Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-93). Also available on the Internet.

Disorders of lifestyle are increasing globally; countries in transition are suffering the double burden of both contagious and chronic disorders. The utilization of health education to address these issues has had variable results, but the most successful have incorporated human contact. The aim of this study was to measure the quantitative and qualitative impact of a wellness promotion programme on university students. The objective was to provide a structured facilitated holistic wellness education programme to a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged students in Higher Education in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Using a pragmatic mixed methodological approach to this critical evaluation, the impact on both wellness and academic progress was measured. Initial demographic data was gathered via a biographical questionnaire, pre- and post-intervention measurement of wellness, using the Wellness Questionnaire for Higher Education, as well as a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire and transcripts of academic results. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS analysis software and qualitative data using the NVivo analysis package. The findings were that all students improved throughout the year in their overall wellness scores, in particular in areas such as avoiding excessive sun exposure and increasing the amount of physical exercise. This corresponded with an increase in the value that the participants attached to information on these aspects of wellness, which was attributed to the programme. Results revealed that there was a weak correlation between student wellness measured at the year-end and academic success overall, but a strong correlation between student wellness and academic success for the students that gained the highest marks. Analysis of the dimensions of wellness that correlated best with student success revealed that there was a particularly strong correlation between year-end career wellness and year-end academic success. In conclusion it was found that a positive and holistic salutogenic wellness education programme increased levels of student wellness overall, which translated into student academic success. The link between wellness and success was particularly strong in students that gained higher marks. Recommendations include that first-year higher education students receive a positive wellness education programme built into the curriculum of their first year of study and that the overall impact be monitored across a broader spectrum of students over the duration of their diploma or degree programme.

D.Cur. / The purpose of this research study was to describe a model to facilitate collaboration between the institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services in order to promote psychiatric clinical nursing education, with guidelines to operationalise the model. In spite of the calls by statutory bodies and contemporary legislation for collaboration between institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services, there are few instances where formalised collaborative ventures exist to promote psychiatric clinical nursing education. Since the move of nursing education from hospital-based schools to colleges and universities, there was no attempt to redefine the most appropriate roles for nurse educators and clinical facilitators regarding student teaching and learning, given this realignment. The consequence was that the relationship between these institutions is characterised by territoriality; a lack of integration of knowledge and expertise of nurse educators and clinical facilitators; a lack of sharing the necessary resources to facilitate cooperative teaching thus increasing the existence of academia-service gap and/or theory-practice gap to develop. There was therefore a need to develop a model with guidelines for operationalisation of the model to facilitate collaboration between institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services to promote psychiatric clinical nursing education. The research questions that emerged were: • What is the meaning of collaboration between institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services within psychiatric clinical nursing education? • How can collaboration between institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services be facilitated to promote psychiatric clinical nursing education? To realise the aim of this research, the following objectives are formulated: • to explore and describe the meaning of the concept “collaboration” between the institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services within a psychiatric clinical educational context (theoretical and empirical perspectives); • to explore and describe the perceptions of nurse educators, nurse managers, and (i) clinical facilitators with regard to how collaboration between institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services can be facilitated to promote psychiatric clinical nursing education; • to conceptualise the identified concepts of the model for collaboration to facilitate psychiatric clinical nursing education; • to describe the model to facilitate collaboration between institutions of higher education and psychiatric health care services, evaluate the model and describe guidelines for its operationalisation. The study was conducted in four phases. Phase One of the study involved an exploration and description of the meaning of collaboration within psychiatric clinical nursing education in accordance with Rodgers and Knafl’s evolutionary method of concept analysis (Rodgers & Knafl, 1993:77-90) and empirical meaning description from the participants’ perspective. Integration of the theoretical and empirical meaning of collaboration formed the basis on which a conceptual map was designed. Content analysis of literature was done using deductive and inductive reasoning strategies, synthesis, and inference and derivation as described by Chinn & Kramer (1995:63-67), and Walker and Avant, (1983:58-62). Theoretical validity was ensured (Chinn & Jacobs, 1987:208). A conceptual map constituting the four phases of collaboration was described.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

No description available.

Student Veterans experience a range of health and mental health challenges that may impact their social and academic functioning as they transition from military to student life. Of those in need of treatment, some do not receive support for successful integration into collegiate life. Recognizing the barriers to care faced by this population, a brief, non-stigmatizing psychosocial support intervention was developed to address the mental health needs of Student Veterans experiencing psychological distress. The intervention, called IPC-3, was adapted to be sensitive and inclusive of Veteran culture, norms, and values. It was delivered by peer providers and offered on campuses instead of at medical treatment facilities. IPC-3 trained and provided clinical supervision for peers through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program, to leverage and expand capacity through an existing, care-delivery pathway. This study examined specific Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) science outcomes for IPC-3, assessing the intervention’s readiness for transitioning from a research setting to routine, clinical practice, utilizing a mixed-methods research design. Specifically, the D&I outcome measures of Adoption, Acceptability, Appropriateness, Feasibility, Reach, and Sustainability were explored across three groups. Participants included the Student Veteran consumers who received the intervention, the Peer Mentor providers who delivered IPC-3, and the Site Supervisors who provided clinical case supervision. Attitudes regarding each construct were evaluated at the pre- and post-intervention timepoints via surveys and key informant interviews. Results were assessed to identify potential barriers that, if removed, may bridge the research-to-practice gap for IPC-3. As the first study to assess D&I outcomes for a psychosocial support intervention developed specifically for Student Veterans, findings offer insights for treatment developers and implementors serving Student Veterans experiencing psychological distress and suggest ways that IPC-3 may be implemented in routine-care settings.

This study explored the perceptions of post-secondary students and counsellors towards the use of antidepressants and counselling to manage depression. Student depression is increasing and antidepressants appear to be the most frequently used treatment by students. The literature reveals that most depressed students are not accessing campus mental health centres, and counsellors are noting increased severity of illness for those that do seek help. Therefore, in an attempt to gain increased understanding of students who use antidepressants as well as counselling, the student and counsellor perspective is essential. In this study, 10 students and 6 counsellors were interviewed by the researcher. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis guided by van Manen’s (1990) hermeneutic phenomenology was used. Overall, the themes identified aim to represent the lived experience of the students who are living with depression and to better assist counsellors in understanding and developing interventions suited to student need. / ix, 129 leaves ; 29 cm

This study explores where African American college students find mental health support and why those supports are chosen. Greater knowledge of the sources of mental health support sought by African American college students can assist higher education institutions in adapting current services to meet the needs of this specific student population. A qualitative phenomenological approach was utilized, and the study's sample included twelve participants, 6 female and 6 male, from a large public four-year university in Texas. These participants, undergraduate students with ages ranging from 18 to 24, were given a survey and completed two semi-structured interviews throughout one semester. Results indicated that study participants were more likely to utilize informal than formal support for their mental health and many had no source of support. Family stigma, peer attitudes, as well as internal and external pressures all influenced participant's choices to seek support. Based on findings from the study, recommendations for two distinct groups, counseling center directors and higher education administrators, are also discussed.

published_or_final_version / Psychiatry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work