Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons^™

The Relationship Among Post-Traumatic Growth, Religious Commitment, And Optimism In Adult Liberian Former Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons Traumatized By War-Related Events, Hannah Acquaye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the myriad consequences of war is displacement and refugee-ism. People become refugees when they no longer feel safe in their country of origin. Before, during, and after the journey towards safety, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) endure several challenging circumstances which stretch their normal abilities to cope. In their efforts to cope, these people report several mental health challenges like sleeplessness, hypervigilance, anxiety, and depression. The reported mental health challenges are normal in this population; however, when they persist, they result in posttraumatic stress disorder. Surprisingly, some also report obtaining psychological growth due to their challenging circumstances. …

Development And Validation Of The Client Ratings Of Counselor Competence: Applying The Rasch Measurement Model, Hang Jo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An important part of becoming a counselor is developing strong counselor competence, particularly for counselors-in-training. Thus, the main goal in counselor education is to develop students' competence to be capable to practice as a professional counselor. Assessing the competence of counselors-in-training remains the primary focus in counselor education and supervision (Bernard & Goodyear, 2014; McAuliffe & Eriksen, 2011; Swank & Lambie, 2012). There have been various attempts to measure the true construct of counselor competence (e.g., Hughes, 2014; Swank, Lambie, & Witta, 2012; Urbani, Smith et al., 2002). Those attempts tried to involve diverse voices around counselor competence in more …

Meta-Analyses Of Cardiovascular Responses To Rumination : Exploring Mechanisms Linking Depression And Hostility To Cardiovascular Disease., Lorna Y. Busch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rumination intensifies and prolongs cardiovascular responses to stress. This emotion regulation strategy is characteristic of depression and hostility and may be a mechanism linking these dispositions to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current meta-analyses investigate the magnitude of cardiovascular responses to rumination and the effectiveness of distraction in curtailing these responses. A literature search identified studies with rumination conditions and corresponding cardiovascular measures. A random effects model was applied to calculate heart rate (HR), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) weighted effect sizes for reactivity and recovery to angry rumination, sadness rumination, and rumination on positive emotion; heart …

Suicide Prevention Strategies In Tennessee Community Colleges: A Case Study, Sandra Perley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students; annually approximately 1,100 students in institutions of higher education die by suicide. However, most research related to college student suicide was conducted using the sample of 4-year institutions. Community colleges have seldom been included in the sample of suicide research studies. This qualitative case study research explored the student suicide prevention strategies in the 13 community colleges in the Tennessee Board of Regents higher education system. Data were collected from surveys, institutional web sites, and interviews with institutional personnel.

Approximately half of the institutions offer suicide prevention information to …

Relational Processes In Prayer : A Reflection Of The Effects Of Culture On Religious Experience., Benjamin David Jeppsen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the mediating effect of one’s perceived relationship with God on the relationship between prayer and mental health in a cultural context. As an interpersonal activity, prayer may operate along relational constructs. Research supports a theoretical mechanism of prayer that aligns with the benefits of supportive interpersonal relationships. It is possible, then, that as relational processes change across dimensions of individualism and collectivism, prayer may mirror these same changes. A model for collectivistic and individualistic approaches to prayer is proposed and placed within a relational model for prayer’s effects on mental health. However, due to instrument failure, the …

Exploring The Associations Between Teaching Behaviors And Affect In Upper Elementary School Students Before And After Controlling For Parenting Behaviors., Allison D. Barnard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the associations between student perceived teaching behaviors and negative and positive affect in upper elementary age students, both before and after controlling for perceived parenting behaviors. The Teaching Behavior Questionnaire (TBQ), the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C) were completed by 777 students in third through fifth grade across nine elementary schools. Two-level hierarchical linear model (HLM) analyses not controlling for parenting behavior found that the Instructional Teaching Behavior scale of the TBQ was negatively associated with negative affect (NA) and positively associated with positive affect (PA). The Socio-Emotional …

The Role Of Self-Discrepancies In American Jewish Identities On Mental And Spiritual Well-Being., Jason Goldstein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary American Jews individually define their own Jewish identity developed through both religious and cultural foundations (Cohen & Eisen, 2000), yet there is limited empirical research on the experience of Jewish identity and its impact on mental and spiritual well-being. Beyond denominational affiliation, each Jewish individual builds a Jewish identity based on personally desired levels of participation in one’s Jewish community (Ideal Jewish Identity) as well as perceived expectations and obligations of a Jewish life (Ought Jewish Identity), although the internalized desires and expectations may not be fulfilled. Building upon the foundation established by Rogers (1954) and Higgins (1986), the …

The Impact Of Participation In A First-Year Seminar On Increased Usage Of Campus Resources, Academic And Social Integration And First-To-Second-Semester Persistence At A Two-Year Community And Technical College., Kaye Lafferty 1964-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student attrition has been a focus of college administrators for many years and will remain a critical concern for higher education (Bean, 1985; Tinto, 1987). The problem of student attrition is more severe at community colleges than at four-year institutions (Andreu, 2002; Lundberg, 2002; McCabe, 2000). Many institutions are implementing first-year seminar programs to increase persistence during the first year of college. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether participating in a first-year seminar course will increase a student’s academic engagement and attachment to the environment, usage of campus resources and participation in campus events, use of the …

High School Educators’ Perceptions Of Their Schools’ Conduciveness To English Language Learners’ Success, Jill Winiger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of administrators, guidance counselors, and classroom teachers in the high schools of Northeast Tennessee regarding their schools’ academics, climate, culture, parent engagement, and their English Language Learners’ school experiences. The researcher sought to ascertain if significant differences exist between the perceptions of different groups of educational professionals in the school, with those groups to include school administrators, guidance counselors, and classroom teachers. Data were analyzed from 50 survey questions with 42 of those questions measured on a 5-point Likert scale, 5 questions as multiple choice, and 3 questions as open-ended. …

Avoidance In Disordered Eating : The Roles Of Overvaluation Of Weight And Shape And Repetitive Thinking., Anne Christine Bjerg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating is associated with several negative outcomes and often lead to diagnosable eating disorders. The coping strategies used by those with disordered eating may contribute to such consequences. Past research has found experiential avoidance to be common among those with disordered eating to escape uncomfortable internal experiences. The current study suggested that repetitive thinking and overvaluation of weight and shape are two such mechanisms by which avoidance of negative core beliefs, in particular, is achieved. It was hypothesized that eating disorder symptoms, negative core beliefs, experiential avoidance, overvaluation of weight and shape and repetitive thinking would all be positively …

Graduate Students Who Are Part-Time Workers : How Does Occupational Stress And Gender Role Affect Job Satisfaction?, Megan Church-Nally

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Job satisfaction and occupational stress have consistently been examined in professionals for decades due to its link to turnover and reduced productivity. Similar concepts have been investigated in undergraduate students, but there is paucity of research of attrition in graduate students. This gap persists despite estimates that 50% of graduate students fail to graduate (Cassuto, 2013). Such attrition is not due to deficiency in academic skills, as Carroll, Ng, and Birch (2009) reported that personal reasons were cited more than academic concerns for attrition. The purpose of this dissertation was to address this job satisfaction and occupational stress gap with …

An Evaluation Of A Brief, Theatre-Based Intervention For The Prevention Of Adolescent Cyberbulllying And Suicide., Kathryn Laurel Hopkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quality program evaluation investigates both the process and the outcomes of an intervention in order to accurately determine its effectiveness and impact. In the present study, the effectiveness of CHOICES, a brief, applied-theatre intervention that addresses cyberbullying and suicide was evaluated. The fidelity of implementation of the intervention was assessed to determine whether the delivery of CHOICES was consistent with the original goals of the program, as well as consistent across multiple deliveries. Investigation of the fidelity of implementation revealed that CHOICES was not implemented with high levels of fidelity. The study also determined whether exposure to CHOICES led to …

Answering The Call : An Examination Of Multicultural Competence Among Academic Advising Professionals., Tia Noelle Dumas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the relationship between background characteristics and multicultural competence among academic advising professionals at a large, public, urban research institution in the southern United States. It begins with a brief overview of ethical principles in academic advising, focusing on the responsibility academic advisors have to advise all students equitably. The dissertation study is guided by a conceptual framework grounded in student departure theory (Tinto, 1975, 1987, 1993), learning-centered academic advising (Lowenstein, 2005), culturally sustaining pedagogy (Paris, 2012), and multicultural competencies in helping and advising (Pope, Reynolds, & Mueller, 2004) to argue for an understanding of culturally responsive advising …

A Young Child's Anxiety And Math Performance: Enhancing Cognitive Behavioral Intervention With Conjoint Behavioral Consultation, Kirsten L. Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Partnering with families, school personnel, and community resources is an important step to supporting the child and family, especially when children might suffer from debilitating anxiety concerns. However, little research examines the impact of anxiety on math performance for young children participating in school-based interventions enhanced by family components. The following research questions were addressed in the study: 1a) Will a young child with elevated levels of anxiety show a decrease in anxiety symptoms with a Cognitive Behavioral framework intervention program for children? 1b) Will anxiety be reduced with the addition of a Conjoint Behavioral Consultation with the family and …

Special Education Transition Programs For Three Southwest Virginia School Systems: A Comparative Study., James R. Myers Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transition services at the high school level can make a positive difference in the postsecondary outcomes of students with disabilities by providing them a program of study or training at the secondary level. Transition services can also assist them in aquiring an education, vocational training, rehabilitative services, and work opportunities as they enter the postsecondary world of young adulthood.

The purpose of this study is to compare the transition programs of 3 Southwest Virginia school systems in an effort to determine the difference a full-time transition coordinator could make in the postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities.

Findings revealed significant …

Perceptions Of High School Counselors Involvement In The Provision Of Postsecondary Transition Services To Students With Specific Learning Disabilities., Diana Joy Hudson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined high school counselors' perceptions of postsecondary transition services to students with specific learning disabilities. Seven high school counselors in the Unnamed County Schools were interviewed to examine their perceptions of postsecondary transition services to students with specific learning disabilities. Categories that involved school counselor's perceptions of the provision of postsecondary transition services for students with learning disabilities emerged from the data. These themes were as follows: 1) plan of study for postsecondary goals based on vocational assessments, 2) assistance provided to prepare for college or work, 3) duties of counselors and involvement in the transition process, …

Perceived Closeness To The Deceased And Its Predictive Effect On The Development Of Prolonged Grief Disorder And Suicidality Among Bereaved College Students, Jeffrey Alan Rings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A growing percentage of college students are experiencing severe and debilitating psychological problems (Caulfield, 2000; Douce, 2004; Kitzrow, 2003). Despite being a commonly-encountered stressor among undergraduates (Currier et al., 2006), the occurrence of bereavement is addressed rarely among the college mental health literature. However, bereavement has been shown to lead to increased suicidality and other problematic mental health symptoms (Prigerson, Bridge et al., 1999). Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), a newly-defined mental health diagnosis, has been found to be a more accurate indicator of poorer mental health functioning among bereaved individuals than other mental health conditions (Silverman et al., 2000). Some …

Trends In Sophomore Students' Perceptions Of Academic Advising Services At East Tennessee State University., E. Renθe Chaffin Couch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine sophomore students' perceptions of academic advising at ETSU as reported in fall 2002 and trends in sophomore students' perceptions of academic advising at ETSU from 1994 to 2002. Four research questions and seven hypotheses were examined.

The ACT Survey of Academic Advising was the instrument used in this study. This survey was administered to ETSU sophomores enrolled in 2000-level English literature classes during the fall semesters of 1994, 1998, and 2002. Data obtained from the survey regarding topics of discussion with advisors, satisfaction with assistance received, and impressions of advisors were analyzed …

The Use Of Alternative School Placements For Disciplinary Interventions With At-Risk Students, Tammie N. Feathers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate effective ways of providing educational services for at-risk students who are repeatedly placed out of the regular classroom into an alternative school. Characteristics of both settings were investigated in terms of meeting student needs to determine what ingredients might be missing from either or both settings that should be implemented to help these students succeed. The research was qualitative and used a case study design. Primary data were gathered from interviews with five students placed in an alternative school setting and interviews with teachers and administrators in both the regular school and …

Pre- And Post-Matriculation Correlates Of Student Retention Within A Community College Setting, Pamela E. Goodman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the 1990s, due in part to declining enrollment numbers and prolonged budget constraints, student retention became a primary focus in higher education. Aligned with the nationwide interest, this longitudinal, archival study focused on the correlates of student retention at Walters State Community College, located in Morristown, Tennessee. The population involved 17,497 students enrolled from the fall semester of 1992 through the fall semester of 1997. Four sets of variables were investigated--demographic variables, pre-matriculation variables, post-matriculation variables related to grades, and post-matriculation variables related to enrollment. The data were collected through the use of a computer program written to access …

A Cohort Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Student Support Services Program At Southwest Virginia Community College, Michael J. Henry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Student Support Services Program is one of five federally funded “TRIO” programs provided for by Congress and administered by the Department of Education that are designed to improve grade-point averages and the retention and graduation rates of low-income individuals, firs t-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine if the students who participated in the Student Support Services Program at SVCC achieved higher grade-point averages, retention rates, and graduation rates than did non-participants. There were no significant differences in grade-point averages between Student Support Services (SSS) Program participants and non-participants, The Student …

Entry-Level Competencies Needed By Bsns In Acute Healthcare Agencies In Tennessee In The Next Ten Years, Marjorie S. King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research focused on the identification of entry-level competencies needed by Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates who will begin employment in acute healthcare agencies in the next 10 years in Tennessee. The purpose of the study was to gain increased awareness of the competencies needed by graduates of BSN programs in Tennessee in order to meet the demands of the acute healthcare agencies, in light of present and anticipated changes in the healthcare delivery system. The opinions of nurse educators, nurse administrators, recently graduated BSNs, and experienced BSN graduates were solicited to assess congruency of perceptions. In addition, …

Participation In Extracurricular Activities And The Relationship To Academic Achievement And School Attendance Among High School Seniors, Lyle C. Ailshie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and the variables of school attendance and academic achievement. The population for the study was the 1994-95 graduating class in the First Tennessee Development District high schools. The definition of extracurricular activities was expanded to include the employment of students. The relationships were examined through Pearson Product Moment correlations and by way of multiple regression. A total of 575 students from thirteen high schools made up the sample for this study. Schools were classified into three size categories and proportionally selected in order to accurately represent the population. Selected students …

Principals' Beliefs Regarding The Use Of Corporal Punishment In Tennessee's First District Public Schools, Susan M. Kiernan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There were two major purposes of this study. The first purpose was to obtain information from all principals in Tennessee's First District concerning their beliefs about the use of corporal punishment in public schools in Tennessee. Generalizations could be made in areas of similar geographic and cultural makeup. The second purpose of this study was to generate reflective thought in Tennessee's First District to clarify administrators' beliefs as to the use of corporal punishment as a deterrent. Demographic findings of the study revealed a predominately male population of principals. The majority of the population surveyed was male Caucasian. There was …

Adapting To Retention: A Naturalistic Study Revealing The Coping Resources Of Nonpromoted Students And Their Parents, Robbie J. Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to uncover the feelings and reactions of students and their parents in regard to the nonpromotion experience. Families with children who had been retained at least once in grades one through eight were purposefully selected as units of study from one of four area school systems. A total of 52 family members from 22 family units participated in 46 separate, qualitative interviews. The information collected from the interviews was inductively analyzed. Building upon Schlossberg's theory for human adaptation to transitions, seven factors or coping resources emerged from the data that affected the adaptation of …

The Effects Of Retention In Elementary School On Subsequent Academic Performance And Instructional Practices, Janie H. Snyder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of retention on the academic performance of students retained in the third and fifth grade during the 1985-86 school year. A follow up study was used to analyze changes in academic test results. Another purpose was to interview teachers who had retained students and teachers who had taught the children the next school year to determine what changes occurred in instructional practices. Forty retained students of Northeast Tennessee were matched according to sex and similar scaled scores on the Stanford Achievement Test. Scores were compared by grade and by year …

Occupational Stress Among Nurse Administrators In General Hospitals In Tennessee, Ruby T. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of occupational stress among nurse administrators and to identify the types of strategies used by nurse administrators to deal with or manage occupational stress. The study examined the relationship between selected demographic variables, occupational stress, and strategies. The research design included five research questions along with seven null hypotheses testing the relationship between occupational stress and demographic variables--age, gender, marital status, years of professional nursing experience, years as a nurse administrator, educational attainment, and hospital bed capacity. There were seven additional hypotheses testing the relationship between the same demographic variables …

Advisement Effectiveness And Self-Directed Learning: A Comparison Between Traditional And Non-Traditional Students In Selected Regional Universities In Tennessee, James L. Daniel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Because most academic advisement programs were established to accomodate traditional student populations, it was the purpose of this study to compare the effectiveness of these systems as perceived by traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students at three of Tennessee's regional universities. Traditional and non-traditional students were also compared on the extent to which they exhibit self-directed learning. A comparison of mean scores was made for responses made to items contained in the American College Testing (ACT) Survey of Academic Advising, including the total mean score for the Oddi Continuing Learning Inventory (OCLI) between traditional/non-traditional students, full-time/part-time students, students at the three …

A Study Of Students' Perceptions Of Counseling Services In Programs Designed To Improve Their Academic Achievement Level, Marilyn R. Bowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem. The problem of this study was to compare attitudes of selected students toward counseling services provided by the Division of Special Services in colleges and universities in the State of Tennessee. Methods. The subjects involved were students enrolled in Special Services for Disadvantaged Students during the fall semester/quarter 1984. Using the Counselor Rating Scales (Short Form), students rated counselors in three areas: first impressions, helpfulness of the counselor, and helpfulness for specific problems. Findings. The findings of the study indicated a statistically significant difference in the following areas: Students who had been enrolled in Special Services for one or …

The Extent Of Professional Burnout And Related Factors Affecting Public School Counselors, Bobby W. Burchette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem. The problem of this study was to investigate the extent of, and factors related to, professional burnout among public school counselors in Virginia within categories of demographic variables. Methods. Participants for the study were selected from a total population of 1664 school counselors in The Commonwealth of Virginia catergorized by the State Department of Education as: (1) Elementary school counselors, (2) Junior high/middle/intermediate school counselors, and (3) Secondary/senior high school counselors. The Maslach Burnout Inventory and a demographic data sheet were mailed to the 463 counselors selected to participate in the study. Of the returned instruments, 295 were complete …