<p> The purpose of this dissertation is to explore what can be done to mitigate the onset of a disability for young adults aged 18-24 in order to prevent suicidal thoughts or actions. Research suggests that many factors play into suicidal ideation for this young population, including lost hope, lack of coping mechanisms, lack of financial security and bullying. The goal of this research is to determine what rehabilitation professionals can do differently that will hopefully eradicate suicide for this group.</p>

<p> This study examined the career development experiences of one African American man, a former student-athlete in a Division I revenue generating football team. This study focused on his experiences as a student-athlete who participated in football as he transitioned out of elite athletics. Division I collegiate athletics represents a highly sought opportunity (NCAA, 2015h). However, this opportunity may reduce college completion and disrupt maximal career development (Hartman, 2014; Van Rheenen, 2013). This qualitative case study of one participant explored the nuanced influences and pathways the participant used to enter his current career after completing college. Mark Savickas&rsquo;s (2002) Career Construction Theory (CCT), a constructivist non&mdash;<i>a priori</i> narrative theory, served as the theoretical framework. Qualitative interview data were collected during a progressive series of three separate in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Data were first analyzed using an inductive, open-coding process. Four patterns emerged from the data relative to the participant&rsquo;s career development experiences: ambivalence, performance prioritization/competitive spirit, practical mind-set/good judgment, and value of selected communities, which helped him decide on the ideal career environments. </p><p> Findings were then analyzed via the Savickas CCT tenets of successful career construction that include life themes, self-concepts, and life design. Findings include (a) the participant executed a largely linear pathway developing his career since retirement from elite athletics, (b) the participant experienced minimal challenges to reaching his current level, and (c) that participation in collegiate football provided valuable career development experiences. Additionally, the findings demonstrated a positive career development based on the participant&rsquo;s alignment of CCT tenets life themes, self-concepts, and life design.</p>

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This dissertation investigated rates of detected and undetected substance abuse among vocational rehabilitation applicants. The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) was administered to adults who applied to one Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) office during a consecutive four-month period. Subjects supplied demographic data and information regarding their disabilities. RSA disability codes, DSM III-R codes assigned by psychologists, and reasons for case closures were provided by counselors. Results of the study indicated a 41% rate of substance abuse among the 134 applicant-subjects. Within this sample 31% of the subjects evidenced some indication substance abuse in combination with another disability, while 10% had only indications of alcoholism or drug abuse. Seventeen percent of the sample self-disclosed problems with alcohol or drugs. Among the 41 applicants determined eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services, a 27% rate of undetected substance abuse was found. For purposes of this study undetected substance abuse was defined by a self-disclosure, SASSI profile, or DSM III-R code indicative of substance abuse that was not reflected in the subject's assigned RSA disability code(s).

The purposes of this study were to identify and analyze stated occupational goal orientations of female Mexican-American and Anglo high-school seniors of the classes of 1972 and 1980. Data utilized in this study were obtained from The National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 and High School and Beyond: A National Longitudinal Study for the 1980s. Data from both surveys were weighted appropriately to adjust for the oversampling of minority students. The weighted data for the NLS (1972) Anglo group produced a sample size of 992,139, while the concomitant Mexican-American group was 22,482. The weighted data for the HSB (1980) Anglo group consisted of a sample of 1,032,953, and the corresponding Mexican-American group was comprised of a sample of 20,579. Stated occupational goals were clustered to form four types of occupations, professional, clerical, non-traditional, and homemaker. Seven research questions were formulated to explore possible associations of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, scholastic aptitude, and survey year with types of occupational goal orientations. Statistical procedures utilized in this study included frequency counts, percentages, odds ratios, log-linear analyses, and confidence intervals. Stated occupational goal orientations were statistically related to students' ethnicity, aptitude level, socioeconomic status, and year of graduation from high school. Recommendations for further research include examination of educational aspirations and educational completion rates. Stated aspirations should be compared with actual vocational achievement. Barriers to educational and vocational achievement warrant investigation, especially for the Mexican-American female. Formulation of contemporary models of vocational choice for women requires a thorough consideration of the effects of ethnicity, aptitude, SES, and other major life roles, such as marriage and parenthood, upon labor force participation.

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