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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Articles 1 - 30 of 32
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Using The Motivated Information Management Theory And The Social Support Theory To Understand Caregiver Perspectives Of Currently Available Health Communication Regarding Dementia: A Qualitative Study, Sara J. Alig
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Dementia brings a cascade of changes into the life of not only the person facing it, but also the lives of the supporting family and caregivers. Dementia manifests with a gradual decline, or in some cases, a variably progressive decline in cognitive abilities. This decline requires the individual to rely more and more on caregivers. Caregiving necessitates the giving of oneself for another’s sake and oftentimes results in negative physical and social-emotional side effects. To navigate through the changes that are happening to their loved ones, as well as to themselves, caregivers need educational and social support. The purpose of …
An Investigation Of The Effect Of A Combined Physical Exercise And Counseling As A Therapeutic Approach To Reducing Anxiety Symptoms, Andrea C. Beltran
An Investigation Of The Effect Of A Combined Physical Exercise And Counseling As A Therapeutic Approach To Reducing Anxiety Symptoms, Andrea C. Beltran
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Mental health issues are on the rise as the increase in emotional, psychological, and social well-being affects how people think, act, or feel toward themselves and others. The topic of physical exercise and mental health services has been researched to show a strong relationship between physical activity and positive mental health outcomes. Anxiety is the most common mental health concern in the United States (Goodwin et al., 2020). This study aims to investigate and quantify the impact and explore the relationships of the combined intervention approach of physical activity and counseling in reducing symptoms of anxiety. This research will utilize …
A Phenomenological Study Of Adult Patients With Auto-Immune Disease And Their Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences, Milton Louis Gonzalez
A Phenomenological Study Of Adult Patients With Auto-Immune Disease And Their Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences, Milton Louis Gonzalez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This qualitative phenomenological study explored and described the shared experiences of individuals impacted by an autoimmune disease and their exposure to adverse childhood experiences. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, utilizing Kaiser Permanente’s Adverse Childhood Experience study as a guide to create awareness amongst physicians and mental health professionals, leading them to a more holistic approach when treating patients affected by an autoimmune disease. This was a qualitative study using Husserl’s transcendental phenomenology (TPh). The data collection methods used in the study included questionnaires, individual interviews, and document analysis. These forms of data were analyzed through …
An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Exploring African American Women’S Perceptions Of Access To Healthcare In The Midwest, Ramona D. Benson
An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Exploring African American Women’S Perceptions Of Access To Healthcare In The Midwest, Ramona D. Benson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore access to healthcare through the lens and lived experiences of African American Women (AAW) in Midwestern towns throughout the United States. African American women and other people of low socio-economic backgrounds continue to live with poorer health outcomes than many of their counterparts African American Women experience barriers to healthcare from a unique perspective than their White counterparts. Although medical professionals endeavor to attain equal treatment among each of their patients, significant healthcare disparities are prevalent among AAW Commonly recognized ethnic stereotypes are not always intentionally supported, however, their mere …
Support Systems: The Effect They Have On Domestic Violence Victims, Kimberly Diann Burton
Support Systems: The Effect They Have On Domestic Violence Victims, Kimberly Diann Burton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In the last five years, domestic violence has escalated in the number of episodes reported and in the severity of violence. Researchers attribute this increased frequency and severity to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown time of the pandemic, victims and their abusers could not escape from arguments, which resulted in tensions rising. This study brings attention to the fact that domestic violence is still a pervasive problem. It gives information to help the abused stay out of violent relationships and/or escape. There was conflicting research on whether support systems help victims of these violent relationships escape or stay in …
Effectiveness Of Emotionally Focused Therapy (Eft) With Chinese Couple Clients: From The Chinese Eft Therapists' Cultural Lens, Yifan Wang
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the Chinese EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) therapists’ experiences of working with Chinese couples in EFT sessions, as well as to discover how the cultural factors play a role in the effectiveness of EFT use with Chinese couples. This study was conducted by finding out 10 EFT-oriented therapists and analyzing via online interviews their experiences of working with Chinese couples. The theories guiding this study are based on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). One of the founding therapists of this approach is Dr. Sue Johnson. EFT is heavily influenced by attachment theory, which …
Recovery A Lifelong Journey: What It Means To Get Clean And Stay In Long-Term Recovery, Nicole E. Willis Cooper
Recovery A Lifelong Journey: What It Means To Get Clean And Stay In Long-Term Recovery, Nicole E. Willis Cooper
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study will be to describe long-term recovery (LTR) from drug addiction for African American (AA) recovering addicts (RAs) who have ten or more years in recovery and are members of Narcotics Anonymous (NA). The theory guiding this study is the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) (Stages of Change) (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1977) as it describes the process of how individuals change their habitual behavior/s by transitioning through five stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance,). TTM indicates that positive behavioral change is an ongoing process which is significant to understanding these factors in relation to …
A Descriptive, Multi-Site Case Study To Discover The Inclusion Of Disability Competencies In Undergraduate Public Health Program Curricula In California-Based Public Universities, Jacqueline Suzanne Siukola Tompkins
A Descriptive, Multi-Site Case Study To Discover The Inclusion Of Disability Competencies In Undergraduate Public Health Program Curricula In California-Based Public Universities, Jacqueline Suzanne Siukola Tompkins
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Nearly one in four adults and one in six children in the United States (U.S.) have a disability. Despite the evidence documenting health differences, public health professionals receive inconsistent or little-to-no disability education in graduate public health curricula. Undergraduate public health (UGPH) programs have an expanding role in building the future public health workforce, including the U.S. governmental public health workforce. However, the inclusion of disability-related content within UGPH program curricula is currently unknown. The purpose of this multi-site case study was to conduct preliminary research to describe how disability-related curricula are or can be included in UGPH program curricula …
The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Leading Causes Of Death In Adults- The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study On Christian Adults, Chantel Monet Smith
The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Leading Causes Of Death In Adults- The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study On Christian Adults, Chantel Monet Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Prior research has examined the varying frequencies, risk factors, and impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on various populations. There is little to no empirical research, however, on the frequencies, risk factors, and impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Christians specifically. As a result, it is uncertain if psychological practices, policies, or existing psychoeducation is applicable to Christians impacted by ACEs. Through a quantitative survey method design, this study examined the relationship between ACEs, health risk factors, disease conditions, and physical health, as studied in the original ACE study, in a sample of Christian adults. Specifically, a sample of …
Neuropsychiatric Sequelae Of Traumatic Brain Injury: The Impact Of Aggression And Self-Perception On The Quality Of Life Of The Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors, Aida Bazarganpour
Neuropsychiatric Sequelae Of Traumatic Brain Injury: The Impact Of Aggression And Self-Perception On The Quality Of Life Of The Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors, Aida Bazarganpour
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The occurrence of neuropsychiatric sequelae is frequently observed among survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These neuropsychiatric sequelae can characterize the quality of life of TBI survivors. Among these neuropsychiatric conditions, aggression and self-perception are significant because of their potential to impair survivors’ well-being. Long-term social isolation, common among TBI survivors, has also been linked with an increased likelihood of aggressive behavior. However, research investigating the effects of aggression and self-perception on quality of life of TBI survivors is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationships connecting aggression and self-perception with quality of life of …
The Impact Of Juvenile Drug Court On Recidivism, Mallory Noelle Watkins
The Impact Of Juvenile Drug Court On Recidivism, Mallory Noelle Watkins
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The number of youths entering the juvenile justice system is a viable concern throughout the United States. A gap in the existing literature surrounding juvenile justice is recidivism rates among young offenders who are incarcerated or sanctioned to a community-based level of supervision after committing a transgression of a law. Federal juvenile justice practitioners, such as the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and others, in addition to individual states and localities throughout the United States, have taken various approaches to …
Correlation Of Psychospiritual Factors And Suicide In The Military, Michael Odinaka Ugbor
Correlation Of Psychospiritual Factors And Suicide In The Military, Michael Odinaka Ugbor
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Military is a profession that requires stable mental state as a prerequisite for active military life. However, suicide rate among active members and veterans has significantly increased despite traditional measures such as psychotherapies, medications and government sponsored incentives. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the correlation of psychospiritual factors (spiritual, religious factors and psychological beliefs) and suicide risks among military members. Participants were 18 years or older and members of the United States military base stationed in Kentucky. Data collection involved the used a paper-based survey to measure spiritual and religious affiliations and activities, church attendance, prayer …
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated With Streptococcal Infection (Pandas): A Qualitative Study Of Parental Perceptions Of Factors In Remission, Janice Diane Weddle
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated With Streptococcal Infection (Pandas): A Qualitative Study Of Parental Perceptions Of Factors In Remission, Janice Diane Weddle
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) starts as the child’s body has an inappropriate reaction to the immune response for streptococcal infection. PANDAS is characterized by the sudden onset of neuropsychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, chorea movements, and tics. Previous research has drawn conflicting conclusions on PANDAS treatment efficacy and long-term treatment outcomes leaving remission rates unclear. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological case study was to explore parents’ perceptions of factors related to PANDAS remission. Parents of children diagnosed with PANDAS were recruited through Facebook PANDAS support groups and the National Institute of Mental …
Integrating Prayer And Faith In Complementary Alternative Medicine Into Treating Breast Cancer: Lived Experiences, Barbara Orticelli
Integrating Prayer And Faith In Complementary Alternative Medicine Into Treating Breast Cancer: Lived Experiences, Barbara Orticelli
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcended phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of women who have survived breast cancer and how complementary alternative medicine (CAM), such as prayer and spirituality, were incorporated into their treatments. The research questions used to frame this study include: 1) How do women describe their experiences in seeking to engage faith and prayer praxis as a form of complementary alternative medicine in breast cancer treatment? 2) How do women describe their decision process in choosing faith and prayer as a form of complementary alternative medicine in their breast cancer treatment? The theory guiding this …
Exploring Trauma: Lived Experiences Of Foster Parents In The Foster Care System, Audrey Michelle Butler
Exploring Trauma: Lived Experiences Of Foster Parents In The Foster Care System, Audrey Michelle Butler
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This qualitative transcendental phenomenology study explored the lived experiences of foster parents who care for traumatized children. Children in the foster care system are often exposed to trauma before and after entering the foster care system. Therefore, the trauma that foster children experience can impact them emotionally, psychologically, and cognitively. Unfortunately, foster parents are often unequipped to deal with these issues when these children enter their homes. The gap this study aimed to address was that foster parents did not have opportunities to share their experiences on what it was like to provide care for traumatized foster children. Husserl’s phenomenology …
Compassion Fatigue: The Effects Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Vicarious Traumatization Among Baltimore Police Department Community Chaplains, Angela Teresa Jones-Ramirez
Compassion Fatigue: The Effects Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Vicarious Traumatization Among Baltimore Police Department Community Chaplains, Angela Teresa Jones-Ramirez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Baltimore is plagued with a history of high crime, violence, and murder resulting in trauma. The purpose of the Doctor of Ministry action research project was to educate Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Community Chaplains concerning compassion fatigue while maintaining effective quality care. A two-day workshop was developed as an intervention to address the problem. Pretest and posttest surveys were administered using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Version 5, and the Skovholt Professional Practitioner Resiliency and Self-Care Inventory. Data in the form of surveys, group notes, field notes, recorded testimonials, and stories were collected and analyzed. Results of the data …
The Relationship Between Leader-Member Exchange And Citizen Willingness To Comply With Governmental Public Health Mandates Concerning Covid-19 In Dougherty County, Georgia: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Travis H. Goodson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
As of February 8, 2022, more than 394,381,395 individuals across the globe have contracted COVID-19; and from this number, reportedly more than 5,735,179 have died due to the virus (World Health Organization, 2022). Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, local, state, and federal governments have fielded a host of public health mandates in an attempt to curtail the spread of the virus; however, little is known about the efficacy of such mandates and how willing compliance is obtained through perceived high-quality leader-member exchanges. Compliance is best defined as willing conformity to official requirements; here, compliance is examined through the lens of relational …
Palliative Care And Improving Quality Of Life With End Stage Renal Disease: An Integrative Review, Natoya Bender
Palliative Care And Improving Quality Of Life With End Stage Renal Disease: An Integrative Review, Natoya Bender
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
End-stage renal disease is a rising health care problem effecting greater than 10% of the US population. there are 700,000 patients in dialysis in the U.S who are characterized by multiple comorbidities and increasing, distressing symptom burden. The need for palliative care for patient with end-stage renal disease is becoming standard of care due to their complex medical needs and high symptom burden. The aim of this integrative review investigated the incorporation of palliative care will improve the quality-of-life of patients with end-stage renal disease once introduced in their care. While palliative care provides an ideal opportunity to assess the …
Examining The Role Of Self-Compassion In Resilience Among African American Women: A Qualitative Perspective, Vivian W. France
Examining The Role Of Self-Compassion In Resilience Among African American Women: A Qualitative Perspective, Vivian W. France
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study aimed to fill an important gap in the literature by exploring the role of self-compassion in resilience among African American women. This study was an investigation of some of the challenges African American women face in their lived experiences that impact their self-compassion and to provide an understanding of the role self-compassion plays in their pursuit of higher education. A qualitative design with a phenomenological approach and thematic analysis for gathering and extrapolating primary themes and subthemes from the participant data sets was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five African American women ages 27–58 years who had …
Organizational Strategies To Promote Nurse Resilience In The Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Setting: An Integrative Review, Marcia A. Depolo
Organizational Strategies To Promote Nurse Resilience In The Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Setting: An Integrative Review, Marcia A. Depolo
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Nurses practicing in acute care hospital environments are exposed to constant stressors from a variety of sources. Workplace stress can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, illness, and burnout, with intent to leave the organization or the nursing profession altogether. Resilience-building strategies can be employed to foster coping, improve nurse wellbeing, increase job satisfaction, promote retention, and enhance quality patient outcomes. This integrative review provides a synthesis of scholarly publications on nursing resilience from January 2014 through October 2020. Themes to promote nursing resilience occurred at three levels: personal or individual, unit or group, and organizational. This paper will provide a …
Walking Through Smoke: Implementation Of The 5a'S For Smoking Cessation Counseling In Rural Virginia, Cristina Maria Minotti
Walking Through Smoke: Implementation Of The 5a'S For Smoking Cessation Counseling In Rural Virginia, Cristina Maria Minotti
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Tobacco use represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and is a contributing risk factor for multiple pulmonary, cardiovascular, and oncologic diseases. Despite documented evidence of these health hazards, use of tobacco products remains high, particularly in rural America. While providers may frequently question patients regarding tobacco use and inform patients of associated health hazards, a standardized, structured process for delivering smoking cessation counseling (SCC) is rarely established in practice settings. One such method for standardization of SCC is the 5A’s (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) model which has a robust body of evidence to support …
Health Care Financial Literacy Among Nurses: A Qualitative Intrinsic Case Study, Kory Scott Holt
Health Care Financial Literacy Among Nurses: A Qualitative Intrinsic Case Study, Kory Scott Holt
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Nurses have to perform many clinical services that require efficient decision-making processes in support of quality patient care. Alongside staff nurse clinical literacy, health care financial literacy was described as an important, but vaguely defined component of the nursing role. The significance of having financially competent nurses to efficient hospital operations and financial management continues to increase. However, the topic of health care financial literacy and financial decision-making among nurses remains disproportionately represented in existing scholarly research. To address this knowledge gap, this study integrated a single-site instrumental case study research design to examine health care financial literacy among nurses …
A Hepatitis C Screening Tool For An Uninsured Population, Kimberly Belle Babcock-Nobles
A Hepatitis C Screening Tool For An Uninsured Population, Kimberly Belle Babcock-Nobles
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a public health epidemic effecting 3.5 million people in the United States alone. The uninsured, underserved residents of a rural county in North Carolina have limited access to screening and early detection for HCV. Through collective efforts, a free medical clinic partnered with a grant funded, nonprofit organization to provide free hepatitis C testing by use of a mobile medical unit. The aim of this study was to determine if use of an HCV screening tool would increase the number of patients screened for testing as compared retrospectively to the number of patients screened without …
A Therapeutic Pastoral Counseling Program Designed To Reveal And Treat Combat Events Of Homeless Veterans In Wake County, North Carolina, Earnest Lee Shannon Jr
A Therapeutic Pastoral Counseling Program Designed To Reveal And Treat Combat Events Of Homeless Veterans In Wake County, North Carolina, Earnest Lee Shannon Jr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project researched homelessness among male veterans in Wake County, North Carolina to determine if they experienced a combat event that caused spiritual injury caused by moral injury and shame, which contributed to their homelessness. Joshua’s Conquest, the spiritual formation treatment program is used to treat the spiritual injury. The need for this program is explicated, along with the development of Joshua’s Conquest, and how it will treat this odious event, so the homeless male veteran will be able to obtain housing normalcy. Personally, this thesis project was fueled by experiences with homelessness and limited service in the military. …
Health And Wellness Factors Affecting The Wholistic Lifestyle Of National And International Christian Missionaries, Angela C. Williams
Health And Wellness Factors Affecting The Wholistic Lifestyle Of National And International Christian Missionaries, Angela C. Williams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis will focus on the health and wellness of missionaries and will develop a wholistic framework for healthier living. This framework will be used as a guide to help sustain missionaries living in various cultural contexts by connecting and integrating the mind, body, and spirit in harmony for wholistic lifestyle. God intended for His people to live a healthy lifestyle and to take care of their temples. Missionaries are the backbone of cross-cultural evangelism, but they often find themselves living unhealthy lifestyles. These unhealthy lifestyles can have a negative impact on missionaries’ overall health, wellness, and fruitfulness in serving …
Examining The Effect Of Parental Attachment, Emotional Maturity, Spiritual Maturity, And View Of Suffering On Sense Of Coherence, Alyssa M. Gavulic
Examining The Effect Of Parental Attachment, Emotional Maturity, Spiritual Maturity, And View Of Suffering On Sense Of Coherence, Alyssa M. Gavulic
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Suffering and loss are inevitable parts of the human experience. Nonetheless, the ability to find meaning in various forms of suffering has been shown to impact individual responses to diverse experiences of pain, distress, and loss. Despite the ubiquitous nature of human suffering, perceptions of the cause, purpose, impact, and outcome of experiences of suffering can vary greatly among individuals. Consequently, this inquiry-oriented, descriptive dissertation research examines how emotional maturity, spiritual maturity, and views of suffering mediate the relationship between parental attachment and sense of coherence. This study employs a correlational research design that examines the scores on a variety …
A Case Study Of An Ethnically-Tailored Community-Based Mental Health Program: Washington Christian Counseling Institute, Gemma Imsook Sohn
A Case Study Of An Ethnically-Tailored Community-Based Mental Health Program: Washington Christian Counseling Institute, Gemma Imsook Sohn
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Disparities in health and mental health service utilization among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. are well documented, with many studies having identified accessibility to linguistically and culturally informed services as a key barrier to service utilization. Korean Americans in particular, being the most recent immigrant group of Asian Americans, reportedly suffer from higher rates of depression and anxiety than other Asian American groups. There is, however, some indication that Asian Americans do utilize ethnicity-specific programs at a higher rate than mainstream services when such services are made available to them. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate and explain …
Attachment And Pornography Use: The Influence Of Romantic Attachment Styles, Intimacy, And Pornography Use On Marital Satisfaction, Saudia Twine
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The current study sought to answer the following research questions: First, what is the relationship between attachment, intimacy, pornography use, and marital satisfaction? Second, in what ways does intimacy influence marital satisfaction among pornography users with insecure attachment? Finally, is pornography used to regulate attachment emotions among pornography users with insecure attachment? The study revealed that Pornography Use caused an interaction in the relationship between Intimacy and Marital Satisfaction for those higher in Attachment Avoidance. Pornography Use accounted for 3% unique variance on Marital Satisfaction after controlling for Intimacy and Attachment Avoidance. Results also revealed Intimacy had a direct effect …
Treatment Of Psychiatric Inpatients With Relationship Dysfunction Using A Short Term Cognitive Interpersonal Intervention: A Pilot Study, Tamra Rasberry
Treatment Of Psychiatric Inpatients With Relationship Dysfunction Using A Short Term Cognitive Interpersonal Intervention: A Pilot Study, Tamra Rasberry
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Relationship conflict for the psychiatric patient can have significant detrimental effects. There are specific types of interactions that can increase conflict and predict the potential for relapse; these have been identified by research and designated as components of Expressed Emotion (EE). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) have been very effective when targeting specific psychiatric diagnoses, but less effective when addressing relationship conflict. The majority of studies addressing relationship conflict have taken place in an outpatient, long-term setting. There is limited research that utilizes an inpatient short-term intensive therapy with relationship conflict as its sole focus, targeting areas …
Voices Of Young Adults With Autism And Their Perspective On Life Choices After Secondary Education, Susan Galler
Voices Of Young Adults With Autism And Their Perspective On Life Choices After Secondary Education, Susan Galler
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to explore how young adults who have an autism spectrum disorder perceive their life choices after secondary education. The focus participants in the sample were young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For the purpose of this research, ASD includes autism and Asperger's Disorder. Participants between the ages of 18 and 33 were located through purposive sampling in the states of Minnesota and Tennessee, as the author has previously worked in these states. Participants were asked five open ended focus questions during the span of two face to face interviews. Questions …