McDonald, Kathie June (2012) Examining the Impact of a Psychological Self-Help Tool on Adolescents' Mindfulness, Resilience, and Hope. Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Despite global recommendations that have been proposed and implemented to address increasing mental health issues, difficulties persist. The cost of addressing these increasing difficulties is burdening health systems world-wide. Adolescent populations specifically show a concerning range of mental health concerns with increasing prevalence rates. Addressing these mental health issues in adolescents now may reduce future impact on health care systems. However there are challenges in trying to do this due to low service access rates and limited therapist availability. Self-help has been effectively used with adolescents to address a range of issues however the evidence-base for self-help is extremely limited. One particular self-help tool, the Kitbag, was developed by the International Futures Forum, as a means for increasing psychological capacity to cope in the modern world. Several theoretical bases contributed to the development of the Kitbag, including theories of Mindfulness, Resilience, and Hope. To date there has been limited research examining the impact of the Kitbag, and no research has directly examined its impact on the theoretical constructs described. The current research project was therefore the first Australian study of the Kitbag, and according to the Kitbag developers, the most comprehensive Kitbag study to date world-wide. The aim of the Kitbag for Adolescents Research Project was to examine the Kitbag as used by Australian adolescents and to consider its impact on their levels of Mindfulness (Curiosity and Decentering), Resilience, and Hope. A case study approach was adopted, which allowed examination of the Kitbag efficacy in both a mainstream school-based Year 10 adolescent population (n = 11; 5 male, 6 female) and a marginalised school-based Year 10, 11, and 12 adolescent population (n = 13; 6 male, 7 female). A pre- postintervention design was used with 3 pre-test data collection points and 3 post-test data collection points. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered. Quantitative analyses found no overall change in Mindfulness, Resilience, or Hope from pre-to post-intervention. However some partial support was offered for positive relationships between each of the variables and the amount of Kitbag Use, indicating that practice and active coping may be related to adolescents’ levels of Mindfulness, Resilience, and Hope. Quantitative analyses were limited by a small sample size and poor test-retest reliabilities of the measures. Qualitative analyses identified some interesting differences between the two case study groups. In general, the Kitbag was better received by the mainstream students who used the Kitbag more often and reported a high likelihood to continue use and to recommend to others. The essential roller oil component was the favourite part of the Kitbag for the mainstream students however the abstract cartoon animal cards were less appealing to them. In contrast, the roller oil was the least favourite part for the marginalised students and the animal cards were the most appealing. Larger scale replication studies are needed in mainstream adolescent populations, whereas individualised support programs using the Kitbag would be more appropriate to evaluate with future Kitbag research in marginalised youth populations. It is further recommended that future research consider additional or alternative measures of Mindfulness, Resilience, and Hope, examine personality, and include more detailed measures of Kitbag Use.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Lorelle Burton |
| Qualification: | Master of Psychology (Clinical) |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Oct 2025 23:30 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Oct 2025 23:30 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adolescent ; mental health issues in adolescents ; mental health self-help tool Kitbag ; Kitbag use ; Australian study |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52555 |
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