Digital Commons Network^™

A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study Of The Transformational Leadership Practice Of Individualized Consideration And The Emotional Exhaustion Aspect Of Burnout Among Educators In Urban Primary Schools, Mark Vital

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study investigated the relationship between the transformational leadership practice of individualized consideration and levels of burnout among educators in urban primary school settings. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and the principles of self-determination theory, the study explored whether leaders who demonstrated individualized support and mentorship could effectively mitigate burnout symptoms among their teaching staff. This correlational study collected data from teachers in an urban primary school using validated instruments that measured perceived leadership behaviors and burnout levels. Data were collected through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Educators Survey, which were distributed via email. Statistical …

Law Enforcement Perceptions Of An Integrated Co-Responder Model: A Qualitative Case Study At The Jefferson County Sheriff’S Office, Austin D. Schwent

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement personnel often serve as first responders to behavioral health crises, yet limited research has examined agency-based co-responder models staffed by embedded mental health professionals. This descriptive, non-evaluative, site-specific generic qualitative case study examined commissioned personnel’s descriptions of the benefits and challenges of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response and Mitigation Unit (CRMU) and perceived operational differences from external partnership models. The anonymous PowerDMS questionnaire served as the primary participant-derived source and produced 91 routing-item responses and 528 nonblank narrative response units; three organizational artifacts supplied procedural, historical, and structural evidence concerning the bounded case. The researcher manually …

Cisgender Women With Autism And Their Experiences In Psychotherapy: A Phenomenological Study, Lillian Katherine Gray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has underrepresented cisgender women with autism, and there are limited and inadequate resources and services. Cisgender women with autism experience unique challenges which connect to mental health challenges. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of cisgender women with level one autism; specifically, their experiences related to camouflaging, reasons for seeking psychotherapy, and the therapeutic relationship with their mental health care provider. Participant criteria included being a cisgender woman diagnosed with level one autism, who camouflage, and attended psychotherapy as an adult. Procedures included an online screening survey and semi-structured interviews. I used …

Examining Emotion Regulation And The Link Between Childhood Adversity And Secondary Trauma In First Responders, Maci Lenora Harmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

First responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events in the course of their professional duties, placing them at increased risk for secondary traumatic stress (STS). However, psychological responses to occupational trauma exposure vary considerably across individuals. Developmental research suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may contribute to long-term alterations in emotional functioning and stress responsivity, potentially increasing vulnerability to later trauma-related symptoms. Emotion regulation (ER) has been identified as a transdiagnostic process associated with trauma-related stress. Furthermore, ER may function as a pathway linking early adversity to occupational stress outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional correlational mediation study was …

A Multivariate Analysis Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And Cognitive Load In Scripted Instructional Programs, Tameka A. Bonner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, multivariate comparative study examined whether statistically significant differences existed in teacher self-efficacy and teacher cognitive load between Title I and non–Title I elementary school teachers who implement scripted instructional programs. The study addressed a gap in the literature by simultaneously examining these constructs across differing school settings. The final analytic sample consisted of 169 elementary school teachers employed in Title I and non-Title I schools within a suburban public school district in the southeastern United States. Data were collected using the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES), the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and a demographic questionnaire …

Equipping Church Leaders As Mediators: Implementing And Evaluating Conflict Mediation Training In A Multicultural Church, Komie T. Bumpers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The social, political, ideological, and racial divides that lead to conflict and shape today's culture are the same issues that plague American evangelical churches. While faith traditions can bring people together, cultural issues can divide them. Despite the centrality of conflict in congregational life, many theological seminaries do not provide comprehensive conflict mediation training as a core component of pastoral and leadership formation, resulting in a deficit in preparedness. The purpose of this research was to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive conflict mediation training program for multicultural church leaders that equips them to effectively navigate ongoing interpersonal, doctrinal, political, …

Challenging The Consensus: Labor Struggle, Worker Experience, And Presidential Intervention At The Mary-Leila Textile Mill During World War Ii A Scholarly Interpretation Of A Newly Discovered Textile Mill Archive, 1930s–1940s, Alix Hunsucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Four sealed wooden crates discovered in the rafters of the Mary-Leila Textile Mill in Greensboro, Georgia, provide the evidentiary foundation for this dissertation and reveal a previously unavailable history of southern textile labor, industrial paternalism, unionization, and federal intervention. Sealed in 1946 and hidden from ordinary circulation for more than half a century, the cache contains legal correspondence, telegrams, wage records, contracts, photographs, architectural materials, and documentation connecting this small rural Georgia mill to a much larger regional labor dispute and the expanding authority of the federal government during World War II. Combined with oral histories, local government records, census …

Examining The Barriers Of Youth Homelessness And Its Impact On The Utilization Of Mental Health Care Services, Layla A. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This paper examines the barriers of youth homelessness and its impact on the utilization of mental health services for this demographic. Youth experiencing homelessness encounter many barriers including but not limited to mental health concerns, social obstacles, and street victimization. Understanding how homelessness impacts the access and utilization of mental health services among youth experiencing homelessness is important. Overall, the literature discusses significant findings, gaps in research, and suggestions for future research. Increased knowledge of how homeless youth access mental health care services and the barriers will help to increase awareness to help decrease barriers. The purpose of this quantitative …

The Impact Of Active Killer Defense Training Preparations And The Church, Michael Edward Howell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory (GT) study was to develop and understand the training and prevention tactics used in defending the church against active killer violence. Exploring the Routine Activity Theory (RAT) developed by Cohen and Felson (1979) in relation to active killer violence aimed to contribute significantly to building a more robust understanding of related problems associated with active killer violence in the world today in terms of a motivated offender, suitable target, and a lack of a capable guardian. The central phenomenon of this GT study focused on the understanding of the lethal threat from active killer …

The Correlational And Predictive Effect Of Evangelical Adolescent Church Volunteering And Mental Health Flourishing, Todd Reiff Lesher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescence is a time of significant development, often characterized by pubertal changes, identity exploration, and shifts in interpersonal relationships from parents to peers, all of which are necessary for the transition from childhood to adulthood. In addition to these aspects of adolescent development, personal and contextual changes can contribute to internalizing vulnerabilities throughout adolescence that can jeopardize their mental health. The focus of this study concentrates on religious volunteering, to better understand how variables related to volunteering contribute to adolescent mental health. The purpose of this study is to understand how Evangelical church volunteering impacts mental health flourishing in adolescents. …

Cultivating A Culturally Relevant And Inclusive Elementary Music Classroom, Elisabeth Virginia Marie Buzzell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While programs such as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Act (DEI) and the practice of Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) existed for much of the last decade, representation of marginalized and intersectional identities in traditional music education is often limited to world culture units, rather than being consistently integrated throughout the curriculum. The social understanding of CRE and DEI often limits their purpose to racial diversity; however, these philosophies affirm people from any marginalized class, including those based on gender, disability, race, culture, community, orientation, socioeconomics, or simply bringing one’s lived experiences into a valued perspective. The lack of integration happens …

Decoding Officer Wellness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of The Decision-Making Processes In Law Enforcement Administrations And Government Partnerships, Erik Lee Peffer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how law enforcement administrators in Orange County, California, in collaboration with the governments they serve, make decisions regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of officer wellness programs. Lewin's Change Theory guided the study and framed the movement from unfreezing to changing to refreezing. Ten administrators participated in semi-structured interviews. Each administrator had at least five years of experience and held decision-making authority over officer wellness initiatives. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Screening and demographic questionnaires, field notes, and member checking were also used to support …

Unlocking Flow: Revealing The Blueprint For Peak Experiences Among Surgeons, Maximilian H. Pollack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Flow supports optimal performance and well-being, yet surgical research has treated it as a static, intrapersonal state, leaving its interpersonal and organizational conditions poorly understood. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how surgeons experience flow in the operating room and to identify the conditions and strategies participants described as supporting flow access. Guided by Csikszentmihalyi’s (1990) flow theory, McQueen et al.’s (2025) multifaceted framework, and self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), purposive and snowball sampling recruited 20 surgeons across nine specialties (12–49 years, M = 33.95) for semi-structured interviews. Analysis followed Englander and Morley’s (2023) five-step …

Minority Domestic Violence Victims And The Criminal Justice System, Jasmine Nicle Shelton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study used a qualitative approach to develop an understanding of lived experiences of minority domestic violence victims. The six open-ended questions were designed for the participants to describe their experiences when interacting with law enforcement, the court system, and victim support services. African American and Hispanic participants between the ages of 18 and 55 were recruited from domestic abuse treatment or support facilities and social media outreach. Potential participants completed an eligibility screening to determine whether they met the inclusion criteria. Interviews were conducted with 13 African American and Hispanic participants until data saturation was reached, indicating that …

Adult Children Of Alcoholics: How Growing Up With An Alcoholic Influences Parenting Practices And The Parent-Child Dynamic, Taylor Sayre Bart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how the influence of growing up with an alcoholic parent influenced one’s parenting practices and the parent-child dynamic. This study explored the lived experiences of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) as it related to their alcoholic parents’ parenting practices and styles. This study also explored how the participants’ childhood experience affected their relationship with their children and subsequently influenced their own parenting practices and styles. Bowlby’s attachment theory and Bowen’s family systems theory guided this study. Attachment theory was used as it is a key factor in building relationships between …

A Case Study Of Medical School Leadership Perceptions And Experiences In Implementing Academic Support Services For Students, Elda Martinez Muller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the perceptions and experiences of medical school leadership regarding the implementation of academic support services at a medical university in the Southeastern United States. The study was guided by the central research question: How did medical school leaders perceive and experience the implementation of academic support services for students within their institutions? Servant Leadership Theory (Greenleaf, 1970, 1977) provided the theoretical framework, emphasizing the leader’s responsibility to serve first, prioritizing the growth, development, and well-being of others while fostering shared decision-making and a culture of care. This framework offered a …

Job Satisfaction Among Latina Female Administrators In Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Susana Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the job satisfaction experiences for Latina female administrators at higher education institutions in the Central California region. The theory guiding this study was Herzberg’s two-factor theory. The central research question was: What are the descriptions of the lived experiences related to job satisfaction among Latina female administrators in higher education institutions in the Central California region? The sub-questions focused on the motivators and hygiene experiences that lead to job satisfaction among the participants. A transcendental-phenomenological qualitative design was selected for the study to examine the job satisfaction experiences of 14 …

The Human Side Of Healing: A Qualitative Study Of The Holistic Benefits When Integrating Dog Training Into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Recovery, Michelle J. Nordstrom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Introduction: Posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly prevalent among Servicemembers and veterans. Many of those with PTSD also struggle with moral injury and co-occurring health complications. This combination results in poor outcomes with current evidence-based practices. However, a series of recent studies examined the efficacy of a service dog training program (SDTP) which demonstrated improvements in symptoms.

Methods: A privatized archival dataset of redacted transcripts was used. The interviews were collected during a broader mixed methods study and maintained for a phenomenological, thematic analysis. There were 119 transcripts from 84 of the original 117 participants who engaged …

A Phenomenological Study: Life During The Pandemic As An Adolescent In Hidalgo County, Texas, And Life Today, Melissa Guevara-Pérez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of adolescents during a critical part of social, emotional, and identity development. Although previous research has noted the immediate effects of the pandemic on adolescents, limited research has examined the long-term impact on individuals who experienced the pandemic during adolescence and are now transitioning into adulthood. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Hispanic young adults who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic as adolescents and to understand how those experiences influenced their social and personal development as they transitioned into adulthood. Participants included 10 Hispanic young adults who …

Paying The Success Tax: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Women Navigating Workplace Microaggressions, Santisha Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of professional Black women as they relate to microaggressions experienced in professional spaces. Professional, for this study, refers to Black women in professional positions that require a degree, advanced degree, professional licensure, and those with current/past military service in the enlisted rank of E-7 and above or commissioned officers in the rank of O3 and above. The theory that guided this study was the phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST), which emphasizes how people develop, considering the unique intersectionality of multiple social identities (Spencer et al., 1997). …

Examining The Predictive Relationship Between Overparenting And Student Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction, Benjamin C. Carlisle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study is to determine the relationship between overparenting (helicopter parenting) and basic psychological need satisfaction informed by self-determination theory among emerging adult college students. This study fills a gap in the literature and expands upon existing research by examining this relationship. The target population was residential emerging adult students ages 18–25 at a southern, private university. Using convenience sampling, the researcher distributed surveys within courses and through flyers, resulting in 176 responses. Out of the 176 respondents who began the survey, there was a completion rate of 84.7% giving the sample size of N …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study: How Female Student-Athletes Diagnosed With Adhd Leverage Athletics To Mitigate Challenges With Self-Regulation Throughout Their Academic Careers, Alyssa J. Knight

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experience of participation in athletics for female student-athletes with ADHD in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Zimmerman’s social cognitive theory of self-regulated learning, which posits that goal setting and self-reflection are necessary for developing self-regulation skills. The central research question was, “How do female student-athletes diagnosed with ADHD leverage athletics to mitigate challenges with self-regulation in their academic careers?” This study employed hermeneutic phenomenology, as outlined by van Manen, to interpret data and understand lived experience within the academic context. The sample consisted of …

Funding And Quality In Metropolitan Vs. Non-Metropolitan Head Start Programs, Kelly Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative survey study examined how Head Start program location and perceived funding levels were associated with perceived classroom quality and perceived teacher-child interactions. The study addressed three research questions: how funding distribution between metropolitan and non-metropolitan programs related to perceived classroom quality; how perceived funding levels related to teacher-child interactions; and whether perceived funding, classroom quality, and teacher-child interactions were significantly related across program settings. Head Start programs support children from low-income families through federal, local, and community resources. Because resources may vary by location, this study compared perceived funding, classroom quality, and teacher-child interactions across metropolitan and non-metropolitan …

A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Personal Branding Practices Of Forbes 30 Under 30 Honorees, Hannah Naylor Regitz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examines the personal branding practices of 10 honorees from the Forbes 2025 North American 30 Under 30 list. Through a thematic content analysis of Instagram, the honorees’ posts, captions, and the conversation climate of their comments from October 2025 were analyzed to determine patterns and similarities in their personal branding practices. Grounded in cultivation theory, this study explored how repeated exposure to curated content of these high-achieving young professionals shapes their personal brand perception. Additionally, it explored their interaction with commenters and the types of comments they engaged with. The analysis revealed seven themes that were present …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Digital Burnout Among Liberty University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Shaira Neupane

Masters Theses

Background: Digital burnout, characterized by chronic psychological and physiological fatigue from persistent digital engagement, is an emerging public health concern among university students. It is conceptually related to but distinct from academic burnout, and few U.S. studies have examined both constructs together using validated instruments.

Objective: To describe digital burnout among Liberty University students, identify its sociodemographic and behavioral correlates, assess its relationship with academic burnout, and evaluate student awareness of campus digital-wellness resources.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 336 Liberty University students during Summer 2026 using the Digital Burnout Scale (DBS) and the Academic Burnout Scale (ABS). Hierarchical linear …

Pandemic-Driven Mediatization Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Jamaica, Gervon Garcia Marsh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica experienced a radical shift in its relationship with information and communication technology (ICT) due to the COVID-19 mandatory lockdowns imposed by the Government of Jamaica. Prior to the pandemic, ICT use was less pronounced in the life and ministry of the Church, suggesting limited susceptibility to mediatization. This shift accelerated the mediatization of the Church, leading to a heavy reliance on ICT that has become entrenched in its life and ministry post-pandemic. This qualitative exploratory case study examined how pandemic-driven mediatization shaped the collective agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica through ICT, …

Exploring Potential Psychological, Behavioral, And Physiological Predictors Of Human Flourishing In Division 1 Athletes: Toward A More Comprehensive Mental Health Screening, Derek Aaron Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has created numerous task forces and guidelines to address the rise in mental health challenges faced by student-athletes. However, these efforts have largely focused on identifying psychopathology rather than promoting flourishing. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive utility of self-report and objective measures of human flourishing among NCAA Division I student-athletes at initial screening (i.e., preparticipation exam). This retrospective, cross-sectional, correlational study analyzed archival data from 92 student-athletes from 13 different sports. Measures included the Secure Flourishing Index (SFI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ), and Power …

How Veterans With Ptsd Experience Symptom Improvement From Social Support, Patti "Lori" Beisner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social support is a concept that is simple to grasp, yet subjective in nature and difficult to describe. Current research abounds reporting the positive impact of social support upon veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies describe the phenomenon of social support for combat veterans, which they attribute to PTSD symptom improvement. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in research by exploring the lived experiences of veterans who have improved symptoms that they attribute to support they have received. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight combat veterans who self-reported PTSD symptom improvement due to …

Middle School Teachers' Lived Experiences Using Culturally Responsive Pedagogy To Promote Equity: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Doris A. Dapaah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of using culturally responsive pedagogy to promote equity among students of color for middle school teachers in an inner-city school district in New York. The theory guiding this study was culturally responsive pedagogy, as it emphasized recognizing learners’ diverse backgrounds and experiences to promote academic achievement for all students in schools with diverse populations. The central research question was: What were the lived experiences of middle school teachers as they engaged in using culturally responsive pedagogy in their classrooms? The study included 10 middle school teachers …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Career Maturity In Young Adults And Early College Students In Career And Technical Education Programs, Meghan P. Paquette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to examine differences in career maturity between young adult and high school students enrolled in Career and Technical Education District programs at a rural community college in Arizona. Grounded in Social Learning Theory and Career Construction Theory, the study explored how early exposure to Career and Technical Education influences career maturity. The sample included 196 students, half high school Career and Technical Education District students and half young adults aged 18 to 24 participating in Career and Technical Education. Career maturity was measured using the Career Maturity Inventory Form C, which assessed …