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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Law Enforcement Officers Utilizing Employee Assistance Programs After Critical Incidents, Lovetta Quinn-Henry Apr 2024

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Law Enforcement Officers Utilizing Employee Assistance Programs After Critical Incidents, Lovetta Quinn-Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research was to understand and describe the lived experiences of Central Florida law enforcement officers who utilized an employee assistance program (EAP) following a critical incident. Law enforcement professionals exposed to critical workplace incidents are often referred to an EAP for their mental health. The problem is that law enforcement officers severely underutilize the available services offered by an EAP, even after critical incidents when the support is urgently needed. Piaget’s work is underpinned by McCann and Pearlman’s constructivist self-development theory guiding the study. The theory asserts that individuals draw from their experiences to …


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 …


The Impact Of Infertility On Relationship Satisfaction, Mental Health, And Expectations During The Transition To Parenthood, Jill Giresi Apr 2024

The Impact Of Infertility On Relationship Satisfaction, Mental Health, And Expectations During The Transition To Parenthood, Jill Giresi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between the method of conception (assisted reproductive technology [ART] vs. spontaneous conception) and the associations between parenting expectations, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction. First-time parents (N=100) completed an online questionnaire within the first six months postpartum. Results indicated a significant difference in reported postpartum relationship satisfaction between couples who conceived via ART and those who conceived spontaneously, with ART couples reporting higher relationship satisfaction. This result was in the opposite direction than what was hypothesized. All other results were as expected. Postpartum relationship satisfaction was negatively associated with both unrealistic parenting expectations and psychological distress. …


Exploring The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Psychological Capital Constructs, Matthew Austin Clark Apr 2024

Exploring The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Psychological Capital Constructs, Matthew Austin Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is currently a gap in knowledge regarding how leadership styles relate to employee psychological capital. Leaders can use this knowledge to emphasize employee health. It will also help organizations by promoting employee development and retention. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between each leadership style of situational leadership, servant leadership, authentic leadership, transformational leadership and levels of employee psychological capital. This research also examined whether age acted as a moderator in the relationship. The research questions that guided this study were does leadership style have a relationship with employee psychological capital, and does age act …


Measuring Coporate Social Responsiblity Leading To Organizational Commitment And Belongingness, Clifford J. Strawder Apr 2024

Measuring Coporate Social Responsiblity Leading To Organizational Commitment And Belongingness, Clifford J. Strawder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Following the completion of the study, it was found that there exists a significant relationship between perceived Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) congruence and employee outcomes, particularly organizational commitment, as elucidated through the lens of social identity theory. The investigation aimed to elucidate how employees' personal values and assessments of CSR dimensions could positively shape their attitudes and commitment to their organizations. The study, conducted with participants from various organizations recruited via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (M-Turk) platform, delved into three key CSR dimensions: Discretionary, Ethical, and Economic Responsibility. Results indicated that organizations can bolster organizational commitment by fostering a sense …


A Mediation Analysis For Agency And Turnover Intentions: A Cross-Sectional Inquiry For Army Talent Management, Joshua P. Cowin Apr 2024

A Mediation Analysis For Agency And Turnover Intentions: A Cross-Sectional Inquiry For Army Talent Management, Joshua P. Cowin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study contributed to theoretical and practical implications for retention. Targeting a population of mid-career soldiers in the United States Army, the predictor variable of interest was agency and its relationship with turnover intentions. The Army was a good candidate organization for this study because contemporary recruitment pressures and higher-than-average attrition rates place increasing importance on the effectiveness of organizational retention efforts. Accordingly, this study aligned research questions with a mediation model wherein agency influenced the relationships affective commitment, needs-supply fit, and career satisfaction held with turnover intentions. The hypotheses for this study were: (a) that agency significantly influenced turnover …


A Phenomenological Examination Of The Experiences Of College Theater Majors In Regard To The Covid-19 Pandemic And Lockdowns In The United States, Ronda Celeste Jones Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Examination Of The Experiences Of College Theater Majors In Regard To The Covid-19 Pandemic And Lockdowns In The United States, Ronda Celeste Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns were phenomena experienced by the majority of the modern world, but not everyone experienced it in the same way. Each person brings their own past, their own interests, and their own needs to the lived experience. Pre-pandemic research on art therapy suggests that creative expression could be helpful to adolescents experiencing such trauma. Theater majors are a particular set of people for whom creative expression through theater is a huge part of their life. Theater majors are also participating in a creative activity that requires social contact, and that social contact was limited or …


Reinventing Holistic Healthcare: Pastoral Perspectives Of Biblical Insights For The American Healthcare System, Leanne Michelle Bergey Apr 2024

Reinventing Holistic Healthcare: Pastoral Perspectives Of Biblical Insights For The American Healthcare System, Leanne Michelle Bergey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine pastoral perspectives of Biblical healthcare. These perspectives are essential to consider due to the long history of the connection between spirituality and healthcare and the church’s successful intervention worldwide for increasing healthcare outcomes. Since the church has been successful worldwide at creating faith-based organizations that meet community needs, it is vital that research focus on how churches might continue this success within the United States. This study used semi-structured interviews to examine the research questions of 1) What is the Biblical responsibility of healthcare? 2) How does culture influence the role …


Exploring The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Religiosity And The Experience Of Emotional Labor In Working Women, Jane Naa Koshie Acquah-Bailey Apr 2024

Exploring The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Religiosity And The Experience Of Emotional Labor In Working Women, Jane Naa Koshie Acquah-Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women serve crucial roles within the home as caregivers and outside the home in the workforce, where they often fill many essential support positions such as service industry workers, teachers, social workers, nurses, and human service workers. In these roles, women must often mitigate the psychosocial issues of those whom they serve, resulting in high emotional labor with subsequent deleterious effects for them. Religiosity and emotional intelligence have been demonstrated to alleviate psychosocial stressors. Current research identified on emotional intelligence and emotional labor in diverse workspaces shows ongoing development. Biblical references to emotional intelligence and religiosity in emotional management highlight …


A Phenomenology Of Spiritual And Religious Supports For Female Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Robin Downs Apr 2024

A Phenomenology Of Spiritual And Religious Supports For Female Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Robin Downs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Christian female victims of intimate partner violence as they engaged with their religious and spiritual supports through online interviews, journal entries, and focus groups. In this study, existential theory assisted in shaping an understanding of how victims of intimate partner violence interact with spiritual and religious supports to find meaning in their suffering and to identify what Christian women victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) describe as building their resilience and posttraumatic growth. Semi-structured interviews of 9 Christian women over 18 who experienced intimate partner violence were …


Attachment (Avoidance And Anxiety) In Relation To Marital Satisfaction In Couples Born Between 1980 And 2000, Shevanthi Kanaganayagam Apr 2024

Attachment (Avoidance And Anxiety) In Relation To Marital Satisfaction In Couples Born Between 1980 And 2000, Shevanthi Kanaganayagam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between attachment styles (Anxiety, Avoidance) correlated to marital satisfaction in heterosexual couples living in the U.S., born between 1980-2000, and the moderating role of social media use. Attachment styles develop during the infant stage through interactions with adult caregivers. It is apparent from research results that early attachment styles affect how a person interacts, impacting satisfaction in adult romantic relationships (Sandberg et al., 2015). The emergence of social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has given people new ways to communicate with each other, build networks, and share information. According to research, …


The Daily Lived Experiences Of Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: An Examination Of The Emotional, Cognitive, And Spiritual Repercussions, Nanette Stewart Haney Apr 2024

The Daily Lived Experiences Of Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: An Examination Of The Emotional, Cognitive, And Spiritual Repercussions, Nanette Stewart Haney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of traumatic brain injury survivors, seeking to understand their lived experiences by examining the emotional, cognitive and spiritual daily experiences. The study participants were adult male and female survivors of a life altering moderate to severe traumatic brain injury who live within the United States of America. The theories guiding this study are Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) Constructivism Theory and John Watson’s (1878-1958) Behavioral Approach Systems Theory. Jean Piaget believes that all cognitive development progresses towards complex levels of organization. When an individual acquires new knowledge, it is received, …


Family Discipleship: Forming A Biblical Worldview For Godly Decisions, Eric Spencer Mccrickard Apr 2024

Family Discipleship: Forming A Biblical Worldview For Godly Decisions, Eric Spencer Mccrickard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project focuses on equipping parents to disciple their children in home-based worship, Bible study, and developing a biblical worldview. The problem at The Mission Church is poor decision-making from teens in the student group. The students make decisions from a malformed biblical worldview, resulting in decisions contrary to God’s Word. Further analysis of this problem revealed the need for home-based discipleship. Contemporary literature demonstrates the need for family ministry, specifically family-based discipleship. Thus, this research is critical to developing parents to teach their families God’s precepts (Deut 6:7-9). This thesis intervention seeks to instruct the parents about …


Child To Parent Violence By Adhd Children: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Approach To The Experiences Of Parents In The Evangelical Church, Amber Hilton Stokes Apr 2024

Child To Parent Violence By Adhd Children: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Approach To The Experiences Of Parents In The Evangelical Church, Amber Hilton Stokes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is a poorly understood and underreported phenomenon that involves physical, psychological, or financial damage by a child to gain control of a parent. There is a unique lack of literature on how a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may contribute to CPV. Ecological elements such as cultural, social, family, and individual factors impact the expression of aggression by these children as well as preclude parents’ help-seeking behaviors. The local church, an important agent of social support, has thus far remained silent on the issue of CPV and has been shown to underrecognize other forms of domestic …


Social Isolation In Older Adults: A Qualitative Study, Jacqueline M. Rich Apr 2024

Social Isolation In Older Adults: A Qualitative Study, Jacqueline M. Rich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Population aging is a worldwide trend linked to scientific developments such as vaccinations and medical advancements, including improvements in cancer treatment and a lower fertility rate than experienced by previous generations. This phenomenon is poised to instigate one of the biggest social revolutions of the twenty-first century. The consequences of an aging population affect housing, transportation, labor markets, and the demand for goods and services. It also influences interpersonal relationships, including family structures and friendships. This upward drift of improved longevity increases the possibility of developing physical and psychological ailments that can contribute to lifestyle changes and subsequently increase the …


Trait Morbid Inquisitiveness: Horror Attraction, Religion, And The Final Girl, Charley Elles Brown Apr 2024

Trait Morbid Inquisitiveness: Horror Attraction, Religion, And The Final Girl, Charley Elles Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

People are attracted to horror entertainment, such as movies, video games, dark tourism, and human-made haunted attractions, to experience fear and scary play. It is also utilized in research on emotional responses. Three types of attractors have been identified: dark copers, white knucklers, and adrenaline junkies. In horror movies, the evolution of threat management is exemplified by the resourcefulness and adaptability of the final girl. Furthermore, the attraction to horror-based entertainment is linked to morbid curiosity. A new research perspective known as trait morbid curiosity has identified this fascination as the development of psychological traits to handle morbid, threatening, and …


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 …


A Phenomenological Study Of Adoptive Parents’ Distress, Erica Rhoads Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Adoptive Parents’ Distress, Erica Rhoads

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of distress in parents who have adopted internationally. The aim was also to discover what this lived experience is like through the perception of both objective and subjective reality, providing understanding and meaning from the perception and experience of adopting and then parenting children who have experienced significant trauma. An additional goal of this study was to evaluate the experience of sharing their adoption story within a narrative therapy support group as a way to alleviate some of their distress. A focus on the background of adoption …


Worldviews Impacting Leadership Within U.S. National Security: Christianity Vs Secularism, Remy Goldsmith Apr 2024

Worldviews Impacting Leadership Within U.S. National Security: Christianity Vs Secularism, Remy Goldsmith

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

Worldviews influence and impact all aspects of life. This is because the way one chooses to see the world affects the decisions one chooses to make. Whether choosing a job, a religion, or a partner, all are affected by one’s worldview. This is also because worldview is where virtues derive from. The establishment of virtue is the cornerstone of building character and developing ethics. In other words, it forms the moral compass that an individual uses to base their decisions. As that stands, this means that worldviews and virtues are applicable and impactful toward leadership and decision-making within national security. …


A Study Of Mental Health Conditions Among Elite Level Athletes, Sawyer Magnett Apr 2024

A Study Of Mental Health Conditions Among Elite Level Athletes, Sawyer Magnett

Senior Honors Theses

This paper examines the effects of stigmatization on elite level athletes’ mental health and overall wellbeing. Within this study, elite level athletes will be defined as those that participate in collegiate programs and the levels beyond that. Stigma is generally defined as negative beliefs towards a particular group of people or a state of being. When stigma is prevalent within athletic settings, many athletes tend to be silent about the struggles they face daily. Stigma is manifested either publicly or personally in the arena of elite level athletics due to preconceived notions within this demographic. Through close examination of current …


Counseling And Mental Health Stigma Among College Students: An Examination Of Gender, Mattie Albright Apr 2024

Counseling And Mental Health Stigma Among College Students: An Examination Of Gender, Mattie Albright

Senior Honors Theses

Male perceptions of masculinity are commonly studied in the psychological world as inhibitors to seeking mental health help or counseling. This research proposal addresses the roles of gender-role conflict and self-stigma of help-seeking in how they predict the male tendency to seek help at lower rates than females. The sample being analyzed in this study will consist of male and female students in the psychology department at Liberty University. Participants will complete the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale (SSOH), the Gender-Role Conflict Scale I (GRCS-I), and the Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS). Results will explore which factor …


Mitigating Turnover In Healthcare: Exploring Servant Leadership And Psychological Capital, Lindsay Tsang Apr 2024

Mitigating Turnover In Healthcare: Exploring Servant Leadership And Psychological Capital, Lindsay Tsang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding factors that influence the turnover intentions of healthcare workers is critical. This quantitative correlational study explored how psychological capital mediates the relationship between perceived supervisor servant leadership and turnover intentions among Canadian healthcare workers. This study uses the Hayes PROCESS Model 4 for mediation and Pearson’s correlation analysis with participants recruited via social media. Out of 773 respondents, 648 valid responses were received (83.8%), of which the majority were aged between 24-34 years old (74.7%), were nurses (80.2%), and had tenure between six to ten years (75%). In agreement with prior literature, …


Inhibiting Repetitive And Restricted Behaviors In Sprague-Dawley Rats Using Propranolol: Sex Differences, Melanie M. Berry Apr 2024

Inhibiting Repetitive And Restricted Behaviors In Sprague-Dawley Rats Using Propranolol: Sex Differences, Melanie M. Berry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is diagnosed when an individual has persistent deficits in social communication and restrictive repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. Restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are typically triggered by anxiety and can cause significant detriment to an individual's life. While there is no cure for ASD, there are pharmacological treatment options for the symptoms caused by ASD. Propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist, is used to treat anxiety and shows promise in reducing many of the symptoms associated with ASD. This study explores the effects of Propranolol on RRBs in a sample size of …


A Phenomenological Study Exploring Pastors' Experiences Counseling Younger Congregants With Changing Lifestyles, Terry L. Skepple Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Pastors' Experiences Counseling Younger Congregants With Changing Lifestyles, Terry L. Skepple

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Societal norms are changing, and more young adults are cohabitating with partners before marriage, engaging in premarital intercourse, and embarking on second marriages. All these activities are contrary to historical interpretations of pastoral teachings. The problem is that pastors are challenged in adapting to provide family and marriage counseling for younger congregants. With societal changes occurring rapidly, the majority of the young generation feels that there is less relevance in pastoral teachings. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe Covenant Connections International’s mature pastors’ experiences counseling younger congregants in the Northeastern United States. Eight pastors living and working …


The Influence Of Texting On Perceived Warmth: The Role Of Punctuation And Emoji, Elizabeth Mathews Apr 2024

The Influence Of Texting On Perceived Warmth: The Role Of Punctuation And Emoji, Elizabeth Mathews

Senior Honors Theses

Technology Mediated Communication (TMC) has become an essential part of interpersonal communication. Punctuation and emoji are major vessels of nonverbal communication in texting. The impact of punctuation and emoji use on perceptions of warmth was tested with 291 residential undergraduate students at Liberty University who were at least 18 years old. Through an online questionnaire, participants read a series of text messages with a randomly assigned condition of having either punctuation and emoji, punctuation and no emoji, no punctuation and emoji, or no punctuation and no emoji. Results indicated a significant main effect for the presence of emoji on perceived …


Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) Within Rural And Underserved Communities, Lauren T. Sparks Mar 2024

Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) Within Rural And Underserved Communities, Lauren T. Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It can be difficult for residents of rural and underserved communities to express their own experiences involving adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs cause negative health outcomes to those who are exposed to physical, mental, or behavioral abuse. These negative outcomes can affect the individual’s mental health; therefore, it is crucial to create recovery mechanisms for communities that are in dire need of resources. The purpose of this qualitative study was to research the exposure of ACEs throughout three rural and underserved states: Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Each of these states had exposure scenarios which was determined based on the distributed …


Psychology Of Altruism: A Phenomenological Study Of Christian Leaders, Joshua G. Belk Mar 2024

Psychology Of Altruism: A Phenomenological Study Of Christian Leaders, Joshua G. Belk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Altruism is fundamentally a part of Christianity, but this phenomenon has never been researched from the perspective of Christian leaders. More than simple kindness or generosity, altruism can be defined as actions and behaviors which place a person’s own interests subordinate to another’s. This qualitative study interviews 31 Christian leaders to establish an understanding of what altruism is in the context of Christian faith. The study found that Christian leaders’ experiences with altruism redefines what was previously known about the phenomenon and its role in our lives. Examining the Christian rationale of altruism provides a richer conception of altruism and …


Moderated Mediated Model Of Religiosity, God Image, And Self Compassion, Amanda Strivings Mar 2024

Moderated Mediated Model Of Religiosity, God Image, And Self Compassion, Amanda Strivings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Religious engagement can be a protective factor as well as contribute to negative mental health outcomes in religious populations. Early experiences in the parent-child relationship influence how individuals view God, which influences how they emotionally experience and engage with religion. Previous research has explored the relationships between religiosity, view of God, and self-compassion. This study explored the influence of three separate views of God on the cross-generational maintenance of religiosity and as sociocultural factors that influence self-compassion within the context of religiosity. Results supported several direct and indirect relationships. The analysis included one simple mediation model to explore the mediating …


Parent And Teacher Perspectives On Attachment/Relationships And Children's Self-Regulation, Elaina Arnold Mar 2024

Parent And Teacher Perspectives On Attachment/Relationships And Children's Self-Regulation, Elaina Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parent-child attachment and teacher-child relationships had individually shown an impact on children’s self-regulation. There has been little research, however, showing the impact of the parents’ and teachers’ attachment/relationship on children’s self-regulation at both home and school. This qualitative descriptive study examined the relationship between both the parent and teacher attachment/relationship with self-regulation in children 1-4 years old. Participants included 6 parents (mothers and fathers) with a child in childcare and 5 teachers of these children. Participants took part in a 30–40-minute semi-structured interview that was transcribed. The parents’ and teachers’ descriptions and perceptions of their relationship/attachment with the child, the …


Military Veterans And Yoga Teacher Training: A Phenomenological Review, Stephen L. Rego Mar 2024

Military Veterans And Yoga Teacher Training: A Phenomenological Review, Stephen L. Rego

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to discover the experiences of military veteran graduates of two Veterans Yoga Project (VYP) cohorts. The theory guiding this study was phenomenological inquiry, founded by Husserl and expanded by Hegel, Heidegger, and van Manen, as it explored the lived experiences and potential intersection of wellness in military veterans. The candidates for participation were recruited from the VYP MRYTT yoga training program 2021 Cohort 1, providing 16 graduates, and 2022 Cohort 2, providing 23 graduates. This study discovered 1) the lived experiences of yoga teacher training (YTT) in military veterans, 2) a conceptualization of military veterans’ …