Digital Commons Network^™

Mental Well-Being Of Parents Who Have A Child With A Disability, Miracle Denae Adkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents of children with developmental disabilities often experience elevated levels of stress and emotional burden associated with caregiving responsibilities, which can affect their mental health and overall well-being. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions, experiences, and decision-making processes of parents of children with developmental disabilities regarding the use of resources to support their own mental health. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that parents’ decisions to seek and use mental health resources were influenced by multiple factors, including accessibility and availability of services, financial …

Examining The Challenges Of Providing Mental Health Treatment In Female Correctional Facilities From The Perspective Of Mental Health Professionals, Lacretia Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in correctional settings frequently experience significant mental health issues that are linked to histories of trauma, abuse, and victimization. Despite increased attention to trauma-informed and gender-responsive approaches, numerous obstacles continue to affect the delivery of mental health treatment within female correctional facilities. Existing literature focuses on systemic and policy concerns, overlooking mental health professionals' experiences. Guided by general systems theory, this qualitative study examined the challenges encountered by providers, including how organizational, environmental, and institutional factors influence treatment implementation. Data collected through semistructured interviews with 10 mental health professionals revealed multiple barriers to effective service delivery, including the complex …

Exploring Sub-Saharan African Immigrants’ Perceptions Of The American Criminal Justice System, Martin B. Kalala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored sub-Saharan African immigrants’ perceptions of the United States criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and correctional institutions. Despite the significant and growing presence of sub-Saharan African immigrants in the United States, their perspectives remain underrepresented in criminal justice research. Grounded in critical race theory and informed by a narrative inquiry lens, this study sought to understand how race, immigrant status, and cultural background shape perceptions of fairness, trust, and legitimacy within the justice system. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 sub-Saharan African immigrants residing in the United States. The data were analyzed …

Barriers To Psychological Care: Lived Experiences Of Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Hovhannes Nazaryan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) may experience significant disability-related stressors, yet mental health services remain underused within this population. Although prior research has identified barriers to service use among individuals with SMA and people with disabilities more broadly, there is less literature about how adults with SMA experience the mental health care system. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of adults living in the United States with SMA as they relate to this system. Guided by the biopsychosocial model and Andersen’s behavioral model, the study involved addressing the question: What are lived experiences …

The Psychosocial Experience Of Black Pentecostal Pastors In Western America Post-Pandemic, Isaiah Kelley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted religious institutions, altering how Black pastors provided spiritual leadership, community support, and social connection. Limited research has examined how these disruptions affected the social identity and psychosocial well-being of African American Pentecostal pastors. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 11 African American Pentecostal pastors in the western United States following COVID-19 church closures. Guided by social identity theory, semi-structured interviews examined changes in participants’ social identity. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’s phenomenological approach: first- and second-cycle coding, member checking, reflective journals, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: psychological and emotional burden, social isolation …

Staff Education On Teaching Evidence-Based Chronic Pain Management, Valdane Eleonu Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project focused on educating providers to fill in knowledge gaps in how to effectively manage chronic pain. The lack of knowledge about the evidence-based recommendations for treating chronic pain was the practice gap. Standardized training protocols to instruct pain management professionals and address disparities in chronic pain management care should be in place to guarantee that all patients in need of chronic pain management have access to culturally appropriate education.

The Role Of Street-Level Bureaucrats In Relieving Food Insecurity Among African American Single Mothers, Andre Bakajika Kazadi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Washington, DC, African American single mothers continued to experience food insecurity despite available assistance, as financial and bureaucratic barriers limited access to and utilization of these programs. This problem is relevant because identifying barriers to food assistance can inform recommendations to improve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) implementation and effectiveness. Findings from existing literature, conducted primarily from clients’ perspectives, found that food insecurity remained prevalent among African American single mothers. However, limited research has examined the perspectives of SNAP workers, known as street-level bureaucrats, who implement food assistance policies and mediate access to benefits. The purpose of this generic …

Black Existential–Spiritual Counseling: A Content Analysis, Miles Matise

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Black American existential–spiritual counseling integrates existential philosophy with the unique cultural, historical, and spiritual contexts of Black Americans to address their psychological and spiritual needs. Rooted in the lived experience of systemic oppression, alienation, and the quest for identity and freedom, this counseling approach emphasizes meaning-making, personal responsibility, and authentic living. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of spirituality and psychology, recognizing the importance of the Black church, music, and communal values in fostering resilience and empowerment. Drawing on existential themes, such as mortality, freedom, loneliness, and purpose, this approach supports clients in navigating sociocultural stressors and generational trauma through a spiritually …

Leveraging A Model Of Intergroup Competencies: A Reflexive Tool For Developing Diversity Leadership In Higher Education, Arig Al Shaibah

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Despite, or perhaps precisely because of, the current partisan pushback against equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts in Western higher education institutions, universities may be well served to renovate their approaches to leadership diversity development to build greater capacity for advancing mission-critical inclusion excellence priorities. This article describes a promising educational intervention that has broad applicability to more meaningfully develop leadership proficiencies that better enable the advancement of EDI goals in higher education. While individual diversity leadership development programming is a micro-level intervention, it could prove beneficial—though insufficient on its own—as a prerequisite for macro-level equity and inclusion policymaking and …

“I Was Not Wonder Woman And Required Help”: Black, Latina, And White Women’S Recovery From The Covid-19 Pandemic, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Colton Pierce, Harry Foster, Alison Brennan, Nicole Wanago

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected women, particularly women of color, yet less is known about their recovery experiences following the end of the public health emergency. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic among Black, Latina, and White women in the United States. Participants (N = 133) completed a survey that included a self-reported recovery measure and open-ended questions regarding their recovery experiences. A chi-square analysis indicated a significant association between race/ethnicity and recovery status, with Latina women more likely to report ongoing recovery than Black and White women. Codebook thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) …

Debt And Quality Of Life Among Older Adults After Retirement, Josephine Morrow Seegars

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Understanding debt and the quality of life in older adults after retirement is an important area of concern. Many older adults are forced by escalating debt to reduce spending on essential needs, such as health care, nutrition, and housing, and their physical and mental health is thereby directly compromised. These essential needs represent core social determinants of health, and their erosion under financial strain can have effects on older adults' overall well-being. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of human services practitioners who were actively assisting older adults struggling with debt in …

Displaced By Disaster: Examining The Effects Of Hurricanes Maria And Irma On Chronic Homelessness In The United States Virgin Islands, Clinton Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) is an island territory that is geographically isolated and has a fragile economy that has a limited capacity to address homelessness particularly when exacerbated by natural disasters. Existing literature demonstrated that major hurricanes can be associated with displacement, housing instability, and increased demand for emergency housing resources among socially vulnerable populations. However, limited longitudinal quantitative research has examined the impact of hurricanes on changes in homelessness trends in the USVI, representing a gap in territory-specific research. The purpose of this quantitative interrupted time series study was to examine homelessness trends associated with hurricanes Irma …

The Impact Of Leadership Styles From Traditional Policing To Community Policing, Ryan Gates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examines leadership in a community policing context. It addresses a long-standing problem: injustice, inequality, and unfair treatment. Specifically, it examines community policing and the impact of law enforcement leadership, particularly servant leadership, on policing outcomes. Greenleaf’s Theory of Servant Leadership guided this study. Participants included mid- to senior-level law enforcement officers with community policing experience, at least three years of leadership experience, and at least 18 years of age. Recruitment occurred through social media outlets such as Facebook and Instagram. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 participants. Thematic analysis produced six themes: community engagement and partnerships; …

Why Was I Stopped? How Police Encounters Shape The Perceptions Of Black Adults, Darilyn Anita Monk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial disparities in police encounters persist in Illinois, where Black adults are disproportionately subjected to investigatory stops despite ongoing oversight efforts. This study examined how citizens affected by these stops experienced and interpreted these encounters. The participants were seven Black adults from Lake County, Illinois. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed racial profiling and discrimination as central, structuring features of police interactions. Participants described being stopped without clear justification, subjected to heightened suspicion, and treated as presumptively criminal. These encounters were understood not as isolated incidents but as patterned practices, producing mistrust, anxiety, and diminished perceptions of …

Black American School Counselors’ Experiences Of Racial Discrimination In The Workplace, Tiffany Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While school counselors play a pivotal role in promoting equity and inclusion within educational institutions, they may experience systemic challenges themselves, particularly in predominantly White professional environments. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of Black American school counselors who experienced racial discrimination in the workplace and how they made meaning of those experiences. The research addressed the lived experiences of Black American school counselors who experienced racial discrimination in the workplace and how they make meaning of those experiences. The study was grounded in hermeneutic phenomenology and critical race theory. Six Black American school …

Developing The Social And Legal Competence Of Future Social Counselors, Lazzat Suleimenova, Saira Zhiyenbayeva, Kamchat Yessenova, Yernar Onalbekov, Elmira Bayarystanova

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The social and legal (also referred to as sociolegal) competence of future social counselors is one of the key factors that ensures the effectiveness of their professional activities—protecting the rights of the individual, collaborating with other professionals, and contributing to the creation of a safe social environment. The study aimed to create and implement a model and pedagogical conditions for the development of sociolegal competence of future social counselors in higher education institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Methods: As part of a study conducted at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Faculty of Social Sciences, in the social pedagogy …

The Impact Of Inclusive Leadership And Leader Cultural Intelligence On The Work Engagement Of Migrant Employees, Dena Semonia Whittle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the rise of globalization and the growing demand for skilled workers, the number of foreign-born employees in the American workforce has grown significantly over the last 20 years. These numbers continue to grow, as the upward trend of foreign-born employees has been even more significant over the last 5 years. However, despite having a now more diverse workforce, there are still signs of discrimination and unequal treatment of migrants in the workplace. Such mistreatment has been linked to health-related, occupational, and psychological consequences and has been negatively associated with work engagement. The purpose of this quantitative study was to …

Nihilistic Violence Aesthetics In Public Online Communication, Heath Nicholas Landress

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Public online communication has increasingly included violence-related content that is meme-based, ironic, visually stylized, multimodal, and only partially ideological. This comprehensive literature review synthesized research on online extremism, extremist memes, toxic multimodal content, dehumanizing digital communication, nihilistic violent extremism, warning behaviors, platform affordances, and youth-facing online environments. The purpose was to clarify what the literature had established; identify where the scholarship remained fragmented; and map research domains relevant to social, behavioral, public safety, and human services scholarship. The review used a structured, comprehensive literature review strategy supported by integrative synthesis procedures. The final corpus contained 34 scholarly sources, including 32 …

Beyond Boundaries: Unlocking Positive Social Change Through Shared Expertise, Sigifredo Castell Britton

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Societal progress thrives through the dynamic interplay of diverse disciplines, each contributing unique insights to advance positive change. Interdisciplinary collaboration plays a crucial role in addressing complex social challenges by combining the strengths of various fields. This article explores the historical evolution, theoretical foundations, and practical applications of interdisciplinary collaboration to foster positive social change. The discussion provides definitions of key terms, such as societal progress and positive social change, within distinct ideological and contextual frameworks. It makes use of these to clarify the direction of positive change in different societal settings. Historical and contemporary examples, such as Bolivia’s social …

Navigating Trauma And Scarcity: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Well-Being Among Black Adult Males In Ohio Valley, Devron Demont Hobbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black adult males in resource-scarce Ohio Valley communities have historically experienced trauma that disrupted their well-being. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, grounded in developmental trauma disorder (DTD) theory, was to explore how Black adult males understood and sustained well-being while living with DTD in resource-scarce environments. The participants comprised six Black adult males who resided in Ohio Valley communities and experienced trauma during childhood and adulthood. Data were collected through confidential, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Five themes emerged: healing through connection and role-modeling, historical and systemic trauma as a daily barrier, navigating …

Personal Experiences With Remarkable Outcomes Of Stage 4 Cancer: A Phenomenological Study, Gail Firman Porter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prayer as a source of improved physical outcomes for individuals with medically diagnosed Stage 4 cancer has not been thoroughly addressed in recent academic literature, despite an increase in individual reporting within nonacademic sources.. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of individuals in the United States who experienced remarkable healing from Stage 4 cancer after receiving Christian prayer for healing. Using the biopsychosocial-spiritual model as the conceptual framework, this study investigated the lived experiences of participants regarding their decision to seek prayer to heal their Stage 4 cancer, and its subsequent effects on their …

The Post-Covid Experiences Of Low-Income Single Mothers In Maintaining Social Capital And Informal Social Support, Marissa L. Goldman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low-income single mothers often manage financial, caregiving, emotional, and logistical demands with limited resources and rely on informal support networks that may be inconsistent. This problem matters to social workers, community-based practitioners, and researchers because a greater understanding can guide interventions that reduce isolation and role overload and improve resource access. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how low-income single mothers used trust, reciprocity, social norms, and collective support to maintain informal networks in the post-COVID era. Guided by Bourdieu’s social capital theory, the study included 10 English-speaking U.S. mothers with household incomes at or below …

Workplace Loneliness And The Impact Of Social Connections In Distributed Teams, Belkys Stallings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace loneliness is a growing organizational challenge as the rise of distributed teams reshapes opportunities for social connection and engagement. Business leaders need to understand this challenge because it is associated with reduced belonging, lower job satisfaction, diminished productivity, and increased turnover intentions. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the extent to which distributed team environments (remote, hybrid, or flexible) impacted workplace loneliness and whether social connectedness moderated this relationship. Social exchange theory, self-determination theory, and Weiss’s concept of loneliness grounded this study. The participants comprised 84 adults working full-time in distributed team environments across the …

How Non-Secular Leaders In Culturally Homogeneous Faith-Based Organizations Understand And Experience Cultural Intelligence Training, Marlon Anthony Ayers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past five decades, shifts in U.S. immigration policy, demographic change, and civil rights reforms have increased cultural diversity across the U.S. workforce, while many faith based leaders lack the cultural intelligence (CQ) needed to navigate diverse interactions effectively. Non secular leaders in culturally homogeneous faith based organizations (FBOs) need to understand this concern as a leading indicator of challenges associated with cross-cultural engagement, organizational effectiveness, and community inclusion. The specific research problem is that it is unknown how non-secular leaders in culturally homogeneous FBOs understand and experience the challenges of managing cultural diversity in the absence of CQ …

Mentor Evaluation Of A Black Male Youth Mentoring Program, Kenneth Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was an exploration of how Black male mentors perceived organizational practices, culturally responsive mentoring, relational safety, and systems level barriers shaping their effectiveness and continued participation. The purpose was to examine early mentor-mentee match dissolution and low mentor retention in a nonprofit youth mentoring through the lens of the ecological systems theory and program evaluation framework. The practice-focused research questions were: How do volunteer mentors and program staff perceive the organizational practices and culturally responsive strategies that influence mentor effectiveness and retention in youth mentoring programs, and what organizational and systemic challenges do Black male mentors encounter in …

Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of Relational Service Behaviors In Nursing Practice, Dadakpoye Tina Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses play a central role in shaping patient experiences through clinical care and relational service behaviors. However, little is known about registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences of relational service behaviors in contemporary health care settings. The purpose of this interpretive description qualitative study was to explore registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences of relational service behaviors and their role in promoting patient-centered care. Herzberg’s two-factor theory provided the conceptual framework for examining how intrinsic motivators and extrinsic workplace factors influence relational engagement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 registered nurses from diverse clinical practice settings. Interview data were analyzed using Braun …

The Experience Of Wellness And Self-Care For Graduating Bsn Students, Jenny Pappas, Terri A. Clark, Tasha Ruffin, Deborah Ellison, Adrienne Wilk, Debra Rose Wilson

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The aim of this study was to explore how graduating prelicensure bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) students experience self-care and wellness, with the goal of informing future curriculum development. Nursing students face significant academic, emotional, and sociocultural pressures that heighten vulnerability to burnout. Despite widespread agreement that self-care is a professional expectation, little is known about the students’ experience within demanding programs. Guided by Orem et al.’s (2001) self-care deficit theory, a qualitative study using interpretive hermeneutic phenomenology was used to examine lived experiences of self-care and wellness. Sixteen graduating BSN students participated in in-depth, semistructured interviews. Interviews were …

Exploring The Perspectives Of Individuals Who Were Formerly Incarcerated To Determine The Barriers And Facilitators To Successful Reentry Programs In Maryland, Ansu Sawi Momoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to persistently high rates of incarceration and recidivism, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services developed policies and programs geared towards reducing recidivism. Existing literature indicated that successful reentry depends on access to coordinated support services, there was a lack of qualitative studies that explored the perspectives of individuals who were formerly incarcerated, specifically in the state of Maryland. The purpose of this generic qualitative research was to understand the reentry process from the perspective of 12 individuals who were formerly incarcerated. Semi structured interviews were used to explore the barriers and facilitators within the re-entry programs …

Antiterrorism Policies And Curbing Youth Involvement In Violent Extremism In Nigeria, Timothy Melaye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigeria continues to face significant challenges from extremist groups such as Boko Haram, unidentified militia groups, and bandits. The radicalization of youths has played a central role in the country's ongoing violent extremism and general insecurity. Efforts to curb youth radicalization remain largely unsuccessful and pose a major challenge in the country. The existing literature on curbing youth violent extremism focuses on the use of force, while other scholars argue for a complex interplay among economic, social, political, and environmental factors. They also considered that high illiteracy, lack of religious understanding, poverty, unemployment, psychological factors, and unstable family environments contribute …

Retaining Teaching Hospital Nonacademic Nurse Educators: Addressing Burnout And Building Workforce Resilience, Walter Guevara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout and high turnover intentions among nonacademic nurse educators (NANEs) in academic teaching hospitals pose a critical challenge for healthcare administration, threatening workforce stability, nursing education capacity, and healthcare outcomes. The purpose of the integrative review was to examine evidence-based strategies to reduce burnout and enhance resilience among NANEs, thereby improving retention, well-being, and workforce sustainability. An integrative literature review was conducted using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice appraisal tools and 49 sources published between 2020 and 2025 were found to match criteria and quality for thematic analysis. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory, a thematic analysis was used to synthesize …