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The Role Of Empathy On Suicidality Among Adults Receiving Mental Health Services, Chelsea Lynn Wade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Efforts have been made to manage the phenomenon of suicide within the clinical setting; however, suicide remains a prevalent public health concern. The purpose of this research project was to explore the relationship between empathy and suicidality. The study was framed using Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide to determine the relationship between empathy, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belonging, and suicidality in participants receiving outpatient mental health services. The research study was conducted utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional correlational survey design. Suicidality was measured using the Beck scale for suicide ideation and suicide behaviors questionnaire–revised; empathy using the cognitive, affective, and somatic empathy …

Staff Education On The Use Of An Evidence-Based Practice Tool To Manage Alcohol Use Disorder, Anyinkia Forteh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a staff education on an evidence-based practice (EBP) tool used to manage alcohol use disorder (AUD). The staff at the project site demonstrated a lack of knowledge of an EBP tool to manage patients with AUD, which can lead to undiagnosed and untreated AUD and adverse health outcomes. Unhealthy alcohol use causes serious health, economic, and social problems, and it is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. The practice-focused question was, “Will staff education on the use of an evidence-based practice tool to manage alcohol use disorder increase staff knowledge of the …

Challenges Individuals With Mental Illness Encountered With Reasonable Accommodation After The Implementation Of Title I Of The Americans With Disabilities Act, Kristie Demarco

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Policy makers often lack information associated with the perspective of those living with mental illness as to whether Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act is working as intended. When considering requests for workplace accommodations, the research literature has focused on the perspective of employers, and the impact on those with physical disabilities, yet few studies considered the impact on individuals with mental illness. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to obtain the perspective of individuals with mental illness who have requested reasonable accommodations. Using a conceptual framework comprised of narrative policy framework and critical disability theory, …

Teachers’ Perceptions When Working With Students Who Have Mild Intellectual Disabilities, Mirra Ann Lefort

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A persistent problem in special education was the limited research on how teachers perceived and supported students with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) in junior grade classrooms. While inclusive education has been widely studied, few studies have addressed the specific instructional experiences of teachers working with this population. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of students with MID in junior grades. A generic qualitative design was used to gain insight into teachers’ experiences and perspectives. Guided by the self-determination theoretical framework (SDT), the study explored how teachers responded to students’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in …

Staff Education To Enhance The Diagnosis Of Depression In Older Adults, Abiola Oyenwen Izekor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aim of this staff education project was to improve provider knowledge on using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for screening depression in older adults. Geriatric depression is often underdiagnosed due to atypical symptoms and reliance on generalized tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), leading to delays in treatment and increased health care costs. To address this gap, I collaborated with a librarian to conduct a literature search, initially identifying 149 articles and refining them to 20 for review. I followed the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model to structure the educational intervention. The training included …

The Unique Experiences Of Black Women In Childhood School Discipline, Shakeyau Brionna Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have explored racial disparities in school discipline and revealed consistent gaps in the discipline rate of Black students compared to White students and other students of color. The problem of African American girls being disciplined at higher rates than that faced by girls of all other races/ethnicities was addressed in this essential qualitative study. The aim was to explore the perceptions of African American women regarding their experiences with discipline in school and its impact on their well-being in adulthood. Critical race feminism formed the conceptual framework guiding this study. The research questions focused on the perceptions and experiences …

Adults Ability To Trust After Chronic Cps Involvement As Children, Shaunya Richel Miller-Bright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abuse against children is an issue in the United States. The effects of being abused can follow children into adulthood. There is little to no research on the effects of adult's ability to trust others due to their chronic involvement with child protective services (CPS) as children. If an individual lacks trust, other issues can arise. Freud's psychodynamic theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. A generic qualitative approach was used to address the following research question: What are adults' perceptions and experiences regarding their ability to trust others later in life after chronic involvement with CPS as …

Employee Perception Of Organizational Commitment And Culture During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mireille A. M. Doumbia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decline in human capital during the COVID-19 pandemic reflected local agencies’ and organizational policy responses to the pandemic. These policies could factor into why Americans, in recent years, have quit their jobs in record numbers. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how employees perceived organizational culture and commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study involved Meyer and Allen’s organizational commitment model, which identifies affective, normative, and continuous commitment as key dimensions of employee loyalty, and Ramdhani et al.’s organizational culture framework, which emphasizes communication, teamwork, and reward systems as core elements shaping workplace dynamics. Data …

Mitigating American Wealth Inequality With Universal Basic Income: Perceptions From Social Service Professionals, Caitlin Dinneen

Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding Dissertation

Extreme wealth disparities between the richest and poorest Americans are a problem in the United States. Although the existing literature has established mixed results regarding the efficacy of universal basic income as a tool to alleviate income inequality, no one has studied the perspectives of social service professionals in Minnesota. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of Minnesota based social service professionals regarding universal basic income through the lens of Benet’s polarities of democracy framework. The research question for this study was what are the perceptions of Minnesota based social service professionals regarding the potential impact …

High School Teachers' Perspectives On The Components Of A Quality Online Structure For Remote Learning In Digital And Media Art Classes, James E. Marone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that there were inconsistencies in the research literature and a gap in practice regarding teachers' perspectives on the components of a quality online structure in a digital and media art class during the post-COVID-19 era. Despite evidence of the benefits of remote learning, there was a gap concerning implementation of improved quality online structures. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of digital and media art teachers on their needs for a quality online learning structure in the post-COVID-19 era. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model. …

The Overlooked Experience: Black Females Seeking Mental Health Services On Hbcu Campuses, Shanta' Atkinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have identified a variety of invisible barriers, including Strong Black Woman (SBW), stigma, and religion, that exist for Black females who would be seeking mental health services. There is minimal qualitative data to identify the treatment barriers that Black females experience when seeking mental health services. The experiences of Black females seeking mental health services on HBCU campuses have not been the sole focus of research. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the lived experiences of Black females on HBCU campuses who have sought mental health services on …

The Effect Of School Classification And A Veteran-Friendly Rating On U.S. Veteran Graduation Rates, Melton Harvey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. colleges, universities, or trade schools enroll and graduate several veterans each year and receive extensive federal funding for doing so. Currently, there is little research on the difference between educational outcomes of veterans that attend publicly supported and private educational institutions or the potential impact of a veteran-friendly rating system. Grounded in Vincent Tinto's theory of retention, the purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to examine the effect of school classification and a veteran-friendly rating on veteran graduation rates among colleges and universities using descriptive statistics. The initial study design featured the gathering of archival data from the …

Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Beliefs About Peer Feedback In The Nursing Skill Lab: Value, Quality, And Importance, Danielle Elizabeth Fleming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peer feedback is an instructional method used in nursing education to support student success in the nursing program and professional practice. While a large body of evidence supports the merits of peer feedback as an instructional method, there is limited research on its use in nursing students, especially within the skill lab. The purpose of this study, guided by the feedback intervention theory, was to examine nursing students’ beliefs about peer feedback in the nursing skill lab and how those beliefs change over time. Archival data from the Beliefs About Peer Feedback Questionnaire (BPFQ) from a public midwestern university was …

Mitigating American Wealth Inequality With Universal Basic Income: Perceptions From Social Service Professionals, Caitlin Dinneen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Extreme wealth disparities between the richest and poorest Americans are a problem in the United States. Although the existing literature has established mixed results regarding the efficacy of universal basic income as a tool to alleviate income inequality, no one has studied the perspectives of social service professionals in Minnesota. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of Minnesota based social service professionals regarding universal basic income through the lens of Benet’s polarities of democracy framework. The research question for this study was what are the perceptions of Minnesota based social service professionals regarding the potential impact …

Experiences Of Bhutanese Refugees Receiving Services From Outpatient Mental Healthcare Centers In The United States, Kul B. Dahal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Refugees coming to the United States may encounter difficulties when receiving mental healthcare services from outpatient mental healthcare centers because of lack of awareness about services. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore experiences of Bhutanese refugees involving receiving services from outpatient mental healthcare centers in the United States. The health belief model was used as a conceptual framework to provide insights regarding Bhutanese refugees’ perceived benefits and barriers to increase awareness. Using convenience sampling, 10 Bhutanese refugees aged 18 or above who received outpatient mental healthcare services currently or in the past and lived in the midwestern …

Location Tracking Applications And Emerging Adult Relationship Quality: Moderated By Rejection Sensitivity, Michelle Lee Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Location-tracking applications promise increased connection, safety, and closeness among romantic partners. However, persistent monitoring in romantic relationships has been associated with heightened feelings of intrusion and mistrust, particularly among individuals with insecure attachment. Such surveillance can exacerbate rejection sensitivity, leading to jealousy, conflict, and deteriorating relationship quality, or monitoring may alleviate fears of rejection and enhance relationship satisfaction. From the lens of attachment theory, this quantitative research study examined whether rejection sensitivity moderates the relationship between the use of location-tracking applications and relationship quality among emerging adults. I collected information from an online survey using four instruments to collect data …

Exploring Potential Correlation Of Resiliency And Multifamily Support With Psychological Distress Among Hispanic Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eliz Marie Centeno Ortiz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were found to have lower psychological distress in comparison with other ethnicities or races despite having additional challenges such as immigration issues, language barriers, or others. However, research on why Hispanic parents of children with ASD tend to have less psychological distress is lacking. This study addressed the extent to which multifamily support and resiliency affect psychological distress among parents of children with ASD, as explained by the family system theory. For this study, 75 Hispanic parents of children with ASD were recruited via Facebook posts. The participants were directed to …

The Impact Of A National Crisis On Academic Research Productivity: Experiences Of Program And Department Heads In Israel, Emanuel Tamir

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The research examined the impact of a national crisis on the research output of academic program and department heads in Israel, investigating how these leaders functioned in the face of prolonged uncertainty and exploring whether their administrative role resulted in personal costs.

Methods: Data were drawn from interviews with 27 heads; then 133 heads answered a questionnaire.

Results: The findings revealed factors restricting research during the crisis: overload relating to students, overload relating to administration, family difficulties, and inaccessible research infrastructure. Some heads developed successful strategies to sustain their research during the crisis.

Conclusions and Implications: Critical insights into …

Unlicensed Assistive Personnel’S Attitudes, Knowledge, And Perceptions Of Alternatives To The Application Of Physical Restraints, Gale Marie Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of physical restraints in mental health care settings is a common practice, yet it poses significant risks to patients’ physical and psychological well-being. The issue of excessive restraint use was addressed through this doctoral project by designing an educational program aimed at promoting alternative strategies. The practice-focused question was: How can an educational program for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) impact their knowledge and attitudes towards alternatives to physical restraints? The purpose of the project was to develop and evaluate an education program to improve UAP knowledge and attitudes to reduce reliance on physical restraints. The project was informed …

Improving Knowledge Regarding The Use Of Long-Acting Injections In The Management Of Schizophrenia In Psychiatric Providers Using Focused Staff Education, Mutiat Popoola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary Despite the potential benefits of long-acting injections (LAIs) in schizophrenia treatment, current literature reveals a severe knowledge gap among psychiatric practitioners about their use. This knowledge gap may also contribute to underutilizing LAIs in clinical practice and at the project site, reducing patients' access to this effective treatment therapy. This staff education project was developed and conducted to determine if focused education about the use of LAIs in the management of schizophrenia in psychiatric providers improved provider knowledge of their usage. Medication nonadherence in psychiatric patients can result in increased relapse rates and hospitalizations, poor medication adherence, increased healthcare …

Strategies To Improve Patient Satisfaction In Colorado Nursing Homes, Shahnoz Yusufbekova

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient satisfaction is a key performance indicator in nursing homes, influencing organizational success, clinical outcomes, and compliance with regulatory standards. This integrative review was conducted to identify strategies for improving patient satisfaction in Colorado nursing homes. By analyzing trends in patient care deficiencies and exploring evidence-based business strategies, the goal of this study was to enhance residents’ quality of life while fostering a patient-centered approach to care. An integrative literature review was conducted, in which peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and quality assessment tools published between 2019 and 2024 were analyzed. Lawton’s quality-of-life framework was used to assess factors influencing patient …

Gonorrhea/Chlamydia Infections: Role Of Age, Sexual Abuse, And Sexual Contact Among African Americans In Nc, Thomika Sprenger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a significant public health (PH) issue in North Carolina (NC) despite efforts to decrease prevalence. Rates are higher in African American (AA) young adults. Studies have investigated STIs, but little is known about the mediating relationship between factors such as the age of first sexual intercourse, sexual abuse, and sexual contact. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess if the age of first sexual intercourse and sexual contact mediate the relationship between sexual abuse and gonorrhea/chlamydia infections among AA young adults in NC. A secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2019 Youth …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Patient Education On Indwelling Catheters In The Home, Lyndsy Bolstad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Home healthcare agencies transition patients from the hospital to the home where caregivers may assist in providing care for indwelling Foley catheters. About half of urinary tract infections are in the presence of an indwelling catheter. The agency for which this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was developed does not have an evidence-based clinical practice patient education guideline (CPPEG) for the care of the indwelling catheter to prevent infection. The practice-focused questions were: (a) What evidence-based literature supports the development of a CPPEG for patient education on the care of the Foley catheter in the home and (b) Will the …

Hegemonic Masculinity: Exploring How Asian And Pacific Islander Emerging Adult Males Describe Masculinity, Eman'on Wanderer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of hegemonic masculinity presents a significant mental health concern among diverse emerging adult males. This generic qualitative study was an exploration of the perspectives of Asian and Pacific Islander emerging adult males regarding their descriptions of masculinity. Gender schema theory (GST) is the foundational framework of this study. Rooted in social cognitive theory, GST exemplifies how environmental factors shape the initial development of gender identity and the enduring effects this gendering has on cognitive processes throughout an individual's life. The primary research question in this study was: How do Asian and Pacific Islander emerging adult males describe masculinity? …

Alternative Solutions For Leadership To Attract Qualified Behavioral Health Professionals In Rural Areas, Jerilyn Ann Durst

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The challenge of attracting qualified behavioral health professionals to positions in rural areas has been widely recognized. Underserved population segments, issues unique to clinicians practicing in rural areas, and a lack of effective recruitment incentives impact not only an organization but also the community it serves. The subject of this qualitative case study was a private behavioral health office located in a rural community. Semistructured interviews were held with five behavioral health leaders of this organization in addition to a review of organizational records. The Baldridge Performance Excellence Program was the conceptual framework that grounded this study. Qualitative analysis, including …

Effective Health Care Leadership Strategies For Increasing Nurses’ Retention Rates In Hospitals, Jennifer Cole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some health care leaders lack effective strategies to improve and sustain nursing retention rates, resulting in significant operational costs. Grounded in the Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore practical strategies health care leaders use to improve nursing retention rates in hospital settings. The participants were four health care leaders from California hospitals selected through purposive sampling based on their experience implementing successful retention strategies. Data were collected using semi structured interviews, and data triangulation was completed by utilizing the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, California state nursing board reports, and a professional nursing …

African American Adolescent Depressive Symptoms And Caregiver Perceptions, Katerina Marroquin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American adolescents with untreated mental health problems can have symptoms of depression. Depressive symptoms can persist in adulthood if untreated. Caregiver recognition is the strongest predictor of adolescent behaviors and depressive symptom outcomes. Caregivers can identify depressive symptoms in African American adolescents by focusing on met and unmet needs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to ask about caregiver perceptions of African American adolescent depressive symptoms with focus on physiological needs, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. The theoretical framework for this study is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data analysis was conducted using NVivo to enhance the interpretation …

The Relationship Between Climate Change Awareness And Mental Health Among Adults In The United States, Stanley Nkemjika

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding the connection between climate change awareness and overall well-being is crucial, particularly regarding its impact on the environment and mental health. However, there is a need for more research on this topic, especially within the American context. The mental health implications of climate change are not yet fully understood, and there is a gap in the literature. This gap was addressed by exploring climate change awareness effects on mental health among U.S. adults. The social ecological model provided a framework to examine the impact of climate change awareness on mental health, considering individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors. This …

Stereotype, Stigma, And Discrimination And Prep Use Among Black And Latino Men And Women, Aieshia Brooks Poole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV infections continue to rise in the Southern United States, with Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), bisexual men, and women experiencing disproportionate impacts. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective biomedical intervention for reducing HIV transmission, disparities in its uptake remain due to healthcare stereotype threat, felt stigma, and everyday discrimination. This quantitative cross-sectional study analyzed secondary data from the Generations: A Study of the Life and Health of LGB People in a Changing Society (2016–2019) to examine the relationship between these psychosocial barriers and PrEP use among Black/Latino MSM, bisexual men, and women aged …

Work-Life Balance Conflicts Parents Of Early Adolescents Faced During Covid-19 Lockdowns, Rodney Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Measures such as social distancing and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic meant parents balanced their roles as educators, tech support, and employees in shared home offices. This qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the work-life balance conflicts parents of early adolescents faced during the COVID-19 lockdowns, focusing on how parents managed the challenges of pandemic restrictions and their strategies for coping with cognitive, emotional, and physical fatigue for themselves and their families. This study was guided by the transactional theory of stress and coping. Twelve female parents were virtually interviewed, selected based on their having early adolescent children at home, …