Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Adolescent psychiatric hospitalizations continue to rise, yet there is limited research on which daily practices inside inpatient units genuinely support engagement and recovery. This project examined how structure, staff tone, and therapeutic programming influence adolescents’ participation and emotional stability within a real inpatient setting. The study focused on three questions: how structured routines affect recovery, what challenges staff face when supporting adolescents with complex needs, and how adolescents’ engagement patterns reflect their perception of care. Using a mixed-methods case study at Mesa Springs Behavioral Health Hospital, I conducted approximately twenty field observations, semi-structured staff interviews, and descriptive engagement tracking across two gender-specific adolescent units Structured sessions with clear tone produced the highest engagement, while passive facilitation often led to distraction or withdrawal. v Activity-based groups such as yoga, recreation, and art created stronger participation than repetitive process groups. Gender differences also appeared. Girls participated more often but showed stronger emotional reactions during stress, while boys responded best to consistent expectations and hands-on tasks. These findings highlight how predictable structure, steady communication, and balanced staff tone directly support engagement and safety. Strengthening these elements can improve the therapeutic environment and enhance treatment quality for adolescents in crisis.
Disciplines
Applied Behavior Analysis | Behavioral Disciplines and Activities | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Child Psychology | Clinical Psychology | Cognition and Perception | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Cognitive Psychology | Community Psychology | Comparative Psychology | Counseling Psychology | Developmental Psychology | Development Studies | Educational Psychology | Human Factors Psychology | Mental Disorders | Multicultural Psychology | Other Mental and Social Health | Other Psychiatry and Psychology | Other Psychology | Other Social and Behavioral Sciences | Personality and Social Contexts | Place and Environment | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy | Psychological Phenomena and Processes | Quantitative Psychology | Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies | Social Psychology | Social Psychology and Interaction
Publication Date
Fall 12-17-2025
Language
English
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Bonnie Laster
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
McKahan, Alexandria M., "Exploring the Impact of Inpatient Mental Health Care on Adolescents" (2025). 2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects. 9.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2025/9
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Behavioral Disciplines and Activities Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Child Psychology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Community Psychology Commons, Comparative Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Development Studies Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons, Quantitative Psychology Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons
Comments
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to start by thanking my mentor, Dr. Bonnie Laster. I have taken several of her classes over the years, and they are the reason this project finally made sense to me. Her guidance, her way of explaining things, and the trust she had in me throughout this process meant more than she probably knows. To Mesa Springs and the staff I worked alongside, thank you for supporting me while I balanced shifts, school, and data collection. On the days I stepped away to write or take notes, someone always covered what needed to be done. I am incredibly thankful for their help. To my family, thank you for being nearby, checking in, and cheering me on in the ways you could. Even when you did not know every detail of what I was working on, your small words of support meant a lot to me and helped me keep going. To my husband, thank you for being there through every late night, every stressful week, and every moment I was overwhelmed. You stayed up with me while I worked, supported me through my job and school, and sat with me when I just needed someone close. You even went out to grab me energy drinks when I was exhausted. You always found a way to keep me going, no matter how tired you were yourself. I truly could not have done this project without you, and I am so grateful for everything you did to help me finish.