Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Strategies For Building Traditional Church Membership, Carlos Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A dwindling number of congregational members poses a significant risk to the continuity of U.S. churches. Leaders in traditional congregations need effective tactics for membership expansion. Drawing upon Bolman and Deal’s four-frame theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies leaders of traditional churches use to build membership. The participants were six leaders from traditional churches situated in the Southern and Eastern parts of the United States. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews and archival documents. Thematic analysis of the data revealed four prominent themes: influential leadership, community involvement, use of technology and social …

Psychological Well-Being Of International Students In Qatar, Padmakumari Chandrannair Sarada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

International students experience adaptation difficulties that have the potential to affect their psychological well-being. Qatar has a growing yet understudied population of international students. The problem addressed in this study is that little is known about the role that cultural distance, psychological well-being, and selected demographic variables play for the international student population in Qatar. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to measure the effect of the predictors—cultural distance, age, gender, and length of residency—on the psychological well-being of international students in Qatar. The framework used to guide this study was cross-cultural adaptation theory by Ward and Searle. …

Student Nurse Experiences Of Retention Strategies And The Perceived Contribution To Academic Progress, Jessica Dugas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a worldwide nursing shortage that has been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors have contributed to the worsening shortage, including high attrition rates in nursing programs. Retention strategies have been suggested to support nursing students during their education to have success and graduate. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore how nursing students experience retention strategies and their perceived contributions to academic progress. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was the theoretical framework used to guide the study. Data were collected from one-on-one interviews with 12 nursing students recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling. Data were …

Organization Members’ Lived Experiences Of Destructive Leadership, Angela E.C. Etson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Destructive leadership may negatively impact an organization and its members. Although scholars recognized that destructive leadership behavior exists, there was little qualitative empirical evidence of its effect on an organization and its members. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the essence of the lived experiences of individual organization members based on how they perceived and gave meaning to destructive leadership’s negative influence on the organizations where they worked or had worked. The conceptual framework consisted of Van de Ven and Poole’s dialectical change theory, Benson’s dialectical analysis, Schein’s organizational culture, Schneider’s organizational climate, and Weick’s …

Psychological Impact Of Ebola Disease On Survivors: A West Africa Study, Babatunde Moses Irinoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Survivors of Ebola virus disease often experience social isolation. Understanding the psychological impact of Ebola virus disease on these survivors was the focus of this study. The study encompasses assessment of experiences in re-integration back into communities, and psychological implications (post-recovery), among Ebola infection survivors (EIS) in Republic of Liberia. The purpose of the study was to explore the psychological impact of Ebola as the EIS continue their re-integration journey in their communities in Liberia. The conceptual framework for this study was based on principles of system theory, based on interrelatedness of the biopsychological experience of the EIS, and the …

Religion And Social Support As Protective Factors Among African American Women Sexually Abused As Children, Vanessa K. Tower

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide public health issue. Although CSA has been researched internationally, research on African American women who self-report CSA remains limited. Utilizing secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a quantitative study was conducted to explore whether religion and social support were related and differed as a function of CSA presence versus absence among African American women between ages 33 and 43. This study was grounded in resiliency theory, which is rooted in the study of adversity and is a strength based approach. A cross-comparative correlation design was conducted. Religion …

Native American Higher Education Students’ Perspectives Of Preparation And Encouragement Received Prior To College Entrance, David Edward Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that Native American students in the area surrounding a local university participated in higher education at low levels. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore local Native American college student perspectives about becoming a college student, including their individual experiences and recommendations for increasing future Native American college participation. The conceptual framework for the study included Tinto’s model of student integration and Bandura’s social learning theory. Three research questions were addressed regarding Native American college student perspectives on becoming a college student; the experiences, programs, and support that led to …

Exploration Of Therapists' Use Of Bibliotherapy As A Clinical Strategy For Military Children, Destiny Huff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military-connected children face unique life stressors related to their parents serving in the military. Therapists play an integral role in supporting these families. Specifically, research on therapists’ use of bibliotherapy as a clinical strategy to support these children’s needs is recommended. Bibliotherapy uses written material such as books, stories, and poems to address clients’ needs. The purpose of this interpretive descriptive qualitative study was to explore therapists’ use of bibliotherapy as a clinical strategy to address the unique stressors faced by military children ages 3-8 years old. Shrodes’s model of bibliotherapy was used as the theoretical framework. Data were collected …

Use Of A Community-Based Mentoring Program To Reduce Juvenile Delinquency And Crime In Adolescents, Andida Prince

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The risk factors of juvenile delinquency and crime fail to acknowledge the systemic injustices, environmental stressors, and challenges youths bring to mentoring programs. Community-based mentoring programs are in place to assist with deterrence and reduction of juvenile delinquency and crime. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand delinquency and crime in adolescents through the theoretical lens of social control theory. The goal was to explore the theories and understand what can be done to counteract the risk factors from the perspective of mentoring professionals. The research questions focused on community-based mentoring programs’ role in an adolescent’s life and …

Relationship Between Geographic Location, Race, And Socioeconomic Status On Adolescent Male Hpv Vaccination In The United States, Stacy Herb

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Despite readily available safe and effective vaccines and established knowledge of influencing factors, HPV vaccination rates in the United States remain suboptimal, particularly among adolescent males. This quantitative study addressed this gap by investigating the association between geographic location, race, and socioeconomic status with HPV vaccination uptake in adolescent males. A secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2022 National Immunization Survey (NIS)—Teen, comprised of 22,667 adolescent males. The fundamental cause theory served as the theoretical framework, guiding the exploration of why a safe and effective …

Kindergarten Through Third-Grade Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementing The Science Of Teaching Reading Practices, Shari Yvonne Ehly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, declines in reading achievement across Texas motivated changes for teacher recertification, which required 60-hour professional development in the science of teaching reading (STR). The problem this study addressed was the challenges K-Grade 3 reading teachers encountered when implementing the recently adopted Reading Academy content at a large urban school in Texas. The purpose of this basic qualitative project study was to explore the challenges K through Grade 3 reading teachers encountered when implementing the recently adopted Reading Academy content at a large urban school in Texas. The implementation science conceptual framework guided this study on the fidelity of …

Variables That Support Trauma-Informed Care Implementation By Registered Play Therapists™, Christopher Todd Correa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Federal agencies, researchers, and professional associations have addressed concerns regarding the growing number of children who are exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma. In response, they have recommended adoption of trauma-informed care (TIC) that provides care to children. However, there were mixed results in terms of successfully implementing TIC at places of employment. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to investigate whether Registered Play Therapist™ (RPTs™) experiences, perceptions, and knowledge predicted their attitudes regarding TIC. This study involved exploring perceptions of RPTs™ regarding effectiveness of implementing TIC. The trauma-informed systems model guided this study. Research questions …

Relationship Between Sports Participation, Weight Intentions, And Insufficient Sleep On E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. High School Students, Stephanie Deivert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite public health efforts, e-cigarette use among youths persists, posing risks due to high nicotine content and the potential for transitioning to traditional cigarette smoking. Although sports participation has shielded individuals from traditional cigarette use, recent studies revealed a higher susceptibility to e-cigarette use among young athletes, though influencing factors were unexplored. Using the socioecological model, this retrospective cross-sectional study examined the relationship between sports participation, weight intentions, insufficient sleep, and e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students by analyzing 2021 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. Binary logistic regression assessed associations between variables. An interaction term examined the moderating …

Exploring Strategies Leaders Use For Enforcing Cybersecurity Policies To Protect Information Systems And Data, Ma'risa Lashawn Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cybersecurity policies are critical for organizations to protect their digital assets and sensitive information. Leaders must explore and implement effective cybersecurity policies because the lack of effective strategies will lead to increased security risks. Grounded in the social cognitive theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies cybersecurity leaders use to enforce cybersecurity policies in organizations to protect organizational information systems and data. The participants were cybersecurity leaders associated with cybersecurity policies and their implementation and enforcement in different organizations located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Data collection included semistructured interviews of five …

Caregiver Attitudes Toward Sexual Behavior And Sex Education For Children With Down Syndrome, Shawna Urban

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative correlational study investigates caregivers’ attitudes toward sexual behavior and sex education for children with Down syndrome, drawing upon the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 112 caregivers. The analysis revealed significant positive associations between caregivers’ attitudes toward sexuality and their perspectives on sex education. Binary logistic regression indicated that higher POS scores predict increased likelihood of endorsing sexual behavior and supporting sex education for children with Down syndrome. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, age, and educational level did not significantly influence caregivers’ decisions regarding sex education support. The …

Predictors Of Counselors Accurately Diagnosing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Ocd) And Recommending Ocd-Specific Empirically Supported Treatments (Ests), Natalie Grierson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has supported that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is frequently misdiagnosed and not treated with OCD-specific, empirically supported treatments (ESTs) by healthcare professionals, resulting in negative consequences. Empirical findings are mixed regarding what predicts this and if counselors contribute to the concerns; therefore, it is imperative to investigate this with counselors. Using a medical model framework, the purpose of this quantitative study was to (a) examine the rate of counselors in the United States accurately diagnosing OCD, (b) identify the predictors for counselors accurately diagnosing OCD, (c) examine the rate of counselors recommending OCD-specific ESTs, and (d) identify the predictors for …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Challenges And Interventions Involved In Promoting Independence Of Students In Low-Incidence Programs, Allison N. Perlstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Special education teachers who provide educational opportunities for students in low-incidence programs within a Southern urban public school system in the United States faced challenges when trying to promote independence. The purpose of this project study was to understand the perceptions of teachers and the approaches they seek to best support their students in low-incidence programs in developing the independence necessary to engage in society. Maslow's theory of motivation was used as the conceptual framework for this project study. How special education teachers perceive their ability and the resources they need to support the independence of students in low-incidence programs …

Implementing Healthcare Administrative Leadership Strategies To Mitigate Turnover And Enhance Retention Among Medical-Surgical Unit Registered Nurses, Janay Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To mitigate registered nursing turnover, utilize strategies centered on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, a theoretical framework that strikes a balance between the demands of the jobs and the resources and support available to nursing employees, which will lead to an increase in employee engagement, dedication, and psychological well-being at work while reducing Acute Care Hospital (ACH) turnover rates in the medical-surgical units (MSUs) in Pennsylvania. The research question examined healthcare administration leadership strategies that could be implemented by hospital administrators within ACHs in Pennsylvania MSUs. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the existing literature on registered …

Association Between Psychological Distress And Diabetic Retinopathy Among U.S. Adults, Claret Ijeoma Onukogu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that causes damaged blood vessels and the growth of abnormal ones, leading to vision loss. The two stages of the disease are non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In the non-proliferative stage, diabetics develop macular edema and ischemia with shortage of blood in the macula region of the eye, and the vision eventually becomes blurry. However, the proliferative stage is the advanced stage of the disease involves neovascularization and retinal detachment. The quantitative study employed the socioecological model as the theoretical framework to examine the relationship between psychological distress and diabetic retinopathy …

To Resist Or Persist? An Examination Of Interpersonal Relationships Formed In Prison, Kamecia S. Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prison is an important component of the criminal justice system. The structure and functionality of prison is tailored towards incapacitation, rehabilitation, and deterrence, which are goals of punishment. However, prison can have unintended consequences which increase the criminogenic risk of offenders causing inmates to become career criminals. This study examined the role of prison socialization, particularly the influence of interpersonal relationships formed while incarcerated on recidivistic behavior. It is important to investigate interpersonal relationships formed while incarcerated so that prison administrators can better realize its goal to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for reintegration into society. The study was grounded …

How Sarcoidosis Mental Health Stories Could Affect Legislation, Dorothy Michelle Kemp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this general qualitative study with narrative techniques addressed was the lack of empirical research about sarcoidosis mental health based on depression, anxiousness, and feeling lonely. Sarcoidosis legislation was also compared to current mental health legislation, which proposed mental health measures. This study aimed to gather secondary data of firsthand descriptions based on the impacts of sarcoidosis mental health aspects and review sarcoidosis legislation. Accumulated secondary data for this study were a collection of stories from doctors, diagnosed patients, and caregivers based on their narrative of the disease from a mental health perspective. In utilizing the advocacy coalition framework, …

East African Refugee Women Seeking Health Care After Government Assistance Ends, Sylivia Chelimo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

East African refugee women arrive as a vulnerable population in their host country. Before coming to the United States, refugee women may have experienced varying levels of trauma due to civil wars, genocide, sexual assault, deaths of loved ones, terrorist attacks, being taken hostage, and torture in their home country. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of refugee women from East African countries seeking health care in the Central United States when government assistance ends. The framework of the behavioral model of health was the guide for examining the experiences of the participant refugee …

School Counselors’ Perceptions And Descriptions Of Their Career Counseling Efforts For Non-Honor Roll Students In Career Management, Sherlette C. Burkhalter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-quality career counseling is freely available at U.S. high schools. However, many students choose not to participate in career planning programs, despite being assigned to a school counselor for guidance. There is a projected increase in demand for school counselors; however, there needs to be more literature regarding whether high school students are taking advantage of career planning and how counselors cope with and manage their role in implementing career counseling programs. The purpose of this study was to explore school counselors’ perceptions and descriptions of their career counseling efforts for non-honor roll students in career management. The theoretical framework …

Utilizing The Health Belief Model To Evaluate Barriers To Screening Black Women For Perinatal Depression, Rasheed Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perinatal depression is an important public health issue that disproportionately affects Black women and contributes to negative maternal and birth outcomes. This quantitative, correlational cross-sectional study aimed to understand the relationship between health care providers’ likelihood of screening for perinatal depression among Black women and their perceptions framed within the health belief model. This study was conducted to examine the impact of health care providers’ perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and perceived self-efficacy on the likelihood of screening for perinatal depression. This study was conducted in New York state and included 92 health care providers who actively provide prenatal …

The Impact Of Liberia’S Post-War Public Housing Policy On Homelessness, Bofor Rahim Toh, Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an inadequacy in strategies to address homeless and vulnerable youth “Zogos” in post-war Liberia. Homelessness among youth is a severe problem in post-war Liberia, with many sleeping in Palm Groove Cemetery and other informal housing settings in Monrovia and other parts of the country. This qualitative study explored post-war Liberia’s public housing program policy roles that professional competency and human capacity play in effectively mitigating homelessness of youth in Monrovia. Glasser’s choice theory was the theoretical framework used for this study. The research question explored how human capacity, selection eligibility, and professional competency at the National Housing Authority …

Experiences Of Black Males With Generalized Anxiety Disorder During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cynthia Lynn Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative research dissertation involved exploring the intersection of race, gender, and mental health via lived experiences of Black males who were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the unique sociocultural context of the pandemic influenced their experiences with anxiety. Using a qualitative Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis research design and semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of seven Black males living in various regions of the United States the interviews involved their personal experiences, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of societal and systemic factors that affected their mental health during the pandemic. …

The Experiences Of Icu Nurses Caring For Covid-19 Patients In Zambia, Mable Kasonde Mwila

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of ICU nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in Zambia. The problem was lack of knowledge on what intensive care unit nurses experienced while caring for COVID patients then to investigate the experiences of ICU nurses taking care of COVID patients in Lusaka, Zambia. Using Sister Callista Roy’s nursing adaptation model as a conceptual framework, the qualitative interpretative phenomenology approach was used to interview 14 participants in two hospitals in Zambia. MAXQDA software was used to organize data to develop codes and derive six themes, which were education, emotional and psychological …

Faculty’S Role In Creating A (Remote) Sense Of Community Among Faculty And Facilitating Contexts Of Care For Students, Jesus R. Nunez, Jesus Cisneros, Isela Pena

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This qualitative study employed a sensemaking approach to understand faculty members’ sensemaking of their roles during the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency transition to remote teaching and learning.

Methods: An email invitation to participate in the study was sent to faculty who taught in an MBA program during both the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 academic school years. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 14 faculty members who self-selected to participate in the study.

Results: Two salient themes emerged from the research: creating a (remote) sense of community among faculty and facilitating contexts of care for students. These …

African American Caregivers' Perceptions Of Ecological Factors Related To Hospice Utilization, Monica Prescott Lonon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans remain an underrepresented demographic in hospice care because they underutilize the service at disproportionate rates compared to the total population. The research problem addressed African American perceptions of the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem factors that impacted their perceptions and utilization of hospice. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore African American caregivers’ perceptions of environment-related factors that affected their utilization of hospice care. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 African American family caregivers aged 18 and over, with at least 2 years of experience as hospice caregivers. Findings from coding and …

The Relationship Between Investment Strategy, Investment Return, And Investment Performance, Issa Lamine Fofana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Investment managers are concerned with investment strategy decisions, as they are one of the key predictors of successful investment management. Grounded in prospect theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to examine the relationship between investment strategy, investment returns, and investment performance. The population consisted of 120 cases collected from Morningstar’s mutual fund database. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant, F(5, 119) = 36.598, p <.001, R2=.616. In the final model, two predictors were significant: total 5-year returns (ß = 0.034, p < .001) and large-cap investment strategy (ß = -0.357, p = .026) were significant predictors of investment performance. A key recommendation is for investment managers to determine the risk level they are willing to accept when building a portfolio. The implications for positive social change include boosting investment returns and performance, hence improving the investment industry's stability, which may result in the expansion of local economies.