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Adolescent Rejection Sensitivity And Anxiety: The Moderating Effects Of Problem-Solving Skills And Gender, Kathleen Naumann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractRejection sensitivity is the ongoing anxious or angry expectation of interpersonal rejection. Anxiety can potentially have a significant detrimental impact on the mental health of adolescents who are characterized as having rejection sensitivity. Although negative consequences of anxiety on mental health have been studied, there is a limited understanding regarding how rejection sensitive adolescents are at risk for anxiety. This study involved examining relations between adolescent rejection sensitivity and anxiety and whether they were moderated by problem-solving skills, an indicator of resiliency, as well as gender. Theoretical frameworks in this study were the rejection sensitivity model and resilience theory. This …

Community-Based Organization Leaders’ Communication Effectiveness And Effects On Performance Outcomes, Troy N. Nicholas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to determine if effective leader communication builds employee relationships that improves organizational performance. Organizational communication is a prominent factor that impacts the outcome of an organization’s goals and assists in executing its mission. There remain some gaps in the current literature considering the work environment and the attitudes of employees as they relate to organizational communication. To address the gap, the constructive grounded theory model was used to construct and analyze a theory of organizational communication. The sample for the study included 12 participants who were leaders or employees in a community-based organizations in …

Teacher Perspectives Regarding Low Teacher Retention In Rural Primary Schools In Tanzania, Tumaini Urio Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tanzania, similar to other nations in Sub-Saharan Africa, has been experiencing a severe teacher shortage. The problem that was addressed is that factors influencing rural primary school teachers’ decision to continue teaching in Northeast Tanzania are unknown. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions on teaching in rural primary schools in Northeast Tanzania and the reasons why they remain. This study was guided by self-efficacy theory, a subset of Bandura's social cognitive theory. This descriptive qualitative study explored how rural primary school teachers in northeast Tanzania describe the challenges that cause them to consider abandoning …

Perspectives On Instructional Barriers To Inclusion At Primary Schools In Jamaica, Marcia Hillary Peak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractInclusive education, which is a global practice in schools, recognizes the rights of all children to equal educational opportunities, including those with special needs or disabilities; however, educators in low-income countries like Jamaica struggle with its implementation. This basic qualitative study explored teachers’ and principals’ perceptions toward instructional and curricular barriers to inclusion in primary level schools. The theory supporting this study is Bronfenbrenner’s development ecology model. Research questions focused on educators’ perspectives of instructional barriers to inclusion. Twelve participants from seven mainstream schools in a single region were interviewed. Data were analyzed using open coding to determine patterns, and …

Strategies To Meet The Budgeted Ratio Between Adjunct And Full-Time Faculty, Tanja Pennino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human resource managers are concerned that the budgeted ratio between adjunct and full-time faculty will not meet certification standards, but human resource managers lack faculty hiring strategies to manage the budgeted ratio between adjunct and full-time faculty to maintain the institutional operating budget and meet certification standards. Grounded in the human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by human resource managers to manage the ratio between adjunct faculty and full-time faculty to maintain the institutional operating budget. The participants comprised of four human resource managers within 4-year state colleges in …

Laboratory Practices And Antimicrobial Resistance In A Florida Hospital, Crispina Marie Sy-Trias

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Antibiotic resistance is a health threat affecting millions of Americans. Microorganisms develop resistance to antibiotics, rendering them useless for treating infections. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the associations between sample processing time and antibiotic resistance and is based on the health belief model. A retrospective specimen tracking activity of data from November 2019 to November 2020 was obtained by random sampling of 246 bacterial cultures. One hundred ninety-six (80%) samples were processed on time, and 50 (20%) were delayed; 167 (68%) samples were determined to have the presence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and 79 (32%) with …

Nursing Knowledge And Breastfeeding Education, Mary Aguirre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Healthy People 2020 breastfeeding goal immediately after birth of 81.9% was surpassed in 2016, with approximately 83.8% of babies breastfed shortly after delivery. However, by seven days post birth, this number decreased to 82.9%, reduced even more for infants who were exclusively breastfed to 64.7%. Local research has shown that breastfeeding decreases at one week after discharge, which may be due, in part, to the lack of nurses' knowledge related to breastfeeding. This lack of knowledge related to breastfeeding by the nurses, in turn, may negatively impact the support staff …

Organizational Continuity Planning For Small Nonprofit Organizations, Lucy Castro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Natural and manufactured disasters may negatively affect a nonprofit organization’s ability to meet its mission. Organizational continuity planning is one tool to help an organization remain practical and mission focused when faced with a natural or manufactured disaster. This qualitative case study explored the essential elements of organizational continuity planning for small nonprofit organizations. Disaster management theory and emergency management theory were used to frame the study. Three research questions guided the study exploring the internal organizational infrastructure challenges organizational leaders face during natural or manufactured disasters; the ways organizational continuity planning assisted nonprofit leaders in providing needed services during …

Examining Mental Health Literacy As A Predictor Of Mental Health Service Utilization Among Florida Foster Parents, Adam Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this study was to examine mental health literacy as a predictor of the mental health service utilization of foster parents after controlling for age. There is an absence of research addressing variables that contribute to the use of mental health services by foster parents. In this nonexperimental study, survey data were collected in an electronic format. Statistical analysis was performed through use of a logistic regression. A mental health literacy conceptual framework was the theoretical foundation of the study. The sample consisted of 42 foster parents from the northwest panhandle of Florida. The study yielded findings indication …

Strategies For Proper Security Practices In Small Financial Institutions, Adam Leffell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial institutions remain high targets for threat actors because of potentially lucrativefinancial gains from security breaches. Information technology (IT) security professionals in financial institutions are concerned about weak security strategies that could lead to security breaches. Grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM), the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies IT security professionals use to implement proper security practices to prevent security breaches. The participants were three IT security professionals from three different financial institutions that oversee the implementation of security policies and procedures. Data collection involved conducting semi-structured interviews and public documents. Through thematic …

Strategies To Reduce Employee Turnover In The Insurance Industry, Ebony Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover continues to increase in the insurance industry because no minimum skill or education level is required to enter the U.S. insurance industry. Insurance leaders are concerned with reducing employee turnover, as it creates a risk to employee productivity and profitability. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies five insurance leaders from central Kansas used to reduce employee turnover. Data were collected using semistructured virtual interviews and a review of company records. Data were analyzed using Yin’s five-step approach, and three themes emerged: (a) supportive leadership, (b) incentives/benefits, …

Strategies To Mitigate Inappropriate Test Utilization By Physicians To Improve Efficiency In A Healthcare Setting, Christine C. Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inappropriate test utilization by physicians for clinical decision-making in patient care is a significant problem facing some healthcare leaders. Healthcare leaders are concerned about inappropriate test utilization because it can increase healthcare costs and degrade patient outcomes. Grounded in the complex adaptive system and Lean Six Sigma conceptual frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to identify strategies seven hospital leaders in Maryland and Washington, DC. who implemented successful test utilization strategies for physicians. Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews and organizational reports and analyzed using Yin’s 5 step process. Five themes emerged: (a) continuing physician education, …

Treatment-Seeking Experiences Of Ethiopian Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Frehiwot Derso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a gynecological health issue that negatively affects women’s lives globally and specifically in countries like Ethiopia where health care-related resources and infrastructures are limited. In remote areas of Ethiopia, women lack basic knowledge of POP and do not have the resources to access care and treatment that might be available. As a result, seeking treatment typically happens after years of suffering. Using a qualitative phenomenological method, this study addressed the treatment-seeking experiences for POP among women aged 30-60 in North Ethiopia. Fifteen women with POP were selected using purposive sampling at the University of Gondar …

Grade 6 To 8 Science Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementing Project-Based Learning, Christian Smoke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Project-based learning (PjBL) instruction is an inquiry-based method that is beneficial to student achievement and their exploration of 21st-century learning skills, but there is a gap in the literature about how Grades 6 to 8 teachers feel about PjBL and its implementation. The research problem was science teachers in the United States were not consistently implementing project-based learning strategies as an instructional method to support students’ learning and academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to explore Grades 6 to 8 science teachers’ perceptions about the implementation of project-based learning instruction to support science education. The conceptual framework for …

How To Support Secondary School Teachers After Emergency Remote Teaching, Julia Howard Tortorice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe forced use of emergency remote teaching (ERT) during COVID-19 school closures was sudden, disruptive, and difficult for teachers, leading to a minimal understanding of how to support secondary school teachers’ use of online educational technology after the ERT experience. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how to support secondary school teachers’ use of online educational technology after the ERT experience. The technology acceptance model was the framework used in this study. The research questions explored the framework by asking about teacher perspectives of support, usefulness, and ease of use of online educational technology. The data collection …

Social Worker Perspectives On Implementation Of Harm Reduction Into Abstinence-Based Substance Abuse Programs, Susan Woomer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid addiction is a growing epidemic in the United States and was declared a public health emergency by the Department of Health and Human Services in October of 2017. There is a growing recognition that the current treatment for heroin and opioid addiction, abstinence-based treatment programs, is not readily available and has minimal success in addressing the epidemic. Harm reduction therapy is recognized as an effective way to address the opioid epidemic. This study aimed to develop further insight and understanding of how to integrate harm reduction therapy in abstinence-based treatment programs. The theoretical framework for this study was the …

Relationship Between Type Of Health Insurance And Access To Care Among African American Males, Tiffani Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Insurance based discrimination is a bias that has the potential to harm patients by limiting their access to care and widen health disparities between patients with private and public insurance. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is a relationship between type of health insurance (private and public) and access to care factors (acceptability and availability) among African American males ages 25–64 with chronic conditions. The Andersen healthcare utilization model framework supported this research in focusing on the determinants that influences a patient’s ability to access to health care. The research questions examined whether a relationship existed …

Understanding The Lack Of Communication Between Communities And Law Enforcement Through A Community Policing Program, Patrick B. Skoczek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Inequitable treatment by law enforcement officers has deeply impacted minority communities in the United States. Public incidents of abuse of power, discriminatory treatment, and excessive use of force have received increased attention, creating increased community mistrust of law enforcement officers. To help bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the use and impact of the Policing and Public Safety Problem-Solving Programs. Data were collected through interviews with 12 retired police officers and 12 community members. Interview questions were related to participants’ perceptions regarding a breakdown in trust between law …

Assessment Of Factors That Affect Men’S Access And Utilization Of Tuberculosis Services In Zululand District In South Africa, Maureen Fatsani Tshabalala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death in South Africa, with higher mortality rates among men compared to women, despite the availability of free TB services and a reduction in TB death rates. However, research on the factors influencing men's access to and utilization of TB services is limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting men's geographical access and quality utilization of TB services in the Zululand district of KwaZulu Natal province, South Africa. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 men recruited from selected primary health care facilities. Andersen's model …

Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism is a disorder that is characterized by struggles with socialization anddevelopmental delays that often involve much guidance and support. The purpose of this study was to explain the experience of parents as they attempted to manage behaviors related to symptoms of autism during the worldwide quarantine prompted by COVID-19. This study aimed to close the gap in literature and explore to see if there were any concerns that could be addressed by future studies. The study was framed around Bowen’s theory, which addresses emotions within a family unit, and the interdependence theory, which addresses how humans thrive to be …

Impact Of Family Health Outcomes And Work Balance On Health Services Organizations’ Workplace Attendance, Marcus Levinsky Wade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Work-life balance (WLB) is employees’ ability to effectively manage between job obligations and everyday life activities involving family, health, and social life. Successful WLB has become increasingly important to healthcare administrators due to staff shortages and essentials of job performance, attendance, and satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there was a correlation between WLB, workplace stress, and employee workplace attendance. The two research questions were correlational; the dependent variable was workplace attendance, and the independent variables were workplace stress and WLB. The compensation theory served as the foundation for the study, in which both family …

Patient-Rated Physician Compassion And Patient Compliance With Colorectal Cancer Screening, Christine Caputo Winn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2021, colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, where screening prevented 46%–63% of colorectal cancer deaths. Compassionate care has been an area of study among scholars since Hippocrates. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine whether there was a relationship between the independent variables of provider compassion, patient gender, and length of provider patient relationship with the dependent variable of patient adherence behavior for prescribed colorectal cancer screening tests among primary care patients between 2019 and 2020 in a northeastern U.S. state. Guided by the theory of planned behavior …

Nonprofit Leader Strategies For Revenue Growth And Financial Sustainability, William David Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit leaders must ceaselessly endeavor to become more entrepreneurial by accumulating strategies for growing organizational revenue and promoting financial sustainability when charitable contributions cannot fund their business operations. The failure to obtain charitable contributions can lead to nonprofit closure. Grounded in behavioral portfolio theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies a leader of a small Wisconsin nonprofit used to increase revenue and financial sustainability when charitable contributions were insufficient to finance business operations. Data collection included semistructured interviews; organizational documents and reports; financial records and reports; social media; and internet reports. Data were analyzed …

Strategies To Mitigate Inappropriate Test Utilization By Physicians To Improve Efficiency In A Healthcare Setting, Christine C. Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inappropriate test utilization by physicians for clinical decision-making in patient care is a significant problem facing some healthcare leaders. Healthcare leaders are concerned about inappropriate test utilization because it can increase healthcare costs and degrade patient outcomes. Grounded in the complex adaptive system and Lean Six Sigma conceptual frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to identify strategies seven hospital leaders in Maryland and Washington, DC. who implemented successful test utilization strategies for physicians. Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews and organizational reports and analyzed using Yin’s 5 step process. Five themes emerged: (a) continuing physician education, …

Social Workers’ Growth, Identity, And Professional Quality Of Life After Adverse Childhood Experiences, Hope Beavers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to long-term impairments involving neurobiological and epidemiological functions and increased risk for mental and physical health challenges. Many social workers have experienced a high number of ACEs, which increases risks for problems involving wellness, employment instability, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). However, the impact of total ACEs on social workers’ identity, growth, and professional quality of life (PQL) is less known. Using a correlational cross-sectional design, this quantitative study involved examining the impact of total ACEs on posttraumatic growth (PTG), event centrality, and PQL (in terms of burnout, STS, and compassion satisfaction) for …

Qualitative Assessment Of Psychological Safety And Ethics In Corrections Officers, Gary Robert Breig

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn this qualitative study, I explored psychological safety, team learning, and ethical and moral perception among correctional officers that worked in the prison industry. Former officers provided data by participating in an open-ended question interviews. I used a phenomenological approach to gather information from former officers about their psychological safety experience and their ethical and moral perceptions. Participants gave insight into their training and their work as individuals and as teams exploring individual and team psychological safety and ethical and moral perception while interacting with each other in the prison workplace. Research questions were about officer preparation, officer collaboration quality, …

Understanding Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions Among African American Women In Cross-Racial Supervision, Nicole Daley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial microaggressions are statements that occur in everyday life that are regarded as instances of subtle or unintentional discrimination against members of a racial or ethnic minority. For African Americans, racial microaggressions are feelings of denigration and exclusion. Racial aggressions experienced by African American women in clinical counseling profession (counseling, psychology, social work, mental health) supervision have not been well-studied. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used in this qualitative study to explore African American women supervisees' experience of racial microaggressions in cross-racial supervision. Intersectionality theory and identity negotiation theory were used to guide the development and analysis plan. Semistructured, audio-recorded interviews …

Sun Exposure And Protective Behaviors Among U.S. Hispanic Farmworkers, Claudia Marie Delgado Cebollero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sun exposure increases the risk of sun-related illnesses and skin cancer among U.S. Hispanic farmworkers. Reinforced by the health belief model, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between socio-demographic factors (i.e., age, educational attainment, gender, income, and marital status) and skin cancer with the level of sun exposure (sun’s effect on skin, sunburn reported) and protective behaviors (use of cap/visor, use of sunscreen) among adult Hispanic farmworkers in the United States. The study included Hispanic farmworkers aged 21 or older (N = 112) who responded to the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. Ordinal logistic regression showed …

High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Use Of Equity Practices In Classrooms, Seeku Cleland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the study site district became more diverse, providing educational opportunities that met all learners’ needs became more urgent in a large US school district. The local problem was that little is known about how teachers perceive their use of equity practices in diverse classrooms. The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of their understanding and use of equity practices as well as suggestions for improvement. The study was grounded by Banks’ three dimensions of multicultural education: content integration, knowledge construction, and equity pedagogy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight full-time high school teachers with at least …

Effect Of Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System Access To Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Ana Y. Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug addiction, mental health disorders, and homelessness has impacted communities nationwide increasing mortality and morbidity and is a public health threat. But access to substance use treatment has been a problem due to the lack of the ability by many to pay for services. This observational quantitative research design utilized administrative secondary data collected between July 2017 and June 2022. The key variables are Insurance Status, Number of Admissions, and Successful Discharges in outpatient substance use treatment. The purpose of the study and research questions involved evaluating the effects Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) Organized Delivery System program by analyzing program admissions …