Digital Commons Network^™

The Characteristics Of Students With Body Image Dissatisfaction In A Southern California School District, Isabelle Rose Labrie, Yaretxy Romo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Body image dissatisfaction is an increasingly common issue among children and adolescents, often stemming from various factors such as peer influences, family dynamics, media exposure, and extracurricular activities. This dissatisfaction can have significant long-term effects on youths' mental health, including the development of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and eating disorders.

This proposed exploratory study aims to develop a new instrument by synthesizing insights from existing literature. A scoping literature review was chosen as the most appropriate method, as it allows for a comprehensive examination of available research on body image dissatisfaction. This research proposal seeks to fill a gap in …

Kidney Disease And Its Impact On Caregiver Burden And Marital Satisfaction, Silvia Amaya

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to review and analyze the relevant literature focusing on research studies that examine the impact of kidney disease and chronic illness on caregiver burden and marital satisfaction. Studies show that, as the older population increases and, with it, the rise of chronic illness and caregiver need, the quality of marital and relationship satisfaction between patients and caregiver spouses/partners will have a significant impact on the care that patients receive and on the social and community costs that such care will incur.

A scoping review is proposed to search, analyze, and synthesize the existing body …

Follow Through Since The Implementation Of Katie A V. Bonta, Alleena Parchment

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research proposal aims to explore how well Los Angeles County has followed through with the guidelines that Katie A. v Bonta has set. This paper will suggest ways to effectively carry out the research through a systematic literature review. Foster children are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Katie, a young 4-year-old girl, went through 37 placements and received no mental health services. As a result, a class action lawsuit came about with Los Angeles County. Based on the lawsuit, policies were made to provide mental health services to foster …

Islams’ Influence On Mental Health, Tala Soukieh

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This proposed study explores the intricate relationship between Islam and mental health among Muslims in the United States. The study employs a mixed methods approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic. Given the significant role spirituality plays in mental health, this research integrates qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to capture these perspectives, specifically in the Muslim community. The qualitative portion will consist of in-depth interviews to cover personal experiences and beliefs about Islam and mental well-being. Concurrently, quantitative surveys will be conducted to collect broader data on religious practices and their mental health outcomes. Significant gaps and barriers …

The Effects Of Being The Oldest Daughter And A Caretaker, Sahira Gonzalez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In many households, oldest daughters are a pivotal person as they have many responsibilities. One of the main responsibilities is caretaking their younger siblings. These young women are responsible for child rearing, nurturing, educating and guiding their younger siblings, essentially becoming a parental figure. While this is an issue in many households, it is not thoroughly discussed within the research field. The purpose of this study is to examine how oldest daughters are affected by becoming a caretaker for their younger siblings and how it results in these young girls having a negative impact in their well-being that results in …

Lgbtq+ Latino Youth And Minimizing Elements Leading To Suicidal Ideation, Isaias Mendoza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The proposed project makes every effort to affirm if whether implementing forward thinking practices of inclusive LGBTQ+ interventions in schools, prevent or minimize suicidal ideation in Latino youth. Although there is some literature regarding interventions in suicidality, there is not enough research to affirm how the intersectionality in double minorities might benefit by implementing inclusive practices for youth to learn and feel accepted, safe and empowered in schools. This project utilizes a qualitative design methodology that focuses on selected peer reviewed literature files from 2015 - 2024. The searched files included demographics such as ethnicity, identity, geographic locations of schools, …

#Toomuchcontent: A Quantitative Analysis On Social Media Time Usage And Its Impact On Young Adult Anxiety And/Or Depression In The United States, Sarah Juarez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As technology continues to advance and grow, society has seen a surge in popularity of various social media sites. Social media has become increasingly popular among young adults, with some spending over 10 hours each day on social media. Social media can be utilized for community building, fostering relationships, providing safe spaces, inspiration, creative expression, and may even provide users with acceptance, validation, and a sense of belonging. Considering these factors, social media may also affect individuals negatively— specifically mental health-wise, in terms of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to identify whether a correlation exists between time spent on …

Female Veteran With Ptsd From Military Sexual Assault, And Effective Treatments: A Qualitative Research, Debora Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This proposed research study contributes qualitative insights aimed at addressing the lack of research on effective interventions for underserved female veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the military sexual assault population. Research data show female veterans are at higher risk for MSA than their male counterparts. The proposed study would use a qualitative descriptive structure and semi-structured interviews with female veterans and their healthcare providers. The primary goals are identifying effective interventions and comprehensively understanding these women's experiences. The study will utilize theoretical frameworks related to trauma and recovery to conceptualize themes and categories. In the context of …

The Impact Of Maternal Problematic Drinking On Daughter's Mental Health: A Systematic Review, Indianna Bouch, Alexzandria Haro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Parental alcohol use is a widespread issue and is known to have negative impacts on children's mental health. However, research on parent-child dyads concerning parental problematic alcohol use and child mental health outcomes has much less research. Objective: This systematic review aims to examine recent literature on the impact of mothers’ problematic drinking on daughter(s) mental health. Methods: The following databases were used: EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The keywords included “mother”, “AUD”, “maternal AUD”, “impact on daughters”, “female COA”, “female ACOA”, “mothers with an AUD”, “problematic drinking”, “maternal alcoholic”, “impact on relationships”, …

Parental Knowledge Of Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Side Effects, Vanesa Soto, Monique Alexis Sandoval

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: ADHA is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder amongst children. There are many different risk factors that have been found to be associated with the ADHD diagnosis. Overtime medication has become the primary form of treatment for children with ADHD. When a child consumes the medication, there are a wide range of side effects that can be developed. Objective: This proposal aims to explore minority parents’ understanding of ADHD medication side effects when they initially receive a prescription for medication and to identify the sources from which they acquire this knowledge. Methods: We would collect data form participants using a …

The Effect Of Covid-19: Childhood Socialization And Technology Use, Nathalie Saray Manriquez, Amber Vanessa Flores, Cassandra Clarissa Tejada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study proposes to explore the impact of technology use on childhood socialization and mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among elementary and middle school students. With the sudden shift to online learning due to school closures, children experienced a dramatic increase in screen time, the use of computers, tablets, and other digital devices for educational purposes and social interaction. This research aims to examine the effects of heightened technology dependency on children's social development and emotional well-being. Through surveys conducted with teachers, caregivers and parents, the study seeks to investigate the changes in children's socialization behaviors …

The Effectiveness Of School-Based Mental Health Services On School-Aged Children's Mental Health, Melanie Speer, Carolina Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The presented study intended to determine the impact a local School- Based Mental Health (SBMH) program had on the Mental Health (MH) symptoms of school-aged children receiving services. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the SBMH program by comparing the intensity of students’ mental health symptoms pre and post treatment services. Conducting the study was significant, as the results highlighted the need for SBMH services by emphasizing on the impact on the mental and behavioral health symptoms of school-age children. Researcher’s utilized data analysis which consisted of thirty random samples of secondary/archival data. This study …

Postpartum Depression: Factors Contributing To Low Ratings And Treatment, Cheyenne Gibbons-Doyle

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Postpartum depression affects many women after having a child and some may not understand that postpartum depression is what they are dealing with. It can change the relationship or connection that a mother builds with her baby if left unacknowledged or untreated. The ratings for postpartum depression are fairly low and this study aims to identify the factors contributing to it. The purpose of this study is to discover any barriers women may face when reporting they are experiencing postpartum depression. It is important to clarify any barriers in order to understand the reasons for underreporting. The study will utilize …

Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California, Ingrid Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and …

Perception Of Mental Health Among Students In Higher Education, Kasibah Baig, Leia Aguilar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health in higher education environments is a topic that has the need for exploration and discussion. Students with poor mental health face additional stressors and challenges in their academic and personal areas of life. It is critical for colleges and universities to address the topic of mental health and understand how it can affect students, as well as to be able to provide the proper support and services. By having more conversations about mental health on campus and providing easily accessible and inclusive resources for students, it can create a comfortable environment on campus for students to be able …

Bridging The Gap For Parents Seeking Mental Health Services For Children, Emmary Yolanda Taylor

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The rising statistics of adolescents suffering from concerns of mental health in all its various diagnosis, is an increasing problem for the community. The understanding of mental health in adolescents is now continuously being explored due to the rise of concerns. Although professionals continue to research and address the rise of mental health, parental literacy regarding addressing mental health concerns constitutes as one of the number one factors in prevention. The research presented in this paper uses a qualitative approach to study parental literacy and culture regarding mental health in adolescents within the San Bernardino County community. The qualitative research …

Domestic Violence Among African American Women, Tamika Palmer

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored how well social service providers understood barriers and racial differences in domestic violence among African American women. This study raised the need to examine further social service providers' knowledge of cultural competency and systemic challenges. This study consisted of a qualitative study that gathered seven social service provider's perspective through an interview guide. Thematic analysis data gathered during interviews was used in this study to identify the adverse effects within this population. The findings of this research study contribute to social work practice by providing insight into racial challenges within the support systems that may affect African …

Unintended Consequences: How Direct Cash Payments To Families Experiencing Poverty Lowered Child Poverty Rates In The United States, Wayne Dunn

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child poverty has adverse effects for the children who experience it and it has long term social and economic consequences into adulthood. This policy analysis looks at the policy choices America has made in addressing child poverty and what effects, if any, those policies have had. After reviewing traditional in-kind policy options for addressing child poverty, this article focuses on the decreases in the child poverty rate that occurred with the passage of pandemic era legislation that provided direct cash assistance to all Americans. Because the assistance programs only happened in two consecutive years and were terminated at the end …

A Comparison Of Depression And Anxiety Severity Within Neurotypical And Neurodivergent Lgbtq+ Individuals, Madison Nicole Napoli

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Knowledge on the mental health struggles experienced by the LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent (ND) communities has been slowly growing. However, research on the mental health of ND LGBTQ+ individuals is incredibly underrepresented in academic literature. This study sought to answer whether ND LGBTQ+ individuals with autism, ADHD, and/or dyslexia score higher on the PHQ-9 depression and GAD-7 anxiety scales compared to LGBTQ+ individuals that do not have a neurological condition. This study employed quantitative design and utilized a Qualtrics survey to obtain data, which was then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 29. The data found that LGBTQ+ participants with a neurological …

Student Mental Health Challenges Vs. The Role Of School Counselors: Addressing The Gap In Mental Health Treatment, Victoria Sic Ms, Cynthia Lizaola Ms

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the role of academic counselors in providing mental health support for K-12 students. Using a post-positivist approach, the research explores how counselors navigate their dual responsibilities of academic guidance and mental health intervention within school settings. A literature review highlights the evolving role of school counselors, the growing mental health needs of students, and the impact of external factors—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—on their work.

The study was conducted in two Southern California counties and involved 17 experienced, primarily bilingual academic counselors recruited through snowball sampling. Data collection included in-depth interviews to investigate counselors’ roles, training, and …

First-Generation Latinas In Higher Education Raises Problems In Mental Health, Amairani Velez-Ramos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

First-Generation Latina Students (FGLS) pursuing higher education in social work experience more anxiety and stress. This qualitative research study explored the components that contributed to FGLS anxiety and stress. One-on-one interviews were conducted with twelve First-Generation Latina Students pursuing a graduate degree in social work. The two theories that helped better understand the mental health factors that FGLS encountered were the bioecological systems theory and narrative theory. The bioecological systems theory was applied to explore participants’ different ecological systems. The narrative theory was utilized as a framework for participants to share their first-hand experiences in a graduate program. The information …

Poverty In Ethnic Minority Children: Social Workers/Social Work Students’ Perceptions Of Effective Interventions, Danielle Nicole Davis

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Racial and ethnic minorities experience poverty at rates significantly higher than the rest of the United States population, especially when considering children. This disparity leads to decreased positive outcomes for children growing up in impoverished ethnic minority households. By examining the interventions utilized to address childhood poverty and how social workers and social work students create targeted interventions for this population, the current study provides insight into effective methods for addressing childhood poverty in ethnic minority populations. The current research expands on information gathered regarding effective interventions for minority children in poverty. This is an exploratory study that used a …

A Systematic Review Of Effective School-Based Interventions Against Bullying In The United States, Jessica Lopez Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Bullying remains a persistent issue within the United States (U.S.) educational system, affecting–among other things–students’ well-being, academic performance, and mental health. This mixed-methods systematic review was purported to address gaps in previous literature by identifying effective school-based interventions against bullying implemented between 2017 and 2024 in the U.S. Using a purposive sampling method, this review screened three electronic databases: APA PsycNET, ERIC, and JSTOR to garner relevant studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were employed to ensure rigorous selection and analysis of relevant articles. There were four studies in this systematic review (n=4). The …

Practices And Policies Within The Child Welfare System To Reduce The Risk Of Child Sexual Exploitation, Areli Vega, Guadalupe Ibañez De Molleti

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project examined current child welfare system policies and practices that may be indirectly contributing to the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of children. This qualitative study gathered data using interviews of past and current child welfare case workers who have experience with CSEC cases. Key findings highlighted several themes within the participants’ answers, and using this data we propose feasible recommendations, such as increased CSEC training for case workers, provide proactive education, and strengthening existing collaborations.

Burnout Among Mental Health Professionals In Northern California: A Mixed-Methods Study, Sade Butler

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout, characterized by prolonged emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion, is a widespread issue affecting millions of professionals in the United States and globally. Previous research has not adequately addressed the phenomenon of burnout, particularly in California. This study took a mixed-methods approach to determine the scope of, contributing factors to, and coping strategies for burnout among mental health professionals in Northern California. A sample of 93 mental health professionals completed a survey that contained both closed-ended and open-ended questions on burnout. Descriptive statistics indicated that 89.2% of participants experienced a moderate to severe level of burnout at work. Meanwhile, thematic …

A Qualitative Study Of Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv) Within American Indigenous Communities, Jaclyn Caldwell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the causes of increased rates of IPV within Indigenous communities, what services have best served Indigenous communities in the past, and what types of IPV services Tribal communities would like to see in the future. Using a qualitative research design, the researcher interviewed professionals who had worked with Tribes or Tribal members within the last three years. The study utilized a snowball sampling method to interview and obtain participants’ observations on the needs for IPV services with Indigenous communities. Through data analysis, the research identified five themes: demographics, service availability, Tribal …

The Relationship Between Participation In School Based Mental Health Programs And Absenteeism, Candida Kistemann, Diane Palomares, Jodi Eddington

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study focuses on the impact of School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) programs on student absenteeism in a school setting, highlighting the potential of these programs to promote students’ well-being and improve attendance rates. By implementing SBMH programs, schools may address mental health challenges that contribute to chronic absenteeism. Researchers used a quantitative research design, analyzing archival data to assess whether participation in an SBMH program influences school attendance. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine absentee rates before, during, and after SBMH participation. Findings revealed no significant overall effect; however, specific groups – elementary school students and Hispanic students …

Sexually Exploited Foster Youth And Social Worker’S Perspective On Effective Strategies For Permanency, Safety, And Well-Being., Gerald Laurice Williams Ii

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster youth deal with many complicating factors due to being victims of abuse being removed from their families, unstable placement, and family support. Foster youth are also at an increased risk of being targeted by traffickers due to vulnerabilities including substance use, unresolved mental health issues, and a history of frequent running away behavior. This study aims to speak to social workers about effective strategies to prevent or keep foster youth safe from being exploited. This seeks to determine which strategies are best in promoting safety, permanency, and well-being for foster youth from the professionals that have or have had …

A Qualitative Method Study On Serious Mental Illnesses Seeing In Homelessness, Samantha Ruiz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Homelessness is a serious social problem influenced by various factors, specifically serious mental illnesses (SMI’s). Based on past studies, there is limited research that explains the quality of mental health services for individuals who are unhoused with SMI’s. The purpose of this research was to explore mental health services among the unhoused population who have serious mental illnesses (SMI’s) (from the perspective of social service providers). The study was a qualitative method design which provided a rich in-depth description through interviews. The study answered the following research questions: What is the perception of mental health services among homeless groups in …

The Effects Of Aces On Substance Abuse In California: A Secondary Data Analysis Using Chis Data, Ashley J. Brounstein

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of long-term health and behavioral outcomes. Using data from 19,771 adults in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this study examines the relationship between ACEs and substance use in adulthood, emphasizing the role of childhood trauma in shaping later-life health behaviors. Participants reported their ACE exposure through a 10-item ACE scale titled Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Questionnaire developed by Vincent Felitti and Robert Anda. The study assesses the use of various substances, including (a) marijuana, (b) e-cigarettes, (c) CBD, (d) cigarettes, (e) alcohol, and (f) illicit drugs, measured by past …