The Effectiveness of Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) When Used One Time per Week in Therapeutic Day Treatment

The Effectiveness of Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies ( PATHS) When Used Once per Week in Therapeutic Day Treatment by Beth Cherish Wilson MS, Walden University, 2010 BS, Cal Poly Pomona, 2002 Proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Psychology Walden University May 2013 Abstract Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) is an intervention program for children with behavioral and emotional deficits, designed for use, and shown to be effective when used in the classroom a minimum of 3 times per week. However, in some settings, as in the current study, PATHS is being used just once per week. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether PATHS was beneficial in helping elementary school aged children improve their behavioral and emotional health when implemented once per week in a group therapy setting. PATHS was developed based on cognitive behavioral theory, which focuses on improving internalizing symptoms of mental health disorders (thoughts) as well as the externalizing symptoms (behaviors). A one-way, repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to analyze archival data of 193 scores, collected over a single school year. Results indicated that elementary school aged children who received PATHS once per week in a group setting showed a decrease in aggression and disruptive behaviors, and an increase in concentration and attention as well as social and emotional competence. Social change implications could involve the results of the study informing how we might promote overall emotional and behavioral well-being in children. At the organizational level, the expansion of the use of PATHS at reduced costs and time within other settings will extend these benefits to more children with behavioral and emotional deficits. Future studies are suggested to examine further the effectiveness of PATHS when implemented in other programs and alternative ways.Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) is an intervention program for children with behavioral and emotional deficits, designed for use, and shown to be effective when used in the classroom a minimum of 3 times per week. However, in some settings, as in the current study, PATHS is being used just once per week. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether PATHS was beneficial in helping elementary school aged children improve their behavioral and emotional health when implemented once per week in a group therapy setting. PATHS was developed based on cognitive behavioral theory, which focuses on improving internalizing symptoms of mental health disorders (thoughts) as well as the externalizing symptoms (behaviors). A one-way, repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to analyze archival data of 193 scores, collected over a single school year. Results indicated that elementary school aged children who received PATHS once per week in a group setting showed a decrease in aggression and disruptive behaviors, and an increase in concentration and attention as well as social and emotional competence. Social change implications could involve the results of the study informing how we might promote overall emotional and behavioral well-being in children. At the organizational level, the expansion of the use of PATHS at reduced costs and time within other settings will extend these benefits to more children with behavioral and emotional deficits. Future studies are suggested to examine further the effectiveness of PATHS when implemented in other programs and alternative ways. The Effectiveness of Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies ( PATHS) When Used One Time per Week in Therapeutic Day Treatment by Beth Cherish Wilson MS, Walden University, 2010 BA, Cal Poly Pomona, 2002 Proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Psychology Walden University May 2015 Dedication This research is dedicated to the therapeutic day treatment program of Central Virginia and the PATHS developers. Acknowledgments I am thankful for the prayers and confidence of my husband, friends, and family. They pushed me to get my dissertation completed, and they saw in me something I did not see in myself when first starting the PhD process. I am thankful for my husband who stands by my side even through the most stressful days and continues to encourage me to get things done. All of my thanks go to God who gave me the strength to get through this time and the confidence to take this step in my academic and professional life.