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Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student\u27s Resilency
Get PDFThis qualitative descriptive study was an exploration of how counselors in early college high
schools (ECHSs), administrators in ECHSs, and the technical coaches who support the ECHS
model contribute to students’ resilience toward academic recovery. Using semistructured
interviews and survey questions, a sample of 15 counselors, administrators, and technical
coaches shared factors that impact ECHS recruiting practices, attrition rates, and the educational
success of individual ECHS students. Three themes were extracted from a sample of educators’
descriptions regarding their perception of the ECHS environment and the benefits and challenges
they experienced while working with ECHS students. They included the combined influence of
family and environmental support, peer relationships as catalysts for academic and personal
growth, and extracurricular engagement as a stress management and adaptation mechanism. The
discussion of the findings focused on the experiences and perceptions of the educators working
inside an ECHS. The results showed how family, peers, and extracurricular activities support
ECHS students’ academic recovery, indicating the value of improved college preparedness
among secondary school students. Recommendations for practice include implementing
comprehensive family engagement programs, developing peer mentoring initiatives, expanding
and diversifying extracurricular offerings, and creating a supportive school culture. The results of
this study provide further insight into ECHSs and how they serve their targeted population.
Researching nonacademic factors that affect ECHS resiliency and academic recovery provided
educational leaders with invaluable data in developing strategic initiatives, supports, and
recruiting practices for improving the ECHS experience.
Keywords: college readiness, college preparation, early college high school, resilience,
environmental support, personal growth, stress managemen
Quality of Life Programs for Older Adults in Assisted Living
Get PDFThis doctoral capstone project focused on enhancing the quality of life (QoL) for residents in Wesley Court Assisted Living through individual programs designed to increase leisure, social participation, and/or mental wellness. Literature states the critical importance of integrating personalized, clientcentered programming in assisted living communities, addressing a pressing issue of limited opportunities for meaningful engagement, which can lead to isolation, depression, and diminished wellbeing among older adults. Approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Abilene Christian University’s Occupational Therapy Doctoral program, the project spanned 14 weeks and involved needs assessments, pre- and post-surveys, and personalized program implementation. Four residents participated in tailored interventions, including clay art classes, ergonomic adaptations, watercolor painting, and letter writing. Baseline and outcome measures were collected using the Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire – Brief version (OPQoL-Brief) and open-ended resident feedback. Results revealed an average 6% improvement in QoL scores, with individual increases ranging from 1% to 8%. Residents expressed high levels of engagement and satisfaction, with a couple of programs adopted by Wesley Court Lifestyle Enrichment for further implementation. The project highlighted the value of integrating personalized leisure and social activities in assisted living communities for overall increase in quality of life and paved the way for ongoing integration of tailored programs at Wesley Court
Return to Sport for Athletes with Shoulder Injuries
Get PDFShoulder sports injuries can be complex, making returning to sports difficult. There has been a transition in sports medicine to utilize a more encompassing and holistic approach to addressing injury. Return to sport is typically addressed by physical therapy and athletic training. However, occupational therapy can provide a more holistic approach encompassing physical and psychosocial aspects when rehabilitating an athlete, potentially leading to more successful therapeutic outcomes. This capstone embodied occupational therapists’ role in rehabilitating the shoulder and returning to sport by creating a higher-tech HEP that provides a more holistic rehabilitation approach. Throughout the 14-week process, videos were made of an advanced throwers ten and throwing plyometric program, and staff surveyed to identify the most utilized throwing protocol. This progression of strengthening and sports-specific movements in the program, paired with educational handouts addressing psychosocial factors within return to sport, allows for a more comprehensive approach to rehabilitating throwing athletes. This capstone advocates for the role occupational therapy can play in the rehabilitation of throwing athletes and return to sport
Paranormal Beliefs and The Big Five: Extrinsic Optimism, Trust in People, and Fantasy Proneness
Get PDFThere are many inconsistent findings on the relationship between paranormal beliefs and The Big Five. This study aims to clarify the correlations by assessing extrinsic optimism, trust in people, and fantasy proneness. Extrinsic optimism is associated with neuroticism and extraversion. Trust is associated with agreeableness. Lastly, fantasy proneness is associated with openness to experience. It was predicted that paranormal beliefs would be positively correlated with extrinsic optimism, trust in people, and fantasy proneness. It was also predicted that paranormal beliefs would be positively correlated with extraversion, agreeableness, and openness. Correlational and regression analyses were run to test these predictions. Results generally supported these hypotheses except for trust and agreeableness. There was a negative correlation observed between paranormal beliefs with trust and agreeableness. This could be due to individuals’ desire to conform and belong. Paranormal beliefs are considered to be minority viewpoints and highly agreeable and trusting people gravitate more towards more mainstream cultural opinion. Further research could explore the utility of looking at other sub-traits to better explain personality for assessment purposes. Paranormal beliefs have been associated with mental illnesses in previous literature and is also important to research for mental health reasons
Coping Strategies and Stress of the Undergraduate Nursing Student in the Clinical Setting: An Evidence Based Practice Quantitative Study
Get PDFThe assessment of perceived stress and coping behaviors related to first-semester clinical might benefit students in nursing education. The assessment of most common coping behaviors and perceived stress related to the clinical setting is essential due to difference in personalities, learning abilities, and coping behaviors among nursing students today. Previous research has suggested the initial clinical period results in adverse outcomes, such as poor academic performance, elevated burnout levels, and diminished personal well-being. These factors are detrimental to academic success in nursing programs. Evidence supports that helping students develop positive stress/coping abilities will aid in adapting in both the academic and clinical settings. The goal of this DNP project was to identify common coping behaviors and areas of perceived stress to aid in filling a curriculum gap noted in Domain 10 of The Essentials developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
