Digital Commons Network^™

Association Between Therapeutic Interventions And Quality Of Life In People With Autism, Taline Movsessian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research exploring the impact of autism interventions on the quality of life (QoL) of adults with autism is scarce. This correlational, cross-sectional survey study was conducted to determine the association between seven interventions—behavioral, social, mental health, daily living skills, vocational, mindfulness, and medications—and the QoL and mental health of adults 18 years and older with autism with no intellectual disability living in Canada. A national sample of 182 autistic adults completed the survey that used the WHOQOL-BREF and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale to measure subjective QoL and mental health, respectively. Behavioral, mental health, and medications were the mostly used …

Strategies For Employees To Effect Change To Improve Performance Of Public Organizations, Ibrahim Nasamu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Seventy percent of organizations fail in their organizational change initiatives because of failure to involve employees in the change process. Some managers lack the strategies to implement change initiatives successfully. Using Kotter’s eight-step change model as the conceptual framework, this qualitative single case study was conducted to explore public sector managers’ strategies to include employees in implementing organizational change. Semistructured interviews were used to identify the strategies public sector managers use to include employees in implementing organizational change. Interviews were conducted with eight participants who met the inclusion criteria for this study. Data analysis included methodological triangulation and Yin’s 5 …

The Role Of Coping Self-Efficacy, Coping Strategies, And Resiliency Following Sexual Assault, Lauren Hirsch

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Sexual assault is a pervasive problem in the United States that effects people of all genders and sexualities. Due to fears of negative consequences, many victims of sexual assault do not legally prosecute the perpetrator. Those who do risk experiencing secondary victimization. The use of legal advocates during prosecution can help to guide individuals through the legal process and add a layer of social support that can minimize feelings of secondary victimization and help increase resilience in the victims. In this dissertation I examined a model predicting resilience from coping self-efficacy, mediated by four coping strategies. Participants were at least …

Human Service Professionals’ Perceived Ability To Support Title I Schools During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Dewayne Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human service professional practitioners (HSPPs) who work in Title I schools help students overcome challenges including absenteeism and behavioral problems and serve as liaisons between the school, family, and student. The pivot to online education during the COVID-19 school shutdowns meant that HSPP services also pivoted. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand how HSPPs perceived their ability to serve Title I students during the pandemic through the lens of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 HSPPs who delivered services to Title I students before and during the pandemic. Participants reported their service delivery …

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …

Nurses’ Role In Reducing Mental Health Stigma In Health Care, Angel Vivian Mbome

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many patients with mental illness around the world face mental health-related stigma. Compared to other health care workers, nurses express the highest level of stigmatizing attitudes toward mentally ill patients. The purpose of this project was to change staff nurses’ attitudes in a long-term care facility by educating them on mental health stigma. The practice-focused question guiding this study was whether educating staff nurses on mental health stigma changed nurses’ attitudes and behavioral intentions towards people with mental illness. This project was guided by the constructivist theory of learning. Seventeen staff members voluntarily participated in a 30-minute nursing staff education …

Effects Of Socioeconomic Status, Demographic Characteristics, And Education On Sarcopenic Obesity, Moruf Oladele Olaleye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The general problem is that although the body of research about obesity is robust, there is a lack of research addressing the problem of sarcopenic obesity. Specifically, there is a lack of research examining the statistical significance of the relationship between the independent variables of socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and education and the dependent variable of sarcopenic obesity. This research may advance practice and policy by lending support for developing interventions to address factors that have a statistically significant relationship with sarcopenic obesity. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to identify independent variables among socioeconomic, demographic, and education …

Terrorism Preparedness, Collaboration, And Organizational Culture In The National Capital Region, Anderson Percival Padmore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Terrorism preparedness is essential for federal, state, and local governments. However, literature indicated that local governments may not be ready to respond to a terrorist event. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine terrorism preparedness levels related to collaboration in the National Capital Region (NCR) of the United States to determine first responders’ perspectives regarding challenges of organizational change. The research questions for this study concentrated on the evaluation of terrorism- preparedness and organizational changes among first response agencies since 2014, Schein’s ideas of organizational cultural change were the theoretical foundation. Four NCR public safety agencies were …

Retention Of African American Male Teachers In Elementary And Middle Schools, Marla West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe representation of African American male teachers in elementary urban schools has decreased. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate administrators’ and African American male teachers’ perceptions of how administrators are challenged to support the retention of African American male teachers in elementary and middle schools in the focus urban school district. Social, cognitive, and transformational leadership theories were used as a framework to guide the study. Research questions addressed how administrators perceive the ways they support the retention of African American male teachers and how African American male teachers perceive that support. Purposeful sampling was used …

Kindergarten Teachers' Perspectives On School Readiness In Children Who Attended Military Installation Childcare Centers, Juliana Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited literature exists on the effectiveness of prekindergarten programs located on military installations in the United States. The children who attend these programs may not receive school readiness preparation equivalent to that received by their peers who attend community-based prekindergarten programs, which follow different guidelines. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the kindergarten readiness of children who attended preschool on military installations as described by teachers in community-based kindergarten classrooms. Pianta's work on school readiness formed the conceptual framework of this basic qualitative study. The research question addressed how kindergarten teachers describe school readiness in children …

Gestational Weight Gain, Level Of Education, And Infant Mortality Among African American Women, George Lee Amanambu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

African American (AA) women in Mississippi have a higher burden of infant mortality, especially those with low income and educational levels, as compared to other regions of the country. However, it is unknown if abnormal gestation weight gain (GWG) is contributing to this increased burden. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the association between GWG (25-35lbs), level of education, income, and infant mortality among AA women with normal prepregnancy body weight who were between 30 to 47 years old in the state of Mississippi from 2016 to 2018. Biopsychosocial and ecosocial models were used as the theoretical foundation to design …

Strategies Of Successful Project Managers Leading Virtual Teams, Allison Harris Bean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some project managers lack strategies to effectively lead virtual project teams, which can result in a lack of clear project direction, collaboration and communication, and empowerment to solve problems within the team. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies project managers use to lead virtual teams effectively. The participants were three project managers in. the United States who worked exclusively with virtual teams and had a minimum of one year of experience leading a virtual project team. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: …

Firearms In Clients’ Homes:, Aaron L. Norton, Archer Ziyi Chen, Tony Xing Tan

Department of Leadership, Policy, and Lifelong Learning

A large body of research has pointed to the potential impact of clinical mental health counselors’ (CMHCs) personal, social, and religious beliefs on their treatment objectives, but no research has examined the role of CMHCs’ political beliefs on their treatment objectives, especially with politicized issues such as firearms in homes with young children. In the present study, we examined the treatment objectives for clients with firearms at home in relation to American CMHCs’ political beliefs (operationalized as political ideologies and political party affiliations), perceived level of seriousness of firearm storage in a home with small children, and general assessment of …

American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists Postpartum Hemorrhage Protocol, Rasheedat Romoke Adewumi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the most significant cause of maternal deaths during or after childbirth. Due to a high PPH rate, a tertiary care facility in the Southwest United States implemented the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) protocol anticipating decreasing PPH rates. This quality improvement project was designed to evaluate whether implementation of the ACOG PPH protocol reduced the incidence of PPH. The practice-focused question was “What is the effect of the implementation of the ACOG PPH protocol on the incidence of PPH?” The Iowa model was selected to guide the project toward accomplishing its goals. The incidence of …

Left Behind: Intersectional Stigma Experiences Of African American College Women With Adhd, Angela Lynnette Anderson-Elahi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American college women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can experience intersectional stigmas based on race, gender, and learning disability. Intersectional stigmas affect African American college women in self-esteem, social acceptance, and academic progress. The scholarly community has not published literature regarding intersectional stigma experienced by African American college women with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of African American college women who had encountered intersectional stigma based on race, gender, and ADHD. Goffman’s social stigma theory and Crenshaw’s intersectional stigma theory served as the theoretical and conceptual frameworks to explore how African …

Increasing Nurses’ Knowledge Of Richmond-Agitation Sedation Score Assessment And Documentation Through Education, Kara Jeanne Beaulieu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are critically ill and faced with numerous physical and psychological stressors that often require a multidisciplinary approach to improve outcomes and relieve suffering. Patients are given sedation to tolerate invasive treatments and procedures. Using the Richmond-Agitation Sedation Score (RASS), nurses assess objective findings and the level of sedation a patient is experiencing, and titrate sedation according to an ordered RASS score. Ineffective and inaccurate use of the RASS score leads to patients being oversedated and demonstrates a lack of understanding of how to appropriately use the RASS score assessment tool. The purpose of …

Ethical Code Of Conduct And Its Impact In Decision Making Among Managers In Local Government In Zimbabwe, Mavis Bhehane Bordvik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative case study addressed a gap in administrative ethics literature and was aimed at exploring how leaders in local government make ethical decisions and to understand the impact of codes of ethics on ethical conduct and ethical decision making. Trevino’s interactionist model of ethical decision making was used as a theoretical lens to guide the study. Because the model explores contextual interactions and the moral compass of individuals, it illuminated whether managers in local government perceive ethics and codes of ethics as important in decision making. The research questions solicited information on how leaders in local government describe their …

Adolescents’ Perspective On Social Media Contributing To Suicidal Ideations And Attempts, Shavon Mariah Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media has become mainstream over the past decade, with new applications that adolescents can download to stay in consistent contact with their peers. Though social media can enhance the ability for communication, it seems to also have the ability to alienate, burden, and exacerbate depression and potential self-harm. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore five adolescent’s perspective on social media contributing to suicide ideations and attempts. The theoretical research was built upon Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide. Two research questions were explored in this study, which were the adolescent’s perspective on social media triggering suicidal ideations …

Factors That Determine Utilization Of The Canadian School-Based Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Programs, Diane Gloria Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and is the known causative agent of many HPV-associated cancers in both males and females. HPV vaccination rates in Canada are significantly lower than other developed countries and this finding is poorly understood as Canadian adolescents have access to free-of-charge HPV vaccines through school-based vaccination programs. This quantitative descriptive study used an online survey to collect data from 992 eligible respondents. This study identified predisposing, enabling, and need factors characterized by the Andersen behavioral model of health services use which facilitate or impede the use of …

Psychological Capital And The Relationship Between Authentic Leadership And Employee Well-Being, Bianca Cardenas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is not known whether authentic leadership predicts employee well-being, and whether psychological capital moderates the relationship between authentic leadership and employee well-being. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the extent that authentic leadership predicted employee well-being and whether psychological capital had a moderating effect on the relationship between authentic leadership and employee well-being. The two theoretical frameworks that supported this study included the authentic leadership theory and social exchange theory. The research design consisted of a quantitative, correlational study using multiple and hierarchical regression analysis. The two research questions that guided this study examined whether perceived …

High School Teachers’ Concerns With The Use Of Multiple Mobile Devices For Instruction, Orin Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smartphones, laptops, and tablets are mobile devices that are now considered essential tools for high school educators. The problem many teachers face is figuring out how to manage multiple mobile devices in the classroom at the same time. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the barriers, problems, and challenges teachers experience while using these devices in the classroom. The concerns-based adoption model provided the framework to analyze the informational, personal, management, and consequence stages of concern through in-depth interviews with 10 Catholic high school teachers in California. The results of thematic analysis showed that although teachers …

Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder In Southwest Michigan, Kathy A. Carruthers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The opioid epidemic is one of the largest health problems in America. In one Southwest Michigan county, opioid overdose deaths increased from 36 deaths in 2008 to 104 deaths in 2017. In the same county, stigma was identified as the highest-ranked reason people do not seek opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge that social work practitioners have regarding stigma toward people who inject drugs with OUD in Southwest Michigan. The purpose aligned with social work values as people with OUD are marginalized and cannot advocate for themselves. The theoretical framework that guided …

Single Parent And Caregiver Perspectives On The Effects Of Caregiver Stress And Iep Meeting Eligibility, Kevin Mark Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem examined in this phenomenological study is how single African American parents and caregivers perceive the impact of caregiver stress on communications, trust, and intent to negotiate with school personnel after participation in their child’s annual IEP eligibility determination meeting. This research is important because parents’ and caregivers’ perceptions of their IEP meeting engagement may identify and reduce impediments to the formation of successful alliances with school personnel. Attribution and self-determination theories were used to analyze, interpret, and codify the experiences of study participants. Purposive sampling was used to select 18 single, African American parents and caregivers for participation. …

Lgbtq Patient Funding And Satisfaction On Patient Volume And Hospital Revenue, Kourtney Denise Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHistorically, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community has reported low patient satisfaction for health care. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the statistical relationship between patient satisfaction among LGBTQ patients (independent variable) and patient volume and hospital revenue (dependent variables) in the U.S. state of Georgia. The study was grounded on Andersen's model of healthcare utilization. Two research questions guided this study related to the statistical relationship between hospital revenue and patient satisfaction within health systems and the statistical relationship between patient satisfaction and patient volume. The study included 567 members of the LGBTQ …

Perceptions Of Hypertensive Adults With Low Health Literacy About Self-Management Of Hypertension, Ngozi Scholar Chukwuemeka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHypertension (HTN) is one of the most significant risk factors for morbidity and mortality worldwide and is responsible for the annual deaths of approximately 9 million people globally. A major problem with HTN self-management (SM) is low health literacy (HL), which is associated with poor health outcomes and self-care. The purpose of this explanatory sequential, mixed method study, guided by Pender’s health promotion model, was to explore the perceptions of adults with HTN and low HL about the SM of their HTN. A total of 32 adults with HTN were screened using the Newest Vital Sign health literacy screening tool. …

Attainment Of Superintendent Roles For African American Women In Rural U.S. School Districts, Likisha Tamese Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women are underrepresented in the attainment of superintendent roles from a racial and gendered standpoint. African American females hold only 1% of superintendent positions in a field in which 27% of superintendents are women and 8.6% of superintendents are African American. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe the barriers and supports experienced by African American women in their attainment of superintendent roles in rural U.S. school districts. Black feminist thought and intersectionality provided the conceptual frameworks for this qualitative study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight African American female superintendents from rural …

Influence Of Spirituality On University Students’ Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Stress, And Life Quality, Janette Cooke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFirst-year university students are at risk for mental and physical health ailments due to maladaptive stress coping mechanisms. A gap in research remains as to whether there are health benefits for minority religious groups or students who have a spiritual (nonreligious) belief system. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between student spirituality and the level of emotional intelligence (EI), perceived stress (PS), and life quality (LQ), as moderated by different campus types (secular or religious). The theory of spirituality and the theory of individual psychology were used as frameworks to explain the psychological, emotional, and physical …

Intra-Racial Bullying Among African American Female Students In Middle School, Lashaunda Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIntra-racial bullying is increasing within the African American population, especially middle school. This specific form of bullying can be difficult for administrators to investigate as it is unlike the typical forms of bullying that school officials observe or witness daily. There was a gap in the literature regarding limited research that has examined intra-racial bullying from the perspectives of teachers, administrators, and hallway monitors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the patterns, trends, characteristics, and reasons that result in intra-racial bullying among African American female students in middle school from the perspectives of adults who work in …

How Social Workers In Long Term Care Facilities In The State Of Florida Assist Lgbt Aging Adults To Acclimate To Each Other And The Facility, Katherine Louise Curci-Degaro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The elderly LGBT community is growing in the State of Florida, and some members of this group face inequalities when accessing long-term care services. Social workers play an important role in assisting residents to acclimate to their settings, and without their involvement, LGBT older adults may be forced back into secrecy regarding their sexual orientation. For social workers in long term care facilities, understanding how discrimination, oppression, and stigma interacted in the lives of these LGBT older adults is important in understanding these adults and their experiences in long-term care facilities. This doctoral project used a qualitative research design. Fifteen …

Gender Differences In The Mediation Between Childhood Abuse/Neglect And Trauma, Marc Samuel Cutler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood abuse/neglect is a consistent concern in the United States and is related to future physical and mental health concerns. Studies have shown that childhood abuse/neglect can result in negative trauma appraisal, difficulties in emotion regulation, and lower levels of self-compassion. However, less is known about how gender impacts the relationship between negative trauma appraisal, difficulties in emotion regulation, and self-compassion with trauma symptoms in those with a history of childhood abuse/neglect. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study was to measure the impact of gender on the mediating variables (negative trauma appraisal, difficulties in emotion regulation, and self-compassion) …