Research Symposium

BIO

Josh Ryland de Kloet is a college freshman at FSU majoring in Interdisciplinary Sciences with the goal of becoming a physician. He graduated from Maclay High School on the biomedical track, passed the BACE exam, and got early exposure to clinical settings through volunteering at HCA Hospital.

Josh has also attended programs like the FSU Summer Medical Institute and the NSLC Medicine & Healthcare program at Duke, where he explored clinical skills, connected with healthcare professionals, and deepened his passion for patient care.

During his freshman year at FSU, Josh was invited to join the medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. He was also selected to take the FSU Medical Response Unit training course and plans to earn an EMT certificate this summer. Right now, he is focused on building a strong foundation in science and gaining as much real-world experience as he can. Josh is especially interested in how science translates into hands-on care—and he is excited to continue learning and growing on the path toward a career in clinical medicine.

An Analysis of Stress, Quality of Life and Emotional Support among USVI Adults

Abstract

We are investigating how factors such as isolation, stress, and alcohol consumption impact the quality of life within the United States Virgin Islands. We are exploring this to gain a better understanding of what does and does not contribute to a higher life satisfaction. It is important to have a quantitative understanding of the patterns associated with life satisfaction. Prior to beginning research, literature reviews were conducted to establish an area in need of further exploration. The United States Virgin Islands were chosen as our data supply due to it being an under-resourced area that meets criteria for being an NIH health disparity population. This is due to high levels of poverty, and inadequate access to medical and behavioral professionals. Surveys were then conducted among the United States Virgin Islands and analyzed. The next steps in this research is to explore other causes of a low quality of life such as adverse childhood experiences (ACES). ACES is lacking in research and by focusing on the US Virgin Islands we are able to make advances in mental health services.

Keywords: Stress, Anxiety, Depression