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How the Onset of Bipolar Disorder Impacts College Students' Motivation and Ability to Engage in Self-Regulated Learning

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is recognized by the American Psychological Association and characterized by cycles of depression and manic episodes. These symptoms can be highly disruptive to daily life and introduce unique stressors to those that experience the symptoms. The average age of onset of these symptoms coincides with the typical age of a college student in the United States. These students that experience the onset of bipolar disorder during college may face unique challenges when compared to their peers, and these challenges may impact their ability to perform academically in college. While research has been done on supporting students with various types of mental health disorders within the college environment, little research has focused specifically on bipolar disorder. Using heuristic inquiry, a form of phenomenological research in which the researcher is part of the phenomenon being studied, I sought to discover the experiences of four college students, who experienced the onset of bipolar disorder during college, through semi-structured interviews. My insight into the experience of bipolar disorder provided a unique way in which I could connect with these participants and explore their life experiences. Using those experiences, I was able to create a model to show how many facets of bipolar disorder impact student stress, motivation and self-regulated learning within the college context. This model provides valuable insight into how further research can identify the ways in which college campuses and support services can better serve the needs of these students with bipolar disorder. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester 2017. / March 24, 2017. / Bipolar disorder, Emotion, Heuristic Inquiry, Motivation, Self-regulation, Stress / Includes bibliographical references. / Alysia Roehrig, Professor Directing Thesis; Jeannine Turner, Committee Member; Martin Swanbrow Becker, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_507652
ContributorsDentzau, Andrew M. (Andrew Michael) (authoraut), Roehrig, Alysia D., 1975- (professor directing thesis), Turner, Jeannine E. (Jeannine Ellen) (committee member), Swanbrow Becker, Martin Alan (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Education (degree granting college), Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems (degree granting departmentdgg)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text, master thesis
Format1 online resource (77 pages), computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

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