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Staff Education Program Assessment Of Violence In An Acute Psychiatric Hospital, Steven Dickson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical aggression and violence are sizable concerns for mental health nursing professionals. More than 80% of nurses working in mental health areas have faced verbal or physical abuse from patients. The practicum site noted that patient violence towards staff accounted for 18-20% of workplace injuries involving days away from work, compared to 10-11% in other healthcare settings. The purpose of this project was to develop a program to educate staff on the Brøset violence screen (BVC), an evidence-based, violence-risk screening tool, to increase staff's knowledge about this tool. Five behavioral health experts used the Lynn model to evaluate the project’s …

The Systemic Experiences Of Social Workers In An Inpatient, State Psychiatric Hospital, Kesia Gwaltney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The National Alliance on Mental Illness surmised that 1 in 25 (9.8 million) adults in the United States are diagnosed with a serious mental illness annually. Of the 9.8 million people diagnosed, approximately 63% of them are psychiatrically hospitalized with repeat hospitalizations within 1 year of discharge. Social workers play a vital role in the treatment modalities of the patients they serve in the psychiatric hospital; however, there is no research that examined the professional systemic experiences of social workers in state, inpatient psychiatric hospitals and how these experiences may affect treatment outcomes of patients as it relates to frequent …

An Examination Of Counselors' And Therapists' Attitudes Toward Marriage, Alicia Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous studies have shown many aspects of the serious social concerns of attitudes regarding marriage and how an attitude toward marriage may directly be linked to declining birth rates, delayed marriages, and increasing divorce rates. However, previous studies have not shown emerging counselors’ and therapists’ attitudes toward marriage in the Western culture. Based on the social learning theory, the purpose of this study investigates the relationship between emerging counselors’ and therapists’ attitudes toward marriage and their (a) gender, (b) parental conflict, and (c) family structure. A quantitative research design was employed with a non-probability convenience sample of 81 emerging counselors …

Emotional Support Dogs’ Effects On Anxiety, Depression, And Somatization In Elementary Students, Truman Arthur James Spring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Within the last few decades, there has been an ever-increasing clinical role for trained emotional support dogs (ESD) and their trained therapists in hospitals, courtrooms, and schools. More recently, within the last 5 years, there has been a prevalent trend toward introducing ESDs into schools, which has created an ongoing controversy about the legitimacy of this practice due to the lack of objective data and research on the topic. In this study, archival data analysis was conducted using data from 68 students with elevated scores for anxiety, depression, or somatization, 34 of which were in the treatment group and the …

Impact Of Counselor Gender On Burnout After Controlling For Counselor Years Of Experience, Lara De Bono

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout is an individual reaction to high levels of emotional demands in different social fields, such as counseling. Counselors who experience constant stress are more vulnerable to professional impairment, such as burnout. Understanding factors that impact burnout can aid in developing interventions to support and educate counselors. Grounded in the gender role theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the impact of counselor gender on three measures of burnout (depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and personal accomplishment) after controlling for counselor’s years of experience. Secondary data records (N = 123) were collected from a national survey of Thai …

Exploring Formerly Incarcerated African American Males' Relationship With Their Children, Najjiyya Christine Arnold

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore formerly incarcerated African American fathers’ perceptions on reestablishing relationships with their children. Prior to this study, little or no research had been conducted to examine how formerly incarcerated parents build relationships with their children. Data were collected through one-to-one, semi-structured interviews with 11 African American fathers 18 years and older who were formerly incarcerated and had one or more children under the age of 18 years while incarcerated. The theoretical frameworks for this study included Attachment Theory and African American Male Theory. These data were analyzed using the thematic analysis …

Approaches School Leaders Employ Regarding Students Who Experience Socioemotional Crises, Ronald Stephen Gorney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many students in the local school district in a northeastern state suffer from socioemotional challenges that negatively influence their academic success. In the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, researchers found negative socioemotional outcomes resulting from ACEs. Risk factors associated with ACEs, and the influence of ACEs on poor school outcomes form the framework of this project study. To determine measures school leaders take to meet the needs of students in socioemotional crisis, a sample of semi-structured interview participants was selected based upon their roles in addressing students in socioemotional crisis, also forming the basis of this basic qualitative study. The …

Exploring The Religious Motives Of The Boko Haram Terrorism In Nigeria, Andrew Abah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Boko Haram (BH) terrorism in Nigeria has persisted for over a decade, and the attacks continue to get more sophisticated, deadly, and well-coordinated with each passing year. Given the sect’s focus on religious institutions, especially churches and mosques considered not to be practicing the kind of Islam the BH expresses, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the religious motivation that drives their terrorist activities. The primary research question that guided this qualitative study on the religious motivations, reconciliation of activities and beliefs, and perspectives regarding minimizing BH terrorism in Nigeria. The study’s theoretical framework was the frustration-aggression theory …

Master’S Level Mental Health Counselor Experiences Working With Offenders In Correctional Settings, Jennifer Bernard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Forensic mental health is considered a specialty at a doctoral level, yet a majority of mental health services in correctional settings are provided by master’s-level mental health counselors. These clinicians lack the specialized education, training, and experience needed to work with offenders in correctional settings. There is limited research on how master’s-level counselors experience providing mental health services in correctional settings and how they manage challenges. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of master’s-level mental health counselors working with offenders in correctional settings. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to facilitate an understanding of …

The Lived Experiences Of Gatekeepers In Counselor Education Training Programs, Jessica Motroni Banik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gatekeeping is an essential function within the counselor education training system that is aimed at helping counselors in training (CIT) achieve competency to practice. The process entails monitoring counselor development at critical points in the process of entering the profession. However, there continues to be gateslippage, with a high percentage of CITs with problematic behaviors completing their training programs, putting the public at risk. There is a lack of research focused on understanding gatekeepers’ lived experiences, including how they resolve challenges within the system. The purpose of this hermeneutic study was to understand the lived experiences of gatekeepers in the …

The Black Church: Using Social Capital To Reach The Unchurched And Community, Teresa Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPrevious studies on the Black Church have focused on its history as an institutional hub, its ability to generate social capital, the decline in its membership, as well as the connection between attendance and associational life. However, it is unknown how the Black Church is using its social capital to re-engage inactive members and remain connected to the community. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how Black Churches in West Palm Beach, Florida are using their social capital to re-engage unchurched members, as well as engage their community. Robert Putnam’s social capital theory was used to …

Content Analysis Of Ethics Curriculum Requirements In Undergraduate Social Work Programs, Debra Evonne Thrower

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to recent mandates of the 2015 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, social work ethics education has received considerable attention. These standards have increased the focus on ethical education requirements in bachelor’s and master’s curricula. However, research regarding approaches that undergraduate institutions use to implement the required content remains limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine ethics education requirements in the syllabi from practice courses at CSWE-accredited undergraduate social work programs. Common morality theory and curriculum theory were theoretical frameworks that guided examination of the phenomenon. Data were collected from 51 …

Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Catholic Priests, Richard Ehusani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research suggests that the clergy could be at the risk of developing secondary traumatic stress (STS) because of their secondary exposure to trauma within pastoral work; however, there has been no explicit discussion of STS related to Catholic priests who may be more at the risk of developing STS than their counterparts in other churches. The requirement of priestly celibacy often leaves Catholic priests with little to no immediate social and emotional support network of family. Because of their sacred vow to keep the confessional seal unbroken in whatever circumstance, Catholic priests also may not share confessional information, even when …

The Relationship Between Sexual Assault And Ptsd, Beverley Priest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People who have experienced trauma, such as sexual assault, are more likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Women are twice as likely to develop PTSD from a traumatic event than men, especially from a sexual assault. Alcohol abuse is associated with more cases of and more severity of PTSD symptoms. Intimate partner violence can strongly contribute to or worsen the symptoms of PTSD. The research questions examined the relationship between sexual assault (SA) and the subsequent development of (PTSD, SA and the presence of alcohol dependence/addiction and the subsequent development of PTSD, and SA) and the presence of intimate …

Risks For African American Male Youth Involved In The Juvenile Justice System, Cassandra Showers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this action research study was to gain an understanding of the factors and risks that contribute to juvenile delinquency of African American male youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Ecological systems theory was used to examine strategies used by social workers with this population and the effectiveness of those interventions. Individual interviews with 5 social workers recruited using nonprobability sampling were conducted. The interviews were audio-recorded, then manually transcribed. Responses were uploaded into the NVivo software system for coding. The software system was used to identify themes and patterns to substantiate the research question. The study …

A Comparison Of Interprofessional Collaboration Competencies Among Newly Licensed Registered Nurses, Denise M. Pederson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing students who are provided interprofessional education (IPE) with students from other professional education programs develop interprofessional collaboration competencies (IPCCs). However, not all nursing programs provide this IPE experience despite the World Health Organization and the IPE Collaborative (IPEC) promoting IPCCs for nurses upon entering practice to improve health outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, comparative, descriptive study, guided by the IPEC framework for collaboration competencies, was to determine whether there are self-reported differences in IPCCs among nurses who graduated within the past 3 years from learning institutions that provide IPE with multiple health care professional programs and those who …

Social Support Experiences Of Stably Housed Emancipated Foster Youth, Camron L. Whitacre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth emancipating from foster care are at increased risk of housing instability and homelessness and have reduced access to needed social supports to aid in the difficult transition to independent living. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived formal social support experiences of stably housed emancipated foster youth. Purposive sampling techniques and inclusion criteria guided the recruitment of nine study participants from a state-administered postemancipation services program to take part in semistructured interviews. A conceptual framework, including social convoy and attachment theories, informed inquiry, and interpretation of findings. Participant lived experiences illuminated the importance of …

Lived Experiences Of Lassa Fever Survivors In Southsouth Nigeria, Albert Oamen Oyeribhor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractLassa fever, a viral disease, was first isolated in the late 1960s and affects 300,000 to 500,000 people, causing 5,000 to 10,000 fatalities annually across West Africa. Although there are studies on the causes and prevalence of Lassa fever, there is a paucity of studies regarding the quality of life (QoL) and lived experiences of survivors. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by Leininger’s culture care theory, was to describe the QoL and meanings of the lived experiences of Lassa fever survivors in the Southsouth region of Nigeria. Fifteen survivors of Lassa disease were interviewed. Data were analyzed using …

Experience Of Nigerian Female Prostitutes Who Are Victimized By Police, Anitha Scroggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian police are not trusted by the population they swore to protect because they often assault, manipulate, exploit, and humiliate citizens as a form of intimidation to achieve a personal gain, especially from those who are involved in illegal activities like prostitution. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of Nigerian prostitutes and learn how they use adaptive coping strategies to cope with the stress of police victimization. This study’s underlying theory was the distress tolerance theory, which was utilized to understand the emergence of adaptive coping strategies. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with …

Organizational Culture As A Predictor Of Counselors’ Wellness, Ashley Nicole Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The foci of existing literature related to counselor wellness are on counselors as individuals, and researchers have failed to consider counselors as part of a larger system. Researchers have found that demanding work environments are more likely to lead to compassion fatigue and burnout for counselors which pose threats to the well-being of clients. The organizational culture also affects counselor self-efficacy, which influences the emotional state of the counselors. Limited research exists on institutional-level factors, such as the organizational culture, in counselor wellness which demonstrates the importance of this study. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental survey study was to …

Relationship Between Novice Teacher Well-Being, High-Stakes Testing Stress, And Intent To Leave, Laura Elizabeth Dawes Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Standardized tests are considered high stress because consequences such as loss of certification and replacement of school staff affect teacher morale and self-efficacy. The purpose of this concurrent complementarity mixed-methods study was to examine the relationship between novice teachers’ high-stakes test stress, their well-being, and their intent to return to school the next year. The concepts of teacher stress and teacher well-being provided the conceptual framework for the study. Twenty-five teachers participated in a survey measuring their well-being and high-stakes test stress level. Eight of those teachers also participated in individual phone interviews. Results of the quantitative (Pearson correlations) and …

Predictors Of Postdivorce Adjustment In The Orthodox Jewish Population, Judah Stern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn general, divorce can be stigmatizing and can lead to social and financial hardships for those who experience it. However, the impact of divorce may be more severe for members of the Orthodox Jewish population, whose culture places significant value and importance on marriage. The purpose of this study was to address the gap in the literature pertaining to the experience of divorce in the Orthodox Jewish population and the factors contributing to or hindering postdivorce adjustment in this population. Family stress and coping theory served as the foundation for this study. One research question guided the study examining whether …

Perceptions Of Health Care Professionals Providing Smoking Cessation In Health Care Settings, Dr. Tenishia Tamika Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use affects many individuals in the United States and around the world, particularly those who have existing health disparities. Smoking cessation therapy is a process used by health care professionals (HCPs) to help aid in the reduction or elimination of tobacco use. HCPs providing this service in health care settings can reach patients directly while helping to decrease the mortality rate in those who use tobacco. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to identify HCPs’ perceptions of patient barriers to adherence to smoking cessation services and what can be done to improve smoking cessation in health care …

Juvenile Probation Officer Stress In Rural Area Corrections Offices, John Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2015, approximately 62,400 juveniles in the United States were court-ordered to be on probation. Juvenile probation officers (JPOs), who monitor these juveniles, are responsible for intake assessments, predisposition reports, and working with juvenile delinquents and their families. Aspects of JPOs’ job duties, such as excess paperwork and lack of managerial support, can create stress. To address the relative lack of research on JPOs’ stress, particularly the limited research in rural settings, this qualitative case study examined JPOs’ stress in rural corrections offices in South Dakota. The study examines JPOs’ perceptions of causes of their stress and their responses to …

Strategies To Reduce Costs Associated With Hospital Readmissions, Almunzer Zakaria

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospital administrators struggle to reduce hospital readmissions to improve hospital performance. Reducing costs of readmissions is important to hospital administrators because it may lead to an inability to meet budget requirements. Grounded by complex adaptive systems and business process quality management principles, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies nonprofit hospital administrators use to reduce costs associated with hospital readmissions. Participants included 4 successful hospital administrators at 1 hospital in Doha, Qatar, who have responsibility for overseeing readmissions. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews and organizational documents. Traditional text analysis was used to identify …

Caregiver Role In Alcohol Abuse Treatment For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Mariam Nicoll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With deinstitutionalization in the 1970s, individuals with intellectual disabilities were

mainstreamed back into their communities, along with an increase in the prevalence of

alcohol abuse and a necessity for family members to be the main source of care, support,

and advocacy. The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to explore

the lived experiences of caregivers of family members with intellectual disabilities

abusing alcohol and the obtainment of substance abuse treatment services. The

conceptual framework included a combination of family stress and caring theories which

provided an ontological direction as to how caregivers perceived the phenomenon of

obtaining substance abuse …

Adult Attachment For African American Women Who Have Mothers With Borderline Personality Disorder, Elizabeth Uchechi Onyeali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effects that borderline personality disorder (BPD) can have on the loved ones of those who suffer from the mental illness is significant and can be deleterious and enduring. Maternal BPD can adversely impact mother-daughter relationships by fostering abnormal connections and insecure attachment bonds. This is particularly the case for African American mothers, of whom research suggests that the early attachment bond between them and their daughters significantly shapes how their daughters behave, perceive themselves, and relate to others. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how the experiences of being raised by a mother diagnosed …

The Experiences Of Noncustodial Fathers Enrolled In The Georgia Fatherhood Program, Patricia Ann Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The federal child support program was designed in the United States in 1975 to reduce the amount of public assistance that is needed by collecting child support from noncustodial fathers. Due to financial barriers, many noncustodial fathers face challenges in paying their child support consistently. Noncustodial fathers are referred to Fatherhood Programs when they are delinquent in paying their child support. While extensive research was conducted on the impact of child support delinquency on families, very little focus has been placed on the challenges that noncustodial fathers face when attempting to complete Fatherhood Programs. The purpose of this generic qualitative …

Child Agency: Adolescents-Led Community Service Initiatives In Yemen, Shaima Mohammed Alraiy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has provided evidence that child participation and agency can contribute to child protection. Child participation and agency in the context of war and conflicts are still under-researched. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the agency experiences of adolescents in Yemen in implementing and leading community service initiatives following participating in a youth empowerment program. Using Zimmerman’s empowerment theory to guide the study, 5 people aged between 18 and 22 years who had participated in a program were interviewed about their agency experience when they were adolescents. Narrative data was analyzed using thematic analysis and …

The Impact Of The Exercise Of Self-Care Agency And Compassion Satisfaction On The Professional Social Worker, Elaine Franks Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Few studies have provided empirical data on the relationship between compassion satisfaction and self-care agency in professionals like the professional social worker, even though compassion satisfaction could be a prime motivator for continued work in the field of social work. To address this gap, this quantitative study addressed the research question asking if there was a statistically significant linear relationship between the exercise of self-care agency and compassion satisfaction. This study centered on theories related to the compassion satisfaction and the compassion satisfaction/compassion fatigue theories of Stamm (2010), and self-care agency and the theories of self-care/self-care deficit of Orem (1980; …