Social Work Commons^™

The Effect Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On The Self-Esteem Of College Students, Maggie J. Van Heemst

ELAIA

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to predict negative health and mental health effects later in life. One in two Americans has experienced at least one ACE. This issue is prevalent across class, race, and ethnicity. However, little is known about ACEs and the young adult population. Methods A survey was conducted to measure ACEs and self-esteem in fifty college students. The hypothesis was a negative correlation between ACE and self-esteem scores. Results A small negative correlation was found between ACEs and self-esteem in college students. The average ACE score was 3.9 and the average self-esteem score was 16.78. …

The Effect Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On The Self-Esteem Of College Students, Maggie Van Heemst

Honors Program Projects

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to predict negative health and mental health effects later in life. One in two Americans has experienced at least one ACE. This issue is prevalent across class, race, and ethnicity. However, little is known about ACEs and the young adult population.

Methods: A survey was conducted to measure ACEs and self-esteem in fifty college students. The hypothesis was a negative correlation between ACE and self-esteem scores.

Results: A small negative correlation was found between ACEs and self-esteem in college students. The average ACE score was 3.9 and the average self-esteem score was 16.78. …

The Effect Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On The Self-Esteem Of College Students, Maggie Van Heemst

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to predict negative health and mental health effects later in life. One in two Americans has experienced at least one ACE. This issue is prevalent across class, race, and ethnicity. However, little is known about ACEs and the young adult population.

Methods: A survey was conducted to measure ACEs and self-esteem in fifty college students. The hypothesis was a negative correlation between ACE and self-esteem scores.

Results: A small negative correlation was found between ACEs and self-esteem in college students. The average ACE score was 3.9 and the average self-esteem …

What Are We Teaching In Spirituality And Social Work Elective Courses? A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Bsw Syllabi, Hillary Cole

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Religion and spirituality (RS) are vital aspects of client identity and well-being, yet social work professionals are often ill-equipped to address these in practice due to a lack of specialized training. The National Association of Social Work (NASW) and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) support spirituality integration, but existing research focuses on Master of Social Work (MSW)-level elective courses. This qualitative study addresses Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)-level integration by (a) exploring how many accredited BSW programs offer an elective course on RS and (b) analyzing syllabi from these courses to determine pedagogical best practices. BSW programs can use …

Adults Perspectives On Past Youth Program Experiences, India Blakely

Ed.D. Dissertations

The study of youth development is a massive field that encompasses admirable literature and notable research. However, investigating past youth experiences through a work setting that promoted advancement in education, experience, and character through elevated youth roles and responsibilities provided a unique lens that could enlarge the field of youth development. This study, which focused on 12 former staff experiences in Thornton Township youth programs, addressed a literature gap. Although the literature on youth development, youth employment, mentoring, community, and positive youth development (PYD) was reviewed, the combined concepts of work and matriculation through adulthood could not be identified. A …

Intersecting Social Work Practice, Education, And Spirituality: A Conceptual Model, Hillary Cole

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The relationship between spirituality, social work, and social work education is complicated and often difficult to teach. Though social work has significant religious roots, it distanced itself at the turn of the 20^th century in pursuit of professionalism and scientific respectability. Today the National Association of Social Work (NASW) and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) recognize spirituality and religion as aspects of client diversity; however, few strategies exist for integrating this content into social work curriculum. This presentation offers a conceptual framework for understanding the spirituality-social work relationship based on the Ecological Model and the concept of …

Factors Affecting Student Success At A Native American Indian University, Philbert John

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the factors affecting American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) student success at a Native American Indian University (NAIU) in the Midwest. Thirty-nine students who graduated from Tribal College University (TCU) contributed to this study as they represented the student population at NAIU. This exploratory study was guided by three research questions that analyzed the collected data through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software tool. The two tools utilized in this study were the Pearson Correlation and the Independent Samples t-tests. The designed study was created to determine the pursuit, preparation, and persistence AI/AN students had that lead …

Attitudes And Practices Of Social Workers Toward The Lgbtq Community, Cassie A. Mecklenburg

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Social workers have a unique opportunity to serve people by meeting basic human needs, combating oppression and marginalization, and advocating for social justice. The purpose of this correlational, quantitative study was to measure the relationship between attitudes and practices among social workers toward the LGBTQ community with a specific examination of the religiosity of social workers, in order to assess if a social worker provides appropriate, inclusive services, regardless of their attitude toward this community. 2,828 social workers were asked to complete a 42 question researcher-created survey, Social Workers Attitudes and Practices Assessment, assessing their attitudes and practices toward the …

Drugs And Society: Ethical Implications Of Medical Marijuana Legalization, Barry Lee, Hannah Faith Ahrens, Aubrey St. John

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The duty of social workers is to advocate for a myriad of options in favor of societal well-being. Confined by its Schedule I classification, advocates of medical marijuana urge the government to reclassify the substance. Reclassification of medical marijuana sanctions broader exploration of both its benefits and ramifications.

Generation Z And Faith: The Cognitive, Experiential, And Praxis, Houston Thompson, Nikki Dention, Julia Mcqueen, Abby Groters

Scholar Week 2016 - present

With every generation there is a sociological shift in the way faith is understood and expressed. Generation Z, those born after 1995, have been influenced by post-modernity and a changing worldview. Like generations before them, Generation Z is forming their own interpretations and experiences to define and express faith. This research discovers the attitudes and behaviors of Generation Z about their faith by looking at three aspects: 1) cognitive development; 2) personal experience; 3) expression or practice.

What To Do With All This Data? Using Competency Assessment For Advising, Rachel A. Guimond, Hillary Cole

Scholar Week 2016 - present

While assessment serves a critical role in providing direction for program development, student outcome data can also foster individual growth. This presentation will explore the existing research on different advising models and the ONU Social Work Program’s system for using assessment for accreditation to advise students toward professional growth.

Increasing Quality Of Life For Rural Residents, Erin J. Brawner

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Quality of Life (QOL) is a complex construct. The purpose of this study was to explore potential correlates with rural residents’ perceived QOL to promote an increase in the QOL of rural residents. This quantitative study explored questions regarding possible correlations between QOL and sense of community and QOL and accessibility of community resources, as well as explored what type of resource participants viewed as the most difficult to access. Participants included 199 adults residing in one of three selected, mostly-rural counties in Illinois, Indiana, or Michigan. A survey was administered via SurveyMonkey, mailed questionnaire, or in-person via paper-pencil completion. …

Empirical Correlates Of Mental Health Stigma, Emily Raduns

Honors Program Projects

Background

Mental health stigma describes the prejudice and discrimination faced by those with mental health disorders. Existing literature has connected heightened levels of stigma to lower levels of mental health education and lower levels of interpersonal contact with those experiencing mental health issues. Research also suggests a possible link between high religious fundamentalism and stigma.

Methods

To assess these relationships among these variables, a questionnaire was distributed online to 194 undergraduate students at a small religious university in the Midwest. The questionnaire included scales measuring fundamentalism and stigma, along with questions about mental health education levels and interpersonal contact with …

Emotional Intelligence: The Effect On Social Media Use, Interpersonal Violence, And Gender, Gail Grabczynski

Scholar Week 2016 - present

This study investigated the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI), social media use, interpersonal violence and gender. EI is a relatively new topic of research that has been of interest to many organizations due to the proposition that EI assists in the development of individuals. With the proliferation of social media, interpersonal violence and women in the workforce, a determination of a relationship between EI and those variables was warranted. The study was conducted at a small private Christian university. An online survey was administered to 123 sophomores. This study was a cross-sectional quantitative design, that utilized three established instruments to …

Mentorship Matters, Emily Vankuren, Jessica Carara, Alejandra Zamudio, Julia Swanson

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The researchers have identified the creation of a successful farming cooperative as a goal for the Pembroke Farming Family Association (PFFA), and have examined the literature to determine the components of such cooperatives. A literature review revealed that increased education in many areas is strongly correlated with successful farming cooperatives. The researchers determined that education through mentorship is an evidence based practice which could be implemented as an intervention. Then, the researchers located the measurement instrument of seasonal pre-test and post-test surveys, which would require additional questions related to specifics of farming in Pembroke. Finally, the researchers found that dependent …

Grief Off-The-Clock: Supporting Hospice Professionals Through Personal Loss, Rachel A. Guimond

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Working with clients who die can have a major impact on the way professionals address their own grief. Daily exposure to the possibility of death alters the process of mourning and can leave professionals feeling disconnected from family and friends during times of grief. This presentation will look at the challenges that hospice workers, clergy members, social workers and other professionals face when they experience grief in their own lives. Evidence-based strategies for supporting professionals in their grief will also be explored.

Mentorship Matters: A Case Study Of A Pembroke Farming Cooperative, Julia C. Swanson, Jessica L. Carara, Alejandra Zamudio, Emily A. Vankuren

Student Scholarship – Social Work

The researchers have identified the creation of a successful farming cooperative as a goal for the Pembroke Farming Family Association (PFFA), and have examined the literature to determine the components of such cooperatives. A literature review revealed that increased education in many areas is strongly correlated with successful farming cooperatives. The researchers determined that education through mentorship is an evidence based practice which could be implemented as an intervention. Then, the researchers located the measurement instrument of seasonal pre-test and post-test surveys, which would require additional questions related to specifics of farming in Pembroke. Finally, the researchers found that dependent …

Preparing Students For Applied Learning: Assessment Of Mentor Training, Denise Anderson, Michael Keigher

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Applied learning plays an integral role in social work education. From the beginning of the program, social work majors complete a required 30 hour applied learning in a school setting where they mentor children. In order to better prepare the social work and other majors for the learning opportunity, this semester a 2 hour mentor training (that is offered to community members who mentor in the Kankakee School District) was required at the start of the semester. This presentation compares the post applied learning feedback from last semester and this semester (preliminary) to determine the impact of the training on …

Are Students Competent? Methods Of Assessing Bachelor Of Social Work Student Competence, Amber L. Bailey-Residori

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Author Abstract:

Higher educational institutions must demonstrate that their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students are competent prior to graduation. There are conflicting studies regarding the reliability of field instructor, faculty, and students’ self-assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the consistency of how field instructors, faculty, and students assessed social work students' competence across three academic years. This quantitative research study examined historical data from one Midwestern University where students, faculty, and field instructors rated students’ competence in the last semester of their senior year using the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 13 core competencies (2.1.1-2.1.10d). …

Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Trauma Stress, And Burnout Among Licensed Mental Health Professionals, Kyle Lee Thompson

Ed.D. Dissertations

This quantitative research explored the presence of compassion fatigue (CF) and burnout (BO), and examined predictors that might include or exclude traumatic stress with the purpose of examining the levels of CF, secondary trauma stress (STS), BO, and use of career-sustaining behaviors (CSB) among licensed mental health professionals in order to improve the well-being of clinicians. This research sought to find the presence of CF, STS, and BO with descriptive analyses, and risk factors that appear predictive of these phenomena using regression analyses, and Pearson Product Moment Correlations to determine relationships between career-sustaining behaviors, the three phenomena, and the working …

The Voice Of The Homeless Adult Male: Perceptions Of Those Who Have Successfully Transitioned To Self-Sufficiency, Dallas W. Gatlin

Ed.D. Dissertations

This study drew out and described the perceptions of 10 men who successfully made the transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Responding to semi-structured openended questions in a one-on-one interview format, participants shared perceptions about their lived-experiences before, during, and after chronic homelessness, and how they navigated the difficult journey to self-sufficiency. The researcher used conventional content analysis to allow the perspectives of participants to emerge from their own words in themes and meaning units. The findings of this study suggest that from participants’ point of view loss of social support due to the death of a parent or spouse, divorce, …

The Collaboration Of Faith And Social Work In Creating A Gateway Of Helping, Breanne M. Bambrick

Honors Program Projects

When tragedy occurs, trauma follows. In crises, emergency response professionals are called upon in order to aid survivors. While the majority of professionals involved have received formal education on crisis management or disaster relief, the faith community is often called upon to assist without such prior knowledge. However, based on their mutual commitment to serve those in need, the social work profession and faith community represents a natural partnership in preparing for the disaster management process. Therefore, social workers can assist faith leadership in order to empower the faith community to be involved in crisis response. Specifically, this research addresses …

An Evaluation Of Youth In(Vol)Ved: Impact On Participants' Attitudes Toward Volunteerism, Kelsey G. Steines

Honors Program Projects

Youth In(VOL)ved is an 8 week youth volunteer program directed by the Grant Wood Area American Red Cross, which is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The purpose of the program is to contribute to the American Red Cross’ goal of motivating and recruiting a new generation of volunteers, which supports the organization’s mission of alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies. This paper examines the impact of Youth In(VOL)ved on participants’ attitudes toward volunteerism, which is information that can be used by the American Red Cross to apply for grant funding and to improve the program in future years. …

Direct Human Service Experience And Its Effect On Volunteers' Self-Perceived Generosity And Meeting Volunteer Expectations, Emily M. Borger

Honors Program Projects

A study using participants (n=61) from a small liberal arts college was conducted to analyze the effect of direct human service on volunteers’ self‐perceived generosity, expected versus actual appreciation, expected versus actual satisfaction in work, and expected versus actual value of work. An experimental group (n=31) was given pre‐ and post‐surveys evaluating these dependent variables using a Likert scale. Between the surveys the experimental group received treatment of direct human service at a free community lunch program. The control group (n=30) was given the same pre‐ and postsurveys without treatment.

It was hypothesized that …