Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Stephen Hampe
Abstract
Aggression is an indicator of future criminal behavior. It can be a result of trauma, substance-abusing parents, or executive functioning. Research has shown that aggression in childhood often creates criminal behavior later in life, thus researchers suggest that more studies are conducted on programs that help children with aggression. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of therapists who work with aggressive children in a children’s partial hospitalization program, and those teachers who have had these children in class before entering the program and upon discharge from the program. The qualitative study was done using semi-structured interviews with therapists and teachers. Thematic analysis across all 13 interviews revealed a consensus that this children’s partial hospitalization program has a positive impact on aggressive behaviors and is beneficial to have in the school district. This study provided information on how the program is run and what types of therapy are used. It was determined that teachers see a positive difference between the child attending the program and returning to the regular classroom. Children have learned skills to be successful in the regular classroom. Perceptions from teachers and therapists in the current study suggest school-based partial hospitalization is a valuable intervention to reduce problematic behavior in students with aggression. Positive social change can be facilitated by incorporating these insights into school-based mental health services.
Recommended Citation
Dunlap, Kimberlee Joy, "Therapists’ and teachers’ experiences of children with aggression: A children’s partial hospitalization program" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12674.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12674
