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Spirituality And Self-Management Of Diabetes Among African American Women, Tiaa Reshawn Padgette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spirituality plays an important role of support for many people; however, little is known about the role spirituality plays in helping manage chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). African American women (AAW) have the highest incidence of T2D compared to other racial and ethnic groups, which demonstrates the need to learn more about improving health and reducing diabetes in AAW. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry, using Roy’s adaptation model as the theoretical framework, was to assess the role of spirituality in how AAW with T2D manage their illness and whether that role changes according to disease …

Stockholm Syndrome And Divorce-Related Decision Making Of The Abused Spouse, Simela Sidiropoulou

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Knowledge of the challenges faced by domestic violence victims with Stockholm Syndrome (SS) symptoms during divorce was limited at the time of the current study. Previous findings supported frequent occurrence of doubts during divorce proceedings due to SS, with negative effects on victims’ well-being after separation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate victims’ decision making processes affected by SS features. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with six mental health providers treating victims with SS symptoms during divorce proceedings. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was applied to identify vital experiences through the perspective of therapists. Analysis determined four themes. …

Childcare Service Organization' Portfolio Diversification Strategies For Increasing Income, Tynesha Douglass

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some childcare providers in Maryland’s capital region lack strategies to diversify their service portfolio and increase profits, which can lead to business closure. Owners of childcare facilities are concerned with identifying methods for enhancing their sources of revenue to ensure business survival. Grounded in resource dependency theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that some childcare providers in Maryland’s capital region use to diversify their service portfolio and increase profits. The participants were four business owners of childcare organizations. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, excerpts from parent handbooks, and a review of publicly …

Effective Strategies Respiratory Managers Use To Reduce Burnout And Retain Respiratory Therapists, Candi Nelson Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Respiratory therapists (RTs) have one of the highest organization turnover rates in the healthcare industry. Turnover is important to RT managers because they often lack strategies to retain therapists. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore strategies that healthcare managers use to reduce burnout and turnover to facilitate the retention of RTs. The participants were five respiratory managers in five acute care hospitals in an eastern U.S. state. Data collection included semistructured interviews and the review of publicly available data from the hospitals’ websites. Data were thematically analyzed, …

Relationship Between Performance Frameworks In Health Care And Opioid-Exposed Infants' Length Of Stay In New Jersey Hospitals, Nancy Yates Narvell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use, including opioids, during pregnancy may lead to the birth of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). With billions of dollars in annual costs to the U.S. health care system for resource use and hospital length of stay (LOS), federal and state authorities have made improving care and reducing the financial burden of substance use disorders and ramifications of opioid dependence a priority and have incentivized hospitals to improve care delivery and outcomes for this population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between hospital participation in a performance excellence framework and LOS for substance-exposed …

Community Reintegration After A Psychiatric Hospitalization: Perceptions Of Psychiatric Facility Providers, Paige Radtke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reintegrating into the community after a psychiatric hospitalization can be a daunting task, and one that patients with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) may experience multiple times throughout their lifetime. While research has been conducted demonstrating the barriers to successful community reintegration after a psychiatric hospitalization, a better understanding of the lived experiences of inpatient social workers regarding the discharge process is necessary to continue to decrease the risk of re-hospitalization. The purpose of the study was to identify the perceived elements necessary to establish successful discharge plans such that patients with SPMI are less likely to experience subsequent …

Urban Principals’ Leadership Practices Needed To Implement Culturally Responsive Curricula And Instruction, Dr. Shervon Thompson-Slappy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that the number of historically marginalized and diverse students in U.S. classrooms is rapidly increasing and schools are not prepared to address the need for culturally responsive curriculum and instruction. This study is important because K-12 principals are challenged to address equity, inclusion, and academic and behavioral barriers for this student population. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore twelve K-12 principals' leadership experiences implementing culturally responsive curricula and instruction in their urban schools. Principals, who attended a district-level CRSL professional development, were purposefully selected to participate in semistructured interviews. …

The Lived Experiences Of African Canadian Custodial Caregivers Of Minors With A Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Alberta, Canada, Angelina Abong Atsimbom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a broad range of symptoms, skills, impairments, or disability. It is characterized by a persistent deficit in group communication and social interaction, limited behaviors such as walking, and less interest in interacting with others and participating in social events. Existing studies suggest that there are many unique challenges associated with caring for a child with ASD. Despite growing evidence of an increase in diagnosis and greater awareness of the challenges associated with caring for children on the autism spectrum, there remains a gap in the research about the unique experiences of custodial caregivers of minors …

Prevalence Of Chronic Kidney Disease And Awareness Levels Among Young Adults In Imo And Anambra States, Nigeria, Jacinta Okolie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria, where health care resources are limited and awareness remains low. This quantitative study evaluated the prevalence of CKD and awareness levels among young adults in Imo and Anambra States, Nigeria. The relationship between health care access, medication adherence, and CKD diagnosis was also examined. The health belief model and the social ecological model provided the framework for the study. A sample of 800 participants was recruited from in- and outpatient facilities in Imo State and Anambra State, and sociodemographic information, awareness levels, and …

Is There A Relationship Between Media Sources And Public’S Perception On Police?, Rio Mancilla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this research was to understand what type of influence media sources have on the public’s perception of police. To conduct this quantitative research, a survey was distributed to approximately 200 participants who were 21 years of age or older, U.S. citizens, and watched the news regularly or had some interaction with law enforcement. The survey distributed on Survey Monkey included questions pertaining to media consumption and perception of police. The theoretical foundations applied within this research were Gerbner’s cultivation theory, social cognitive theory of mass communication, social procedural justice theory, and social exchange theory. Results reflected that …

Experiences And Perspectives Of Healthcare Professionals With Hypnotherapy For Adult Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors, Ja'quavia Lynn Demus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been defined as one of the most prevalent forms of childhood trauma. Current treatment approaches for adult survivors of CSA often fail to provide timely or sufficient relief, indicating a pressing need for more diverse and innovative therapeutic approaches to achieve optimal recovery. Hypnosis is one treatment method available and has been proven to provide reliable and timely recovery for other complex traumas. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge on healthcare professionals expressed experiences and treatment of adult CSA survivors, while also exploring their efficacy and usage of clinical hypnotherapy as a …

Association Between Lifestyle Behaviors And Type 2 Diabetes Among African Immigrants In The United States, Momo Joemah Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent evidence demonstrates that African immigrants are healthier than African immigrants born in the United States. After individuals have stayed in the United States for a duration of 4–5 years, the health gap starts to narrow significantly as health conditions worsen. Acculturation and body mass likely play a role; physical inactivity and psychological distress may arbitrate the association. T2DM is an expanding global health problem that is closely linked to the epidemic of obesity. Individuals with T2DM are at risk of other complications that include retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and microvascular complications. The purpose of the study was to assess the …

Residential Street Trees And Cardiovascular Disease Among Urban-Dwelling Mexican Adults, Christine Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant public health burden in Mexico despite national efforts to address traditional risk factors. With growing evidence that elements of nature can improve physical and mental health of people living in cities, this quantitative epidemiological study of secondary data examined the relationship between the presence of street trees in Mexican metropolitan areas and self-reported CVD in adults over age 40. The integrated socio-environmental model of health and well-being provided the conceptual framework for the study. A secondary data analysis was performed using combined individual health data from Mexico’s 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey and …

A Multiagency Approach To Animal Hoarding In Central Iowa, Gary W. Rasmussen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research explored animal hoarding in Iowa using the qualitative method with the resource dependency theory and a case study approach. These cases were studied using multiple sources of information, from media reports in initial locating cases to court documents, to examine the results of each case. It examined how different sized law enforcement agencies’ investigations into these cases impacted the outcomes of the cases in sentencing and the use of mental health evaluations and treatments. It also explored the efficacy of how different sized law enforcement agencies investigated animal hoarding cases. The law enforcement agencies were divided into two …

Human Rights Violations Against Legal Immigrants In Minnesota, John Ewu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite legal entitlements to protections under the International Bill of Human Rights, legal immigrants in Minnesota face human rights violations, including discrimination, harassment, and denial of essential services. These violations hinder their well-being, social integration, and economic stability, exacerbate existing disparities, and their ability to provide for their families and secure legal representation. The purpose of this study was to provide information that could be used in considering policy reforms to improve the treatment of immigrants in Minnesota. This was achieved by exploring how Mexican, Somali, and Hmong legal immigrants experienced human rights violations in Minnesota as a vulnerable population …

Law Enforcement Attitudes, Decisions, And Behaviors In Encounters With The Mentally Ill, Melissa L. Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers frequently encounter challenges when interacting with mentally ill individuals, often resulting in negative outcomes. In this generic qualitative study, the attitudes, decision making process, and behaviors of law enforcement officers in such interactions were investigated, with a focus on identifying facilitators and barriers to peaceful interactions. Additionally, the goal was to explore how police officer training could be improved to enhance outcomes in dealing with mentally ill individuals. Using a generic qualitative approach, data was collected through in-depth individual interviews and analysis of relevant documents from police forces. Participants, selected through snowball sampling from Police Departments, shared …

Strategies To Develop A Skilled Workforce In The Technology Industry, Richard Olayemi Omoniyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A talent crisis in information technology (IT) organizations is creating a ripple effect, hindering businesses' ability to innovate and adapt in a fast-paced technological landscape. IT business leaders are concerned about the lack of a skilled workforce as the primary driver of employee turnover within their organizations. Grounded in Herzberg's two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore successful strategies IT business leaders used to develop a skilled workforce. The participants were seven IT business leaders who successfully developed strategies to develop a skilled workforce. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of …

Faculty Perceptions About Instructional Accommodations For Students With Social Anxiety Disorder, Jessie Frances Edith Tudor-Tangeman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem examined was that post-secondary faculty experience challenges related to providing responsive accommodations to post-secondary students who self-identify with a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The purpose of this study was to investigate post-secondary faculty’s perceptions of their ability to make responsive instructional modifications beyond the preliminary accommodations mandated by university disability services for post-secondary students who self-identify as experiencing SAD. The conceptual framework that grounds this study was Clark and Wells’ (1995) cognitive model of social phobia. The research questions focused on the perceptions of post-secondary faculty in relation to their ability to make responsive instructional modifications …

Teacher Outcomes Of An Intensive Stem-Focused Professional Learning Initiative: An Examination Of Their Beliefs, Practices, And Perceptions, Elizabeth L. Adams, Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Caitlin T. Cox, Karen Pierce

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The purpose of this paper is to describe teacher outcomes from participating in an intensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional learning (PL) initiative for middle school science teachers in the United States. The initiative included intensive summer coursework and ongoing support (e.g., individual coaching, professional learning communities), and focused on enhancing teachers’ STEM instruction and their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.

In this mixed method study, we examine change across time in teachers’ beliefs, use of STEM instruction, and PCK. In general, we did not observe statistically significant change in teachers’ …

A Quantitative Study On Restorative Justice Programs And Socioeconomic Status On Gun Violence Prevention In Urban Schools, Debra Kaye Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A gun violence epidemic had been a topic of conversation in America's schools in the form of mass shootings, homicides, nonfatal attacks, accidental discharges, and weapon suicides. The significance of this issue lies in its effects on student safety, well-being, and educational outcomes. A logistic regression model was used to assess the impact of free or reduced-price lunch (SES) and the adoption of restorative justice practices on the likelihood of firearm incidents in schools. Using social learning theory and trauma-informed care, this quantitative study used surveys from 7,290 individuals to analyze these correlations. The findings revealed significant reductions in gun-related …

The Relationship Between Physical Activity, Acculturative Stress, And Cognitive Function In South-Asian Immigrants, Suchana Das Bandhan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although previous research has indicated that acculturative stress and lack of physical activity may contribute to age-related cognitive decline in older immigrants, previous research has not investigated the combined influence of acculturative stress and physical activity on cognitive function in a population of older immigrants. This quantitative correlational study aimed to investigate this relationship among older South-Asian immigrants using acculturation theory to guide the research. Acculturative stress was measured using the Social, Attitudinal, Familial, Environment Acculturative Stress Scale. Physical activity was measured using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors. Cognitive functioning was measured using the Trail-Making test, Stroop …

Relationship Of Enterprise Risk Management To The Success Of Micro-, Small-, And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Gary Francis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for over 95% of businesses and 80% of the workforce in Jamaica. Jamaican government and business leaders are concerned that MSMEs’ meager success rate will continue to hinder economic growth. Grounded in the four pillars of enterprise risk management and rent theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between ERM and the business success of MSMEs. The participants were 85 owners or managers of registered MSMEs who operate in the Kingston metropolitan area of Jamaica, have been in operation for at least three years, and completed a …

Aging As Online Faculty: Attitudes Toward Work And Retirement, Lee Stadtlander, Amy Sickel

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Aging, an often-neglected aspect of diversity in universities, is an important issue, as the rate of people working who are 75 and older is growing faster than the rate for any other age group. The present sequential explanatory mixed-method study explored 129 older online faculty’s attitudes and opinions on work and retirement in an online survey and in 13 faculty interviews. Data were examined cross-sectionally to assess differences by decade: 50s, 60s, and 70s and above. The results indicated that while older faculty were collecting some form of retirement payment, money was not a primary motivator for working. These individuals …

K-3 Teachers’ Perspectives Of Response To Intervention In Closing Reading Achievement Gaps, Sarwat Suraiya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

General education teachers are directly responsible for implementing the Response to Intervention (RTI) process to close achievement gaps for their struggling readers. The problem in this study was the experiences of K-3 teachers with inconsistent implementation of RTI to support struggling readers at a southeastern school. When the RTI process is not implemented consistently, results can adversely affect closing achievement gaps of struggling readers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore K-3 teachers’ experiences with inconsistent implementation of the RTI process for struggling readers in a southeastern school. This study was based on Ely’s conditions of change …

Teachers’ Use Of Differentiated Instructional Strategies To Support Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Cindi Van Petten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem under investigation in this qualitative study was teachers’ inconsistent implementation of differentiated instructional strategies when teaching students of low socioeconomic status. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how elementary teachers implement differentiated instructional strategies to support students of low socioeconomic status. The conceptual framework was based on Jerome Bruner’s constructivist theory, the growth of mind, because symbolic representation helps students visualize the world and enhance experiences. The research questions investigate how teachers implement differentiated instructional strategies to support students of low socioeconomic status and how they believe training on differentiated instructional strategies to support students …

Sociocultural Effects On Suicidal Ideation Among South Asian Immigrants, Rezwana Ahmed Choudhury

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the growing South Asian immigrant population in the West, it is necessary to conduct suicide-related studies among this population to understand the reasons behind suicidal ideation faced by this population. This quantitative cross-sectional survey design study aimed to examine sociocultural factors that may be associated to the risk level of suicidal ideation among South Asian immigrants in the United States. A survey questionnaire was developed using a combination of demographic questions and existing instruments: the Suicide Ideation Attributes Scale, Religious Belief Salience Scale, Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale, and Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants—S. Data were collected from a …

The Value Of Cybersecurity Investment In Electronic Health Records (Ehrs, Ansu Katta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Senior healthcare IT leaders concerned about cybersecurity in electronic health records (EHR) continue to face fundamental challenges when efficiently managing EHR cybersecurity infrastructures to fulfill business objectives. Grounded in the updated DeLone and McLean information system success model, the purpose of this quantitative multiple linear regression study was to examine relationships between information quality, system quality, service quality, and user satisfaction related to cybersecurity and cloud computing infrastructures for EHR. The participants were 161 senior healthcare IT leaders in North and South Carolina who completed a survey that used an instrument scale based on ISS. The results of the multiple …

The Experiences Of Jamaican Secondary School Counselors Who Provide Psychological Support To Adolescents, Onnica Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School counselors play an integral role in helping adolescents navigate and overcome the psychological distress that they experience. This study aimed to better understand the experiences of Jamaican school counselors who provide psychological support to adolescents in high school. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s (2006) bioecological model of human development and Hans-Georg Gadamer's (1981) hermeneutic theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Seven Jamaican secondary school counselors who provide psychological support to adolescents in high school participated in semistructured interviews via the Zoom online platform. Narrative analysis was used to code and analyze the data from the interviews. Seven themes emerged from …

Nurse Leaders Promoting Well-Being Through Mindfulness, Laura G. Cockrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Becoming a nurse is not just a career but a calling. With this calling comes an ethical duty to the patient, but the duty remains to provide care for oneself. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a strained nursing profession felt the effects of a self-care deficiency. Mindfulness is one self-care tool that can allow nurses to maintain a state of well-being. This project followed Orem’s self-care deficit theory, in which people can use self-care to maintain wellness. The purpose of this project was to develop, deliver, and evaluate an education program for registered nurse leaders on mindfulness activities to address whether …

Shared Leadership And Its Influence On Millennials' Performance In A Work Group, Beverlyn Denise Trimble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millennials have been constructed in the popular imagination as self-centered, bratty, and difficult to manage. Finding ways to relate to this generation has taken on more urgency now that it is the largest in the workforce. Company leaders realize as well that they can no longer rely on traditional forms of leadership amid the proliferation of complex adaptive systems and digital technologies; one leader does not possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to handle the complexities faced by contemporary organizations. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the behaviors and experiences of millennials who work in a shared …