First Advisor

Bardos, Achilles N.

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

12-2018

Department

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, School Psychology, School Psychology Student Work

Abstract

Executive functioning (EF) and resilience have become topics of interest in psychology and education as being key components in determining a person’s ability to engage meaningfully and effectively within their environment as well as a reason for better than expected outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether self-reported resilience factors could account for certain behavioral, adaptive, and academic outcomes for adolescents in the presence of executive functioning difficulties. Mediation analysis was utilized to determine resilience (measured using the Journey to Wellness scale) as a mediating factor for academic and behavioral outcomes (measured using select subscales on the Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System). Executive functioning was measured using the Comprehensive Executive Functioning Inventory-Adult (CEFI-Adult). Study participants ( N = 86) included two groups: Group 1 had low average scores on the CEFI-Adult and/or endorsed the presence of a disability and Group 2 had average scores on the CEFI-Adult and no disability. As expected, there was a significant positive relationship between EF and wellness. Mediation analysis revealed resilience was significant in predicting outcomes related to both externalizing and internalizing behaviors with Group 1 and externalizing behavior for Group 2. Findings have implications for intervention planning with a focus on resilience building for students affected by EF weaknesses.

Extent

169 pages

Local Identifiers

Lehman_unco_0161D_10689.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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