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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Moral Injury In Active Service And Veteran Female Military Combatants, William Curtis Neal May 2024

Moral Injury In Active Service And Veteran Female Military Combatants, William Curtis Neal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A topic of concern and discussion in the mental health community, and maybe a special concern from both governmental and civilian practitioners, is the subject of moral injury. Moral Injury has been widely researched over the last 10 years and is a known and discussed condition that is linked to military personnel and veterans who have experienced events while deployed or operating in adverse conditions such as combat. The following descriptive study focuses on one group from which they have been excluded or overlooked in past studies. This creates a gap in the published literature: female servicewomen and veterans. Both …


Mental Health Training For Teachers Since Covid-19, Patricia M. Van Prooyen May 2024

Mental Health Training For Teachers Since Covid-19, Patricia M. Van Prooyen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used a qualitative case study approach to examine teachers’ experiences returning to school following the COVID-19 pandemic and determine if mental health training for teachers to support student mental health would ease the return to school. The researcher recruited 12 Christian school teachers that taught in the classroom pre- and post-COVID-19. Inclusive criteria included teaching two years before the shutdown, teaching during the shutdown, returning to in-person teaching, and being at least 25 years old with no gaps in teaching between 2018-2022. All participants participated in a 30-45-minute audio-recorded, semi-structured, one-on-one interview in a discreet safe venue, such …


The Effects Of Online Learning On Mental Health During A Pandemic, Christina J. Mcrae May 2024

The Effects Of Online Learning On Mental Health During A Pandemic, Christina J. Mcrae

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the effects of online learning on mental health. The focus included six aspects: academic performance, physical activity, social isolation, food insecurity and other stressors, pros and cons, and religion and mental health. Each aspect included advantages and disadvantages that adolescent students experienced. The study included 6th - 12th graders attending a Charter school. The eligibility requirement was that participants participated in online learning during the 2020-2021 school year. Academic performance data was obtained from the school office for students who attended the school during online learning and requested from parents if they attended other schools. Both positive …


The Effects Of Mental Health On Emotional Intelligence Among Latino Church Leaders, Janice M. Torres Apr 2024

The Effects Of Mental Health On Emotional Intelligence Among Latino Church Leaders, Janice M. Torres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Latinos are a culturally based race whose mental health focuses on the foundation established by their cultural upbringing and religion. Stigma, religious values, and culture are essential in Latinos' perspectives regarding their emotional intelligence and mental health. This experimental study investigated the effect of mental health on emotional intelligence in Latino church leaders, utilizing The Emotionally Healthy Leader as an intervention. This study employed a pretest-posttest design where participants' emotional intelligence, mental health, and mental health awareness were assessed before and after the intervention. A randomized, controlled trial (RCT) encompassed a group of randomly assigned Latino church leaders who participated …


Military Spouse Counselors: Exploring Mental Health, Resilience, Coping, And Burnout, Melinda Poteet Brinkley Apr 2024

Military Spouse Counselors: Exploring Mental Health, Resilience, Coping, And Burnout, Melinda Poteet Brinkley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military spouses (MLSPs) are an integral part of the military family and key mental health providers in military community. This study explores the mental health, resilience, coping, and burnout of MLSP counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors (CES). This study was grounded in resilience theory, investigating relationships between mental health and burnout, mediated by resilience, and conditioned by coping. An online survey was distributed through social media and email, open to MLSP counselors/CES of all branches and components of service (N = 68). This quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional correlational research designed utilized PROCESS Models 4, 58, and 59, which determined that resilience …


Bridges And Barriers: Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Emerging Adults' Views On Integrating Their Sexual And Religious Identities, Rémy Roe Apr 2024

Bridges And Barriers: Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Emerging Adults' Views On Integrating Their Sexual And Religious Identities, Rémy Roe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The existing literature highlights sexual and religious identity integration as a significant mediating factor in the relationship between religion and spirituality (R/S), and the LGBTQ population. This study explores outcomes associated with the integration of sexual and religious identities in a religiously diverse sample of seven lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) emerging adults ages 18-25. The sample included participants identifying with Buddhism (2), Christianity (2), Islam (1), Judaism (1), and Hinduism (1). Semi-structured interviews with participants identified eight key themes across their experiences: identity narratives, emerging adulthood exploration, interconnectedness of identities, evolving perspectives, social and cultural barriers, personal growth and …


The World Of Dungeons And Dragons As A Therapeutic Approach To Complex Trauma, Dava R. Wilson Apr 2024

The World Of Dungeons And Dragons As A Therapeutic Approach To Complex Trauma, Dava R. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative dissertation delves into the therapeutic potential of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) as an intervention for individuals coping with trauma and related mental health challenges. Drawing from a diverse sample of participants with varying gender identities, age groups, and D&D experience levels, this study employs a grounded theory approach to unravel the intricate interplay between D&D engagement and mental health outcomes. The study identifies several key implications, including the importance of creating inclusive therapeutic spaces, the lifespan relevance of D&D interventions, the potential for tailored interventions addressing relationship dynamics, and the accessibility of D&D as a therapeutic tool. Delimitations …


A Phenomenology Study- Vicarious Trauma Among School Counselors And Teachers Working With Students From The Northern Triangle In Elementary Title I Schools, Janeth B. Santiesteban Apr 2024

A Phenomenology Study- Vicarious Trauma Among School Counselors And Teachers Working With Students From The Northern Triangle In Elementary Title I Schools, Janeth B. Santiesteban

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of school counselors and teachers working at elementary Title I schools in Maryland with students from the Northern Triangle (a region of Central America comprising El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras). The assumption was that these education professionals may undergo struggles and demands that may put them at risk of vicarious trauma due to the trauma those students and their families have endured. The theory guiding this study was the transactional theory of stress and coping (Lazarus,1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and the stress theory (Cohen et al., 1997), which converge …


Unlocking Hope: Exploring Suicide Protective Factors Through The Georgia Student Health Survey, Megan Kinsey Thrasher Mar 2024

Unlocking Hope: Exploring Suicide Protective Factors Through The Georgia Student Health Survey, Megan Kinsey Thrasher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine the relationship between teenage suicide of Georgia public high school students as it relates to school connectedness, peer support, and adult support as determined by the Georgia Student Health Survey (GSHS). The GSHS is an anonymous statewide survey instrument given to secondary Georgia public school students. Archival data from completed GSHS results were used in this analysis. The significance of the research study is to determine if the survey provides reliable information to the Georgia Department of Education and local educational agencies as a useful tool and indicator of potential …


Abusive Management And Workplace Trauma In The Mental Health Field: A Phenomenological Study, Amanda White Mar 2024

Abusive Management And Workplace Trauma In The Mental Health Field: A Phenomenological Study, Amanda White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace trauma can take place in various forms including abusive supervision or management, workplace bullying, vicarious traumatization, violence, compassion burnout, and workplace stress. For the most part, the perpetrators of these incidents can either be strangers, peers, or management within the organization. The aftermath of workplace trauma can be detrimental to a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and cause work-related issues. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the personal experiences of those in the mental health field who have been traumatized in the workplace specifically by the management within the organization. This study was directed …


The Formation Of Tiktok’S Influencer-Led Mental Health Community: A Content Analysis Of Social Penetration Theory, Kellie Ford Stillwell Mar 2024

The Formation Of Tiktok’S Influencer-Led Mental Health Community: A Content Analysis Of Social Penetration Theory, Kellie Ford Stillwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following research used a qualitative content analysis to explore the communicative and communal characteristics of online communities that form around the topic of positive mental health communication on the social media platform TikTok. These characteristics were analyzed in the context of social penetration theory in consideration of how TikTok influencers use thematic messaging and acts of self-disclosure to build and enhance their online communities centered on positive mental health communication. In total, 135 TikTok videos and their accompanying comment feeds were analyzed to identify emergent themes, patterns, and concepts relative to the communicative and communal characteristics that define online …


Examining Moderating Effects Of The Strong Black Woman (Sbw) Schema And Religiosity On Mental Health, Stressful Life Events, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Help For Professional Psychological Services, Carlisa Anderson Stallings Dec 2023

Examining Moderating Effects Of The Strong Black Woman (Sbw) Schema And Religiosity On Mental Health, Stressful Life Events, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Help For Professional Psychological Services, Carlisa Anderson Stallings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the origins of slavery, Black women have consistently exhibited extraordinary strength and resilience in the face of diversity and stressful life experiences. Research has shown that stress often leads to adverse mental health outcomes, which often go untreated due to the reluctance of Black women to seek help to preserve the cultural ideal of the SBW schema. Due to complex and cumulative stress experiences encountered by Black women and concerns of untreated mental health disease, this quantitative research study utilized intersectionality and theory of planned behavior frameworks to explore the relationship between stressful life events and attitudes toward seeking …


A New Mother’S Cry: Analyzing Traditional Social Support Versus Online Social Support In Relation To The Postpartum Crisis, Emily Hughes Dec 2023

A New Mother’S Cry: Analyzing Traditional Social Support Versus Online Social Support In Relation To The Postpartum Crisis, Emily Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study examines the gap that remains involving the transition from traditional to online social support that many mothers have participated in and how this change in communication methods during postpartum recovery may contribute to mental health disorders. This qualitative study aims to examine the differences in lived experiences among mothers regarding in-person and online forms of social support and how these experiences may impact a new mother’s mental well-being. Based on previous research, the present study hypothesizes that a more significant amount of online social support compared to in-person support will result in a detriment to a new …


Relationships Between Shame, Cognitive Distortions And Positive Relationships With Others Among Young Adults, And Changes In Shame Resulting From An Intervention Focusing On Cognitive Distortions, John E. Shanks Dec 2023

Relationships Between Shame, Cognitive Distortions And Positive Relationships With Others Among Young Adults, And Changes In Shame Resulting From An Intervention Focusing On Cognitive Distortions, John E. Shanks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Experiences of shame are strongly correlated with diminished social relations in individuals of all ages. Difficult and traumatic early childhood situations and experiences such as partner abuse, sexual violence in situations with differences in status commonly lead to shame. Difficult family situations and traumatic situations also frequently result in cognitive distortions, flawed thinking which often continues through adulthood. This study evaluated the experiences of shame, satisfaction of social relations, and cognitive distortions of young adults ages 18-25 years of age. Participants included 88 young adults recruited from social media sites and email contacts. Self-report measures were used to evaluate the …


The Aging Population And Masking Requirements: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Tiffany M. Mioduszewski Nov 2023

The Aging Population And Masking Requirements: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Tiffany M. Mioduszewski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to understand the lived-experiences of individuals over 60 years old. This study was done to specifically understand psychological effects of adhering to protective measure put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pandemic can be described as a global epidemic that has the ability to spread to other continents. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted thousands of people worldwide. There have been multiple preventative measures put in place for individuals to follow to reduce the spread of the virus. The mandates vary depending on the country and state in which an individual lives …


Impact Of Mental Health Disorders On Partner Mental Health And Marital Satisfaction, Tabitha G. Hennagan Sep 2023

Impact Of Mental Health Disorders On Partner Mental Health And Marital Satisfaction, Tabitha G. Hennagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health effects have been continually documented to include difficulty with building relationships with others, issues with communicating needs effectively, and difficulty maneuvering community services and supports. These difficulties can add pressure on individuals with mental health issues and can cause the difficulties of symptoms to increase. These pressures of dealing with the symptoms of mental illness do not only fall on the individuals with mental illness but also fall on their caregivers, family members, and spouses. These individuals may play multiple roles to assist the individual with mental illness with feeling supported. The constant need for support and sometimes …


Lack Of School Choice And The Mental Health Of Rural Parents: A Phenomenological Study, Lisa Deforest Holland Sep 2023

Lack Of School Choice And The Mental Health Of Rural Parents: A Phenomenological Study, Lisa Deforest Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of parents whose children have limited educational options in rural North Carolina. The theory chosen to guide this study was choice theory, founded by William Glasser, as it explains that all behavior including reactions to others’ choices, and the body’s reaction to stress are chosen by the individual (Glasser, 2001). Additionally, choice theory recognizes the basic needs of survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun, and their impact on behavior which Maslow identified in his hierarchy of needs model (Glasser Institute for Choice Theory, n.d.). Parents want to …


A Phenomenological Study Of Pentecostal Pastors: Reducing The Stigma Of Mental Health In African Americans, Tonnya Lorraine Mcclure Aug 2023

A Phenomenological Study Of Pentecostal Pastors: Reducing The Stigma Of Mental Health In African Americans, Tonnya Lorraine Mcclure

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Pentecostal pastors can reduce the stigma of mental health in African Americans in the Church of God in Christ churches in Northwest Georgia. The theory guiding this study is phenomenology based on Edmund Husserl’s theory as it explains the lived experiences of African American Pentecostal pastors and stigma within the African American community. The research questions for this study were: How do the perceived beliefs of African American pastors affect the way stigma and mental health illness are treated within the church?, How do Pentecostal beliefs affect help-seeking behavior for …


Self-Care For Counselors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Penney Siddiqui Jul 2023

Self-Care For Counselors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Penney Siddiqui

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

COVID-19 took the world by surprise early in 2020, and rapidly became a global threat. While not the first global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 was different from past pandemics both in the speed of transmission and in the psychosocial impact. Not only did COVID-19 impact the physical health of those who contracted the virus, it also impacted the mental health of the general population. Mental health counselors held a dual role in this pandemic, facing the psychosocial impact themselves while simultaneously providing care for others. Recent studies explored the psychosocial impact on health care professionals and …


A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of Active-Duty Servicemembers Seeking Mental Health Treatment: How Mental Health Stigma In The Military Can Affect Help-Seeking Behavior, Philip Clinton Allen Jul 2023

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of Active-Duty Servicemembers Seeking Mental Health Treatment: How Mental Health Stigma In The Military Can Affect Help-Seeking Behavior, Philip Clinton Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of active-duty servicemembers regarding mental health stigma and help-seeking behavior. Due to the trauma of intense combat, military servicemembers experience mental health problems at an alarming rate, and despite increased awareness and access to mental health resources, they are still reluctant to seek treatment. This study explored the lived experiences of military servicemembers with an aim to address the following research question: “How do military service members experience overcoming mental health stigma and decide to seek treatment while still on active duty?” Thirteen participants from the United States Army, …


Bicultural Appalachian Females: The Mediating Effect Of Perceived Stigma On Health Outcomes, Victoria Lynn Evans-Fulton Jun 2023

Bicultural Appalachian Females: The Mediating Effect Of Perceived Stigma On Health Outcomes, Victoria Lynn Evans-Fulton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Appalachia has been the focus of ongoing curiosity and ascribed disdain in Euro-centric American history. An amalgamation of cultures found a home in the Appalachian Mountains, blending to create a unique collectivistic culture still visible today. However, this culture has often been misconstrued as unhealthy or undesirable at best and, by reductionistic intentions, relegated to a culture of poverty. Within this system, Appalachian females have faced the burden of the intersectionality of their identities, given the acculturation expectations and Appalachian identity stigma imposed by the dominant Euro-North American culture. As indicated in scholarly literature, despite chronic marginalization and systemic oppression, …


The Mental Health Of Inmates: An Approach To Jail Reform, Courtney Isaac Anderson May 2023

The Mental Health Of Inmates: An Approach To Jail Reform, Courtney Isaac Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim in this phenomenological study was to understand the impact the jail environment, policies, and procedures have on incarcerated individuals. Mental health problems are common among individuals in jail. Furthermore, the jail environment, harsh policies, and isolation from the public are believed to have a negative impact on inmate mental health. Elevated percentages of inmates experiencing psychiatric difficulties during their incarceration have been supported by research. It is suggested that the elevated percentages of psychiatric demands promote the lack of mental health assistance inside jails. A methodical analysis of literature was conducted to identify the circumstances of the jail …


Promoting Mental Treatment In The Arab World, Aya Emam Hassanein May 2023

Promoting Mental Treatment In The Arab World, Aya Emam Hassanein

Masters Theses

This study investigates why mental health has been neglected in the Arab world and what strategies could be used to promote it and break the stigma associated with mental disorders. The literature review reveals that the most prominent barriers preventing mental treatment in the Arab world are cultural stigma, poverty, illiteracy, false beliefs regarding the causation of the illness, conflicts in countries, and a scarcity of mental health services and research. The review also discusses the most common mental illnesses in the Arab world and how the culture affects the process of treatment. Additionally, it discusses the possible solutions proposed …


A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Workplace Environment, Religion, And The Stigma Of Mental Health On Openness To Mental Health Services, Cooper Ann Hove Apr 2023

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Workplace Environment, Religion, And The Stigma Of Mental Health On Openness To Mental Health Services, Cooper Ann Hove

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals within the workplace experience stressors that can negatively impact their health long term if not effectively managed. The level of stress within the workplace environment, religious beliefs, and mental health stigma may affect employees differently in their openness to receive mental health services. Research lacks data to understand the gap between employees struggling with mental health and unused, available resources in organizations. Most current research focuses on implementing mental health interventions, with the highest number of studies focusing on police officers' and nurses' experiences. This study was a quantitative, correlational study to gather participants with prior work experience of …


The Lived Experience Of Personnel Adversely Impacted By Toxic Leadership: A Phenomenological Study, Jeremy B. Piasecki Oct 2022

The Lived Experience Of Personnel Adversely Impacted By Toxic Leadership: A Phenomenological Study, Jeremy B. Piasecki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of personnel adversely impacted by toxic leadership. This topic is important to study because the harassment, bullying, and narcissistic behavior exhibited by toxic leaders and negative environments have severe adverse implications for personnel, such as reduced accomplishments, mental health, lack of trust, and overall wellbeing. In order to further understand the phenomenon, the following research questions guided the study: (a) What is the lived experience of personnel adversely impacted by toxic leadership? (b) How were the personnel impacted by the change in the culture and environment? (c) …


Evaluating The Effects Of A Pennsylvania-Based Medicaid-Funded Mental Health Peer Support Program, Jessica A. Peacock Sep 2022

Evaluating The Effects Of A Pennsylvania-Based Medicaid-Funded Mental Health Peer Support Program, Jessica A. Peacock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Certified peer specialists, or mental health peer support services, have grown as a non-traditional service to provide mental health and recovery support to individuals struggling with a mental health diagnosis. The use of mental health peer support services is an attempt to provide non-clinical mental health recovery support through the lived experience of individuals in recovery. This non-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effects of Medicaid-funded mental health peer support services on mental health recovery outcomes of individuals with serious mental illness or severe emotional disturbances. This study used quantitative analysis of archival data. Four mental health recovery outcome variables …


Reformation Within The Nation: Adapting The Nordic Rehabilitation And Reintegration Model To Positively Recondition The United States Criminal Justice System, Jessica Cornell Apr 2022

Reformation Within The Nation: Adapting The Nordic Rehabilitation And Reintegration Model To Positively Recondition The United States Criminal Justice System, Jessica Cornell

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

An analytical and statistical based comparison of criminal sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation and reintegration in the United States of America to those of the five countries which follows those of the Nordic Criminal Justice System.


A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Client And Stylist Interaction As A Culturally Specific Form Of Coping With Stress For Black Women In The United States, Nicole Michelle Holden Jan 2022

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Client And Stylist Interaction As A Culturally Specific Form Of Coping With Stress For Black Women In The United States, Nicole Michelle Holden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of Black women who visit the salon regularly in the United States. This study is constructed around the culturally intimate relationship of the stylist-client interaction in the Black community as a historical coping mechanism in which Black women utilize for stress and life challenges rather than seek professional mental health services. Although COVID-19 continues to mount a significant mortality rate and financial hardships, its disproportionate effects on communities of color will have lasting implications on their mental health. The need for mental health services has increased due to the mental …


An Exploration Of Military Spouse Mental Health: Religion/Spirituality, Resilience, Social Support, Deployment, And Rank, Sharita Gwen Knobloch Dec 2021

An Exploration Of Military Spouse Mental Health: Religion/Spirituality, Resilience, Social Support, Deployment, And Rank, Sharita Gwen Knobloch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military spouses (MLSPs) are a vital component of military readiness and resilience, yet they are highly understudied, particularly within the realm of mental health. This study was grounded in resilience theory, investigating relationship interactions between religion/spirituality (R/S) on mental health through resilience (mediator) conditioned at levels of social support, deployment, and rank (moderators). An online survey was distributed via social media, open to MLSPs of all branches and all components (N = 1079). This quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional correlational research design utilized PROCESS Model 58, which found that two R/S subscales, Daily Spiritual Experiences and Religious Coping, exerted indirect effects on …


The Strong Black Woman And Marital Satisfaction: A Mediation Moderation Analysis Of Mental Health And Religiosity, Jessica Christine Wright Dec 2021

The Strong Black Woman And Marital Satisfaction: A Mediation Moderation Analysis Of Mental Health And Religiosity, Jessica Christine Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between endorsement of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema (stoicism and independence subscales), mental health (depression and anxiety), marital satisfaction, and the potential moderating effects of religiosity (negative and positive religious coping) on the strength and direction of this relationship. Participants consisted of four-hundred and thirty-nine married women who were recruited via Qualtrics. The women completed inventories to assess for SBW endorsement, marital satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and both negative and positive religious coping. The results indicated embracing characteristics of SBW-stoicism predicted decreased marital satisfaction and increased anxiety and depression. In …