Virginia Tech
Perceptions of Middle School Counselors on Adolescent Anxiety Coping Skills Post-Pandemic in One Suburban School Division
Abstract
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.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Doctor of Education
- Level thesis:degree_level
- doctoral
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2024
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Tait, Kristin Marie
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Brinkmann, Jodie Lynn
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Johnstad, Susan
- Alexander, Michael D.
- Van der Linden, Courtney Adele
Subjects
dc:subject × 5Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:40367
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119485