Social Work Commons^™

Examining The Transmission Of Paternal Trauma Across Generations And Its Effects On Offspring’S Developmental Outcomes, Brianna R. Montano, Margarita Balderas Barbosa

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are linked to a wide range of developmental, behavioral, and emotional difficulties across the lifespan. While significant research has examined the impact of maternal ACEs, limited attention has been given to the role of paternal trauma in shaping child development. Objective: This study proposes to use a quantitative descriptive design to examine the relationship between parental, particularly paternal, ACEs and developmental outcomes in children aged 0 to 5 years. Guided by social learning theory and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s (NCTSN) core concepts of trauma, the study explores how trauma-related behaviors and coping mechanisms …

Law Enforcement Perspectives Towards Mental Health Crisis Interventions, Anna P. Silva

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health crisis calls create significant challenges for law enforcement officers, who often serve as the first responders to individuals experiencing psychological distress. Research indicates that 50% of fatal encounters with law enforcement involve individuals with a mental health disorder (Fuller et al., 2015; Kindy & Elliott, 2015). Although the increasing prevalence of mental health- related calls, law enforcement officers frequently lack the specialized training and resources necessary to effectively de-escalate these situations (Cohen & Bagwell, 2023). As a result, interactions between police officers and individuals with mental illness tend to lead to criminalization, unnecessary incarceration, and even fatal outcomes. …

Examining Support Systems For Youth With Type-1 Diabetes In Foster Care, Garrett Copeland

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Chronic illnesses such as type 1 diabetes can be hard diagnoses for children to understand and are a detriment to their mental and physical health. Evaluating current support systems for this interest group is necessary to make sure that they are receiving the best resources possible. Questioning type 1 diabetics who have grown out of the system, adults involved with T1D care, and social workers are included in the research design. Reviewing the ratings for each question allowed researchers to see where resources are lacking and what needs to be improved or implemented. Social workers should see the importance of …

Exploring The Contributing Factors To College Completion Among Csec Former Foster Youth, Xandra Vaughn

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: While 33% of the general population earns a college degree, only 3% of foster youth who age out of the child welfare system achieve this milestone. This percentage may be even lower among former foster youths who were commercially sexually exploited. Understanding the factors contributing to the lower educational attainment in this population is a critical step toward addressing this disparity. Objective: The purpose of this exploratory study is to determine whether social capital is a contributing factor to college completion among former foster youths who were commercially sexually exploited in San Bernardino County. Methods: This …

Psychological Interventions For Addressing Suicidal Behaviours Among Lgbtq+ Adolescents Who Experienced Cyberbullying: A Systematic Review, Catherine Galvan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, and cyberbullying is often a major reason behind it. Understanding how these two are connected is important for finding ways to help. This chapter will look at how cyberbullying leads to suicide, who is most at risk, and what can be done to prevent it. Objective: The main objective of this research is to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of intervention programs for reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescents, especially LGBTQ+ adolescents, who have experienced cyberbullying. Method: In this systematic review, we plan to extract information …

Exploring The Factors That Influence Telehealth Usage Among Immigrants In The United States: A Mixed Methods Study, Jose M. Garcia-Castañeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Immigrants in the United States continue to face barriers in accessing healthcare services which are rooted in systemic inequities, cultural disconnects, and language-related challenges. The growing presence of telehealth services has offered new opportunities to expand access, but it has also highlighted new barriers which are language proficiency and digital literacy which could increase the gap in services for already marginalized populations. These barriers are factors that influence outcomes such as delayed care, reduced preventative care, and overall poorer health outcomes. The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Service Use (Andersen, 1995) provides a useful framework in understanding how predisposing, …

Effectiveness Of Mental Health Interventions Amongst Parents With Child Welfare Involvement, Clarisa Grano

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explores the effectiveness of mental health interventions provided by child welfare agencies to parents involved in the child welfare system. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the research aims to assess intervention outcomes, identify barriers to service utilization, and provide qualitative insights into parents' experiences with mental health services. The quantitative component will gather data on mental health outcomes through structured surveys, while the qualitative component will explore the lived experiences of parents through semi-structured interviews. Findings from this study will contribute to the development of culturally competent interventions and inform policy changes that address systemic inequities in mental …

Effective Interventions For Women With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Kathryn Antoinette Gonzales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Women diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often undergo powerless treatment interventions according to research. Institutionalized inequalities among service systems challenge women to receive access, begin, engage, and complete mental health services for PTSD. This mixed-methods systematic review sought to determine interventions that are effective for treating this client population. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) tool was used to screen four different electronic databases: PsycINFO, Google Scholar, EBSCO, and OneSearch to identify peer-reviewed articles under a purposive sampling method strategy. Of the 159 studies screened, 15 met the inclusion criteria for this review (n =15). …

The Underutilization Of Mental Health Services Amongst The Hispanic Community: An Exploratory Study, Stephanie Renteria, Andrea Aguilar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Despite the development of mental health services, the Hispanic population within San Bernardino, CA continue to encounter barriers and limitation seeking mental health support. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to identify contributing factors that affect the level of accessibility to mental health services. Method: We propose to collect quantitative data from 25 participants ages 18 to 65 utilizing semi-structured interviews to gather personalized experiences. Recruitment will be collected utilizing interviews conducted in community hospitals. We are going to present open ended questions and collect demographic data to measure the factors of underutilization of mental health in the Hispanic …

Problematic Social Media Use And Its Effects On Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Longitudinal Study, Elaine Moreno

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) has been associated to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and disruptions in identity development among adolescents, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of excessive digital engagement (Keles et al., 2019). Even though there is increasing evidence to support these conclusions, many of the studies that are currently available employ cross-sectional designs, which makes it more difficult to identify the causal links between PSMU and mental health outcomes (Keles et al., 2019). This disparity raises concerns regarding the long-term effects of persistent overuse of social media as well as the directionality of these effects. …

Exploring The Role Of Intersecting Identities In The Prevention And Disclosure Of Child Sexual Abuse, Karen M. Lemus Lares

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Child sexual abuse (CSA) threatens the safety of children all around the world. It puts at risk their immediate physical and emotional well-being but also profoundly affects their long-term physical and mental health, as well as their emotional and social stability. This epidemic creates a cycle of harm and violence that persists from generation to generation and contributes to adverse outcomes. Despite various studies demonstrating the immediate and long-term consequences CSA has on survivors and their families, there are significant gaps remaining in understanding how cultural factors influence the prevalence and disclosure of CSA. This study aims to answer the …

Explaining The Long-Term Mental Health Impacts Of Childhood Exposure To Domestic Violence: A Mixed-Methods Study, Sabrina A. Medel

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Domestic violence (DV) is a social phenomenon that occurs when an individual perpetuates violent and aggressive behavior toward their significant other in the form of financial, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Adversely, children may be exposed to DV, which can result in lasting impacts on their mental health. Although scholars have previously explored this social phenomenon, their studies overlooked the experiences of diverse populations.

Objective: This research study aims to bridge this gap of knowledge by explaining the relationship between childhood exposure to DV and the long-term mental health impacts of BIPOC college students. Methods: This …

The Impact Of Adverse And Positive Childhood Experiences On Immigrants And Their Psychological Well-Being, Sofia Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between immigration status, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), and psychological distress using a representative dataset from California (N=21,463). It investigates two primary research questions: (1) how immigration status influences ACE scores and (2) whether ACE and PCE scores are associated with psychological distress. Chi-square tests, logistic regression, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess these relationships. Findings indicate that non-citizens report significantly lower ACE scores, and lower levels of psychological distress compared to U.S.-born, supporting the "immigrant paradox"—where immigrants exhibit better mental health outcomes than their U.S.-born counterparts despite exposure to …

The Multigenerational Impact Of Mass Incarceration On Families In Southern California, Adelle G. Phillips

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mass incarceration has been a serious social issue in the United States, affecting directly and indirectly millions of individuals and families, particularly those with minority backgrounds. The generational impact of this social issue is significant. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of individuals on the multigenerational impact of mass incarceration on their families. Using convenience and snowball sampling techniques, this mixed-methods study surveyed residents of Southern California who have been affected by incarceration, either personally or through a family member (n = 63). Descriptive statistics demonstrate that the vast majority of the participants (92.1%) reported a moderate to very …

Aiding Foster Youth Toward High School Graduation, Desiree A. Amaya

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research has displayed the differences between the number of students who are non-foster youth graduating high schools and the number of students who are foster youth graduating high schools. The foster youths’ numbers are low in comparison to those who are non-foster youth. Why? The research paper has gathered articles and references to determine common factors that prevent these students from graduating with their classmates and from being successful for the outside world. Through this research, it will go over the common factors that can impact a youth’s life, the supports that can aid towards the youths’ struggles, the sources …

What Is The Correlation Between 9-1-1 Emergency Psychiatric Calls In San Bernardino County And Mental Health Services, Lea M. Munoz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

It is important to address the mental health crisis in the United States to understand the effects it has on individuals, families, and communities and promote better access to mental health services. The mental health crisis has led to an increase in demand for mental health care and economically the U.S. has not been able to satisfy this demand. This paper raises awareness about the issue by emphasizing the need for better access to mental health, reducing the stigma in mental illness, building resilience in individuals, and connecting people to resources that will create a safer and more welcoming environment. …

Assessing Healthcare Students’ Self-Efficacy In Disaster Response: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Aydın Şenol, Abdülkerim Adıyaman, Canan Birimoglu Okuyan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Assessing healthcare students’ self-efficacy in disaster response is crucial for preparing them to effectively manage real-world disaster situations. This study aimed to assess the self-efficacy status of healthcare students in disaster response.

Methods: The data for this cross-sectional analysis were gathered from 498 healthcare students between November 18, 2023, and February 14, 2024, using an individual diagnostic form and the disaster-response self-efficacy (DRSE) scale. This scale is used to assess an individual’s self-efficacy in responding effectively to disasters, including on-site rescue competency, disaster psychological nursing competency, disaster role quality, and adaptation competency.

Results: The mean age …

The Unique Experiences Of Black Women In Childhood School Discipline, Shakeyau Brionna Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have explored racial disparities in school discipline and revealed consistent gaps in the discipline rate of Black students compared to White students and other students of color. The problem of African American girls being disciplined at higher rates than that faced by girls of all other races/ethnicities was addressed in this essential qualitative study. The aim was to explore the perceptions of African American women regarding their experiences with discipline in school and its impact on their well-being in adulthood. Critical race feminism formed the conceptual framework guiding this study. The research questions focused on the perceptions and experiences …

Social Determinants Of Health Screening In The Pediatric Population: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Staff Education, Brenda Awuah, Kansas S. Logan, Sally Humphrey Dnp, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc, Sharon Little Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are conditions that influence health outcomes. SDOHs are screened and addressed in many clinics and hospitals to reduce patients' social needs. Research indicates how unaddressed SDOH can negatively impact chronic illness, along with the daily life of pediatric patients. SDOH's role in pediatric patients includes food security, housing stability, access to healthcare, caregiver education, and parental mental health. Previous research has addressed these factors; however, the lack of staff education prevents effective compliance and follow-up on SDOH screening. Challenges remain in implementing and integrating SDOH into routine well-child visits. This scoping review will evaluate and …

The Impact Of Religiosity And Violence Prevention Programs On Violence Amongst Adolescents In The U.S., Ngoc Nguyen, John Paulson, Quentin Maynard, Thu T. Ha

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

Youth violence is a societal concern in the United States due to its negative consequences on individuals and communities. The current study aimed to examine the potential mitigating factors of violence prevention programs and religiosity in reducing youth violence among African American, White, Hispanic, and Asian American adolescents in the United States. It also tested the moderation effects of sex on religiosity and violence prevention programs with youth violence. Results of the main effects revealed that adolescents who attended violence prevention programs were generally less likely to engage in violence than those who did not; and that adolescents who were …