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Walden University

Theses/Dissertations

2022

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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Perceived Stress Of Grandparents Parenting Their Grandchildren, Beverly Gale Nicholas Jan 2022

Perceived Stress Of Grandparents Parenting Their Grandchildren, Beverly Gale Nicholas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parenthood responsibilities are changing in the United States. The overall research problem for this study was that grandparents are parenting their grandchildren when their adult children are incarcerated for alcohol abuse or use. The importance of this problem is that as adults age, they are taking on the responsibilities of being parents rather than grandparents. In this new role, grandparents may not have the coping strategies or social support to ensure that they have life satisfaction during their senior years. The purpose of this study was to assess the independent variables, age and perceived stress (low, medium, and high), as …

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The Lived Experience Of Individuals Thinking About Food And Coping With Stress, Tobi Martin Jan 2022

The Lived Experience Of Individuals Thinking About Food And Coping With Stress, Tobi Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress results in many people altering their eating patterns, often consuming food high in sugar and fat. Such behavior is a factor in the growing obesity epidemic and can potentially cause the development of chronic diseases, resulting in employment problems and billions of extra dollars spent on national health care programs. Researchers have focused on the concept of “emotional eating” while overlooking the overarching research question of this study, which was about exploring the experience of individuals using eating behavior as a coping mechanism to deal with stress. All responses were viewed through the lens of social cognitive theory. Interviews …

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Perceived Discrimination As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Allostatic Load And Asthma Control, Vera Kern Jan 2022

Perceived Discrimination As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Allostatic Load And Asthma Control, Vera Kern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While asthma prevalence in the United States is generally declining, African Americans tend to experience poorer outcomes regarding asthma severity and control. The purpose of the present study was to test whether discrimination (everyday and lifetime) moderated the relationship between allostatic load and asthma severity/asthma control (dyspnea and peak flow). In previous literature, researchers established the relationship between allostatic load and asthma severity/asthma control among African Americans. The biopsychosocial model and allostatic load theory served as the theoretical frameworks for this study. In this cross-sectional, nonexperimental, quantitative design, 201 African Americans between the ages of 34 and 82 years were …

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The Role Of Work In Animal Shelter Volunteers' Experiences Of Compassion Fatigue, Andria L. Corso Jan 2022

The Role Of Work In Animal Shelter Volunteers' Experiences Of Compassion Fatigue, Andria L. Corso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Animal shelter volunteers are a critical part of the operation and maintenance of animal shelters across the United States, and risk developing compassion fatigue (CF) that can impact their ability to volunteer. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of work in animal shelter volunteers’ experiences of CF. The compassion stress and fatigue model and aspects from several occupational stress models were used as conceptual frameworks. A basic qualitative design was used to recruit 12 animal shelter volunteers experiencing compassion fatigue symptoms. These volunteers came from 10 different animal shelters across the U.S. Three research questions were …

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Emotional Intelligence And Self-Perceptions Of Counseling Competency In Counselors In Training, Ariel Katherine Hernandez Jan 2022

Emotional Intelligence And Self-Perceptions Of Counseling Competency In Counselors In Training, Ariel Katherine Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Counselor educators and regulatory boards continue to develop criteria to prepare counselors in training (CITs) for clinical practice. Despite the significant support they receive within the counseling course curriculum, some students lack the necessary counseling competency to succeed in the field experience component of their training. Emotional intelligence (EI) may be relevant in the ability of CITs to manage their emotions and relationships in personal, professional, and academic settings, but there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the relationship between EI and counseling competence. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between EI and self-perception …

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The Effect Of Parental Socialization On The Postsecondary Plans Of Latino/Hispanic Students, Nilda Ivette Rosario Jan 2022

The Effect Of Parental Socialization On The Postsecondary Plans Of Latino/Hispanic Students, Nilda Ivette Rosario

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Latino/Hispanics are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in the United States, yet they are underrepresented in higher education. Grounded on the social cognitive theory and the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler model, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental expectations, parental involvement, parental self-efficacy, and postsecondary planning of Latino/Hispanic students. The research questions were formulated to determine whether parental factors among Latino/Hispanic parents can predict postsecondary educational outcomes among Latino/Hispanic students. A quantitative correlational research study design was used. The target population was Latino/Hispanic parents residing in the United States with at least one child …

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Self-Identified Atheists In 12-Step Substance Use Disorder Treatment And Aftercare, Elizabeth Clare Bayley Jan 2022

Self-Identified Atheists In 12-Step Substance Use Disorder Treatment And Aftercare, Elizabeth Clare Bayley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Minnesota model is ubiquitous in the United States for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). The model uses 12 steps and is centered on a belief in god(s) or a higher power; however, it is anathema to an atheist worldview. Researchers have noted that atheists do not readily become involved with 12-step programs and tend to drop out; however, there had been no qualitative investigations of the lived experiences of atheists in 12-step SUD treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 12-step SUD treatment was problematic for atheists. An integrated theoretical framework was used. Minority …

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The Biopsychosocial Impact Of Racial Discrimination Among African Americans, Amy Renae Amin Jan 2022

The Biopsychosocial Impact Of Racial Discrimination Among African Americans, Amy Renae Amin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between racial discrimination and anger, stress, and obesity. The stress-disease model provided a theoretical perspective of the biological, psychological, and social pathways from stress. Past research regarding the correlation between racial discrimination, anger, stress, and obesity reported a possible connection, but results have been mixed. This research expanded upon existing literature that proposed that blatant or subtle experiences of racial discrimination are pathways to mental and physical health consequences. The hypothesis was that there was a significant relationship between racial discrimination and the levels of stress, anger, and obesity. Racial …

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Law Enforcement’S Effect On Rape Victims’ Initial Interview: A Victim Advocate’S Perspective, Nkenge Pruden Jan 2022

Law Enforcement’S Effect On Rape Victims’ Initial Interview: A Victim Advocate’S Perspective, Nkenge Pruden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Among the U.S. military community, organizations have been established to focus solely on sexual assault reporting, prevention efforts, and support for survivors. Although more victims are reporting their sexual assault, the number of perpetrators going to prison have not increased significantly. Some studies suggest victims’ unwillingness to report and cooperate with the proponents of criminal justice process are the reasons for the lack of rightful justice. The intent of this study was to examine the interaction between law enforcement and the sexual assault victim via the perception of the victim advocate. The importance of this study was to understand whether …

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Perception Of Promotability Among Employees In Nonprofit Health And Social Impact Services, Victoria Leann Rodino Jan 2022

Perception Of Promotability Among Employees In Nonprofit Health And Social Impact Services, Victoria Leann Rodino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many human resource departments are developing and improving their talent management systems to identify and develop employee talent within the organization. However, nonprofit organizations face unique challenges including under-developed human resource structures and limited resources or funds. As a result, many nonprofit organizations are unable to effectively communicate their promotability processes, resulting in negative employee behaviors including lack of motivation, decreased engagement, and enhanced turnover intention. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the employee perception of promotability within the nonprofit sector. Social exchange and social cognitive theories were used to explore the perception of promotability among …

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Latino Pastors’ Perceptions Of Referring Intimate Partner Violence Victims To Secular, Esther M. Rios Jan 2022

Latino Pastors’ Perceptions Of Referring Intimate Partner Violence Victims To Secular, Esther M. Rios

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information about intimate partner violence (IPV) perceptions within the Latino clergy population is scarce. This research study investigated perceptions, experiences, and biases, precluding Latino clergy in referring church members to outside resources. The research question focused on Latino pastors’ perceptions about referring church members victims of IPV to secular organizations. Understanding clergy’s IPV perceptions provided an opportunity for scholars to explore ways for clergy to discover other organizations contributions to IPV. Historical oppression was used as the framework for the study because Latino women victims of IPV experience severe victimization and are afraid to report the abuse. Previous research does …

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Built Environment And Well-Being Of Stem Women Employed In The Petroleum Sector, Natalie Robinson Jan 2022

Built Environment And Well-Being Of Stem Women Employed In The Petroleum Sector, Natalie Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Male-dominated occupations have received increased attention concerning the environmental health and retention of its specialized workforce. Research studies on the impact of the environment suggest that ecological and infrastructure conditions of the workplace affect the psychological health and physical well-being of employees across both public and private industries. Presently, in the context of the oil and gas and engineering field, there is a literature gap in exploring whether workplace conditions or adverse circumstances in male-dominated built environments negatively affect the psychological well-being and retention of women employed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations. For the current qualitative study, …

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Phenomenology Of How The Doctor-Patient Relationship Plays A Role In Cardiovascular, Sanam Sarahbi Jan 2022

Phenomenology Of How The Doctor-Patient Relationship Plays A Role In Cardiovascular, Sanam Sarahbi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in men and women for most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Physicians are the most frequently sought-after source of support for self-management of chronic diseases of patients. Social support from physicians may help facilitate patient resiliency. This phenomenological study involved using the social support theory as the theoretical lens and health literacy as the conceptual framework to explore how CVD patients perceive experiences with their physicians foster resiliency. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect rich descriptions of CVD patient experiences. Data were analyzed by using Moustakas’ modification of …

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Expectations And Reality: Post Deployment Reintegration Through The Lived Experiences Of Military Spouses, Michele Marie Brown Jan 2022

Expectations And Reality: Post Deployment Reintegration Through The Lived Experiences Of Military Spouses, Michele Marie Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study aims to understand how post-deployment reintegration impacted the quality of life, functionality, adjustment, and levels of distress among military spouses. Additionally, this study analyzed data collected from 11 individual military spouse responses to gain firsthand insight into the challenges of post-deployment reintegration and the resiliency factors that influence stability. While extensive research existed on the challenges associated with the hardships of physical distance and absence, there was limited research on the impact of post-deployment reintegration on the overall quality of life of a military spouse. Three theories explored the extremely individualized experiences of military spouses’ post-deployment reintegration. …

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Factors Impacting Vicarious Traumatization In Metropolitan Law Enforcement Officers, Falisa Asberry Jan 2022

Factors Impacting Vicarious Traumatization In Metropolitan Law Enforcement Officers, Falisa Asberry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe exposure to work-related trauma and the relationship to gender, age, years of service, and education level and their impact on the development of vicarious traumatization (VT) on metropolitan law enforcement officers has been underexamined. This quantitative correlational study aimed to examine whether the mediating variable resilience, along with the independent variables gender, age, years of service, and level of education, impacted the dependent variable VT. The constructivist self-development theory and the resilience theory were used as the framework for the study. The professional quality of life scale was used to measure the independent variables and VT. The resilience scale …

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Perceived Social Support And Anxiety Among Informal Caregivers Of Individuals With Dementia, Latonya Cofield Jan 2022

Perceived Social Support And Anxiety Among Informal Caregivers Of Individuals With Dementia, Latonya Cofield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMany individuals who are diagnosed with some form of dementia are cared for by informal caregivers. Past research has indicated many of the caregivers have potential for encountering caregiver distress leading to physical and mental health deterioration. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact perceived social support may have on anxiety among the informal caregivers. Using the transactional model of stress and coping, this quantitative study examined the relationship between perceived emotional/informational social support, instrumental social support, gender, and anxiety among informal caregivers caring for individuals diagnosed with dementia. A correlational research design and the multiple linear …

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Assessing Relationships Among Autonomy, Supportive Leadership, And Burnout In Public Elementary Teachers, Jana Rose Benson Jan 2022

Assessing Relationships Among Autonomy, Supportive Leadership, And Burnout In Public Elementary Teachers, Jana Rose Benson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractStress and burnout among teachers are serious problems because of the negative consequences associated with them that have contributed to the current crisis in the American education system. Until the problems of teacher stress and burnout are understood and addressed, efforts to restructure American education cannot succeed. This study assessed the relationships among perceived autonomy, perceived transformational leadership style and burnout in public elementary teachers, and the moderating/mediating influence of teacher orientation (Montessori and traditional) on burnout levels. An integration of Maslach’s multi-dimensional burnout theory, self-determination theory, and the theory of transformational leadership formed the theoretical foundation of the study. …

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The Impact Of The Involvement Of African- American Female’S In Extra-Curricular Activities On Future Prosocial Decision-Making, Janine-Naisha Shante Jackson Jan 2022

The Impact Of The Involvement Of African- American Female’S In Extra-Curricular Activities On Future Prosocial Decision-Making, Janine-Naisha Shante Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is important to understand what protective factors might be developed in order to prevent Black adolescent females from becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. The focus of this study was identifying the perceptions of adult Black women who grew up in an urban setting and who participated in organized sports during their adolescence. The primary research question focused on whether ten adult Black females perceived their participation in sports during adolescence served as a protective factor, thereby preventing or minimizing the participant’s involvement in criminal behavior. The data was analyzed through MAXQDA software. The predominant themes from this …

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Teaching Environment, Instructional Coaching, And Perceived Organizational Support On Educators’ Quality Of Work-Life, Patrick Terrell Hall Jan 2022

Teaching Environment, Instructional Coaching, And Perceived Organizational Support On Educators’ Quality Of Work-Life, Patrick Terrell Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the field of education, work-life challenges are becoming a source of concern, especially during the recent global pandemic. This study sought to identify relationships between teaching environment, instructional coaching, perceived organizational support, and work-life quality. The variables in the study were measured using the following validated instruments: classroom environment scale; coaching evaluation scale; perceived organizational support scale; and the work-related quality of life scale. This research was informed by the ecological system theory, which served as the theoretical basis for the investigation. Elements of the ecological systems theory express a complex system of relationships that affects multiple levels of …

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Predictors Of Mental Health Help-Seeking In Alaska Native Communities, Jorene Volkheimer Jan 2022

Predictors Of Mental Health Help-Seeking In Alaska Native Communities, Jorene Volkheimer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons have been identified as a group with greater risk for transgenerational trauma; furthermore, they experience environmental, systemic, and pragmatic barriers to treatment for mental and social issues. Researchers have called for more studies of groups like AI/AN to better understand the complex social, interpersonal, and intrapersonal problems involved in accessing and using mental health services. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive relationships of demographics, transgenerational trauma, locus of control, and stigma on help-seeking and use of mental health services in the AI/AN population in a quantitative study. The developmentally based trauma …

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Self-Identifying Latino/A/X Former Mental Health Therapy Clients’ Experiences Receiving Mental Health Therapy, Teresa Sypolt Jan 2022

Self-Identifying Latino/A/X Former Mental Health Therapy Clients’ Experiences Receiving Mental Health Therapy, Teresa Sypolt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Latino/a/x population in the United States continues to increase as does the need for mental health professionals who are bilingual and knowledgeable on multicultural issues. Spanish is the native language spoken in approximately 13% of the households in the United States, with 36% of Spanish-speakers seeking mental health treatment. Research on therapists serving Latino/a/x clients indicated that therapists struggled to provide culturally sensitive and linguistic appropriate interventions. While therapists’ challenges and experiences have been explored, little is known on the therapeutic experiences of Latino/a/x former clients. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore the therapeutic experiences …

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Posttraumatic Growth Following Critical Incident Exposure For Urban Firefighters, Deirdre Smith Jan 2022

Posttraumatic Growth Following Critical Incident Exposure For Urban Firefighters, Deirdre Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighters are often exposed to critical/traumatic incidents. Regular exposure to critical/traumatic incidents has the potential to cause negative psychological problems among this population, though there is also a likelihood that firefighters can experience a positive effect such as posttraumatic growth (PTG) as a result of critical incident exposure. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of PTG for urban firefighters following exposure to work-related traumatic events. The phenomenon of PTG provided the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured telephone interviews with eight urban firefighters. Findings from coding and thematic analysis …

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Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Bystanders And Upstanders During A Bullying Episode, Dr James Torino Jan 2022

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Bystanders And Upstanders During A Bullying Episode, Dr James Torino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School-age bullying is a social problem negatively affecting more than 11% of the student body in the United States alone. The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the lived experiences of bystanders, who witness a bullying event but do not intervene, and upstanders, who witness the event and intervene on behalf of the victim. To answer to the research question addressing the purpose of this qualitative study, 10 individuals between the ages of 18–20 years old who self-identified as both a bystander and an upstander during a bullying episode were interviewed using the lens of …

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The Efficacy Of Juvenile Treatment Program Services As Evidenced By Posttreatment Re-Offenses, Michelle R. Valenzuela Jan 2022

The Efficacy Of Juvenile Treatment Program Services As Evidenced By Posttreatment Re-Offenses, Michelle R. Valenzuela

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe determination of whether juvenile intervention programs are effective in the reduction of future delinquency has been an ongoing research concern among scholars for over a century. Researchers have established that intervention programs are helpful for some juveniles but have not determined if intervention treatment outcomes continued beyond adolescence. The purpose of this quantitative study was to address the efficacy of services provided within juvenile intervention programs. This study addressed these gaps in previous research, focusing on the services provided within the intervention program and outcomes of continued delinquent behaviors beyond 3 years using multiple regression analysis. Social control theory …

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Exploring The Behavioral Health Clinician Shortage At A Rural Midwestern U.S. Agency, Tracy L. Wilson Jan 2022

Exploring The Behavioral Health Clinician Shortage At A Rural Midwestern U.S. Agency, Tracy L. Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health clinician shortages are a significant and ongoing problem in the United States, especially in rural areas, which have higher rates of homelessness, suicide, substance use, and violence rates than urban areas. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore factors contributing to the behavioral health clinician shortage in a rural midwestern U.S. public health department. The goal was to gain a better understanding of this shortage and explore strategies and solutions for recruiting and retaining behavioral health clinicians at the agency’s facilities. The Baldrige excellence framework undergirded the investigation. Data sources included interviews with three administrative …

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Self-Monitoring In Military Consumer Research, Alan Oliver Wright Jan 2022

Self-Monitoring In Military Consumer Research, Alan Oliver Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underutilized military products exist among soldiers and can reduce safety, performance, and morale. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which self-monitoring constructs (Self-Monitoring, Acting, Extraversion, and Other-Directedness), gender, leadership, length of service, deployments, and combat experience predict military consumer attitudes. Self-monitoring theory describes differences in expressive control and self-presentation to predict consumer attitudes and behavior. High self-monitors alter their consumer behavior to gain social favor and low self-monitors base their consumer decisions on product quality, functionality, and internally held views of self. An archival dataset was used with 220 active-duty soldiers who provided liking ratings …

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Links Between Screen Tim, Montessori Preschool Exposure, And Working Memory, Paula Lyn Larsen Mamani Jan 2022

Links Between Screen Tim, Montessori Preschool Exposure, And Working Memory, Paula Lyn Larsen Mamani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A high-quality, foundational education offers lifelong benefits for young children. The problem is that working memory in pre-school-aged children is declining and could be impaired by the extraneous cognitive load imposed during engagement with screen media apps and/or preschool programs. Although the pedagogical practices associated with Montessori preschool programs have been found supportive of cognitive load germane to learning and improved working memory, they have not been fully considered in relation to preschoolers' screen media use. The cognitive load created by screen media apps could affect their usefulness as learning tools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to discover …

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Undocumented First-Generation Hispanic Adolescents, Acculturative Stressors, And Academic Performance, Maria Inez Acuna Jan 2022

Undocumented First-Generation Hispanic Adolescents, Acculturative Stressors, And Academic Performance, Maria Inez Acuna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on the acculturative stressors affecting the academic performance of undocumented first-generation Hispanic adolescents is very limited. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of undocumented first-generation Hispanic adolescents enrolled in a U.S. middle school and the effects of acculturative stressors on their academic performance. To better understand the effects of acculturative stressors, Bandura’s social learning theory and Berry’s theory of acculturative stress were the theoretical foundations for the study. Seven participants from Mexico and Honduras answered four questions from a semi structured interview protocol. Data analysis included Epoché bracketing, horizonalization, clustering into themes, textural description …

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Association Between Multicultural Counseling Graduate Training And Mental Health Professionals’ Self-Perceived Effectiveness, Janessa Liscette Henry Jan 2022

Association Between Multicultural Counseling Graduate Training And Mental Health Professionals’ Self-Perceived Effectiveness, Janessa Liscette Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Special training is often needed for counseling professionals to meet the unique cultural needs of their clients. Previous researchers have suggested that larger samples of professional counselors are needed to better understand the presence of these multicultural skills and noted a dearth of research regarding the effects of training in multicultural counseling following graduation and among practitioners. Following the theory of multicultural counseling and therapy (MTCT), the research questions were tested by using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and multiple linear regression to address the study of multicultural knowledge and multicultural awareness among counseling professionals who did and did not receive formal …

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Mental Health Counselors’ Use Of Complementary And Alternative Approaches For Treating Individuals With Anxiety Disorders, Jane Rose Simmons Jan 2022

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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