Abstract

High school students are often burdened with academic, home, and peer stressors. With adolescent mental health issues and suicide on the rise, administrators have worked with nonprofits and the community to solve these problems. School-based wellness centers are tranquil rooms for students to decompress for up to 20 minutes during the school day with various sensory activities, calming nature scenes, and sounds for relaxation purposes. Wellness centers are meant to be a haven for self-regulation so students can come back to class with a calmer frame of mind. So far, there has not been a formal evaluation of school-based wellness centers for students struggling with various emotional problems. The present study examined the perceptions of 752 students, 69 staff, and 124 parents of their affiliated high school wellness center from an existing data set consisting of individual questionnaires for students, parents, and staff to evaluate stakeholders' perceptions of their wellness center. Results indicated that stakeholders had positive perceptions of the wellness center. Specifically, results implied stakeholders believed that the wellness center contributed to academic success, elevation of mood, confidence, and coping skills. Results also indicated that attendance at the wellness center was associated with a decrease in student stress and anxiety, though recommendations for improvements were noted. Implications and limitations of this evaluation are discussed.

Degree

EdS

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/