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Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Gambaran Generasi Z Yang Kesepian Dalam Penggunaan Chat Ai Sebagai Pemenuhan Kebutuhan “Someone To Talk”, Ikhwanul Ihsan Armalid, Febty Zahra Arsiwi, Qisthi Fathiyyah, Ratri Mayzakky Afra Syahida
Gambaran Generasi Z Yang Kesepian Dalam Penggunaan Chat Ai Sebagai Pemenuhan Kebutuhan “Someone To Talk”, Ikhwanul Ihsan Armalid, Febty Zahra Arsiwi, Qisthi Fathiyyah, Ratri Mayzakky Afra Syahida
Jurnal Psikologi Sosial
This study aims to understand the experiences of Generation Z individuals who experience loneliness in utilizing Chat AI to fulfill their need for someone to talk to within a socio-emotional context. The study employed a qualitative approach using a phenomenological method involving six Generation Z participants aged 18 to 25 who had used Chat AI for emotional sharing or venting. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The thematic analysis yielded six main themes: the dynamics of Generation Z social interactions, experiences of loneliness in social life, patterns of Chat AI usage, Chat AI as a …
Perspectives Of Trauma Among Licensed Trauma Therapists: A Concept Mapping Study, Sean W. Bullock
Perspectives Of Trauma Among Licensed Trauma Therapists: A Concept Mapping Study, Sean W. Bullock
Master's Theses
To address gaps between research and psychotherapeutic intervention for trauma and trauma-related issues, the current study elicited and analyzed the perspectives of licensed trauma therapists via a concept mapping process. A literature review was conducted to explore the history and limitations of trauma’s current medical use as outlined by Criterion A of posttraumatic stress disorder in the DSM-5-TR. To answer the research question regarding how practitioners understand trauma, the researcher recruited licensed trauma therapists (n = 17) to participate in concept mapping. Participants generated 126 unique statements, which they then sorted based on similarity and rated individually on importance. Hierarchical …
Mental Health, Personality, Identity, And Adjusting To Life After Sports, Jovana Babic
Mental Health, Personality, Identity, And Adjusting To Life After Sports, Jovana Babic
Master's Theses
This study looked at how athletes adapt to life after competitive sports in relation to psychological issues. In publicly accessible podcast interviews, 95 former athletes, most competing at the collegiate or professional level, were examined using their own words. Claude and Gemini, two large multimodal models, independently coded each interview for four mental health outcomes: depression, anxiety, dependency, and identity confusion, as well as for a set of predictor variables, such as neuroticism, emotion regulation, athletic identity, identity foreclosure, intrinsic motivation, grit, social support, and retirement planning. A binary present or absence coding system was employed, and Gwet's AC1 was …
Victims Of Bravery (2): Secondary Trauma And Impacts Of Acts Of Bravery On Key Family Members Of Australian Civilian Bravery Award Recipients, Tom Voigt, Susan Balandin, Angela Dew
Victims Of Bravery (2): Secondary Trauma And Impacts Of Acts Of Bravery On Key Family Members Of Australian Civilian Bravery Award Recipients, Tom Voigt, Susan Balandin, Angela Dew
Heroism Science
We explored the experiences of key family members of Australian civilian bravery award recipients using a constructed grounded theory approach. Twenty-four family members participated in qualitative interviews during 2019–2020. Eighteen reported experiences consistent with possible secondary trauma and negative impacts on mental health and well-being. Participants described helplessness in supporting award recipients, limited knowledge of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS), and insufficient support for managing their own emotional responses. They also reported anxiety, uncertainty, hypervigilance, behavioral adjustments, social isolation, and sadness associated with living with a person they perceived as changed by the aftermath of heroic …
Perceptions Of Correctional Officers In Prison Environments And The Coping Mechanisms They Use To Support Work–Life Balance, Amiee C. Ruger
Perceptions Of Correctional Officers In Prison Environments And The Coping Mechanisms They Use To Support Work–Life Balance, Amiee C. Ruger
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This qualitative study explored correctional officers’ lived experiences with occupational stress, coping strategies, work–life balance, and psychological well-being. The purpose of the study was to better understand correctional officers’ experiences working in high-stress correctional environments, including how they experienced and managed occupational stress, as well as the factors that influenced their psychological well-being. The Yerkes-Dodson law, Nixon’s human function curve, and the transactional model of stress and coping provided the theoretical framework for the study. Eight correctional officers were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Semistructured interviews were conducted through the online meeting platform Zoom, and the data were …
Differences In Mental Toughness Among Mixed Martial Artists And Physically Active Individuals, Savannah M. Calleja, Soleil Ramos, Victoria Potvin, Anthony A. Ricci, Gabriel J. Sanders, Corey A. Peacock
Differences In Mental Toughness Among Mixed Martial Artists And Physically Active Individuals, Savannah M. Calleja, Soleil Ramos, Victoria Potvin, Anthony A. Ricci, Gabriel J. Sanders, Corey A. Peacock
Journal for Sports Neuroscience
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a physiological and psychological demanding sport. While the majority of the literature conducted in MMA regards physiological health and risk of injury, researchers are beginning to assess the psychological profiles of MMA athletes. Previous studies have evaluated mental toughness (MT) within MMA; however, no study has examined MT in MMA athletes at the professional division. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the difference in mental toughness between professional MMA athletes and physically active individuals. Secondary aims are to evaluate potential variations in mental toughness within the professional level between champion and …
Fear, Threat, And Google Searches: Examining Ideological Shifts Using Big Data, Erin M. Cerasaro
Fear, Threat, And Google Searches: Examining Ideological Shifts Using Big Data, Erin M. Cerasaro
Master's Theses
In their review of research on factors that affect political conservatism, Jost et al. brought together research from several theoretical viewpoints. This produced a model of psychological needs and motives in individuals which react with stimuli that make them feel fearful and threatened (F/T), increasing adherence to conservative ideology. While some research supports these claims, evidence shows that in some contexts these variables increase ideological polarization overall, but may also have a greater impact on conservative attitudes specifically. Researchers have had difficulty in investigating these relationships in naturalistic settings due to an inability to manipulate events that precipitate this ideological …
Identifying Barriers To Reporting Concerning Behaviors In A Public Secondary School, Will Durgin
Identifying Barriers To Reporting Concerning Behaviors In A Public Secondary School, Will Durgin
Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios
Threat assessment is an effective school safety practice that allows schools to identify concerning behavior and intervene before it reaches a crisis. Because this process often begins with a staff member recognizing and reporting a concern, this study examined how school staff interpret concerning behavior, understand their responsibility to report it, and what can make reporting more difficult.
The study used a two-phase action research design in a small, rural public school district in western New York. The first phase used a survey built around five behavior vignettes, while the second phase consisted of staff interviews.
Staff generally agreed when …
The Role Of Counselors In Facilitating Family Involvement In The Treatment Of Individuals With Severe Mental Illness: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Shanice Stephenson-Walcott
The Role Of Counselors In Facilitating Family Involvement In The Treatment Of Individuals With Severe Mental Illness: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Shanice Stephenson-Walcott
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore counselors’ experiences with family involvement in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Although family involvement has been associated with improved treatment outcomes, limited research has explored counselors’ experiences facilitating family involvement in SMI treatment, leaving a gap in understanding the challenges counselors face in clinical practice. Guided by Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology, this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study included six licensed professional counselors experienced in counseling individuals with SMI. The research question asked: How do counselors experience family involvement facilitation in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness? …
Cultural Orientation, Parent-Child Connectedness, And Student Mental Health Perceptions, Abigail M. Mattias
Cultural Orientation, Parent-Child Connectedness, And Student Mental Health Perceptions, Abigail M. Mattias
Master's Theses
An individual’s perception of mental health is likely shaped by multiple interrelated factors. Connecting research into mental health perceptions across racial groups and parental value transmission suggests that a strong parent-child relationship increases the likelihood of the child endorsing parental and cultural values. The current survey examined the following predictors of mental health stigma among 144 college students: cultural orientation (collectivist/individualist attitudes), cultural background (collectivist/individualist heritage) as mediated by perceived parental mental health stigma, and parent-child connectedness as moderating the mediation. As predicted, there were stronger links between parent and child mental health stigma when parent-child connectedness was stronger. The …
The Perception Of Gay Black Males Concerning Cultural Responsiveness Of Police Officer Use Of Force, Christopher M. Collier
The Perception Of Gay Black Males Concerning Cultural Responsiveness Of Police Officer Use Of Force, Christopher M. Collier
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Police officers’ use of force on the public has been a popular topic of conversation over the last decade. Political campaigns, social media platforms, and neighborhood groups have expressed concerns about how police officers use force disproportionately within various communities. Suggestions have been made to increase police training, promote body-worn cameras, and foster greater transparency to hold police officers accountable for actions that may be unethical or illegal. This study sought to understand if cultural environments have an effect on law enforcement’s interaction with Black same gender loving males (BSGLM). Understanding the use of force was derived from BSGLMs’ perspectives …
Lived Experiences Influencing Breast Cancer Survivorship Among African American Women After Treatment, Brianne Layce Jones
Lived Experiences Influencing Breast Cancer Survivorship Among African American Women After Treatment, Brianne Layce Jones
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
It is well documented that a breast cancer diagnosis elicits various psychoemotional feelings. Despite resilience African American women show during breast cancer treatment, gaps remain in the healthcare system in regard to meeting specific needs of this population. Using Kierkegaard’s theory of existentialism, this study examined influences of breast cancer survivorship among African American women after treatment. Data were collected from 10 African American women who were breast cancer survivors residing in Virginia via in-person and virtual interviews. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire. Resilience, spirituality, and personal coping strategies were values among African American women who survived breast cancer. …
Barriers To Psychological Care: Lived Experiences Of Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Hovhannes Nazaryan
Barriers To Psychological Care: Lived Experiences Of Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Hovhannes Nazaryan
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) may experience significant disability-related stressors, yet mental health services remain underused within this population. Although prior research has identified barriers to service use among individuals with SMA and people with disabilities more broadly, there is less literature about how adults with SMA experience the mental health care system. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of adults living in the United States with SMA as they relate to this system. Guided by the biopsychosocial model and Andersen’s behavioral model, the study involved addressing the question: What are lived experiences …
Phenomenological Study Of Protective Buffering By Afsoc Civilian Spouses During Military Deployments, Janell C. Cotton
Phenomenological Study Of Protective Buffering By Afsoc Civilian Spouses During Military Deployments, Janell C. Cotton
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Protective buffering (PB) is used by civilian military spouses to withhold or deny stressful information or concerns to protect their spouse, others, or themselves, from upset or burden. This coping mechanism is commonly used during military deployments, yet is associated with negative physical, psychological, and social consequences. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of when and why civilian military spouses engage in PB during military deployments. Guided by the communication privacy management theory and the transactional stress and coping theory, the study examined the civilian spouses’ perceptions of their active-duty spouses’ stressors, and …
Hybrid Deep (Cnn-Bilstm) Intrusion Detection For Defense And Mission-Critical Networks, Corey A Cheng, Jermaine Anim-Addo, Asma Jakir Hussain, Zion O Smith-Fox, Sanjay Goel, Yuksel Celik
Hybrid Deep (Cnn-Bilstm) Intrusion Detection For Defense And Mission-Critical Networks, Corey A Cheng, Jermaine Anim-Addo, Asma Jakir Hussain, Zion O Smith-Fox, Sanjay Goel, Yuksel Celik
Military Cyber Affairs
This article examines how hybrid deep learning can strengthen intrusion detection for military and defense networks. Using the CSE-CIC-IDS2018 dataset, the study evaluates a CNN-BiLSTM model designed to detect benign traffic and multiple attack categories, including DDoS, DoS, botnet, brute-force, web attack, and infiltration activity. The model achieved strong multi-class detection performance, with 0.9893 accuracy and 0.9979 ROC-AUC. The findings suggest that AI-supported intrusion detection can improve cyber defense operations, analyst triage, and protection of mission-critical networks.
Foreward, Todd Arnold
Letter From The Director: Mastery In Practice, Joseph Schafer
Letter From The Director: Mastery In Practice, Joseph Schafer
Military Cyber Affairs
No abstract provided.
Changes In Physical Activity And Sleep In Relation To Reductions In Body Weight And Cholesterol Levels Among Adults With Ptsd, Jeffery Kibler, Karla Patricia Molina Valenzuela, Shalynn Murphy, Claudia Ocholski, Valeria Rangel Cunha, Dania Dabbagh, Blaise Desautels, Alexis B. Tola, Mindy Ma
Changes In Physical Activity And Sleep In Relation To Reductions In Body Weight And Cholesterol Levels Among Adults With Ptsd, Jeffery Kibler, Karla Patricia Molina Valenzuela, Shalynn Murphy, Claudia Ocholski, Valeria Rangel Cunha, Dania Dabbagh, Blaise Desautels, Alexis B. Tola, Mindy Ma
Faculty Articles
There is evidence of strong relationships between posttraumatic stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Interventions focused on healthy behaviors may promote CVD risk-reduction in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study includes analysis of the associations among key outcomes from an intervention study of a cognitive behavioral healthy lifestyle intervention in PTSD, treated as an adjunct to standard trauma therapy. Specifically, we examined whether changes in physical activity and sleep efficiency were associated with changes in body weight and cholesterol. The health behavior intervention is conducted in 12 weekly sessions and includes four overlapping modules (physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and …
The Psychosocial Experience Of Black Pentecostal Pastors In Western America Post-Pandemic, Isaiah Kelley
The Psychosocial Experience Of Black Pentecostal Pastors In Western America Post-Pandemic, Isaiah Kelley
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted religious institutions, altering how Black pastors provided spiritual leadership, community support, and social connection. Limited research has examined how these disruptions affected the social identity and psychosocial well-being of African American Pentecostal pastors. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 11 African American Pentecostal pastors in the western United States following COVID-19 church closures. Guided by social identity theory, semi-structured interviews examined changes in participants’ social identity. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’s phenomenological approach: first- and second-cycle coding, member checking, reflective journals, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: psychological and emotional burden, social isolation …
Exploring Psychological Capital And Perceived Employability In The Career Experiences Of Military Spouses, Sydney Higginbotham
Exploring Psychological Capital And Perceived Employability In The Career Experiences Of Military Spouses, Sydney Higginbotham
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Military spouses face distinct employment challenges that stem from the unique demands and disruptions that the military lifestyle can create. These disruptions can create barriers to employment that require military spouses draw on internal and external resources to adapt. Grounded in conservation of resources theory and social cognitive career theory, this study considers how psychological capital and perceived employability, as adaptive responses, contribute to an increase of one’s agency in career management. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed to test hypotheses through regression analyses. Data was collected from an online survey of a convenience sample of 41 military spouses …
The Lived Experiences Of Custodial Grandparents In Northern Appalachia: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Christina Marie Savage
The Lived Experiences Of Custodial Grandparents In Northern Appalachia: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Christina Marie Savage
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Grandparents raising their grandchildren represent a growing demographic in North America. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological research study examined the shared lived experiences of custodial grandparents living in Northern Appalachia. This study was guided by Erikson’s seventh and eighth stages of psychosocial development and Resilience Theory. Fourteen custodial grandparents who reside within a Northern Appalachian county in Pennsylvania participated in semi-structured in-person interviews and data were analyzed using Moustakas' (1994) transcendental phenomenological method. Six themes emerged from the data: returning to parenthood later in life, accepting responsibility to protect grandchildren, changes in family roles and relationships, navigating challenges with limited support, …
How Partner Support Impacts The Intimate Relationship Quality Of Adult Childhood Sexual Abuse (Csa) Survivors: A Qualitative Study, Colin E. Wilson
How Partner Support Impacts The Intimate Relationship Quality Of Adult Childhood Sexual Abuse (Csa) Survivors: A Qualitative Study, Colin E. Wilson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) often experience long-term disruptions in their ability to form and maintain healthy adult intimate relationships. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how adult survivors described partner support and its impact on their relational healing and the quality of their intimate relationships. Eleven adults who had experienced CSA and had participated in a committed intimate relationship lasting at least 12 months were recruited through a combination of convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling. Data were collected through demographic questionnaires, a Lived Experiences Timeline Activity (LETA) sheet, semi-structured interviews, field notes, and memos. …
Invisible Transitions: A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Christian Working Women Navigating Perimenopause, Rebekah S. Willis
Invisible Transitions: A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Christian Working Women Navigating Perimenopause, Rebekah S. Willis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Perimenopause is a significant life transition that can affect how women experience their bodies, relationships, work, and sense of self. However, the experiences of working women during this transition, specifically women of faith, remain underrepresented in existing literature. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of Christian working women navigating perimenopause, with attention to how they understood changes in daily life, professional identity, personal coping, workplace experiences, and faith. Eight women participated in semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Five major themes emerged from the findings: the disruption of a previously …
Colorado Mental Health Professionals’ Personal And Professional Perspectives Of Nutrition: A Phenomenological Study, Tanya M. Tyrrell
Colorado Mental Health Professionals’ Personal And Professional Perspectives Of Nutrition: A Phenomenological Study, Tanya M. Tyrrell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Growing evidence supports the relationship between nutrition and mental health. However, little is known about how mental health professionals (MHPs) experience nutrition, perceive its role in relation to mental health, or integrate nutrition into psychotherapy. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore Colorado MHPs’ lived experiences with nutrition and examine how those experiences informed their professional perspectives of nutrition. Guided by constructivist epistemology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 MHPs practicing in Colorado, and data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis generated eight themes. Findings revealed that 1) MHPs experienced nutrition as a lifelong developmental process …
Examining The Relationships Among Cultural Intelligence, Religiosity, And Cross-Cultural Adjustment Among Faith-Driven Expatriates Living And Working In Thailand, Jerry W. Bosken
Masters Theses
This quantitative correlational study examined the relationships among cultural intelligence, religiosity, and cross-cultural adjustment among adult faith-driven expatriates living and working in Thailand. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey using three established instruments: the Cultural Intelligence Scale, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, and the Expatriate Adjustment Scale. The final analytic sample included 85 usable responses. Analyses included data screening, descriptive statistics, assumption testing, and multiple regression models. The results indicated that the four dimensions of cultural intelligence collectively predicted overall cross-cultural adjustment. However, motivational cultural intelligence was the only statistically significant individual predictor. Religiosity did not significantly predict …
Exploring Self-Care And Mental Health Resilience Among Black Female Mental Health Therapists In Practice, Rhonda R. Mark
Exploring Self-Care And Mental Health Resilience Among Black Female Mental Health Therapists In Practice, Rhonda R. Mark
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Black women who serve as mental health therapists often carry a unique and invisible load, borne from caring deeply for their clients while also navigating the daily realities of race and gender bias, both inside and outside of their profession. In that context, this study examines how Black female therapists working in clinical practice care for themselves and stay emotionally resilient in the face of these challenges. It adopts a qualitative, phenomenological approach, and is grounded in intersectionality and Black feminist thought, with the goal of elevating the personal stories and lived experiences of 10 participants. Their reflections offer a …
What We Love Online: A Deductive Thematic Analysis Of Thoughtforms, Parasocial Agent Connection, And Bidirectional Fictophilia In The Digital Liminal, Michael P. Ross
What We Love Online: A Deductive Thematic Analysis Of Thoughtforms, Parasocial Agent Connection, And Bidirectional Fictophilia In The Digital Liminal, Michael P. Ross
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become integrated into daily life, users are forming connections with non-human agents that are functionally useful, emotionally significant, and sometimes experienced as relational. This qualitative study examined how individuals make meaning of AI thoughtforms, how online disinhibition shapes perceived connection, and how personal histories and belief systems inform whether AI companions feel emotionally or symbolically “real.” Seven adults who reported meaningful AI interactions participated in semi-structured video interviews through Microsoft Teams. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed in NVivo 15 using deductive thematic analysis informed by parasocial attachment, fictophilia, social cognitive theory, and online …
Enhancing Cognitive And Emotional Development In An Inclusive High School Setting: A Study Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Roxanne Miller
Enhancing Cognitive And Emotional Development In An Inclusive High School Setting: A Study Of Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Roxanne Miller
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Students with intellectual disabilities often experience cognitive deficits that limit the development of social cognition and critical thinking skills. Challenges in executive functioning, including reduced metacognitive awareness, emotional regulation, and self-regulation, further hinder their ability to plan, monitor, and adapt their thinking and behavior, creating barriers to success in inclusive educational settings. This mixed-methods pilot study examined the effects of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) program on the cognitive development of five high school students with intellectual disabilities enrolled in an inclusive Christian high school over one semester. Using a sequential explanatory design, quantitative data were collected via the MINDCAP …
The Effects Of Home Virtual Reality (Vr) Firearms Systems On Self-Efficacy, Gun Attitude, And Stress, Raffi R. Stambultsyan
The Effects Of Home Virtual Reality (Vr) Firearms Systems On Self-Efficacy, Gun Attitude, And Stress, Raffi R. Stambultsyan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Advanced virtual reality (VR) firearms training systems have demonstrated benefits for military and law enforcement personnel; however, limited research has examined the psychological effects of commercially available home-based VR firearms systems. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to investigate the immediate effects of the GAIM and AceXR home VR dry-fire training systems on general self-efficacy, leadership self-efficacy, perceived stress, and gun attitude among firearms-trained military and law enforcement veterans. A total of 128 participants completed validated pretest and posttest measures following participation in a VR training session using either the GAIM or AceXR platform. A one-way multivariate analysis …
From Broken To Becoming: A Phenomenological Study Of Life Purpose Among Christian Adult Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Chenel M. Stewart
From Broken To Becoming: A Phenomenological Study Of Life Purpose Among Christian Adult Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Chenel M. Stewart
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Childhood trauma often disrupts an individual’s sense of meaning, identity, and direction, leaving lasting effects that extend beyond psychological symptoms into how life’s purpose is understood and lived. While existing research has examined trauma, coping, and meaning in life, less is known about how survivors themselves experience and construct life purpose following traumatic experiences. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how Christian adult survivors of childhood trauma describe their lived experiences of trauma and healing, and the development of life purpose in adulthood. Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven Christian adults who self-identified as having experienced childhood trauma and healing and …