.2 Smokers with mental disorder problems
As per the reports published by Australian Health department in 2014, 1.1 million
Australians suffered from 1-8 severe chronic diseases. In the era of 2013, cancer was the most
common form of disease, which generated cardiovascular diseases within the people, resulting in
death. The count for the people affected with disease is 43,600 and the people losing their lives
due to the disease are 44,100. According to the census report published by Department of Health
and Ageing, Australia, 32% of the people, who smoke suffer from mental illness. These statistics
align with the experiments conducted by Centers for Disease Control, 31% of the smokers are
adults, suffering and ailing with mental illness (Aihw.gov.au, 2018). Overall, the reports depicted
that 85% of the Australians above the age group of 15 experience “good health”.
As a matter of specification, these diseases vary from bipolar diseases to psychotic
disorders, which become necessary for hospital treatment. In terms of the sufferings and
ailments, these people are placed in line with the people suffering from lung cancer and heart
diseases. Nicotine also affects the medications, which have been prescribed to the patients. It
compels the individuals to encounter depression, anxiety and withdrawal from the events
happening around them. These effects start functioning once the smoker finishes the last
cigarette. In the case of chain smokers, these effects show their impact from a much early stage
(Sheals et al., 2016).
Along with this, the functioning of lungs stops. Scientists point out that the smokers are
not aware of the fact that polluted lungs can aggravate the levels of anxiety. In the phase of
malfunctioning of the lungs, the smoker breathes in a normal pace. The normal breathing rate
acts as the oxygen to brain and heart. If the person coughs frequently in this situation, he is
compelled to suffer from hyperventilation, which is one of the major impact of panic and

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symptoms of anxiety:- rapid heartbeat; chest pains; difficulty in breathing and light headedness.
Panic disorder develops as a result of these symptoms.
The researchers of Centre for Disease Control and Prevention present the alarming
situation- 70% of the people suffering from mental illness are smokers. The focus of the
scientists is on depression and schizophrenia (Quitnow.gov.au, 2018). According to many, the
major drive behind depression is nicotine. This is because of the effects of dopamine levels on
brain. With the increase in the tobacco consumption, the levels encounter noticeable decline. The
decline in the dopamine levels, increases unhappiness of the people. Consistency in this pattern
ceases the normal function of the dopamine.
The scientists are also of the view that 90% of the people with mental illness,
schizophrenia, are smokers. This is because of the perception that people who suffer from
schizophrenia, smoke in order to cure themselves. Some other researchers are of the view the
people with schizophrenia smoke for addressing the problems of restlessness, tremors and
spasmatic muscles. In other studies, smoking has been considered positive for human health in
terms of sharpening memory and reflex actions (Aihw.gov.au, 2018).
Tobacco consumption attains commonality among the people with mental illness of low
intensity in comparison to the people suffering from high intensity mental illness. International
and Australian studies project the rate for smokers suffering from schizophrenia between the
range of 60-73%.

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4.3 PERMA model: A scientific theory to happiness
Theoretical considerations enliven the concepts, used in the research, to the readers. This
is applicable for all researches, including this one. Therefore, this section would take PERMA
model for enhancing the clarity of the readers regarding wellbeing.
Figure 1: PERMA model: A theory of happiness
This model is composed of five letters- P, E, R, M and A, which stands for positive
emotions; engagement; relationships, meaningful existence and achievement respectively.
According to the self created believes of the people, smoking reduces stress, energizes them and
inspires them to participate in the social events. Some of the scientists and researchers also
support this by saying that smoking sharpens the memory of the people. All these are positive
aspects, making the existence of the people meaningful. This meaningful existence is an
Positive emotions
(feeling good)
Engagement
(finding flow)
Relationships
(authentic
connections)
Meaning
(purposeful
existence)
Achievement (a
sense of
accomplishment)

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achievement for the people, which enhance the stability in their relationships (Taylor et al.,
2014). However, majority of the scientists and researchers believe that the nicotine in the tobacco
is harmful for people, as it causes stress, depression, schizophrenia and lung cancer like diseases.
In view of this opinion, the attributes of the model gets distorted. The life of the people becomes
claustrophobic due to strain in the relationships. This generates the feeling of depression,
generating a sense of loss.
Delving deep into the context, cigarette smoking takes the individuals to a different world
of happiness, where they feel relieved from the stresses in their life. This escape is an
achievement for the people. However, the harmful impacts of cigarette attach a negative
connotation to the feeling of achievement. This negativity destroys the meaning of the people’s
existence. In view of the previous statement, destruction of stability in the relationship is a mere
part of the intensified suffering and ailments, which the individuals are compelled to undergo (Lê
et al., 2014). The suffering and ailments can be considered as one of the behavioral change, as it
adversely affects the psyche of the individuals.
5. Research design
5.1 Epistemology
Epistemology in a research deals with the sources of the gathered knowledge. It is mainly
concerned with the possibilities, limitations, sources and nature of the knowledge in the field of
study. In other words, it can be said that epistemology emphasis on what is known to be true and
it is the way of thinking opposite to ontology.
In case of research design, there are several sources of knowledge and they are: