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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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A Mindfulness-Based Stop Technique Training To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Stress And Burnout Prevention, Rukiat Abolanle Afinni Aug 2026

A Mindfulness-Based Stop Technique Training To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In Stress And Burnout Prevention, Rukiat Abolanle Afinni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse burnout and stress are well-documented occupational concerns in outpatient clinical settings, where high patient acuity and chronic staffing shortages leave nurses with little structured support for proactive self-care. To address this gap, a mindfulness-based STOP (stop, take a breath, observe, proceed) training program was developed and evaluated for outpatient nurses. The evidence-based practice question was: Among nurses in an outpatient clinical setting, what is the impact of a mindfulness-based STOP technique training on nurses' knowledge of stress and burnout prevention and self-efficacy in applying the technique? A one-group pretest-posttest design was used with eight participants. A project-developed questionnaire measured …


Cultural Values, Norms, And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Young Adult Guyanese Immigrants, Rhonis Alfred Aug 2026

Cultural Values, Norms, And Mental Health Service Utilization Among Young Adult Guyanese Immigrants, Rhonis Alfred

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Young adult Guyanese immigrants living in the United States often face cultural, familial, and social challenges that influence their perceptions of mental health and willingness to seek professional support. Despite growing attention to immigrant mental health, limited research has explored the experiences of this population. This qualitative study aimed to improve understanding of how cultural values, family dynamics, and acculturation stress influence mental health perceptions and help-seeking behaviors. The theoretical framework underpinning this study was acculturation theory. The research explored how participants navigated cultural identity, family expectations, and adaptation to life in the United States. A purposive sampling strategy was …


Social Workers’ Lived Experiences Of Trauma-Informed Training, Ashley Ann Johnson Aug 2026

Social Workers’ Lived Experiences Of Trauma-Informed Training, Ashley Ann Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers report limited formal training in trauma-informed approaches, and implementation of trauma-informed care varies widely across settings, with inconsistent training uptake and organizational support for sustained practice change. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of social workers in trauma-informed training. The study was guided by trauma-informed care principles and an experiential learning framework. The research question examined how social workers develop trauma-informed competence and how systemic factors influence practice. Data were collected through 11 semi structured interviews with social workers and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three key themes emerged: (a) trauma-informed competence …


African American Mother Counselors' Lived Experiences During The Dual Pandemics Of Covid-19 And Structural Racism, Shanti Jones Jul 2026

African American Mother Counselors' Lived Experiences During The Dual Pandemics Of Covid-19 And Structural Racism, Shanti Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism in 2020 created compounded personal and professional stressors for African American mothers who are professional counselors, yet little was known about how they appraised these stressors and selected coping strategies. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe what it means to be an African American mother and professional counselor making decisions about coping strategies to manage personal and professional stressors during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism in 2020. Guided by Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology and informed by the Transactional …


Hiring Out-Of-Field Teachers In Urban Title I Schools In Georgia, Lakeshia Pruitt Dixon Jul 2026

Hiring Out-Of-Field Teachers In Urban Title I Schools In Georgia, Lakeshia Pruitt Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban Title I schools commonly experience teacher shortages, prompting principals to hire teachers to teach content areas for which they are not certified. The problem addressed in this study was that 8% of the teachers within a large urban school district in Georgia were teaching out-of-field. Guided by Elmore’s conceptual framework of knowledge, skills, and dispositions, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the factors contributing to principals’ decisions to recommend hiring out-of-field teachers in urban Title I schools in Georgia and to examine the support available for those teachers to meet certification requirements. Semistructured interviews were …


Artificial Intelligence And Autonomous Systems Adoption Strategies For Employees’ Jobs And Self-Worth In Nigerian Banks, Nnamdi Cyriacus Onyebuchi Jul 2026

Artificial Intelligence And Autonomous Systems Adoption Strategies For Employees’ Jobs And Self-Worth In Nigerian Banks, Nnamdi Cyriacus Onyebuchi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the Nigerian commercial banking sector navigates rapid financial technology disruption and rising regulatory compliance demands, many institutions have accelerated the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. Banking executives need to understand these concerns as a primary indicator of employees’ readiness to adapt to AI-enabled workplace changes, sustain their self-worth, and navigate evolving job roles. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple-case study was to explore the understanding of the AI and autonomous systems adoption strategies bank executives may employ to enhance employees’ jobs and self-worth in Nigerian banks. Anchored in sociotechnical systems and stakeholder theories, purposive sampling …


School Counselor Preparedness With Mass School Shootings, Lidia Oviedo Jul 2026

School Counselor Preparedness With Mass School Shootings, Lidia Oviedo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass school shootings represent a significant threat facing K–12 schools, yet the lived experiences of school counselors as they engage in prevention efforts and prepare to respond to and recover from these incidents remain unexplored. This study addressed the discrepancy between the increasing prevalence of mass school shootings and the limited understanding of school counselors' preparedness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of school counselors regarding their preparedness to prevent, respond to, and recover from mass school shootings. This study was grounded in Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method and informed by the U.S. Department of Education's …


Secondary Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Socialization In A Maryland School District, Darice Mattie Holmes Jul 2026

Secondary Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Socialization In A Maryland School District, Darice Mattie Holmes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the insufficient professional socialization of novice secondary special education teachers (SSETs), undermining their ability to adapt to school culture in a Maryland school district (MSD, a pseudonym). Grounded in Mayo's theory of human relations, the purpose of this study was to explore novice SSETs' perceptions of professional socialization through peers, professional development, or mentoring to adapt to the school culture at MSD. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with seven novice SSETs. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis with Saldaña's coding strategies, yielding four themes: (a) …


Staff Education To Improve Geriatric Mental Health Screening And Pharmacotherapy, Andy Wu Jul 2026

Staff Education To Improve Geriatric Mental Health Screening And Pharmacotherapy, Andy Wu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project addressed the lack of standardized workflows and clinical confidence regarding geriatric mental health screening and safe antidepressant initiation at a rural primary care clinic. Utilizing the FOCUS-PDSA framework, a 15-minute staff education module and a clinical pocket guide were implemented to train Medical Assistants (MAs) on integrating PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screenings during triage, and to equip providers with EHR SmartPhrases and 2023 AGS Beers Criteria prescribing guidelines. A pre- and post-intervention 5-point Likert scale survey evaluated the knowledge and clinical confidence of the clinic staff (n = 12). Results demonstrated a …


Mental Health Professional Preparedness To Address Mental Health Stigma And Challenges In Military Populations, Scott Martin Katzka Jul 2026

Mental Health Professional Preparedness To Address Mental Health Stigma And Challenges In Military Populations, Scott Martin Katzka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Veterans and service members often delay or avoid engaging in mental health services because of stigma experienced during military service and after transitioning to civilian life, contributing to worsening mental health outcomes. Although mental health professionals (MHPs) with military cultural competence can reduce stigma and improve engagement in care, little is known about how newly trained MHPs perceive their preparedness to effectively serve this population. The purpose of this hermeneutic, phenomenological study was to answer the question of what the lived experiences of new MHPs regarding their preparedness were to support veterans and service members experiencing mental health stigma. Seven …


Effective Techniques In Equine Assisted Therapies From The Facilitators Perspective, Emily Dolezal Jul 2026

Effective Techniques In Equine Assisted Therapies From The Facilitators Perspective, Emily Dolezal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Equine assisted therapies have been shown to be an effective treatment approach for individuals experiencing mental health issues. However, there have been rising challenges in standardization and nomenclature throughout the field. Current research supporting the benefits of equine assisted therapies is often from the client perspective. There is a gap in understanding what occurred in session that made it beneficial to their mental health. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of equine assisted therapy facilitators in terms of mechanisms that produce positive changes in their clients. The theories and concepts that ground this study …


Imposter Syndrome And Self Determination In Clinical Social Work Supervision, Alexis Tarr Jul 2026

Imposter Syndrome And Self Determination In Clinical Social Work Supervision, Alexis Tarr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project is focused on the social work practice problem of limited understanding of how social workers experience clinical supervision in the context of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome can affect confidence, decision making, and overall wellbeing, making it an important issue in clinical social work practice. The purpose of this study was to explore how social workers describe and make meaning of their supervision experiences involving feelings of imposter syndrome. Guiding practice-focused research questions were used to examine how social workers experienced clinical supervision and described autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This study was informed by the self-determination theory, which …


Strategies Used By Silicon Valley Technology Leaders To Advance Latinx Employees Into Leadership Roles To Increase Firm Productivity, Elizabeth A. Garcia Jul 2026

Strategies Used By Silicon Valley Technology Leaders To Advance Latinx Employees Into Leadership Roles To Increase Firm Productivity, Elizabeth A. Garcia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The underrepresentation of Latinx professionals in leadership roles remains a challenge for technology leaders. Leaders who lack effective leadership development strategies for Latinx employees may experience reduced innovation, lower productivity, and decreased organizational competitiveness. Grounded in the resource-based view, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies used by Silicon Valley technology leaders to advance Latinx employees into leadership roles to increase firm productivity. Participants were 10 technology leaders with experience implementing strategies to hire, develop, and promote Latinx talent. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public organizational documents, and industry publications. …


Strategies Managers Used To Mitigate Constraints For Project Success, Teela Washington Jul 2026

Strategies Managers Used To Mitigate Constraints For Project Success, Teela Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistent project failures result in significant financial losses and reduced project management efficacy. Project managers who struggle to complete projects to scope, on time, and on budget risk reducing business performance and organizational value. Grounded in change management theory and theory of constraints, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies project managers employ to mitigate constraints and improve project success. Participants were 10 project managers who effectively mitigated constraints. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. Thematic analysis yielded four key themes: leadership, resource management, stakeholder engagement, and …


Strategies For Effectively Socializing Remote Workers, Emily Dahlen Jul 2026

Strategies For Effectively Socializing Remote Workers, Emily Dahlen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improper socialization of remote workers into the organization can increase employee turnover and create an unstable remote workforce. Business leaders who fail to effectively socialize remote workers in ways that strengthen organizational identification and reduce turnover risk may create workforce instability that exposes the organization to additional business risks. Grounded in the theory of organizational socialization, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore the effective strategies some business leaders use to socialize remote workers and increase employee retention. The participants were eight business leaders who had implemented effective socialization strategies to remote employees. …


Effective Strategies For Hospital Leaders To Increase Employee Retention, Lionso Gomez Jul 2026

Effective Strategies For Hospital Leaders To Increase Employee Retention, Lionso Gomez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention remains a critical challenge for hospital leaders because high turnover can contribute to workforce instability, increased organizational costs, and poor patient care quality. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies that hospital leaders in Texas use to increase employee retention. The participants were six former hospital leaders in Texas's eastern and southern regions who had successfully implemented employee retention strategies. This research project was grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. The data were analyzed utilizing Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic …


The Experiences Of Deaf American Muslims In Their Pursuit And Retention Of Employment, Shukry Mahmood Jul 2026

The Experiences Of Deaf American Muslims In Their Pursuit And Retention Of Employment, Shukry Mahmood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Deaf American Muslims in the United States face high levels of unemployment. They often experience compounded marginalization at the intersection of disability, religion, and cultural identity, which often leads to exclusion and underrepresentation in employment contexts. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences while pursuing and retaining employment in the United States of deaf Muslims in United States workplaces. In this qualitative study, a self-designed, semistructured interview protocol with open-ended questions was used to explore these experiences. The sample of 12 participants was selected based on their self-identification as deaf American Muslims with at least 30 …


Exploring Successful Change Strategies For Small Business Owners To Remain Competitive, Omari Akuamoah Boateng Jul 2026

Exploring Successful Change Strategies For Small Business Owners To Remain Competitive, Omari Akuamoah Boateng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses are vital to the U.S. economy but face significant challenges in implementing organizational change to remain competitive due to resource constraints. This problem is important to small business owners because ineffective change strategies limit growth, sustainability, and broader economic contribution. Grounded in the resource-based view of the firm and entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project is to explore the evidence-based organizational change strategies used by some small business owners in the United States to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage. The participants were 6 leaders from small businesses with fewer than 100 employees located …


Global Humanitarian Aid Sector Leaders’ Perceptions Of Leadership Development Programs To Support Humanitarian Aid Workers, Stephen J. Thomspon Jul 2026

Global Humanitarian Aid Sector Leaders’ Perceptions Of Leadership Development Programs To Support Humanitarian Aid Workers, Stephen J. Thomspon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is that current leadership development programs for global humanitarian aid sector (GHAS) leaders fail to adequately address the unique circumstances of humanitarian aid work. Grounded in trauma-informed care and adaptive leadership, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore GHAS leaders' perceptions of the essential components and opportunities for improving leadership development programs, as well as their recommendations on how to address the unique contexts of humanitarian aid workers. Semistructured interviews with eight GHAS leaders who had at least 10 years of sector experience were conducted. Through qualitative content analysis with a …


Identifying Symbolic Modeling Of Grooming Precursors In Social Media, Heath Landress Jul 2026

Identifying Symbolic Modeling Of Grooming Precursors In Social Media, Heath Landress

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels increasingly circulate dating and lifestyle advice that may normalize coercive relational scripts. A key challenge for preventing technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation is that early grooming precursors can be communicated through audiovisual design choices, such as tone, pacing, setting, and editing, that make manipulative narratives appear benign. The purpose of this qualitative multimedia content analysis was to identify recurring observable patterns that provide a form of symbolic modeling, through which relational and boundary-shaping cues associated with early-stage sexualized grooming are framed as ordinary dating or lifestyle advice in public TikTok and Instagram …


Effectiveness And Ethics Of Biometrics In Homeland Security, Aaron Akintayo Akindiya Jul 2026

Effectiveness And Ethics Of Biometrics In Homeland Security, Aaron Akintayo Akindiya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homeland security agencies increasingly deploy biometric technologies, including facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, to enhance identity verification and threat detection at airports and borders. However, these technologies raise ethical concerns regarding privacy, algorithmic bias, data protection, and civil liberties. Limited research captures the perspectives of frontline professionals who implement these systems. This study explored how homeland security professionals perceive the balance between effectiveness and ethics. Guided by the technological determinism theory, semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 professionals from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: effectiveness in enhancing …


Ai Vs. Licensed Psychologists: A Comparative Analysis Of Treatment Plan Quality For Treating Psychological Distress, Michael Edward Maloney Jul 2026

Ai Vs. Licensed Psychologists: A Comparative Analysis Of Treatment Plan Quality For Treating Psychological Distress, Michael Edward Maloney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study was conducted to investigate whether statistically significant differences exist in the quality of treatment plans developed by artificial intelligence (AI) platforms versus treatment plans generated by licensed psychologists, with a focus on intervention specificity and clinical appropriateness. Given the rapid proliferation of digital mental health technologies and the persistent shortage of licensed mental health professionals, empirical evaluation of AI-driven clinical tools has become a critical area of inquiry. Grounded in dual process theory (DPT), which conceptualizes decision making as the product of both intuitive and analytical cognitive systems, the study employed a quantitative, between-groups design. Sixty-six licensed psychologists …


Metropolitan Public School Counselors’ Perceptions On Implementing The Ohio K–3 Social And Emotional Learning Standards, Sharon Johnson Jul 2026

Metropolitan Public School Counselors’ Perceptions On Implementing The Ohio K–3 Social And Emotional Learning Standards, Sharon Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, the Ohio Department of Education adopted K–12 Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) standards to support students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic development; however, the problem is that implementation remains optional across districts, resulting in variability in school counselors’ access and consistency. Although SEL implementation has been examined in educational settings, there is a gap due to a lack of available research that have explored metropolitan K-3 public school counselors’ lived experiences implementing the Ohio K-3 SEL standards. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore metropolitan K-3 public school counselors lived experiences implementing the Ohio K-3 SEL …


Proposal For A Comprehensive Workplace Violence Program In An Acute Care Facility, Christin V. Timmons Jul 2026

Proposal For A Comprehensive Workplace Violence Program In An Acute Care Facility, Christin V. Timmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare is a growing threat to caregiver safety, workforce stability, and patient outcomes. At a newly opened acute care facility, the absence of a comprehensive WPV prevention program posed a gap in practice, creating safety risks and regulatory vulnerability. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/ MEDLINE, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health collection, and Google Scholar. A total of 50 articles were identified with 11 articles meeting all inclusion criteria. Collectively, findings supported comprehensive, multicomponent WPV prevention programs to integrate leadership engagement, structured governance, staff education, environmental controls, and continuous data monitoring to improve safety …


The Relative Strength Of Social Media Motives, Perceived Race Relations, And The Centrality Of Black Identity In Predicting Black Community Activism, Johnnie Gordon Jul 2026

The Relative Strength Of Social Media Motives, Perceived Race Relations, And The Centrality Of Black Identity In Predicting Black Community Activism, Johnnie Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As social media has become a central context for identity development, sociopolitical awareness, and civic engagement among Black emerging adults, exposure to racialized content, experiences of online discrimination, and competing narratives regarding racial progress may heighten awareness of systemic inequities and strengthen collective racial identity. To date, the potential of these experiences to motivate engagement in Black community activism to advocate for community empowerment has not been investigated. Informed by social identity theory, this quantitative study assessed the relative importance of motives for social media use, perceived racial progress, and Black identity centrality in predicting Black community activism among emerging …


Association Between Resource Availability And Wellbeing Of Autism Patients In Ghana, Kwabena Aduse-Poku Jul 2026

Association Between Resource Availability And Wellbeing Of Autism Patients In Ghana, Kwabena Aduse-Poku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents significant challenges for children and families in Ghana, where resources remain limited. Grounded in the social ecological model, this quantitative cross-sectional study examined the associations between autism management programs and wellbeing, defined briefly as independent functioning in daily life and learning of autism patients enrolled in selected institutions in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Data were collected from N=122 autism patients using structured questionnaires that were completed by caregivers and program staff. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess relationships between program type, regional location, and years of enrollment and …


High School Educational Leaders’ Perceptions On College And Career Readiness Programs, Sabrina Cosey-Davis Jul 2026

High School Educational Leaders’ Perceptions On College And Career Readiness Programs, Sabrina Cosey-Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that despite the widespread availability of college and career readiness (CCR) programs in high schools, these programs are inconsistently designed, implemented, and aligned at the school level. Grounded in Conley’s CCR framework, the purpose of this study was to explore high school educational leaders’ perceptions on the design, implementation, and alignment of CCR programs within their schools. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 15 educational leaders including administrators, counselors, and department heads. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis with the following …


Association Between Opioids And Leukemia/Lymphoma In Adults Living In The United States, Brenda Sue Newberry-Colasanti Jul 2026

Association Between Opioids And Leukemia/Lymphoma In Adults Living In The United States, Brenda Sue Newberry-Colasanti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid prescribing rates and opioid misuse remain high throughout the United States. Exposure to opioids has been positively associated with various cancers; however, research evaluating associations between opioid exposure and hematologic cancers like leukemia and lymphoma is limited. Using the Socio- Ecological Model as a foundation, this quantitative cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the association between medicinal opioid use, opioid misuse, and leukemia/lymphoma while exploring how selected social determinants of health (SDOH) may modify that relationship. Secondary data were pooled from the 2015–20-year United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). One thousand three hundred and twenty binary …


Health Literacy And Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, Eucharia Amaefule Jul 2026

Health Literacy And Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, Eucharia Amaefule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited health literacy is a significant barrier to effective diabetes self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet nationally representative evidence using comprehensive health literacy measures remains limited. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this quantitative, secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data was to examine the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care behaviors among U.S. adults with T2DM and determine whether education level moderated this relationship. Data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for U.S. adults (N = 9, 535) with self-reported T2DM. Diabetes self-care behaviors included blood glucose monitoring, …


Effective Work-Life Balance Strategies That Small Business Owners Use To Increase Personal And Organizational Resilience, Anquinett Pope Jul 2026

Effective Work-Life Balance Strategies That Small Business Owners Use To Increase Personal And Organizational Resilience, Anquinett Pope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners frequently sustain their businesses at the cost of their personal health, which poses long-term threats to both organizational sustainability and resilience. The sustainability of a small business is often inseparable from the health, well-being, and decision-making capacity of its owner. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify and explore effective strategies employed by some small business owners to balance personal and professional obligations to enhance business sustainability. The study was focused on one small business owner from a consulting firm based in the United Kingdom. The project was grounded in the Baldrige excellence …