Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2021

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 31351 - 31380 of 33729

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Strategies For Improving Small Restaurant Success Rates Beyond Three Years, Joseph Wilder Jan 2021

Strategies For Improving Small Restaurant Success Rates Beyond Three Years, Joseph Wilder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only 65% of new restaurants remain in business after the first three years of operations. Leaders of small restaurants who lack strategies to ensure sustainability witness significant financial losses in their organizations. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small restaurant owners use to sustain their business beyond three years. A purposeful sampling of three small restaurant owners in Washington County, TN, who successfully used strategies to ensure sustainability beyond three years participated in this study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, financial documents, and public websites and …


Delinquent Behavior And Recidivism Among Juveniles In The Southeastern United States, Anthony Bernard Essix Jr. Jan 2021

Delinquent Behavior And Recidivism Among Juveniles In The Southeastern United States, Anthony Bernard Essix Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, juvenile delinquent behavior has continued to rise despite attempts by the legal system and policymakers. Much of the research contributing to the understanding of juvenile delinquency and recidivism has been focused on risk factors believed to push an individual to show signs of delinquency. Limited research has been conducted to explain how policies affect juvenile behaviors. The current study examined risk factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency to determine if a factor may have been overlooked in prior juvenile studies. Based on anomie and strain theory, a qualitative method of general inquiry was used to gain …


Determinants Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption For Adults In The Panhandle Of Nebraska, Erin Marie Norman Jan 2021

Determinants Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption For Adults In The Panhandle Of Nebraska, Erin Marie Norman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption has been documented and is associated with increased risk of chronic disease. Previous studies have revealed that consuming the recommended servings of F/V per day can be influenced by many determinants including healthy eating self-efficacy, cooking confidence, perceived family support, perceived access, perceived quality, and perceived cost of fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this study was to examine these determinants of F/V consumption at the individual level of the socioecological model for adults ages 18 years and older residing in the panhandle of Nebraska. The socioecological model (SEM) provided the theoretical framework for …


Small And Medium Enterprises’ Green Energy Strategies For Profitability, Ekok Ajom Okpokam Jan 2021

Small And Medium Enterprises’ Green Energy Strategies For Profitability, Ekok Ajom Okpokam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of business strategies can negatively impact the generation of green energy, which may hinder business profitability and growth. Managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who struggle to generate green energy to increase profitability are at high risk of their business failure. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the business strategies managers of SMEs use to generate green energy to increase profitability. The participants were three SME managers in three energy companies in Lagos, Nigeria, who effectively used business strategies to generate green energy to increase profitability. …


The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards Jan 2021

The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are high rates of recidivism among U.S. Black youth when compared to other races, such as Whites and Hispanics. The purpose of the study was to examine the lived experiences of Black youth in the juvenile justice system and in diversion programs. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, twelve Black adults between the ages of 18 to 40 were interviewed about their lived experiences while participating in mental health courts and in-home probation as youth. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the risk, need, and responsivity model. The primary research question examined the lived experiences and perceptions …


Resilience As A Moderator Between Adverse Childhood Events And Health In Motherhood, Katherine Walker Schneider Jan 2021

Resilience As A Moderator Between Adverse Childhood Events And Health In Motherhood, Katherine Walker Schneider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and motherhood on a weighted linear composite of health status and health harming behavior, while moderating for a measure of resilience. Felitti’s theory of ACEs and Garmezy’s theory of resilience are the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions that are addressed in this study are how ACEs and resilience affect health-related outcomes in women and how motherhood influence health-related outcomes as a function of ACEs when moderated by resilience. A quantitative research design with a convenience sample was used to anonymously survey 205 …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Blended Learning In High School Classrooms, Kaye-Ann Tomique Yarborough Jan 2021

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Blended Learning In High School Classrooms, Kaye-Ann Tomique Yarborough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning is the instructional practice that involves both face-to-face and online learning in classroom instruction. The problem at a small rural school district in the South Carolina is, despite strong evidence of the benefits and use of blended learning, many classroom teachers at the high school level still fail to consistently implement the online component of blended learning to maximize these benefits. Therefore, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of ease of use and usefulness of blended learning, how they implement it, and challenges they have with implementation. The conceptual framework for this …


Effects Of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Compassion Fatigue On Attrition Intention Of African American Mental Health Professionals, Kimberly A. Andrews Jan 2021

Effects Of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Compassion Fatigue On Attrition Intention Of African American Mental Health Professionals, Kimberly A. Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe African American community tends to stigmatize mental health services and is underrepresented in both client and therapist populations. Retention of African American mental health professionals (MHPs) may mitigate distrust in these services, allowing more individuals to seek out counseling. The purpose of this nonexperimental survey study was to investigate if compassion fatigue, burnout, or compassion satisfaction can predict intended attrition rates in African American MHPs. Constructivist self-development theory was employed to predict both resiliency and the potential adverse effects of listening to client narratives of 99 African American MHPs with a variety of mental health credentials. Stepwise multiple regression …


The Lived Experience Of Family In Biological Children Living In Therapeutic Foster Homes, Maria K. Betts Jan 2021

The Lived Experience Of Family In Biological Children Living In Therapeutic Foster Homes, Maria K. Betts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Therapeutic-level foster homes provide housing and care for special needs children removed from their own homes. The addition of a special needs child can lead to increased family stress. However, recent reviews of the literature show that there is very little literature aimed at understanding what the biological children in these homes experience. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experience of family in adults who, as children, were these biological children. The family stress and coping model was used as a conceptual framework of understanding. Data were obtained from participants in Upstate New York from both …


Social Determinants And Academic Success For Online Undergraduates Mediated By Mental Health, Jamie Michelle Claus Getz Jan 2021

Social Determinants And Academic Success For Online Undergraduates Mediated By Mental Health, Jamie Michelle Claus Getz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSocial determinants of health (SDH) are social and economic systems that directly contribute to health disparities and inequalities. This study examined SDH and their relation to education, also an SDH. The relationship between SDH and online undergraduate achievement, as measured by grade-point average (GPA), was studied. Cumulative inequality is the theoretical framework that guided the study; it underscores the complexity of interaction between personal, social, and environmental stressors in relation to a student’s academic performance. The quantitative survey design allowed for potential relationships between variables to be observed and studied based on the survey responses per self-report from 212 online …


Influencing Factors On A Nurse's Decision To Remain A Bedside Nurse, Diane Marie Hulsey Jan 2021

Influencing Factors On A Nurse's Decision To Remain A Bedside Nurse, Diane Marie Hulsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The loss of the experienced bedside nurse is a current health care problem. New nurses are moving into other areas of nursing or leaving the profession within 6 months of graduation. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are vital at the bedside. Patients’ and families rely on the nurse to be their support and educational source. In this study, the possible implications of why a registered nurse remains at the bedside throughout their professional career although offered different positions and work environments was examined. The theoretical framework of Patton and McMahon identifies the holistic nature of career development through …


The Effect Of Social Media Use On Physical Isolation In Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder, Davena Limitless Longshore Jan 2021

The Effect Of Social Media Use On Physical Isolation In Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder, Davena Limitless Longshore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experience extreme interpersonal conflict, crippling their ability to sustain successful relationships. Consequently, clinicians within the psychological field face difficulty in devising treatments plans which can assist these individuals with suffering minimal relationship loss. The purpose of this study was to understand how current technological methods of social interaction affect individuals who suffer from BPD to improve treatment outcomes. This research was guided by the principles of attachment theory and social baseline theory. A quantitative correlational design using social network analysis and multiple regression analysis was used to examine data from surveys. Participants were solicited …


Early Case Closure Of The Intensive In-Home Program In Arkansas, Nicole Lisko Mccauley Jan 2021

Early Case Closure Of The Intensive In-Home Program In Arkansas, Nicole Lisko Mccauley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) passed in February of 2018 at the federal level to preserve families and reduce the number of children entering foster care. The State of Arkansas implemented Intensive In-Home Services (IIHS) in 2019 to support the Families First Prevention Services Act. It was observed that more than half of the closed IIHS cases had closed before a family had the opportunity to successfully complete their treatment goals. This study explored reasons Intensive In-Home Service cases are closing early. A basic qualitative design using semistructured interviews was applied through the purposeful sampling of 7 social workers …


The Role Of Leadership Communication Patterns On Organizational Effectiveness, Nidal Pascoe Jan 2021

The Role Of Leadership Communication Patterns On Organizational Effectiveness, Nidal Pascoe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The communication patterns of leaders in the workplace are vital to ensuring productivity and meeting organizational mission and goals. The quality of workplace communication from the leaders impacts the perceptions of employees about the workplace and their ability to fulfill organizational missions and goals. Communication can be delivered through multiple technological means, in person, and in writing. Message delivery also can convey the tone of the sender. The purpose of this case study was to identify the communication patterns between the executive leaders and six of eight site leaders of a nonprofit counseling center focused on serving children and …


Contraceptives Use Among Reproductive-Age Women In New Juaben Municipality, Ghana, Phyllis Abrah Jan 2021

Contraceptives Use Among Reproductive-Age Women In New Juaben Municipality, Ghana, Phyllis Abrah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research study was an investigation into the factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives among reproductive-age women in the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Reproductive-age women in the Municipality have been found to have a high rate of unplanned pregnancies despite the availability of modern contraceptives. Telephone interviews were conducted with 15 reproductive-age women (20 to 39 years) from the New Juaben Municipality who were recruited voluntarily using purposive sampling technique. The research was based on the health belief model to explore the knowledge, perceived threats, perceived barriers, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and cues to …


Exploring The Perceptions Of Teachers Regarding Learner-Centered Instruction And Its Potential Impact On International Students, Evan David Barnhart Jan 2021

Exploring The Perceptions Of Teachers Regarding Learner-Centered Instruction And Its Potential Impact On International Students, Evan David Barnhart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The subject of how best to educate students in the classroom has been one of debate, discussion, and research, with various forms of instruction touted as the most effective. Recently, learner-centered instruction (LCI) has been put forth as a method to educate students, and research supports its implementation. The problem addressed in this study was the inconsistent implementation of LCI at a private school in the West Coast of the United States, specifically regarding its failure to meet the needs of international students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how teachers implement LCI in their classrooms to …


Use Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy To Reduce Patient Self-Harm Incidents In Psychiatric In-Patient Settings, Amarachi Chigbu Jan 2021

Use Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy To Reduce Patient Self-Harm Incidents In Psychiatric In-Patient Settings, Amarachi Chigbu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis doctoral project aimed to assess how the provision of a mental health providers’ education program regarding the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy for self-harm would assist in preventing and reducing self-harm incidents in an adolescents’ psychiatric unit. The project entailed a literature search that used various databases. The doctoral project relied on evidence deduced from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and well-designed controlled trials without randomization. The evidence obtained from the studies formulated an education program for the providers. The education program was based on John Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model, lewin’s change theory, and the adult learning theory. …


Early Grade Teacher Perspectives Of Struggling Learners And Later Mathematics Achievement, Crystal Ann Cuyler Jan 2021

Early Grade Teacher Perspectives Of Struggling Learners And Later Mathematics Achievement, Crystal Ann Cuyler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who were not identified with a learning disability or significant developmental delay (SDD) in prekindergarten, but may have undiscovered learning issues are often among the lowest performing students in mathematics when they reach upper grades. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand kindergarten, first, and second grade teacher perspectives of early indicators of later difficulties in mathematics among children not identified as having learning disabilities or SDD in prekindergarten. A retrospective study was conducted in which the remembrances of early grade teachers were used to explore the difficulties children who were struggling with mathematics as fourth and …


Phenomenological Study Of Fathers’ Parental Alienation Experiences, Jerry Dean Gibson Jan 2021

Phenomenological Study Of Fathers’ Parental Alienation Experiences, Jerry Dean Gibson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHigh-conflict divorce and resulting parental alienation (PA) impact both the children and the parent who has been the target of PA. This situation has been found to cause mental health issues and unhealthy coping skills in children. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of nonresidential fathers who were alienated from their children in the context of a high-conflict separation or divorce. This study was rooted in Bowlby’s attachment theory. Data were collected from interviews with 10 adult participants. The software program Quirkos was used to review the data and discern thematic patterns and correlate …


Legacy Of Money: A Qualitative Analysis Of Attitudes Toward Treatment Of Intersex Individuals, Jane Truax Johnson Jan 2021

Legacy Of Money: A Qualitative Analysis Of Attitudes Toward Treatment Of Intersex Individuals, Jane Truax Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNo significant research exists that addresses mental health providers' attitudes toward the treatment of intersex individuals. The purpose and primary goal of this qualitative study was to provide insight into mental health providers’ attitudes toward an understanding of treatment of intersex individuals, including possible changes in attitudes over the past 25 years. Using the theoretical foundations of social constructivism and gender variant phenomenon, the guiding research questions sampled mental health providers’ views of attitudinal shifts in treatment of the intersex population over 25 years, their changing views toward intersex over the course of their careers, and what mental disorders they …


Age-Of-Consent Policies And Hiv Among Adolescents In Sub-Sahara Africa, Suzanne Marie King Jan 2021

Age-Of-Consent Policies And Hiv Among Adolescents In Sub-Sahara Africa, Suzanne Marie King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Age of consent policies have recently been identified as a barrier to HIV testing among adolescents in HIV endemic Sub-Sahara Africa. Grounded in the modified social ecological model, the purpose of this study was to determine if these policies were related to HIV testing rates and prevalence. In this quantitative research secondary data sets from the Demographic Health Survey were used. This study included all sexually active respondents aged 18 years or below (N=37,015) and then was further limited by respondents that had HIV test results (N=25,107). Binary logistic regression showed that respondents with lower age of consent had higher …


Evaluating Compliance With The Produce Safety Rule And Managing Mycotoxins, Yvette May Molajo Jan 2021

Evaluating Compliance With The Produce Safety Rule And Managing Mycotoxins, Yvette May Molajo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foodborne diseases are the cause of many illnesses that occur from foods that contain mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are produced from fungi and are environmental and carcinogenic agents that contaminate agricultural foods during preharvest and postharvest conditions. While researchers have conducted many studies on mycotoxin occurrence and production, there is a significant gap in the current literature regarding which environmental factors could put farmers’ ability to remain in compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule at risk. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate which environmental factors could put farmers’ ability to remain in compliance with …


Examination Of The Efficacy Of The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act To Reduce High School Childhood Obesity Rates System, Catrina Lashawn Morgan Jan 2021

Examination Of The Efficacy Of The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act To Reduce High School Childhood Obesity Rates System, Catrina Lashawn Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid rise in U.S. high school student obesity rates to 20.8% in 2018 presented significant risks to the health and well-being of American children and foreshadowed increased future healthcare costs. To address high school obesity, Congress passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) in 2010 that mandated the U.S. Department of Agriculture develop regulations to nutrition to improve the nutrition of school cafeteria breakfasts and lunches. The purpose of this quantitative study was to test for changes between 2009 and 2016 in high school obesity rates attributable to the HHFKA using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data, adjusted for …


Aging Out Of Foster Care And Support Services, Sandra Ifenyinwa Ogbonna Jan 2021

Aging Out Of Foster Care And Support Services, Sandra Ifenyinwa Ogbonna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth aging out of the foster care system face many difficulties in transitioning to adulthood. In this exploratory study, the strategies used by foster care social work case managers to help youth successfully age out of foster care were investigated. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory provided the framework through which the research questions were explored. Eight social work case managers experienced with aging-out foster youth participated in qualitative interviews, in which they were asked to define success for youth who age out of foster care and describe the effectiveness of existing strategies for improving the transition into adulthood among youth emancipated from …


Qualitative Exploration Of Catholic Church Leaders’ Perspectives Regarding Counseling Parishioners With Anxiety, Amy Lynn Polster Jan 2021

Qualitative Exploration Of Catholic Church Leaders’ Perspectives Regarding Counseling Parishioners With Anxiety, Amy Lynn Polster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is little research addressing the mental health literacy of Roman Catholic clergy in their job as spiritual counselors for parishioners with anxiety. Devout individuals struggling with fear- or worry-driven anxiety often call on divine assistance for help as a frontline defense. Anxiety is a leading mental health problem, disturbing about 40 million U.S. adults aged 18 to 54 years. This study explored the mental health literacy perceptions of six Catholic clergy leaders and their awareness of fear- or worry-based anxiety, drawing upon the concept of the triune brain and using evolutionary threat assessment systems theory as a theoretical foundation. …


Why Boys And Men Do Not Report Mental Or Physical Abuse, Retha Stewart Jan 2021

Why Boys And Men Do Not Report Mental Or Physical Abuse, Retha Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe focus of this study was on males who have experienced intimate partner violence. Abused men experience unique stressors that include societal minimization of the problem. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of abused men regarding mental health services and whether their attitudes about services have changed over time. Participants were men over the age of 18 who had previously been involved in a relationship where they were the victims of domestic violence. Six male participants who experienced abuse were interviewed. Upon the completion of the interviews, the process of phenomenological reduction aided in the recognition of the feelings and …


An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Singapore Ex-Addict Prisoners’ Motivation To Remain Drug Free After Release, Chee Kin Steven Tham Jan 2021

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Singapore Ex-Addict Prisoners’ Motivation To Remain Drug Free After Release, Chee Kin Steven Tham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reducing recidivism for drug offenders has been a challenge in Singapore since the late 1990s, when there was a spike in reentry into the system. In the year 2000, resources were invested in rehabilitation and reintegration programs to bring a reduction to the recidivism rate, but the interventions have been unsatisfactory in preventing relapse and reincarceration. This study’s purpose was to describe and interpret the lived experience of male ex-addicts who were in prison in Singapore and how they made sense of their motivation to stay drug free after their incarceration. Motivation is an important predictor of reduction and abstinence …


Indigenous Women: Violence, Vulnerability And Cultural Protective Factors, Christina M. Agloinga Jan 2021

Indigenous Women: Violence, Vulnerability And Cultural Protective Factors, Christina M. Agloinga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The disproportionate rates of violent crimes, historical oppression, and cultural assimilation disrupted the traditional practices and belief system within Alaskan Native communities, thus changing the influence of protective factors that support balance and equality for women. Identifying protective factors provided by cultural practices that support resiliency provides an increased understanding of how cultural strengths can combat distorted stereotypes within the criminal justice system. This study included characteristics of a phenomenological, narrative, and ethnographic study. The social constructionist framework and the social construction of target populations theory was used to explore how traditional cultural practices can influence the current gender identity, …


Parental Education As A Potential Predictor Of Adolescent Substance Use Status, Haruna Bida Aliyu Jan 2021

Parental Education As A Potential Predictor Of Adolescent Substance Use Status, Haruna Bida Aliyu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdolescents in the United States commence substance use as early as 12 to 14 years old and as late as 15 to 17 years old. Several factors influence adolescent substance use/abuse status, including environment, boredom, friends, teachers, and parental influence. The influence of parental communication with adolescents about the danger of substance use/abuse (SUA) required further study. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to understand the influence of parental knowledge and communication with adolescents as potential predictors of substance use/abuse status. The social cognitive theory and social determinants of adolescent risky behavior provided the theoretical framework of this …


Church Leaders' Perceptions Of Their Roles In Mentoring Young Black Males' Development, Johnny Anthony Beckwith Jan 2021

Church Leaders' Perceptions Of Their Roles In Mentoring Young Black Males' Development, Johnny Anthony Beckwith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBlack Baptist church leaders are potential male role models for their communities, however there is no straightforward guide on how to optimally support the adolescent, Black male population with life skills development. The research question that guided this generic qualitative study addressed the perceptions of male, Black, Baptist church leaders regarding their role as a support for the development of life skills for the adolescent, Black male. Thirteen, Black, male, Baptist Church leaders from the southeast United States participated in semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Their responses were analyzed thematically, resulting in the identification of four emergent themes: (a) conceptualizing …