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This dissertation provides a detailed exploration of my creative process in the development and writing of my original young adult historical novel. Using excerpts from my narrative, I explore elements of craft, giving particular attention to the mining of ideas, the three-act structure, character development, chapter arcs and plot points. These features are discussed in relation to the ways in which they engage the adolescent and enrich the reading experience. Magical realism is investigated with regard to how it is incorporated into my narrative. This writing also includes an overview of how historical fiction is relevant for the modern reader. I outline my classroom strategies for encouraging students to appreciate young adult literature and generate their own creative writing in this genre.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Adolescents and young adults with cancer have poorer treatment and survivorship outcomes than either younger or older cancer patients. These individuals also have psychosocial late effects and engage in lifestyle behaviors that increase their risk of subsequent cancer and other chronic illnesses. Thus, there is a need to identify protective factors during the diagnosis and treatment period to foster healthy lifestyle behaviors. Connectedness with healthcare providers is a potential protective factor that may diminish risk-taking behaviors and foster healthcare self-management in adolescents with cancer. However, little is known about connectedness with healthcare providers from adolescents with cancer perspectives. The purpose of this study was to describe young adult cancer survivors' experiences of connectedness with their healthcare providers as they negotiated the experience across the cancer continuum from diagnosis to survivorship during adolescence. A qualitative, empirical phenomenological method guided this research. The sample consisted of 9 young adult cancer survivors who had cancer as adolescents. A broad, data generating question was constructed to elicit rich, narrative descriptions of participants' experiences of connectedness with healthcare providers, which were audio-taped and transcribed. The narrative data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method, which involved a systematic process of extracting and analyzing significant statements for formulated meanings and themes. Seven theme categories were identified and then used to develop a narrative of the essential structure of the experience of connectedness. Connectedness with healthcare providers is a multi-faceted experience that encompasses instances of not only connectedness, but also unconnectedness and disconnectedness. Effective strategies that foster connectedness with adolescents were identified. Behaviors that foster disconnectedness relate to a lack of respect for the adolescent's personhood. Findings indicate that connectedness with healthcare providers may make adolescents more likely to engage in care partnerships and effective self-management during treatment and into survivorship. When there is no connectedness or a disconnection with healthcare providers, a door shuts: there are feelings of helplessness and vulnerability, anger and resentment, and reluctance to connect with healthcare providers for cancer prevention. Clinical implications for healthcare providers are discussed. Future research should focus on connectedness theory development, measures, and interventions that foster adolescent-provider connectedness.

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OBJECTIVE: To identify scalable interventions for improving sexual minority mental health and health-risk behavior, this study tested the efficacy of two self-guided online writing interventions-expressive writing and self-affirmation. To reach sexual minority young adults living in high-stigma, low-resource settings, we developed and tested these interventions in Appalachian Tennessee. METHOD: In consultation with sexual minority young adults (n = 10) and stakeholders (n = 10) living in Appalachian Tennessee, we adapted these two writing interventions that we then delivered to 108 local sexual minority young adults (Mage = 23.68, SD = 3.11). Participants, representing diverse sexual and gender identities and socioeconomic backgrounds, were randomly assigned to participate in a 3-session expressive writing intervention, self-affirmation intervention, or neutral control. Participants completed mental health and health-risk behavior measures at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Compared to the neutral control, expressive writing exerted 3-month improvements in depressive symptoms (d = 0.48) and general psychological distress (d = 0.36) whereas self-affirmation exerted improvement in suicidal ideation (d = 0.62) and drug abuse (d = 0.59). Participants who were exposed to greater contextual minority stressors common in rural regions (i.e., discrimination and victimization) experienced significantly greater 3-month reductions in depression from expressive writing and self-affirmation compared to control. Those who experienced greater discrimination also experienced significantly greater 3-month reductions in suicidality from self-affirmation compared to control. CONCLUSION: Brief writing interventions exert significant impact on the mental health of young adult sexual minorities, especially those exposed to minority stress. Future research can consider strategies for population-level implementation, especially in high-stigma, low-resource settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).