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An exploratory study of special education teachers' perceptions of the behaviors of depressed students

Margaret Bissell Walker, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of special education teachers about the behaviors of depressed students who also have learning and behavioral problems. Teachers' perceptions of students' behaviors were measured in this study through a behavior rating scale, teachers' self-reports of frequency of interventions used, and the IEPs of each student. In addition, factors related to teachers' training and experience, as well as the special education classification of the student were examined. Existing data, gathered as part of a three-year federally-funded project, provided the information base. Information from 24 special education teachers about 25 Behavior Disorder and Learning Disability students who had been diagnosed as depressed was compared to information from 24 special education teachers about 25 students of similar ages who had been diagnosed as having a Conduct Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Findings of the study suggest that while special education teachers are aware of Internalizing behaviors in both groups and rate non-depressed students higher than depressed students on Externalizing behaviors that the teachers' attention in the classroom setting appears to focus more on Externalizing behaviors for both groups. Special education teachers also rated depressed students as having more Externalizing behavior problems than did regular education teachers. In addition, special education teachers' reports of interventions used with depressed students differed with years of teaching experience and training about depression. They related depressed BD students as having more problems with Externalizing behaviors than depressed LD students, reported more behaviors of all types on the IEPs of BD students, and reported using some interventions more frequently for BD students.

Subject Area

Special education

Recommended Citation

Walker, Margaret Bissell, "An exploratory study of special education teachers' perceptions of the behaviors of depressed students" (1989). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9013634.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9013634

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