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The Lived Experiences Of South Asian Same-Sex Attracted Women Residing In The United States, Surinder Kaur Bal Jan 2016

The Lived Experiences Of South Asian Same-Sex Attracted Women Residing In The United States, Surinder Kaur Bal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

South Asian same-sex attracted women in the United States experience discrimination and marginalization that puts them at an increased risk for mental health issues. Research shows their rates of counseling and psychotherapy use are low due to perceptions of stigma, lack of knowledge, and concerns about culturally insensitive treatment plans. Mental health providers lack the literature needed to inform culturally sensitive treatment plans to address these concerning gaps in services, and an extensive literature review found no studies on the lived experiences of this population. Guided by feminist theory, this research study examined how discrimination, oppression, and marginalization mold women's …


Interrelationships Of Colorism, Violence, And Sexual Behaviors Among Southern African American Women., Phaedra Christensen Jan 2016

Interrelationships Of Colorism, Violence, And Sexual Behaviors Among Southern African American Women., Phaedra Christensen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Two significant public health concerns that threaten both the physical and mental health of African-American women are Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). African-American women (AAW) in the south carry the greatest burden of HIV and disproportionately represent the region with an incidence of 71% for new HIV infections, and elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. In 2013, the murder rate among AAW was 2.5 times higher than it was among Caucasian women. Most of the published studies that explored the association between IPV and HIV had mixed populations, did not explore topics unique to AAs, or …


Job Satisfaction In The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Calvin Colbert Jan 2016

Job Satisfaction In The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, Calvin Colbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately every 20 years, a new generation is born and eventually dominates the workforce; although changes occur with each new generation, the importance of job satisfaction remains constant. Research within the U.S. Intelligence Community is lacking with regard to changing trends of job satisfaction levels. The purpose of this study was to explore job satisfaction levels between Generation X and Generation Y workforce employees at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The central research question addressed how job satisfaction differed by generational differences in the workforce. A quantitative method was used to assess survey data. A structural equation modeling technique was …


Exploring Factors Influencing Information Technology Portfolio Selection Process In Government-Funded Bioinformatics Projects, Braulio J. Cabral Jan 2016

Exploring Factors Influencing Information Technology Portfolio Selection Process In Government-Funded Bioinformatics Projects, Braulio J. Cabral

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2012, the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors (BSA) conducted a review of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology's (CBIIT) bioinformatics program. The BSA suggested that the lack of a formal project selection process made it difficult to determine the alignment of projects with the mission of the organization. The problem addressed by this study was that CBIIT did not have an in-depth understanding of the project selection process and the factors influencing the process. The purpose of this study was to understand the project selection process at CBIIT. The research methodology was an exploratory …


Differential Reinforcement In The Online Radicalization Of Western Muslim Women Converts, Heather Cone Jan 2016

Differential Reinforcement In The Online Radicalization Of Western Muslim Women Converts, Heather Cone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emerging phenomenon of Western women Islamic converts learning radicalized ideology through social media constitutes a challenge to cyber policy makers hampered by a lack of gender-nuanced radicalization research. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative case study was to develop a greater understanding of how the differential reinforcement tenet of social learning theory may help to explain the conversion and radicalization of Western women towards a fundamentalist Islamic ideology through their participation in the social media. Key research questions explored how participation in online social media may create vulnerability towards radicalization and exploitation. The blogs of 3 different Western women …


Young Adults Adherence To Cancer Treatment As Compared To Older Adults, Laurie Ann Cox Jan 2016

Young Adults Adherence To Cancer Treatment As Compared To Older Adults, Laurie Ann Cox

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As compared to pediatric and older adult cancer patients, young adults are the only oncology group that has not demonstrated an increase in survival rates. Low treatment adherence rates have been one explanation for this discrepancy, although this hypothesis has not been explored specifically. Guided by the biopsychosocial model of health and wellness, this study compared the treatment adherence rates of 46 young adult cancer patients (ages 18-39 years) to 46 older adult cancer patients (ages 40 years and older). Adherence was measured by a dichotomized variable, as yes/no, adhering to radiation treatment and follow-up appointments recommended by the physician, …


Gestational Age, Birth Weight, And Incidence Of Adult Type 2 Diabetes Among Southeast Alaska Natives, Renee Elaine Crawford Jan 2016

Gestational Age, Birth Weight, And Incidence Of Adult Type 2 Diabetes Among Southeast Alaska Natives, Renee Elaine Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

American Indian and Alaska Native adults are 2.6 times more likely to have adult onset diabetes resulting from higher weight at birth. Pregnant women, providers, and Indian Health Service administrators may benefit from timely information during pregnancy to intervene and prevent Type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of birth weight in the development of Type 2 diabetes among Southeast Alaska (SEA) Natives. Guided by the socioecological model, this study examined the extent to which birth weight and gestational age predict the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. The study used a quantitative research design …


Continuity Of Operations Planning At Historically Black Colleges And Universities In Alabama, Lewis Alvin Eakins Jan 2016

Continuity Of Operations Planning At Historically Black Colleges And Universities In Alabama, Lewis Alvin Eakins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Continuity of operations planning for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is critical for institution sustainability. The absence of such planning can result in an HBCU closing for an extended period of time after a disaster resulting in loss of revenue, research projects, students, faculty, and staff. There is a void of information on the extent of continuity of operations planning at HBCUs and how these institutions would continue functioning after a disaster. Using resilience theory as the foundation, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the extent of continuity of operations planning at HBCUs in Alabama …


Local Governmental Development Of Alternative Food Systems In Distressed Urban Areas, Jeremy Earle Jan 2016

Local Governmental Development Of Alternative Food Systems In Distressed Urban Areas, Jeremy Earle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alternative food systems (AFS) projects are designed to address issues of environmental justice, food security and insecurity, community health disparities between the affluent and the poor, and access to healthful foods in distressed urban areas. Past research has questioned the efficacy and long-term viability of such interventions, particularly in distressed primarily Black urban areas. The purpose of this intrinsic case study (ICS) was to understand the ways in which local governmental entities collaborated with each other and with nongovernmental partners to help develop an AFS in South Florida through the creation of a market garden called the PATCH. Critical race …


Sexual Health Education Policy: Influences On Implementation Of Sexual Health Education Programs, Renata Denise Ellington Jan 2016

Sexual Health Education Policy: Influences On Implementation Of Sexual Health Education Programs, Renata Denise Ellington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High school youth in Grades 9-12 who are in public schools without comprehensive sexual health education (CSHED) are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors and have higher rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases than are their peers in schools with CSHED. The purpose of this correlational study was to explore the statistical relationship between the consistent implementation of CSHED, before and after the enactment of the Chicago Public Schools' (CPS) sexual health education policy, and the sexual risk behaviors of Chicago high school youth in Grades 9-12. The study was based on Antonovsky's salutogenic model of health …


Diabetes Management Regimens And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African American Men, Joseph Garilus Jan 2016

Diabetes Management Regimens And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African American Men, Joseph Garilus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the most common health complications related to diabetes is the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies addressing the association between adherence to diabetes management regimens and the risk of CVD among minority populations are limited. This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association between diabetes management regimens and risk of CVD among African American men. The health belief model was used to frame the study. Data were collected from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database for the states of Missouri and Ohio. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between adherence to diabetes …


Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Servant Leadership In Banking, Curtis J. Gregory Jan 2016

Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Servant Leadership In Banking, Curtis J. Gregory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S.-based financial institutions have experienced significant failure rates since the mid-1980s. The problem within the U.S.-based banking industry is that the focus of leadership development has been primarily on cognitive abilities, whereas interpersonal skills, such as emotional intelligence, have been neglected. Research has focused on U.S. bank failures from a risk mitigation, economic, or legislative perspective, creating a gap in research on leadership behavior. The purpose of this correlation study was to determine whether a significant relationship exists between emotional intelligence and servant leadership among leaders in the U.S. small business banking industry. The theoretical framework compared intelligence types to …


The Effect Of Federal Reporting Regulations On Hospital Investment In Community Building, Dorothy Magasis Escobar Jan 2016

The Effect Of Federal Reporting Regulations On Hospital Investment In Community Building, Dorothy Magasis Escobar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role of hospitals as partners in community health improvement is changing, especially for nonprofit hospitals receiving tax exemptions in exchange for providing benefits to the community. There are examples of reported health improvement activities funded through hospitals' charitable donations, but there's a gap in the literature on the effect of policy and legislation on hospitals' investments in community building activities that address the social determinants of health. Grounded in eco-social theory, this quantitative, correlational study compared secondary data from CA's nonprofit hospitals' annual 2009 and 2012 reports to determine what, if any, changes have occurred in the hospitals' investments …


District-Funded Common Core Collaboration Grants Used For Teacher Professional Development, Stephanie Pratt Gregson Jan 2016

District-Funded Common Core Collaboration Grants Used For Teacher Professional Development, Stephanie Pratt Gregson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English language arts and mathematics by the State of California in 2010, a shift in instructional practices along with the level of rigor and expectations for students began. As a result of these changes, a local school district sought a way through district-funded Common Core Collaboration Grants (CCCG) to provide professional development that supported 4th-6th grade teachers in their implementation of the CCSS. The purpose of this qualitative program evaluation case study was to examine teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of professional development funded by CCCG in supporting 4th-6th …


Educational Leadership Characteristics Of Rural High School Principals And Graduation Rates, Christopher Michael Groves Jan 2016

Educational Leadership Characteristics Of Rural High School Principals And Graduation Rates, Christopher Michael Groves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High school graduation rates and the leadership of principals are important measures of accountability within schools. Principal leadership has been investigated through qualitative and correlational studies in mostly urban areas. Limited research has focused on the educational leadership characteristics of the high school principals and graduation rates in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to identify, describe, and categorize the leadership characteristics of veteran and novice principals with respect to graduation rates in selected rural schools. Bolman and Deal's 4 frames of leadership informed this study and helped to create the broad leadership categories of interpersonal skills, leadership …


Effects Of Gender And Spirituality On Adults' Resilience To Daily Non-Traumatic Stressors, Lois S. Harris Jan 2016

Effects Of Gender And Spirituality On Adults' Resilience To Daily Non-Traumatic Stressors, Lois S. Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have conducted several studies of spirituality as it relates to individuals' coping strategies and resilience when facing life trauma. There is less research, however, on spirituality as it relates to adults' resiliency to daily non-traumatic stressors. The purposes of the current study were to examine the relationship between spirituality and adults' resilience to daily, non-traumatic stressors and assess whether gender has a moderating effect on this relationship. A quantitative correlational study based on Lazarus's transactional model of stress and coping using convenience sampling, an online survey (N= 94) was administered. Of the 94 participants ages 19 to 68, 66 …


Teacher Strategies For Developing Historical Empathy, Billy Kenneth Harris Jan 2016

Teacher Strategies For Developing Historical Empathy, Billy Kenneth Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that the application of historical empathy, defined as using historical evidence to reconstruct past perspectives, engenders critical thinking in students. There is lack of research on the level of comprehension and use of historical empathy as an instructional strategy by high school history instructors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers' comprehension and application of historical empathy in 2 high schools. This study was grounded in Edmund Husserl's concept of intersubjectivity, which suggests that apperception facilitates the grasp of multiple perspectives. Research questions addressed history teacher comprehension and employment of historical empathy as a tool …


An Evaluation Of Mentoring, Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Retention In An Induction Program, Sherri Latonya Henry Jan 2016

An Evaluation Of Mentoring, Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Retention In An Induction Program, Sherri Latonya Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several decades of research have shown that quality teacher induction programs are effective in providing support to beginning teachers, improving teachers' performance, and increasing teachers' self-efficacy. A large urban school district implemented a new teacher induction program and the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the program using beginning teachers' perceptions of program effectiveness, the mentor-mentee relationship, intention to remain in teaching, and self-efficacy scores. Bandura's self-efficacy theory provided the framework for this study. Research questions examined the relationships among the 4 variables of interest as well as the differences in each by the number of years of …


Influences Of Nutritional Food Label Understanding In African-American Women With Obesity, Cynthia Jean Hickman Jan 2016

Influences Of Nutritional Food Label Understanding In African-American Women With Obesity, Cynthia Jean Hickman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nutritional food label understanding (NFLU) in African American Women (AAW) is a philosophy that addresses obesity. Public health efforts have implemented nutritional and caloric information to packaged and restaurant foods to improve nutrient and calorie literacy. Research suggest NFLU might have a minimal effect on reducing obesity. However, it is not known how obese AAW born during the baby-boom era (51 to 64 years of age) perceive NFLU in relation to their dietary behaviors. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of obese AAW regarding NFLU from a cognitive and behavioral perspective. Twelve, AAW answered …


A Qualitative Study Of How Students Experienced Exclusionary Discipline Practices, Vera Veronica Holley Jan 2016

A Qualitative Study Of How Students Experienced Exclusionary Discipline Practices, Vera Veronica Holley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a result of zero tolerance policies, a significant percentage of students who experience exclusions from schools also experience negative outcomes such as high dropout rates, academic failures, and encounters with juvenile justice agencies. While several researchers have found a relationship between unintended consequences of exclusions and juvenile delinquency, few have examined this phenomenon from the perspectives of juveniles who experienced exclusions. Guided by the framework of operant conditioning, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how students experienced exclusions from school. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants who experienced both exclusions from schools and involvement with …


The Lived Experiences Of Hiv+ Community Health Workers Serving Hiv+ Clients, Phronie Lynn Jackson Jan 2016

The Lived Experiences Of Hiv+ Community Health Workers Serving Hiv+ Clients, Phronie Lynn Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous studies have focused on the effectiveness of community health worker (CHW) programs in producing positive health behaviors and health outcomes for the clients CHWs serve; however, there has been a gap in the literature regarding how the health of HIV + CHWs is impacted by their jobs. A phenomenological design was used to gain insight into the lived experiences of HIV+ CHWs (HIVCHW) who provided services to HIV positive clients. Fifteen HIVCHW were recruited using criteria and snowball techniques. Data were collected via audio recorded personal interviews regarding respondents' perceptions of their work and how it impacted their own …


Effects Of Education On Pressure Ulcer Prevention In Developmentally Disabled Individuals, Jasneth M. James Jan 2016

Effects Of Education On Pressure Ulcer Prevention In Developmentally Disabled Individuals, Jasneth M. James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pressure ulcers were a continuing concern among the nonverbal developmentally disabled population of a state institution. The lengthy use of wheelchairs, the inability to body shift, and physical and mental impairment were attributes of the target population that have been cited in the literature as contributing to pressure ulcer. The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest/posttest project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an education intervention for direct care staff on the prevention treatment, and eradication of pressure ulcers among patients with developmental disabilities. Orem's self-care deficit theory, particularly the emphasis on the need for nursing staff to perform self-care activities …


Generational Differences Among Social Security Administration Employees And Their Perception Of Value, Joyce Moses Jones Jan 2016

Generational Differences Among Social Security Administration Employees And Their Perception Of Value, Joyce Moses Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social Security Administration (SSA) managers and leaders are facing an unprecedented challenge to understand 3 to 5 generations of employees, and value the diversity of each group (Glass, 2007). Perceived lack of recognition has resulted in low morale and job satisfaction, leaving employees not feeling valued. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological research study was to explore, identify, and examine the lived experiences and perceptions of SSA employees to determine how managers and leaders can contribute to employee valuation. The central question and subquestions were designed to determine whether generational theory accurately described the lived experiences and perceptions of the …


A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Cultural Competence And Patient Satisfaction Scores, Kelley Ann Lovati Jan 2016

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Cultural Competence And Patient Satisfaction Scores, Kelley Ann Lovati

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the U.S. population continues to diversify, hospitals need to understand and care for patients of diverse backgrounds and provide quality service for positive patient satisfaction scores. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative retrospective survey design was to determine what relationship exists between cultural competence initiatives (CCI) and patient satisfaction scores as reported by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey in U.S. hospitals. The theoretical framework for this study was based upon CCI and patient satisfaction through the lens of service quality. The research questions were created to understand the relationship between CCI and …


Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: The Lived Experience Of Extended Family Reconciliation, Sheryl Martin Jan 2016

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: The Lived Experience Of Extended Family Reconciliation, Sheryl Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have documented the increasing role of grandparents who provide care for their grandchildren; however, few have studied extended family reconciliation after grandparents assumed their primary care. This study explored the reconciliation experiences of 12 grandparents who were primary caretakers of their grandchildren. Using Moustakas's phenomenological research approach, the participants were interviewed about their experiences of the relationship triad (grandparent-grandchild, grandparent-adult child, parent-child). Attachment theory and family systems theory were the conceptual frameworks to explore the central research question, which addressed the meaning of extended family reconciliation for grandparents who become primary caregivers of grandchildren. Using NVivo, the interview data …


Improving The Completion Rate Of Advance Directives In Home Health Agencies, Ndidiamaka Ezinne Mbakpuo Jan 2016

Improving The Completion Rate Of Advance Directives In Home Health Agencies, Ndidiamaka Ezinne Mbakpuo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of individuals aged more than 65 years in the United States and their life expectancy has been increasing in the past decades. In spite of the presence of federal and accreditation policies recommending completion of advance directive documents by patients admitted to health care settings, advance directive completion rates are low in most health care organizations. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of advance directive completion among home health patients. The health belief model provided the theoretical framework that guided this study. A retrospective chart review was carried out in a home health agency …


Assessing The Impact Of Yoga As A Moderator On Substance Abuse Treatment Effectiveness, Joseph Antonio Mcdaniel Jan 2016

Assessing The Impact Of Yoga As A Moderator On Substance Abuse Treatment Effectiveness, Joseph Antonio Mcdaniel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Self-efficacy and treatment adherence reduce substance dependence. Yoga has been suggested as an adjunct to substance dependence treatment to enhance outcomes. This study was designed to assess yoga as a moderator of substance abuse treatment effectiveness, as indicated by the Exercise Self-Efficacy survey and Treatment Effectiveness Assessment scores. This study was guided by self-efficacy theory and used a nonequivalent quasi-experimental design to evaluate self-efficacy changes and treatment effectiveness. A drug treatment program that did not incorporate yoga as an adjunct to treatment was compared to another treatment program that did. Convenience sampling strategy was utilized to recruit 100 voluntary yoga …


Risk Factors For Hypertension Among African-Born Immigrants In The United States, John Ojih Jan 2016

Risk Factors For Hypertension Among African-Born Immigrants In The United States, John Ojih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Essential hypertension (HTN) has been and continues to be a serious public health problem across the globe, particularly among Black races, with an estimated morbidity rate of over 1 billion people and an estimated mortality rate of 9.4 million people worldwide. Essential HTN can lead to a host of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, myocardial infarction, brain damage, kidney failure, and retinopathy. The main purpose of this quantitative, descriptive, nonexperimental study was to investigate the association of physical inactivity, length of stay in the United States, immigrants' health status, and food security as risk indicators in the development …


The Relationship Between Hospital Leadership Activities And Clinical Quality Outcomes In Iowa, Sarah Pavelka Jan 2016

The Relationship Between Hospital Leadership Activities And Clinical Quality Outcomes In Iowa, Sarah Pavelka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been working with hospital networks across the United States to improve health care through education and training on clinical best practices and leadership frameworks. Some organizations have failed to reach the high-quality standards of care expected and have adverse patient care outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between leadership actions, funding type, and clinical care outcomes in participating Partners for Patients hospital programs in Iowa. The secondary variable data were provided from a Partnership for Patients contractor, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Organizational Assessment …


Evaluating The Role Of Nurses In Educating Women During The Preconception Period, Oluwatoyin Ottun Jan 2016

Evaluating The Role Of Nurses In Educating Women During The Preconception Period, Oluwatoyin Ottun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses play a crucial role in promoting educational programs aimed at informing women about their reproductive health. However, the role of nurses in providing the health related information is not well defined. Guided by the continuum model, this project evaluated nurses' perceived role in promoting the reproductive health of women during the preconception period. Twenty nurses from 2 outpatient offices wrote responses to an open-ended questionnaire. A summary of the responses indicated that 70% of the participants refer women to community-based programs to enhance awareness for preconception care. Twenty percent of the nurses indicated that they have an educational program …