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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Perspectives Of Childcare Center Directors Regarding Barriers To Naeyc Accreditation, Jessica Baffoe Jul 2025

Perspectives Of Childcare Center Directors Regarding Barriers To Naeyc Accreditation, Jessica Baffoe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

NAEYC accreditation is a hallmark of quality in early learning and lack of accreditation suggested a gap in practice. The problem that was the focus of this research is that only 12% of early childhood center-based programs in the United States are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the study was to explore perspectives of childcare center directors regarding NAEYC accreditation. Knowles’s adult learning provided the conceptual framework for this study and guided 3 research questions about directors’ perspectives of barriers, benefits, and the necessary support they associated with NAEYC accreditation. …


Lgbt Young Adults’ Experience Of Exiting Foster Care, Shaylon Joseph Jul 2025

Lgbt Young Adults’ Experience Of Exiting Foster Care, Shaylon Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The scholarly community understands little about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young adults as they transition out of the foster care system. This study explored the lived experiences and difficulties encountered by LGBT young adults after exiting foster care. Grounded in Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, this qualitative dissertation employed a phenomenological design to interpret how participants made sense of their transitions. Recruitment was conducted through a flyer posted on Facebook and the Department of Children and Family Services; 10 LGBT young adults participated in 60-minute interviews. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study revealed six overarching …


Effective Communication Strategies For Behavioral Health Leaders In A Telework Setting, Belinda Preston-Cash Jul 2025

Effective Communication Strategies For Behavioral Health Leaders In A Telework Setting, Belinda Preston-Cash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

See attached


Positive Social Emotional Influences Experienced By College-Educated Black Men During Their K–12 Education In U.S. Public Schools, Lyzanethia Howard Jul 2025

Positive Social Emotional Influences Experienced By College-Educated Black Men During Their K–12 Education In U.S. Public Schools, Lyzanethia Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although negative experiences and unfair factors in the K–12 educational experiences of Black males are well-researched, very little research is found on the positive contributions toward their educational success. As some Black males successfully complete K–12 schooling and advance to the college level, it is imperative to understand the factors that positively contributed to their educational advancement. Guided by Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth, this basic qualitative study explored six aspects of cultural capital—the aspirational, familial, linguistic, resistant, navigational, and social capital—that contributed to the educational success and advancement of Black males during their journeys through the U.S. K–12 …


A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young Jul 2025

A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite new and emerging communications technologies to improve access to 911 emergency services for people with speech, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, there continue to be access barriers for those who may require silent communications due to the nature of the emergency. Chat rooms in 911 communications present a promising solution to this challenge. However, the current literature has inadequately examined the use of chat rooms in 911 communications, mainly due to the nascent nature of this technology. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing valuable insights to enhance access to 911 emergency services for individuals who may require …


Mental Health Services Utilization And Health Insurance Status Among Firefighters, Yvette Evans Jul 2025

Mental Health Services Utilization And Health Insurance Status Among Firefighters, Yvette Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighting exposes individuals to significant psychological dangers, leading to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. This study investigated the underuse of mental health services among firefighters, focusing on the relationship between health insurance status and service utilization while considering age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Data from the National Health Interview Survey within the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series were analyzed using a quantitative approach. The study employed logistic regression to examine the likelihood of mental health service utilization based on health insurance status, adjusting for demographic factors. The sample included 1,526 firefighters, predominantly male (78.9%) and …


A Qualitative Case Study On Mental Health Stigma Within Rastafarian Culture, Alecia Douglas Jul 2025

A Qualitative Case Study On Mental Health Stigma Within Rastafarian Culture, Alecia Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cultural and social factors, such as ethnic and racial backgrounds, religion, and supernatural beliefs, influence mental health utilization among African Americans. Past studies show that Rastafarians underutilize mental health services due to the stigma associated with mental health. However, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the incorporation of culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches in mental illness treatment. Per the biopsychosocial (BPS) pathways framework, biological, psychological, and social factors interact to provide a holistic architype of mental illness. The framework can be applied to understand how mental health stigma is influenced by personal beliefs, experiences, values, cultural, and societal …


Emergency Managers Perceived Effectiveness Of Disaster Mitigation Plans And Training Focused On The Special Needs Population, Jessica Windsor Jul 2025

Emergency Managers Perceived Effectiveness Of Disaster Mitigation Plans And Training Focused On The Special Needs Population, Jessica Windsor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The special needs population faces increased vulnerability during disasters, yet disaster planning often overlooks their unique requirements. This study focuses on the experiences and perceptions of emergency managers in the Southeastern United States. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which emergency management plans recognize and address the needs of special populations and identify training gaps. The research questions aimed to uncover the factors that influence inclusive planning, training effectiveness, and resource allocation. Grounded in the Disaster Health Framework, the study utilized a qualitative research design involving surveys with 14 emergency managers, followed by thematic analysis …


Experiences Of Supervisees Developing Culturally Responsive Skills Through Clinical Supervision, Jaime Lyn Parker Jul 2025

Experiences Of Supervisees Developing Culturally Responsive Skills Through Clinical Supervision, Jaime Lyn Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive supervision has been shown to be beneficial to supervisees (Adams et al., 2023). A research gap exists in culturally responsive clinical supervision through the lens of supervisees’ experiences; as a result, supervisors are ill-equipped to offer culturally responsive clinical supervision. The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to explore supervisees’ culturally responsive experiences in clinical supervision. Grounded in critical race theory, this study highlights the narratives of marginalized voices as they share their stories of developing culturally responsive skills through clinical supervision. That is, the research question explored the experiences of counseling supervisees as they develop culturally …


Strategies Leaders In Affordable Housing Can Use To Decrease Property Management Turnover And Increase Professional Tenure, Marisa T. Baldwin-Woodhouse Jul 2025

Strategies Leaders In Affordable Housing Can Use To Decrease Property Management Turnover And Increase Professional Tenure, Marisa T. Baldwin-Woodhouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive leaders of rental housing in the affordable housing sector have a high turnover rate of property managers, resulting in wasted time, compliance concerns, loss of institutional knowledge, deterioration of operational costs, and lost revenue, negatively impacting employee commitment. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies that some executive leaders in affordable housing can use to decrease property manager turnover and increase professional tenure. The participants comprised eight executive leaders who oversaw property managers in affordable housing in the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, and thematic …


Reducing Use Of Force In Law Enforcement Through Higher Education, Joseph J. Davern Jul 2025

Reducing Use Of Force In Law Enforcement Through Higher Education, Joseph J. Davern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative research study examined whether earning a college degree reduced police officers’ use of force in Massachusetts during 2023. Reducing force incidents is a concern for both citizens and law enforcement due to increasing public scrutiny and a need to improve community-police relations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether police officers with college degrees are less likely to use force during citizen encounters compared to those with only a high school diploma. The first research question explored the difference in the amount of force used by municipal police officers with college degrees versus those with high …


Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura Jul 2025

Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children and adults in the United States experience developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, leading to bias, marginalization, and economic hardship. Racism exacerbates these issues for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), increasing depression, isolation, and health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perspectives on the impact of racism on the psychological and physical health of teenagers aged 13–18 years with moderate IDD in the Northwestern United States. Disability critical race theory provided a lens for examining how race and disability intersect to create barriers for these teenagers. The research method was qualitative. Phenomenology …


Experiences And Meaning Of Seeking Help And Resources For Male Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Dr. Cierra A. Ozolin Jul 2025

Experiences And Meaning Of Seeking Help And Resources For Male Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Dr. Cierra A. Ozolin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experiences and Meaning of Seeking Help and Resources for Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence by Cierra Ozolin MSW, Walden University, 2022 BA, BS, Central Washington University 2019 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Walden University August 2025


The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Race On Access To Maternal Healthcare Services For Patients Based On Insurance Status, Trishana Monlyn Jul 2025

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Race On Access To Maternal Healthcare Services For Patients Based On Insurance Status, Trishana Monlyn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to insurance status, COVID-19 has restricted how and when patients can access healthcare providers. In the health services community, examining obstetric care services during the coronavirus outbreak was important because it increased awareness about how changes to maternal healthcare access affect the health of the mother and unborn child during a pandemic. The theories and/or concepts that grounded this study include the intersectionality theory, which examined the connections between social groups and systems as individuals try to access health services based on health insurance reform, depending on their race. The purpose of this study was to determine if there …


Parents Of Adolescents On Electronic Use And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Parental Perspectives, Sleep, Internalization, Jessica Wiepking Jul 2025

Parents Of Adolescents On Electronic Use And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Parental Perspectives, Sleep, Internalization, Jessica Wiepking

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

ADHD in adolescents is a common diagnosis, with exposure to daily electronic use. There is strong evidence for a relationship between electronic use and ADHD in adolescents. However, there is a gap on electronic use, internalized feelings, and sleep behaviors in ADHD adolescents and how sleep behaviors might impact that relationship. ADHD has its core symptoms that impact the individual daily. These symptoms need to be taken into consideration when looking at internalized feelings and sleep behavior patterns. The theoretical framework that aligns with this study is the Dopaminergic Dysregulation Theory (DDT). This theory is a module that suggests that …


In-Home Supports For The Developmentally Disabled Population: A Heuristic Phenomenological Study Of Sc’ Experiences, Stephen Troy Davis Jul 2025

In-Home Supports For The Developmentally Disabled Population: A Heuristic Phenomenological Study Of Sc’ Experiences, Stephen Troy Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite occupying a central role in the developmental disabilities systems of 48 states, SC do not have a voice in program or policy development and are not well represented in the disabilities literature. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of SC who work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southeastern Pennsylvania. The theoretical lenses through which the study was viewed were Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Wolfensberger’s social role valorization. The study was guided by research questions aimed at illuminating the intensity of support coordinators’ experiences by uncovering how they experience and define their …


Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook Jul 2025

Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smartphones have become an integral part of society, resulting in increased adolescent dependence on smartphone applications. This dependence poses challenges for parents in managing the risk of problematic smartphone use among adolescents aged 11-17 years old. Rapid technological advancements have significantly reshaped parenting practices, necessitating greater adaptability and impacting adolescent development. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this correlational study examines how indulgent parenting and household composition, including demographic variables such as race, gender, education, employment, and income, predict parental self-efficacy in managing adolescent smartphone use. A convenience sample of 238 U.S. parents, with at least one adolescent aged 11-17 years, …


Prosecuting Attorneys’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Evidence That Most Often Leads To Wrongful Convictions At The Pretrial Stage, Shari Lee Barton Harrell Jul 2025

Prosecuting Attorneys’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Evidence That Most Often Leads To Wrongful Convictions At The Pretrial Stage, Shari Lee Barton Harrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Before trial, prosecuting attorneys obtain and review evidence, including the types of evidence (i.e., perjury/false accusations, official misconduct, mistaken eyewitness testimony, false/misleading forensic evidence, false confessions, and inadequate defense counsel) that most often lead to wrongful convictions. The role of the prosector after conviction has been explored. The scholarly community needed to understand how prosecuting attorneys view this evidence at the pretrial stage so some wrongful convictions may be prevented. The purpose of this study was to explore prosecuting attorneys’ experience and perceptions regarding the evidence that most often leads to wrongful convictions at the pretrial stage. As part of …


Improving Employee Engagement Through Effective Change Management, Whitney Cearrow Sims Jul 2025

Improving Employee Engagement Through Effective Change Management, Whitney Cearrow Sims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human resources (HR) managers often face challenges due to ineffective change management strategies, which can lead to reduced employee engagement, decreased performance, and increased turnover. This issue is important to HR managers and organizational leaders who seek to improve workforce engagement and retention. Grounded in Kotter’s eight step change management model and Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies HR managers use to improve employee engagement. The participants were five HR managers from manufacturing companies in the southeast region in Georgia who had implemented effective change management strategies that improved employee engagement. …


Drug Recognition Experts’ Perspectives On The State Of Maryland’S Legalization Of Cannabis And Its Impact On Impaired Driving, Raymond D. Brooks Jul 2025

Drug Recognition Experts’ Perspectives On The State Of Maryland’S Legalization Of Cannabis And Its Impact On Impaired Driving, Raymond D. Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motor vehicles have become both affordable and practical to own. As a result, law enforcement has been tasked with enforcing laws related to safe vehicular operation on the roadways nationwide. Further, much like alcohol, drug influence causes concern for motorists, and with the introduction of cannabis legalization, there is a clash between use, public interaction and vehicle operation. Cannabis consumption in public, the perception that use is allowed anywhere, and the impact that impairment has while driving can be a concern for those tasked with enforcing laws that some perceive to be allowed. This study introduces cannabis legalization within the …


Perceived Experiences Of Native American Men During Incarceration In Tribal Jail, Stacy Marie Becker Jul 2025

Perceived Experiences Of Native American Men During Incarceration In Tribal Jail, Stacy Marie Becker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The subject of this dissertation is the Perceived Experiences of Native American Men during Incarceration in Tribal Jail. The reason for this research is to determine what practices are rehabilitative and what practices are detrimental to this population. This is important to learn so that criminal justice professionals will be able to consider possible changes that can be made to make recidivism less likely among this population while increasing practices that are conducive to rehabilitation. This work was researched using the Indigenous Standpoint Theory which is meant to reflect the experiences and views of the research participants without analysis through …


African American Women's Lived Experience Of The Process And Outcomes Of Psychotherapy For Depression, Eva Coleman Springs Jul 2025

African American Women's Lived Experience Of The Process And Outcomes Of Psychotherapy For Depression, Eva Coleman Springs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study of individuals’ experiences in psychotherapy has resulted in improvements in delivery of services to clients. The purpose of the current study was to use Aragon’s primary provider theory as the theoretical foundation to explore African American women’s perceptions of the process and outcomes of their psychotherapy for depression. Phenomenological methodology was used to explore a sample of nine African American women’s perceptions of the process and outcomes of their psychotherapy for depression and other mental health issues. Participants answered nine semi-structured interview questions to describe their experiences of at least one session of psychotherapy in the 2023 calendar …


Staff Education Project: Staff Education To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Motivation In Supporting Medication Adherence, Giovanna Happy Jul 2025

Staff Education Project: Staff Education To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Motivation In Supporting Medication Adherence, Giovanna Happy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication nonadherence among individuals with psychiatric disorders remains a significant barrier to recovery, ranging from 40% to 60%. Contributing factors include fear of side effects, stigma, cognitive limitations, and complex regimens. This staff education project addressed challenges through the implementation of a structured, evidence-based intervention to improve adherence-supportive practices among 14 outpatient psychiatric nurses. A preimplementation needs assessment revealed inconsistent application of adherence strategies and low staff confidence. The project’s objective was to evaluate whether a structured education program could improve nurses’ knowledge by 15%, confidence by 15%, and willingness by 3.5 points on a Likert scale to promote medication …


Big Five Personality Traits As Predictors Of Funeral Directors’ Job Satisfaction, Teresa Busick Jul 2025

Big Five Personality Traits As Predictors Of Funeral Directors’ Job Satisfaction, Teresa Busick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

By 2037, annual deaths in the United States are expected to exceed 3.6 million, over 1 million more than in 2015. At the same time, the funeral service industry faces a serious staffing problem, with about 50% of funeral directors leaving the profession within 2 years. These combined challenges highlight the need to understand what contributes to job satisfaction and helps to retain these workers in this essential field. This quantitative correlational study examined whether the Big Five personality traits predict job satisfaction among funeral directors. Thus, the Big Five model of personality traits was used to guide the study. …


Factors Associated With Falls Among Nursing Home Residents, Dorsenia Hendrix Jul 2025

Factors Associated With Falls Among Nursing Home Residents, Dorsenia Hendrix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls in nursing home facilities are prevalent, and numbers continue to rise as residents grow older and antipsychotic (AP) medications are prescribed more frequently. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether frequency of falls was related to the use of AP medications. Data (N=100) were collected from 2020 incident reports, investigation sheets, and patient charts generated by the State Department of Public Health regarding resident falls and the use of AP medications in a nursing home Facility located in the Southern United States. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was used to understand specific behavior patterns such as personal, …


Experiences Of Managing And Living With Autoimmune Addison’S Disease In The Younger And Newly Diagnosed Adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Mathew Horodner Jul 2025

Experiences Of Managing And Living With Autoimmune Addison’S Disease In The Younger And Newly Diagnosed Adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Mathew Horodner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of knowledge regarding the experiences of managing and living with autoimmune Addison’s disease (AD) in the younger and newly diagnosed adults. AD research usually focuses on biological or medication studies. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of the younger and newly diagnosed adults living with autoimmune AD. Consisting of the complex integration of biological, psychological, and social factors, Engel’s biopsychosocial model served as the study’s conceptual framework. I conducted this study to include the experiences of managing and living with autoimmune AD in the younger (18–35) and newly diagnosed …


Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson Jul 2025

Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public relations and communications (PR&C) executives’ ineffective artificial intelligence (AI) strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation can negatively impact organizations’ brand reputation. Grounded in AI4People and stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore the effective AI strategies PR&C executives used to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organizations’ brand reputations. The participants were six PR&C executives who used effective strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organization’s brand reputation. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, …


Examining The Association Between The Timing Of The First Antenatal Check; Number Of Antenatal Care (Anc) Visits During Pregnancy With Maternal Mortality In Nigeria, Kanayo Omonoju Jul 2025

Examining The Association Between The Timing Of The First Antenatal Check; Number Of Antenatal Care (Anc) Visits During Pregnancy With Maternal Mortality In Nigeria, Kanayo Omonoju

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality is growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria, ranking the second highest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) globally. This cross-sectional study examined the association between the timing of the first antenatal check and the number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits during pregnancy and its impact on maternal mortality using the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 among a study population of women 15 - 49 years old. The theoretical framework for this study was grounded in the socioecological model. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine if there are relationships between timing of first antenatal check, the number …


The Association Between Dietary Behavior Change And The Health Of Adult African Immigrants In The United States, Seyoum Abebe Jul 2025

The Association Between Dietary Behavior Change And The Health Of Adult African Immigrants In The United States, Seyoum Abebe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African immigrants represent one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the United States; yet, their health outcomes related to Type II diabetes remain understudied compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the Health Belief Model, the purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to examine the relationship between dietary behavior changes and the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes among African immigrants aged 20–80 residing in the United States. The research questions examined the association between getting meals prepared away from home and awareness of MyPlate nutritional guidelines, recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, …


Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Long-Term Care, Eleanor Denise Gaines Jul 2025

Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Long-Term Care, Eleanor Denise Gaines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover in long-term care (LTC) facilities contributes to diminished care quality, low staff morale, and increased operational costs. LTC organizational leaders must address high turnover because it disrupts continuity of care, undermines team cohesion, and increases the burden of recruiting and training new staff. This qualitative multiple case study explored strategies used by human resource managers (HRMs) to improve staff retention and morale in LTC settings, motivated by the need to prevent workforce deterioration, enhance competitive advantage, and increase organizational profitability. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of the study was to identify evidence-based practices that effectively …