Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Reducing Occupational Stress And Increasing Productivity, Dr. Bradley J. Irby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some business leaders lack strategies to reduce occupational stress and increase productivity. Occupational stress can reduce productivity, damage an organization’s image, and incite a toxic work environment. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies leaders of a Texas based land-management service company use to decrease occupational stress and increase productivity. The participants consisted of five senior leaders with a record of reducing occupational stress and maintaining a profitable portfolio of work. Data were collected via a review of existing literature, semistructured interviews, and a review of company resources. Using Yin’s …

Workplace Experiences Of Blind College-Educated Women, Lynne Koral

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBecause of the limited research on workplace experiences of blind college-educated women, policies have not been implemented that will lead to greater equity for this group. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the workplace experiences of blind college-educated women using the social construction theory. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with 11 blind college-educated women. Results indicated that accessibility in college or at work with websites and job applications presented the greatest obstacle to successful job seeking. State rehabilitative agencies were not considered to be effective in job development, placement, or promotion. Working from home was …

Adult Learners’ Perceptions Of Barriers That Delay Their Degree Completion At K University, Vincent De Paul Kouassi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the population of adult learners increases in higher education institutions across the globe, recent studies demonstrate that they face barriers that delay their advanced degree completion. Although K University (pseudonym) had discussed this delay among its adult student population, no studies or interventions had been proposed to address the problem. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the adult learners’ perceptions of personal and institutional barriers that delayed their degree completion at K University. Johnstone and Rivera’s theory of internal and external barriers was the conceptual framework used in this study. Data collection was based on …

Understanding The Barriers Of Lgbtq Youth Aging Out Of The Foster Care System, Quadasha Mcilwaine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, there have been significant barriers experienced by youths aging out of the foster care system. A new area of focus highlights youths that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ). In this study, the opinions of LGBTQ youths who have aged out of the foster care system in North Carolina were explored and the barriers these youths may encounter as they transition into adulthood were illuminated. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory is the framework that was used to guide this study. A basic qualitative approach was used with semistructured interviews of 10 LGBTQ aged-out youths in North Carolina. …

Firm Size As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Sustainability Practices And Organizational Performance In Banks, Abel Azuwueze Osuji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bank managers are facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable finance models that address stakeholders' diverse interests. It is important to understand how ESG strategies relate to corporate financial performance (CFP) to facilitate the adoption by bank leaders. Grounded in the triple bottom line and stakeholder theories, the purpose of this ex-post facto study was to examine the relationship between sustainability practices and the CFP of banks within the contingency of firm size. Secondary data on 226 global banks were collected from the Sustainalytics and FitchConnect databases. The results of the moderated multiple regression analysis indicated the two full models comprising …

Social Worker Perspectives Of Working With Aging African Americans With Depressive Disorders, Sherian Waite

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is a greater proportion of people living with depressive disorders within the African American older adult population compared to their White counterparts, fewer African Americans are engaging in mental health treatment when compared to the Caucasian community. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and practices of social workers who are providing mental health care treatment to African American older adult patients (aged 65 and over) living with a depressive disorder. The study was framed using both the health belief model and critical race theory. To address the research questions, a generic qualitative design …

School Officials' Perceptions Of Threat Assessment Programs, William Ward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Acts of targeted violence on school grounds, and most notably school shootings, continue to occur and are a serious concern for many people. Behavioral threat assessment programs are one method being used to address this problem, and while considerable research has been conducted on threat assessment programs, very little research has been conducted on how school officials implement, operate, or understand these programs. A more informed awareness of how school officials perceive the implementation, operation, and usefulness of threat assessment programs may provide insight into ways to improve the implementation and management of these programs. This was a qualitative phenomenological …

Hide Or Seek? Paradigms Of Publicized Police Killings And The Paradox Of Police Calls, Dr. Ty Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police departments and the 911 emergency call system were created for public safety purposes. However, when a 911 call summoning police for assistance leads to another 911 call involving a deceased victim of a police encounter, public safety seems lacking. Many citizens vicariously witness or view fatal police encounters through the lens of extant media information, and how the public perceives media coverage can negate citizen trust and confidence in law enforcement. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the influence of perceived media coverage of police-caused deaths of unarmed Black men and its impact on the inclination …

The Lived Experiences Of Entry-Level Employees With Posttraumatic Growth Following Workplace Gaslighting, Marielys Camacho-Reyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although researchers have studied workplace gaslighting (a devious and manipulative tactic used by abusers) in recent years, little is known about it. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of entry-level employees with gaslighting. The conceptual frameworks for this study were the resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) concepts. The sample consisted of currently employed participants ages 20 - 45 with two or more years of college experience who, during their first year in an entry-level position, experienced gaslighting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom and data was analyzed and coded manually. The analysis revealed …

Socio-Environmental Factors Related To Prevalence Of Childhood Uncontrolled Asthma In Marion County, Indiana, Haoua Chaoueye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDespite the availability of effective asthma control, the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma continues to increase worldwide, particularly among children. Marion County children experience more uncontrolled asthma than the Indiana state averages. Exposure to socioenvironmental factors may play a pivotal role in childhood uncontrolled asthma; however, there is still limited recent research about this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the specific socioenvironmental factors (income, tobacco smoke, indoor mold, household pets, and pests) and the prevalence of childhood uncontrolled asthma in Marion County, IN. This study used secondary data collected between 2018, …

Perceived Teacher Self-Care Influence On Beliefs About Teacher Persistence During Covid-19, Tamarah Lishawn Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teaching has never been an easy profession, but the swift transition from in-person to digital instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic made it significantly more difficult. Between a global pandemic and a nation's racial reckoning, teachers were forced to juggle work, family, and student responsibilities. While there were suggested tips on how to practice self-care, the findings on self-care have been conflicting, and there is a scarcity of research on the role that teacher self-care played in persistence for classroom teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore reported teacher self-care practices and how …

Help-Seeking And Stigma Experienced By Arab American Immigrant Parents Of Children With Autism, April Demasters

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because of cultural and religious norms and associated stigma, some parents of a child with a mental illness or developmental disorder are hesitant to seek help for their child. The purpose of the study is to better understand how religious and ethnic culture reinforces stigma and its impact on a parent’s decision to seek help. This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with Muslim Arab American immigrant parents, including first and second generations, in the United States who had a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the last 15 years. Semistructured interviews were conducted to gather data exploring …

Perioperative Nurses' Perceptions And Barriers To Implementing The Colorectal Surgery Care Bundle, Kaydian Kerry-Ann Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDespite evidence that surgical care bundle usage prevents surgical site infections (SSIs) in colorectal surgeries, there is a consistent increase in SSIs. Perioperative nurses are in a unique position to provide insight into the process for colorectal surgical care bundle usage, yet little is known about how perioperative nurses view the process. The perioperative patient focused model was used in this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study to examine the perceptions of perioperative nurses regarding the use of colorectal surgery care bundle and its role in preventing SSIs in patients undergoing colon and rectal surgeries. Sixteen perioperative nurses who were members of …

Rape Myth Acceptance And Attitudes Toward Bystander Intervention Among Division Iii College Student Athletes And Nonathletes, Del Rey Honeycutt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault on college campuses is a significant concern and deemed a public health problem. Research suggested that certain groups, such as male college student athletes, may be the main offenders and contributors to the problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between acceptance of specific rape myths and attitudes toward bystander intervention in specific situations among Division III athletes and nonathletes on a college campus. The theory of planned behavior and feminist theory served as the foundation for this quantitative study. An archival dataset was analyzed that included undergraduate students (N = 313) from a …

Strategies For Sustaining Success In Small Businesses In Nigeria, Mina Johnson-Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enterprise owners in Nigeria who need more entrepreneurial skills and an understanding of the business environment may need help sustaining their market share. Nigerian small business owners are concerned with the need for entrepreneurial growth strategies because it could reduce business profitability sustainability and lead to entity failure. Grounded in the entrepreneurial orientation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies Nigerian small business owners implement for sustaining success beyond 5 years. The participants were three small business owners in the professional services sector who developed strategies for sustaining success beyond 5 years. Data were …

The Counselor’S Perspective: Exploring The Influence Of The Strong Black Woman Identity On Sexually Traumatized Female Adolescents, Jillian Mahatha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe Counselor’s Perspective: Exploring the Influence of the Strong Black Woman Identity on Sexually Traumatized Female Adolescents by Jillian Mahatha

MS, Capella University, 2012BS, Kaplan University, 2006

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision

Walden University November 2023

Firefighters’ Views Associated With Mental Health Counseling, Jessica H. Ridgway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Decades of research show that firefighters’ trauma-filled tasks and work environments are associated with decreases in the quality of their everyday lives. Firefighters experience trauma on a regular basis which is leading to mental health issues contributing to work and non-work-related issues. Since stigma is present toward mental health counseling, firefighters are not always seeking the help they need. Through qualitative research, the purpose of the study was to explore thoughts and views of experienced, male firefighters to establish ways of improving their life quality. Semi structured interviews were used to gather data from nine participants regarding their views on …

The Experiences Of Women Executive Leaders In A Leadership Development Program, Angela Ivy Gustus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The host organization is a nonprofit that has a mission of supporting the work of 19 other separate organizations, 47% of which are run by women. The problem addressed in this research is the host organization’s lack of knowledge related to how to create a leadership development program that will maintain or increase the current gender diversity. The purpose of this research was to gather information about the current leaders to inform the creation of a leadership development program for the host organization based on research conducted at Harvard University. The aim was to understand the experiences of the women …

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Disparities In Alabama Hospitals And Patient Experience, Phillimena Ashley Hopkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient satisfaction has been utilized to measure healthcare quality and outcomes, which affects reimbursement. Some claim such measures could be biased as they do not consider the patient’s socioeconomic status. Measuring the quality of care, Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and patient experience has been captured and publicly reported; and the measuring indicator Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCHAPS), however, hospitals serving patients in low ADI areas generally score poorly. Grounded in the theory of Donabedian, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between patient experience associated with socioeconomic disparities and how patients …

Understanding The Impact Of Special Education Programs On African American Males, Jacques Houssou

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican American males placed in special education programs their entire time in high school often experience stigmatizing feelings of lack of self-worth and self-esteem as adults. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and better understand the influence special education programs may have on African American males’ self-esteem and self-worth. Becker’s and Lemert’s labeling theory and Baumgartner and Jones’s and Gould and Eldredge’s punctuated equilibrium theory guided this study. The focus of the research questions was the influence of special education programs on African American males’ learning experiences and the changes needed. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques …

Relationship Experiences Of Long-Term Partners Of Individuals With Narcissistic Traits, Tamara Betty-Jean Knott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of narcissism is well-documented and has garnered much attention from the scientific community. However, a facet of this subject that has been largely unstudied involves the consequences that narcissistic relationships have on intimates. Typically, an individual with narcissistic traits (INT) most negatively affects the romantic partner. Still, there has been very little in the way of academic knowledge, understanding of partner experiences, or how to help from a mental health standpoint. Research has implied that partnering with an INT entails distinct forms of emotional abuse (EA), resulting in the development of unique psychological distress. This qualitative narrative study …

Criminology And Violent Extremist Radicalization, Starlett Michele Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, research on foreign terrorism became extensive in the United States while research on domestic terrorism and violent extremist radicalization was lacking. Despite the research that has been done, there was a lapse in scholarship analyzing terrorism radicalization and its relationship with criminology. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to analyze the perceptions of experts in terrorism and criminology about how factors of criminology can explain violent extremist radicalization. This study used two conceptual models of terrorism radicalization: (a) the staircase to terrorism and the (b) 4-stage model of the terrorist mindset. In addition, …

Understanding The Lack Of Communication Between Communities And Law Enforcement Through A Community Policing Program, Patrick B. Skoczek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Inequitable treatment by law enforcement officers has deeply impacted minority communities in the United States. Public incidents of abuse of power, discriminatory treatment, and excessive use of force have received increased attention, creating increased community mistrust of law enforcement officers. To help bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the use and impact of the Policing and Public Safety Problem-Solving Programs. Data were collected through interviews with 12 retired police officers and 12 community members. Interview questions were related to participants’ perceptions regarding a breakdown in trust between law …

The Recidivism Rate In Correlation To The Effectiveness Of The Bridges To Life Reentry Program In Texas, Steven Steen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research explored the relationship between reentry programs and recidivism in the state of Texas. One program in particular, Bridges To Life (BTL), has had an impact on recidivism in the state, and this research analyzed how the overall organization of BTL correlated to recidivism. Recidivism is the repeated or habitual relapse into crime. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine whether there was a direct correlation between the reduction of recidivism and the effectiveness of reentry programs through BTL in the state of Texas. The research question for this study explored the correlation between BTL and …

Occupational Stress Of Adult Protective Service Workers, Tiffany Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has revealed that adult protective service workers experience high levels of occupational stress that often result in health complications such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. Although several qualitative studies have been conducted over the past decade, there was limited information on the phenomenon of how stress is experienced by adult protective service workers investigating cases of alleged elder abuse. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of a sample of adult protective service caseworkers from the southwestern United States that have experienced occupational stress while investigating cases of elder abuse. This study …

Exploring Dual Roles In Law Enforcement Officers Who Administer Naloxone, Regina Sullivan Wachenheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the introduction of law enforcement-administered naloxone, officers are assuming the dual role of law enforcer and caregiver with opioid users. This study used cognitive role theory and Thorne’s interpretive approach to explore the dual roles experienced by officers. The purpose of this study was to understand (1) how officers who administer naloxone describe their experience of the dual role, and (2) how the officers describe the role expectations of law enforcer and caregiver. Seven officers completed semi-structured, one-on-one, telephone interviews. The eight themes that emerged were related to the officers’ views of (1) saving and changing opioid users’ lives; …

Effective Strategies For Small Business Sustainability, Kathleen A. Watson-Wilkin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSmall businesses in the United States experience a higher failure rate than medium-sized and large corporations. Small business owners without successful strategies to sustain their businesses may fail. Grounded in the McKinsey 7S model, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small general construction contractor business owners use to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The participants were three small general construction contractor business owners within Miami, Florida, who sustained businesses for 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured and audio-recorded face-to-face interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) creating strategies for a solid customer …

The American Founding Documents And Democratic Social Change: A Constructivist Grounded Theory, A I. Forde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Existing social disparities in the United States are inconsistent with the promise of democracy; therefore, there was a need for critical conceptualization of the first principles that undergird American democracy and the genesis of democratic social change in America. This constructivist grounded theory study aimed to construct a grounded theory that provides an understanding of the process of American democratic social change as it emerged from the nation’s founding documents. A post hoc polytheoretical framework including Foucault’s, Bourdieu’s, and Marx and Engels’s theories of power was used to understand power dynamics. The research question focused on understanding the process of …

Understanding African American Mothers’ Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Autism-Related Services For Their Autistic Children In Rural Communities, Brandi J. Treadway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study aimed to address the gap in the literature related to understanding African American mothers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the available services provided to their children diagnosed with autism living in rural communities. The theoretical framework used for this study is the racial formation theory as a lens for completing this study. The research question explored African American mothers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of autism-related services provided to their children with autism in rural communities. The research design chosen for this study is a generic qualitative design using semi-structured interviews for data collection from 10 African American mothers …

Colonial Legacy, Education, And Employment Opportunities: The Case Of Cameroon, Frantz Batoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe history of colonialism is one of the most powerful factors affecting the development of newly independent African states and limiting their chances for successful evolution. This research involved Cameroon and employment and educational issues associated with colonialism. The division between France and Britain contributed to the establishment of bilingualism within its territories, which is a source of multiple problems today. The study involved investigating the current situation in Cameroon through the lens of colonialism and its influence on countries. Theoretical foundations for this study were the colonial and postcolonial theory, neocolonialism, and concept of postcolony. They are used to …