Abstract

Research suggests that students who attend urban or alternative schools experience higher rates of poverty, family instability, and violence victimization. These risk factors can result in higher rates of depression, school absences, and lower academic performance. This needs assessment explores the mental health needs of students at a low-income, urban, alternative high school in Southern California from the perspective of students, teachers, and staff in order to better understand the stressors and mental health needs of this vulnerable population. Four focus groups were conducted with students (n = 9), teachers (n = 7), and staff (n = 13). Audio files were transcribed and two independent coders examined the transcripts and developed a codebook. Two additional coders coded the transcripts using the codebook and the themes were frequency coded. The goal was to identify stressors students at alternative schools face and their impact. The results will help inform the design of future behavioral health interventions to support students and teachers at the school’s wellness center.

LLU Discipline

Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Maya Boustani

Second Advisor

Bridgette Peteet

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Year Degree Awarded

2023

Date (Title Page)

9-2023

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Stress, Psychological -- Evaluation; Risk Assessment; High School Students -- Psychosocial Factors

Type

Doctoral Project

Page Count

viii, 82 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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