School counsellors' perceptions concerning the impact of unexpected long-term widespread unemployment on senior high school students in Newfoundland fishing communities

TL;DRAbstract

The purpose of this exploratory research was to investigate the impact of unexpected widespread local unemployment on senior high students in communities with one main industry - fishing, from the perspectives of their school counsellors. The sample consisted of 19 counsellors from high schools along the east coast of Newfoundland who served in 119 communities having high numbers of fishery workers who were unemployed due to the closure of the Northern Cod fishery. -- Based on a review of the literature concerning the effects of unemployment on children, an instrument was developed and sent to counsellors who met the criteria for the study. Through the use of closed-form (Likert scale) and open-form items, counsellors were asked to assess how students were being affected in five general areas: school behaviours, career aspirations, family relationships, financial resources, and mental and physical health. Male and female students were rated separately on the Likert scale items. In each

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