Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

Trauma experiences impact countless individuals every day. Trauma neither favors nor discriminates against any segment of the population; it is an equal opportunity pillager, often striking with no warning. No one is immune to trauma experience and effects, but one population is especially vulnerable to the aftereffects of trauma: the adolescent population. At a stage of life comprised of rapid physical changes and brain growth, the effects of trauma can have overwhelming consequences. However, even with increased vulnerability, this population is often overlooked in the selection of trauma intervention programs and practices for schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to develop an instrument to evaluate trauma intervention processes and programs being utilized with adolescents. A case was built for the vital components of effective programs for adolescents. Through survey research, this study explored numerous intervention practices and sought to develop a set of components from the elements of the correlated survey results. The results of this study identified four components essential to effective trauma practices with adolescent populations. Additionally, through the factor identification, a scaled-item checklist was developed to aid school personnel in evaluation and selection of adolescent-appropriate trauma interventions. This study adds to the existing body of research by developing a method by which schools can achieve optimal results through trauma interventions.

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