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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Overall Level Of Marital Satisfaction In Christian Individuals Based On Marital Setting And Ethnicity, Rafael Dejesus Acosta Dec 2020

Overall Level Of Marital Satisfaction In Christian Individuals Based On Marital Setting And Ethnicity, Rafael Dejesus Acosta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research on marital satisfaction has been limited to Caucasian couples in a middle and upper socioeconomic status. Because values differ throughout ethnicities, and religious commitment rather than personal satisfaction contributes to higher levels of marital satisfaction, understanding these values and differences may help developers in the field of couple relationship education programs strengthen their approach to helping Christian couples develop skills that contribute to marital satisfaction. The purpose of this research is to examine if marital setting, ethnicity and Couple Relationship Education (CRE) and Marriage Relationship Education (MRE) affect marital satisfaction in Christian couples. The participants in this study will …


Organizational Strategies To Promote Nurse Resilience In The Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Setting: An Integrative Review, Marcia A. Depolo Dec 2020

Organizational Strategies To Promote Nurse Resilience In The Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Setting: An Integrative Review, Marcia A. Depolo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurses practicing in acute care hospital environments are exposed to constant stressors from a variety of sources. Workplace stress can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, illness, and burnout, with intent to leave the organization or the nursing profession altogether. Resilience-building strategies can be employed to foster coping, improve nurse wellbeing, increase job satisfaction, promote retention, and enhance quality patient outcomes. This integrative review provides a synthesis of scholarly publications on nursing resilience from January 2014 through October 2020. Themes to promote nursing resilience occurred at three levels: personal or individual, unit or group, and organizational. This paper will provide a …


The Purpose Of This Study Is: With Adult Children Of Alcoholics (Acoa); Do Psychoeducational Group Sessions Have An Impact On Relationship Satisfaction?, Paula Marie Wheaton Dec 2020

The Purpose Of This Study Is: With Adult Children Of Alcoholics (Acoa); Do Psychoeducational Group Sessions Have An Impact On Relationship Satisfaction?, Paula Marie Wheaton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Objective: The research's emphasis is Adult Children of Alcoholics [ACOA] and psychoeducational group sessions. Can psychoeducational group sessions be an effective treatment to heal the psychological effects of ACOAs, with the focus on relationship satisfaction? Psychoeducation groups lead to healing for ACOAs and can be an element in facilitating ACOAs having low relationship satisfaction. There was a gap in the research regarding psychoeducational groups' use in improving relationship satisfaction in ACOAs. Method: A quantitative research study using a between and a within-group design applied with the psychoeducational group sessions. Participants will take the CAST survey and qualify with a score …


Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua Dec 2020

Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Latino population in the United States has been the primary driver of demographic growth in the country (Flores, 2017). With this increasing shift in America, it is important to investigate the unique strains on clergy families among Latino pastors as evidence suggests stress is a threat to marital satisfaction and its longevity (Randall & Bodenmann, 2009). Very little literature on marital dynamics has focused on Latino pastors; thus, a need exists for more research in examining how cultural values and acculturation impact marital satisfaction while considering the relationship between marital satisfaction and selected variables: affection, sexual satisfaction, communication, burnout, …


The Effect Of Solo-Masturbation And Moral Disapproval On The Relationship Between Internet Pornography Use, Religious Struggles, Sexual Shame, And Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model, Ken Derance Miller Dec 2020

The Effect Of Solo-Masturbation And Moral Disapproval On The Relationship Between Internet Pornography Use, Religious Struggles, Sexual Shame, And Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model, Ken Derance Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Recently, the topics of Internet pornography use and masturbation have received increased attention among researchers, even though there is a cultural reluctance to discuss the common sexual behavior. This reticence is particularly true for religious and moral communities that have stigmatized the behavior and have historically viewed masturbation as taboo and morally offensive. Similarly, many religious groups morally disapprove of sexually explicit media. Despite morally disapproving of viewing pornography, the nearly universal availability of Internet pornography has resulted in an unprecedented increase in religious individuals viewing Internet pornography. Researchers have found a connection between the moral incongruence associated with Internet …


The Impact Of A Christian Accommodated Mindfulness Protocol On Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Spiritual Well-Being, And Attachment To God, Tonya Thompson Gardner Dec 2020

The Impact Of A Christian Accommodated Mindfulness Protocol On Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Spiritual Well-Being, And Attachment To God, Tonya Thompson Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Best practices require those who work in the counseling field to ensure sensitivity to cultural norms and preferences among clients. While considering appropriate therapeutic interventions and treatment protocols, it is imperative that counselors remain aware of the personal beliefs of their clients. Thus, accommodating treatments to incorporate clients’ religious preferences seeks to enhance the effectiveness and provide the greatest benefit to each client as an individual. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a Christian accommodated mindfulness (CAM) protocol in a Christian sample and provide further evidence of the impact of Christian accommodated mindfulness protocol by …


Self-Induced Moral Injuries, Sexual Shame, And Well-Being: The Moderating Role Of Self-Forgiveness, Teresa Lynn Phillips-Harris Dec 2020

Self-Induced Moral Injuries, Sexual Shame, And Well-Being: The Moderating Role Of Self-Forgiveness, Teresa Lynn Phillips-Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Self-induced moral injuries caused by compulsive sexual behavior can result in experiences of sexual shame. Shame is a pervasive experience of unworthiness, and it can become a significant obstacle to life and relationship satisfaction because it leads to negative cognitions and isolating behaviors. Self-induced moral injuries occur when a person's wrongdoing challenges their worldview and spiritual beliefs. Moral injuries impact the individual's affect, cognition, and behavioral responses to morally traumatic events. Individuals who morally injure themselves and others struggle to take responsibility, make cognitive and behavioral changes, and forgive themselves. Several research studies have examined the impact of shame on …


My Spouse Is Amazing Like Me: The Association Between Homogamy For Narcissism And Relationship Satisfaction, Kerry Anne Marsh Dec 2020

My Spouse Is Amazing Like Me: The Association Between Homogamy For Narcissism And Relationship Satisfaction, Kerry Anne Marsh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study’s purpose was to better understand how narcissistic admiration and rivalry relate to relationship satisfaction and to investigate the satisfaction found in homogamous versus heterogamous narcissistic relationships. The study explored relationship satisfaction of married participants (N = 764), as moderated by their partner’s perceived level and subtype of narcissism. It also examined direct correlations between participant narcissistic admiration and rivalry and relationship satisfaction, as well as correlations between participant and perceived partner narcissism scores. An exploratory study about how relationship length moderates the association between narcissism and relationship satisfaction was also conducted. This quantitative study featured a cross-sectional online …


The Impact Of Social Media Use On Social Comparison And Body Images Of Young Adult Males, Tresa Lynn Hildreth Dec 2020

The Impact Of Social Media Use On Social Comparison And Body Images Of Young Adult Males, Tresa Lynn Hildreth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the rise of social networking sites, young people are utilizing social platforms as an on-going avenue for comparison, specifically with regard to body image. Although issues of body image are often attributed to females, males struggle to live up to societal ideals of what a man should look like. This study highlights the body image comparisons that exist with young men and provides insight into the detrimental impact and consequences these comparisons can have on young men as they grow into adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social media use and body image …


The Relationship Of Religiosity To Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth In Law Enforcement Officers, H. Bradford William Kingsriter Dec 2020

The Relationship Of Religiosity To Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth In Law Enforcement Officers, H. Bradford William Kingsriter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study’s primary purpose was to examine how a law enforcement officer’s (LEO’s) religiosity might predict their production of vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG). There has been limited research regarding religiosity and VPTG within law enforcement (LE). This study sought to expand the knowledge base regarding LEOs, religiosity, and VPTG. Eighty-eight law enforcement officers from an Upper Midwest state completed the survey. The current study utilized the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–Expanded (PTGI-X) to assess for VPTG and the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) to evaluate individual religiosity. This study was informed by the theory of posttraumatic growth (PTG) (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). …


The Decline Of Ministry Participation And Leadership Amid Black Males In The Worthington Missionary Baptist Church In Houston, Texas, Joseph Ray Davis Nov 2020

The Decline Of Ministry Participation And Leadership Amid Black Males In The Worthington Missionary Baptist Church In Houston, Texas, Joseph Ray Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMin thesis project sought to address the decline of male participation in ministry leadership at the Worthington Missionary Baptist Church (WMBC) in Houston, Texas. Not only are males absent from many church congregations, but those that do attend church services tend to be seemingly content with the female populace leading an abundance of church ministries. This research study accessed rationales prompting male withdrawal and then ascertained how to restore balance to the initial design of God at WMBC. Assessment tools of questionnaires, surveys, and one-on-one interviews were utilized to gain insights from 10 WMBC males between the ages of …


A Mother's Trauma In The Face Of Child Removal, Candace Deborah Berry Nov 2020

A Mother's Trauma In The Face Of Child Removal, Candace Deborah Berry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The crisis of the involuntary removal of a child from their parent can be traumatic for both child and parent. A child’s biological mother who is undergoing the process of removal experiences a traumatic event as she feels a range of emotions. Those emotions cause depression, loss, and emotional shock that can dissociate the mother from her goal and priority of reunification with her child. Research has been limited concerning parent’s perceptions and experiences of removal with most studies being conducted emphasizing trauma for the child. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to understand the impact of trauma …


The Lived Experiences Of Female Veterans Who Utilized Religiosity And Spirituality During Reintegration To Civilian Life, Tara D. Robinson Nov 2020

The Lived Experiences Of Female Veterans Who Utilized Religiosity And Spirituality During Reintegration To Civilian Life, Tara D. Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to describe the lived experience of female veterans who utilized religiosity/spirituality as a coping strategy to deal with challenges faced while reintegrating back to civilian life. Currently most research that looks at the reintegration process of veterans focus on male veterans and are quantitative in nature. This study sought to take a closer look at female veterans and their reintegration experiences, and how their use of religiosity or spirituality impacted challenges faced. The research question to frame this study was: What is the impact of religiosity/spirituality on the civilian reintegration of female …


Women Who Endured Childhood Maltreatment: How Resiliency Led To Lower Mental Health Issues, Rebecca Lee Hirshman Nov 2020

Women Who Endured Childhood Maltreatment: How Resiliency Led To Lower Mental Health Issues, Rebecca Lee Hirshman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to have a better understanding of the positive impact that resiliency has on an individual that has endured childhood maltreatment. This qualitative study focused on the information gathered from seven women ranging in age from 18 to 60 years old. Each participant answered three questionnaires (the Adverse Childhood Experience, Brief Resilience Coping Scale, and a Survey Questionnaire) prior to participating in a Zoom interview. This study elaborated on the four types of childhood maltreatment, what prompted the need for programs and interventions, the detrimental effects it has on the development of children and their …


African American Pastoral Counseling: The Dynamics On Self-Worth, Personal Efficacy, Motivation, And Responsible Discipleship, Charles T. Walker Nov 2020

African American Pastoral Counseling: The Dynamics On Self-Worth, Personal Efficacy, Motivation, And Responsible Discipleship, Charles T. Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study evaluated the counseling practices of African American pastors in the Southeastern region of the United States. The study examined their perceptions and relevant themes when counseling their parishioners on self-worth, personal efficacy, and motivation. Relevant themes were: Cultural Context counseling; impaired self-worth and self-love in rural young females; and whether the rural male is dominated by loss of hope. The exploratory study collected data from 19 digital surveys, 10 selected pastoral counselors’ semi-structured interviews, and 10 collected member focus interview questionnaires. The findings from the data collected show that members felt comfortable receiving counseling from their pastor …


Effectiveness Of Treatment Modalities For Those With Diagnosed Opioid Use Disorder And Co-Occurring Disorders, Amy Parousis Nov 2020

Effectiveness Of Treatment Modalities For Those With Diagnosed Opioid Use Disorder And Co-Occurring Disorders, Amy Parousis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Substance abuse has always been an issue in society. As time has passed, the adverse consequences of substance abuse have become more evident. These consequences include physical and mental addiction, disruption of purposeful and productive everyday life, disruption of the family unit, spread of diseases, and death. Recently, the rate of overdose has rapidly increased due to the potency and accessibility of illicit opiates. Fentanyl and carfentanyl have been added to many opioid and non-opioid substances to provide a more euphoric experience, to intensify the addiction of the client, and for economic reasons because they are much more potent than …


Biblical Warrior Integration Connecting Veterans And Civilians In Oakland Baptist Church, Alva Ray Bennett Nov 2020

Biblical Warrior Integration Connecting Veterans And Civilians In Oakland Baptist Church, Alva Ray Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As a small, less than a 150-member church, located close to Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, Oakland Baptist Church struggles to fully integrate veterans and civilians within the congregational setting. The author studied biblical postwar rituals and used them to design the Biblical Warrior Integration model to enhance the relational connectivity between veterans and civilians. It was congregation-based and relationship-focused. It helped to heal misunderstandings and neglect between veterans and civilians. Also, it was biblically based and reflected a modern application of biblical postwar rituals identified within the biblical text. Thirty of the 150 members of Oakland Baptist Church …


A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Resilience And Success Of African-American Pastors Serving In The Church Of God In Christ, Terence O. Hayes Sr Nov 2020

A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Resilience And Success Of African-American Pastors Serving In The Church Of God In Christ, Terence O. Hayes Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The content of this manuscript is research investigated for the resilience and success of pastors in the Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal denomination that has over six million members, to include over three-thousand pastors. The research is a phenomenological study designed to provide a narrative, interview of the participants to share their background, role, and day-to-day practices of the work of ministry as a senior pastor in this organization. The research will consist of seven to ten pastors selected from across the country, all African-American males, age groups ranging from 42 years to 72 years of age. The …


Peer And Professor Relationship Quality: A Moderation Model For Student Persistence In Distance Education, Rayella Stevens Oct 2020

Peer And Professor Relationship Quality: A Moderation Model For Student Persistence In Distance Education, Rayella Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Relationships matter, as hypothesized. This study finds the association between the DE relationship variables of COI relationships, teaching alliance, student bonding, professor rapport, and impact of face-to-face learning on DE psychology/counseling graduate students’ factors are significant in relationship bonding environment. The ubiquity of relationships is seen in educational and social growth contexts within various populations’ bonding environments. Our research further establishes that social contact alliances and interaction are necessary elements for effective DE in psychology/counselor education. The findings of this DE study is consistent with psychological research on the associated factors within therapeutic bonding relationships. Results address whether the direct …


The Leader's Role In Motivating Public Sector Workers, James B. Meeks Jr Oct 2020

The Leader's Role In Motivating Public Sector Workers, James B. Meeks Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In municipalities throughout the United States, there exists a belief that many public sector workers are unmotivated, disengaged from their work and disinterested in serving the public (Lavigna, 2014). This qualitative case study sought to understand the central phenomenon of the perceptions of public sector leaders in South Carolina for motivating their workers. Herzberg’s theory regarding the efficacy of leaders to understand the intrinsic motivational factors influencing worker performance, along with the four aspects of transformational leadership served as the theoretical framework for this study. Franklin (2016) explored the impact of leadership styles using Herzberg’s two-factor theory and a variety …


Self-Efficacy Among Christian Educators, Jonathan Blake Tolbert Oct 2020

Self-Efficacy Among Christian Educators, Jonathan Blake Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian educators often lack specialized training in message delivery which leads to a lower self-efficacy. Christian educators devote their lives to fulfillment of the Great Commission; it is the job of the church universal to provide resources and support that equip the saints to boldly share the Gospel with great confidence. When self-efficacy is low, confidence is low. Theological foundations are often strong and well-developed by the local church. The practical aspect of preaching, meaning delivery, is an area that is underrepresented in academic research. This project presents specialized training in message delivery as a catalyst for improving self-efficacy. The …


From Ideology To Implementation: Moving One Church Staff From An Aspirational Mindset Of Developing Leaders To An Actionable Movement Of Leadership Development, Trevor Blake Hislop Oct 2020

From Ideology To Implementation: Moving One Church Staff From An Aspirational Mindset Of Developing Leaders To An Actionable Movement Of Leadership Development, Trevor Blake Hislop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to a recent article on “The Paradox of Leadership” from Harvard University, there are more than 15,000 books in print on the topic of leadership, and the number of works written about leadership in the past decade is greater than the total number of works ever written. So, if leadership is so highly valued in our culture today, then why is there a decline in leadership development in the church? Additionally, there are a growing number of churches that have detailed programs for leadership development; however, few churches are producing new leaders. Church at Viera in Viera, Florida, embraces …


Evaluating Ethical Technology Leadership: Organizational Culture, Leader Behavior, And A Cyberspace Ethic Of Business, Mark Lee Pickel Oct 2020

Evaluating Ethical Technology Leadership: Organizational Culture, Leader Behavior, And A Cyberspace Ethic Of Business, Mark Lee Pickel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Evaluating ethical technology leadership at a financial services firm in North Carolina requires discovering interactions amongst organizational culture, leadership approaches, and ethical decision-making practices. This study provides insight into how the participating firm’s organizational culture creates a leadership climate accommodative of an applied cyberspace business ethic. A cyberspace business ethic provides guidance to technology leaders addressing ethical challenges arising from emergent digital technologies. The identification of four key influencers that support ethical decision-making and provide protection against reputational risk exposures create an understanding of the collective nature of core values, relational, reputational, and technological influences on ethical behaviors. Self-determination theory …


A Faith-Driven Protocol On Gratitude, Forgiveness, And Stress For Chin Refugees From Burma: An Exploratory Study, Sally Goh Oct 2020

A Faith-Driven Protocol On Gratitude, Forgiveness, And Stress For Chin Refugees From Burma: An Exploratory Study, Sally Goh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The influx of immigrants from a diverse cultural and religious tradition into the United States has renewed counselors’ and researchers' interest in how collectivistic populations from a refugee background experience pre-settlement and post-settlement stress in this country. Refugees who have experienced trauma before their settlement are more likely to experience increasing psychiatric pressure from daily stressors such as language barriers, employment difficulties, familial and generational conflicts, and dwindling psychosocial support. However, some refugee populations, such as the Chin people from Burma, have a low-uptake of help-seeking for their psychological problems, leading to more insufficient adjustment to the host culture. Since …


Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter Oct 2020

Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe 13 students’ experiences of college professor communication in asynchronous online courses at a large urban community college in central North Carolina. The focus was to answer the central research question of how online students describe communication experiences in an online college learning environment. The theories guiding this study were Knowles’ (1980) theory of adult learning- andragogy, and Short, Williams, and Christie’s (1976) social presence theory, as they correlated the need for professor communication with adult learning and social presence since communication can impact academic success for adult learners. To collect …


Leadership Behaviors And Their Impact On Employee Retention, Shaun Patrick Nichols Sep 2020

Leadership Behaviors And Their Impact On Employee Retention, Shaun Patrick Nichols

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study analyzed the impact leadership behaviors had on employee retention in the Houston, Texas manufacturing sector. Many authors’ work was reviewed with literature pertaining to leadership behaviors and employee retention. Multiple interviews were conducted with current leadership at Houston, Texas manufacturing organizations to gain a better understanding of the experience of these employees. The results of the leadership study have a profoundly positive impact on employee retention. Three emergent themes were developed based on data analysis, which included empathy, listening, and employee development.


A Project To Implement A Missional Development Program Within The Sandy Creek Baptist Association Of Illinois, Robert Thomas Kean Sep 2020

A Project To Implement A Missional Development Program Within The Sandy Creek Baptist Association Of Illinois, Robert Thomas Kean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following dissertation will present the issue of declining membership and baptisms over the past fifty years in Sandy Creek Baptist Association of Illinois, (SCBAI). This study will show the need for collaboration by the Association members to address this issue and encourage the members to consider spiritual formation towards vitality. The study will include surveys seeking pastoral input, Director of Missions input, and membership of the SCBAI input regarding missional endeavors in local ministries. A plan toward new missional goals in the churches of SCBAI and in the local communities will be discussed. The goal of the project is …


The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua Sep 2020

The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental stress is an expected phenomenon during the parenting of an adolescent. Higher levels of parental stress are associated with an adolescent with externalizing behavior. Parents are instrumental in the development of adolescents and are critical agents of change with youth problematic behavior. Family functioning is often determined in part by a parent’s ability to adequately respond and manage their adolescent’s behavior and their environment. Focusing on improving family relations has been known to positively impact both parent and adolescent. Multisystemic therapy is a well-known treatment for adolescent externalizing behavior and families of diverse ethnicities. Additional attention and resources examining …


Emotional Regulation And Treatment Progress Of Male Child And Adolescent Therapeutic Campers, Stephen Edward Talley Sep 2020

Emotional Regulation And Treatment Progress Of Male Child And Adolescent Therapeutic Campers, Stephen Edward Talley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For the past 75, years Therapeutic Camping (ThC) has been utilized as a therapeutic modality, although it has been largely unknown or unrecognized by the traditional treatment community. ThC bears similarities to wilderness therapy and was initially developed for children and youth suffering from behavioral and emotional problems. Mental and behavioral health issues are frequent in youth which can cause personal, familial, social, and economic problems. Another core underlying issues emotion dysregulation, which involves the inability to regulate emotion across multiple domains. Mental health providers have recognized the need to reduce the effects associated with emotion dysregulation and limited treatment …


The Effects Of Mentoring On Student Outcomes, Leroy Dwan York Sep 2020

The Effects Of Mentoring On Student Outcomes, Leroy Dwan York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, African Americans males have scored significantly lower than other subgroups on standardized assessments and in academic grades. In addition, African American males have also acquired more disciplinary infractions than all other subgroups. In general, statistics show that adolescent boys have lower achievement and more deviant behaviors than all other subgroups. Boys often struggle with the lack of motivation to excel in school and display appropriate character. This study compared the academic achievement and discipline of a group of boys participating in a mentoring group to a control group with no mentor over a four-month period. Resulting data was analyzed …