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The Association Between Cognitive Dysfunctions And Cardiovascular Disease Of Minority And Lgbtq+ Communities In The United States, Nathan G. De Shields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dementia, the loss of cognitive acuity is an umbrella term of neuro-degenerative symptoms that impact an estimated 6.5 million Americans, and amid heart disease, cancers, and emerging viruses, such as COVID-19, has reportedly increased in prevalence. A cross-sectional study of secondary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted to analyze minority and non-heterosexual experiences of health risks found higher in prior studies of distress rates in LGBTQ+ adults. The socio-ecological framework was used to interpret the competing ecologies of social health determinants in natural and social settings. Literature reviews on cognitive dysfunction and other vascular …

Role Of Social Media In Adolescent-Parent Relationships Among At-Risk Youths, Jennifer Davis, Jessica L. Hart

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study aimed to understand the role of adolescent and parent social media use on adolescents reported at-risk behaviors, as well as the role of social media among at-risk youths and their parents. Semi-structured interviews, based on interpretive phenomenological analysis, were utilized with six pairs of individuals resulting in 12 total participants. Each pair consisted of an adolescent between the ages of 13 and 17 along with their parent. Data analysis resulted in three themes: encountering negativity on social media did not refrain the adolescent from social media usage, misunderstanding of the parent regarding social media and technology caused challenges …

The Impact Of Gun Violence On African American Adolescents In Baltimore City, Maryland, Valerie Taylor

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The aim of this social change portfolio is to prevent gun violence in African American males in Baltimore City, Maryland, through increasing awareness in schools and communities.

Significant Findings: African American males are perpetrators and victims of gun violence at a substantially high rate in Baltimore City, MD. They are disproportionately affected in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities” (Shulman et al., 2021). According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2018), data from 2016 to 2020 revealed 44 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 people in Baltimore City, Maryland, compared to 12 people per 100,000 in the whole state of Maryland and 12 …

Dissecting The Interrelations Of Suicidality And Mental Health Across First Responder Subtypes Seeking Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Study, Alaina Beauchamp, Warren Ponder, Katelyn Jetelina

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

First responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events that can affect their mental health to the extent of suicidal ideation and suicide completion. The purpose of our study is to inform the comparability of predictors of suicidality across first responder types to elucidate the most efficacious targets for intervention and clinical intercession. Clients (N = 224) sought counseling services between 2015 and 2020 at a not-for-profit organization. We conducted a matched study with cases defined as those with suicidality at baseline and those without suicidality at baseline (controls). First responder types were law enforcement officers (LEOs), firefighters, and emergency …

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Learning Disabilities And Juvenile Delinquency From Parents’ Perspectives, Torsha Shawn Childs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the relationship between learning disabilities and juvenile delinquency from parents’ perspectives. This qualitative study was guided by Agnew’s general strain theory (GST), which explored the force that stressors have on individuals, such as the impact learning disabilities have on juveniles. The qualitative research approach was used to gather data from 10 parents with children diagnosed with learning disabilities at an early age. Parents responded to 15 open-ended survey questions via SurveyMonkey based on their lived experiences of having children with learning disabilities. Participants remained anonymous. All participants were required to have a child with a learning disability …

The Impact Of Gender On Relationship Satisfaction In Law Enforcement, Carole Ann Presson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Relationships have been identified as a critical component of mental wellness. Law enforcement has been recognized as a profession with high divorce rates and relationship failure, contributing to reduced mental health in law enforcement. By addressing and identifying relationship concerns, issues of suicide, use of force, productivity, and reduced tenure can be addressed. This quantitative study aimed to identify areas of stress contributing to relationship dissatisfaction. The study’s initial focus was to identify if gender impacted satisfaction outcomes. Male and female officers participated equally in completing surveys to identify organizational and operational police stress, romantic partner conflict, and relationship assessment. …

The Role Of Parental Military Status And Educational Attainment On Mental Health Service Usage Among Children And Adolescents, Cierra Jones Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of mental health services for children and adolescents has been linked to significant health problems in adulthood. Researchers have investigated factors that influence usage of mental health services among children and adolescence, but significant gaps persist regarding use of mental health service among military-connected youth. This quantitative study was conducted to examine if parental military status and parental education affected the usage of mental health services among children and adolescents ages 3–17 in the United States. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze secondary data from the combined 2019–2020 National Survey of Children’s Health. After adjusting for income, …

Mental Health Experiences Of Black Males Beyond Juvenile Delinquency, Jasmine D. Spratling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incarceration rates around the United States continue to increase for Black male adolescents. These numbers are even more significant in Atlanta, where youth spend time in juvenile detention centers and return soon once released. Summary findings from existing research showed the lack of mental health services provided once a youth has been released from incarceration, but a lack of specifics around the services needed remains. The purpose of the current study was to explore the experiences of Black male adolescents who received little to no trauma informed care post-incarceration. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was used to conduct semistructured interviews with …

Long-Term Psychological Adaptation Of U.S. Human Resource Personnel In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Samantha Ann Denson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous research indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted employee psychological outcomes in various workforce sectors. Although research showed that U.S. human resource (HR) employees experienced unique occupational challenges during the pandemic, the literature did not explore pandemic-related psychological outcomes in this population. This quantitative survey-based study included a purposive sample of 294 U.S. HR professionals to explore the pandemic’s impact on their psychological well-being. The transactional model of stress and coping served as the theoretical framework to understand the independent effects of appraisal, meaning-based coping, and coping efforts on psychological well-being. A mediation analysis was used to understand the …

Barriers, Challenges &Successes Among Human Service Professionals Stigma Reduction Treatment Among People With Mental Illness, Maureen Epps

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 9 million people in the United States suffer from a mental illness (MI). Although human service professionals seek the best practices to treat people with MI, people with MI sometimes struggle to seek treatment because of stigma. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the barriers and challenges of human service professionals who experienced using a stigma reduction treatment on a person with MI. The mental illness stigma framework and Goffman’s stigma theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight …

Detecting Postpartum Depression In Women: Effects Of Breastfeeding, Weight Gain, And Abuse, Ifitumi Audu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Postpartum depression is a significant health issue that has affected over 10% of womenworldwide. However, it has not received the attention it deserves, and many women continue to suffer in silence. Certain risk factors are indicative of postpartum depression. Some include a history of depression and a lack of a support system. Others include weight gain, breastfeeding, and physical/emotional abuse. However, research on these is limited. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the effect of breastfeeding, weight gain, and abuse on postpartum depression in women between 18 and 40+. This cross-sectional study used secondary data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment …

Neighborhood Factors, Cardiovascular Illness, Mental Health, And Aging In The United States, Brenda Billings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability to age in place among people 65 years old and older is a public health problem in the United States. However, it is unknown what neighborhood factors (i.e., trust, safety, shared values) impact the communities that are struggling to support individuals looking to stay in their homes as they age. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between neighborhood factors (i.e., trust, safety, and shared values), cardiovascular illness (i.e., heart attack and stroke), mental health (i.e., depression), and aging in place, controlling for sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, and race. …

Neighborhood Factors, Cardiovascular Illness, Mental Health, And Aging In The United States, Brenda Billings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability to age in place among people 65 years old and older is a public health problem in the United States. However, it is unknown what neighborhood factors (i.e., trust, safety, shared values) impact the communities that are struggling to support individuals looking to stay in their homes as they age. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between neighborhood factors (i.e., trust, safety, and shared values), cardiovascular illness (i.e., heart attack and stroke), mental health (i.e., depression), and aging in place, controlling for sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, and race. …

Preventing Consequences Of Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In Black Youths In Oakland, Ca, Althea M. O'Brien

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to create a prevention program that could be utilized by the counselor for Black youth in Oakland, California who have experienced adverse childhood experience (ACEs) in order to strengthen protective factors in Black youth, thus preventing future behavioral, mental, physical health, and downstream consequences (Bhushan et al., 2020).

Significant Findings: The population of focus are Black Youths, which are affected by ACES at disproportionate rates (Bhushan et al., 2020). According to the 2020 California Surgeon General’s Report, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is a health crisis; more than 6 out of …

Mental Health, Chronic Disease, And Substance Use: Findings From Rural Texas, Subi Gandhi, Ryan Glaman, Elizabeth Wachira, Muna Bashir, Sushma Sharma, Chelsea Mowles, Jasmine Luttrell

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

There are vital links among mental health conditions, chronic diseases, and substance use disorders. Simultaneous examination of the relationship among these three conditions is essential for providing well-integrated care to rural residents who have limited resources and for representing medically underserved areas. We aimed to assess the burden of behavioral health conditions and chronic diseases from a rural Texas community to garner context-specific insights and inform effective health promotion strategies in similar communities. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 181 residents from various zip codes in a rural Texas county. A self-administered, 18-item health-needs questionnaire was used to collect data …

Differences In Attachment, Resilience, And Negative Affect In Non-Treatment-Seeking And Treatment-Seeking Ems Professionals, Jose Carbajal, Warren Ponder, Lauren Malthaner, Kathryn Shahan, Katelyn Jetelina, Jeanine Galusha, Donna Schuman

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals have a stressful vocation, inarguably worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects their mental health and makes them a vulnerable population warranting further study. However, to date, no published research has compared non-treatment and treatment-seeking EMS professionals in the same greater metropolitan area. In this study, we examined differences and similarities among the non-treatment-seeking EMS professionals (n = 57) from a local EMS agency and treatment-seeking EMS personnel (n = 53) from a non-profit community treatment center on six assessment instruments that measure attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, resilience, depression, generalized anxiety, posttraumatic stress …

Social Support Needs Of African American Single Parent Women Residing In Atlanta, Tyneisha Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers may serve marginalized groups of people such as single parents who may face challenges and barriers to raising a healthy family. African American mothers are more likely to have adverse experiences with parenting without a partner or additional supportive primary caregiver than women in other racial groups. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the mental health challenges that impact African American women who are single parents. Social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Data were collected from individual interviews with ten parents from daycare centers in the metropolitan Atlanta area that …

Mental Health Counselors’ Use Of Complementary And Alternative Approaches For Treating Individuals With Anxiety Disorders, Jane Rose Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. Traditional counseling approaches do not address the evolving needs of individuals with anxiety disorders, and information is scarce regarding counselors’ use of complementary and alternative approaches in treating anxiety disorders. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to investigate whether counselors’ knowledge, perceptions, intentional practices, and openness predicted their use of complementary and alternative approaches in counseling individuals with anxiety disorders. The integrative mental health model for the conceptual framework guided this study. The research questions examined how five variables—spirituality, specialization, types of anxiety disorders treated, training, …

Role Of Social Media In Adolescent-Parent Relationships Among At-Risk Youths, Jennifer Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media has been linked to online crimes and cyberbullying among 88% of teens. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of adolescent and parent social media use on adolescents reported at-risk behaviors, as well as the role of social media among at-risk youths and their parents using the attachment theory. An interpretive phenomenological analysis design was used in this study to describe relationships between adolescents and their parents involving social media use and reported at-risk behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were performed with a total of six pairs of individuals resulting in 12 total participants. There were four …

Continuity Of Care For Adult Offenders With Severe And Persistent Mental Illnesses: An Action Research Study, Lakeshia C. Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For decades, the representation of adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMI) in the criminal justice system has steadily grown despite public recognition and increased federal implementation of mental health courts and diversion programs. Though more is known about risk factors associated with psychiatric and criminal recidivism among this population, a gap in the literature remains on collaborative interventions and continuity of care between inpatient mental health and criminal justice facilities. Grounded in resilience theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine challenges social workers faced when attempting to facilitate discharge planning between inpatient mental health facilities …

Intersectional Invisibility Of Black Lgbtqia+ Client Strategies For Bias And Discrimination Prevention, Dr. Tonya Y. Griffith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Those who identify as members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities have been victims of bias and prejudicial attitudes. Because LGBTQIA+ people embody all cultures, races, religious convictions, and socioeconomic statuses, this creates additional barriers for some community members who identify as both Black and LGBTQIA+. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore social workers’ perceptions of intersectional invisibility when working with Black LGBTQIA+ clients and the strategies that social workers identify as beneficial in averting discrimination and bias when working with this community. Implicit bias theory and intersectionality theory …

Effects Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder For U.S. Women Veterans, Bobbi N. L. Mount, Phd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived postdeployment experiences of U.S. women veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their perception of the impact their diagnosis had on their immediate families. The theoretical framework was Heider’s causal attribution theory. The first two research questions directly addressed the purpose of the study, and the third research question addressed each participant’s experience with accessing mental healthcare services. NVivo was used to transcribe, code, and analyze data derived from semistructured interviews with six U.S. women veterans who were diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed mental health professional postdeployment. …

Impact Of Religion On Mental Health Care Use Among African Immigrants In The United States, Mary Nganga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health illnesses are the leading causes of disability worldwide with one in every five people suffering from mental illness in the United States. African Immigrants are the fastest growing immigrant group in the United States, yet their mental health care use remains relatively low. African immigrants face stressors that may lead them to be more prone to mental illness, yet they depend on religion and family support rather than formal mental health care. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the impact of religion on mental health care use among African immigrants in the United States. The …

The Psychological Experience Of Cyberbullying Among Transgender Adults, Lyndsey Macpherson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although Internet use can be helpful, it can also be a toxic environment, especially toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Researchers have demonstrated that cyberbullying victimization can affect anyone; however, very few analyze these experiences by gender identity. The focus of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of harassment that gender-minority individuals encounter in an online environment. Data included in-depth interviews with 14 transgender or nonbinary adults. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), participants were asked to share their experiences with navigating on social media and the impact of what cyberbullying means to them. The …

Examining Clinical Behaviors That Demonstrate Intersectionality And Cultural Humility In Mental Health Treatment, Loretta Kosi Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCultural humility is an ethical standard within the social work profession. As the United States becomes more diverse, there are increasing rates of failure to implement cultural humility in social work practice in mental health settings. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to examine how clinical social workers demonstrate cultural humility and intersectionality in mental health settings. The theoretical basis on which the research was conducted includes the person-centered theory and the feminist theories, which provided a strong framework for understanding the influences of cultural dynamics and intersectionality on the quality of patient outcomes in mental health care. …

Loneliness As A Treatment Focus For Suicide Prevention In Airmen Who Seek Mental Health Care, Jovanna O. Gaines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Department of Defense is challenged to decrease rising suicide rates in all branches of military service. Studies have consistently shown interpersonal risk factors versus intrapsychic factors as strong indicators of suicide risk, yet the practice has not focused on loneliness as a treatment focus for increased risk. This study explored clinical social workers’ view of loneliness as experienced in patients who are active-duty airmen to identify prevention, coping, and treatment strategies for managing suicides. The methodology involved a semistructured interview of 10 active duty licensed clinical social workers with greater than two years of experience working within a mental …

Mental Health Providers’ Perspectives: The Link Between Childhood Trauma, Juvenile Delinquency And Long-Term Effects, Vanay Lashon Frederick-Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile delinquency is an ongoing problem in society and is detrimental as many delinquents have mental and behavioral health issues. Delinquency is costly to society, and it was found that many delinquents have a traumatic past or adverse childhood experiences. They include child abuse and neglect, loss, separation/divorce of parents, witnessing domestic violence, parents who struggle with mental health and/or drug and substance abuse, parents who have their own trauma, death of a loved one, natural disaster, or other tragedies that are linked to an increase in the likelihood of juvenile delinquency. In this study, the relationship between juvenile delinquency …

The Effects Of Acculturative Stress On The Physical/Mental Health Of Immigrant Mexican Women, Maria Del Carmen Mendoza Griego

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractImmigrants may experience acculturative stress as they adapt to their host country's dominant culture, which previous research has indicated may affect their physical and mental health. The purpose of this quantitative study utilizing a random sample was to examine the effect of acculturative stress and age on the mental and physical health of adult women of Mexican origin living in the United States, considering the moderation of perceived discrimination. The theoretical framework of acculturation by John W. Berry guided this study. The three research questions involved understanding whether immigrant Mexican women experienced a negative effect on their mental and physical …

Advancing Behavioral Health Literacy, James Scollione

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Accessing, comprehending, and using information to make informed decisions and improve one’s overall health or well-being are the foci of health literacy. The concept of behavioral health was introduced in the early 1980s and, since then, it has influenced new ideas (e.g., behavioral health literacy and integrated behavioral health care) and gained research and public attention. My aim is to provide an overview of definitions (i.e., health literacy, mental health literacy, and behavioral health literacy) and their connection to each other. I propose an expanded and honed definition of behavioral health literacy to enhance the behavioral health literacy and well-being …

Social Media Behaviors And Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Associations With Anxiety, Depression, And Stress, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, Emily V. Patten

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The majority of research concerning public health crises and social media platforms has focused on analyzing the accuracy of information within social media posts. The current exploratory study explored social media users’ specific social media behaviors and experiences during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these behaviors and experiences related to anxiety, depression, and stress. Data were collected March 21–31, 2020 from adults in the United States (N = 564) through snowball sampling on social media sites and Prime Panels. Online surveys included questions regarding social media use during the pandemic and the Depression Anxiety and …