Perceptions of Middle School Counselors on Adolescent Anxiety Coping Skills Post-Pandemic in One Suburban School Division

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dc.contributor.authorTait, Kristin Marieen
dc.contributor.committeechairBrinkmann, Jodie Lynnen
dc.contributor.committeememberJohnstad, Susanen
dc.contributor.committeememberAlexander, Michael D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberVan der Linden, Courtney Adeleen
dc.contributor.departmentEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-22T08:00:15Zen
dc.date.available2024-06-22T08:00:15Zen
dc.date.issued2024-06-21en
dc.description.abstractStudents and educators around the world faced many challenges when returning to the physical school building and environment after the disruption to our educational systems throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational leaders across the U.S. have expressed concerns over the substantially higher levels of anxiety and chronic absenteeism among adolescents. This study examined middle school adolescents' abilities to use coping skills for managing anxiety in the school environment post-pandemic. Qualitative data were collected from eight middle school counselors through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated an increase in the number of students presenting with symptoms of anxiety and the severity of symptoms. Middle school counselors noted an increase in school refusal and self-harm and indicated that the majority of their direct service time is spent with individual students. In order to better support students with managing anxiety, middle school counselors expressed the need for explicit coping skills instruction and additional mental health staffing in the school buildings.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralStudents and educators around the world faced many challenges when returning to the physical school building and environment after the disruption to our educational systems throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational leaders across the U.S. have expressed concerns over the substantially higher levels of anxiety and student absenteeism among adolescents. In this study, a total of eight middle school counselors who served as counselors prior to the pandemic and in the 2023-2024 school year participated in one-on-one interviews. Counselors were asked to describe their observations of adolescent coping strategies for managing anxiety in the school environment and share any differences in how they were working to support adolescents presenting with symptoms of anxiety. Middle school counselors reported an increase in the number of students presenting with symptoms of anxiety and the severity of symptoms. They also noted an increase in school refusal and self-harm and indicated that the majority of their time is spent with individual students. In order to better support students managing anxiety, middle school counselors expressed the need for explicit coping skills instruction and additional mental health staffing in the school buildings.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Educationen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:40367en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/119485en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAnxietyen
dc.subjectCOVID-19 Pandemicen
dc.subjectAdolescentsen
dc.subjectMiddle School Counselorsen
dc.subjectCopingen
dc.titlePerceptions of Middle School Counselors on Adolescent Anxiety Coping Skills Post-Pandemic in One Suburban School Divisionen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Leadership and Policy Studiesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Educationen

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