Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Bullying In The Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Vanessa Cristina Cantu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this paper was to describe the study concerning special education students in middle school who were bullied. Many students in the special education program are being bullied, whether it is due to their disabilities or other factors (Mishna, 2003; Rose, Espelage, & Monda-Amaya, 2009; Coloroso, 2008; Christensen, Fraynt, Neece, & Baker, 2012). While several quantitative studies have been conducted addressing this worldwide phenomenon, few qualitative studies have been performed. A phenomenological approach allowed the participants to share their own experiences with bullying. Twenty-five students from several middle schools (6th, 7th, 8th grades) in a city in the …

Physician Assistant Students' Perceptions Of Mental Illness: A Correlational Study Of Empathy, Attitudes, And Stigma Levels, Juliann M. Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Physician assistant students’ perceptions and attitudes towards mental illness were examined in relation to their empathy levels. The theoretical frameworks of stigma and labeling were explored and examined through the use of surveys and questionnaires to assess prior attitudes and beliefs about individuals with a mental illness. Based on a multiple-regression model and multi-way analysis of variance, this study showed a statistical significance between an individual’s empathy levels and their stigmatization towards mental illness. In addition, the results of this study identified significant relationships between gender and race in terms of empathy. Implications of this study could have far-reaching effects …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Prevocational Seminar On Self-Efficacy And Work Motivation Among Inpatient Adults With Severe Mental Illness: An Experimental Study, Amanda L. Foster

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Employment is a primary facet of our social milieu and can be associated with an individual's health and quality of life. Employment has also proven to be an essential element to the recovery of people with severe mental illness (PWSMI); however, PWSMI have the highest unemployment rate out of all groups of individuals with disabilities. Supported employment (SE) is an ideal mainstreaming agent, for PWSMI, into competitive employment; yet, barriers experienced by participants of SE interrupt the overall effectiveness of the program. This study provides insight regarding an intervention designed to assist PWSMI in overcoming employment-related barriers. A pre-test post-test …

Certified Rehabilitation Counselors Working In Rehabilitation Agencies: An Investigation Of Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction And Intent To Quit, Cynthia A. Serrata

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to examine job satisfaction in rehabilitation counselors who are Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs) practicing in rehabilitation settings and to identify the employment factors and work motivation factors that contribute to job satisfaction and intent to quit. Participants included in this study were obtained from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) list serve. Participants were from Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Region 5: Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Of the 1695 emails that were sent to CRCs from RSA Region 5, 315 surveys were completed resulting in a response rate of 19%. The …

The Perceived Impacts Of Disability On Family By Individuals With Disabilities In Vr Services: A Multivariate Analysis, Benjamin C. Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of individuals with disabilities regarding the impact of disability on family as encountered in the literature. Despite an abundance of research and literature documenting the experience of disability in the family the individual with the disability has largely been excluded from this research. This study investigated perceptions of individuals with disabilities regarding the impacts their disabilities have on their family that have been documented in the literature. Specific demographic variables were examined to determine any differences in perceptions based on these variables. Lastly, the underlying concepts of the perceptions of …

Factors Impacting Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcomes: An Analysis Of State-Federal Service Provision, Valerie Jeannette Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

State-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs are widely recognized for providing various services to individuals with disabilities to help them reach their goals of independence and employment. Because rehabilitation programs are required to meet federal and state goals, standards, and indicators, thorough and ongoing program evaluation is necessary to identify predictors of successful and unsuccessful employment outcomes in order to determine best practices in vocational rehabilitation service delivery.

In the large southwestern state examined in this research study, there is an estimated return on investment of $9 for each dollar spent on successful VR cases. Cases closed successfully by state-federal VR …

Secondary Complications Among Person's With Spinal Cord Injury And Best Practices For Life Care Planners, Noel A. Ysasi Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The current study was intended to deliver life care planners with a guide as to whether or not secondary complications (SCs) should be included within the LCP, while obtaining the professional opinion of physiatrists as to the incidence rate of SCs. Each research question was designed to determine whether differences exist between life care planners (LCPs) and physiatrists in their knowledge regarding SCs while comparing their responses with empirical research. In addition, it was determined to investigate whether costs should be included in a LCP based on the reports given from certified and non-certified LCPs; even though it meets the …

Personality Of Personal Trainers: A Study Of Perception And Preference, Andy L. Chasse

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study used a personality questionnaire to address the lack of literature concerning how the general population perceives personal trainers and what qualities they desire in them. The Big Five Inventory (BFI) with two demographic items (gender and previous experience) was administered to 130 undergraduate students at The University of Texas-Pan American to determine perceived and desired characteristics. High extraversion was most commonly associated with personal trainers. High extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, as well as low neuroticism, were most desired in personal trainers. Significant differences were seen between perceived and desired means across all dimensions. Additionally, gender produced main effects …