Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers And Beliefs: Narratives Of Mental Health Help-Seeking Among First-Generation Latino/Hispanic College Students, Karina L. Alba Lockhart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health challenges among college students in the United States have increased in recent years, yet first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students continue to underutilize available services while facing unique cultural and structural barriers to care. This qualitative narrative study explored how first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students made meaning of mental health help-seeking in relation to perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and cultural values such as familismo and stigma. Guided by the health belief model and cross-cultural psychology, this study recruited 15 participants from four-year institutions in the United States and collected data through an online asynchronous questionnaire. Thematic and narrative analysis revealed that …

The Prevalence Of Moral Injury Among Veterans Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd): Analyses By Combat Exposure, Gender, Age Group, And Military Service, Carl B. Forkner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, heralded in a new concept affecting our combat and support military personnel. This concept is known today as moral injury. Military personnel were already familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whether from personal experience or from reading and training on the subject, but no training addresses the prevalence or effects of moral injury. The term moral injury (MI) was first coined by psychiatrist Jonathan Shay and his colleagues based on feedback from military and veteran patients in 1998; however, it remains that …

The Lived Experience Of Inconsistent Legal Recognition: A Phenomenological Study Of Job Burnout And Moral Injury In Florida Correctional Officers, Jeffrey A. Snipes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of Florida correctional officers (FCOs) regarding inconsistent legal recognition and the divergence between functional mandates and legislative definitions. Utilizing Dr. Jonathan Shay’s moral injury framework, this research explores how statutory marginalization functions as a precursor to burnout. A transcendental phenomenological research design was employed; 21 officers were screened using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) followed by semi-structured interviews with a nine-participant subsample.

Data analysis followed Creswell’s spiral procedures to identify themes describing the essence of these experiences. Findings suggest that inconsistent recognition as first responders catalyzes moral injury, exacerbating burnout and …

Correctional Leadership And Its Relationship To Psychological Well-Being And Job Satisfaction Among Former Department Of Corrections Staff, Brittaney Brown Kovacs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Correctional institutions represent complex work environments in which leadership may influence employee psychological well-being and job satisfaction. Although prior research has primarily focused on correctional officers, less attention has been paid to the broader workforce within Departments of Corrections (DOCs), including educational, healthcare, and administrative personnel. This retrospective mixed-methods study examined the relationships between employee perceptions of transformational, transactional, and authoritarian leadership styles and employee outcomes among former staff of state-level DOCs in the United States. Participants included 75 former DOC employees from multiple states. Quantitative data were collected using standardized measures of leadership, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Multiple …

State Government, The Forgotten Cyber Actor, Joshua D. Strubel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cyber incidents are among the most pervasive threats facing the United States, with the FBI recording over 859,000 reported attacks and an estimated $16.6 billion in losses in 2024 alone. Despite widespread recognition that effective cyber defense requires a whole-nation approach, the existing research literature overwhelmingly focuses on federal policy, leaving state governments as largely overlooked actors. This study addresses that gap by examining the research question: How does state cybersecurity policy affect malicious cyber actors' frequency of operations? Drawing on multilinear regression analysis augmented by Random Forest machine learning models, this study evaluates the relationship between state-level cyber deterrence …

An Analysis Of Human Trafficking In Alabama, Kimberly Abrams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this analysis is to gain a thorough understanding of human trafficking in the Alabama. The illegal issue of this analysis is for those who lack a sense of human trafficking, which surrounds the communities where they reside. The theory guiding this study is due to the complexity of the issue globally around the world as it explains the causes of human trafficking amongst victims, which include those who experience poverty, lack of access to job opportunities, natural disasters, and lack of legal protection for immigrants. Additionally, the purpose of this dissertation is to provide insights into the …

Caregiver Depression And Psychological Distress As Predictors Of Substantiated Maltreatment In Nscaw Ii (Wave 2 Cps Sample): A Quantitative Archival Study, Gloria Forotan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative archival analysis examined whether caregiver mental health is associated with child maltreatment outcomes through CPS involvement, using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II), Wave 2. Child maltreatment remains a persistent public health concern with long-term effects on children's emotional, psychological, and physical development. Although caregiver mental health is consistently identified as a significant risk factor for maltreatment, few studies have utilized nationally representative child welfare data with standardized measures to test these associations.

Caregiver mental health variables were operationalized using NSCAW II indicators of major depression and depressive symptoms (DP2), psychological distress (K6 …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation Programs In The State Of Virginia, Edishae L. Harris-Tyler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Juvenile delinquency and criminal offending have become significant problems in society today. Many offenders in the criminal justice system were exposed to violence and criminal activity at a young age. Early harmful exposure has influenced many at-risk youths in the community to commit crimes at a young age and develop into adult offenders. Juveniles in the community considered at-risk may be disadvantaged due to negative peer pressure, poverty, lack of parental involvement, illiteracy, and lack of opportunities for positive change and development. At-risk youth severely need structure, prosocial support, positive mentorship, and direction to prevent criminal activity and reduce recidivism. …

The Relational Perspective Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Older Adults In Long-Term Care Supports And Services, Jeffrey Lentz

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

Autonomy is a vital element of quality of life in long-term care, especially for older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender adults, who are at higher risk of requiring long-term care services and supports (LTCSS) in the future. Key risk factors include a lack of family of origin and a higher prevalence of chronic conditions and disabilities. Many older LGBT adults fear long-term care institutions for various reasons (i.e., fear of discrimination and mistreatment by administrators, staff, and other residents, and a need to be forced back into the closet). This paper applies Perkins et al.’s relational perspective to older LGBT …

Wearable Technology For Depression Assessment: A Scoping Review Of Datasets, Ml Tlachac, Hayley K. Elsbree, Michael V. Heinz

Information Systems and Analytics Department Faculty Journal Articles

As wearable technology continues to develop, wearable devices are becoming more common and being increasingly used to collect datasets for depression assessment. Documenting the collection procedures, recruitment strategies, and demographics of these datasets is important to allow for synthesis across the datasets and uncover common limitations. As such, in this scoping review, we identify 80 observational datasets collected by wearable devices through the start of 2025 that can be used for depression assessment. Of the 80 datasets, 50% used an actigraph and 47.5% used other wristbands. These wearable devices were used to collect activity, sleep, and heart rate for 87.5%, …

The Association Of Daily Urinary And Bowel Incontinence With Emotional Functioning In Young Adults With Spina Bifida: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Audrey I. Young '26, Devon J. Hensel, Konrad M. Szymanki

Student Research

Many young adults with spina bifida experience bladder and bowel leakage, but clinic visits often rely on people remembering and summarizing their symptoms over long periods. In this study, we asked participants to report their experiences each day for one month using simple phone-based check-ins. We found that leakage does not affect every day in the same way. On days when symptoms were more frequent or harder to manage, participants reported worse mood, more worry, and were more likely to avoid activities. These day-to-day experiences also related to over- all quality of life at the end of the month. For …

When The Safety Net Becomes A Barrier: Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

The goal of the U.S. social safety net is to ensure that everyone can meet a basic standard of living, regardless of their economic, health, or life circumstances. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, two key parts of this safety net, support low-income families in affording food and health care. This brief summarizes findings on seven dimensions of administrative burden in SNAP and Medicaid. The findings come from analyses conducted with data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Project’s survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. They suggest that administrative burdens are common, affect …

A Qualitative Study Of Multiracial Individuals Sharing Black And White Racial Identities Within The Southeastern United States, Carissa N. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Racial identity can be complex, especially when considering those with a biracial or multiracial identity (Holliday, 2019). American society often conceptualizes race through a monoracial lens, leaving individuals with multiracial identities marginalized, sometimes forcing them into an unchosen identity and resulting in a potential loss autonomy (Albuja et al., 2020; Albuja et al., 2019; Harris et al., 2021; Mitchell, 2022; Rozek & Gaither, 2021; Song, 2021). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand social, emotional, mental, and relational impact of living in a monoracially lensed society on individuals with Black and White multiracial identities in the southeastern …

Mental Toughness In Motherhood: A Qualitative Phenomenological Approach To Advancing Developmental Understanding, Mary Kauffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how mothers define, experience, and describe mental toughness within the developmental context of motherhood. Mental toughness has been extensively examined in performance-based domains such as sports, education, business and military settings. Limited research has investigated how this construct appears or manifests in caregiving roles. Understanding mental toughness in motherhood may inform how mothers are supported psychologically and contribute to future frameworks, interventions, and systems designed to strengthen maternal well-being, adaptation, and long-term functioning. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which focuses on the perceived ability of individuals to navigate adversity, this study examined mental toughness as …

Recommendations For Advancing Elementary Music Education For Students With Disabilities In Skyline Ridge School District, Dawn Marie Schafer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied research study was to provide recommendations to advance music instruction to students with disabilities at sixteen elementary schools in the Skyline Ridge School District (SRSD). The problem was that there was evidence of low musicianship and music participation in students with disabilities in the middle schools in SRSD. The rationale for this study was that students with disabilities may be capable of achieving musicianship as well as any other student. For this reason, music educators must be prepared to set them up for success. The central research question was: How can the elementary music teachers …

Exploring Teacher Experiences And Readiness In Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jennifer D B Melvin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the perceived preparedness for the responsibility for the educational experiences of twice-exceptional students at public schools in Western Georgia. Twice-exceptional students, who are gifted and have disabilities, face unique challenges in academic achievement and social-emotional well-being due to asynchronous profiles and unmet needs. While evidence-based strategies exist to support twice-exceptional learners, appropriate training for teachers is imperative to ensure these approaches are implemented effectively. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory, as it posits that there is a connection between personal factors, behavioral patterns, and the environment …

A Phenomenological Study Of Binge Eating Disorder And Trauma In Black Women Managed By Religious Coping, Nicole Rae Skinner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the relationship between trauma, binge eating disorder (BED) and religious coping among Black women in America. Black women are faced with stereotypes such that they are expected to be strong, resulting in avoidance behaviors related to emotions. Core to the issue of BED is an inability to manage difficult emotions in a healthy manner, thus leading to the negative pattern of bingeing. Therefore, guiding this research were two key theories: Gross’s emotional regulation theory and Pargament’s theory of religious coping. The emotional regulation theory addresses how emotions are experienced and an …

Teachers' Lived Experiences Supporting Students' Executive Functioning Skills: A Phenomenology, Mary Clare Fallon Beamer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of supporting students' executive functioning skills for experienced teachers at schools in Ohio. Cognitive load theory, acknowledging the relationship between executive functioning and cognition, was used to guide the study. Under this theory, human beings have a flexible yet finite ability to acquire knowledge, which is mediated through components of executive functioning, including working memory, inhibitory control, and self-regulation. Weaknesses in executive functioning may restrict cognitive load capacity through interference in the systems responsible for memory, attention, and behavior. Therefore, the following serves as the central research …

Fentanyl At The Border: A Critical Analysis Of U.S. Customs And Border Protection Strategies Against Synthetic Opioid Smuggling, Patricia Salinas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation will investigate the efficacy of tactics employed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in detecting and intercepting fentanyl at legal ports of entry along the U.S border during the fiscal years 2022 to 2025. Given that fentanyl continues to be a pivotal element in the ongoing opioid crisis within the United States, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms by which this synthetic opioid is smuggled into the country and to evaluate the efficacy of federal initiatives. These efforts are crucial for protecting public health and enhancing national security. This quantitative study examines fentanyl seizure data from …

Internships As A High-Impact Practice: A Phenomenological Study Of Hbcu Student Experiences With Soft Skills, Michelle Bennett Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe soft skill development gains through high-impact practice internship experiences for Black students at an HBCU in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The theory presented informed and supported the focus of inquiry was Kolb’s experiential learning theory. This theory served as the theoretical framework for the study to answer the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of HBCU Alpha University students who participate in HIP internships? Participants included 10 Black students at Alpha University who completed an internship. The participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Data was collected through …

Voices From The Pacific: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Paraprofessionals’ Experiences Using Aac Devices To Support Students With Autism In The Northern Mariana Islands, Edieson Louie Bastareche Aguirre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of paraprofessionals using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to support students with autism in K–12 schools within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Grounded in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, the study examined paraprofessionals’ perceptions, challenges, and adaptive strategies in AAC implementation. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of paraprofessionals implementing AAC devices to support students with autism in the Northern Mariana Islands? A transcendental phenomenological design was employed, using convenience and maximum variation sampling, to recruit 10 paraprofessionals across the CNMI. …

Lived Experiences Of Polysubstance Use And Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Candee Dione Rillon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders (MHD), with particular attention to the transition into polysubstance use. The purpose of the study was to understand how individuals experience and make meaning of these co-occurring conditions and the factors influencing substance use patterns. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants who reported both mental health challenges and substance use histories. Thematic analysis revealed that participants experienced SUD and MHD as deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing, often functioning within a cyclical pattern of distress and temporary relief. Substance use …

The Impact Of Leadership Style On Cohesion And Trust Within Remote Teams, Grace E. Choi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how leadership approaches affected the development of trust and team cohesion within remote teams in the post-pandemic workplace. The pandemic transformed daily work interactions so that relationship focused leadership has become essential for distributed employees. This study examined how employees experience leader behaviors that either supported or hindered unity and trust through the lens of Leader-Member Exchange and transformational/transactional leadership theories. Through purposive sampling, nine adults who have spent at least one year working remotely in team-based roles in the United States were recruited for semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 45-60 minutes. Interviews were audio recorded …

The Meaning And Making Of Masculinity In Orthodox Jewry: A Transcendental Phenomenological Inquiry With Orthodox Rabbis, Elan A. Perchik

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of Los Angeles Jewish Orthodox rabbis in working with male congregants with respect to their masculine identity, development, roles and responsibilities. The textual framework guiding this study is the gamut of Jewish literature, spanning the Bible, the Prophets and Writings, the Mishnah, Talmud, Midrashic literature, and ancient, medieval and contemporary rabbinic commentaries, as understood through the worldview of the Orthodox Jewish community. Eight Orthodox rabbis in Los Angeles were interviewed toward the aim of discovering the essence of experience for participants. Across the data, four themes emerged: (a) …

The Effects Of Miscarriage On African American Men, Serita E. Baysmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of African American men who have endured the loss of a child through miscarriage. Schlossberg’s transition theory, developed in 1981, was used to identify how men work through their grief by focusing on how they enter into, move through, and move out of the transition. By centering the descriptions on lived experiences, semi-structured interviews were utilized with African American men from a North Texas church, which boasts a predominantly African American population, and by word of mouth. After completion of the interviews, the data were analyzed according …

Special Education Teachers’ Experiences And Knowledge Regarding Individuals With Severe And Profound Disabilities: A Qualitative Study, Nicole Valentine-Sokolowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of special education teachers regarding their knowledge and experiences in teaching students with severe and profound disabilities during their pre-service special education teacher training. The problem is many students with severe and profound disabilities are not receiving appropriate services or instruction, which is affected by how special education teacher training programs are preparing future teachers. The theory guiding this study was John Dewey’s theory of experience, which emphasizes the importance of gaining experience to succeed. The central research question is: How prepared did special education teachers feel regarding …

The Black American Women, Mental Health, Self-Stigma, And The Church, Sylvia D. Dorsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of Christian Black American women who underutilize mental health services due to a perceived notion of self-stigma of Christian Black American women seeking mental health services and how the church may play a role. A transformational theory guides this study. In a transformative framework the study focuses on looking at marginalized groups that have power differentials and are viewed as being less important in society and to understand their life experiences. Stigma and self-stigma are the dominating factors that contribute to the underutilization of mental health services …

Children With Cerebellar Malformations And Co-Occurring Autism: A Phenomenological Study Exploring Challenges Faced With The Dual Diagnosis Process, Service Acquisition, And Psychosocial Impacts, Ladeana W. Gambill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parents of children who have been diagnosed with cerebellar malformations, such as Dandy-Walker Malformation, often face confusion and frustration as they are given uncertain prognoses about their child’s future. The uncertainty is further compounded when there are concerns for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and testing is sought, with conflicting answers on whether their child has autism or not. Acquisition of autism-specialty services may be delayed if a diagnosis of autism is not received in a timely manner. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences and challenges faced by parents of children with cerebellar malformations …

From Hype To Habit? Attractional Youth Ministry Methods And Young Adult Church Involvement, Melanie L. Holbrook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of young adults ages 18–22 who previously participated in attractional youth ministry programs and to examine how those experiences relate to their current levels of church involvement. This study addressed a need among church and ministry leaders to better understand how attractional youth ministry approaches shape ongoing church involvement during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, a period often marked by declining church participation. By using a qualitative phenomenological design, this researcher collected data through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants recruited from churches along Colorado’s Front …

Strengthening The Mind: Evaluating Emotional Intelligence As A Tool To Combat Anxiety In Youth Soccer, John P. Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Competitive anxiety is a significant challenge for adolescent soccer players, contributing to psychological distress and early sport withdrawal, and approximately 70% of youth athletes quit organized sport by age 14. Emotional intelligence, the capacity to recognize, understand, and regulate emotions, represents a promising and trainable intervention target, yet few studies have examined structured EI programs with youth soccer populations using rigorous experimental designs that include a parallel control group. This quantitative intervention study examined the effect of an emotional intelligence intervention on competitive anxiety among youth soccer players, including whether individual emotional profiles and gender moderated outcomes.

A randomized controlled …