Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.OT)

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Department

College of Health Care Sciences - Physical Therapy Department

First Advisor

Penelope A Moyers

Publication Date / Copyright Date

2021

Publisher

Nova Southeastern University

Abstract

This project introduces the L.E.G.A.C.Y. appreciative life review model (L.E.G.A.C.Y.) and provides preliminary evidence for its feasibility with emerging adults in a higher education context. L.E.G.A.C.Y. is the first model to integrate appreciative inquiry as well as a retrospective-prospective framework and experiential elements into the life review process. Increased rates of mental health disorders, underdeveloped psychosocial resources, and limited independent living skills have resulted in significant role impairments and poor adjustment to college. Conceptual development of the L.E.G.A.C.Y. model and the results of a quasi-experimental pilot study that investigated its effectiveness with agroup of college students (N = 17) are presented. Attributional style, the search for and presence of meaning in life, and life satisfaction were measured before and after participation in a short-term L.E.G.A.C.Y. workshop. No statistically significant main effect, interaction effect, or effect of time was observed for any measure of attributional style or meaning in life. However, the main effect of the treatment on quality of lifewas statistically significant and achieved a moderate effect size. No interaction effect between treatment and time or main effect of time was observed on quality of life. The small sample size, limited intervention dosage, and reduced sensitivity of the measurement tools resulted ininconclusive findings. However, the L.E.G.A.C.Y. model is relevant, well-received by participants, shows promise as an intervention to facilitate the development of positive psychosocial resources in college students, and meets the feasibility guidelines for further study.

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Keywords

Adjustment, Appreciative inquiry, College students, Life review, Meaning, Mental health, Narrative identity, Occupational therapy

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