Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Family Mealtime Environment, Screens, And Mental Health Among School-Aged Children In Japan, Ami Nishimori Alnouri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of family mealtimes during breakfast and the mental health of school-aged children (6-18 years) in Japan, comparing those who used and did not use screens during breakfast. This study involved two research questions: How did parents of Japanese school-aged (6 to 18 years) children who used screens (electronic devices) at mealtime experience family mealtime during breakfast? How did parents of Japanese school-aged (6 to 18 years) children who did not use screens (electronic devices) at mealtime experience family mealtime during breakfast? In this study, a qualitative phenomenological approach employed semi-structured interviews with …

A Mission Simulation Retreat For Senior Youth Leaders To Train Adventist Young Professionals In The South Bahamas Conference, Jamal Doran Franklyn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The mission simulation retreat SDA action research project trains senior youth leaders of young adult professionals for urban ministry through their vocational orientation. To address the problem of only having a global youth day one-day mission drive, the Mission Simulation Retreat (MSR) equipped young leaders in local SDA churches to simulate mission projects matching their professional careers. By building on the Hebrew culture, the priesthood of all believers, and spiritual gifts, MSR customizes a spiritual gifts database that aligns with vocational careers to provide mission project options by vocational skills. Through focus group presentations, a questionnaire, and a survey, data …

Disproportionate Rate Of Mental Health Care For African American Service Members, Amy Tesla Kingjones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study understands and describes the disproportionate rate of mental health care for African American Service Members in the US military. With minorities making up less than 20% of the US armed forces, fitting into predominantly white spaces is necessary for continued success and can cause stress, depression, and anxiety. The theory guiding this study is critical race theory, as it uncovers and challenges how laws, policies, and societal norms perpetuate racial hierarchies and disadvantage marginalized communities. It emphasizes the social construction of race, highlighting that it is not an inherent biological category but a product of historical, political, …

Rooted In Identity: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Describing The Pre-Freshman Self-Esteem Experiences Of African American Female Students Entering Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Wanda Minor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to describe the pre-freshman self-esteem experiences of African American (AA) female students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The study explored the experiences of AA women and the factors that contribute to the development of their self-esteem before their enrollment as students in HBCUs. Literature suggests that numerous issues, including racial discrimination and prejudice, cultural stereotypes, socioeconomic concerns, historical and intergenerational trauma, beauty standards, and institutional and systemic hurdles, have affected their self-esteem (Woods-Giscombe, 2010). However, there was a void in addressing the issues AA women face in college, particularly students at HBCUs. This …

Created To Be Slaves: Reexamining The Doctrine Of Original Sin, William Daniel Gamble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the earliest debates in the church was over the nature of Sin, its transmission to subsequent generations, and its effects upon man’s nature. Two terms, “sin nature” and “original sin,” have become the prevailing terminology, yet there remains debate concerning the meaning or appropriateness of these terms. This discussion will examine and assess the doctrine of Original Sin through the prism of the metaphor of slavery as found and utilized throughout the OT and NT. Ancient Slavery, in its various forms, serves as the background for understanding the idioms and metaphors employed concerning the power and role of …

Nature Of Child Welfare Social Work, Sarah Vail Anders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social workers in the field of child welfare ensure the safety and well-being of children. While this career field is rewarding, it results in high levels of stress, burnout, and fatigue for workers. To support the challenging needs of child welfare social workers and to enable them to successfully protect children and support their families, an examination of the nature of child welfare social work was conducted. The purpose of this study was to understand the nature of child welfare social work in North Carolina, which was gained through a qualitative transcendental phenomenological study. Twenty-one child welfare social workers were …

Perceived Childhood Paternal Betrayal Trauma: The Impact To Attachment And Interpersonal Relationships As Adults, Jacquelyn S. Marcum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore adult female perspectives of being abandoned by a father during their grade school years (between ages 6 and 12). Current research has indicated that parental abandonment or rejection creates anxious, avoidant, and insecure attachments into adulthood. Wounded attachment can significantly impact the ability to form healthy attachments as adults. Limited research is available on children between the ages of 6 to 12 on how betrayal trauma impacts the developmental stages, the sense-of-self, and the ability to form and maintain healthy attachments within relationships throughout adolescence and adulthood. In the current …

Family Communication Patterns Theory: A Mixed Methods Examination Of Single Mothers’ Communication Styles, Susan Renee Mattson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The mixed methods approach was used to research single mothers’ communication patterns. Fitzpatrick and Ritchie’s family communication patterns theory (FCPT) was used to guide the research. Online surveys and semi structured interviews were used to gather data that were analyzed through MAXQDA and SPSS software. The research examined factors such as age, culture, and the number of children a mother has in correlation to variables such as conformity and conversation orientation on the FCPT scale. The quantitative portion of the research revealed significant findings about culture and conformity orientation in single mothers from collectivist cultures. The qualitative section mirrored similar …

The Psychological And Spiritual Experiences Of Christian Caregivers Of Physically Or Mentally Disabled Family Members, Doneshia Burns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of Christian caregivers caring for mentally or physically ill family members. This qualitative phenomenological study described the psychological and spiritual influence of caring for mentally or physically ill family members. The first question that the researcher attempted to answer was: What lived experiences do family caregivers experience when caring for loved ones with physical or mental disabilities? The second question that was explored was: How does caring for loved ones influence Christian family caretakers' spiritual well-being. The third question explored how caring for loved ones influences Christian family caretakers' psychological or mental …

Higher Education And Women In Leadership: Gender-Based Training For African American Women In Transformational Leadership, Chavon Anette Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian African American women in leadership have unique lived experiences. Although God calls women to lead, they often meet challenges in ministry and the marketplace. Developing into a great woman in leadership requires intentionality and preparation. This study explored the perceptions and perspectives of Christian African American women in senior leadership roles in ministry and wider corporate America. The qualitative research revealed the need to address gender and racial issues in higher education, develop gender-based training, and further transformational leadership development. The research design utilized interviews with ten open-ended questions to collect data. The study focused on Christian African American …

Mentorship Among Early Career Senior Pastors: Examining Whether Mentored Leaders Are Better Equipped To Lead, Shayla Lenai Hilton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early career senior pastors are often expected to confidently step into senior leadership positions with minimal support, direction, guidance and/or training. The support of an experienced mentor could potentially lessen the challenges for early career leaders. The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological study was to explore the effectiveness of mentorships for early career senior pastors who hold senior leadership positions in Christian churches in the United States. For the purposes of this study, a early career senior pastor is defined as an individual with 0-10 years of experience in a senior leadership position. The phenomenological study explored three questions: (1) …

The Development Of A Men’S Ministry At Remnant Church To Foster The Spiritual Leadership Development Of Men To Provide Leadership For Family, Church, And Community, Anthony L. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this student seeks to address is that the Remnant Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, does not have a men's ministry to develop men as spiritual leaders. The Remnant Church is a non-denominational church focused on growing and developing people to become more like Jesus Christ. The men of the Remnant Church do not meet regularly for discipleship or fellowship.

The men of Remnant Church are not organized to provide a network of support for men. Men need a support network within the church to develop spiritually. Men need a forum for discussing men's issues, such as leading in …

Attachment Security In Adult Offspring Of Parents With Narcissistic And Borderline Personality Disorder, Habiba Jessica Zaman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Available research in understanding the correlation of insecure attachment in the offspring of caregivers with traits of personality disorders and how the two presents in adulthood includes the experiences from childhood to adolescence, though thus far, no other studies have been done to understand these variables into adulthood. This mixed methods study of 172 participants for the quantitative portion and 12 participants for the qualitative portion explored the impact of having an early childhood caregiver with Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder characteristics on attachment styles and interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Online self-reports utilizing The Personality Inventory (PCL-5 Brief Form) to …

Exploring Generational And Vicarious Trauma In The Haitian Diaspora Of America: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Lourna Charles-Thelusca

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study is to understand the generational and vicarious trauma experiences of first-generation Haitians living in the diaspora in the United States (U.S.) and to gain insight into how trauma affects their lives. To achieve an advanced understanding of this population, this study explores the factors contributing to participants' trauma experiences focusing on coping strategies and interpersonal impacts. Haitians, as the first enslaved people to liberate themselves from their European colonizers, have built a rich history marked by overcoming adversity and resilience. Historically, the ongoing cycle of trauma stemming from Haiti's persistent challenges, including …

After The Training Ends: A Qualitative Study Of Therapists’ Experiences With Trauma Training And Self-Efficacy, Megan L. Briggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Counselors meet many clients with experiences of trauma throughout their careers, and many counselors do not feel confident in their skills to process trauma. The training programs that teach trauma-focused skills have been researched regarding dissemination practices, but there has been very little exploration of the experiences of the individuals who do not utilize newly acquired skills. The primary research question asks what are the experiences of outpatient therapists in applying the skills they learned in trauma processing training programs when practicing in the outpatient setting? The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study will be to describe the experiences of …

A Qualitative Study Of Emdr Clinician Treatment Modality Choice And Client Needs, Carole Petrides Bakke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative research study was to explore and understand the lived experiences of clinicians practicing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in the state of Nebraska and their choice of treatment modality, between the audio, visual, and kinesthetic techniques of EMDR. As an evidenced-based treatment therapy, EMDR has been shown to decrease the symptoms of distress in clients with a history of trauma and the treatment of choice for clients with a diagnosis of PTSD. A qualitative approach was used to assess the possible connection between the EMDR techniques as factors in individual preferences and …

The Mediation-Moderation Effects Of Religiosity On The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Marital Satisfaction In African American Couples, Pauletta Michele Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, multiple regression, mediation research design was to explore the impact of ACEs on Christian African American marital satisfaction. This study was grounded in the Family Systems Theory, introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen, investigating the relationship between ACEs and African American marital satisfaction mediated and moderated by religiosity. A Qualtrics survey was distributed through social media, and a QR code was posted at two churches located in Birmingham, AL, open to all African American married couples (n=105). PROCESS Models 1 and 4, were utilized to determine if religiosity mediates and moderates the relationship between ACEs and …

The Shared Experience Of Marriage And Commitment Of Couples Who Have Been Married For Over 30 Years: Challenges And Resilience In Marriage, Rosemarie Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to explore the experience of marriage commitment for individuals who have been married for over 30 years. Current research indicates that commitment is the leading cause of marital dissolution. Moreover, research indicates that marriage commitment is associated with several factors (e.g., marriage beliefs, communication, relationship maintenance, and marriage quality) that aid in the stability and satisfaction of long-term marriages. The framework for the study included marital commitment in constructivism learning theory, with biblical concepts of marital relationship, and the intergenerational theory. Concept mapping was used as a means of data analysis …

Contact Refusal In Children And Adolescents Post-Parental Separation, Ashten N. Gallagher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and understand the underlying themes in contact refusal between a parent and a child through a developmentally sensitive lens. This study examines how trauma, relational dynamics, and developmental stages influence a child’s refusal to engage with a parent post-separation or divorce. The theories guiding this research include Erikson’s psychosocial development stages (Erikson, 1950, 1968), which highlight how children’s developmental needs and challenges impact their relational attachments. Additionally, the diagnostic framework for complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) as outlined by the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 11 (Cloitre et al., …

Servant Leadership On Wellness And Perceived Organizational Support Of Police Officers, Kylene R. Paranto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Perceived organizational support is an incredibly important workplace attitude as it involves taking care of employees’ needs and their well-being. Police officers across the United States are feeling helpless and need support more than ever surrounding their wellness. When supervisors and leaders within police departments have proper training and leadership skills that will inherently improve their awareness of their followers’ needs, the officers will begin to feel the tide shifting. This study explored how police officers measure servant leadership, perceived organizational support, and wellness. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between servant leadership and perceived organizational support as well …

A Phenomenological Study On The Adult Biological Child's Experience In A Family That Fostered, Melba Richards-Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Families involved in the fostering process experience a wide range of situations which can impact all family members—both positively and negatively. This includes the biological children of foster parents. While recent research has started to focus on providing support for foster families, most studies primarily concentrate on training and assistance for foster parents. When it comes to the effects of being a biological child within a foster family there exists a gap in the literature regarding long-term support for these family members. The objective of this study is to explore the retrospective experiences of biological children of foster families, who …

The Silent Legacy: A Phenomenological Study Of Transgenerational Trauma Passed From Mothers To Daughters In The African American Community, Stephanie Diane Jeffreys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the transgenerational trauma passed from mothers to daughters in the African American community. The problem is that transgenerational trauma is unintentionally passed from mothers to daughters, which has a negative impact on their life outcomes, such as their self-worth, worldview, and relationships. The study was guided by the historical trauma theory, arguing that populations that have historically been subjected to traumatic experiences exhibit higher instances of psychological and physiological conditions multiple generations after it has happened. Through the research, how the trauma transmission happens from mothers to daughters was assessed, …

Participation As Preparation: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Greek Letter Organization (Bglo) Members In The Workforce, Letasha Carrie Mcfarlane

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how membership in a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) impacts the experiences of Black professionals in overcoming obstacles in the modern workforce. This study utilized a qualitative, phenomenological design to capture the lived experiences of 10 BGLO members working in federal military and educational organizations in the United States. Participants were recruited through purposeful sampling, and data were collected via open-ended questionnaires, semi-structured individual interviews, and a focus group. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which revealed four major themes: (1) Utilization of Opportunities to Overcome Workplace Challenges, (2) Cultivation …

Examining Differences In Implicit Bias Towards Students Of Color Within The Higher Education System, Marlene Drake

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi-experimental, static-group comparison design study aims to address the unknown factors of implicit bias within our public education system by examining the differences between the awareness of school staff towards students of color. The theories that guided this study were the Theory of Experience and the Theory of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory. The Theory of Experience emphasizes the need for a positive connection between the school staff and students of color to prevent social injustice through awareness and empathetic behavior. The LMX theory supports the need for positive behavior from the school staff to increase the motivation and …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of African American Pastors Providing Pastoral Counseling To Individuals Who Commit Intimate Partner Violence, Barbara Ann Joe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the education, training, and experience held by African American pastors who provide pastoral counseling and resources to individuals who commit intimate partner violence within their congregations. The research questions guiding the study are, "How do African American pastors describe the effectiveness of their education and training when counseling individuals who commit intimate partner violence?" and "How do African American pastors describe their level of competence when counseling individuals who commit intimate partner violence?" The final research question, which is connected to the theoretical orientation of the study, is, " What role …

A Qualitative Analysis Applying Uses And Gratifications Theory To Explore The Types Of Spaces Within Facebook Post Comments Regarding Mental Illness And Suicide, Melissa Rice

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study investigated spaces created within Facebook comments on posts related to mental illness and suicide. The uses and gratification theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs served as the framework for this qualitative study utilizing content analysis to analyze 14,186 comments from 175 Facebook posts. This study highlights how user comments on specific posts create engagement spaces that turn positive or negative based on Facebook users' need for fulfillment. The findings also suggest that users engage with posts to meet various needs, such as seeking validation and attention, fulfilling a desire to feel valued, connecting with others through shared …

A Legacy Of Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of African American Pastors' Perspectives On Mental Health In Delaware Churches, Donell M. Winder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of african american evangelical pastors in delaware regarding mental health care within their congregations. the study sought to understand how pastors integrate their spiritual beliefs with mental health practices and how cultural factors influence their roles as mental health advocates. anchored in social constructivism, the research examined the cultural and contextual factors that shape pastors' approaches to mental health issues. eight senior pastors from evangelical churches across delaware were selected through purposive sampling, and semi-structured interviews served as the primary data collection method. thematic analysis identified several key …

The Phenomenological Study Of Women Mentoring Younger Women: A Titus 2 Action Research Project, Shannon Bludworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Though church attendance is down, women still comprise the largest percentage of churchgoers. With the decline in church attendance, a decline in programs for women has ensued. Nevertheless, the continued need for mentoring women remains the same. This DMIN action research aims to address this need and develop a mentorship program where mature women mentor younger women in their continued personal spiritual growth. This research project includes a training seminar for the mentors, a six-week Bible study for the mentees, and six weeks of one-on-one mentoring, during which the mature women mentor the younger women in their faith. Triangulation of …

The Impact Of State Investment In Cancer Research Capacity And Infrastructure: A Mixed Methods Study, Paul E. Hull

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim of this mixed-methods study is to understand the fiscal and practical impact on a state’s biomedical research ecosystem when state policymakers decide to invest substantially in cancer research capacity and infrastructure. It posits that an investing state is more likely to realize a greater share of contract and grant dollars from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its researchers and cancer centers. The quantitative portion of the study, employing a multiple regression analysis of data from all 50 states, finds that investment in cancer research capacity and infrastructure does improve a given state’s relative share of NCI support, …

Biblical Followership In The Local Church: A Phenomenological Study, Terrence M. La Masters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explores biblical followership in the local church context by examining the followership construct formed by followership and leadership distinctives. Followership, often overlooked in the leadership process, is typically not considered equal to leadership in purpose, process, or impact. While Kelley’s comprehensive model of followership from 1992 has been widely recognized, this study specifically focuses on the first formal theory of followership proposed by Uhl-Bien, Riggio, Lowe, and Carsten in 2014. This theory highlights the interconnected nature of leadership and followership and the integrated behaviors of followers and leaders, is particularly relevant in the local church setting—a …