Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Utilization Of Mental Health Education In Schools For Prevention Not Just Intervention, Ashley Williams

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The prevalence of mental illness in adolescents is more extensive than in previous years. In schools, social workers have been utilized to address mental health episodes in students, however, they generally do not get involved until the adolescent’s mental health episode is critical and unmanageable without social support. This needs to change. The purpose of this research study is to assess for adolescent’s knowledge of mental illness and mental wellness. The targeted population is school-aged children in grades K through 12, however the respondents of the study were student educators due to the protected status of school-aged children. This study …

Household Member Arrest And Adolescent Hopelessness: The Mediating Role Of Future Expectations, Caroline Victoria Begley, Elizabeth Inez Johnson Ph.D, Tanner Kilpatrick M.S

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

School-Based Mental Health Referrals’ Representation Of Actual Mental Health Disorders Among Adolescents, Alva M. Dominguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Increasingly, health providers are recognizing the importance of providing behavioral and mental health services to children and adolescents. As a result, school districts are adopting the School-Based Mental Health Program approach to provide mental health services to their students. The purpose of this study is to test if there is a disparity between children being referred due to externalizing behavior versus internalizing behaviors. The data was collected from archival sources, and it was analyzed utilizing the SPSS software for a quantitative and descriptive study. The findings indicated that students experiencing Internalizing and/or Externalizing behaviors are almost equally receiving services. This …

A Trauma-Informed Art Therapy Approach For Boys With Sexualized Problematic Behaviors: A Group Method, Rebecca Cyr

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Treatment of sexualized problematic behaviors (SPB) in children and adolescents is a clinically significant issue that has little research to support the fundamental need for treatment. Sexualized problematic behaviors (SPB) can be an indication of a child’s own complex trauma and sexual abuse history. Using a relational, trauma-informed, and developmental approach to treatment in combination with art therapy, children demonstrating SPB can learn how to better express themselves, respect themselves and others, and heal a fragmented sense of self. Developmentally, these children and adolescents are in the stage where identity formation is the main task. Therefore, this series of art …

Attitudes And Actions That Adoptive Parents Perceive As Helpful In The Process Of Raising Their Internationally Adopted Adolescent, Marina V. Kuzmina

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological dissertation study explored the lived experiences of adoptive parents in the process of raising their internationally adopted adolescents. The researcher interviewed 9 participants. Criteria for selection of the research sample included having personal experience with parenting one or more international adolescents adopted at age 10 or older and raising these adolescents for at least two years following such adoption. Data analysis included steps suggested by Moustakas (1994) and the participation of a research team and external auditor. According to the recommendations of Lincoln and Guba (1985), several strategies for trustworthiness were implemented during this course of the study. …

Clinical Applications Of Aerobic Exercise With Adolescents Experiencing Depression And Anxiety, Sarah Mergens

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Despite continued growth and improvements in traditional treatments for adolescent depression and anxiety, the rates at which adolescents are experiencing depression and anxiety continue to increase. Current research indicates that physical activity has a positive correlation with mental health. While staying true to the ethics and values that guide clinical social work practice, how can clinicians use aerobic exercise to treat adolescent depression and/or anxiety? This Systematic Literature Review SLR collected and synthesized findings from similar studies in order to identify specific aerobic exercises that have been successful in treating adolescent depression, common strategies for implementation and tools and strategies …

"They Don't Say It Up Front" : Immigrant-Origin High School Students' Experiences Of Disrespect And Racial Microaggressions By Teachers : A Project Based Upon A Group Research Investigation, Leah A. Gold

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study used counter-storytelling methodology from Critical Race Theory to explore 15 racial and ethnic minority immigrant-origin high school students’ experiences of racial microaggressions by teachers. Previous research focuses on overt racism with youth or microaggressions with adults, but has not addressed subtle racism experienced by high school students. The findings suggest immigrant-origin experience teacher disrespect as racial microaggressions, including those that are related to immigrant identity. Though not conclusive, the results indicate that experiences of racial microaggressions and responses may differ for immigrant-origin youth with different generation status. Teachers’ racial sensitivity and school climate were demonstrated to be …

Quality Of Life Among Young Adults With Spina Bifida, Leah B. Colsch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 1,500 infants born in the United States each year are diagnosed with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a congenital disorder that affects the spinal cord and neurological function. Improved medical treatment has allowed a longer life expectancy for patients with Spina Bifida, and an increasing rate of these patients are surviving through pediatric clinics and preparing for the transition into adult care. Although the number of patients preparing for the transition into adult care continues to increase, there continues to be a scarcity of literature relevant to this population. Furthermore, there is currently no systematic, evidence-based method that reliably …

Cyberbullying: Impacting Today’S Youth, Hillary Noll

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Cyberbullying is becoming a major concern surrounding the adolescent population because of the increased use in the internet and social networking sites. Studies show that cyberbullying can cause mental health concerns in adolescents who have been victimized, leaving them feeling lonely, depressed, and rejected. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of high school students who have been victimized by cyberbullying and to explore the relationship between cyberbully victimization and suicide. An anonymous mixed methods study was utilized and formatted with both quantitative and qualitative questions. The survey was distributed by email to students enrolled in the …

Psychosocial And Academic Implications Of Divorce On Adolescents: A Social Work Perspective, Brianne Wolf

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Adolescents who experience parental divorce often experience several academic and psychosocial implications. The purpose of this project was to understand the overall psychosocial and academic impact of parental divorce on adolescents and the variables that influenced these responses. Using a semi-structured, qualitative interview six school social workers were interviewed regarding their professional experience within the school setting and their work with adolescents experiencing parental divorce. The findings were consistent with the research, which indicated that positive and respectful parental communication throughout all stages of the divorce process was key in regards to the psychosocial and academic implications. However, the data …

Masculine Ideology In Adolescent Male Relationships : A Quantitative Study, William D. Hall

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research sought to investigate the following: is there a correlation between levels of happiness in interpersonal relationships and personal resistance to masculine norms? It was hypothesized that there will exist a positive correlation between resistance to masculine norms and positive relationships - as levels of resistance to masculine norms increase, self-reports of positive interpersonal relationships will increase as well. In order to examine this possible correlation, this study analyzed 42 males between the ages of 14 and 17. All participants were enrolled in high school in Boston, Massachusetts. The study utilized the most contemporary scale of masculinity in adolescents …

Effective Preventative Interventions Of Substance Use, Amanda Logan

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Substance use among adolescents remains a serious problem in most rural communities in part due to the well-documented failure of most prevention programs. Despite these challenges some prevention programs have been deemed both reliable and valid. Three such programs include the:

Adolescent Transitions Program, Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14, and Guiding Good Choices. This paper provides a systemic review of these three programs and offers suggestions to community leaders for successful program implementation.

My Culture, My Voice: The Impact Of Youth Hip-Hop And Spoken Word On Adolescent Participants In Positive Youth Development Settings, Emily M. Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mastering the tasks of adolescence is difficult for all youth, and the journey of African American adolescents and other youth of color is a unique one. This study explored the following research questions: "What is the impact of participation in positive youth development programs that incorporate hip-hop and/or spoken word on youth participants?" and "What components of these programs are important?" Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with youth workers and current or former program participants. This study found that involvement in this type of programming was highly beneficial for youth, particularly youth of color. Participants saw benefits in a wide …

From Their Perspective: How Adolescents And Young Adults Experience And Conceptualize Life And Occupation Surrounding Parental Divorce Or Separation, Laura R. Hartman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parental divorce affects adolescents’ emotions, routines, habits, occupations and relationships. The current body of research indicates that parental divorce leads to many unfavourable social, behavioural, and mental health outcomes for adolescents. This dissertation explores the daily lives and occupations of adolescents and young adults surrounding the transition of a parental divorce or marital separation.

This thesis contains four manuscripts in addition to the introductory and final reflection chapters. The first manuscript explores the current North American literature relating to adolescent life surrounding a parental divorce or marital separation, ranging form 1998 to 2014. The second manuscript provides an overview of …

Understanding The Impact Of Adolescent Attachment On Academic Success, Cristina Cortesi

Dissertations

In recent years, studies are citing an increase in adolescent mental health diagnoses and symptomotology related to AD/HD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Conduct Disorders. While the associated behaviors may be the result of several variables, recent neurobiological studies combined with Attachment Theory have pointed to a possible link to attachment issues. Because of the developmental stage of adolescents, these behaviors have been observed in both home and school environments. Schools, in general in the United States, have been experiencing significant struggles in terms of lack of adequate educational success which prompted the implementation of legislation commonly known as No …

Effectiveness Of Animal-Assisted Therapy: Therapists’ Perspectives, Nichole M. Budahn

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Animal-assisted therapy has frequently been used with children who have autism spectrum disorder. This study examined animal-assisted therapists’ perceptions of effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy with children who have DSM-IV mental health diagnoses. The researcher recruited self-identified animal-assisted therapists using social media sites LinkedIn and Facebook. Two therapists completed the fourteen question qualitative survey in full. Three themes were found in this study; comfort, confidence, and benefits. While this study produced definite themes, more research needs to be conducted on animal-assisted therapy and children with DSM-IV mental health disorders. Very few studies have been conducted on the impacts of animal-assisted therapy …

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment: Does Family Systems Therapy Improve Family Functioning And Decrease Drug Use?, Darin J. Wallis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Family systems therapy is a way of working with individuals, couples, families, or a group of people that emphasizes relationships and a person's/family's greater "system" as important factors in establishing change and health (Haley, 1976; Minuchin, 1974). Treating adolescent substance abuse with family systems therapy has been demonstrated in the literature as being an effective method of intervention (Coatsworth, Santisteban, McBride, & Szapocznik, 2001; Kumfer & Alvarado, 2003; Leichtling, Gabriel, Lewis & Vander Ley, 2006; Liddle, 2002; Liddle et al., 2001; Rowe & Liddle, 2003), as the various ecological and epidemiological factors associated with adolescent substance abuse can be addressed …

Continuing Attachment Bonds To The Deceased: A Study Of Bereaved Youth And Their Caregivers, Erica Hill Sirrine

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although grief is a universal experience impacting the lives of many children and adolescents each year, not much study has been afforded to this population. In addition, the concept of a continuing attachment bond (CAB) or ongoing relationship to the deceased and its role as adaptive or maladaptive in the bereavement process is in its infancy of research among adult populations and is largely unstudied among bereaved youth. This mixed-methods study attempted to bridge the gap by examining the relationship between CABs among a sample of 50 bereaved youth (ages 11-17) and their bereaved adult caregivers. In addition, the study …

Adolescents And Young Adults In Transition: From Homelessness To Permanent Housing, Tona L. Willand

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study explores the intrapersonal and environmental factors associated with change in the transition from homelessness to permanent housing from the perspective of young women who have experienced it. Three young women were interviewed face-to-face in semi-structured interviews, using a non-probability convenience sample. Content analysis was used to identify intrapersonal and environmental factors that affected the process of change. Research participants identified goal-directed behavior, persistence and hope as intrapersonal factors in effecting change. Supportive relationships and practical assistance were identified as supportive factors in the transition period. The findings are discussed in relation to research from the literature, and the …