Digital Commons Network^™

School Counselors' Lived Experiences Supporting Students With Mental Health Concerns, Linda F. Peterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health in schools is a growing concern for many school counselors, educators and communities. School counselors are in key roles in the school setting to support students with mental health concerns. This research was done to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences, beliefs, and attitudes of school counselors supporting students with mental health diagnoses. This hermeneutic phenomenology research used n=4 participants school counselors and each has worked in their field for over 6 years. Additionally, each participant worked in the same school building for a minimum of 3 years or more. Semi structured interviews were used to collect …

An African American Male Perspective On Medication, Schizophrenia, And Crime, Artishia R. Dasher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health disparities in African American males contribute disproportionate rates of incarceration treatment access. There is a significant need to revise current mental health practices to address treatment barriers. The purpose of this study was to understand whether medication management could reduce criminality in violent African American males diagnosed with schizophrenia. A phenomenological examination of psychiatric perceptions and psychological treatment coupled with race was performed, utilizing the critical race and rational choice theory. Two research questions were developed to understand effective medication management and what barriers are present that cause noncompliance resulting in criminal activity. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was …

Resilience Experiences Of Navy Wives During Midyear School Transitions Of A Child, Alicia Brengman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social problem of school dropout is a well-researched issue that impacts students, schools, and the nation. The research problem of this study was how U.S. Navy wives experience resiliency during school transitions of their child(ren) midyear to a new school. The theoretical framework utilized for this study was resilience theory, as described by Rutter. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to gain insight into how U.S. Navy wives experience resilience when transitioning their students to a new school once the school year has begun. Semi structured interviews were conducted over the phone with 9 current wives of …

Relationships Between Sle Disease Activity And Damage, Depression And Work Productivity Impairment In The Georgians Organized Against Lupus Study, Karen Mancera-Cuevas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that can affect all organs of the body. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine SLE-related issues associated with depression and work-productivity impairment, and to assess if depression mediated the relationship between SLE disease activity and damage and work-productivity impairment. Participants were 257 residents of the state of Georgia in the United States with SLE and were recruited from the Georgians Organized Against Lupus study. Bandura'€™s social cognitive theory was the guiding theoretical framework of the study. Findings showed that the majority of participants worked full time …

Foster Care System Effectiveness In Assisting Young Adults' Transition To College, Vivienne Mitchell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research suggests that the relatively low rates of former foster youth enrolling in and graduating from a postsecondary institution may be related to lack of foster care system support. This study examined whether perceived support from the foster care system was related to the postsecondary enrollment and academic performance of former foster youth, and whether males and females differed in perceived support from the foster care system. Forty-five former foster youth aged 18-24 years who had transitioned from a southeastern state completed a measure of social support and reported whether they had attended a postsecondary institution and, if so, their …

Discipline Policy And Preschool Special Education Students' Social Skills, Amanda Lee Tamagni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preschool special education students lack of personal-social skills is affecting their kindergarten readiness and placing them at risk for exposure to school discipline in a large school district in the Southeastern United States. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the quality of school discipline policies and personal-social skills of preschool special education students within the focus district. Ecological systems theory provided the framework for the study. Data collection included archived personal-social skills scores, as measured by the Battelle Developmental Inventory 2 (BDI 2), of 354 preschool special education students. Four trained educators rated the …

Social Workers'/Case Manager's Knowledge Deficits Of Adults With Precomorbid Attention Disorders, Denise Ford Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of knowledge about how to provide services for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) among healthcare professionals, particularly for adults with precomorbid ADHD. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore the knowledge deficits of social workers and case managers regarding adults with precomorbid ADHD and their perception of obstacles in providing medication and counseling referrals. Participants' perceptions of obstacles was assessed through the framework of social problem-€solving theory. The sample included 10 participants: 6 case managers and 4 social workers. There were three codes that represented participants' perceptions of knowledge deficits …

Parents' And Health Professionals' Perceptions Of Asthma Medication Noncompliance Among Puerto Rican Children, Luz E. Nieves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children of Hispanic origin have the highest prevalence of asthma of all ethnic groups in the United States, especially Puerto Rican children, who have a prevalence of 12.9%. Treatment nonadherence has been identified as one contributing factor. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the reasons for nonadherence to the asthma treatment regimen among Puerto Rican children. Parents and health care providers of asthmatic children were interviewed regarding their beliefs about asthma as a disease, its effect on the child's life, and their experience with asthma treatment. Two models served as the theoretical framework: the health belief model …

Barriers To Utilization Of Malaria Preventive Measures In Rural Nigeria Among Pregnant Women, Olabosipo O. Oreyomi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is a mosquito transmitted tropical disease that accounts for more cases and deaths in Nigeria than in any other country worldwide. Globally malaria accounts for 300,000 deaths among young children and pregnant women annually. The promotion of the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) to reduce pregnant women's contact with mosquitoes has been the focus of malaria prevention efforts in Nigeria. However, the use of ITNs during pregnancy has been inexplicably low in Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to examine barriers to the utilization of ITNs among pregnant women in rural Nigeria. The social ecological model was …

Data-Driven Decision Making About Single-Sex Instructional Grouping At An Elementary School, Michelle Lynnette Sorrells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Administrators at a Southeastern elementary school eliminated single-sex instructional grouping in 5th-grade classes without a proper analysis of all available data and later reflected upon whether this instructional model should be revived. Because data-based decisions may positively improve teaching and learning for all stakeholders, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore all available data leading to this decision, inform stakeholders about the decision-making processes in the local school, and provide data to inform future decisions. Conceptually framed with Mandinach's data-driven decision making (DDDM) model, the guiding question for the study focused on perceptions of teacher, administrator, and …

Recruiting Strategies For A Nonprofit Health Care Facility, Jairo Borja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although predictions for the supply of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to increase to 3,849,000 by 2025, the demand for RNs is projected to grow to 3,509,000. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies some recruiters in a nonprofit health care facility used to recruit RNs. The conceptual lens used for this study was general systems theory. Through a purposeful sample of 3 recruiters at a nonprofit health care facility located in New York, data collection occurred through semistructured interviews, reviewing job boards and the company website, and taking field notes the day of the …

Post-Ebola Case Management Of Orphaned Young Adults In Rural Sierra Leone, Augustine Frazer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2014-2016 Ebola pandemic in Sierra Leone significantly increased the orphan population and the need for social support programs, especially for student-orphans in higher education. Poorly prepared disaster response managers have little knowledge about how college student-orphans experience social services. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how post-Ebola student-orphans enrolled in an agricultural university in rural Sierra Leone experienced post disaster specialized case management to enhance student performance. Criterion sampling techniques including specific inclusion and exclusion criteria guided the recruitment, that included 10 research participants taking part in the semi structured interviews. Ecological system theory and …

Female Sexual Abuse Survivors And The Therapeutic Relationship, Tracy J. Hollingworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood abuse can impact the survivors' life in many ways. Children learn various skills from their caregivers, such as the tools needed to develop and maintain healthy relationships. When a child is abused by their caregiver, there can be a drastic impact on how the child perceives the world, and the therapeutic relationship is important in the healing process. This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explored the lived experiences of therapists who work with adult women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse to better understand the effects that childhood sexual abuse has on the therapeutic relationship. The theoretical base …

Substance Use And Romantic Attachment Among African American And Black Caribbean Adult Males, Shaun Faith Hutton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals from unfavorable environments tend to carry maladaptive patterns of attachment from infancy through adulthood. Empirically, these styles have been shown to be intergenerational. Substance use disorder has been linked to maladaptive patterns of attachment among adults. However, limited data exists regarding this phenomenon with African American and Black Caribbean males. Bowlby's attachment theory and Ainsworth's patterns of attachment were the theoretical frameworks applied to this quantitative study. The purpose was to determine the effect of ethnicity and alcohol use on anxious and avoidant attachment patterns among a sample of 151 adult males. Using the Experience in Close Relationship and …

Reading Perceptions Of Hispanic English Language Learner Families In New York City, Ligoria Berkeley-Cummins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) in the United States have had low reading achievement and low high school graduation and college entry rates, which has limited their employment opportunities. Although research indicates parental involvement is important to reading success, little is known about Hispanic ELL parents' perspectives on their children's reading development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how parental involvement in 3rd grade Hispanic ELLs' reading development, as perceived by their families, may contribute to these students' reading proficiency. The framework for this study was Hedegaard's model of children's learning and development. The participants …

Stakeholder Perspectives On Teacher Attrition In Private Early Childhood Schools In India, Swathi Sandesh Menon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition is a problem that has consequences for children and schools in many countries; children are affected negatively both emotionally and intellectually, while schools suffer setbacks, such as financial stress and disruption of the learning environment. This multiple case study explored the perspectives of stakeholders in India regarding how teacher attrition in private early childhood schools influenced students, teachers, parents, school leaders, and schools, as well as the factors that stakeholders identified as important for teacher retention in private early childhood education. The conceptual framework was Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Data were collected through interviews with teachers and school …

Predictors Of Poor Pregnancy Outcomes Among Pregnant Women In Island Maternity, Nigeria, Letam Nwi-Ue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pregnancy outcomes have improved tremendously in developed countries. Notwithstanding, it is still a huge challenge in developing countries, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015 in Nigeria, about 145 women died daily from pregnancy-related causes. Similarly, nearly 2,300 children under 5 years were lost in the same year. Nigeria consistently underperformed in some of the critical pregnancy indicators such as maternal and neonatal mortality, second worst only to India in the world. Studies on poor pregnancy outcomes are scarce in Nigeria. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective cross-sectional study was to use local evidence to ascertain the risk factors that predict poor …

Examining The Lived Experiences Of Divorce Among Hispanic Parents, Maria Rosa Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental divorce does not have the same effect on all children, and the cultural background of families may have an impact on children's experience of divorce. The purpose of this research was to investigate the lived experiences of Hispanic parents of school-aged children who are divorced or are going through the divorce process in order to examine how their children adjust to this family change. Crisis theory and critical race theory were used as theoretical frameworks, and a phenomenological approach was used to collect data from 13 parents through semi-structured interviews. Twenty-seven themes (six minor, five major, 14 subthemes, and …

Risk Factors Associated With The Contraction Of Ebola Virus Disease In Liberia, Beyan Yancy Sana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly transmittable disease with high mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors associated with the contraction of EVD in Liberia. A retrospective cross-sectional design was used to analyze secondary data collected on 1,658 patients admitted to Ebola treatment units in Liberia, using the social ecological model as a theoretical framework. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test for association and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed that funeral attendance, exposure to body fluids, and contact with a living sick person were associated …

Evaluating The Effects Of Counterterrorism Strategies On Insurgency In Nigeria, Bowie Sonnie Bowei

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the evolving problems of terrorism in Nigeria and the formation of numerous new terrorist groups, insurgency in Nigeria has escalated, making it one of the most terrorized countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study looked critically at the effects of the strategies applied in the attempt to fight terrorism and how these strategies have affected insurgency in Nigeria. The background of the study gives an insight on the evolution of terrorist groups in Nigeria, their mode of operation, effects on citizens and the Nigerian economy, as well as the operations of counterterrorist agencies. The qualitative research method was used for …

Safe Chemical Handling By Agrochemical Users In Plateau State, Nigeria, Adaobi Ifeoma Ekwempu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Agrochemical use has been increasing in both developing and the developed nations. The unsafe handling and use of agrochemicals can lead to accumulation of hazardous chemicals in the body, causing adverse effects on health. This quantitative cross sectional study sought to understand the level of awareness, practices, and perceptions of safe chemical handling by agrochemical using the Theory of Planned Behavior. This study was conducted among 260 farmers in Plateau State, Nigeria. Data on background knowledge and practices of safe agrochemical handling by farmers were collected using a structured paper based, interviewer-€administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics revealed that the most practiced …

Adherence To Art Among Hiv Infected Female Sex Workers In Nigeria, Abass Babatunde Yusuf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the risk of onward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and mortality. The purpose of this cross-sectional study based on Andersen's conceptual framework was to test the associations between age, marital status, job/occupational status, education, membership in a peer support group, community, and facility ARV drug refill and alcohol and substance use, and adherence to ART among female sex workers (FSWs) who are 15 years and older in Rivers and Cross Rivers states Nigeria. Data were abstracted from existing program data collected between January 2015 and December 2017 by Heartland Alliance International, …

Assessment Of Tuberculosis Underreporting By Level Of Reporting System In Lagos, Nigeria, Mustapha Gidado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from a single infectious disease. Unfortunately, 4.1 million cases were missed in 2017 globally, and Nigeria contributes 9% of the missing TB cases. At least 73% of the estimated TB cases in Nigeria were not reported in 2017 to the National TB Program (NTP); therefore, the true burden of TB was not certain, and this affected planning for prevention and control of TB. This quantitative secondary data analysis (NTP Lagos TB Inventory study database) guided by the integrated behavioral model assessed TB underreporting based on the TB reporting process in Nigeria. …

Probation Officers And Parole Agents' Perceptions Of Institutional Obstacles To Reducing Recidivism In A Midwestern State, Gertha Lee Lusby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prison management and key stakeholders lack an understanding of how institutional obstacles interfere with probation officers and parole agents' ability in managing offenders to reduce recidivism in a Midwestern state. In 2014, 1 out of 52 adults in the U.S. were under the supervision of probation officers or parole agents. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to identify the institutional obstacles that exist for probation officers and parole agents in terms of their lived experiences in their jobs. The participants were 5 probation officers and 6 parole agents from a municipal district in a county in a Midwestern …

Preconception Health And Preterm Birth Differences Among U.S.-Born And Foreign-Born Black Women, Sheree Holmes Keitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foreign-born Black women giving birth in the United States have superior preterm birth outcomes compared to their U.S-born Black peers. Many studies have focused on tobacco use and medical risk factors, but few have focused solely on preconception health. The purpose of this study was to examine preconception health and preterm birth differences among U.S.-born and foreign-born Black women. Three theoretical frameworks guided this study: the life course theory, healthy migrant theory/immigrant paradox, and weathering theory. Primary research questions assessed (a) if there were an association between chronic preconception risk factors, prepregnancy obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, in U.S.-born and foreign-born …

"Exploring Telehealth Feasibility For Hiv Status In Individuals Aged 17 To 34 In Southwestern Nigeria", Michael Funso Olaniyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The use of smart phones among young people in Southwestern Nigeria has grown since the early 1990'€™s while traditional healthcare access had continued to deteriorate. HIV care centers have been concentrated in large cities, but earlier studies had shown higher prevalence of HIV in rural areas that constituted a larger portion of the population. However, existing studies had not adequately explored the use of mobile phones to supplement traditional healthcare access. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of telehealth for healthcare access among individuals aged 17-34 with positive HIV status and those at high risk …

Can Online Media-Literacy Education Mitigate The Effects Of A Toxic Media?, Patricia Tefo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Media-literacy education provides a way for people to assess and critically evaluate media images. Traditional media literacy programs have mitigated the negative effects of idealized media imagery such as reduced self-esteem, eating-disordered attitudes, and low body-satisfaction among women. Although education is moving increasingly to online platforms, the potential of media literacy education delivered online has not been evaluated. Based on social comparison and objectification theories, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the comparative efficacy of online and face-to-face media literacy education programs. A quasi-experimental design using pre- and post-media literacy education program questionnaires was used. A mixed-method …

Cultural Competence Of Public Health Nurses Who Care For Diverse Populations, Althea Michelle Otuata

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite advances in health, science, and technology, U.S. healthcare lags in providing access to care and quality care to racial and ethnic minorities. Cultural competence has been noted as a strategy to improve access and quality. The purpose of this project was to assess public health nurses' cultural competence before and after participating in cultural competence informational modules. Two conceptual models were used in this project for theoretical guidance: Leininger's cultural care diversity and universality theory and Campinha-Bacote's process of cultural competence. To assess the nurses' cultural competence, the Cultural Competence Self-Assessment Checklist questionnaire was e-mailed to 57 public health …

The Effects Of A Multicultural Overseas Community On Military Adolescents, Nicole Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several reserachers have identified the challenges faced by military adolescent dependents. However, scholarly literature provides little evidence regarding examples of the impact of military adolescents' transition and adjustment to residing in a multicultural community overseas. A qualitative case study was conducted of 6 former military adolescents between the ages of 18 and 25, regarding their perceptions of the experiences and challenges they encountered while residing in a multicultural overseas community as a military dependent between grades 8-12. Benet's polarities of democracy served as the theoretical framework. All data were inductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis from which 5 …

Effects Of Neighborhood Membership And Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy On Adverse Birth Outcomes, Chinyere Onyebuchi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infant mortality (IM) rates in the United States remains high. The higher rates of IM among specific groups in the United States is believed to be fueled by the high rates of adverse birth outcomes including low birthweight (LBW) and preterm births (PTB) among these groups. Adverse birth outcomes have also been linked to the presence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes and the impact of the residential neighborhood of expectant mothers on this association. The life course health development theory …