Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Alcoholism Among African American Communities Aged 65 And Older, Kymberly Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alcohol use disorder among African American older adults (aged ≥65) remains an underrecognized contributor to preventable morbidity and diminished quality of life. Although previous research has identified individual risk factors for alcohol misuse, little is known about how social determinants of health shape alcohol use among this population. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how family support, experiences of racial discrimination, religious engagement, and economic stability influence late-life alcohol use. Cultural Resilience Theory guided the exploration of how cultural resources and structural stressors influence alcohol use. Five African American adults aged 65 years and older were …

Racial Profiling In Traffic Enforcement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Police Chiefs' Perspectives On Traffic Stop Data Analysis, Peter J. Didomenica

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial profiling of people of color by police departments as part of traffic enforcement practices is a pervasive practice in the United States. The practice is a form of systemic racism, the conceptual framework for this study, that has resulted in people and communities of color suffering its deleterious effects. Although statistical analysis of traffic stop data is most effective in uncovering racial profiling in traffic enforcement, most police departments fail to conduct such analysis, and for those departments that do so, there is no uniform judicially accepted method. The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons most …

Fecal Fatty Acids And Other Risk Factors Associated With Multiple Sclerosis Score, Progression And Diagnosis Among Hispanic Adults, Juliana Ayala-Viqueira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition with insufficient research regarding risk factors influencing MS severity score (MSSS), progression and diagnosis among Hispanic adults living in the United States. This cross-sectional study assessed factors associated with MS score, progression and diagnosis using secondary data from the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (iMSMS). Guided by the ecological model, the study included N = 576 participants with MS. Manuscript 1 explored the association between body mass index (BMI), sodium consumption, and the MS severity score in a Hispanic adult population. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine whether age and …

Empowering Tomorrow’S Eco-Leaders: The Role Of Student-Led Recycling And Energy Conservation Initiatives In Fostering Environmental Sustainability In Educational Institutions, Angel Christian S. Arisga, Constantino G. Medilo Jr.

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Environmental sustainability is now a growing priority in educational institutions as global environmental challenges continue to intensify. This paper studies the role of student-led recycling and energy conservation initiatives in promoting eco-friendly practices and developing environmental accountability among learners. Drawing on existing literature, the study illustrates how active student participation in waste management programs, recycling campaigns, renewable energy implementation, and energy audits contributes to reduced waste generation, lower energy consumption, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions in school settings. Apart from environmental outcomes, these projects foster essential competencies such as leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and environmental awareness, positioning students as agents of …

Perceptions Of Civilian Faculty In Professional Military Education Regarding Graduate Students’ Development Of Writing Skills, Katherine Zimmerle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was investigated through this study was the gap in literature about civilian faculty’s perceptions of the writing skills needed and how best to support student success in graduate-level professional military education (PME) university programs. Grounded in schema theory and transfer theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of PME civilian faculty regarding the writing skills needed and recommendations thereof to strengthen the writing skill support in PME university programs. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight PME civilian faculty members with at least 3 years of experience. Qualitative content analysis …

Factors Influencing Student Satisfaction With Blended Learning In Pedagogical Skills Training In Vietnam, Pham Thi Binh, Vu Thi Mai Huong, Nguyen Thi Bich, Kieu Phuong Thuy

Higher Learning Research Communications

This study investigates the structural determinants of student satisfaction with blended learning (BL) within pedagogical professional development modules at a Vietnamese university of education. Utilizing a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, with a large sample of 1,121 pre-service teachers, the research evaluates the relative influence of five key factors: instructional quality, learner agency and professional awareness, technological infrastructure, course content, and institutional support services. Results indicate a high overall level of student satisfaction. The structural model explains 63% of the variance in satisfaction (R2 = 0.63), with instructional quality identified as the most significant determinant, …

From Classroom To Cell: Examining Protective Factors Against The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Ronald Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Truancy and chronic absenteeism among adjudicated youth are significant concerns for educators, school administrators, policymakers, and juvenile justice stakeholders because persistent school disengagement may contribute to pathways associated with the school-to-prison pipeline. Grounded in Hirschi’s social bond theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between parental involvement, extracurricular activities, and teacher–student social bonds and truancy/chronic absenteeism among adjudicated youth. Secondary data were obtained from the Pathways to Desistance study, which included 1,070 adjudicated youth ages 14–17 from Maricopa County, Arizona, and Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationships among …

What Strategies Do Some It Leaders Use To Prevent Ransomware Attacks On Healthcare Computer Networks, Sherraine Michelle Houston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Elementary Teachers’ Experiences Providing Feedback During 1:1 Writing Conferences, Trina Gould Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Mandatory Arrest Laws: Breaking The Cycle Of Violence In Colorado And Nebraska, Ryann Lavata Livingstone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Effective Strategies For Retaining Millennial Employees In Small Southern Retail Businesses, Justin Nathaniel Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small retail businesses in the Southern United States continue to experience costly millennial employee turnover, threatening workforce stability and long-term business sustainability. This issue is important to small Southern retail business owners because turnover increases staffing costs, disrupts customer service, and weakens organizational performance. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies some small Southern U.S. retail business owners use to improve millennial employee retention. The job demands–resources model grounded the research project. Participants were six owner-operators in Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee with at least 5 years of leadership experience managing millennial employees. Data were collected through …

Black Faith-Based Organization Leaders And Their Role In Mental Health, Alyssa Te'rese Green

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blacks age 65+ have more mental health issues than others but underutilize mental health services because of stigma. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to identify what leaders in Black faith-based organizations believe their role is in supporting their congregants in accessing/attaining mental health services and how they provide support to their elderly congregants who may not have social support that could identify mental health issues. The health belief model and theory of planned behavior were used to explore mental health knowledge and support for the elderly congregants of faith-based organizations. Semistructured interview data from 10 Black religious …

Telling On Themselves: A Qualitative Study On The Linguistic Markers Of Deception In High-Stakes Speech, James Butcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Deception detection in forensic and legal settings has historically relied on behavioral and nonverbal cues. Extensive research has demonstrated that these indicators are unreliable and prone to bias. This reliance has a significant impact on investigations, legal outcomes, and public trust. Although linguistic research has identified individual markers of deceptive speech, limited attention has been given to how multiple linguistic cues interact in real-world, high-stakes contexts. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how pronoun shifts, avoidance language, and equivocation cluster together during high-stakes deceptive speech. Truth-default theory (TDT) served as the theoretical foundation, and critical discourse analysis …

Black Entrepreneurs’ Strategies For Sustainability, Barbara Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Organizational Demands, Worker Adaptation, And The Relational Ripple Effect In Child Welfare Case Planning, Mackenzie Alexia Leach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Teachers’ Experiences In Teaching Foundational Reading Skills In The General Education English Language Arts Classroom In Grades 9-12, Jodi Leigh Mckenzie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Intentions And Use Of Telehealth Among Afro-Caribbean Immigrants In Florida, Patsy Patricia Lindo-Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many researchers have documented the benefits of telehealth in managing cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. However, acceptance and use of telehealth among immigrants in the United States were low compared to other users, and little is known about Afro-Caribbean immigrants and their telehealth acceptance and use. Guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study explored how performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions shape behavioral intentions and telehealth use among Afro-Caribbean immigrants in Port St. Lucie, Florida. A generic qualitative design with a purposive sampling strategy was used to interview 17 Afro-Caribbean …

Juvenile Justice Professionals’ Perceptions Of Prevention Programs In West Central Florida, Terry Rachelle Harmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Reducing Turnover At The Frontline: Hotel Leadership Strategies, Tamica Hales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Managing Elderly Patients With Dementia Using Evidence-Based Non-Pharmacological Interventions In The Ed Setting, Rita Anue Cho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persons with dementia frequent emergency departments (EDs), but ED staff lack understanding of cognitive impairment and evidence-base management of these symptoms, which sometimes results to unsafe encounters, aggression, agitation and assault with or without injuries. As a result, staff may resort to physical or chemical restraints to maintain safety for patients, staff, and the milieu. It is essential for staff in the ED to understand the disease process, recognize behavioral triggers, and apply evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions. The purpose of this project was to provide education to ED staff to enhance their understanding of cognitive disorders and dementia in the elderly …

Caregiving And Mental Health Among Mothers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Makayla Elise Techentine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to reliance on family members or friends to care for the sick, resulting in a burden of informal caregiving stressors and relationship to mental health. Guided by the stress process model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between caregiving stressors and the mental health of mothers of children aged 18 years or younger who were serving as informal caregivers. Secondary data from the 2020-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 1,772) considered the independent variables related to caregiving stressors, including hours spent caregiving, time since becoming a caregiver, personal care …

Caring In An Online Graduate Synchronous Learning Environment, Keith Higa

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This self-study examines how caring practices are understood, enacted, and experienced within a synchronous online graduate teacher-education environment. Although online programs have expanded substantially, limited research addresses how relational approaches translate into mediated instructional spaces. Guided by Noddings’s ethics of care, this inquiry integrates reflective self-study with participant interviews to explore how technological structures, instructor practices, and real-time interactions shape students’ experiences of care. Findings reveal a multidimensional model consisting of (a) technological or structural care, characterized by course organization, predictability, and flexibility, and (b) humanistic care, expressed through relational presence, acknowledgment, responsiveness, and emergent dialogue in synchronous sessions. Together, …

Administrative Leadership, Job Resources, And Teacher Burnout In U.S. Middle Schools: A Jd-R Study, Santerous Glenn Colbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Addressing Homelessness As A Key Risk Factor For Overdose Deaths In King County, Washington, Catherine Mutti-Driscoll

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement:

In this portfolio, I identify prevention strategies that address the nested problems of overdose deaths and homelessness in King County, Washington. By examining how housing instability, substance abuse, structural racism, and gaps in coordinated care intersect, this paper advocates for a responsive prevention approach that combines evidence-based substance abuse strategies, phased housing approaches, and culturally responsive care.

Significant Findings:

While recent harm reduction measures have improved overdose death rates in King County, unhoused individuals continue to account for 50% of the county’s still concerning fatal overdose numbers. Data shows that historical racism in King County also shapes who …

Reducing Chronic Loneliness Among Lgbtq+ Older Adults In Greater Seattle, Douglas J. Gallup

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

The goal of this project is to reduce chronic loneliness and social isolation among LGBTQ+ adults age 65 and older in the Greater Seattle area by increasing access to affirming, accessible, and evidence-informed opportunities for meaningful connection.

Significant Findings

LGBTQ+ older adults in Seattle and King County face elevated risks of living alone, social isolation, and limited access to affirming services, while also demonstrating substantial resilience (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2015). A promising approach would combine meaningful activity, social support, practical access assistance, and PEARLS-informed strategies. GenPride is a logical community partner because its programs foster well-being and belonging …

Adolescent Social Disconnection And Social Media Overuse In San Jose, California, Gilmour Arufo

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

The goal of this Social Change Portfolio is to support the implementation of a school-based prevention program for high school students in San Jose, California, that promotes healthy technology use, strengthens peer and adult connections, and increases participation in face-to-face social activities. The proposed program seeks to increase adolescents' awareness of their social media use patterns while strengthening protective factors associated with positive youth development, including school connectedness, supportive peer relationships, trusted adult relationships, and meaningful social engagement.

Integrating Interdisciplinary Approaches To Enhance Creativity In Higher Education, Yuan Shuang Ma, Gulmira Karabalaeva, Sultan Karabalaev, Guldana Akieva, Nurisa Tynystanova

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives:The aim of this study was to identify specific conditions that promote creativity and innovation among students.

Methods:Through a comprehensive methodology that includes questionnaires, creative thinking tests, and qualitative interviews, the study assessed students’ perceptions of factors influencing creativity.

Results:Key findings highlight the importance of a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages a holistic understanding of real-world challenges. The study emphasized the significance of student-centered learning environments, where active participation, autonomy, and exploration of personal interests foster creativity. The research also demonstrates that innovative teaching methods, such as problem-based learning and the use of modern technology (e.g., multimedia …

Protecting Graduate Students From Burnout With Self-Compassion And Authenticity, Michael S. Leeman, Joshua J. Castleberry, Anna A. Ellenson, Morgan Wallbrown

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study investigated whether practicing self-compassion and embracing one's authentic self could protect graduate students from burnout. Researchers also empirically examined the mediating effect of authenticity in the relationship between self-compassion and burnout. A total of 318 master's degree students in a helping profession completed surveys assessing their levels of self-compassion, authenticity, and burnout. Results found that graduate students with higher levels of self-compassion and authenticity tended to have lower levels of burnout. Additionally, authenticity mediated the relationship between self-compassion and burnout. The findings suggest that practicing self-compassion and embracing one's authentic self may lead to lower levels of burnout …

African Americans’ Perceptions And Experiences Of Aesthetic Environments As A Determinant Of Stress, Clarence Gardener

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Investigating Burnout Among Hospital Social Workers: A Qualitative Exploration, Crystal Marie Herring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.