Search

To better inform school counseling programming and practice, we assessed trends related to pornography use and sexting behaviors among adolescents. Approximately 53% of the sample had seen pornography, with an average age of 11.5 years old at first exposure. Almost 15% of adolescents had sent a sext and 24.3% had received a sext. The correlation between pornography use and sending a sext was significant. We discuss gender and racial differences and implications for school counselors.

International counseling students' (ICS) perceptions regarding ethical counseling practice and education in the United States were examined using an online survey. The research sample consisted of ICSs who were enrolled in counseling programs throughout the United States. Findings indicated that even though ICSs came from different cultures with different ethical values, they were well aware of the different codes of ethics, reported engaging in ethical behaviors, and adapted themselves to the U.S. culture and education system. The results of this study may help counselor educators and counseling programs to promote and understand international students' ethical behaviors from a diverse and multicultural standpoint.

Forced migration is a phenomenon that profoundly affects the levels of resilience and life satisfaction of refugees. Hence, the purpose of current study is to address how Syrian refugee university students who study in Turkey recovered after deformation caused by significant changes in their life. This study employed a convergent mixed method design. The quantitative results indicated that there were positive relationships among life satisfaction and factors of resilience. The qualitative results revealed that three themes (psychological resilience, self-recovery, efforts to reach goals) formed resilience and two themes (future plans and happiness) formed life satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral addictions such as social media addiction and internet gaming disorder are prevalent among adolescent populations. Although studies have investigated predictors of these addictive behaviors with international samples of adolescents, less is known about American adolescents. In this study, we investigated the predictive nature of emotion regulation after controlling for age, gender, and race with regard to social media addiction and internet gaming disorder severity. Results indicate that gender and emotion regulation significantly predicted both forms of behavioral addictions with small to moderate effects. Specifically, female gender and lower emotion regulation significantly predicted social media addiction and male gender and lower emotion regulation significantly predicted internet gaming disorder severity. Implications for mental health professionals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a quasi‐experimental, cross‐sectional design, we examined coping differences among American adolescents who reported a history of nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI; n = 90, 25.7%) and those without a history of NSSI (n = 260, 74.3%). Findings from a profile analysis indicated that a measurable difference in coping profiles may exist between those with a history of NSSI and those without a history of NSSI. Specifically, adolescents who have a history of NSSI appear to rely upon, at higher rates, maladaptive methods of coping, including acting out and rumination, in comparison to adolescents who have never engaged in NSSI, who appear to rely upon adaptive methods of coping, including distraction and self‐care, at higher rates. No meaningful difference was apparent between groups on seeking social support as a method of coping. These findings confirm the importance of assessing and enhancing effective coping strategies among adolescent clients who self‐injure and potentially utilizing coping skill enhancement strategies as a form of NSSI prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral couples therapy (BCT) on increasing abstinence from substance use and relationship adjustment when compared to alternative treatments. Using meta-analytic procedures, we synthesized 17 randomized, between-group studies representing the data of 2,307 participants (1,304 identified users and 1,003 partners). Abstinence from substance use was measured using the Timeline Followback Interview, while relationship adjustment was measured using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test, the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, or the Sexual Adjustment Questionnaire. Separate random-effects meta-analyses revealed small effects sizes in favor of BCT on abstinence from substance use (g =.21 [CI95 =.04,.39]) and relationship adjustment (g =.37 [CI95 =.21,.54]). Independent random-effects models revealed evidence of publication bias and influential moderating variables on treatment outcomes. Counselors should exercise caution when adopting a BCT approach for couples with substance use and relationship adjustment issues, and consider how alternative treatment methods may be just as effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding counseling students' preferences, competence, and perceived training related to presenting concerns is important information for counselor training programs. Given the association between poverty and mental health concerns, we compared counseling students' reactions to presenting concerns often linked to poverty (e.g., financial concerns/assistance) to their reactions toward other clinical issues (e.g., gender identity development). Students' provided ratings of clinical preference for working with various presenting concerns, and concerns that may be prevalent among clients living in poverty ranked last. Additionally, we utilized a repeated measure design to examine differences in students' perceived competence and perceived training across four case vignettes depicting various presenting concerns. Our findings revealed that counseling students felt most competent and most trained to address self-growth issues as compared to poverty, substance use, or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction to the special issue of the Journal of Counseling & Development highlights the uniqueness of counseling research and emphasizes exciting opportunities for counseling professionals to contribute to existing literature in meaningful ways. To support and motivate counseling researchers, we have collected an array of articles from expert authors who introduce, explain, and exemplify both conventional and innovative research methods to best prepare counseling professionals for rigorous scholarship. Research practices are continuously evolving and improving; thus, the aim of this special issue is to provide current information regarding research methods and unique considerations to inspire counseling scholars to creatively conduct research projects that are sound, innovative, and consequential to both the counseling profession and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Profile analysis is a multivariate data analysis technique used to examine performance on tests, subtests, or scores by identifying profile pattern and shape. In this article, we provide a conceptual overview of profile analysis, highlight its utility to both counseling researchers and practitioners, and describe a general step-by-step procedure to conducting profile analysis using a counseling outcome-specific illustration. Best practice decision-making recommendations are provided at each step. Implications for counselors, counseling researchers, and counselor educators are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]