The problem of this study was to prepare a comprehensive family living textbook for use by high school students. The primary purposes of the study were the following: (1) to provide teenagers with factual information concerning sexuality which will better equip them to make responsible decisions; (2) to prepare young people to become better marriage partners, better parents and ultimately to produce stronger families for the future.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Children diagnosed with asthma are twice as likely to have a comorbid anxiety disorder as their non-asthmatic peers. The presence of both asthma and anxiety in the pediatric patient creates an environment of poor asthma control, and places them at risk for a variety of negative health events. Little is known about comorbid anxiety’s role in asthma health maintenance. Research has identified the link between these two conditions but causation is difficult to conclude. The aim of this thesis is to assess the current state of the science regarding pediatric asthma and anxiety. This integrated review of the literature will identify the factors contributing to the vicious cycle of pediatric anxiety and asthma. Recommendations for practice and future research will be made.

The use of restraints on adolescents during times of acute agitation and crisis can be medically necessary. Both chemical and interpersonal physical restraints have appropriate applications in such situations when properly executed by trained professionals as dictated by protocols developed by a physician or licensed practitioner. Physical side effects and risks to a child’s psyche are explored as well as factors which may artificially escalate a crisis, and thereby contribute to unwarranted or misguided restraints, such as caregiver motivations. As adolescents are still developing, even acute treatment plans should be framed with attention to risk to benefit ratio and long term planning. Due to the inherent risks to body and mind involved with both forms of restraints coupled with the propensity for risks associated with misapplication and improper technique, grave consideration must be taken when utilizing these methods with adolescents.

Throughout history, professional musicians experience pain when singing or playing instruments (Fishbein et al., 1988). Research continues to indicate pain remains a problem amongst musicians. Musicians looking to solve performance-related pain have used a variety of solutions including somatic, or movement, study. One method of movement study, the only one specifically dedicated to musicians, is Body Mapping. In this qualitative study I used an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design to explore the experiences of beginning string students using lessons infused with Body Mapping (BMg) principles and students utilizing a more traditional method. The purpose of the study was to understand the ways in which lessons based on BMg principles might affect students’ lived experiences as they began to play a string instrument (violin, viola, cello), as opposed to those students whose lessons were more traditional, based on published beginning method books. Two teachers and four sixth-grade beginning string classes at two schools participated in this study. Eleven students were selected for in-depth interviews about their experiences in beginning string class. The teachers utilized a traditional string method book Essential Elements for Strings 2000 (Gillespie, 2000) with both of their classes, but also incorporated a researcher-designed curriculum incorporating BMg principles with one of the classes. The researcher collected qualitative data through interviews and observations. Journals, completed by all students, provided both qualitative and quantitative data. Both journal and chi square data indicated that students in the BMg classes felt the BMg lessons were helpful to learn about their body in movement. Qualitative data showed students retained and used anatomical words presented in the BMg lessons while the qualitative interviews of BMg students expressed greater awareness of how their bodies worked than students in the traditional classes. Teachers found the BMg principles to positively impact their classroom environments and student responses. The BMg curriculum aided study participants in finding a common language with which to communicate about the body. Analysis of study participants’ lived experiences indicated that BMg made a positive difference in the early learning of string instruments. Results of this study suggest that it is important that a curriculum using BMg principles be further explored and implemented widely among string teachers as a means to prevent performance related pain and injury.

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Background: Despite policy and practice guidelines highlighting the need to identify and treat substance use early and concurrently with other mental health symptoms, efforts remain uncoordinated and guidelines lack specificity. Limited evidence characterizing patterns and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental health symptoms hinders our ability to effectively address these concerns early during adolescence. This dissertation deepens our understanding of the patterns and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental health symptoms among adolescents, how to collect relevant data in inpatient settings, and how to rigorously analyze and report findings. Methods: The first paper is a systematic review of 70 cluster-based studies examining patterns of multiple substance use among adolescents. The second examines patterns and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental health symptoms through multilevel latent profile analysis and multilevel multinomial regression using a large, representative sample of secondary students and schools across Ontario. The third paper is a pilot study examining the feasibility, acceptability, and importance of standardized assessments of substance use and mental health symptoms in an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Results: The substantive findings of this work include: 1) multiple substance use is common; 2) co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptoms is common, though not universal; 3) substance use may be related to mental health symptom severity, comorbidity, and hospital service use; 4) school climate, belonging, and safety represent important targets for school-based interventions; and 5) adolescent psychiatric inpatient units may represent important contexts for standardized assessments, though more professional training and standardization in assessments and interventions are needed. Methodological recommendations are also presented to improve the collection, analysis, and reporting of similar work in the field. Conclusions: Collectively, this dissertation provides novel, timely, and actionable insight into adolescent substance use patterns, correlates, and potential targets for assessment and intervention efforts. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This dissertation deepens our understanding of the patterns of co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns among adolescents. First, a review of all existing studies that explore patterns of multiple substance use among adolescents was conducted. Second, patterns of substance use and mental health symptoms were identified in secondary students and schools across Ontario. Third, the feasibility of assessing substance use and mental health symptoms using standardized approaches on an inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit was evaluated. Overall, this work suggests that substance use and mental health concerns commonly co-occur, and that schools and inpatient psychiatric units are important settings for prevention, assessment, and intervention. This work provides actionable next steps to inform assessment, prevention, and intervention efforts designed to address co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns among adolescents.

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