Digital Commons Network^™

Uncovering Moral Injury At Work: The Development And Initial Validation Of The Moral Injury At Work Scale (Miws), Megan J. Snoeyink

Dissertations and Theses

Employees frequently encounter situations at work that present moral or ethical dilemmas. Consequently, they may engage in immoral actions, witness moral violations, or fail to intervene when their coworkers behave immorally. Repeated exposure to such moral challenges can lead to moral injury--the damage to one's moral code and self-image resulting from witnessing, failing to prevent, or participating in what is perceived as an immoral act. Despite the potential for moral injury in workplace contexts, research has yet to adequately explore or measure this phenomenon. This dissertation addresses this gap by developing and validating the Moral Injury at Work Scale (MIWS). …

Experiences Of Social And Emotional Learning And Resilience Among Young Adults From Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Communities, Aliyah Davis-Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition from adolescence to early adulthood presents many unique challenges, particularly for individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. This study was conducted to explore how young adults (ages 18–30) who experienced socioeconomic hardship during their youth experience and apply the socioemotional skill of resilience as young adults. Data were collected through virtual interviews with 11 participants who were between the ages of 18 and 30, who were from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background and had participated in a social and emotional learning (SEL) program as a youth. Collected data were analyzed and themes emerged from this analysis. Despite facing systemic barriers, …

Neurocriminology: A Beginner’S Guide, Jerrod Brown

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Neurocriminology: Revolutionizing Specialized Training For Criminal Justice System Professionals, Janina Cich

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Centering Black Resource-Poor Adolescent Voices: A Critical Phenomenological Study Of Lived Mental Health Struggles While Enduring The Covid-19 Pandemic, Paulette Dispagna

Counseling and Psychology Dissertations

There is a dearth of research in general and qualitative research specifically about the mental health experience of resource-poor Black adolescents living in Boston. This has implications for the field in terms of how adolescents experiencing mental health issues can be supported and how professionals can create more useful mental health treatment. Drawing from the theoretical lens of critical race theory and more specifically, intersectionality, this hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry examined the ways in which experiencing multiple levels of inequality, especially from racism and poverty, affected a Black adolescent’s mental health. Eleven adolescents were interviewed via Zoom. Six major findings included: …

Beyond The Blue Skies: A Comprehensive Guide For Risk Assessment In Aviation, Leila Halawi, Mark Miller, Sam Holley

Publications

Risk assessment in aviation is a critical process that safeguards the safety and reliability of operations. Aviation operations encompass inherent risks, from mechanical failures to human errors and environmental factors. The significance of these risks may be severe, leading to accidents, injuries, and loss of life. Recognizing and mitigating risks is supreme in this dynamic environment, where emerging technologies and innovation constantly reshape this industry. This chapter includes an in-depth explanation of risk management and analysis, leading to the core elements of risk assessment specifically for aviation operations. We will describe the process and explore some of the applications and …

Parental Support Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic While Supervising 9th – 12th Grade Student Learning, Sarah E. White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of parents, children, and families in numerous ways. These impacts included increased parental involvement in remote learning. This was an ongoing situation where parents were supervising and being highly involved in their student’s education. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the parental support experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic while supervising high school student learning. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory was used as a theoretical foundation to understand the experiences of parents. This theory related to support systems, which was relevant during COVID-19 when remote learning changed the interactions between in-person students and …

Barriers To Nigerian Community Members In The United States Seeking Mental Health Treatment, Chinwendu Ejekwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian immigrants in the United States face significant challenges in accessing mental health care due to various cultural and systemic barriers. This generic qualitative study, guided by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, was conducted to explore the barriers encountered by Nigerian community members in seeking mental health treatment in the United States. Data were obtained through semistructured interviews where nine Nigerian immigrants presented their perceptions and experiences concerning barriers to Nigerian community members seeking mental health treatment in the United States. Thematic analysis followed the six-step data analysis method, leading to three themes. The themes identified are: (a) mental health is a …

Dialectical Behavior Therapy Implementation Experiences Among Mental Health Professionals In Correctional Settings, Angdi Karim Impelee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the challenges and experiences of mental health professionals implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) within forensic populations in the United States, filling a significant gap in research that primarily focused on DBT in non-forensic contexts. Utilizing qualitative methods, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with practitioners from various correctional settings, emphasizing their perceptions of DBT's efficacy, adaptation strategies to meet the cultural and institutional demands of their unique environments, and resultant behavioral outcomes for incarcerated individuals. Thematic analysis revealed key challenges, including resource limitations, institutional resistance, and the necessity for extensive cultural adaptations of therapeutic techniques. Participants highlighted …

Thresholds Of Healing: Rethinking Inpatient Mental Health Facility Design, Emily Simms, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

Along Martha Berry Boulevard in the City of Rome, Georgia, is the proposed Tax Allocation District (TAD), which slates redevelopment for blighted areas, including motels that have been a hot spot for criminal activity in the area. Coupled with this blighted area is the need for mental health facilities to serve the needs of the community, specifically long-term facilities for patients with depression and/or self-harm concerns. Suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death for those aged 10-24 in Georgia according to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). A new long-term facility is proposed within the …

Mental Health Seeking Perspectives Of Filipino Immigrants In California, Jonathan Patam Won

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Filipino immigrants have low access to mental healthcare in their native country and a high rate of mental health disorders. The problem that was investigated in this concurrent triangulation mixed-methods study was a lack of understanding regarding how Filipino immigrants to California perceive mental health services. Acculturation theory was used to understand the lived experiences of eight Californian Filipino immigrants who had sought mental health services and seven who had not. All participants had lived in California for at least 10 years. Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were employed for the qualitative component. An acculturation questionnaire was used to gather …

From Private To Public: Narratives Of Gender-Based Violence Among The Everyday Voices Of The #Metoo Movement, Anna Gjika Phd, Megan Stubbs-Richardson Phd, Mackenzie Paul

SSRC Publications

In 2017, the #MeToo movement garnered international attention when millions of people used the hashtag to share personal experiences of sexual violence. The present study examines how non-celebrity users discussed their experiences of sexual victimization through a qualitative and quantitative content analysis of a random sample of #MeToo tweets (N=1,427). We found that survivors prioritized details about the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how” of trauma in their disclosures (Bogen et al., 2021). Key themes in their responses included child sexual abuse (22.7%), long-term adverse effects (17.6%), and polyvictimization (10.4%) across the life course. Survivors also utilized #MeToo to …

Nature-Based Education As A Learning Tool: Unleashing The Power Of Nature-Based Education In Egyptian Primary Schools. "The Effects Of Outdoor Learning And Open-Air Classrooms On Primary School Students In Egypt.", Nermeen Bekhiet

Theses and Dissertations

When learning modalities are tailored to each student's preferences and needs, academic success follows. This effect is contingent upon both individual and surrounding factors. Many schools in Egypt and the Middle East do not concentrate on how exposure to nature and nature-based learning can affect how the learner perceives his or her learning area. Most schools in Egypt have no exposure to nature to allow students to explore the world in their way; there is no room for diverse students to excel. Therefore, this exploratory research aims to reestablish a connection between private primary school students and the natural world …

“Feels Good Man”: How One Amphibian Became A Weapon Of Mass Disinformation, Samuel Stiller

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

This paper investigates the “Pepe the Frog” meme to explore the significance of memes as a medium of disinformation with particular emphasis on how the psychology of anonymity affects how disinformation is disseminated.

Stop The Brain Drain: A Higher Education Collaborative Autoethnographic Change Study Using A Soft Systems Approach, Danny Darden, Angela Nunez, Stella Shen, Rob E. Carpenter, Ginger Vaughn, Tim Murphy

Student Posters

Knowledge loss is a common challenge within IHEs—highly educated and skilled individuals leave—often taking the knowledge to do their job well with them. Turnover in IHEs is currently at an all-time high. There is a strong correlation between knowledge management practices and organizational performance. This paper (in progress) explores this phenomenon using collaborative institutional ethnography, enabling a critical analysis of how power dynamics and uncertainty shape both individual experiences and broader workplace social structures. Participants include six IHE employees (in various IHE roles) from three separate universities in the eastern region of Texas. We aim to uncover the internal experiences …

Culturally Considerate Trauma-Focused Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment In Latine/X Populations: A Scoping Review, Alejandra Kukuli Delgado, Ryan Holliday, Shira Maguen, Nicholas Holder

Psychology Student Research

Background/Objectives: While theoretical articles describing cultural considerations for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment in Latine/x populations exist, empirical trials are less common. The present study aimed to review the existing literature for empirically tested, trauma-focused PTSD treatments among Latine/x samples to describe treatment outcomes, cultural considerations, and gaps in the existing literature. Methods: For this scoping review, we identified studies that met inclusion criteria as culturally considerate, trauma-focused PTSD treatments reporting symptom outcomes in Latine/x adults. We searched databases (n = 7) and collected 2176 unique records. Six reports met inclusion criteria. Studies enrolled 176 participants into five …

The Power Of Disconnecting: The Moderating Effect Of Decompression On Safety Culture And Organizational Commitment In Nurses, Mackenzie Zimmerman

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Dissertations

This dissertation examines the role of decompression in moderating and mediating the relationship between safety culture and affective organizational commitment among nurses in a pediatric healthcare organization. Data from 908 nurses were analyzed to test two primary hypotheses. The first hypothesis proposed that safety culture would positively predict organizational commitment, and the results supported this, showing that stronger safety cultures were associated with greater organizational commitment (b = 0.55, p < .001). The second hypothesis suggested that decompression would moderate the relationship between safety culture and organizational commitment. However, decompression did not significantly moderate this relationship across the overall sample (b = 0.03, p = .258). Post hoc mediation analysis, however, revealed that decompression acted as a significant mediator (b = 0.071, p = .05), highlighting that decompression enhances the effect of safety culture on organizational commitment. These findings underscore the importance of fostering a strong safety culture and implementing decompression strategies, such as mindfulness practices and structured breaks, to improve nurse well-being and retention. Implications for healthcare organizations aiming to enhance workforce resilience and commitment are discussed, alongside suggestions for future research exploring departmental variations in decompression's effectiveness.

Twitter Politics: The Effect Of Language Style And Source Type On Credibility Judgments, Grace M. Wasinger, Haley Moon, Brooke Mann

Academic Leadership Journal in Student Research

Politicians can harness social media to influence public perception and shape narratives about current events. Twitter is a social media site that many users engage with for information-seeking purposes. This study investigates how language style and source type influences media viewers’ perceptions on Twitter. In an experiment, participants were presented with tweets that varied by the formality of language used and the type of account used varied by political or personal accounts. Findings suggest a difference in source credibility judgments on the account type and language style used. Specifically, participants viewed formal language and professional accounts as more competent, while …

Gratitude And Personality: A Meta-Analysis, Nancy E. Frye, Selenay Aytac, Michele M. Dornisch

Post Library Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between gratitude and personality through a comprehensive review of existing research and a meta-analysis of findings on the correlation between gratitude and the Big Five personality dimensions.

Dental Phobia And Oral Health: Assessing Its Impact On Quality Of Life, Mahak Sargodhia, Kamran H. Awan

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Benefits Of Equilibrium Between Microbiota- And Host-Derived Ligands Of The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor After Stroke In Aged Male Mice, Pedram Peesh, Maria P Blasco-Conesa, Ahmad El Hamamy, Romeesa Khan, Gary U Guzman, Parisa Honarpisheh, Eric C Mohan, Grant W Goodman, Justin N Nguyen, Anik Banerjee, Bryce E West, Kyung Ae Ko, Janelle M Korf, Chunfeng Tan, Huihui Fan, Gabriela D Colpo, Hilda Ahnstedt, Lucy Couture, Solji Roh, Julia K Kofler, Jose F Moruno-Manchon, Michael E Maniskas, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Rodney M Ritzel, Juneyoung Lee, Jun Li, Robert M Bryan, Anjali Chauhan, Venugopal Reddy Venna, Louise D Mccullough, Bhanu Priya Ganesh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of microglia (MG) and their interactions with the gut microbiome in post-stroke neuroinflammation. The activation of immunoregulatory pathways, including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, is influenced by a dynamic balance of ligands derived from both the host and microbiota. This study aimed to investigate the association between stroke-induced dysbiosis and the resultant imbalance in AHR ligand sources (loss of microbiota-derived [indole-based] and increase of host-derived [kynurenine-based]) after stroke. Microbiota-derived AHR ligands decreased in human plasma and remained low for days following an ischemic stroke highlighting the translational significance. Transient-middle-cerebral-artery-occlusion was performed in …

Physical And Mental Health Experiences Of Obese Men Living In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to public health worldwide, significantly impacting vulnerable populations like obese men in the United States. This qualitative descriptive study involved exploring how these men perceived the pandemic’s impact on their physical and mental health, addressing a critical gap in existing literature. The research question that guided this study was: How did obese men living in the United States perceive the stressor that was the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health? Guided by the biopsychosocial model, the study involved using semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who were recruited online through social media. Thematic …

Podcasting Towards Togetherness: Utilizing Podcasts To Improve Departmental Camaraderie And Well-Being, Michael Petrauskis, Colleen Gutman, Rosemarie Fernandez

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Physician burnout is on the rise, and this is of particular concern in emergency medicine. Burnout is associated with medical errors, adverse events, poor professionalism, and litigation. A sense of community can build engagement and mitigate workplace stressors on well-being. Emergency physicians may have trouble connecting due to the nature of shift-work and various practice settings. Communication technology, and particularly podcasting, has the potential to help overcome these barriers and positively impact relatedness and well-being.

Approach: We developed an inward-facing podcast, “The ER Break Room” within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida. Through the …

Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-conflict divorce (HCD) involves prolonged conflict exceeding 2 years, persistent hostility, and extensive court involvement. Mental health professionals often participate as court-appointed expert witnesses or provide therapy at parental request. Therapists' roles become more complex when parents exhibit challenging personality traits. This descriptive qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences in treating children and families in HCD cases where one or both parents displayed complex personality issues or disorders. Greenberg and Gould’s model on mental health professionals in court cases and Freud’s countertransference theory provided the study’s conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine therapists, and thematic analysis was …

African American Women’S Experience Of Wearing Natural Textured Hair, Tammy White-Jolivette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women’s (AAW’s) experiences of wearing natural textured hair are underrepresented in the literature. This issue, and hair discrimination more broadly, is a form of social injustice that underscores the cultural and social significance of natural hair as a symbol of heritage, identity, and resilience in African American communities. Guided by social comparison and self-concept theories, the purpose of this study was to examine how wearing natural hair influences AAW’s self-perception. The research question was: How do AAW describe their experiences of wearing natural textured hair? The qualitative method featured interpretative phenomenological analysis. Data were collected by conducting in-depth …

Health-Seeking Behaviors Of Asian American College Students With First-Generation Immigrant Parents, Andrea Michelle Ortega-Criddle

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Asian Americans continue to underutilize mental health and health care services for various reasons such as cultural values, acculturation/enculturation, and lack of familiarity with the healthcare system (Ruzek et al., 2011). There is little information about how much influence first-generation Asian immigrant parents have on influencing health-seeking behaviors and attitudes of their Asian American children. While second-generation Asian Americans demonstrate adherence to both Asian and Western values, they continue to be less likely to seek health services than any other ethnic group in the United States. In order to provide more culturally aware and culturally sensitive services for Asian Americans, …

The Lived Experiences Of Police Officers’ Responses To Stranger And Familial Child Abductions, Kennedy Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When the media covers stories of child abductions, a common misconception is who the abductor is. Despite what the news broadcasts, a child is more likely to be abducted by a family member or acquaintance than a stranger. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of police officers’ responses to stranger and familial abductions using a phenomenological approach to determine how schemas may shape police officers’ perceptions, specifically concerning responding to child abductions. Schema theory suggests schemas are formed based on an occurrence between an individual and their surrounding environment. Nine interviews were conducted of police officers …

Perspectives Of Residential Treatment Center Staff On Organizational Climate And Rehabilitation, Erika Drayton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential treatment centers (RTCs) within the juvenile justice system (JJS) are commonly used as an out-of-home placement for adjudicated youths who require more individualized care. Several researchers studied the JJS; however, few explored RTCs or the direct care staff. Probation officers and detention facility staff have been the focus of previous studies. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of RTC staff on organizational climate and rehabilitation of adjudicated youths. The participants included 12 direct care RTC staff age 18 and older who had worked with adjudicated youths for one year or more. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological …

Trauma-Informed Bilingual Counselor Education: Factors To Guide Professional Mental Health Training With Spanish-Speaking Students, Fernando Estrada, Miguel A. Arana

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Latine immigrants confront various forms of violence that increases their risk for traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is a need to advance the training of counselors who can work with Spanish-speaking clients exposed to trauma. The goal of this study was to articulate a literature-based conceptualization of trauma-informed bilingual counselor education. The results of a content analysis facilitated a synthesis of the relevant scholarship that highlighted four main facets: (i) integrative translanguage pedagogy, (ii) immigrant trauma exposure and reaction, (iii) culturally responsive socio-emotional interventions, and (iv) bilingual supervisory alliance. These factors can help guide professional graduate training. Implications …

Perceptions Of Clinically Depressed Individuals: Social Media Use, Depressive Symptoms, And Interpersonal Relationships, Rachel N. Fullen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent literature has shown an association between social media usage and depressive symptoms, but there remains a gap regarding the perceptions of individuals with clinical depression on their social media usage and their interpersonal relationships. This qualitative study was conducted to uncover how people view social media and their clinical depression as well as the quality of their interpersonal interactions through social media platforms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals who were diagnosed with clinical depression, used social media for 2 hours daily, and lived with their significant other/partner. The theory applied to this study was Blumler and Katz’s …