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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Exploring Formerly Incarcerated African American Males' Relationship With Their Children, Najjiyya Christine Arnold Jan 2021

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 …


Maritime Cybersecurity Strategies For Information Technology Specialists, Angela Mizelle Griffin Jan 2021

Maritime Cybersecurity Strategies For Information Technology Specialists, Angela Mizelle Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dependence on digital technology increases cyber-related risks for maritime industries. As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard network is challenged with maritime cybersecurity, both economically and for national security. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies information technology (IT) specialists use to implement standard practices for ensuring cyber security. The participants included six IT specialists who have successfully implemented standard practices for maritime organizations in Virginia and West Virginia. Data were collected from individual semistructured interviews and a review of 12 external organizational documents available to the public from IT …


Post-Conflict Mental Health Policy And Substance Use Among Liberian Adults, Ekua Amonoo-Lartson Jan 2021

Post-Conflict Mental Health Policy And Substance Use Among Liberian Adults, Ekua Amonoo-Lartson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe objective of post-conflict countries after an extended period of war and trauma is to maintain peace and stability. However, the physical and psychological effects of substance use to cope with the devastation of war remains long after the crisis has ended. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine substance use among Liberian working-age adults, including their substance use habits, experiences with substance use, and access to mental health rehabilitative treatment. The access to medical care theoretical framework was used to guide the study. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews with 15 individuals regarding their experiences …


Social Determinants Of Health And Health Behaviors Of Hispanics, Suheily Valderrama Jan 2021

Social Determinants Of Health And Health Behaviors Of Hispanics, Suheily Valderrama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mexican Americans experience higher morbidity and mortality than non-Hispanic whites, a problem known as health disparities, which is often explained by differences in social determinants of health (SDH). SDH are social and economic conditions that influence health-related behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between SDH (income, education, neighborhood safety, and health care access), and health behaviors (diet, sleep, and physical activity) of Hispanics. The cumulative inequality (CI) theory was used to inform this study. A secondary data analysis of 37078 Hispanic adults who completed the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey was conducted. …


Organizational Culture As A Predictor Of Counselors’ Wellness, Ashley Nicole Davis Jan 2020

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 …


Online Social Support And Biopsychosocial Implications For Bariatric Patients, Jamie Kathryn Schofell-Williams Jan 2020

Online Social Support And Biopsychosocial Implications For Bariatric Patients, Jamie Kathryn Schofell-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has grown to epidemic proportions in the United States with approximately 40% of women and 30% of men having a body mass index greater than 35. Bariatric surgery is an effective form of weight loss. However, weight regain is a problem, with 50% of persons undergoing bariatric surgery experiencing a weight regain of 5% within 2 years of surgery and only 40% maintaining a loss of 30% or more long-term. Potential biological, psychological, and social issues can negatively impact the long-term success of weight management for many bariatric surgery patients. Research is significantly limited within this area and it …


Teachers’ Perspectives On Implementation Of The Measure Of Academic Performance (Map) Assessment, Derek John Varansky Jan 2020

Teachers’ Perspectives On Implementation Of The Measure Of Academic Performance (Map) Assessment, Derek John Varansky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A rural Midwestern school district the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) adaptiveassessment did not yield the expected improvements in student outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand teacher practice regarding MAP implementation. The conceptual framework was based on Fullan and Langworthy’s change theory. The three research questions focused on how teachers use individual student MAP data to design learning experiences, how teachers engage in professional learning about MAP, and how teachers work with students to set learning goals. Data were collected in a rural school district in the midwestern United States, through interviews of 12 …


An Interpretive Qualitative Study Of Idaho Head Start Families Facing Food Insecurity, Sherry Deiter Jan 2020

An Interpretive Qualitative Study Of Idaho Head Start Families Facing Food Insecurity, Sherry Deiter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this basic interpretive qualitative study was to examine food insecurity among Idaho Head Start enrolled families, focusing on barriers and deterrents to accessing available nutrition assistance programs. The social-ecological model (SEM) was used as the theoretical foundation for this study. Based on this model, the research questions were designed to explore experiences of participants related to individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, policy, and educational factors that influenced food insecurity. Parents who had children enrolled in Idaho Head Start programs that met purposeful sampling criteria were recruited for the study. A total of 11 parents, all who had experiences …


Perceptions Of Health Care Professionals Providing Smoking Cessation In Health Care Settings, Dr. Tenishia Tamika Edwards Jan 2020

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 …


Project-Based Learning Implementation In Elementary School, Vehia Goo Jan 2020

Project-Based Learning Implementation In Elementary School, Vehia Goo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Project-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered approach that has been required by state and school-level leadership, but the teachers have not received formal training before implementing it in their classes. This study explored the perception of current PBL implementation among teachers and administrators at an urban elementary school, focusing specifically on fidelity and adaptations. The research questions guiding this study asked what administrators perceive as the intent of PBL instruction and what teachers perceive as the nature of implementation in their classrooms. This qualitative exploratory case study included an analysis of data from interviews, observations, and the relevant documents of …


Perceived Obstacles For State-Facilitated Legal Recreational Cannabis, Robert A. Lino Jan 2020

Perceived Obstacles For State-Facilitated Legal Recreational Cannabis, Robert A. Lino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. states that facilitate the use of legal recreational cannabis face the threat of federal prosecution because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to assess the perceived obstacles to the state-facilitated regulation and implementation of legal recreational cannabis. Collective action federalism theory provided the framework for the study. The data collection instrument was developed based on themes in the literature and was pilot tested to ensure accuracy. The final study included 22 participants who represented the cannabis industry in the United States. Descriptive coding and thematic analysis indicated that the federal …


Evaluating Integrated Treatment On Recidivism For Female Offenders In Criminal Justice System, Oyin T. Popoola Jan 2020

Evaluating Integrated Treatment On Recidivism For Female Offenders In Criminal Justice System, Oyin T. Popoola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The burden of co-occurring disorders (CODs) among offenders in the criminal justice system (CJS) in the United States, particularly among the female population, is threatening the communities. About 80% of women in the CJS were diagnosed and treated for CODs, and 63% tend to be rearrested. The study examined the possible influence of CODs, integrated treatment of CODs, and gender, on recidivism while controlling for other demographic factors. The study was based on the conceptual framework of integrated dual disorder treatment (IDDT) and feminist criminology theory. Cross-sectional quantitative study design was applied on a secondary dataset from the 2017 Treatment …


Utilization And Impact Of Peer-Support Programs On Police Officers’ Mental Health, Beth A. Milliard Jan 2020

Utilization And Impact Of Peer-Support Programs On Police Officers’ Mental Health, Beth A. Milliard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officer suicides rates hit an all-time high in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 2018. Sadly, this statistic is somewhat unsurprising, as research has shown that police officers suffer from higher rates of mental health disorder diagnoses compared the general public. One key reason for the elevated levels of suicide and other mental health issues among police officers is the stigma associated with seeking help. In an attempt to address these serious issues, Ontario’s police services have begun to create internal peer-support programs as a way of supporting their members. The present research explores the experiences of police officers …


Strategies To Reduce Costs Associated With Hospital Readmissions, Almunzer Zakaria Jan 2020

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 …


Sexual Orientation, Body Mass Index, And Methamphetamine Use Among Chicago Youth, Nileshkumar Panchal Jan 2020

Sexual Orientation, Body Mass Index, And Methamphetamine Use Among Chicago Youth, Nileshkumar Panchal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug use and obesity are two of the most challenging health-related issues that young people face. Obesity, substance abuse, and drug addiction lead to brain dysfunction, which can decrease the quality of life and academic performance as well as increase the vulnerability of developing chronic diseases. To date, there has been little research to determine whether sexual orientation influences the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and methamphetamine use. Focusing on youth, the relationship between BMI, methamphetamine use, and sexual orientation were examined in this study through secondary data analysis of the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System in Chicago. Guided …


African American Noncustodial Fathers’ Perceptions Of Fatherhood Programs, Melissa Marie Smith Jan 2020

African American Noncustodial Fathers’ Perceptions Of Fatherhood Programs, Melissa Marie Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fatherhood programs have varying intentions, including encouraging peer interaction among fathers, supporting healthy father-child relationships, developing positive family dynamics, and identifying parenting strategies. However, much less is known about how fatherhood programs fulfill the needs of fathers as examined by the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The purpose of this qualitative generative research study was to explore African American noncustodial fathers’ experiences of fatherhood program in which they participated, and how these programs fulfilled their needs as framed by those from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The research question for this study focused on how African American noncustodial fathers perceive …


African American Maternal Mortality In The United States: A Quantitative Analysis Of Chronic Disease And Maternal Deaths, Glory Inyang Jan 2020

African American Maternal Mortality In The United States: A Quantitative Analysis Of Chronic Disease And Maternal Deaths, Glory Inyang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women have higher rates of chronic disease including diabetes and cardiovascular related disease compared to White women and are 3 to 4 times more likely to die during childbirth, more than any other ethnic group in the United States. . When African American women become pregnant these conditions may influence their maternal health outcomes. This study aimed to determine difference in pregnancy related death associated with chronic conditions between African American women and White women. Based on secondary/archival data from the Center for Disease Control and Preventions' 2017 National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Multiple Cause Files a …


Exploring The Experiences Of First Generation College Students, Maceo Daniel Wattley Jan 2020

Exploring The Experiences Of First Generation College Students, Maceo Daniel Wattley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At a large, urban university in the Midwestern United States, graduation rates of first-generation college students (FGCS) who are the first within a family to be admitted and attend a 4-year post-secondary institution of higher learning have declined over the past decade despite programs instituted to improve student retention. The purpose of the study was to explore FGCS’s and university administrators’ experiences affecting the decisions for FGCS to drop out and to examine student and administrator recommendations for improvements, based on their experiences, to prevent attrition. Guided by Knowles’s theory of andragogy, which describes how adult learners are self-directed and …


The Meaning Of Work And Self-Sufficiency For Rural Work- Eligible Adults, Janneice Mitcheam-Eatmon Jan 2020

The Meaning Of Work And Self-Sufficiency For Rural Work- Eligible Adults, Janneice Mitcheam-Eatmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the implementation of government programs created to ensure access to job training and education assistance for rural residents, which encourage and support their efforts to change their life trajectory, many rural residents remain unemployed and unable to move beyond poverty. Most research on job training focuses on program effectiveness or epidemiological trends; however, the voices of rural residents' descriptions of their relationship to work and self-sufficiency are missing from the literature. This IPA study explored the meaning of work and self-sufficiency for rural, work-eligible adults using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory (EST) as the theoretical framework. I used a combination …


Perceptions Of Urban Secondary Science Teachers Regarding Social Learning Professional Development, Mary Kaye Macauley Jan 2020

Perceptions Of Urban Secondary Science Teachers Regarding Social Learning Professional Development, Mary Kaye Macauley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Traditional classroom environments may not motivate students to learn and may lack interactive connections between educators and learners in the classroom. The problem addressed in this research study is the lack of understanding of science teachers' use and perception of innovative social learning strategies implemented in urban classrooms. The purpose of this research study was to establish urban science teachers' perceptions regarding social learning strategies within their classrooms. The conceptual framework of Hall and Hord's levels of use was used. The research questions addressed in this study focused on the perceptions and experiences of secondary science teachers in a large, …


Factors That Hinder African American Students From Graduating From 4-Year Predominantly White Institutions, Laura M. Doug Jan 2020

Factors That Hinder African American Students From Graduating From 4-Year Predominantly White Institutions, Laura M. Doug

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although graduation rates at 4-year colleges and universities in the United States have increased in the last decade, African American students do not graduate at the same rate of their White counterparts from 4-year Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore issues that hinder African American junior and senior students from graduating from a 4-year PWI. The theoretical framework for this study examined Karkouti's theory that African American students' success is impacted by an environment that promotes positive learning, cross-racial interactions, and one that is positively associated with students' educational outcomes. The research …


Stress And Wellness Among Municipal Law Enforcement Officers In Southeastern Virginia, Russell Morgan Granderson Jan 2020

Stress And Wellness Among Municipal Law Enforcement Officers In Southeastern Virginia, Russell Morgan Granderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Municipal law enforcement officers contend with unique occupational stressors. They must overcome stress from their employing agency and the pressures that arise from performing their basic enforcement duties. This study was designed to examine how municipal law enforcement officers in southeastern Virginia perceived their agency's wellness policy and to determine what recommendations they had to improve the effectiveness of the current wellness policy. Lazarus and Folkman's theory of cognitive appraisal and coping served as the theoretical framework for the study. Qualitative inquiry was used to examine the perceptions of 15 purposively sampled law enforcement officer participants. The data were then …


Telehealth Efforts To Reduce Hospital Readmissions Of Congestive Heart Failure Patients, Sirfornia L. Deasfernandes Jan 2020

Telehealth Efforts To Reduce Hospital Readmissions Of Congestive Heart Failure Patients, Sirfornia L. Deasfernandes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that affects millions of individuals in the United States. There is no cure for CHF, but medical interventions can help treat the symptoms and improve health outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if telehealth services help to reduce the readmission status of patients diagnosed with CHF. The theoretical framework used in this study was the individual and family self-management theory to help focus on self-management behaviors that contribute to improving the patients' health outcomes. The research questions were focused on addressing CHF patients receiving telehealth services and whether …


Marital Outcomes And Attachment In Children Of Divorce Versus Children Of Intact Families, Julirae Gunter Castleton Jan 2020

Marital Outcomes And Attachment In Children Of Divorce Versus Children Of Intact Families, Julirae Gunter Castleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous studies have investigated many aspects of the lives of children of divorce, including delinquency, emotional aspects, and attachment; however, they have not investigated the patterns of marital partnership formation and persistence among children of divorce who were raised in long-term blended families versus children of other types of families. Based on attachment theory, this study compared adult children from 4 family types: children of divorce raised in (a) long-term blended families, (b) single parent families postdivorce, (c) serial matrimony families postdivorce, and (d) children raised in intact families. A quantitative, causal-comparative, ex post facto survey design was employed with …


Examining Family Hierarchy Through The Eyes Of Former Mac Baller Gang Members, Jerome Lee Rice Jan 2020

Examining Family Hierarchy Through The Eyes Of Former Mac Baller Gang Members, Jerome Lee Rice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal gang membership is growing, which corresponds to a continued breakdown of the family unit in the United States. Most of the young people who form gangs come from broken families or single-parent-headed households. This study explored the role of family hierarchy on gang membership. A qualitative case study approach was used to gather information on what motivates young people to join criminal gangs. A random sampling technique was used to recruit former members of the Mac Baller Brim gang. Ethical concerns were addressed to minimize the risks to the participants. The collected data from interviews were analyzed using an …


Traumatic Early Life Stress In The Developing Hippocampus: A Meta-Analysis Of Mri Studies, Sharon Johnson Jan 2020

Traumatic Early Life Stress In The Developing Hippocampus: A Meta-Analysis Of Mri Studies, Sharon Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advancements in neuroimaging techniques afford researchers the opportunity to examine the actual brains of living persons, which exponentially contributes to new insights regarding brain and behavior phenomena. However, empirical studies investigating stress and the hippocampus attend primarily to adult populations - less on children and adolescents. Covariates such as the type of trauma, the duration and severity of the abuse, genetic predispositions, gender, poverty, and age often present as confounding factors that muddle the attempts to establish linkages between interpersonal, environmental, and neurobiological correlates. Although researchers primarily agree that traumatic early life stress (TELS) has some impact on early brain …


Risk Perception Of Terrorism And Individual Preparedness In Thailand, Pinida Neenlapathna Jan 2020

Risk Perception Of Terrorism And Individual Preparedness In Thailand, Pinida Neenlapathna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 2001, terrorist incidents in Thailand have caused more than 6,600 deaths and nearly 13,000 people have been injured. The Thai government has employed various counterterrorism measures, but there is little attention paid to terrorism awareness and preparedness. Following the tenets of social cognitive theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationship between the risk perception of terrorism (i.e., perceived probability, perceived seriousness, perceived impact, perceived coping efficacy, perceived government preparedness, and perceived frontline responder preparedness) and individual preparedness among Thai people. The study was conducted with a convenience sample of 327 Thai adults who …


Adult Attachment For African American Women Who Have Mothers With Borderline Personality Disorder, Elizabeth Uchechi Onyeali Jan 2020

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 Jan 2020

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 …


African American Sibling Survivors Of Homicide Victims: A Phenomenological Study, Terra Natia Brown Jan 2020

African American Sibling Survivors Of Homicide Victims: A Phenomenological Study, Terra Natia Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American bereavement experiences are underrepresented in the literature in comparison to Caucasian experiences. Due to cultural differences, the available literature may be misleading and unhelpful to African Americans dealing with grief. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to fill the void in the literature regarding African American bereavement. Guided by attachment theory and social constructivism as the theoretical frameworks, this study explored the lived bereavement and grief experiences of 12 African American siblings bereaved by homicide. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to gain firsthand knowledge of the siblings’ bereavement experiences via semi-structured interviews, which allowed the participants …