Digital Commons Network^™

Young Adults In Minnesota With Medicaid And Nonurgent Emergency Department Visits, Reynell Y. Turner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many people entering the emergency department for non-urgent care may not comprehend that this facility is intended for situations requiring immediate attention. The purpose of the qualitative study examined and explored the behaviors and feelings of Medicaid beneficiaries aged 18 to 39 in rural Minnesota that influenced their decisions to visit the emergency department (ED) for non-urgent conditions. The aim was to also acquire insights regarding their feelings toward visiting urgent care as an alternate care option. The theoretical foundation and framework for the study was Kurt Lewin's Field Theory and Behavior Equation. The qualitative research study included semi-structured interviews …

Strategies To Implement Performance Management Systems In Jamaica Sufficient To Increase Employee Engagement, Nardiah Natesha Wellington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Performance management system (PMS) implementation presents significant challenges for small business owners in Jamaica, often due to resource constraints and limited expertise. Effective PMS practices, however, are critical for fostering employee engagement, which enhances productivity, retention, and organizational sustainability. Grounded in the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies Jamaican small business owners use to implement PMS successfully. The participants included eight small business owners operating for at least 3 years. Data collection included semistructured interviews and reviews of publicly available organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, I identified four key themes: (a) …

Perceptions Of Law Enforcement Spouses Regarding Officer Safety And Danger, Heidi Marie Rose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Policing is a stressful and dangerous occupation that is imperative to a functioning society, and stress should be limited to ensure a healthy mind and body. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of law enforcement spouses regarding officer safety and danger, which was lacking in the research. Law enforcement spouses have a significant impact over the stress levels of their loved ones. The work–life balance and work–family conflict theories were the theoretical framework used to relate to the study and support the research. The generic qualitative design was used with semistructured interviews to gather research data …

Relationship Between Racial Trauma, Microaggression, Cultural Coping Behaviors, And Resilience Among Black Counseling Students, Chrismathe Lindsay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black students in counseling programs face many challenges stemming from racial trauma and microaggression; for instance, they are at greater risk for mental health problems and degree incompletion. Grounded in critical race theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine whether racial trauma, the experience of microaggression, and cultural coping behaviors were significant predictors of resilience and whether cultural coping behaviors mediated the relationship between racial trauma, microaggression, and resilience among Black counseling students. A convenience sample was used to anonymously survey 80 Black counseling students. The results of the multiple regression mediation analysis showed a statistically …

Relationship Between Racial Trauma, Microaggression, Cultural Coping Behaviors, And Resilience Among Black Counseling Students, Chrismathe Lindsay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black students in counseling programs face many challenges stemming from racial trauma and microaggression; for instance, they are at greater risk for mental health problems and degree incompletion. Grounded in critical race theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine whether racial trauma, the experience of microaggression, and cultural coping behaviors were significant predictors of resilience and whether cultural coping behaviors mediated the relationship between racial trauma, microaggression, and resilience among Black counseling students. A convenience sample was used to anonymously survey 80 Black counseling students. The results of the multiple regression mediation analysis showed a statistically …

Familial Income Status, Food Insecurity, And Oral Health In Adolescents In The Prepandemic Era, Gersom I. Jimeenz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral health and hygiene present a significant public health problem that can cause short- and long-term effects among families with adolescents. This quantitative, correlational research design study aimed to investigate associations between food security (FS) levels and familial income status to oral health and hygiene among adolescents aged 13-19 throughout the United States. This study used the health belief model to determine if the perceived susceptibilities, severities, benefits, and barriers can lead to self-efficacy and cues to action among adolescents who experience varying familial income levels. Controlled variables included age, sex, and race. Data were derived from the National Health …

Lived Experiences Of Emerging Adults’ Transitioning Back To College Campus After Covid-19., Aleesha Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a worldwide shutdown as there were many uncertainties on how to prevent exposure. Emerging adults who were full time students were impacted in a variety of ways, both negatively and positively. There is substantial research on the impact that college students had when transitioning off college campuses. However, there is a lack of literature on the experiences that emerging adults had when transitioning back to college campus after COVID-19. This gap is important because multiple transitions have significant implications for development and well-being. To better understand this, a phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to explore …

Familial Income Status, Food Insecurity, And Oral Health In Adolescents In The Prepandemic Era, Gersom I. Jimeenz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral health and hygiene present a significant public health problem that can cause short- and long-term effects among families with adolescents. This quantitative, correlational research design study aimed to investigate associations between food security (FS) levels and familial income status to oral health and hygiene among adolescents aged 13-19 throughout the United States. This study used the health belief model to determine if the perceived susceptibilities, severities, benefits, and barriers can lead to self-efficacy and cues to action among adolescents who experience varying familial income levels. Controlled variables included age, sex, and race. Data were derived from the National Health …

Geospatial Analysis Of Social Variables Of The Health Opportunity Index And Stroke Prevalence In Health And Human Services Region 3, Wanderimam R. Tuktur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparities exist in stroke prevalence and outcome. There is sparsity of ecological studies at the census tract level that elucidate neighborhood predictors of stroke prevalence in states across U.S. Health and Human Services Region 3 (HHS Region 3: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia). This study was conducted to explore the geospatial relationship between the 13 indicators of the Health Opportunity Index (HOI) and stroke prevalence at the census tract level in HHS Region 3 using four HOI indicator profiles: (a) neighborhood and built environment profile, (b) social and community context profile, (c) resource profile, …

Lived Experiences Of Emerging Adults’ Transitioning Back To College Campus After Covid-19., Aleesha Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a worldwide shutdown as there were many uncertainties on how to prevent exposure. Emerging adults who were full time students were impacted in a variety of ways, both negatively and positively. There is substantial research on the impact that college students had when transitioning off college campuses. However, there is a lack of literature on the experiences that emerging adults had when transitioning back to college campus after COVID-19. This gap is important because multiple transitions have significant implications for development and well-being. To better understand this, a phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to explore …

Staff Education Project Assessing Pediatric Sepsis, Michelle Louise James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pediatric sepsis is a leading cause of death globally, affecting over 25 million children annually. In the United States, it results in over 75,000 inpatient admissions and approximately 3.4 million deaths each year. Evidence from multiple studies supported the existing recommendations for early recognition and management of pediatric sepsis, emphasizing that comprehensive vital sign assessments, clinical practice guidelines, standardized protocols, and continuous monitoring align to improve patient outcomes. Three clinical experts reviewed the evidence-based educational program developed for this project. Nineteen participants completed a pre- and post-education program survey assessing their knowledge and perceived competence in early recognition and assessment …

Influence Of Psychological Evaluators’ Demographics, Perceptions Of Bias, And Juvenile Defendants’ Race On Competency Decisions, Elizabeth Zaito

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent large-scale studies and reviews have revealed inconsistent findings regarding the role of evaluator characteristics, bias, and characteristics of juveniles in judging competency to stand trial as adults in juvenile cases using Dusky standards. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of psychological evaluators’ education and experience, cognitive bias, and race of juveniles on decisions involving competency to stand trial. The attribution theory was used as the theoretical framework to explain how internal years of education and experience as well as beliefs about bias can influence decision-making. Data were collected from 84 forensic and clinical professionals and …

Staff Education Project Assessing Pediatric Sepsis, Michelle Louise James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pediatric sepsis is a leading cause of death globally, affecting over 25 million children annually. In the United States, it results in over 75,000 inpatient admissions and approximately 3.4 million deaths each year. Evidence from multiple studies supported the existing recommendations for early recognition and management of pediatric sepsis, emphasizing that comprehensive vital sign assessments, clinical practice guidelines, standardized protocols, and continuous monitoring align to improve patient outcomes. Three clinical experts reviewed the evidence-based educational program developed for this project. Nineteen participants completed a pre- and post-education program survey assessing their knowledge and perceived competence in early recognition and assessment …

Influence Of Psychological Evaluators’ Demographics, Perceptions Of Bias, And Juvenile Defendants’ Race On Competency Decisions, Elizabeth Zaito

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent large-scale studies and reviews have revealed inconsistent findings regarding the role of evaluator characteristics, bias, and characteristics of juveniles in judging competency to stand trial as adults in juvenile cases using Dusky standards. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of psychological evaluators’ education and experience, cognitive bias, and race of juveniles on decisions involving competency to stand trial. The attribution theory was used as the theoretical framework to explain how internal years of education and experience as well as beliefs about bias can influence decision-making. Data were collected from 84 forensic and clinical professionals and …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis, Sonia P. Wheat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis, Sonia P. Wheat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Washington, Dc Public School Educators’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Educational Technology In Music Education, Steven Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a gap in practice in the consistent use of educational technology to engage students, provide instruction differentiation, and improve the overall music learning experience in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The inconsistent use of technology in DCPS music programs limits students’ potential to fully experience and benefit from music education advancements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of K–12 DCPS music teachers on the use of educational technology to engage students, provide differentiated instruction, and improve overall learning outcomes. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model, which has been …

Washington, Dc Public School Educators’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Educational Technology In Music Education, Steven Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a gap in practice in the consistent use of educational technology to engage students, provide instruction differentiation, and improve the overall music learning experience in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The inconsistent use of technology in DCPS music programs limits students’ potential to fully experience and benefit from music education advancements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of K–12 DCPS music teachers on the use of educational technology to engage students, provide differentiated instruction, and improve overall learning outcomes. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model, which has been …

Substance Use Prevention For Lgbtq+ Youth And Young Adults, Dustin Braley

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Improve mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth by reducing the prevalence of substance use through strategic prevention measures.

Significant Findings: LGBTQ+ youth experience significantly higher rates of substance use compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, often as a way to cope with systemic discrimination, family rejection, and a lack of culturally competent support (Marshal et al., 2008; Madireddy & Madireddy, 2022; Mallory, Brown, & Sears, 2019; The Trevor Project, 2022). This paper examines how family-centered models like FCU and FAP can improve prevention by addressing parent-child dynamics and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. It explores barriers created by discriminatory …

Prevention Of Homelessness For Formely Incarcerated Individuals In Alamance County, North Carolina, Tiffanie Robinson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this project is to reduce homelessness and marginalized housing for formerly incarcerated individuals in Alamance County, North Carolina, by implementing strategic re-entry programming.

Significant Findings: Thousands of offenders are released back into Alamance County, North Carolina each year from both county detention centers and state prison facilities (Lyons, 2024). One in six of these individuals are released into homelessness, with many more finding themselves without secure housing within the first two years of release (Lyons, 2024). While the statistics are alarming, there is hope for reduction in homelessness by implementing holistic re-entry programming and increasing …

Adolescent Substance Abuse In Central New Jersey, Kaitlyn Santucci

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to explore methods of reducing substance abuse among New Jersey teenagers through increased substance use education for students and families. Specifically, through programs developed for use in the public school system, ensuring that children have equal access to the materials.

Significant Findings:

In the state of New Jersey, adolescent substance abuse continues to be an ongoing problem. Rates of abuse of specific substances, such as marijuana vapes, have increased over recent years (NCHS Data Query System, 2024). Significant risk factors include a lack of proper substance abuse education, social normalization of substance …

Domestic Violence In Florence, Alabama, Isabella Sinde

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal would be to contribute to the prevention and reduction of domestic violence in Lauderdale County, Alabama, by raising awareness, supporting and empowering survivors, and advocating for system-wide changes promoting education, the allocation of necessary aid, and community well-being.

Significant Findings: Domestic violence (DV) is a serious public health issue negatively affecting people worldwide, including in the city of Florence, Alabama. DV can cause a host of mental and physical consequences, such as poor self-esteem, internalized anger or resentment, severe injury, and even death (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2023). This issue can happen to individuals from all …

Accessible Mental Health Chicago, Guadalupe Cuevas

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My prevention-focused goal statement for Accessible Mental Health Chicago is to create a program that focuses on providing mental health resources for all in all areas of Chicago. This is by having community based low-cost or no-cost mental health services throughout the city, in the local languages that are of that community.

Significant Findings: While there are some limited resources in the areas with the highest calls for mental health crisis, they are not accessible for most of the city. While there are mental health centers throughout the city there aren’t many low or no cost resources. This …

Smoking Cessation And Prevention In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Shezada Holland

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal for this prevention portfolio is to reduce the percentage of adults in Spartanburg County, South Carolina who smoke tobacco. Significant

Findings: In this social change portfolio, I highlight the profound impact of adult smoking in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where in 2021, 18% of adults smoked; higher than both the state (16%) and national (15%) averages. Also, that year, 17.1 million pounds of tobacco were harvested in South Carolina, contributing to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the risk and protective factors that influence whether an individual smokes. Smoking rates are disproportionately high among American …

A Mother's Understanding Of Her Adolescent: A Social Anxiety Study, Cheronda Pinkard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1% to 13% of adolescents, often placing significant demands on their caregivers. Mothers frequently adapt their behaviors to accommodate their child’s anxiety, which may impact their well-being and the parent-child relationship. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of mothers accommodating adolescents with SAD to understand better the emotional and relational toll of this caregiving role. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of how maternal accommodation affects mothers. Mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers may benefit from this research by gaining insight into these families' challenges and informing family-centered interventions and support services. Guided …

A Mother's Understanding Of Her Adolescent: A Social Anxiety Study, Cheronda Pinkard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1% to 13% of adolescents, often placing significant demands on their caregivers. Mothers frequently adapt their behaviors to accommodate their child’s anxiety, which may impact their well-being and the parent-child relationship. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of mothers accommodating adolescents with SAD to understand better the emotional and relational toll of this caregiving role. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of how maternal accommodation affects mothers. Mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers may benefit from this research by gaining insight into these families' challenges and informing family-centered interventions and support services. Guided …