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Janis Whitlock

Publications and source records attributed to Janis Whitlock.

2 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Selecting statewide youth development outcome indicators.

This article presents the process used to develop a set of statewide positive youth development (YD) outcome indicators to complement existing adolescent well-being indicators in New York State (NYS). Intended uses included program and community-, county-, and state-level planning; grant writing; evaluation; and outcome monitoring in coordination with national YD-oriented initiatives. A common set of metrics, if adopted, would promote consistency and information sharing across levels and purposes. A workgroup of the NYS Youth Development Team reviewed existing indicators and accepted nominations from NYS stakeholders. Input from Youth Development Team members and national YD experts was used to narrow the list to 91. Forty-one NYS policy makers performed card sorts and ratings of the indicators, and a concept-mapping process, employing hierarchical cluster analysis, identified nine clusters of items. The policy makers, along with 121 NYS program providers and 91 young adults (aged 18-21) rated the indicators from 1 ("not important") to 5 ("very important"). All intergroup correlations of ratings were 0.93 or greater, and therefore responses were analyzed together. The concept map and mean indicator ratings were used to select a short list of 15 indicators. Although respondents were intentionally given a mix of problem-focused, risk-focused, and strength-based items, the highest rated items were almost exclusively strength based.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Self-injurious behaviors in a college population.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to assess the prevalence, forms, demographic and mental health correlates of self-injurious behaviors in a representative college sample. METHODS: A random sample of undergraduate and graduate students at 2 northeastern US universities were invited to participate in an Internet-based survey in the spring of 2005. Thirty-seven percent of the 8300 invited participants responded. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence rate of having > or =1 self-injurious behavior incident was 17.0%. Seventy-five percent of those students engaged in self-injurious behaviors more than once. Thirty-six percent reported that no one knew about their self-injurious behaviors and only 3.29% indicated that a physician knew. Compared with non-self-injurers, those with repeat self-injurious behavior incidents were more likely to be female, bisexual or questioning their sexual orientation. They were less likely to be Asian/Asian American and >24 years of age. When controlling for demographic characteristics, those with repeat self-injurious behavior incidents were more likely to report a history of emotional abuse or sexual abuse, ever having considered or attempted suicide, elevated levels of psychological distress, and > or =1 characteristic of an eating disorder. A dose-response gradient was evident in each of these areas when single-incident self-injurious behaviors were compared with repeat-incident self-injurious behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of college students reported self-injurious behaviors in their lifetimes. Many of the behaviors occurred among individuals who had never been in therapy for any reason and who only rarely disclosed their self-injurious behaviors to anyone. Single self-injurious behavior incidents were correlated with a history of abuse and comorbid adverse health conditions but less strongly than were repeat self-injurious behavior incidents. The reticence of these clients to seek help or advice renders it critical that medical and mental health providers find effective strategies for detecting and addressing self-injurious behaviors.

Adolescent↗