Digital Commons Network^™

Multiracial Graduate Students' Perceptions Of Online Doctoral Programs, Misty Jean Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe retention rates for multiracial students in higher education have been the focus of researchers, student affairs practitioners, and other key stakeholders for many years. Despite the increase of this population attending online doctoral programs, the retention rates continue to remain in question. The research problem for this study examined how online multiracial doctoral students perceive the effectiveness of their online university's student engagement and academic achievement as it pertains to student retention. The theoretical framework of the study was Tinto's theory of institutional departure, which addressed student challenges in establishing positive engagement practices in their online learning environments. Data …

Importance Of Early Recognition Of Extrapyramidal Symptoms (Eps) In A Community Mental Health Clinic, Jamil E. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this project was to address the lack of knowledge of nurses in recognizing extrapyramidal symptoms during the early stages of clinical presentation in patients taking antipsychotic medication. Nursing staff need to be properly training to be effective. Maslow's hierarchy of human needs informed this project. The primary goal of this project was to identify if an instructional seminar regarding EPS symptoms and management would increase the knowledge of the nursing staff. The project had a sample size of 7 and the criteria for inclusion included licensed professional nurses working in the clinical setting of mental health. The …

Neighborhood Factors, Depression, And Body Mass Index Among Patients With Lupus In Georgia, Aisha L. Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elevated BMI (overweight and obesity) is a common health-related issue and affects more than half of the lupus population. Weight issues lead to additional health-related issues, such as heart disease and disabilities in the lupus population. To address the shortage of research focusing on this specific issue in the lupus population, one approach is a novel outlook on how neighborhood factors have the capability of determining or altering behaviors, such as physical activity, healthy eating, and healthy social relationships. Another variable to consider is depression and its capability of altering interactions, relationships, self-esteem, or even the inflammatory state of the …

Understanding The Young Adult African American Male's Perceptions Of Civic Engagement, Carl Lee Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCivic engagement and political involvement of the greater portion of the population of democratic societies are important to the maintenance of the quality of life of all members. Although 100% participation in these activities is rare, higher levels of involvement across all affected demographic groups will support a more equitable political environment in urban communities. In the midwestern metropolitan community that is the focus of this study, young adult African American males were found to participate in all forms of civic engagement at lower rates than any other demographic group. Using a critical race theory foundation, the purpose of the …

Identifying Strategies That Address Race-Based Traumatic Stress Of African Americans In Rural Mississippi, Syrenia Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been a dramatic increase of race-based encounters that have had an extensive health impact on African Americans. Social workers and other mental health professionals play a crucial role in working with African American adults who experience race-based traumatic stress. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify strategies to address race-based traumatic stress from a mental health perspective. Racial encounter coping appraisal and socialization theory (RECAST) guided this study where eight social workers from the local community mental health center in rural Mississippi completed an open-ended questionnaire to identify and determine culturally competent treatment strategies for African …

Strategies Leaders In Nonprofit Organizations Use To Expand Capacity, Reginald A. Stanley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit organizations impact the community and make substantial contributions to organizations, individuals, communities, and the environment, but many struggle to continue to grow. Supporting growing demands to provide support to communities with a reduction in available resources threatens nonprofit organizations' survivability and effectiveness. Grounded in general system theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies leaders of a small nonprofit organization in southern California used to grow their organization to serve a larger population. The participants comprised 3 nonprofit leaders with documented success at developing and growing their business. Data were collected from semistructured interviews …

The Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Female Students In A Computer Science Program At A Community College, Terry Voldase

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

America's higher education institutions have aligned computer science curricula with today's modern technology. Despite these efforts, data have shown that there is slow growth among young women majoring in computer science and even slower growth in this area at community colleges. Higher education institutions have also acknowledged a gap between men and women entering the computer science field and a need to explore options for computer science programs to engage women in the industry. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the perceptions and lived experiences of female students enrolled in computer classes at New …

Hospice Interdisciplinary Use Of The Social Work Assessment Tool For Military Families, Miranda Lishell Rankin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development of the social work assessment tool (SWAT) was an initiative designed by members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization to move hospice and palliative care social workers into the arena of viewing the family as an extension of the patient. Of those dying in the United States, 1 out of 4 is a military veteran (vet) in need of assessments, culturally relevant interventions, and/or supports at the end of life. For military families, caring for vets at the end of life can prompt stressors that may require culturally unique assessments and/or interventions. Tsai’s (2003) theory of …

Head Start Parent Perspectives Of Their Roles In Their Children’S Preschool Education, Fawn Thomas-Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Head Start expects parent involvement as part of parents’ in-kind contribution to the program, but data from a multi-center Head Start agency in the southeastern United States indicated many parents do not meet this expectation. Lack of parental involvement in Head Start children’s education was the problem of focus in this study. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the perspectives of Head Start parents regarding their roles in their preschool children’s education. The work of Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler formed the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions focused on how parents describe their responsibilities for …

The Relationship Between Cervical Cancer And Women Living With Disabilities In Kentucky, Carolyn Akakpo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDespite many national interventions, cervical cancer (CC) rates persist, and in Kentucky (KY), CC incidence rates are on the rise. Additionally, women with disabilities face more barriers to secondary prevention and healthcare access, have more known risks, and experience more health disparities than women without disabilities. Given that 1 in 4 persons live with a disability, the purpose of this observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study was to explore the relationship between CC and women with disabilities as evidenced by reproductive cancer discharges from inpatient hospital (IHD) and outpatient services databases (OSD) so as to compare population-specific differences from social determinants of …

Health Systems Predictors And Trends Of Access To Vaccinations In 9 Sub-Saharan African Countries, Mirfin Mpundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this ecological quantitative study was to examine the predictors of health systems building blocks and their interactions in improving access and uptake of immunizations in nine sub-Saharan African countries. Immunization rates in this region remain lower than global targets leading to preventable diseases and mortality. Using the systems approach, the study examined the relationships among five independent variables: quality of service delivery, governance, vaccine supply, health financing, socioeconomic factors and the dependent variable, access to immunizations. Datasets from the WHO and UNICEF were used. Analysis included a series of descriptive statistics, logistic and linear regression, and correlations. …

Environmental Barriers To Accessing Tertiary Prevention Among Hispanics Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes, Stella B. Biira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, Hispanics diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have not accessed tertiary level prevention, which is critical in diabetes management and the prevention of further complications. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between neighborhood crime, the absence of community health centers, the lack of culturally competent providers, the lack of public transportation, the residential setting, the distance to T2DM education classes, and access to tertiary prevention among Hispanics diagnosed with T2DM. The research was guided by the Andersen behavioral model. A sample size of N = 4,977 was used in the study, …

The Beliefs Of Sex Education Instructors In The Classroom, Denise Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Data-driven research is an ethical precept for nearly every profession, and it holds a particular importance within any human-services field, including public health education. This research study used a phenomenological methodology and Brofenbrenner’s theoretical framework to construct descriptive themes, investigating how public school instructors' personal beliefs impact teaching practice. Ten in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with public high school teachers who self-identified as being involved with sex education instruction. Participants were selected from several public Minnesota high schools responsible for providing sex education to public school students in Grades 9 to 12. The findings revealed several themes relating to how …

Collectivism And Uncertainty Avoidance In Narrative Oral Histories Of Resettled Syrian Refugees, Suzy S. Ismail

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emotional resilience among resettled refugees is an indicator of cultural integration and adaptation into a host country which in turn impacts schools, resettlement agencies, and refugee service organizations in how they can best meet the needs of refugees. The documented decline in emotional resilience among resettled Syrian refugees during the past decade is linked to the problem of cultural value disparities causing a resultant decline in mental health and socioemotional wellbeing. The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore expressions of cultural value dimensions such as collectivism and uncertainty avoidance in oral histories of resettled Syrian refugees. Applying …

Faith-Based Support For Alzheimer's Family Caregivers In Madison County, Alabama, Meredith Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer's disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, is incurable. Because of the extensive long-term care required for patients with Alzheimer's, the typical caregiver is often a middle-aged family member with his or her own health problems. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine the extent to which there was a difference in the perception of quality of life between Alzheimer's family caregivers who receive tangible faith-based support compared to the Alzheimer's family caregivers who receive no social support. The theoretical basis was social support theory, which suggests that support buffers stress. The …

A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding Consensual Nonmonogamy Among African-American Couples, Krishna Jones Clanton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Monogamy is recognized as a singularly accepted relationship construct within the United States. As a result, little is understood about alternative relationship constructs and those who choose them. Even less is understood regarding these practices among members of marginalized communities. Despite this lack of knowledge, there is evidence to suggest that approximately 4-5% of the United States population is engaged in some form of consensually nonmonogamous relationship pairing (a percentage comparable to the LGBTQAI community), and an estimated 25% of the population will engage in some form of consensual nonmonogamy over the course of their lifespan. This study looked to …

Women Leaders In Information Technology: A Phenomenological Study Of Their Career Paths, Michelle Newsome

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, women remain underrepresented in senior level positions in the information technology (IT) field. Despite this challenge, a few women have successfully ascended into senior leadership in IT. Using the social cognitive theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of senior women leaders in the IT field. The research question explored the lived personal and professional experiences of senior women leaders in IT to gain an understanding of their career advancement into senior leadership positions. Through the use of the modified Van Kaam method of …

African American Christian Senior Pastor's Beliefs About Mental Health Treatment, Trinaa L. Copeland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the African American community, the Black Church and its clergy have served as gatekeepers to formal mental health treatment. Little is known about the beliefs of African American Christian senior pastors about mental health treatment and their personal views influencing their counsel to congregants seeking support through the church. This transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American Christian senior pastors in relation to how they understand mental health treatment and provide it to their congregants. The research questions explored three areas: (a) the senior pastors' experiences in rendering mental health treatment, (b) the senior pastors' personal …

Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Knowledge And Breast Cancer In Texas, Ejike Roland Egwuekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is a world health problem and is a leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. However, breast cancer risks were reported to be reduced through exposure to Vitamin D through its Receptors identified as the p53 target gene. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between VDR gene polymorphisms knowledge/awareness and decisions to reduce breast cancer risks and likelihood of mammogram screening among women in Texas. Data from survey were used. Roy adaptation model was the theoretical framework that guided this quasi- experimental, quantitative research. The dependent variables were decisions to …

Recent Parolees Participating In An Adult Basic Education And Work Skills Program, Charles Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The issue addressed in this study was the increasing number of prisoners in U.S. prisons and the related issue of recidivism after release. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of 8 formerly incarcerated adults. The conceptual foundation of this study was based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory and Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development and transformational learning. The research question for this study inquired about how released prisoners perceive their educational experiences in the MTM program. Participants were selected among adults who were incarcerated for at least 12 months and living in the …

Acculturative Stress And Adaptability Levels Between Documented Versus Undocumented Hispanic College Students, Philippe Charles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic students often suffer from acculturative stress as they adapt to U.S. college environments; however, few scholars have examined the acculturative stress relationship among undocumented versus documented Hispanic college students. In this quantitative, correlational study design, adaptation levels related to acculturative stress between both statuses were examined. The theoretical foundations of this study are based on the social cognitive career theory. This investigation focused on determining how adaptation levels predict Hispanic college students' acculturative stress and whether this realtionship differ between documented and undocumented college students. The I-Adapt measure was used to measure participants' level of adaptability and the social, …

Customer Engagement Strategies Leaders Use To Sustain Small Businesses, John A. Coy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this single-case study was to explore strategies small business leaders used to engage the next generation of customers to ensure sustainability for longer than 5 years. The study population included senior leaders from a for-profit company headquartered in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Von Bertalanffy's general systems theory (GST) was the conceptual lens used in this study. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with 3 leaders of the organization. Participants for this doctoral study were members occupying leadership roles in a small, family-owned, for-profit business. Member checking was incorporated to help ensure accuracy, consistency, and …

Influence Of Two Instructional Models On Reading Achievement Of Esl Middle School Students, Thomasine Campbell Hassell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English as second language (ESL) students are not meeting reading proficiency standards

compared to their native English-speaking middle school peers. To address the low achievement

scores among ESL students, the study site implemented an instructional hub in which trained

ESL resource teachers used the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) model. The

purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the difference in reading achievement

scores between ESL students who participated in the instructional hub and those who

participated in traditional instruction. Krashen's second language acquisition theory and Terrell's

natural approach theory provided the framework for the study. Archival data from …

Sextortion: Psychological Effects Experienced And Seeking Help And Reporting Among Emerging Adults, Tonya Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sextortion is a phenomenon that has made an impact on the digital technology domain. Sexting is a transmission of sensual messages or performances, provocation, and schemes exhibited through an array of sexual behaviors. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the psychological effects experienced of sextortion and to uncover the willingness to seek help and report the incident to authorities. Arnett's emerging adulthood theory provided the framework for this study. The sample consisted of N = 27 responders between 18-24 years of age who have engaged in sexting behaviors and may or may not have experienced sextortion. Simple …

Strong Black Women, Depression, And The Pentecostal Church, Dawn E. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a global health concern and among the top two causes of disability

and disease. African-Americans often seek help from the Black church, but

Pentecostal churches may fail to provide effective support due to doctrinal beliefs.

African-American women with depression struggle due to psychosocial implications

of the diagnosis. This research study used social constructionism and the

biopsychosocial model of health to explore the lived experiences of African-

American women suffering from self-reported depression while attending

Pentecostal churches in the Northeast United States. Fourteen women, ages

20 to 76, participated in this qualitative, phenomenological study. Data obtained

from the semistructured, …

Leptin Level Variance In Adults With And Without Cancer, Vilisa Chatman-Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

In 2018, health statistics revealed that, despite the many preventive measures established,

cancer was the second leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause

of death in 22 states, exceeded only by heart disease. With obesity/leptin levels reaching

pandemic levels worldwide, and cancer having a well-known association with obesity,

both chronic diseases represent a large proportion of public health challenges. Guided by

the social ecological model, the purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative study was to

examine if a significant difference exists in leptin levels among adults with different

types of obesity-associated and common cancers and …

Support Services From Prison To Home: Reentry Programs In A Western State, Bridget Burden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People released from incarceration are not equipped to deal with the challenges of transitioning back into society. Previous research on reentry suggests that correctional institutions may fail to adequately prepare inmates to transition to community life at the time of release, and little research addresses the perspectives of incarcerated people who have experienced reentry. Using social justice theory and the institutional analysis and development framework as guides, the purpose of this ethnographic study of reentry programs in a western state was to (a) determine how well they meet the needs of ex-offenders receiving reentry services, (b) identify best practices if …

Parent Stress Adaptation Among Caregivers Of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria M. Ambrus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was a nonexperimental correlational study that took a strengths-based approach and utilized family systems theories to examine parenting stress, as measured by the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, and posttraumatic growth (PTG), as measured by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the relationship between the two constructs. The study was conducted with a national sample of 136 maternal caregivers of transition-age youth on the autism spectrum (ASD), ages 14 to 22 years, recruited through social media, flyers, and referrals. Participants were primarily biological mothers (83.9%), White (87.5%), and resided in the South (68.4%); the mean age of the adolescent with …

Army Reservists Spouses' Perceptions Of Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Phenomenological Study, Wendy Whinnery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While it is commonly known that combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has profound, long-term effects on soldiers, its effects on spouses of affected soldiers are less understood. Some spouses who provide care for soldiers with PTSD develop symptoms that are similar in nature. These symptoms include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, isolation, hypervigilance, and a strong startle effect. This study explored the lived experiences of 8 spouses of Army Reservists who returned from deployment in either Iraq or Afghanistan with combat-related PTSD. This study used the couple adaptation to traumatic stress model to explore the couple's response to …

Impact Of Emergency Department Prescriber Type On The Rate Of U.S. Opioid Prescriptions, Edward Worlanyo Agbevey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many drug overdoses in the United States are from prescription drugs, most of which are classified as opioid pain relievers (OPRs) and commonly prescribed in emergency departments (EDs) to treat pain. OPR abuse and addiction is a major public health issue. Researchers have identified the role of various patient characteristics (race, gender, demographics, etc.) in the variation in OPR prescription rates, but the contribution of provider-type differences to that variation has not been exposed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the strength of the association between provider type and the likelihood of an opioid prescription by ED providers …