Date of Award
Fall 11-13-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Doctorate of Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Leadership
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Nicholas Clegorne
Second Advisor
Albert Jimenez
Third Advisor
Jeffrey Robinson
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of psychiatric disorders and have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety disorders disrupt the daily lives of young people and are associated with a risk of anxiety and depression in adulthood. Anxiety disorders in adolescents interfere with the daily lives of students and often result in a decline in academic performance. There is a pressing need to implement universal anxiety prevention programs in students' main environment, the school. Along with academics, student mental health should be a top priority for school leaders. School leaders are tasked with implementing exceptional academic programs and ensuring student safety and well-being. The purpose of this proposed study was to investigate the Post-Positivistic Theory by examining if participation in the HORS-PISTE Universal Anxiety Prevention Program – Exploration cycle 1 significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in students of high school age in a large suburban high school in the southeastern United States as determined by a pre and post-test questionnaire using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED).