Melissa L Bessaha
Biographic Data
| ID | 224661 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa L Bessaha |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa L |
| FAMILY NAME | Bessaha |
| SIGNATURE | BESSAHA M L |
| AFFILIATIONS | Stony Brook University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9094-2469 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 17 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Unpacking Multiple Forms of Discrimination Experiences in Racial/Ethnic Subgroups of Emerging Adults
Identity Distress, Confusion, Synthesis, and Social Media Use for Coping
How do emerging adults undergoing identity distress during an adverse collective life event such as the COVID-19 pandemic use social media for coping? This study addressed this question by examining the associations of identity distress, confusion, and synthesis with social media use for coping with a national, multisite undergraduate sample of university students (N = 1257; M age = 20; 908 women) in the United States. Results indicated that emer…
Stigma among historically marginalized young adults with serious mental illnesses
Stigma of mental illness is a significant barrier to mental health service use and recovery. Yet, few studies have examined stigma among marginalized young adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI). This convergent mixed methods study builds knowledge surrounding stigma among a sample of young adults of color with SMI (n=113). The study progressed in two phases. First, a multivariable regression model was estimated to identify factors associated…
Navigating Identity Uncertainty
The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only recently begun to be explored. Among college students, who were faced with sudden and unprecedented changes and challenges, it is likely that COVID-19 detrimentally impacted the establishment of a sense of self, a key developmental task of the college years. However, no research has examined the relationships among COVID-19 related worries, identity distress, and psychological and academic …
How does social support relate to emotional availability for learning during Covid-19? A multi-group structural equation model of university students from the U.S. and Israel
Community-Based Providers’ Perspectives on Addressing Loneliness and Mental Health Services for Migrant Youth and Emerging Adults
Migrant youth and emerging adults (MYEA), ages 15 to 29, who recently migrated to the United States are vulnerable to experiencing chronic loneliness related to discrimination, social isolation, and stigma. Yet, there is limited intervention research on detecting, mitigating, and addressing the effects of chronic loneliness for MYEA. This study examined community-based providers’ perspectives on the effects of social isolation and loneliness on M…
Coparenting communication and hybrid masculinity in a fatherhood program
Intersecting Race and Gender Across Hardships and Mental Health During Covid-19
Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities
The goal of this participatory action research (PAR) project was to engage and empower students with disabilities and raise awareness of disability-related issues to campus communities. Ten student co-researchers and six faculty/staff co-researchers attended weekly research meetings to discuss challenges faced by students with disabilities. The team presented PAR findings to the campus community as their action project. Twelve themes generated by…
Social Work in Higher Education
Field education is essential to the development of professional social workers. Despite the significant overlap in social work’s and higher education’s missions and values, there is a scarcity of social work internships specifically in higher education settings. The placement of social work interns in institutions of higher education provides a setting where they can develop new knowledge and skills and increase their capacity to support college …
Exploring the acceptability of Option B plus among HIV-positive Nigerian women engaged and not engaged in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV cascade
The acceptability of lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive women in high-burden Nigeria, is not well-known. We explored readiness of users and providers of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services to accept lifelong ART -before Option B plus was implemented in Nigeria. We conducted 142 key informant interviews among 100 PMTCT users (25 pregnant-newly-diagnosed, 26 pregnant-in-care, 28 lost-to-follow-up…
Beyond the Ballot
Social Workers' Perceptions of Training Preparedness and Social Justice Norms on Workplace Empowerment
This study examined the relationship between (a) social workers' perceptions of preparedness to perform in their professional roles and perceived social justice behaviors at work and (b) workers' sense of workplace empowerment. A sample of 152 currently licensed social workers responded to web or mailed surveys. Respondents were more likely to perceive having workplace empowerment related to meaning in their work if they reported their social wor…
Perceptions and Outcomes following Teen Court Involvement
Journal Article Perceptions and Outcomes following Teen Court Involvement Get access Charlotte Lyn Bright, Charlotte Lyn Bright Charlotte Lyn Bright, PhD, MSW, is associate professor, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; Douglas W. Young, MS, is senior faculty researcher, Institute for Governmental Service and Research, University of Maryland, College Park. Melissa L. Bessaha, MA, LMSW, is a…
Factor Structure of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) Among Emerging Adults
Objective: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the 6-item version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Methods: A subsample of emerging adults, aged 18–29 ( n = 20,699), from the 2013 National Survey of Drug Use and Health were used in this study. Results: Each of the models (one-factor, two-factor depression and anxiety and second-order two-factor psychological distress by depression and anxiety) …
Factor Structure of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) Among Emerging Adults
Objective: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the 6-item version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Methods: A subsample of emerging adults, aged 18–29 ( n = 20,699), from the 2013 National Survey of Drug Use and Health were used in this study. Results: Each of the models (one-factor, two-factor depression and anxiety and second-order two-factor psychological distress by depression and anxiety) …
Beyond the Ballot
Social Workers' Perceptions of Training Preparedness and Social Justice Norms on Workplace Empowerment
This study examined the relationship between (a) social workers' perceptions of preparedness to perform in their professional roles and perceived social justice behaviors at work and (b) workers' sense of workplace empowerment. A sample of 152 currently licensed social workers responded to web or mailed surveys. Respondents were more likely to perceive having workplace empowerment related to meaning in their work if they reported their social wor…
Perceptions and Outcomes following Teen Court Involvement
Journal Article Perceptions and Outcomes following Teen Court Involvement Get access Charlotte Lyn Bright, Charlotte Lyn Bright Charlotte Lyn Bright, PhD, MSW, is associate professor, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; Douglas W. Young, MS, is senior faculty researcher, Institute for Governmental Service and Research, University of Maryland, College Park. Melissa L. Bessaha, MA, LMSW, is a…
Community-Based Providers’ Perspectives on Addressing Loneliness and Mental Health Services for Migrant Youth and Emerging Adults
Migrant youth and emerging adults (MYEA), ages 15 to 29, who recently migrated to the United States are vulnerable to experiencing chronic loneliness related to discrimination, social isolation, and stigma. Yet, there is limited intervention research on detecting, mitigating, and addressing the effects of chronic loneliness for MYEA. This study examined community-based providers’ perspectives on the effects of social isolation and loneliness on M…
Perceptions and Outcomes following Teen Court Involvement
Journal Article Perceptions and Outcomes following Teen Court Involvement Get access Charlotte Lyn Bright, Charlotte Lyn Bright Charlotte Lyn Bright, PhD, MSW, is associate professor, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; Douglas W. Young, MS, is senior faculty researcher, Institute for Governmental Service and Research, University of Maryland, College Park. Melissa L. Bessaha, MA, LMSW, is a…
Factor Structure of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) Among Emerging Adults
Objective: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the 6-item version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Methods: A subsample of emerging adults, aged 18–29 ( n = 20,699), from the 2013 National Survey of Drug Use and Health were used in this study. Results: Each of the models (one-factor, two-factor depression and anxiety and second-order two-factor psychological distress by depression and anxiety) …
Social Workers' Perceptions of Training Preparedness and Social Justice Norms on Workplace Empowerment
This study examined the relationship between (a) social workers' perceptions of preparedness to perform in their professional roles and perceived social justice behaviors at work and (b) workers' sense of workplace empowerment. A sample of 152 currently licensed social workers responded to web or mailed surveys. Respondents were more likely to perceive having workplace empowerment related to meaning in their work if they reported their social wor…
Social Work in Higher Education
Field education is essential to the development of professional social workers. Despite the significant overlap in social work’s and higher education’s missions and values, there is a scarcity of social work internships specifically in higher education settings. The placement of social work interns in institutions of higher education provides a setting where they can develop new knowledge and skills and increase their capacity to support college …
Exploring the acceptability of Option B plus among HIV-positive Nigerian women engaged and not engaged in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV cascade
The acceptability of lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive women in high-burden Nigeria, is not well-known. We explored readiness of users and providers of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services to accept lifelong ART -before Option B plus was implemented in Nigeria. We conducted 142 key informant interviews among 100 PMTCT users (25 pregnant-newly-diagnosed, 26 pregnant-in-care, 28 lost-to-follow-up…
Beyond the Ballot
Creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities
The goal of this participatory action research (PAR) project was to engage and empower students with disabilities and raise awareness of disability-related issues to campus communities. Ten student co-researchers and six faculty/staff co-researchers attended weekly research meetings to discuss challenges faced by students with disabilities. The team presented PAR findings to the campus community as their action project. Twelve themes generated by…
Coparenting communication and hybrid masculinity in a fatherhood program
Intersecting Race and Gender Across Hardships and Mental Health During Covid-19
Stigma among historically marginalized young adults with serious mental illnesses
Stigma of mental illness is a significant barrier to mental health service use and recovery. Yet, few studies have examined stigma among marginalized young adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI). This convergent mixed methods study builds knowledge surrounding stigma among a sample of young adults of color with SMI (n=113). The study progressed in two phases. First, a multivariable regression model was estimated to identify factors associated…
Navigating Identity Uncertainty
The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have only recently begun to be explored. Among college students, who were faced with sudden and unprecedented changes and challenges, it is likely that COVID-19 detrimentally impacted the establishment of a sense of self, a key developmental task of the college years. However, no research has examined the relationships among COVID-19 related worries, identity distress, and psychological and academic …
How does social support relate to emotional availability for learning during Covid-19? A multi-group structural equation model of university students from the U.S. and Israel
Community-Based Providers’ Perspectives on Addressing Loneliness and Mental Health Services for Migrant Youth and Emerging Adults
Migrant youth and emerging adults (MYEA), ages 15 to 29, who recently migrated to the United States are vulnerable to experiencing chronic loneliness related to discrimination, social isolation, and stigma. Yet, there is limited intervention research on detecting, mitigating, and addressing the effects of chronic loneliness for MYEA. This study examined community-based providers’ perspectives on the effects of social isolation and loneliness on M…
Unpacking Multiple Forms of Discrimination Experiences in Racial/Ethnic Subgroups of Emerging Adults
Identity Distress, Confusion, Synthesis, and Social Media Use for Coping
How do emerging adults undergoing identity distress during an adverse collective life event such as the COVID-19 pandemic use social media for coping? This study addressed this question by examining the associations of identity distress, confusion, and synthesis with social media use for coping with a national, multisite undergraduate sample of university students (N = 1257; M age = 20; 908 women) in the United States. Results indicated that emer…
Psychology (13 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Social Psychology (9 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Political science (6 works) · Clinical Psychology (5 works) · Psychiatry (5 works) · Clinical Psychology (4 works) · Developmental psychology (4 works)