Department of Family Therapy Dissertations and Applied Clinical Projects

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT)

Advisor

Rochelle Clarke

Abstract

Each generation naturally progresses through life stages, and the shift into adulthood is integral to this process. For Generation Z (Gen Z), the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a layer of complexity to this transition, with a significant decline in Gen Z’s mental health and highlighting the need to understand their experiences in the pandemic’s aftermath. This applied clinical project was a phenomenological study that explored the lived experiences of six Gen Z undergraduate students (N = 6) as they emerged into adulthood following the pandemic. Participants’ perspectives provided insights to answer the research question: What are Gen Z undergraduate students’ perceptions of adulthood post-pandemic? Through semi-structured interviews, participants reflected on their understanding of adulthood and their journeys toward it, noting the challenges they encountered along the way. I analyzed the data using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), revealing four key experiential themes: (a) mental health shift, (b) developmental impact, (c) support pillars, and (d) active pursuit of self-identity, alongside seven identified subthemes. Based on the study’s findings, creating tailored supportive measures for Gen Z in academia and therapeutic settings could guide them in navigating the post-pandemic world.

Download
To access this thesis/dissertation you must have a valid nova.edu OR mynsu.nova.edu email address and create an account for NSUWorks.

Free My Thesis

If you are the author of this work and would like to grant permission to make it openly accessible to all, please click the Free My Thesis button.

  Contact Author

Share

COinS