Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Education and International Services

Program

Special Education, MS

First Advisor

Luana Greulich

Second Advisor

Michael Gayle

Abstract

This study adds information to the field by investigating the relationship between parental beliefs about mental health and the services they use to support their child’s mental health issues. The study targeted 224 parents from a private K-12 school in the Midwest. The school was selected because of the many students from diverse backgrounds. This study does not intend to influence parental beliefs but investigates ways families seek support for their children. Descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation were combined to analyze quantitative data used to interpret parents’ beliefs toward mental health and the use of specific mental health support services for their children. Pearson r and the two-tailed test of significance were analyzed to examine the relationship and level of significance that exist between parental beliefs about mental health issues and specific support services parents seek to support their children’s mental health issues. Descriptive statistics indicated that mental health is very important to participants and that school counselors were an important provider of mental health support services for their children. Participants also indicated that they were likely to use different support services such as doctors more than pastors or social workers. The correlation between the importance of school counselors and the likely use of school counselors showed the strongest relationship and highly significant value (r=0.69, p<0.001.

Subject Area

Mental health services; Child mental health services; Parents--Attitudes

Download

Share

COinS