Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Social Work

Advisor

Kristen Richards

Abstract

AbstractChildhood anxiety affects over 32% of youth in the United States, and when left untreated, contributes to poor school performance, social difficulties, truancy, school dropout rates, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and family and community difficulties. Preventing childhood anxiety by implementing effective protective factors for children can eliminate many of these outcomes. Using the biopsychosocial theory and social work systems theories, this study involved exploring the beliefs and attitudes of parents, educators, and pediatric healthcare providers in an affluent suburban community of Detroit (Rochester/Rochester Hills, MI), regarding their roles in providing protective factors against childhood anxiety. A generic qualitative research design using 12 semi-structured open-ended questions via Zoom and telephone interviews with 16 participants was used, including parents, educators, and pediatric health care providers. Results from a thematic content analysis yielded five themes regarding participants’ beliefs and attitudes involving witnessing different degrees of childhood anxiety, believing in prevention, and feeling responsibility to provide protective factors, recognizing the negative impact of anxiety while feeling unprepared and unsupported, having knowledge of active use of protective and risk factors despite feelings of inadequacy, awareness of early signs and precursors as well as implementing early assessments despite feelings of uncertainty, and recognizing systemic barriers and strong belief in intersystem collaboration. Addressing protective factors which prevent childhood anxiety or greatly decrease its prevalence and impact in terms of developmental outcomes is possible and can in turn lead to long lasting social change for children and families.

Download

Share

 
COinS