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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Conceptualizing Loneliness: Clinical Importance And Therapeutic Approaches, Joni Loehrig Mar 2024

Conceptualizing Loneliness: Clinical Importance And Therapeutic Approaches, Joni Loehrig

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the lived experience and perceptions of loneliness among 41 young adults aged 18 to 25 who self-reported being lonely. Loneliness has reached epidemic levels, although its conceptual dimensions remain in their infancy. Loneliness leads to feelings of disconnection and emotional distress and is associated with chronic health issues and increased mortality rates; it is believed to carry health risks equivalent to or greater than heavy smoking, high alcohol consumption, and obesity. The pervasiveness of loneliness and its risks render it a critical problem to address in clinical practice. Participants were selected individuals whose stories of loneliness were …


Making Sense Of Ethnocentrism: Intelligence Analysis & National Cultural Dimensions, Travis J. Benson Mar 2024

Making Sense Of Ethnocentrism: Intelligence Analysis & National Cultural Dimensions, Travis J. Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Varying internal and external stimulants naturally oscillate the creation of objective intelligence analysis; however, the most egregious offender to accuracy and completeness is the natural human mental process. No element of intelligence analysis is more formidable than the cognitive process that houses specific deviations, known as biases, as it yields inaccuracies and alters what is believed to be a rational response to a complex analytical problem. The phenomenon of ethnocentrism is consistently identified as an analytical limitation of intelligence professionals, derived from cognitive bias. Ultimately, ethnocentrism manifests an analyst’s perception of information directly through the lens of culturally dependent heuristics …


Abusive Management And Workplace Trauma In The Mental Health Field: A Phenomenological Study, Amanda White Mar 2024

Abusive Management And Workplace Trauma In The Mental Health Field: A Phenomenological Study, Amanda White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace trauma can take place in various forms including abusive supervision or management, workplace bullying, vicarious traumatization, violence, compassion burnout, and workplace stress. For the most part, the perpetrators of these incidents can either be strangers, peers, or management within the organization. The aftermath of workplace trauma can be detrimental to a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and cause work-related issues. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the personal experiences of those in the mental health field who have been traumatized in the workplace specifically by the management within the organization. This study was directed …


Counselors Perception Of Life Experiences Affecting Their Longevity In Counseling, Melissa S. Kennedy Mar 2024

Counselors Perception Of Life Experiences Affecting Their Longevity In Counseling, Melissa S. Kennedy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to examine counselor perceptions of life experiences on clinicians remaining in the counseling field. The theory guiding this study is self-efficacy as it relates to clinicians’ positive experiences that supported them in counseling over time. In total, 10 state-licensed mental health counselors participated in semi-structured interviews with the researcher. The data collected was analyzed for common themes from all interviews. The common themes included the following: personal trauma, intrinsic motivation, faith, community building, theoretical application, and enjoyable activities. Counselors should engage in more positive activities to increase longevity in counseling.


Discerning Impact Of Secular Humanism On Pastoral Counseling, Stephen Ganschow Mar 2024

Discerning Impact Of Secular Humanism On Pastoral Counseling, Stephen Ganschow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral care has existed in some form for generations, dating most precisely back to the New Testament writings of Paul, the Apostle. Religious people-helping approaches thus endured in some form until a dramatic shift occurred in the late 1700s, with the onset of the Enlightenment. This historic phenomenon resulted in an aggressive cultural adjustment to understand the self and its distresses apart from religious orientation, instead favoring a humanistic orientation. Yet, pastoral counseling has endured and adapted in an effort to remain a viable means of serving people in distress. In modernity, pastoral care and counseling now exists within a …


Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) Within Rural And Underserved Communities, Lauren T. Sparks Mar 2024

Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) Within Rural And Underserved Communities, Lauren T. Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It can be difficult for residents of rural and underserved communities to express their own experiences involving adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs cause negative health outcomes to those who are exposed to physical, mental, or behavioral abuse. These negative outcomes can affect the individual’s mental health; therefore, it is crucial to create recovery mechanisms for communities that are in dire need of resources. The purpose of this qualitative study was to research the exposure of ACEs throughout three rural and underserved states: Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Each of these states had exposure scenarios which was determined based on the distributed …


Gender Bias In Natural Gender Language And Grammatical Gender Language Within Children's Literature, Kaleigh Marie White Smolinski Mar 2024

Gender Bias In Natural Gender Language And Grammatical Gender Language Within Children's Literature, Kaleigh Marie White Smolinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been much research on the connection between language and gender bias but there is little comparing natural gender language, grammatical gender language, and gender bias. This research is important because it can offer an understanding of gender bias and how these biases are reinforced in different languages. The purpose of this study is to understand how gender biases are represented in children’s literature in different languages. The research questions how gender biases are found in both natural gender and grammatical gender languages within children’s literature. Then questions if there are any differences in these biases. This study compared …


A Mixed Methods Study To Evaluate The Nature Of The Lead Pastor's Psychological Capital And The Impact On Leading Church Revitalization, Toney Allen Cox Feb 2024

A Mixed Methods Study To Evaluate The Nature Of The Lead Pastor's Psychological Capital And The Impact On Leading Church Revitalization, Toney Allen Cox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In response to the substantial amount of church revitalization that is necessary to cause a noteworthy decrease in the 70 percent of churches in America that are declining or plateauing (Rainer, 2019, para. 4), lead pastors carry a biblical responsibility to lead churches into growth and spiritual health (Jamieson, 2011, para. 15-16). While church planting is a respectable portion of the macro solution, revitalizing declining or plateaued existing churches is an equally significant part of the solvent. However, a substantial majority of revitalization literature and education focuses on the practical methodology of implementing church renewal and emphasizing the lead pastor’s …


Recruitment And Retention In The Post-Floyd Era: A Phenomenological Study Of Miami-Dade County Law Enforcement, Carlos A. Vesco Feb 2024

Recruitment And Retention In The Post-Floyd Era: A Phenomenological Study Of Miami-Dade County Law Enforcement, Carlos A. Vesco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study employed a phenomenological approach to analyze law enforcement professionals' perspectives regarding police recruitment and retention in Miami-Dade County after the murder of George Floyd. The study focuses on two primary issues: the ongoing shortage of police officers and the absence of effective retention measures. The study’s theoretical approach is informed by the principles of transformational leadership theory and Herzberg’s two-factor motivation-hygiene theory. The research utilized a qualitative methodology, including face-to-face interviews with a total of twenty-nine participants from three police jurisdictions within Miami-Dade County. These individuals were selected based on their experience in the field. The data was …


The Lived Experiences Of Premarital Counseling And Its Influence On Martial Satisfaction, Donna M. Saulter-Carney Feb 2024

The Lived Experiences Of Premarital Counseling And Its Influence On Martial Satisfaction, Donna M. Saulter-Carney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of married couples from various demographic backgrounds who have engaged in premarital counseling in Maryland. How do couples experience premarital counseling is the study’s central research question. The theory guiding this study is Gottman’s (1993) cascade model of marital dissolution. This model offers a theoretical framework for understanding how minor issues in marriage can exacerbate and foster the entire marital experience. The study is quantitative research using an interpretive phenomenological design to recruit the participants for the study. The study conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with couples to …


Mental Health First Aid (Mhfa) Training Of First Responders, Rebecca Leigh Bandy Feb 2024

Mental Health First Aid (Mhfa) Training Of First Responders, Rebecca Leigh Bandy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to address the gap in the mental health training of first responders. Mental health issues have increased and continue to increase each year and is leading to more emergency calls being made about individuals with mental illnesses or in a mental health crisis. With this increase in calls related to mental health, first responders are not prepared to handle these calls. This study examined the effectiveness of a mental health training program, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), on first responders’ knowledge, stigmas, comfort level, confidence level, ability to identify mental health symptoms, and benefits for first responders …


Male Motivation To Pursue Social Work: A Causal-Comparative Study Investigating The Differences In Male Students’ Motivational Orientation And Field Of Study, Laura A. Dimarcantonio Feb 2024

Male Motivation To Pursue Social Work: A Causal-Comparative Study Investigating The Differences In Male Students’ Motivational Orientation And Field Of Study, Laura A. Dimarcantonio

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, causal-comparative study was to investigate if there is a difference in the motivational orientation of male social work students and men in traditional fields of study. Men are underrepresented in social work degree programs in the United States, yet their unique voice and experience are needed to meet the diverse workforce goals of the profession and provide equitable services to all individuals. Participants for the study were drawn from a convenience sample that included 252 students enrolled in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral-level social work, computer science, engineering, and math programs at four universities in …


Educated Cops: A Qualitative Analysis Of Police Chiefs' And Police Officers' Perceptions Of The Effects Of Post-Secondary Education On Job Performance, James Wesley Blair Feb 2024

Educated Cops: A Qualitative Analysis Of Police Chiefs' And Police Officers' Perceptions Of The Effects Of Post-Secondary Education On Job Performance, James Wesley Blair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Municipal policing in the United requires a complex array of skills for police officers to perform the duties of their jobs effectively. At any given time, a police officer may act in the role of a warrior in confronting an armed assailant in a school or deliver a death notification to a family whose life has just been shattered by a tragic car crash. That same officer will be asked to perform CPR on a heart attack victim, counsel a suicidal individual on the edge of a bridge, and deliver a presentation to a group of business owners. Each of …


The Effect Of Music On Spiritual Well Being Among Hospice Patients, Mathai Abraham Feb 2024

The Effect Of Music On Spiritual Well Being Among Hospice Patients, Mathai Abraham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The life expectancy of a hospice patient is approximately six months or less. Hospice care is not for the cure of the disease. It is the care provided to the patients for the symptom management of the disease. Hospice care, known as end-of-life care, is very important for a comfortable and peaceful passage. Holistic care for the hospice patient is the goal of the hospice care plan. A hospice patient’s spiritual well-being can be maintained by spiritual support through a spiritual presence and spiritual conversation; all hospice care institutions' disciplines can provide adequate spiritual aid through their interaction with patients, …


A Qualitative Descriptive Study: What South Carolina Church Leaders Believe About Congregational Active Shooter Preparation, Charles David Watts Jr. Feb 2024

A Qualitative Descriptive Study: What South Carolina Church Leaders Believe About Congregational Active Shooter Preparation, Charles David Watts Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to establish a baseline of understanding what experiences South Carolina Southern Baptist church leaders have in active shooter training and what they believe about preparing, training, and equipping congregations for an active shooter incident in their house of worship. This researcher examined how church leaders prepare, train, and equip congregations for security threats like active shooter incidents. This study fills a gap in the existing literature, adding to the research by Auten (2021), Rainer (2017), and the FBI (2016). This researcher examined how churches prepare for security threats like active shooter incidents. …


Fake News And Social Media: The Impact Of Emotional Lexicon On Interactive Behaviors, Charles Bishop Montjoy Feb 2024

Fake News And Social Media: The Impact Of Emotional Lexicon On Interactive Behaviors, Charles Bishop Montjoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As issues with fake news continue to increase, so does the need to understand better the motivation for interacting with these types of articles. Social media has become a primary source for finding news. Individuals within social media have the option to share, like, and comment on new articles. Interventions such as fake checkers, rater comments, and other types of warnings have been proven helpful in slowing the believability and interactive behaviors of fake news articles on social media sites. This qualitative, phenomenological study interviewed five participants to gain insight into how individuals experience the negative emotional lexicon within fake …


Indirect Communication As A Teaching Method For Developing Transference And Capability In Taiwanese College Students, Melynie J. Tooley Feb 2024

Indirect Communication As A Teaching Method For Developing Transference And Capability In Taiwanese College Students, Melynie J. Tooley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The capacity of a student to apply knowledge in new contexts involves the ability to transfer memorized knowledge to meaning, in real-world situations. However, there are conflicting views and an overall lack of research regarding how (the process) students in higher education, in Taiwan, transfer that knowledge. This is especially apparent in highly dynamic environments where knowledge is rapidly and continuously evolving, such as in the current technology arena and business industry. This research aims to explore indirect communication as a method for teachers to assist Taiwanese college students to transfer memorized facts, and thus develop capability in new contexts. …


A Correlational Study Of The Resilience Factors That Promote Mental Health In First Responders, Tamara Rae Grayson Feb 2024

A Correlational Study Of The Resilience Factors That Promote Mental Health In First Responders, Tamara Rae Grayson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Too often, the title first responder (FR) has been correlated with mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, substance use, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There was a need to address the mental health of this unique at-risk population prior to developing a mindset that being a FR translates into also suffering from mental illness, due to repeated exposure to traumatic situations. The purpose of this correlational study was to identify the resilience factors in FRs, what unique and untreated exposure to traumatic events looks like in FRs, what normal treatment and early interventions for mental illnesses in FRs is, the …


Suicide In Black Adolescents: How Does The Relationship And Attachment Styles Impact The Grieving Experience Of Non-Custodial Black Grandmothers, Edith Marie Walton-Carter Feb 2024

Suicide In Black Adolescents: How Does The Relationship And Attachment Styles Impact The Grieving Experience Of Non-Custodial Black Grandmothers, Edith Marie Walton-Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to gain insight into the relationship and grief experiences of the non-custodial Black/African American grandmother(s) who have lost a grandchild by suicide. The theories guiding this study are attachment theory, psychosocial stages of development, and grief and loss. The central research questions are used to explore the attachment and relationship between the Black grandmother(s) and grandchild(ren) and whether suicide changes the grieving experience. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling. The sample size for this study includes six Black women between the ages of 48-65 who are non-custodial grandmothers and have experienced grief …


“I Have Nothing Left To Give” A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Burnout In Urban School Teachers Related To The Socioeconomic Issues, Childhood Trauma, And Low Academic Performance Of Urban Students, Melissa Elizabeth Grazette Feb 2024

“I Have Nothing Left To Give” A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Burnout In Urban School Teachers Related To The Socioeconomic Issues, Childhood Trauma, And Low Academic Performance Of Urban Students, Melissa Elizabeth Grazette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the shared experiences of secondary traumatic stress and burnout in urban schoolteachers in Washington, D.C. This study focuses on the experiences of teachers working in a low-performing school in a low-income neighborhood and working with students with trauma as it relates to their experiences with secondary traumatic stress and burnout symptoms. This study focused on the lived experiences of ten urban schoolteachers in Washington, D.C. The teacher participants served a school population of 68% at risk of negative socioeconomic barriers such as exposure to violence, poverty, drugs, and an increased likelihood of exposure to trauma. The hermeneutic …


Crisis Management And Peer Support, Kevin H. Eaton Feb 2024

Crisis Management And Peer Support, Kevin H. Eaton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods Doctor of Ministry Research Project examined peers’ roles during crisis management situations and sought to improve their knowledge, skills, readiness, and confidence during crises. Peers are often the first to see precursors of a crisis or are the first present when a crisis ensues. This was true in the ministry context of a United States Army Reserve unit. A training program was developed to equip participants on crisis precursor identification, prevention, intervention, stabilization, post-intervention, and normalization concepts and techniques. Additionally, ethical consideration, professional resources, and resiliency concepts were trained. The concepts were delivered via an online web-based platform …


A Quantitative Study Of The Effects Of Algorithmic Recommendations On Users Of Streaming Services, Katarina Smikova Feb 2024

A Quantitative Study Of The Effects Of Algorithmic Recommendations On Users Of Streaming Services, Katarina Smikova

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, the proliferation of streaming services has dramatically augmented access to television as a medium for cultural narration, facilitated by rapid technological advances. The popularity of streaming platforms has prompted companies to leverage sophisticated recommendation systems and algorithms. These tools are used to tailor content offerings based on consumer behavior analytics. However, these algorithmic recommendation systems have potential detriments, particularly their capacity to perpetuate biases and inequalities and raise concerns over consumer privacy rights. The purpose of this study was to examine the nuances in the influence of algorithmic recommendations offered by various streaming services on …


Negative Effects Of Combat Deployments On Military Partners, Brittany M. Harris Feb 2024

Negative Effects Of Combat Deployments On Military Partners, Brittany M. Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Several military families experience trauma due to combat deployments and the methods they use to cope with those events can vary widely. Most research about military families is quantitative and focuses on the mental health of the service member who is directly affected by combat exposure. This study explored how military families describe the negative effects of deployment on them and how biblical faith helped them cope with those negative effects. This qualitative case study used a sample size of 14 military partners, with or without children who have experienced at least one combat deployment during the partner's time in …


Support Systems: The Effect They Have On Domestic Violence Victims, Kimberly Diann Burton Feb 2024

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 …


The Impact Of Social Media On Emerging Adults' Psychological Well-Being: Spirituality As A Protective Factor, Lori Dewald Feb 2024

The Impact Of Social Media On Emerging Adults' Psychological Well-Being: Spirituality As A Protective Factor, Lori Dewald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Approximately 70% of emerging adults, individuals ages 18-29 years, report using social media daily. Emerging adulthood is a time of role transition and exploration; therefore, it is important to understand the role social media has on this population. Social media use in young adults has shown mixed results. The inconsistencies of the research center on the content of social media use and the impact it has on well-being. When social media is used to build relationships and increase social support increased well-being was noted. Conversely, when social media use resulted in social comparisons and negative feedback decreased well-being was reported. …


A Study On The Effects Of Biblical Counseling Techniques On Teacher Relationships With Students With Autism, Matthew Mcneill Feb 2024

A Study On The Effects Of Biblical Counseling Techniques On Teacher Relationships With Students With Autism, Matthew Mcneill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian school students with Autism Spectrum Disorder are in need of greater spiritual care from their teachers. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a concept which is becoming increasingly present in the world of education. With this growing presence, autism is becoming an issue in Christian education, as it seems that Christian educators struggle to understand it and to care for their students with autism spiritually. Further, little to no research has been done regarding autism and this area. The purpose of this study was to train Christian special educators in biblical counseling techniques and perspectives in order that they might better …


A Phenomenological Study On The Contributors Of Compassion Fatigue With Substance Use Disorder Counselors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer A. Galvano Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Study On The Contributors Of Compassion Fatigue With Substance Use Disorder Counselors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jennifer A. Galvano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to understand the experience of compassion fatigue in substance use counselors in Western New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many studies have reviewed burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma and have discussed the outcomes of their unmanaged effects on healthcare professionals. Few have focused directly on the impact that key contributors of compassion fatigue have on substance abuse disorder (SUD) counselors. This qualitative study is designed to support substance abuse counselors’ mental health and well-being. Counselors are exposed to clashing situations such as turnover, larger caseloads, client trauma, regulations, lack of training, lack of understanding of …


Understanding Leaders' Experiences Of A Leadership Institute: A Combination Of Transformational Leadership, Cross-Sector Collaboration, And Charitable Foundations As Catalysts, Chris Pineda Feb 2024

Understanding Leaders' Experiences Of A Leadership Institute: A Combination Of Transformational Leadership, Cross-Sector Collaboration, And Charitable Foundations As Catalysts, Chris Pineda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the integrated impact of Transformational Leadership (TFL), Cross-Sector Collaboration (CSC), and Foundations as Community Catalysts (CFC) within a Salem-based leadership institute. Through a qualitative case study involving 12 leadership institute attendees from 2020-2023, I explored the perceived presence of each of the three components, as well as their transformative potential in organizational and community change. I also examined participants’ perceived strengths and weaknesses of the leadership institute. All participants were able to see the presence of TFL, CSC, and CFC, and their combination resulted in collaboration, deep relationships, and a change in mindsets. The findings suggest that …


Does Intergenerational Trauma Influence Growth Or Fixed Mindset Among Ethnic Minorities?, Kevin Ladunn Thomas Feb 2024

Does Intergenerational Trauma Influence Growth Or Fixed Mindset Among Ethnic Minorities?, Kevin Ladunn Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Intergenerational trauma is a phenomenon commonly experienced by ethnic minorities in the United States. This type of trauma can profoundly affect individuals, families, and communities. Despite the prevalence and importance of intergenerational trauma, little research has investigated the link between intergenerational trauma and individuals’ mindsets. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand the perceptions, experiences, and beliefs of ethnic minorities with intergenerational trauma regarding fixed and growth mindsets. The theory guiding this study was Carol Dweck’s mindset theory. To assess the influence of intergenerational trauma on ethnic minorities’ mindsets, 12 individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds were …


Redefining Disproportionate Arrest Rates: An Exploratory Quasi-Experiment That Reassesses The Role Of Skin Tone, Soren G. Brockdorf Feb 2024

Redefining Disproportionate Arrest Rates: An Exploratory Quasi-Experiment That Reassesses The Role Of Skin Tone, Soren G. Brockdorf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The New York Times reported that Black Lives Matter was the third most-read subject of 2020. These articles brought to the forefront the question of disparity in arrest rates for darker-skinned people. Questioning arrest disparity is understandable because virtually everything known about disproportionate arrest rates has been a guess, and virtually all prior research on disproportionate arrest rates is questionable because of improper benchmarking (the denominator effect). Current research has highlighted the need to switch from demographic data to skin tone data and start over on disproportionate arrest rate research; therefore, this study explored the relationship between skin tone and …