Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Music Therapy As A Support Model In Massachusetts Special Education: A Literature Review, Bonnie Diamond

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Mental health directly impacts student propensity for making academic progress in the public education system. For children with disabilities, it is especially vital to develop and implement techniques within special education that deliver personally tailored benefits. According to the United States Department of Education, music therapy offers highly effective support to a wide range of students within the school setting so that they may achieve academic success and be supported in their social/emotional development (U.S Department of Education, 2011; AMTA, 2021). In examining the multifaceted ways that music therapy can offer support within the structure of education and mental health, …

Comparative Analysis Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy’S Effectiveness In An Intensive Outpatient Program Setting, Efrain Frank Ellin Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and treatment as usual (TAU) within an intensive outpatient program setting, evaluating their effectiveness in enhancing various dimensions of psychological well-being. Guided by two main research questions, the study investigates whether ACT demonstrates greater or equal effectiveness compared to TAU and if it provides more immediate effects on psychological well-being within three weeks. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the research incorporates a comprehensive array of measurement tools to assess outcomes related to anxiety, depression, stress, psychological flexibility, cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, mindfulness self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among participants. The …

Conversations About Telehealth Eating Disorder Treatment: Participants Share Their Experiences, Rachel Allen Msw

All Student Scholarship

This phenomenological study explores the use of telehealth as a modality in the treatment of eating disorders through the lenses of feminist, standpoint, and social constructionist theories. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was utilized to offer continuity of service at a local, urban eating disorder treatment program in the Northeast. Post pandemic, this modality continued for staffing and accessibility reasons. However, little is known about this treatment from the perspective of service recipients. Intensive semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with six adults who had completed the telehealth program to learn about individuals’ experiences with this modality. …

Reaping What We Sow: The Implications And Outcomes Of Mississippi House Bill 1125, The “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (Reap)” Act, Kerigan Brewer

Honors Theses

Mississippi House Bill 1125 (MS HB1125), also known as the “Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act,” was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves in early 2023 (REAP Act, 2023). It is one of multiple policies passed into law that limit the rights of transgender people. This thesis aims to clarify the history of the trans community, dispel myths around gender-affirming health care and the trans identity, and discuss the current state of anti-trans laws and transgender rights. Using a policy analysis framework by DiNitto (2011), MS HB1125 is analyzed on points like its social and economic costs, the …

Sexual Exploitation: The Crisis And Eradicative Solution, Tonnie Adams Bracey

Student Capstone Projects

French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” I find this to be true in our current era of the digital age. Although technology has gifted a newly improved and vast method of making worldwide connections and broadening our perceptions and views, a change in how we communicate has conveniently presented itself, but the historic pattern of how we handle these new advancements have indeed stayed the same.
Smart phones are a mainstream vessel employing the world with a plethora of information while giving all sorts of people access to individual’s lives …

Barriers To And Facilitators Of Care: Exploring How Low-Income Women Access Reproductive Healthcare In A Rural Community, Sydney Taylor Casey

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of low-income women living in a rural community when accessing reproductive care and bring awareness to the barriers and facilitating factors they encounter. The present study adopted a post positivism paradigm and was conducted in a rural county in Northern California. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data was gathered through demographic surveys and individual interviews with twenty-two participants. A bottom-up approach was utilized for the phases of qualitative data analysis, which included open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Data analysis revealed thirteen open …

What Are The Barriers To Seeking Psychotherapy Services Across Different Racial And Ethnic Groups?, Deysee Chavez, Elisa Rodarte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored barriers to seeking psychotherapy services across racial and ethnic groups among adults of 18 years of age or older (2) any individual who has considered, sought, or received mental health services (3) residing in Southern California. The surveys consisted of questions from the Barriers to Mental Health Services Scale Revised (BMHSS-R) sub-scales; Help Seeking, Stigma, Knowledge and Fear of Psychotherapy, Belief about Inability to Find a Psychotherapist, and Belief that Depressive Symptoms are Normal. It was hypothesized that Latino individuals face greater barriers when seeking psychotherapy services as compared to other racial groups. This study consisted of …

Investigating The Level Of Evidence Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Parenting Practices: A Systematic Review, Eloisa Deshazer

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with mental and physical health outcomes of children, but less is known about how ACEs impact parenting. Objective: This study systematically reviewed the evidence of the association between parental adverse childhood experiences and parenting behaviors. Methods: The study employed a rigorous methodology, including searching several electronic databases, such as the CSUSB search engine, EBSCOhost Academic Search Premiere, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. The keywords used for the search process included Adverse Childhood Experiences, ACEs, Maltreatment, Adverse Experiences, Traumatic Experiences, and Parenting or Childrearing. Inclusion criteria were restricted to studies published between 2014 and …

Progression Of Black Women In Tenure Ranked Positions, Unique Givens

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The intersectionality of race and gender affects the progression and experience of Black women in tenure-ranked positions in higher education. As Black women navigate the tenure process, they encounter systemic issues while fulfilling the criteria of teaching, service, and research. Black women's experiences while obtaining and maintaining tenure-ranked positions in Southern California reflect the discrimination, biases, lack of respect, and value of their roles and contributions to academia. In addition, Black women are being challenged more and questioned regarding their abilities and roles by peers, students, and academic administration. Research studies in the past have demonstrated the underrepresentation of Black …

Understanding The Perspectives And Attitudes Of 12-Step Participants Towards Medication-Assisted Treatment, Christopher Scott

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The effects of living with a substance use disorder (SUD) are vast. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has grown increasingly popular as a recovery tool among substance users but does not align with the popular 12-step model, which demands complete abstinence from narcotics and mind-altering substances. Objective: The primary aim of this phenomenology study was to explore the perspectives and attitudes towards MAT among 12-step participants. The secondary aim was to compare the responses of treatment and non-treatment professionals. Methods: This study used non-probability sampling methods to recruit participants who reported regular participation in a 12-step program. Semi-structured …

Assessing And Meeting The Needs Of Homeless Populations, Mitchell Greenwald

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Problem Formation: As homeless populations have continued to grow, it is important to analyze services and replace ones lacking efficacy. This research sought to locate gaps in service delivery and to let the data fuel newer, innovative services. Significance: This study brought greater awareness of needs and services available to homeless people and to clinical staff at the agencies who work with them. It also provided new ideas for interventions that might better meet client needs. Design: This study was designed as a mixed-methods project. It was believed that master’s level social work students would be an ideal group to …

Accessibility Of Services For Transgender Adolescents From A Child Welfare Perspective, Eduardo Cedeno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following is a quantitative study with an explorative element conducted at Southern California University with a convenience sample of 23 social worker participants with experience in child welfare. A Qualtrics questionnaire was administered during the Fall 2023 semester and was used to assess the social workers perception, preparedness, and knowledge in providing services to transgender youth in foster care. The study aimed to gain an understanding of the overall perception of the effect in available transgender resources and training within the child welfare system.

Child Maltreatment Primary Prevention Methods In The U.S.: A Systematic Review Of Recent Studies, Maria Godoy-Murillo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Child maltreatment remains a widespread issue in the United States of America, (U.S.). Identifying effective methods of preventing child maltreatment is key to reducing the prevalence of this issue. Objective: This systematic review provides an overview of contemporary primary child maltreatment prevention methods in the U.S. to investigate their effectiveness. Methods: Using the OneSearch database, the following keywords were included: (“prevention methods” and “child maltreatment”), (“parental leave” and “child maltreatment”), (“primary prevention” and “child maltreatment”), (WIC and “child maltreatment”), (“home visit” and “child maltreatment”), (“child abuse and neglect” and “primary prevention”), (“affordable housing” and prevention and “child maltreatment”), (“early …

Implementation Of Mental Health Services And Curriculum For Elementary-Aged Children, Indra Flores Silva, Jason Kwan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study’s purpose was to describe elementary school teachers’perceptions about mental health services, curriculum, and their effect on the mental health of elementary-aged children. Our research addressed the question: What are elementary school teachers’ perceptions of mental healthservices and mental health curriculum and their effect on the mental health of elementary-aged children? It is crucial that we study this because many young children struggle with their mental health which can lead to poor outcomes leading into adulthood. This study utilized quantitative data on 28 participants that was collected through Qualtrics. Data was analyzed using SPSS by conducting univariate analysis. Our …

Resilience In Fatherhood: Exploring The Impact Of Absent Fathers On Black American Men's Parenting Narratives And Practices, Ericah Thomas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the role of Black American fathers and how they parent in the absence of their fathers growing up. Though a common narrative frames Black fathers as largely absent in the lives of their children, recent literature has aimed to demystify societal factors that may lead to this judgment. Influences such as media representation, welfare policies, and child support laws may contribute to the preservation of this trope (Rambert, 2021). Considering this misconception, it is important to advance the knowledge regarding Black fatherhood through their lived experiences despite circumstances that may perpetuate this myth.

The primary goal of …

Supporting Formerly Incarcerated Individuals In Higher Education: A Quantitative Study, Lisa Marie Jones-Wiertz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

People from various backgrounds in the United States have college aspirations. However, those with marginalized characteristics, particularly formerly incarcerated individuals, face multiple barriers in their quest for higher education. This study carries a twofold purpose: (a) determining the extent to which formerly incarcerated individuals in higher education in California feel supported and (b) determining types of support associated with educational success among formerly incarcerated individuals in higher education in California. Using the Person-in-Environment Framework, the nonprobability sampling methods of convenience and snowball, and a quantitative research design, this study surveyed 51 formerly incarcerated students enrolled across the California State University …

The Present Struggles Of Immigrant Farmworkers In California, Leslie Torres, Angelica Huerta

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Immigrant farm workers continue to be a vulnerable community despite the numerous services available to them. By interviewing people who work with immigrant farmworkers, we can determine what has worked in terms of efforts to help immigrant farm workers and what issues persist today. Prior research has shown the many troubles these individuals have faced due to the type of work they do, as well as the ramifications due to their undocumented status. The purpose of this research was to find what can be causing these persistent barriers to a more safe, healthy, and long fulfilling life, and attempt to …

The Relationship Between Role Models, Socioeconomic Mobility Beliefs, And Academic Outcomes, Christian Koeu, Marisol Espinoza Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study aims to provide insights into the relationships between role models, socioeconomic mobility beliefs and the education outcomes of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. While previous studies highlight the positive influence of role models on academic and career aspirations, the specific relationship between role models and socioeconomic beliefs remains unexplored. Our study addresses this gap by examining whether the presence of role models relates with more optimistic socioeconomic beliefs and how these beliefs, in turn, affect academic outcomes (academic engagement, academic intentions, and grade point average [GPA]). Additionally, we investigate the influence of role model characteristics to …

Spirituality And Recovery From Addiction: Experiences Of Narcotics Anonymous Members, Elizabeth Romberger

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

One of the most common treatment recommendations for addiction is to attend 12-step programs. In such, spirituality is considered a critical component to long-term recovery. This research project sought to better understand the relationship between experiencing a spiritual awakening and recovery from addiction within the Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) 12-step program. Using a post-positivist paradigm and the Cognitive- behaviorism theory, data gathered from interviews with 15 participants was transcribed and then coded. Online platforms that host 12 step recovery forums were used to reach interested participants with approved engagement material. Then snowball sampling was used - participants used their social network …

The Effects Of Parenting Styles On Communication Among Asian American Young Adults, Abigail Camarce

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between parenting styles and communication difficulties. Previous studies explored different types of parenting styles and their impact on both mental health and child behavior outcomes. However, the relationship between these styles and communication challenges has largely remained underexplored. This study aimed to fill this void by examining data collected from Asian American (AA) young adults aged 18 to 30, shedding light on how various parenting approaches influence communication difficulties in their families. Method: Quantitative data for this study was gathered through Qualtrics from participants meeting the criteria of AA aged 18 to 30, who …

Barriers To Gender-Affirming Care, Gloria Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of transgender and nonbinary individuals who have accessed or are thinking of seeking gender-affirming medical care in a rural California county. The study adopted a post-positivist approach, and data was gathered from ten qualitative interviews with study participants. In the data analysis phase, the researcher utilized a bottoms-up approach and engaged in open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis of qualitative interviews revealed sixteen open codes and connections between these codes. These codes were then categorized into three themes: the impact of an individual’s experience when accessing care, barriers to …

Stressors, Caffeine Consumption, And Mental Health Concerns Among College Students, Stacey Trejo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between mental health challenges, life balance concerns and caffeine consumption among college students. As caffeine is considered a psychoactive and cognitive enhancer that enhances physical performance, consuming an excess of caffeine can result in caffeine intoxication, which may include experiencing negative side effects.

Utilizing quantitative methods and availability sampling, 61 college students completed a self-administered online survey via Instagram and, with the assistance of professors, in classrooms. The self-administered Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) reveals that college students are experiencing high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. A majority …

The Aftermath Of The Pandemic’S Effect On College Student Depression, Lorena Sedano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The present study examines how stress from the aftermath of the pandemic has affected college student depression. Using qualitative methods, ten college students voluntarily participated in recorded interviews. During these interviews students shared how the return to normality affected their experiences with depression, and the experiences of other students on campus. The study examined coping mechanisms to their adaptations, student’s individual stories, the effects that were viewed on campus, and their experiences during this transition. Students also completed the PHQ-2 and brief questions from the perceived stress scale. During the completion of the PHQ-2, 60% of students reported to have …

Self-Care Habits And Burnout Among County Social Workers On The Central Coast Of California, Jaclyn Boyd, Denise Ojeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout, stress, and retention challenges have become pervasive issues among social workers in Child Welfare Services. The experience of stress and burnout can profoundly impact a worker's physical health and overall well-being. Implementing self-care practices, which involve attending to one's health and well-being through activities such as exercise, spiritual engagement, and hobbies, can effectively mitigate feelings of stress and burnout, fostering a positive impact on individuals. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between reported stress levels and self-care habits among Child Welfare Services social workers in two counties on California's central coast. To gather relevant data, …

Machismo: The Impact It Has On Hispanic Male College Students Receiving Mental Health Services, Sara Barillas, Alexander Aguirre

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Machismo is an ideology held within the Hispanic community that endorses the expression of men’s dominance and power as well as aspects of bravery, honor, dominance, and reserved emotions. Higher rates of belief in machismo are connected to higher post-traumatic distress, stress, and depression. The goal of the study is to determine to what extent Machismo has an impact on male Hispanic college students’ beliefs about mental illness and their willingness to seek help. The following is a quantitative study. This study utilized male college students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs. Additional …

Surrogacy And It's Effects On The Mental Health Of The Gestational Carrier, Dayjahne Haywood

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study examines the process of surrogacy and the effects it has on the gestational carrier's mental health during the pregnancy as well as after. While previous studies have highlighted the positive impact surrogacy has on the intended families and parents, there are few studies exploring the experiences of women who participate in the selfless act of baring another person's child. My study explores and addresses the risks (health and mental health), the screening process, and the ethical issues associated with the surrogacy process. Additionally, I investigate the impact of familial, community, the intended parent(s) support has on the …

Impact Of School-Based Mental Health Services On Student Attendance At A Southern California School District, Johanna Garcia-Fernandez, Morgan Stokes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

When children experience trauma, it impacts their development, mental stability, learning, and behavior. This causes an increased need for prevention and early intervention mental health services within the public school system. Some California school districts offer mental health services students can utilize at their schools. Social workers are best equipped to assist and provide students with the necessary mental health resources due to their education, training, and role. This study used secondary data from 101 randomly selected Southern California school district participants. This study examined the relationship between children’s attendance, age, gender, primary diagnosis, living arrangements, number of traumatic events …

Through The Lens Of Families And Staff In Emergency Shelters, Elizabeth Barcenas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study explored the effectiveness that emergency shelters have on families transitioning into stable housing by gathering the perspectives of a former client and a staff member from a shelter in Riverside County. This research study utilized a qualitative approach, interviewing participants one-on-one from the shelter with open-ended questions. The themes that emerged during the study were the perspectives of the shelter, the barriers and challenges families face, and the services and support received within the shelter.

The study provides insight into the shelter, the challenges families face, the services offered, what’s working, and areas for improvement through the …

Community Benefits Awareness Presentations, Marlene Ramirez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Socioeconomic disadvantage significantly impacts educational outcomes, with 81% of Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) Alternative Education program students facing economic hardships. Serving youth in grades 9-12 and adults in Monterey County, including those within the county jail and juvenile facilities, the MCOE Alternative Education program strives to facilitate high school diploma attainment. This project sought to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding the Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs benefit programs through presentations shared within the MCOE community and partner agencies. A partnership between MCOE and the Monterey County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) was established to further this goal. The anticipated …

The Importance Of An Operations Manual, Richard Schlotthauer

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Without having an operations manual programs are susceptible to misinformation between one another. Partners for Peace is a program that is dedicated to serving Monterey County, and its troubled youth as well as their parents/guardians. Creating an operations manual will help to ensure that all staff members are on the same page when it comes to day to day issues around the office. Every staff member now has a copy of the operations manual, this will ensure that all members of the team will be on the same page when issues arise in and out of the office. In order …