Social Work Commons^™

#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 …

The Effects Of Compassion Fatigue Among Childwelfare Workers, Henok Kidane, Linda Rimel

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Research has shown that compassion fatigue (CF) is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion in which workers empathize with their clients' suffering. CF has been found to impact child welfare workers, leading to high turnover rates, multiple placement changes for foster children and youth, and burnout. The knowledge gap is that limited research has been conducted to examine the effects of CF among child welfare workers. Objective: This systematic review proposes synthesizing the literature on compassion fatigue among child welfare workers' overall well-being. Methods: The following database was used: One Search, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The keywords include …

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 …

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 …

Cultural Stigmas Are A Barrier To Mental Health Services Among Latinos, Kimberly Soto Banuelos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health stigmas significantly impact utilization of services among Latinos, a population that experiences unique culture and social barriers. This study examined the impact that cultural stigmas have on Latinos utilizing mental health services or not. Using a Qualtrics survey targeting college students of Latino descent, this study gathered quantitative data on attitudes towards mental health, alongside a few demographic features. There were forty completed surveys analyzed which findings revealed a prevalence of stigma, particularly in attitudes towards seeking help from mental health professionals. Although this quantitative research did not show a significant correlation between stigma and likelihood of using …

Parent-Child Contact In Family-Focused Programs For Incarcerated Individuals, Carol Marie Nettie Mcdonald

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following research study will evaluate family-focused programs offered to incarcerated individuals and determine if these programs are hindered when there is little to no contact between parents and children during incarceration. Family-focused programs include parent/child bonding, and/or parenting classes and other similar programs. The research method that will be used in this study is a qualitative design and will gather data through interviews of formerly incarcerated individuals as well as former children (now adults) who have been involved in family programming. The study will also gather data from licensed clinical staff who have been involved in related programming while …

Challenges To And Receptiveness Of Service Providers Efforts When Working With Undocumented Migrants, Jesse Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This exploratory study will obtain knowledge on how receptive Undocumented Latinx Migrants (ULMs) are to the advocacy efforts of Service Providers (SPs). Additionally, challenges and barriers that SPs encounter that prevent them from delivering quality and effective services and resources to ULMs will be explored. The last theme to be explored is the degree of knowledge of resources, that SPs possess, that can empower the ULM community. The data obtained from SPs will make the audience aware of the challenges, ethical and legal dilemmas that they face when advocating for this population.

This qualitative research design/methods will consist of 3 …

Do Lgbtq+ Latinos Experience Higher Levels Of Depression Compared To Heterosexual Latinos?, Oscar Moreno-Castro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines depression levels in both LGBTQ+ and Heterosexual Latinos. Quantitative data was collected using Qualtrics, an online survey data collector. The data collected from Qualitics will provide an insight regarding mental health among participants and examine depression levels amongst both groups. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, a software program tool that helps analyze and manage data. To measure the severity of depression, the researcher will utilize the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a 17-questionnaire instrument for assessing symptoms of depression and compare the level of depression amongst both groups. Key findings from the research revealed slight differences in …

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 …

Cultural Risk Factors For Teen Pregnancy In Hispanic/Latina Women: A Qualitative Study, Nia Saldana

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Teen pregnancy remains a significant social issue in the United States, disproportionately affecting Hispanic/Latina adolescents. Research is highly needed to understand the factors contributing to high rates of teen pregnancy among Hispanics/Latinas. In 2020, Latina teen birth rates (25.3 per 1,000 females) exceeded that of White teens (11.4 per 1,000 teens) by a large margin (CDC, 2020). The purpose of this study is to explore the cultural factors, particularly religion and familial influences, on the high rates of teen pregnancy among Hispanics/Latinas. Qualitative data was collected using in-depth interviews with seven adult Hispanic/Latina women who have experienced teen pregnancy. …

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 …

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 …

Coping Experiences Of Low-Income Individuals With A History Of Opioid Use In Santa Cruz County: A Qualitative Study, Nikki Himelright

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The opioid epidemic has increased exponentially in severity across the United States in the last decade. This research project was conducted to understand the needs of a vulnerable population (opioid users) at the local level. The research sought to answer the following question: How do low-income individuals in Santa Cruz County cope with opioid use? The purpose is to identify the most common coping strategies used by this population, so that social workers and others in helping professions in Santa Cruz County will have a fuller picture of what this vulnerable demographic is facing. The data for this research was …

Within The Diverse Latino/Hispanic Community In The Inland Valley, How Does Paternal Alcohol Use Impact The Personal Growth, Positive Relationships, And Psychological Well-Being Of Their Offspring In Adulthood?, Lizbeth Carrillo, Angela M. Sandoval

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This proposed study aims to explore the psychological effects, personal growth, and development of positive relationships among Latino/Hispanic adult children of alcoholics faced in their adulthood specifically within the Inland Valley empire. Using a quantitative method approach, the proposed research will employ surveys to provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term emotional, behavioral, and relational outcomes experienced by ACOA’s. Participants will be selected within the Latino/Hispanic community, aged 18-65 years old, who have had a father with a history of alcohol abuse. The findings from this study will contribute to bridging gaps in understanding the unique challenges and strengths …

Formerly Incarcerated People's Experiences Trying To Access Affordable Housing, Maira Y. Fuentes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Lack of affordable housing among formerly incarcerated people continues to be a major social issue, as thousands of individuals and families in the United States continue to struggle with being unsheltered. Formerly incarcerated people build up 69% of the population who reside within these shelters in the United States (Glassman, 2024). The literature in this research discusses that common systemic barriers among formerly incarcerated individuals accessing housing are lack of affordable housing, facing stigma and discrimination, or no employment opportunities. Previous research shows that there is a limited number of participants and is focused on newly released prisoners in their …

The Effectiveness Of Homelessness Prevention Services In Southern California, Marlon N. Gonzalez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research project aimed to determine the effectiveness of available prevention services for individuals and families at risk of experiencing homelessness in a region of Southern California. Homelessness is a prevalent social problem for society and the social problem has been growing significantly. The study adopted an exploratory and qualitative research design by interviewing social services professionals working in the arena of homelessness. The Snowball Sampling method was used to recruit social services professionals after interviewing a select few individuals first. Ten interviews of social services professionals were completed via a Zoom setting.

Data analysis revealed the following ten open …