Graduation Year
2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Curriculum and Instruction
Major Professor
Nathaniel von der Embse, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jose Castillo, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Robert Dedrick, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kristin Kosyluk, Ph.D.
Keywords
Professional learning, Program development, Pilot study, Stigma, Bias
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the initial pre-service teacher outcomes for a newly developed mental health training (i.e., Training In Mental health for Educators - Pre-service Teachers [TIME-PT]). For the development of the TIME-PT, an expert panel and a focus group with pre-service teachers were conducted to inform of any changes and improvements needed in the content of the training. In the initial evaluation of the TIME-PT, the training’s factors of professional development were considered, including the training’s understanding and feasibility, participants’ willingness to change, their use of school-family collaboration, and their use of external supports. Initial evaluations of participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and aspirations were examined for the initial preparedness of pre-service teachers to provide future mental health support. Additionally, this study aimed to initially evaluate differences in pre-service teachers’ mental health stigma and biases. The author conducted a focus group with two pre-service teachers and a pilot study of 27 pre-service teachers in a southeastern state of the United States. A repeated measures ANOVA, independent t-tests, correlational analyses, and thematic analyses were conducted on the initial applicability and mental health educator outcomes. Overall, pre- service teachers identified the need for mental health trainings to understand their role and how to support student’s mental health. Pre-service teachers had slight agreement to agreement of the understanding of the mental health support approach, feasibility to provide the approach, willingness to change their practices, and desire to participate in home-school collaboration and external supports. Most pre-service teachers had not previously received any mental health trainings in their teacher preparation program. While pre-service teachers’ mental health stigma and bias improved, participants described needing more application in incorporating de-stigma and de-bias strategies in practice.
Scholar Commons Citation
Sánchez, Alexis M., "Development and Initial Evaluation of a Mental Health Training for Pre-service Teachers" (2023). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10134
