Social Work Commons^™

Family Based Treatment For Adolescents With Eating Disorders: A Clinician’S Perspective, Madeline Asp

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to explore the nuances of Family-Based Treatment (FBT) in a clinical setting, as well as the areas of growth and development within the use and implementation of this treatment modality as it relates to adolescents with eating disorders. Qualitative interviews were conducted with four mental health clinicians who primarily use FBT in their work with adolescents with eating disorders. Through the use of grounded theory methodology, each interview was audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded over the course of a month to produce four main themes. The most common themes within the interview transcripts included: 1) …

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Children And Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Melissa M. Conway

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review examines the efficacy of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) as an intervention in the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. Upon thorough review of the present literature, 7 articles met criteria. Common themes identified throughout the reviewed studies include TF-CBT versus other interventions, use of an engagement intervention, outcome influences, reduction in PTSD symptoms, and integrating TF-CBT into practice. Results of this review conclude TF-CBT is an effective treatment intervention for reducing PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents, yet further research needs to be done to be able to properly integrate the program …

How Is Social Networking Sites Effecting Teen’S Social And Emotional Development: A Systemic Review, Jenna Palermo Christofferson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Teenagers are today’s most profuse users of social networking sites (SNS). Contemporary youth are growing up in a cultural setting in which many aspects of their lives will be mediated by social media and many of their experiences and opportunities will be shaped by their engagement with SNS. Subsequently, questions and controversies emerge about the effects SNS have on adolescent development due to how embedded their lives are in social media. A systematic review of fifteen articles was used in gathering information on the effects of SNS on adolescents’ social and emotional development. The studies gathered concluded that there are …

Grieving Students: School Social Workers’ Perspectives, Kaitlin Salscheider

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Children and adolescents often experience a wide variety of loss and disruptive change throughout their lives. School is where children and adolescents are expected to perform at their best intellectual, emotional, social, and behavioral capacity; however, the reaction after a loss can impact a student’s academic performance and include regressive behavior. Schools are a fundamental place for the development of children, and school social workers in particular work with students who have experienced a wide variety of stressful incidents and are critical in improving the social-emotional well-being in students. The purpose of this study was to explore school social workers’ …

Middle School And Community Rockford, Illinios, Katera B. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study of 99 middle school students in an urban area examined the relationship between community factors and student outcomes. The community factors that were examined were school violence based on if a student was a victim or witness and also if the student was an offender of school violence, violence and substance use exposure based on student’s home location, and socioeconomic status were also examined. Student outcomes were examined based on academic testing (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers or PARCC), grade point average (GPA), and school suspension (both Out-of-School Suspension or OSS and in-school-suspension/Alternative Learning …

The Impact Of Foster Care On Depression: An Examination Of Placement Type And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Children And Adolescents, Kisha Cummings

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Children and adolescents in foster care with a history of complex trauma such as neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse have a greater odds of being clinically diagnosed with depression in adulthood compared to children and adolescents without such a history. The current study examines the prevalence of depression in a national sample of children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years. This study asks whether a) foster care is associated with a greater prevalence of depression among children and adolescents in foster care compared to children and adolescents not in foster care; b) there is an association between …

Differential Diagnosis Of Emerging And Young Adult Disorders : A Case Vignette Study Of Ptsd And Psychotic Disorders, Elizabeth L. Liepold

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The present study investigated the diagnostic decision-making process of clinical social workers. The study sought to explore how they distinguish between psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, and post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as flashbacks, in emerging and young adults. One objective of this study was to understand clinician diagnostic choices in order to increase diagnostic accuracy with young adults who may be particularly vulnerable to first episode psychosis. Sample. The study’s sample included 105 licensed clinical social workers, who actively practiced in the United States. Methods. The study used an exploratory - descriptive design implemented through an online survey. The …

From Spitting Rhymes To Inspiring Minds : The Role Of Hip Hop Therapy In Treatment Engagement Amongst Latinx And Black Youth : A Project Based Upon An Investigation At Beats. Rhymes And Life, Tatiana R. Padilla

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the implications of utilizing an innovative cultural framework to engage at-promise youth in clinical group work. This researcher collaborated with Beats, Rhymes and Life, an Oakland based organization that has effectively engaged youth at-promise through Therapeutic Activity Groups (TAGs). Treatment effectiveness is evident in the continued requests from mental health providers in community mental health clinics to partner with BRL’s TAG program, youth self-referrals, and youth requests to repeat the program. Based on this, the current study aims to understand what aspects of the TAGs promote treatment engagement- indicated by re-enrollment- for …

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 …

Caregivers’ Emotional Experiences Regarding Their Adolescent’S Substance Abuse Problem, Cindy Reyes, Brenda Jane Duchene

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The primary aim of this investigation was to explore caregivers’ emotional experiences regarding their adolescent with substance abuse problems. These researchers systematically examined the literature on caregiver stress and found a large body of studies on caregivers of persons with mental illness, severe medical problems including cancer, HIV/AIDS, and developmental disabilities. Yet, an absence of research was found on caregivers including parents of adolescents with drug and/or alcohol problems. Based on the findings on investigations with other types of caregivers, these researchers expected caregivers of adolescent substance abusers to report high levels of emotional and psychological distress. Like caregivers of …

Playing To Find Out: Adapting Story Games For Group Therapy With Teens, Adam Mcconnaughey

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Millions of adolescents in the United States face childhood trauma and its sequelae, and group therapy is a common treatment. The purpose of this project was to examine the field of role-playing game design with an eye toward developing future group therapy methods for adolescents with trauma histories. Using a qualitative textual analysis research design that was a mix of grounded theory and content analysis, two contemporary role-playing game texts, Apocalypse World and Monsterhearts, were analyzed. The text was coded, and themes were generated to organize the findings. Findings indicated that RPGs and group therapy share a great deal …

Effectiveness Of Mbsr And Mbct In Reducing Clinical Symptoms In Adolescents, Amber Statz

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Like adults, many adolescents live with mental health diagnoses and struggle to manage their symptoms. If adolescents do not find effective strategies to manage their symptoms, they may have a profound effect on their quality of life. While mindfulness has been practiced around the globe for thousands of years, it is an emerging method of practice in the mental health field. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was developed as a treatment for adults. Mindfulness base cogitative therapy (MBCT) is an intervention adapted from MBSR. The purpose of this systemic review is to explore the effectiveness of MBSR and MBCT in reducing …

Teachers’ Beliefs About Mental Health Issues, Shannon R. Kelleher

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examined teachers’ beliefs about mental health issues in students. A quantitative research method was utilized, and survey instrument was created modeled after the theory of planned behavior. Thirty-seven teachers were surveyed in five areas in relation to their beliefs about assessment and referral; including, previous assessment and referral; mental health training; attitudes toward assessment and referral; the perceived social normality of assessment and referral; and perceived self-efficacy or behavior control. These five areas became independent variable measures, with the dependent variable being their future intention of assessing and referring students with mental health issues. Multiple regression analysis revealed …

Beliefs About Substance Abuse Among Adolescents: What Works?, Alma Elizabeth Hernandez, Stephanie Michelle Araiza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore beliefs about what works in substance abuse treatment among adolescents. This was a qualitative study that was comprised of fourteen counselors who were interviewed regarding what works in substance treatment with adolescents. The study identified four themes that contribute to our knowledge about what works in substance abuse treatment among adolescents. The study recommends that future research explore further what works with adolescents in substance abuse treatment, including collaborating with family members, identifying strengths in adolescents, building an authentic rapport with adolescents, and using the latest evidence-based practices.

Visual Media And Asd: Impact On Social Interactions Of Adolescents, Audra J. Hanly

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

There’s a wealth of research that provides evidence of an association between visual media and behavior problems among typically developing children. However, no research was located that examines the association between these variables in adolescents with ASDs. This current study begins to fill this gap in literature while examining possible positive effects of visual media on social behavior through the following research question: What effect does visual media have on the social interactions of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders? The design of the present study was a cross-sectional, quantitative study in which twenty participants completed an online questionnaire.

The present …

Clinician’S Perspectives On Physical Holds: The Impact On Adolescents With Abuse History, Keeli N. Wagner

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Recently, the use of physical holds or physical restraints on adolescents in residential and psychiatric treatment facilities has become a rising controversy among the professionals working in these settings. The literature discusses the debate more in detail, touching on the potential psychological risks associated with these holds and whether or not this outweighs the need to perform these holds to ensure safety for these adolescents. This research was designed to study this controversy in more detail, specifically examining the effects of physical holds on adolescents with a history of abuse through the experiences and perceptions of the clinicians who have …

Adjustment Differences In Teenage Children: Foster Care Versus Group Homes, Torrie Katya Ward

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The number of adolescents who are in the social welfare system is growing yearly due to a variety of family circumstances such as inadequate care for the adolescents, physical or mental abuse, and drug use or charges of some type. The purpose of this study was to explore the adjustment differences with adolescents who have been placed in foster care versus group homes. Using the qualitative design, six social work volunteers were interviewed regarding their general knowledge about the struggles of teenagers in foster care or group homes. Data were analyzed using both inductive and deductive approaches in which categories …

Adolescent Help-Seeking: The Promise Of Text Counseling, Danielle L. Kuka

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This qualitative study addresses the need for additional approaches to reaching youth who are struggling with mental health issues. The paper describes common barriers to serving a youth population, especially in a time of crisis. It explores the use of text counseling as a therapeutic response to youth in crisis or distress. It discusses the use of empowerment theory when developing and implementing services for a youth population. The study concludes with a description and discussion of the common themes identified through an inductive secondary data analysis of 14 text counseling sessions. The findings from this study were consistent with …

Stress Management, Choices, And Self-Confidence, Pamela P. Thompson

MSW Capstones

Abstract

When adolescents do not learn appropriate coping mechanisms for stress, they are more likely to develop problem behaviors that can inhibit their abilities to live productive and meaningful lives. When adolescents do not learn the appropriate ways to cope, they can sabotage their self-esteem, confidence, and learn negative coping strategies. A focus group was held of adolescents between the ages of 11 and 17 years of age. They discussed their point of view of what is stressful and how they handle the stress. All information was compared to evidence based research of coping strategies and the best practices to …

A Systematic Review Of Neurofeedback Training To Treat Adhd In Children And Adolescents: A Child Welfare Perspective, Chad Ellis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

A systematic literature review was completed on the impact that childhood ADHD has on children and families,from a child welfare perspective. The potential risks and benefits of two different treatment approaches (pharmacological and neurofeedback) were compared along with a cost analysis. The significance of this project is that it will aid in the advocacy efforts for the continued allocation of funding towards the neurofeedback program within Olmsted County’s Youth Behavioral Health Unit.

Exploring Factors Of Non-Compliance For Adolescents With Celiac Disease, Alicia A. Darling

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Individuals with celiac disease face many challenges when navigating the world around them. Adolescents with celiac disease must face the challenge of standing out in a world that is heavily influenced by peers and the pressure to fit in. The purpose of this project was to explore factors of non-compliance for adolescents with celiac disease. Using a qualitative design, two adolescent female volunteers participated in a focus group regarding factors in their lives that led them to not comply with the gluten-free diet. Data were analyzed and the focus group responses were then linked to previous related literature. The findings …

Gender Differences In Treating Adolescents With Eating Disorders, Cameron Green

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Previous research indicates that female and male adolescents have many differences and similarities in contributing factors to and treatment of eating disorders. The goal of this study was to further explore treatment differences between male and female adolescents with eating disorders. Other objectives in this study explored the contributing factors to eating disorders, treatment success rates among respondents, and treatment modalities used by respondents. The present study explored the following research question: What are the similarities and differences between genders in treating adolescents with eating disorders? This is an exploratory design with a quantitative research design. The findings of this …

The Impact Of Parenting Styles On The Emotional Regulation Of Adolescents, Amber L. Pearson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Teenagers under the influence of strong emotions, without the tools to regulate them, can be identified as dangerous. Throughout the past decade many cases of poor emotional regulation in adolescents have been documented, including school shootings, murders, and suicides. The literature discussed the impact attachment and parenting styles have on the development of adolescents and the positive outcomes individual work with parents, in therapy, has had for family systems. This research aims to further the knowledge of the impact parenting styles have on the development of emotional regulation in adolescents and to describe effective means of helping adolescents develop the …

Gender Differences In Treating Adolescents With Eating Disorders, Cameron Green

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Previous research indicates that female and male adolescents have many differences and similarities in contributing factors to and treatment of eating disorders. The goal of this study was to further explore treatment differences between male and female adolescents with eating disorders. Other objectives in this study explored the contributing factors to eating disorders, treatment success rates among respondents, and treatment modalities used by respondents. The present study explored the following research question: What are the similarities and differences between genders in treating adolescents with eating disorders? This is an exploratory design with a quantitative research design. The findings of this …

Guilt, Blame, And Responsibility: The Experiences Of Parents And Clinicians Providing Services To Adolescents With Co-Occurring Mental Health And Substance Abuse Challenges, Katherine Cohen-Filipic

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand and describe the experiences of parents of, and clinicians who provide services to, adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, particularly as they relate to issues of guilt, blame, and responsibility. The study is based in a theoretical framework derived from Symbolic Interactionism (Blumer, 1969), Attribution Theory (Heider, 1958), and Barrett`s (1995) Theory of Guilt and Shame. The guiding question the study is: What are the experiences of parents of adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse challenges and clinicians who provide treatment services around issues of blame, guilt, …

Jump Start Hs: Engaging High School Students In Their Education, Taylor Ellsworth

MSW Capstones

JUMP START HS curriculum was created to provide foster youth the opportunity to increase peer and faculty interaction with in their school. This intervention seeks to assist foster youth in their high school education, by connecting them with fellow peers and educators in their schools. The JUMP START HS curriculum seeks to provide foster youth with a well-rounded and supportive education, by creating homeroom classes consisting of both foster youth and non-foster youth, along with peer mentors and educators. The JUMP START HS curriculum guide was developed using multiple sources of information; each week is adapted from a lesson from …

Development Of A Social Understanding Group Resource Manual, Tristann Carter

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The Social Understanding Group Resource Manual was developed to address the expressed need for a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum resource manual which would provide facilitators with easy reference to access categorized materials, activities, worksheets, and resources for Wayzata West Middle School’s Social Understanding Groups.

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Child-Parent Interventions For Children And Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders, Kristen Brendel

Dissertations

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in childhood (Walkup & Ginsburg, 2002; Hirshfeld-Becker & Biederman, 2002), occuring in approximately twenty percent of the population (APA, 2000; Langley Lindsey, Bergaman & Piacentini, 2002). Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders often experience many detrimental effects such as low-self esteem, issues with social and family relationships, and a decrease in overall functioning, including academic performance. In addition, if left untreated or unrecognized, anxiety disorders in childhood often lead to more severe symptoms in adulthood including depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and other comorbid anxiety disorders. Evidence suggests that anxiety disorders are …

A Social Ecological Perspective On Diabetes Care: Supporting Adolescents And Caregivers, April Marie Idalski Carcone

Wayne State University Dissertations

The diabetes illness management regimen is complex and demanding, requiring daily motivation and self-control. Adolescents with diabetes face unique risks for which social support may be one protective factor. The importance of social support from family and friends is well documented in the literature. Support for the caregiver and support from the health care provider, conversely, are understudied. These four sources of social support, considered together, span the adolescent's micro-, meso-, and exosystems constituting a social ecological model of social support for diabetes. The primary aim of this study was to test this model. The hypotheses were that each source …

Acculturation Of Russian Refugee Adolescents: The Life Domain Of Peer Relationships, Andrew A. Morozov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to uncover the meaning of acculturation as experienced by the Russian refugee adolescents in the domain of peer relationships. This qualitative study implemented a purposeful sampling strategy. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 refugee adolescents from Russia (3 ethnic Russians and 9 Meskhetian Turks), male and female, aged 15-18, who resided in Denver, Colorado. Applying Moustakas's (1994) phenomenology method of analysis, 8 main themes emerged. The essence of the phenomenon can be described in terms of the refugee adolescents' need for self-worth and belongingness. Belongingness is understood as identification with and acceptance by …