Psychology Commons^™

Aging, Agency, And Self-Efficacy: A Phenomenological Case Study Of An Older Couple, David A. Hernandez

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Researchers have found that the majority of older individuals want to remain in their own home as they age. However, respecting the right of older individuals to exert control over their life while ensuring their safety can be a difficult undertaking to achieve. The aim of this research was to understand the lived experiences of an older couple who are in cognitive decline but are trying to maintain personal agency. The issue was studied using Bandura’s agency and self-efficacy theories as the theoretical framework. A phenomenological case study methodology was used. Participants were selected using a purposeful sampling strategy, and …

Social Experiences Of Muslim Americans Regarding The Intolerance Displayed By Non-Muslims, Munder Abderrazzaq

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Non-Muslims in the United States have openly expressed their opposition regarding Muslim Americans, which has led to the racial profiling and unequal treatment of Muslim Americans. Literature regarding the intolerance displayed by majority members indicates a need for further research that explores the point of view of minorities in the United States. Intolerance is defined as the refusal and unwillingness to respect or tolerate persons of a different social group or members of minority groups who hold beliefs contrary to one’s own. The intolerance displayed among members of different religious and cultural backgrounds can limit the ability to discover new …

All Social Media Is Not Created Equal: Instagram, Finsta, And Loneliness, Rebecca Schoenfeld, Katherine L. Fiori

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Research on the relationships between social media use and loneliness has produced mixed findings, in part because people use social media in different ways. Finsta is a private Instagram account followed only by a small group of the user’s friends and is considered to be a more authentic form of social media. The purpose of the present study was to examine the differential associations of Instagram and Finsta use with social and emotional loneliness and to investigate off-line engagement as a potential mediator of these associations. With data from an online survey given to N = 330 emerging adults, a …

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 Distancing In The Context Of Covid-19 Anxiety: A Social Cognitive Approach, Allyson S. Graf, Abigail Nehrkorn-Bailey, Amy Knepple Carney

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

As the impact of COVID-19 continues, engagement in social distancing is essential. Using Social Cognitive Theory, the current study examined the unique roles of COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy on the relationships between information-seeking and risk perception as predictors of social distancing intention. A convenience sample of 960 adults (M = 37.81 years, SD = 11.65) completed an author-designed online survey. Participants completed measures on behavioral intention, information-seeking, risk perception, COVID-19 anxiety, and self-efficacy. Moderated mediations examined the theoretically proposed relationships among the variables. COVID-19 anxiety moderated the relationship between risk perception and self-efficacy, but not the association between information-seeking …

Design, Development, Implementation, And Support (Ddis): A Curriculum Supporting Online Doctoral Candidates, Donna Russell

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively describe and justify the case design of an approach for the integration of synchronous virtual meetings to support nontraditional online doctoral candidates. As more nontraditional doctoral students are completing their degree programs virtually through online universities, the nature of their degree progression and the development of critical knowledge and skills differ from traditional on-campus programs.

Method: The case design of an approach to integrating synchronous online interactive meetings to support these learners is identified and justified through references to research in the learning sciences including sociocultural learning, heutagogy, and constructivist instructional …

Exploring The Perceived Barriers And Benefits Of Physical Activity Among Wounded, Injured, And/Or Sick Military Veterans, Robert Walker, Caroline Limbert, Paul M. Smith

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Wounded, injured, and/or sick (WIS) military veterans face significant physical and psychosocial challenges following discharge from service. Physical activity can have many positive effects on the holistic wellbeing of such individuals. However, little knowledge exists regarding the perceived barriers and benefits of physical activity within this population, creating challenges surrounding physical activity promotion. Therefore, this study was designed to identify key barriers and benefits among this population, so that informed approaches to encourage participation in physical activity can be developed. A questionnaire related to the perceived barriers and benefits of physical activity was completed by 105 WIS British military veterans. …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teacher–Child Relationships, Student Behavior, And Classroom Management, Szu-Yu Chen, Natalya A. Lindo, Sarah Blalock, Dina Yousef, Latoya Smith, Kara Hurt-Avila

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Children’s relationships with their teachers are a potential resource for enhancing developmental and academic outcomes. The effects of positive or negative teacher–child relationships can be either beneficial or detrimental to students’ academic progress, behaviors, and emotions. In the current study, we utilized a qualitative research design to examine 18 pre-kindergarten to fourth-grade teachers’ perceptions of teacher–child relationships, student behavior, and classroom management. Analysis of in-depth interviews yielded five major themes: (a) beliefs in children, (b) teaching strategies, (c) acknowledging individual differences, (d) challenges, and (e) relationships. Findings of this study have the potential to inform in-service training regarding relationship-building skills …

Inter-Relationships Among Several Person-Related Attributes In Reading And Metacomprehension: Complexity And Educational Implications, Lin-Miao L. Agler, Larisa K. Alfsen

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Reading is one of the most basic academic skills. An accurate monitor of one’s text comprehension (i.e., metacomprehension) is essential for effective reading as it guides learning and choices of appropriate strategy used to maximize overall understanding. The processes of reading comprehension and metacomprehension are affected by text-related, task-related, and reader- /person-related factors. One of the two purposes of this report is to provide a brief review of consistent research findings on the interrelationships among several person-related variables and the complexity of those associations in reading and metacomprehension. The person variables discussed include personality, motivation, goal orientations, self-regulation, reading strategy …

Bed And Breakfast: The Role Of Sleep In Breakfast Intake, Ashley R. Macpherson, Natalie D. Dautovich

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Breakfast intake is associated with numerous positive physical and mental health outcomes, yet skipping breakfast remains common in adults. Sleep behaviors show potential as predictors of breakfast intake; the existing literature, however, has methodological limitations. The current investigation explored the association of means and intraindividual variability of a variety of sleep behaviors (bedtime, midsleep, sleep duration) as predictors of the frequency of eating breakfast and frequency of high-protein breakfast intake. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to assess direct associations between sleep behaviors and breakfast intake frequency. Variability in bedtime was a significant predictor of the frequency of breakfast intake, with greater …

A Qualitative Study Examining Home As Faculty Workplace During Covid-19 Self-Isolation, Lee Stadtlander, Amy Sickel

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: Using the lens of the virtual workplace model, the current basic qualitative study examined how COVID-19 self-isolation affected both online and land-based faculty (working online as an emergency due to COVID-19) workspaces and work processes.

Method: A total of 20 online and six land-based faculty completed e-mail interviews both one month and 3 months post self-isolation.

Results: Online faculty were more satisfied with their home workplace, but both groups felt more negative about their online work, as they felt a loss of freedom and independence due to the isolation.

Conclusions: Findings indicated that both land-based and online faculty showed …

The Positive Side Of Negative Interactions: Anxious And Avoidant Attachment As Moderators, Megan E. Parmenter, Katherine L. Fiori

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Although research has historically focused on the positive aspects of social ties, relationships inevitably involve a combination of positive as well as negative interactions. For the present study, we conducted a series of hierarchical linear regressions using longitudinal data from 108 first-year college students to test whether attachment anxiety and avoidance acted as moderators of the association between positive and negative social exchanges (assessed with the PANSE; Newsom et al., 2005) and changes in life satisfaction across the first year of college. We found that for individuals high on attachment avoidance or attachment anxiety, negative social exchanges were associated with …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention For Prevention Of Anxiety And Mood Disorders In Public Safety Personnel, Jacquelyne Yan Wong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to repeated exposure to highly stressful work environments, public safety personnel (PSP) are at risk for developing symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders. The present study employed a quantitative, randomized-controlled trial (RCT) design to examine the impact of a novel cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) psychoeducational intervention on symptom levels of anxiety and depression. Participants were recruited from police, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency communications personnel. A total of 60 participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention arm or the waitlist comparison arm. General linear mixed models were used to examine the difference in symptom outcomes for those who participated in …

Expectations And Outcomes Of Choosing Reiki For Rheumatoid Arthritis, Theresa Jimenez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about the use of Reiki as an alternative medical treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) symptoms and/or side effects. The current study addressed how sufferers of RA made their decision to use Reiki, their experiences using Reiki to treat their symptoms, and changes in their symptoms or side effects from RA. Two sets of in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 participants. The first interview addressed how decisions to use Reiki were made and the second interview addressed participants’ experiences with Reiki to treat their symptoms and side effects. Psychological attribution theory and the covariation attribution model were used …

Effects Of Video Self-Modeling On Prosocial Behaviors Among Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis Of Single-Case Research, Nisveta Velic

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children has significantly increased since it was first identified in the 1930s. This increase has been attributed to the changes in the reporting practices within the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. To address this increase, many treatments have emerged, including video self-modeling (VSM). VSM has demonstrated efficacy as an intervention in treating a variety of ASD symptoms, ranging from communication deficits to maladaptive behaviors. VSM uses edited video clips that allow a child to watch him or herself successfully performing the targeted skill. To classify VSM as evidence-based …

Impact Of Teleworking During Covid-19 Of Stress And Job Satisfaction For College Students, Dona G. Foreman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The widespread outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) engulfed the United States and other countries across the world. This pandemic imposed restrictions which demanded a large majority of the population to telework, to close schools, and to close child-care facilities. One of the primary benefits of teleworking was the autonomy. However, the pandemic has now created an environment where the boundary of work and home are difficult to define. College students working from home during the pandemic are now faced with the responsibility of monitoring the virtual learning of their school-age children. his study was developed from the theoretical base of …

A Quantitative Approach To Police And Mental Health Training, Cassandra Kay Dibeler (Bowland)

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effectiveness of mental health training for police officers and the officers’ subsequent interactions with individuals with mental illness has been well researched. There is a lack in documentation on any differences in the hours of mental health training officers receive and their perceptions of individuals with mental illness. There is also a lack in research looking at any differences between officers who volunteered for mental health training and those who did not. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore any differences between police officers who volunteered and those who did not for informal, formal, and crisis intervention …

Exploring Culturally Competent Mental Health Outreach To Black Churches, Michele Marie Fry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black individuals and communities have held distrust toward mental health services and experience barriers in seeking services. Although the church is a significant support system in the Black community, it can also pose a barrier to congregation members seeking mental health services, as the Black church community has often stigmatized those seeking mental health services as weak. Ways to reach the Black community with trauma-informed, culturally competent, and spiritually sensitive mental health services through establishing connections with Black churches and church leaders were explored in this study. Previous research indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic increased depression and anxiety in the …

Reluctance To Seek Mental Health Treatment Among African Americans Living In Generational Poverty, Myisha Boulware

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are 20% more likely to experience mental health issues but are the least likely group to seek professional mental health treatment. In addition, African Americans are more likely to experience severe mental health conditions than other races due to a greater risk of homelessness and being exposed to violence. This research study used a phenomenological qualitative methodology to explore the attitudes and lived experiences of 10 African Americans living in generational poverty in inner-city Chicago. The participants provide detailed accounts of their lived experiences with generational poverty, mental health, and the attitudes their family lineage had shared with …

African American Men’S Negative Personal Experiences With And Trust In Police, Cachet Dominique Burks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men’s negative experiences with the police have impacted their trust of police. Many African American men have experienced psychological trauma, more specifically posttraumatic stress disorder, due to their encounters with police. As a result of these negative personal experiences, their reporting of crimes has decreased significantly, and gun-related violence is going unreported. There is limited literature on this topic. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore the negative personal experiences that some African American men have with police officers and their experiences of trust of law enforcement. Personal construct theory, which is a theory that …

Impact Of Counselor Gender On Burnout After Controlling For Counselor Years Of Experience, Lara De Bono

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout is an individual reaction to high levels of emotional demands in different social fields, such as counseling. Counselors who experience constant stress are more vulnerable to professional impairment, such as burnout. Understanding factors that impact burnout can aid in developing interventions to support and educate counselors. Grounded in the gender role theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the impact of counselor gender on three measures of burnout (depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment) after controlling for counselor’s years of experience. Secondary data records (N = 123) were collected from a national survey of Thai …

Multiple Case Analysis Exploration Of Prenatal Substance Exposure On Juvenile Adjudicative Competence, Danielle Leigh Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research into the neurological and cognitive factors influencing juveniles’ adjudicative competence psycholegal abilities is needed to ensure their due process rights and help inform qualified forensic mental health examiners offering their opinions on adjudicative competence in courts. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of prenatal substance exposure on neurological factors related to juveniles’ abilities to understand the charges against them and participate in legal proceedings. Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory was the theoretical framework for this study. Concrete operational and formal operational stages of cognitive development were addressed to help frame juveniles’ factual and rational understanding …

Helping In The Home: Counselors’ Experiences Providing Clients With In-Home Services, Melissa Jane Franzen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Counseling is an essential service that helps individuals work through struggles and live their best lives. Such service now includes providing counseling in clients’ homes. Counselors may require specific training or education to prepare for counseling in a home environment. This need for training and education is due to a lack of knowledge of the lived experiences of counselors providing services in the home. Transcendental phenomenology was used to guide a qualitative exploration into the lived experiences of counselors providing services in clients’ homes. Participants were 7 professional counselors, 5 female and 2 male, having met minimum state licensure requirements …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Familial Contact For Releasees On The Route To Desisting From Crime, Whitney N. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High levels of imprisonment in the United States have surpassed historical records, with the United States having the highest per capita incarceration levels in the world. Criminal desistance research has been conducted to create reentry programs and to reduce recidivism. To contribute to previous studies and promote social change and future research opportunities, this study was designed to explore familial contact during incarceration and how it helps releasees desist from crime. Familial contact, as a component of desistance, relates to social relationships, decision making, positive behaviors, and self-concept; as such, it may be critical to successful reintegration into society. Social …

Prosecutors’ Perceptions Of Wrongful Convictions Of African American Men, Teaonna L. Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men are number one in the United States for wrongful convictions, despite being only 13% of the country’s population. Many wrongful convictions involve a prosecutorial error or Brady violations, which occur when evidence is withheld from the defense. Although wrongful convictions are caused due to several factors, prosecutorial involvement is one reason for false convictions. There is substantial research on wrongful convictions and the causes; however, the scholarly community does not know the perceptions prosecutors have of African American men’s wrongful convictions. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore eight prosecutors’ perceptions, decision-making strategies, and what …

Striving For Homeostasis: Balancing The Inclusion Of Students With An Emotional/Behavioral Disorder, Rob Mcgarva

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social justice advocates have championed inclusive education, leading to its adoption in many jurisdictions. Despite policy changes designed to support learners with disabilities and research on inclusive education, students with an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD) experience significantly poorer outcomes than their peers. Teachers often describe including this group of students as impossible and attempts to achieve inclusion often result in extreme stress. Research has identified proven inclusion strategies, but there are often problems with implementation in real-world settings. There is a research gap concerning how teachers understand and select interventions. Classic grounded theory methodology was used to identify the primary concern …

Lived Experiences Of Pakistani American Women Who Sought Mental Health Treatment, Marriam Ashraf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDespite the research on how mental illness manifests in the United States, there is more to be known about mental health in the Pakistani American population. The goal of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Pakistani American women who sought mental health treatment. Ecological theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with 10 participants via telephone and face-to-face conversations. Data were analyzed using managing, reading, memoing, describing, classifying, interpreting, representing, and visualizing techniques. Findings indicated that seeking help for mental health played a positive role in participants being …

Workplace Stress And Workplace Well-Being Among African American Corporate Men And Women, Scott Rose-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many African Americans experience high levels of stress in their work environment, which can result in job dissatisfaction, intentions to leave, and greater levels of stress-related consequences. The purpose of this correlational quantitative research study was to examine the relationship between workplace stress and workplace well-being among African American corporate employees in the United States as well as whether gender moderated the relationship between workplace stress and workplace well-being within this population. Michie’s model of stress at work guided this study. Data were collected using the Health and Safety Executive Management Standards Indicator Tool, Cox, Thirlaway, Gotts, and Cox’s General …

The Effect Of Victim’S Responses To Coercive Sexual Harassment On Bystander Intentions And Moral Perceptions, Inna M. Learn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female graduate students are targets of coercive sexual harassment (SH) three times more than female undergraduates; 67.8% of their harassers were university faculty. While SH victims expected peer support, peers often socially rejected female victims of coercive SH. Gray and Wegner’s theory of dyadic morality and Bowes-Sperry and O’Leary-Kelly’s bystander response model guided this quantitative study to examine the effect of victim response on helping intentions by peers. After reading the same vignette that described coercive SH, 207 student participants read one of four randomly assigned victim’s responses: victim did nothing, directly confronted the professor during the incident, sought peer …

Identifying Factors Associated With Rapid Readmissions In Behavioral Health Organizations, Glennisha Maxwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare reform and changes to traditional reimbursement models have placed increasing pressure on healthcare industry leaders to identify ways of remaining competitive while responding to the challenge of reducing excessive costs. Behavioral health organizations are included in this systemic challenge, and rapid readmissions have been identified as one significant contributor to increasing and unsustainable costs. A qualitative case-study design was used to identify factors associated with rapid readmissions in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. The research problem centered on insufficient information about the rapid readmission population of the inpatient psychiatric hospital involved in the study. Methodological triangulation of data was achieved …