Mental Health and Treatment Issues in Recreational Residential Summer Camps: A Grounded Theory Analysis
Date of Award
5-2019
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Shelly Smith-Acuña
Second Advisor
Jennifer Erickson Cornish
Third Advisor
Deborah Fishman
Keywords
Recreational camp, Adolescents, Mental health issues
Abstract
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are commonly experienced by children and adolescents (Ehrenreich-May & Bilek, 2011). Many of these youth attend recreational residential summer camps where they are separated from their caregivers and cared for by adolescent camp counselors. Current research shows that camp has a positive impact on the social and emotional development of youth, but there is limited research about the mental health issues that arise in this setting (Thurber, Scanlin, Scheuler, & Henderson, 2007). This study was designed to identify the current challenges of managing mental health issues at residential recreational summer camps. Eleven qualitative interviews were conducted with camp counselors and directors from six different summer camps. Results indicated that camp directors across the board are encountering a broad range of mental health issues each summer, not only among campers but counselors as well. It became obvious throughout the interviews that camp directors had more knowledge and data to draw from than the camp counselors when providing information about the types and frequency of mental health issues in this setting. Results also suggest that summer camp may be a possible setting for mental health prevention programs, though this was not explicitly discussed.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
50 pgs
Recommended Citation
Pond, Nicole L., "Mental Health and Treatment Issues in Recreational Residential Summer Camps: A Grounded Theory Analysis" (2019). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 339.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/339