Digital Commons Network^™

School Counselors’ Perceptions On Providing Mental Health Services In Schools, Kimberly Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing prevalence of mental health concerns among students in the United States has amplified the demand for comprehensive school-based mental health services. School counselors are often positioned as frontline providers of this support, yet research suggests they face numerous systemic and role-related challenges. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore school counselors’ perceptions of their roles in providing mental health services, the barriers they encounter, and the ways in which self-efficacy is shaped by these experiences. Ten school counselors from diverse school settings participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed five central themes: (a) roles and responsibilities, (b) …

Psychotropic Medication Nonadherence Among Psychiatric Patients Using Motivational Interviewing, Kate Ananga Pabai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This educational intervention involved enhancing knowledge and competency of nursing staff in terms of application of motivational interviewing (MI) techniques to improve adherence to prescribed psychotropic medications among patients with mental health conditions. The project met criteria for a staff education initiative, directly addressing the ongoing issue of psychotropic medication nonadherence, a prevalent and pressing challenge at the project site. Clinicians observed frequent missed doses and treatment discontinuation, leading to symptom relapse, emergency room visits, and avoidable hospital admissions. These outcomes emphasized the need for a targeted intervention to support frontline nursing staff. The practice-focused question guiding the project was: …

Exploring Reciprocal Determinism, Behavior Capability, Observational Learning, And Self-Efficacy On Protective Behaviors For African American Millennial Women With Cardiovascular Disease And Depression, Ja’Sent Angelic Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease plays a significant role in the number of death and disabilities around the world. While there have been marginal gains in positive health outcomes for women who suffer from cardiovascular disease, African American women continue to fall behind compared to their White counterparts. There is a comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and depression in older African American women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how the comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and depression uniquely present in young African American women, how these two diseases influence cardiovascular health protective factors, and how components of …

Kenyan Perspectives Of Trauma: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Helping Professionals, Megan Flinn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research addresses the critical gap in counseling literature regarding multicultural and trauma-informed training, particularly relevant given Kenya’s documented trauma and limited mental health resources, highlighting the need for incorporating lived experiences into research to equip counselors for increasingly globalized practice. The present hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the lived experiences of Kenyan helping professionals as they care for survivors of trauma in their country of origin. A previous data set was used, consisting of interviews from four Kenyan helping professionals in 2019, all whom worked actively with survivors of trauma at …

Parents’ Experiences With Their Child’S Psychotherapy And Mental Illness, Valerie Marsman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low parental engagement—especially among fathers and ethnic minority groups like Latinx parents—in child psychotherapy increases the risk of treatment dropout, behavioral issues, and poorer outcomes, contributing to persistent disparities. More research was needed on perceptual barriers and facilitators to parental engagement such as attitudes, beliefs, and expectations. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of parents’ experiences with their child’s psychotherapy and mental illness to facilitate parental engagement in services that support the child. An interpretative phenomenological approach and multiperspectival focus group design were used to illuminate each participant’s voice and explore overarching themes. Hill’s theory …

Expatriate Educators' Perspectives Of Transformational Leadership Practices In International Schools In Kuwait, Stacey Howe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective leadership is crucial for educational success, yet its definition varies across cultures, which may cause communication issues, especially in culturally diverse environments like international schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore differing perceptions of transformational leadership (TL) between 68 expatriate teachers and 27 administrators, representing response rates of 22% and 47%, respectively, in three Kuwait international schools. Grounded in Bass's TL theory, the Global Transformational Leadership survey, an anonymous online survey with each of seven leadership domains represented by one item, was used in the study. Data collected on a 5-point frequency scale were analyzed using …

Improving Multilingual Competence In Higher Education: An Integrated Framework For Parallel Learning Of Two Foreign Languages, Aiym Kontek, Albina Dossanova, Galiya Kulzhanbekova

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to create a comprehensive framework for the effective organization of parallel teaching of two foreign languages in higher education in Kazakhstan, accounting for linguistic, psychological, didactic, and technological aspects.

Methods: We used theoretical (modeling, analysis, and generalization) and empirical methods (pedagogical experiment, testing, questionnaires, and methods of mathematical statistics) in the research. An original structural and content model of parallel learning was developed, including interrelated blocks for the integrated formation of speech activity skills and a lexico–grammatical base in each of the languages. The effectiveness of the proposed model was confirmed during the pedagogical experiment, which …

Staff Education To Improve Preceptors’ Knowledge Base To Adapt Teaching Methods Across Generations, Lucretia Dennise Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Today’s nursing workforce consists of individuals from multiple generational cohorts, which creates a dynamic mix of nurses whose behavior and work reflect the cultural and historical events that shaped their generation. As the nursing workforce becomes increasingly multigenerational, nurse educators and leaders face growing challenges in ensuring that onboarding practices meet the needs of diverse learners. In the local organization, leaders and clinical educators observed inconsistencies in preceptorship practices and onboarding experiences, particularly for newly hired nurses. As a result, leaders determined that an educational intervention focused on generational teaching strategies was needed. Thus, the purpose of this Doctor of …

On The Use Of Wearable Continuous Glucose Monitors (Cgms), Jovita Ozonnadi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP project implemented an educational module on the use of continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGM) to increase staff knowledge of diabetic care and glycemic control for the diabetic population in a community healthcare clinic. Diabetes mellitus is a significant health concern that poses a substantial challenge to the community and the American healthcare system with a higher burden of diabetes complications found among the low income, uninsured, and minority populations. Poor glycemic control is a major health issue that significantly increases the risk of developing diabetes-related complications such as heart and kidney diseases, and obesity. The adoption of CGM …

Perspectives Of Childcare Center Directors Regarding Barriers To Naeyc Accreditation, Jessica Baffoe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

NAEYC accreditation is a hallmark of quality in early learning and lack of accreditation suggested a gap in practice. The problem that was the focus of this research is that only 12% of early childhood center-based programs in the United States are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the study was to explore perspectives of childcare center directors regarding NAEYC accreditation. Knowles’s adult learning provided the conceptual framework for this study and guided 3 research questions about directors’ perspectives of barriers, benefits, and the necessary support they associated with NAEYC accreditation. …

Tailoring Hiv/Aids Communication To The Cultural Contexts Of The Borana Pastoral Community In Ethiopia, Dano Olana, Sabihah Moola

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The HIV/AIDS health communication approach in sub-Saharan Africa has often overlooked sociocultural specificities. The current approach follows a generalist notion that does not consider the specific contextual domains accordingly. Similarly, the cultural appropriateness of HIV/AIDS health communication among the Borana pastoral community in Ethiopia is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore whether HIV/AIDS communication among the Borana pastoral community was tailored to the cultural contexts of the community. A qualitative case study was used to unpack the cultural communication contexts for HIV/AIDS. We collected data using three methods, namely, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis …

Blockchain Strategies To Enhance Transparency, Efficiency, And Governance For Public-Private Partnership Leaders, Mohamed Huubse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of effective strategies for integrating blockchain technology into governance poses a significant challenge for public-private partnership (PPP) leaders in developing regions. This issue is particularly concerning in public procurement systems, where transparency, efficiency, and accountability are crucial for effective governance. Grounded in the theory of games and economic behavior, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the successful strategies that PPP leaders use to modernize governance practices within public procurement by adopting blockchain technology. The participants were six PPP leaders in East Africa who implemented blockchain technology strategies to modernize governance practices within …

Effective Communication Strategies For Behavioral Health Leaders In A Telework Setting, Belinda Preston-Cash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Positive Social Emotional Influences Experienced By College-Educated Black Men During Their K–12 Education In U.S. Public Schools, Lyzanethia Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although negative experiences and unfair factors in the K–12 educational experiences of Black males are well-researched, very little research is found on the positive contributions toward their educational success. As some Black males successfully complete K–12 schooling and advance to the college level, it is imperative to understand the factors that positively contributed to their educational advancement. Guided by Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth, this basic qualitative study explored six aspects of cultural capital—the aspirational, familial, linguistic, resistant, navigational, and social capital—that contributed to the educational success and advancement of Black males during their journeys through the U.S. K–12 …

Impactful Programs And Initiatives For Employee Resource Groups That Promote And Sustain Positive Social Determinants Of Health, Lisa Kangas, Maureen Hall, Julie James, Gladys Peters

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leaders’ lack of interest in employee resource groups (ERGs) and related programs can negatively impact an organization’s culture, operational excellence, and employee retention and have detrimental implications for social determinants of health (SDOH). Prioritizing ERG programs and initiatives is essential for organizational success and can positively affect SDOH. This qualitative pragmatic inquiry study identified and explored ERG programs and initiatives that support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention.The research question for this study was: What ERG programs and initiatives support organizational culture, operational excellence, and employee retention? The study included eight DEI leaders …

A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite new and emerging communications technologies to improve access to 911 emergency services for people with speech, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, there continue to be access barriers for those who may require silent communications due to the nature of the emergency. Chat rooms in 911 communications present a promising solution to this challenge. However, the current literature has inadequately examined the use of chat rooms in 911 communications, mainly due to the nascent nature of this technology. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing valuable insights to enhance access to 911 emergency services for individuals who may require …

Exploring Exemplary Leadership Practices Of Elementary Principals, Latoya R. Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is insufficient understanding regarding the educational leadership practices that have enabled one elementary school, out of 23, to achieve continuous school improvement in ELA and mathematics in Grades 3–5 over 3 consecutive academic years. Although all schools in the district implemented a uniform curriculum, the study site consistently increased the percentage of students scoring proficient or above in both subjects during 2022, 2023, and 2024, as measured by the state end-of-grade assessment. This qualitative single-case study explored how an elementary principal in a suburban Georgia district achieved continuous improvement through distinctive leadership practices. Grounded in Kouzes and Posner’s framework …

Emergency Managers Perceived Effectiveness Of Disaster Mitigation Plans And Training Focused On The Special Needs Population, Jessica Windsor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The special needs population faces increased vulnerability during disasters, yet disaster planning often overlooks their unique requirements. This study focuses on the experiences and perceptions of emergency managers in the Southeastern United States. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which emergency management plans recognize and address the needs of special populations and identify training gaps. The research questions aimed to uncover the factors that influence inclusive planning, training effectiveness, and resource allocation. Grounded in the Disaster Health Framework, the study utilized a qualitative research design involving surveys with 14 emergency managers, followed by thematic analysis …

Driving Implementation Of Segregation Of Duties Processes, Marlin Earl Moyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the healthcare industry, safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of IT systems is crucial. However, some organizations face difficulties in implementing effective segregation of duties (SoD) processes, which can lead to increased risks. This is a major concern for healthcare IT leaders and organizations, as inadequate SoD can compromise patient data security and disrupt operational efficiency. The purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic study was to explore the strategies used by senior IT leaders to implement SoD processes. The transformational leadership theory was used as the conceptual framework for the study. The participants included seven IT leaders at Northeastern U.S. …

High School Teachers’ Perceptions On Implementing Curriculum-Based Standards For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kevin Keogh Iacoboni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that special education (SPED) teachers struggle to implement curriculum-based standards into their instruction of high school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a Mid-Atlantic state’s system of nonpublic schools. Guided by Billingsley’s schematic representation and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore high school teachers’ perceptions on their successes, challenges, and resources provided for implementing the state-mandated curriculum-based standards for students with ASD in the Mid-Atlantic state’s nonpublic schools. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 high school SPED teachers from …

Experiences Of Supervisees Developing Culturally Responsive Skills Through Clinical Supervision, Jaime Lyn Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive supervision has been shown to be beneficial to supervisees (Adams et al., 2023). A research gap exists in culturally responsive clinical supervision through the lens of supervisees’ experiences; as a result, supervisors are ill-equipped to offer culturally responsive clinical supervision. The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to explore supervisees’ culturally responsive experiences in clinical supervision. Grounded in critical race theory, this study highlights the narratives of marginalized voices as they share their stories of developing culturally responsive skills through clinical supervision. That is, the research question explored the experiences of counseling supervisees as they develop culturally …

Effective Strategies Adult Education Business Leaders Use To Attain Their Organization's Sustainability, Ryan J. Bagshaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders in nonprofit adult education frequently struggle with maintaining financial sustainability, a challenge that can compromise their operations and the positive influence they have on their communities. This issue is critical for education leaders and policymakers who rely on these institutions to support workforce development and foster economic growth. Grounded in the Baldrige framework, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to identify and explore the strategies employed by leaders of a Caribbean nonprofit adult education organization to enhance their organization’s sustainability. The participants were four leaders from an adult education facility in St. Lucia, the Caribbean. Data sources …

Navigating The Employability Landscape: Unanswered Questions For International Students In Southeast Asia, Hengzhi Hu

Higher Learning Research Communications

As Southeast Asia becomes an increasingly popular destination for international students, important questions arise concerning the employability of graduates from this region. This comment article advocates for a comprehensive examination of how effectively Southeast Asian universities equip their international students to navigate both global and home country labor markets. Additionally, this article calls for a critical rethinking of the global recognition and value of qualifications obtained from Southeast Asian higher education providers, which often face challenges in being perceived as on par with those from more established educational hubs and underscores the necessity for comparative research to assess how the …

Strategies Leaders In Affordable Housing Can Use To Decrease Property Management Turnover And Increase Professional Tenure, Marisa T. Baldwin-Woodhouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive leaders of rental housing in the affordable housing sector have a high turnover rate of property managers, resulting in wasted time, compliance concerns, loss of institutional knowledge, deterioration of operational costs, and lost revenue, negatively impacting employee commitment. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies that some executive leaders in affordable housing can use to decrease property manager turnover and increase professional tenure. The participants comprised eight executive leaders who oversaw property managers in affordable housing in the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, and thematic …

Understanding Elementary Teachers’ Experiences Implementing Technology In A 1:1 Classroom, Susan Mccurry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The availability of technology resources in elementary classrooms is becoming more commonplace, including environments where every child has a laptop. The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that elementary school teachers in kindergarten through the fifth grade struggled to adapt their teaching to the 1:1 technology-based approach at Fennario School District (FSD, a pseudonym), an urban southern elementary schools. The purpose of this study, framed by Magana’s translational, transformative, transcendent, framework for innovation in education, and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, was to explore elementary school teachers’ successes, challenges, and the resources needed to integrate 1:1 laptop technology in …

Reducing Use Of Force In Law Enforcement Through Higher Education, Joseph J. Davern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative research study examined whether earning a college degree reduced police officers’ use of force in Massachusetts during 2023. Reducing force incidents is a concern for both citizens and law enforcement due to increasing public scrutiny and a need to improve community-police relations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether police officers with college degrees are less likely to use force during citizen encounters compared to those with only a high school diploma. The first research question explored the difference in the amount of force used by municipal police officers with college degrees versus those with high …

Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children and adults in the United States experience developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, leading to bias, marginalization, and economic hardship. Racism exacerbates these issues for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), increasing depression, isolation, and health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perspectives on the impact of racism on the psychological and physical health of teenagers aged 13–18 years with moderate IDD in the Northwestern United States. Disability critical race theory provided a lens for examining how race and disability intersect to create barriers for these teenagers. The research method was qualitative. Phenomenology …

Generative Ai Use Among University Students Depends On Academic Level And Task, Karen E. Singer-Freeman, Kristi Verbeke, Betsy Barre

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The present study investigated the extent to which AI use and opinions about its use will vary by academic stage and academic task in ways that align with Budwig’s (2013) developmental stages.

Methods: We surveyed 1,259 students from different academic stages (first-year students, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students) at a highly selective private university in the United States.

Results: We found that all students desire institutional AI policies and are concerned about the negative consequences of AI use by themselves and others. There was some evidence of the use of AI in ways that might violate academic integrity. …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Race On Access To Maternal Healthcare Services For Patients Based On Insurance Status, Trishana Monlyn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to insurance status, COVID-19 has restricted how and when patients can access healthcare providers. In the health services community, examining obstetric care services during the coronavirus outbreak was important because it increased awareness about how changes to maternal healthcare access affect the health of the mother and unborn child during a pandemic. The theories and/or concepts that grounded this study include the intersectionality theory, which examined the connections between social groups and systems as individuals try to access health services based on health insurance reform, depending on their race. The purpose of this study was to determine if there …

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Adherence Among Black/African American People Living In Houston, Texas, Napoleon Ayibo Wokoma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is crucial in preventing active TB and supporting elimination efforts. However, adherence to LTBI treatment is challenging, especially among racial and ethnic minorities, with Black/African Americans showing particularly low rates. A quantitative retrospective chart review was conducted to examine sociodemographic factors affecting LTBI adherence in Black/African American individuals and to evaluate various adherence strategies. Using the health belief model, 435 deidentified secondary data records were analyzed from the Houston Health Department from 2012 to 2022, covering both native and foreign-born Black/African American patients undergoing LTBI treatment. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including …