Title:
Young adults' utilization of outpatient community mental health therapy services
Author:
Lauren K. Palazzolo
Thesis Advisor:
Carolyn M. Barry
Committee Member:
Matthew W. Kirkhart
Committee Member:
Heather Z. Lyons
Committee Member:
Amanda M. Thomas
Committee Member:
Michael C. Heitt
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2016
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
In the U.S., young adults (YAs) have the highest prevalence of mental health problems than any other age group, yet are the least likely to seek professional mental health treatment. For YAs diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI), the challenges and instability experienced during young adulthood are magnified as they attempt to reach the common markers of adulthood. Given the scope of negative outcomes and difficulties faced by YAs with SMI, the present study sought to understand better the lack of YA involvement in mental health therapy. The present study examined f our factors related to therapy utilization'type of therapy offered (specialized YA or generalized adult), satisfaction with past therapy, perceived social support from family, and perceived social support from friends''by YAs aged 18-29 ( N = 46) diagnosed with a SMI who were receiving either specialized YA mental health therapy services ( n = 21) or generalized adult therapy ( n = 25) at one of two outpatient adult community mental health (CMH) agencies. Results indicated that both perceived social support from family and perceived social support from friends were positively and significantly associated with therapy utilization as measured by percentage of sessions attended, but not associated with utilization as measured by total months in therapy. Hypotheses that type of therapy offered (specialized or generalized) and satisfaction with past therapy services were associated with therapy utilization rates were not supported. Clinical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Degree:
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Psychology
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
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Identifier:
PalazzoloLK-16
