Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Black Parents Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder In Obtaining A Timely Diagnosis And Accessing Services: A Phenomenological Study, Bridgette Carolyn Sellers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences and perceptions of Black parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in obtaining a timely diagnosis and accessing services in Texas. Dr. Murray Bowen’s family systems theory was the guiding theory used to provide relevant details to the internal stigma in the Black community which is directly correlated to the disparities surrounding a timely diagnosis and accessing services. The central research question for this study was: what are the reported experiences of Black parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder in obtaining a timely diagnosis and …

The Role Of Resilience And Coping Strategies Among African American College Athletes, Angela R. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between resilience-type coping strategies, stress, and positive well-being among 110 NCAA Division I African American college athletes. This study utilized seven validated scales: Minority Stress Scale (MSS-37), Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experience (COPE-28), Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS=10), Coping Schemas Inventory-Revised (CSI-R), WHO Positive Well-Being (WHO-5), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-Sp-12). These scales measured levels of social support (emotional and informational support), hopefulness/optimism (freedom from worry), active/coping/flexibility/resourcefulness (goal setting, peaking under pressure, coachability, and confidence), good emotional-regulation and self-awareness (coping with adversity and concentration), finding meaning …

Perceived Career Barriers Among Women Working In Public Transportation Based On Leadership Development Training And Race: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tamika Gunn White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated differences in perceived career barriers among women engaged in leadership development training programs and those who were not, with a specific focus on their racial backgrounds. The research targets women within the public transportation workforce, utilizing a convenience sample comprising individuals willing and able to provide insights into the issue of perceived career barriers among women in this sector. Purposive inclusion criteria encompass self-identifying as a woman, reporting ages between 25 and 65, and current employment in the public transportation sector. The Perception of Barriers Scale assessed career- and education-related barriers. The data collection procedure …

A Phenomenology Of Post-Adoption Experiences Of Adoptive Parents, Omowunmi Omotade Ehikhametalor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the post-adoption experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica. Studies carried out in other jurisdictions are valuable but do not capture the unique experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica; therefore, this current study sought to fill the research gap. This study's theoretical framework comprises Schlossberg’s transition theory, attachment theory, and parent effectiveness training (PET). Data were collected from a stratified purposive sample of twelve participants using a brief demographic survey, in-depth interviews, and participant journaling. The data were analyzed using Moustakas’ model, and four themes emerged, namely: the inception of adoptive parenthood, the journey …

The Necessity Of Weaknesses In Experiencing The Grace Of God: An Examination Of Paul’S Use Of Grace, Culminating In 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, Jason Scott Shawa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Paul’s understanding of weakness, grace, and the power of the risen Christ are all important theological truths. This dissertation’s goal is to show that within the Pauline corpus, Paul’s use of “grace” (specifically χάρις) is often inseparable from the experience of weaknesses. This necessitates the inclusion of weaknesses (e.g., distress, persecution, difficulty, pain, and suffering) for the believer to experience the “grace” God offers in and through the power of the crucified and resurrected Christ.

Paul’s understanding of grace is a subject that has far-reaching implications. Understanding his use of χάρις within his corpus is essential to theological studies and …

Finding A Correlation Between Emotional Intelligence And Burnout In Music Teachers In Southeastern Pennsylvania, Richard Raymond Freda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite studies showing that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence report higher job satisfaction and happiness, relatively few studies have looked at the relationship between higher levels of emotional intelligence and lower levels of teacher burnout, especially among music teachers. With so many music teaching positions going unfilled and many music teachers leaving the profession, it was imperative to find a way to keep music teachers in the classroom. By making teachers aware of their emotional intelligence and how to understand their emotions, it is possible that more music teachers can be retained. In this quantitative study, music teachers …

Exploring Nutrition Teachers' Perspectives Of Enacted Nutrition Policies To Address Childhood Obesity In The Bahamas, Shondell M. De Velde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition teachers' perspectives on enacted nutrition policies aimed at combating childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The central phenomenon of the study is teachers' perspectives of enacted nutrition policies to address childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The Health Belief Model (HBM) developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock in the 1950s was used to provide a theoretical framework, that can be used to understand nutrition teachers' perceptions and actions related to enacted nutrition policies. The HBM delves into an individual’s motivation to accept healthy behavior and is thus constructed to …

Planning In Advance (Pia): Teaching London Seventh-Day-Adventist Church Leaders In Providing Spiritual Care For Dying And Mourning Parishioners, Walace Saint Louis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The London Seventh-Day Adventist Church (LSDAC), Maybee, Michigan, grapples with the lack of trained leaders in EoL to provide pastoral care for dying and mourning African American parishioners. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to educate LSDAC leaders in providing spiritual care for their congregants as lay chaplains. The city of Maybee contains 612 people, with 95 % Caucasians and 5% other racial groups. The LSDAC membership is 99% African Americans and 1% Caucasians. It has around 30 members.

The philosophical concept of this research lies in the presuppositions that African Americans prefer spiritual EoL care from …

Mental Illness In African American Women: A Transcendental Phenomenology On Self-Efficacy And The Treatment-Seeking Behavior Of Secondary And Post-Secondary Educators, Sasha N. Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological research shows the influence of mental health treatment on the self-efficacy of African American women who are secondary or post-secondary educators in Northern Illinois. For African American women educators, taking care of their mental well-being and being aware of mental health conditions are crucial. Sharing personal stories and experiences can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Promoting awareness and understanding of mental health issues are vital in our communities, and access to resources and support are necessary. Using self-identity theory can aid in comprehending motivations and behaviors, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment and the prioritization …

The Role Of Camaraderie In The Moods Of African American U.S. Military Veterans With Ptsd: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Virginia K. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the essence of the collective lived experiences of United States military veterans of African American ethnicity who were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the role that camaraderie plays in their moods. Veterans are a marginalized group who often feel they are rejected by society, but as Christians, we should be interested in human beings, promoting their well-being, and practicing psychology as an act of love. Guided by social identity theory and social justice theory, this study was aimed to gain understanding of how group memberships and social categorization …

Stopping The Transference: Family Resilience Concerning High Adverse Childhood Experience Through A Genogram Study Of Southern Appalachian Storytelling Culture, Brittany Shay Teague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of multi-generational Appalachian storytellers and their culture to discover if there was a decrease in Adverse Childhood Experiences and increase resilience across generations. Vygotsky's Communication Theory, which emphasizes child development through language and communication, and Masten’s Resilience Theory, which emphasizes that children can develop resilience with the assistance of their caregivers, guided this study. The research questions asked were as follows: How do they describe the impact of storytelling and genograms on resilience and intergenerational transference?  How do they describe the importance of storytelling? How would they describe …

Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling For Bereavement, Wayne A. Benner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The topic of this action research is Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief and bereavement. The need for the research completed is for hospice chaplains to have a workable tool to use for grief and bereavement. The problem is that many hospice chaplains do not have a framework to use for counseling in grief. The action researcher worked on the thesis of if chaplains use Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief they will be more effective. The research was completed using Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling to counsel six participants in grief. Each participant completed a pre-counseling questionnaire and a post-counseling questionnaire to assess …

United In Purpose: Establishing Community Partnerships Amongst District-Level Music Education Programs And After-School Music Organizations In Delaware, Malcolm S. Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the benefits of Music Education Programs in Delaware, there was a critical need to build community partnerships to enrich the music learning experience for all participants. This research explored implementing change by connecting with community leaders and organizations. It gathered perspectives from music educators, students and their parents, school administrators, community organization leaders, and after-school program directors. A qualitative, programmatic evaluative approach was applied to examine the impact of these community partnerships between district-level music programs in Delaware. The study addressed the purpose and framework of alliances, the need for establishing and maintaining them, and potential barriers to sustainable …

A Phenomenological Study Examining How Ages Of Attention-Deficit Diagnoses Affect Adult Perceptions Of Achievement, Janeen Kingma

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to discover how adults diagnosed with attention-deficit (ADD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), at different ages, view their experiences, and how the ages of diagnoses affected their view of educational achievement and occupational success. A qualitative research design was used to collect data about the experiences of adults who were diagnosed at different ages. Guiding this study were two educational theories: Bandura’s social-cognitive theory, which promotes self-efficacy, and self-determination theory (SDT) (Ryan & Deci, 2020), which proposes that all individuals innately pursue self-optimization. A hermeneutic approach was chosen to interpret the analysis of data. …

Accessing Cancer Care Through A Community Diagnostic Clinic, Joy Lynn Bartholomew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Access to diagnostic centers, innovative cancer research and best clinical practices is limited outside metropolitan areas and academic institutions. Cancer patients in rural communities are a marginalized population faced with unique barriers to high quality care from early detection through screening, streamlined diagnostics, and participation in clinical trials. One-stop clinics (OSC) in the community setting may lessen the diagnostic interval (DI), reduce the economic burden of unnecessary imagining or procedures, minimize sociodemographic discrepancies, and positively affect time to treatment and clinical trial participation. The first step is to better understand the community cancer population and their diagnostic journey. Next, an …

The Lived Experiences Of African American Female First-Generation College Students As They Matriculate Through College: A Phenomenological Study, Rosa Denise Mcallister-Mcrae

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of African American female first-generation college students’ (FGCS) academic, social, emotional, and low economic challenges while attending either a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) or a Predominately White Institution (PWI) located in the southeastern area of the United States. First-generation college students are students whose parents never attended college. Tinto’s retention theory was the framework that guided the research, particularly, the challenges faced by first-generation students. The central research question was, how do African American female FGCSs describe their lived experiences matriculating through an HBCU or …

The Effect Of A Low-Carbohydrate Diet On Evoked Pain And Quality Of Life In Non-Hispanic Black Women With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study, Asia M Wiggins, Larissa J Strath, Gray E Mcpherson, Barbara A Gower, Amy M Goss, Burel R Goodin, Robert E Sorge

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic pain condition that can significantly impact quality of life and contribute to recognized chronic pain racial disparities. We have shown that a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) can reduce KOA-related pain. Our previous work suggested that the LCD was more beneficial for women and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) adults, but our sample was not sufficiently diverse. Thus, we sought to determine whether the LCD may be beneficial for NHB women with KOA on measures of self-reported and evoked pain.

METHODS: Fourteen NHB women (M = 55.93, S.D. = 7.79 years of age) with KOA were …

2024 December 19 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Love And Contractual Agreements: Clemons V. Diable And The Requirements Of A Valid Contract Of Marriage In Lousiana, Alexis Hoffpauir

Journal of Civil Law Studies

No abstract provided.

The Other War: The Evolution Of United States Psychological Warfare In The Vietnam War From 14 May 1965 To 11 September 1966, Brandon J. Libro

Masters Theses

The creation of the Joint United States Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO) on 14 May 1965 revitalized the psychological warfare (PSYWAR) campaign in Vietnam after decades of post-World War II drawdown and initiated a more targeted and efficient employment of psychological operations (PSYOP) throughout the American war effort. To understand the evolution of Vietnam-era PSYOP, it is imperative to explore the United States military’s implementation of PSYWAR and analyze how it changed throughout the conflict. The challenges the United States faced conducting the “other war” in Vietnam were evident from the start of its involvement in Vietnam, and the PSYWAR effort, …

Disciplinary Variation In Curriculum Internationalization: Findings From A Global Pilot Study, Pouneh Eftekhari

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Unworthy And The Ungrateful: On The Mirroring Legal Patterns Of France, Québec, And Romania, Mircea Dan Bob-Bocșan, Anthony Matthew Dima Murphy

Journal of Civil Law Studies

After initially borrowing the unworthiness-ingratitude pairing of the Napoleonic Code, the legal systems of Québec and Romania opted to expand the former by using the application range of the latter as an example, specifically in the field of legacies. Nonetheless, the two systems diverged greatly in readjusting the scope of the ingratitude doctrine: while the Québécois lawmaker chose to abolish the doctrine of ingratitude entirely, its Romanian counterpart opted to maintain it, giving rise to the possibility of overlapping rules. Consequently, the aims of our paper are twofold: on one hand, it seeks to determine the full extent of this …

Choice-Of-Law For Employment Contracts: A Comparative Analysis Of Texas And Louisiana Approaches To The Enforceability Of Noncompete Agreements, Claire Monsour

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Employment contracts that cross state lines often raise complex legal issues, particularly when they involve noncompete agreements. This article examines and compares the different approaches taken by Texas and Louisiana regarding the enforceability of non-compete agreements. Texas courts exercise broad discretion in deciding whether to enforce a parties’ choice-of-law provision, often leading to inconsistent and unpredictable outcomes in noncompete disputes. This approach undermines party autonomy, incentivizes forum shopping, and allows courts to manipulate outcomes based on unclear standards of “fundamental public policy.” Louisiana courts, on the other hand, are relatively consistent in their choice-of-law analyses in noncompete disputes. In contrast …

Legal Challenges Across State Lines: A Look Into Surrogacy Law In The United States, Taylor Paige Mutavdzic

Journal of Civil Law Studies

This essay analyzes the challenges arising from the fragmented legal landscape of surrogacy in the United States, where inconsistent state laws and a lack of federal oversight create significant uncertainties. Through a hypothetical case involving a same-sex couple, Sally and Jane, the study examines key issues, including the determination of parental rights, the legal status of children born through surrogacy, and protections for surrogate mothers. The essay argues for a more cohesive and transparent legal framework to address these complexities and safeguard the rights and interests of all parties involved in surrogacy arrangements.

A Lesson In Civility: Spencer V. Valero And Keeping Things Straight In Louisiana’S Mixed Jurisdiction, Gregory Blanton

Journal of Civil Law Studies

No abstract provided.

Succession Of Otillio: Strict Compliance Versus Substantial Compliance Of Testament Formalities, Etinosa Igbinenikaro

Journal of Civil Law Studies

No abstract provided.

Civil Code Of Louisiana Of 1825 Historical Texts

Journal of Civil Law Studies

No abstract provided.

The Civil Law And The Inner Self: Roman Iniuria And The Transformation Of The Private Sphere, Talya Deibel

Journal of Civil Law Studies

This paper focuses on the transhistorical nature of the protection of personality interests in the civilian tradition. It takes Roman iniuria as a key concept to analyze the legal protection of the “inner selves” of human beings. The legal framework of iniuria stands out as an illustration of how social and moral phenomena which belonged to the interior realm such as honor, dignity, emotions, and reputation carried legal value in Roman law. Starting from its origins in Roman antiquity, this paper views the inner self through the legal prism of personality protection and comments on how formative periods in history …

The Role Of Respect And Collaborative Decision Making On Diabetes Care Factors Among Nonpregnant Women Of Reproductive Age With Diabetes In The United States, Grace Ellen Brannon, Tiffany B. Kindratt, Kyrah K. Brown

SAGE Open Access Agreement Publications-Archive

This study used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (2010-2018) to examine associations between diabetes patients’ satisfaction with their provider and ratings of healthcare received, diabetes care self-efficacy, and monitoring adherence among nonpregnant reproductive age women with diabetes. The sample included nonpregnant women of childbearing age (18-45) with diabetes mellitus (n = 767; weighted n = 1.3 million women). The results indicated that patients who reported that their usual care provider always asked/showed respect for medical, traditional, and alternative treatments that the person is happy with had 2.59 times greater odds (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.32-5.10) of giving high ratings of …

Nipping Crime In The Bud: The Spatial Relationship Between Crime And Meeting People’S Needs, Alicia Cerquone

LSU Master's Theses

The recent high-profile killings of people by the police brought attention to police violence, and prompted activists to call for an end to police violence. Drawing from an understanding of strain theory (Merton, 1938; Farnworth & Leiber, 1989; Agnew, 1992; Agnew, 2001; Agnew, 2008) and Tucker and Cadora’s (2003) ideas of justice reinvestment, this research was designed with the belief that police funding can be better used to help people meet their basic needs of housing, healthcare, and education. This research is concerned with the spatial relationship between crime and the quality of social infrastructure, or the programs in place …