Digital Commons Network^™

African American Noncustodial Fathers’ Perceptions Of Fatherhood Programs, Melissa Marie Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fatherhood programs have varying intentions, including encouraging peer interaction among fathers, supporting healthy father-child relationships, developing positive family dynamics, and identifying parenting strategies. However, much less is known about how fatherhood programs fulfill the needs of fathers as examined by the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The purpose of this qualitative generative research study was to explore African American noncustodial fathers’ experiences of fatherhood program in which they participated, and how these programs fulfilled their needs as framed by those from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The research question for this study focused on how African American noncustodial fathers perceive …

Career Development Professionals' Perceived Self-Efficacy With Baby Boomers From The Automotive Industry, Rhonda Ann Suggs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The labor market has shifted toward automation with an aging workforce as jobs transitioned from vocational to career. Following the Great Recession, career development professionals struggled to prepare older workers for an evolving, competitive, global workforce for the generation known as baby boomers that prefer to remain in the workforce. The problem in this study was the gap between the career development needs of baby boomers from the automotive industry and the levels of support provided by career development professionals who serve this population. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the purpose of this comparative quantitative study was to determine …

Institution-Sponsored Acculturative Support Of East Asian Students At An American Univerisity, Jason Tannenbaum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Acme University’s (AU) Strategic Plan values international student wellbeing and campus globalization; however, East Asian students (EASs) who enroll at this American university face significant linguistic and cultural barrier during their time on campus. International students typically experience acculturation-induced stress when they enter a new educational system and social environment. AU acknowledged the absence of university-sponsored programs that foster communication/acculturation between EASs and their American peers. The purpose of this study was to explore how EASs perceived interactions with their American peers (AP) on campus as the EASs attempted to acculturate. The conceptual framework used to inform the qualitative bounded …

The Influence Of Internalized Self-Prejudice On Anti-Gay Hate Crime Motivation, Ross Michael Templeton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ) community continues to be negatively impacted by high rates of anti-gay hate crime. Gay-rights activists continue to press for public policy changes to improve equality and reduce anti-gay sentiment. However, these efforts have not succeeded in reducing the number of attacks. Little is understood about what motivates perpetrators to commit violent acts against members of the LGBTQ community. This study explored how social coalitions and individual sexual identity development impact the motivation behind anti-gay hate crime from the perspective of convicted anti-gay hate crime offenders. The theoretical frameworks proposed for this study …

Experience Of Academic Motivation Among Disadvantaged High School Graduates, Jamaal Anthony Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Impoverished students face obstacles that influence academic achievement and motivation. These young people are disadvantaged by their circumstances and are at risk for missing opportunities that could prepare them for meaningful careers and improved quality of life. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a deeper understanding of academic motivation in academic scholarship students who attended disadvantaged schools. Social identity theory provided the theoretical framework for a narrative analysis of the experience of academic motivation, academic achievement, and social identity. Five female and 4 male college students were interviewed. The thematic analysis revealed 4 themes: motivated by overcoming …

Bioterrorism: Exploring Factors For Improving Nurse Preparedness, Policies, And Practices, Leone Okey Tom-James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ebola virus release/attack in New Jersey could go unnoticed but have immediate and long-lasting effects on the broader population and security. The risk underscores the need to prepare and enhance the state’s efforts to deal with a release and treat the confirmed cases. This descriptive single case research explored factors for improving nurses’ preparedness, policies, and practices for a bioterrorism release/attack. The epidemiological triangle conceptual framework was used descriptively in exploring, and developing a knowledge base of Ebola virus pathogenicity, characteristics, routes of transmission, and infection. The unit of analysis was Summit Ridge Genesis Healthcare Center. The theory of robust …

Social Cognitive Theory Constructs That Predict Betel Nut Chewing Among Secondary Students, Lepani Waqatakirewa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, areca or betel nut is the 4th most common substance of abuse in the world, and its prevalence of use in the Solomon Islands is estimated at 68% in young people. Long-term use of betel nut can result in detrimental health outcomes such as oral cancers and metabolic syndrome. Guided by the social cognitive theory (SCT), the purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine whether the constructs of SCT predict betel nut use in Year 12 secondary students in the Solomon Islands. Five SCT constructs of expectations (outcome expectations and outcome expectancies), self-efficacy, …

Chronic Care Model For Management Of Diabetes Mellitus, Junecia White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic disease affecting individuals at various stages of life. More than 114 million Americans are at risk of developing complications of diabetes. It is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-limb amputations, heart disease, stroke, and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. This quality improvement project sought to understand if important clinical indicators of diabetes mellitus such as HbA1c, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, serum creatinine; and estimated glomerular filtration rate would improve after implementation of a team-based guideline-informed approach to diabetes care management. The chronic care …

Predictors Of Intention To Use Health Literacy Strategies Among Physicians In Grenada, Arlette Wildman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low health literacy is linked to poor health outcomes. Adequate health literacy depends on effective communication between patients and their healthcare providers, so it is important physicians use health literacy strategies. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the aim of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between health literacy knowledge, health literacy experience, gender, the region of training, years of practice, and intentions to use health literacy strategies among physicians in Grenada. One hundred and eighteen physicians were sampled using a cross-sectional survey method. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis were significant, F(5, 112) …

Leadership Strategies And Millennial Organizational Commitment, Louis Wilford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managing millennial employees may present challenges to managers as the workforce demographics shifts to a population of employees who have management needs that differ from previous generations. Managers who struggle with retaining millennial employees may experience business failure. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies managers in the financial management industry use to harness the creativity and commitment of millennial employees to increase organizational profitability. Two financial management industry managers who successfully retained talented millennials to improve profitability were interviewed; organizational documents were a secondary data source. A …

The Complete Care Model: Improving Diabetic Patient Outcomes In Correctional Facilities, Chad Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes is a growing problem, becoming an increasing concern within prisons. Research suggests that as many as 4.9% of the inmate population is diagnosed with diabetes. To provide constitutionally required healthcare to the inmate population, corrections officials must identify a validated diabetes treatment modality geared toward improving diabetes outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the impact of a patient centered medical home (PCMH) based model of healthcare within the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) on diabetic prisoners. Using the social construct theory as the framework, the research questions were focused on determining whether there was …

Improving Effective Pain Assessment And Management In Elderly Patients, Omotola A. Adebayo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate management of pain is common in the elderly, and the negative implications are often profound. Untreated pain has been associated with negative consequences such as depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, weight loss, and limitations in the performance of daily activities and functions. The purpose of this educational project was to improve the assessment and management of pain of elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The project question examined the effects of staff education on the nursing staff’s knowledge of pain assessment and management. Nonlicensed personnel are at the forefront of providing direct patient care in LTCFs. Knowles’s theory …

Strategies To Reduce Voluntary Employee Turnover, Patricia M. Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High voluntary turnover negatively impacts an organization's profits, resulting in high expenses for businesses. The findings contribute to practical ways for small business leaders to maintain long-term employees, minimize operational costs, and enhance local economic stability. Grounded in the concept of transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business leaders use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants comprised 5 private industry leaders in the state of Virginia, who were successful in reducing voluntary employee turnover. Data collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews and analysis of company documents. Based on Yin's …

Perception Of Breast Cancer Screening Among African Immigrant Women In Dallas., Phillipa Akuwa Anuwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, and mammography is proven to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage; however, studies show that Black women have the lowest rate of breast cancer screening. The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of African-born immigrant women about breast cancer screening. Data were collected by conducting individual interviews with 10 purposefully selected, African, immigrant women in Dallas, between 35 to 65 years old. Data were analyzed using NVivo software and coded based on the conceptual framework, which was the health belief model. Participants’ perception …

The Impact Of Perceived Stress, Happiness, And Religiosity On Political Orientation, Bryant Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increasing stress levels over the past 30 years have reached an all-time high, which has also correlated with an increase in medical insurance costs due to the adverse effects on life expectancy, obesity rates, and non-communicable disease deaths. An additional social problem affecting the U.S. is a 20-year increase in political dichotomy. Research has shown a distinction between liberals and conservatives on a variety of characteristics ranging from sleep patterns, disgust, personality, and even cleanliness. This current study used two other characteristics that correlate with both stress and political orientation, and they are happiness and religiosity. The purpose of this …

Oligarchic Cartelization In Post-Suharto Indonesia, Bonifasius -. Hargens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A few ruling individuals from party organizations overpowered Indonesia‘s post-authoritarian, representative democracy. The legislative process of the 2017 Election Act was the case study employed to examine this assumption. The underlying thinking was that there was a contest between ―wealth power‖ (oligarchy) and ―participation power‖ (democracy). The power of wealth controls the party and government institutions. Notwithstanding the presence of participation power, there was, however, no balance between wealth power and participation power, because the formal control of politics was in the hands of party oligarchs. The study purpose was to bridge the gap in knowledge by exploring how the …

Online Social Support And Biopsychosocial Implications For Bariatric Patients, Jamie Kathryn Schofell-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has grown to epidemic proportions in the United States with approximately 40% of women and 30% of men having a body mass index greater than 35. Bariatric surgery is an effective form of weight loss. However, weight regain is a problem, with 50% of persons undergoing bariatric surgery experiencing a weight regain of 5% within 2 years of surgery and only 40% maintaining a loss of 30% or more long-term. Potential biological, psychological, and social issues can negatively impact the long-term success of weight management for many bariatric surgery patients. Research is significantly limited within this area and it …

Lecture Versus Collaborative Learning Methods In Community College Classrooms, Gwendolyn A. Vaughn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Educational scholars have recommended using collaborative learning in higher education classrooms to improve the learning outcomes of community college students. The problem is that many community college instructors continue to use traditional lecture methods, which might be due to instructors not being convinced of the merits of collaborative learning. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, causal-comparative, repeated measures, research study was to examine the difference between pre- and posttest change scores on the Personal Community Health assessment of students who were taught with the collaborative method and students who were taught with the lecture method. The theoretical foundation for this …

Experiences Of Low Income African American Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, James Agboola Abolarin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractLow-income African American grandparents raising their grandchildren are faced with multiple challenges psychologically, financially, and emotionally. Four out of five African American custodial grandparents live below the poverty line and with mental problems, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. The main research question focused on the experiences of low income African American custodial grandparents, living with diagnosed mental health issues while raising their grandchildren, and dealing with a restricted access to mental health counseling services. Bowen family system theory was adopted as the theoretical framework, and a phenomenological-hermeneutic methodology was used. A total of seven low income, custodial …

Scottish Nonprofit Mental Health Organizational Strategies To Commercialize Innovative Products And Services, Adrienne Provos Adkins-Provost

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many nonprofit organization (NPO) leaders lack strategies to commercialize innovativeproducts and services to secure funding and ensure financial stability. NPO leaders who do not overcome financial challenges could face organizational failure and the inability to attain their mission. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative, single case study was to explore strategies that Scottish nonprofit mental health organization leaders use to commercialize innovative products and services to secure funding and ensure financial stability. The study participants were 4 leaders at a single mental health organization in Scotland. Semistructured interviews, organizational documents, government data, public data, and information from …

The Impact Of Peer Victimization On Psychosocial Functioning And Adjustment Of African-Born Adolescents, Oluyemi Abimbola Adejinmi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPeer victimization is aggressive behavior, a school stressor, and a social problem that could have significant adverse outcomes on adolescents’ psychological, social, and physical well-being. Some of the adverse outcomes of peer victimization in the adolescent population include externalizing and internalizing problems. More insight is needed on the impact of peer victimization on the well-being of adolescents, especially those who belong to minority groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of peer victimization on the psychosocial functioning and adjustment of African-born adolescents in the United States by using Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional theory of stress and …

Association Of State Tobacco 21 Law With Tobacco Consumption Among Youth, Rebecca Adamson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study is an investigation of the association between the Tobacco 21 Law and youth tobacco usage rates in Hawaii. Researchers have documented a gap in the research regarding the effectiveness of such laws. Several studies that have been conducted have shown mixed results. The purpose of this study was to better understand any association that may exist in Hawaii. The social ecological model (SEM) of health is the theoretical foundation for the study. The SEM of health includes five sources which influence health, and these consist of intrapersonal factors, interpersonal factors, institutional factors, community factors, and public policy. Tobacco …

Area-Level Factors Linked To Obesity In African American And Caucasian Women In Michigan, Marjorie Arrey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a major public health crisis, affecting every segment of the U.S. population. African American women have higher prevalence of obesity than all other subpopulations and are disproportionately burdened by the disease and its comorbidities. Despite this disparity, African American women are often underrepresented in obesity research. This research examined obesity-related risk factors specific to African American women compared to those for Caucasian women. The design was based on the socioecological model and social cognitive theory, both emphasizing the impact of social factors on health outcomes. The data set included only adult Michigan women from the NHANES study. Multiple …

Relationship Between Novice Teacher Well-Being, High-Stakes Testing Stress, And Intent To Leave, Laura Elizabeth Dawes Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Standardized tests are considered high stress because consequences such as loss of certification and replacement of school staff affect teacher morale and self-efficacy. The purpose of this concurrent complementarity mixed-methods study was to examine the relationship between novice teachers’ high-stakes test stress, their well-being, and their intent to return to school the next year. The concepts of teacher stress and teacher well-being provided the conceptual framework for the study. Twenty-five teachers participated in a survey measuring their well-being and high-stakes test stress level. Eight of those teachers also participated in individual phone interviews. Results of the quantitative (Pearson correlations) and …

Analysis Of Driving Forces That Ensures The Sustainability Of Voter Accreditation Technology, Lawrence Oluwagbenga Bayode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigeria’s electoral body, the independent national electoral commission (INEC), deployed a novel information technology (IT) based voter accreditation technology in 2015. Benefits realized included transparency and curtailed electoral malpractices. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship(s) between some variables categorized into technological, organizational, and economic factors, and Sustainability of voter accreditation technology (SVAT). The theoretical framework for the study was the e-voting system adoption model in combination with constructs from three other theories. A total of 138 IT experts participated and were asked (via SurveyMonkey) of the relationships between the following factors and SVAT: ease …

Quality Of Life, Physical Activity, And Weight Status For A Sample Of Online Students, Walaa Awad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has been identified as a global health problem and a risk factor for many chronic diseases. While previous studies discussed the weight status and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adults enrolled in traditional universities, few studies have yet estimated the obesity rate among adults who choose online education. Guided by the social cognitive theory, this descriptive exploratory quantitative study used a survey to collect primary data from adult online students of three higher educational institutions. The survey examined the effect of quality of life and physical activity level on the weight status of the participants; taking into …

Comparison Of Advance Care Planning Interventions And Older Adults’ Advance Directive Completion Rates, Tammy Biehler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the benefits of advance care planning (ACP), only one third of older adults in the United States have completed it. To address this gap, health care organizations are implementing ACP programs to engage older adults in the process. These programs can be delivered in various ways, including 1:1 conversations, classes, and web-based tools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate which ACP option was associated with highest participation and advance directive (AD) completion rates in older adults. Social cognitive theory provided the framework to understand the impact the ACP environment and personal characteristics’ have on the odds …

Locus Of Control And Mindfulness As Moderators Of The Job Demand-Control Model: Effects On Burnout, Basia Andrejko-Gworek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBurnout is considered a health hazard of contemporary workplaces and additional research is needed to identify protective factors against this phenomenon. The job demand-control model specifies job control as the key buffer against strains, but empirical support for its buffer hypothesis is limited. The present study accounted for both structural and person factors and tested a revised hindrance job demand-control model in prediction of burnout. By incorporating the challenge-hindrance stress framework with tenets of the transactional stress framework and the differential reactivity of personality theory, it was proposed that inclusion of hindrance stressors (i.e., interpersonal conflict, role conflict and organizational …

One To One Device Initiative Implementation In A Rural High School In Mississippi, Roxanne Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOne-to-one device initiatives provide access to digital learning for students; however, little is known about how this process occurs in rural schools. Implementing a one-to-one device initiative may have positive effects on student access to digital technologies as well as student and teacher efficacy when sufficient training happens beforehand. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the implementation of a one-to-one laptop initiative in a rural high school in Mississippi, focusing on policy development and stakeholder views. The conceptual framework of implementation science and theoretical frameworks of normalization process theory and adaptive implementation guided the research. The …

Sexual Education, Sexual Initiation, And Contraceptive Use Among African American Young Women, Kineka J. Hull

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unintended pregnancy is associated with adverse social, economic, and health outcomes making it a public health concern. African American (AA) women aged 18–24 are at higher risk of unintended pregnancy due to earlier sexual initiation and non-use, inconsistent, or improper use of contraceptive methods (CM). The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which receipt of formal sexual health education (FSHE) impacts age of sexual initiation and contraceptive use and selection of more effective CMs (ECMs) among AA women aged 18–24 (N = 242) who have sex with men. Driven by the reasoned action approach, 2015–2017 National …