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K.Klima_Full Dissertation.pdf (2.04 MB)

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Hidden, Supported, and Stressful: A Phenomenological Study of Midlevel Student Affairs Professionals' Entry-Level Experiences with a Mental Health Condition

Klima, Kerry Lee Belvill
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522882922205522

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Higher Education Administration.
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of midlevel student affairs professionals who navigated a mental health condition as a new professional and remained in the field. New professionals’ attrition and retention concerns continue to warrant further exploration through research. Research is lacking on new professionals group was those with a mental health condition. Mental illness is prevalent in our society, and as evident in this study, professionals do negotiate their mental illness as professionals in the field. I interviewed nine midlevel student affairs professionals from across the United States. Each of the professionals worked at a variety of institutions and within many functional areas in student affairs during their first five years in the field. I lead eighteen interviews with nine participants. In addition to the interviews, all of the participants responded to one journal prompt. To mask the identities of my participants, the professionals selected pseudonyms and I used these names throughout my manuscript. The participants shared their experiences comprising five main themes: (1) coping with mental health conditions, (2) student affairs competence and mental health, (3) influential relationships, (4) disclosure, and (5) organizational influences. Three primary findings emerged following the analysis of the experiences and the review of the literature. Participants experienced fear of discrimination. They shared about negotiating the personal nature of the experiences and their own self-advocacy. Lastly, the professionals’ community was instrumental in connecting to their retention. With these themes and findings, I developed implications for practice and future research. Implications for practice include a proposed paradigm shift in our organizations; the important role of supervisors, administrators, and colleagues; the use of a universal design model; and the value of structures to support those with mental health conditions. Future research could explore the identities of people with a mental health condition, the various community structures, and the role of the influential relationships in coping with a mental health condition.
Maureen Wilson (Advisor)
Michael Coomes (Committee Member)
Neal Jesse (Committee Member)
Hyun Kyoung Ro (Committee Member)
200 p.
Adult Education; Counseling Education; Counseling Psychology; Education; Educational Psychology; Health; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; Mental Health; Occupational Health; Psychology
mental health; student affairs; student affairs professionals; mental health condition;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Klima, K. L. B. (2018). Hidden, Supported, and Stressful: A Phenomenological Study of Midlevel Student Affairs Professionals' Entry-Level Experiences with a Mental Health Condition [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522882922205522

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Klima, Kerry. Hidden, Supported, and Stressful: A Phenomenological Study of Midlevel Student Affairs Professionals' Entry-Level Experiences with a Mental Health Condition. 2018. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522882922205522.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Klima, Kerry. "Hidden, Supported, and Stressful: A Phenomenological Study of Midlevel Student Affairs Professionals' Entry-Level Experiences with a Mental Health Condition." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1522882922205522

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1522882922205522
879
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.