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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Experiences Of Child Welfare Workers In Ohio Serving Justice-Involved Youth Who Exhibit Aggressive Behaviors, Charnella Boykins Nov 2025

Experiences Of Child Welfare Workers In Ohio Serving Justice-Involved Youth Who Exhibit Aggressive Behaviors, Charnella Boykins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers with high work demands and low resources are likely to experience burnout. The specific social work practice-focused research problems that were addressed in this project were job demands, available resources, and perceptions of burnout in child welfare social workers. The focus was on burnout in social work practice from the perspectives of child welfare social workers providing services to justice-involved children with aggressive behaviors. The practice-focused research questions for this project concerned the participants’ descriptions of job demands and employer-provided resources and their feelings of burnout when working with justice-involved youth who have aggressive behaviors. Bakker and Demerouti’s …


Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress And Moral Injury In Adult Male Incarcerated Individuals, Cyrelah Jeanee Raynor Nov 2025

Perpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress And Moral Injury In Adult Male Incarcerated Individuals, Cyrelah Jeanee Raynor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underutilizing trauma-informed approaches in correctional rehabilitation has had detrimental consequences, particularly for gang-involved populations. Theories of personality, responsivity, and stress suggest that gang-affiliated individuals, shaped by coercive environments, may develop psychological reactions such as fear, guilt, and moral shame that contribute to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury (MI). This study examined whether gang role, psychopathy, and perpetration predicted PTSD and MI among 70 incarcerated adult males. Participants completed the Moral Injury Outcome Scale (MIOS), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP). Two hierarchical regressions were conducted. In the PTSD model, only education …


The Perceptions Of Foster Care Alumni Who Are Recipients Of Pandemic Aid, Ashley Robinson Nov 2025

The Perceptions Of Foster Care Alumni Who Are Recipients Of Pandemic Aid, Ashley Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened challenges for young adults transitioning from foster care to independence. Research shows that foster care alumni faced barriers in education, employment, housing, and health due to limited support networks. Yet, little is known about how emergency policies, such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, affected them. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of foster care alumni who received financial aid through the Act. The research question: What were the experiences and perceptions of foster care alumni (aged 18-26) who received funds via the CAA of 2021 during …


Disability Accommodations In Field Education: Exploring The Msw Student Perspective, Alicia Dawn Melnick Nov 2025

Disability Accommodations In Field Education: Exploring The Msw Student Perspective, Alicia Dawn Melnick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of students with disabilities is increasing, yet little is known about how graduate social work students navigate accommodation during field placements. This study addressed the limited understanding of Master of Social Work (MSW) students’ experiences applying Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations in practicum settings. How accommodations are managed can determine whether disabled students gain equitable access to training and the profession. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to examine how MSW students with disabilities describe their experiences with applying ADA accommodations during field placements. Critical disability theory guided the study, emphasizing ableism and structural barriers …


The Predictive Power Of Social Engagement On Psychological Outcomes Among College Students, Allison J. Gamble Nov 2025

The Predictive Power Of Social Engagement On Psychological Outcomes Among College Students, Allison J. Gamble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Worsening mental health among college students post-COVID is a growing national health crisis. Grounded in Cacioppo’s evolutionary theory of loneliness and Feeney and Collins’ thriving through relationships theoretical perspectives, the purpose of this study was to explore the degree to which social interaction and social support predicted psychological outcomes among undergraduate students. Survey responses from over 74,000 undergraduate students who completed the ACHA-NCHA survey for Fall 2019, 2021, and 2022 were analyzed. The surveys included the Kessler 6 screening for non-specific mental illness, the Diener flourishing scale, and questions to assess the number of hours spent in categorically-sorted social situations …


Public Housing Professionals Perspectives On Mobile Food Unit Location And Accessibility For Children, Antoinette Lashurn Simpson Nov 2025

Public Housing Professionals Perspectives On Mobile Food Unit Location And Accessibility For Children, Antoinette Lashurn Simpson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor nutrition is a major contributor to death in the United States, and residents of public housing face disproportionate challenges in maintaining adequate nutrition. Public housing is the nation’s oldest housing subsidy program, providing more than one million units for millions of residents, many of whom are women, minorities, and unmarried individuals with incomes below the poverty line. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore public housing professionals’ perspectives on using a mobile food unit located within housing communities to help reduce food insecurity. Feminist intersectionality theory provided the framework for this study, emphasizing how overlapping systems …


Examining Emergent Patterns Of Behavior In White Female Sexual Homicide Offenders, Kristin Bemis Nov 2025

Examining Emergent Patterns Of Behavior In White Female Sexual Homicide Offenders, Kristin Bemis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The majority of studies on sexual homicide offenders (SHOs) have been conducted on male sexual homicide offenders (MSHOs). In many aspects, this is due to society’s reluctance to view women as capable of sexual murder. There have only been a handful of studies conducted on female sexual homicide offenders (FSHOs). However, these studies found substantial differences between MSHOs and FSHOs, as well as between White FSHOs and Black FSHOs. Since prior studies on FSHOs have all been quantitative, this study employed a qualitative case study approach to analyze FSHOs. Using rational choice theory, 12 White FSHO cases were examined, using …


Probation Officers' Experiences Working With Individuals Who Have Antisocial Personality Traits, Katherine Ore Oct 2025

Probation Officers' Experiences Working With Individuals Who Have Antisocial Personality Traits, Katherine Ore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In fulfilling their role of monitoring individuals outside of a prison setting, probation officers may encounter individuals who have antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or antisocial personality (ASP) traits. Individuals who have ASP traits and are not diagnosed with ASPD are still impacted by recommendations of punishment, higher recidivism rates, and a lack of treatment resources provided. Individuals in the criminal justice system with ASP traits are not a new phenomenon, but there is a lack of research on the probation officers' experience working with these individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine and explore the experiences of probation …


The Process Of Enduring Prolonged Undiagnosed Ptsd And The Impact Of Treatment Expressed By Women, Kelli Elaine Hudgins Oct 2025

The Process Of Enduring Prolonged Undiagnosed Ptsd And The Impact Of Treatment Expressed By Women, Kelli Elaine Hudgins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prolonged undiagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been examined from various perspectives and represents a significant medical concern across diverse populations. Research on PTSD often targets specific groups, such as postpartum women or military veterans. This narrow focus in much of the literature tends to obscure the broader impact of prolonged undiagnosed PTSD on the general population, thereby overlooking the critical need to highlight systemic shortcomings that hinder effective interventions and reform. Furthermore, personal narratives detailing the challenges individuals face when seeking help or treatment – factors that contribute to delays in care – and the subsequent effects on their …


The Repeal Of Welfare Lifetime Ban, Sympathy Sutton Huggins Oct 2025

The Repeal Of Welfare Lifetime Ban, Sympathy Sutton Huggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Welfare Lifetime Ban imposed severe restrictions on women’s access to essential resources during the critical period following incarceration. By denying housing assistance, food aid, and employment services, the policy created significant barriers to reintegration and undermines both criminal justice and social welfare reform. Little is known about the long-term impacts of the ban or the absence of effective rehabilitative policy alternatives. Few studies have examined its outcomes within the framework of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The findings within (PRWORA) enactment briefly stabilized a decline in welfare recipients, and employment rates increased temporarily for single …


Experiences Of Accessing Mental Healthcare Among Older Black Women Living In Public Housing, Liza Jane Davis-Jones Oct 2025

Experiences Of Accessing Mental Healthcare Among Older Black Women Living In Public Housing, Liza Jane Davis-Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Older Black women living in public housing have been identified as a high-risk group for experiencing barriers to and underutilization of mental health services. Accessing and utilizing mental health care in public housing complexes is challenging due to persistent barriers that discourage residents from seeking treatment. The older adult population, particularly Black women, remains inadequately served and experiences some of the poorest health outcomes, in part because of underreporting of health concerns and limited treatment-seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore older Black women’s experiences of accessing mental health care while living in public housing and to …


Clinicians’ Perceptions Of Restorative Justice And Community-Based Intervention Programs For Juvenile Offenders, Jacque Timberlake Oct 2025

Clinicians’ Perceptions Of Restorative Justice And Community-Based Intervention Programs For Juvenile Offenders, Jacque Timberlake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The main goals of restorative justice and community-based intervention programs include reducing reoffending behavior, successful reintegration, and yielding greater satisfaction among participants. Although clinicians play a vital role in conducting rehabilitation methods for youth offenders, the problem was a lack of literature that explored clinicians’ perceptions of implementing more effective alternatives such as restorative justice and community-based intervention programs. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore clinicians’ perceptions of administering rehabilitative interventions for youth offenders, specifically in reducing recidivism, adequately addressing mental health concerns, and evaluating overall program effectiveness. The risk-need responsivity model and the good lives …


Parental Ses And Geographic Location As Predictors Of Graduations In Southeastern High Schools Before And After Covid-19, Marcy J. Watkins Oct 2025

Parental Ses And Geographic Location As Predictors Of Graduations In Southeastern High Schools Before And After Covid-19, Marcy J. Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American students in the United States have long faced systemic barriers to high school completion, which were further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational-predictive study was to examine the extent to which parental SES and school location predict graduation outcomes among African American students in southeastern public high schools from 2019 to 2024. Grounded in Bandura’s social learning theory, the study explored how environmental and socioeconomic contexts influence academic achievement. Three research questions guided the study: (1) To what extent do parental SES and location combined predict the number of African American graduates? (2) …


Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Livia L. Klein Oct 2025

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Livia L. Klein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

: A lack of knowledge among nurses and healthcare staff in providing evidence-based practice (EBP) medication treatment and patient care for individuals who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was evident at a Midwest substance use and mental health facility. For nurses and staff caring for those with ADHD, appropriate patient treatment is essential in helping patients avoid struggles in their daily lives. To address this problem, I developed, implemented, and evaluated a staff education program on ADHD treatment in the project. The practice question focused on whether participants of the education program improved their knowledge of medication and treatment management, as …


Shared Family Identity And Emotional Abuse From A Childhood Caregiver As Predictors Of Self-Censorship Willingness, Jillian Theryon Oct 2025

Shared Family Identity And Emotional Abuse From A Childhood Caregiver As Predictors Of Self-Censorship Willingness, Jillian Theryon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood emotional abuse may be underreported and unnoticed. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine whether shared family identity (SFI) with an emotionally abusive childhood caregiver was linked to self-censorship of social and political opinions in adulthood. The study also examined whether this relationship is intensified among those with a strong sense of SFI with that caregiver. Linear multiple regression analysis of survey data collected from 119 participants, recruited through Survey Monkey Audience, revealed that willingness to self-censor was significantly shaped by the interaction between SFI and emotional abuse, especially overcontrol. Although SFI is often seen as …


Excessive Expulsions And School Suspensions Of Black Children, Lasharee O. Rogers Oct 2025

Excessive Expulsions And School Suspensions Of Black Children, Lasharee O. Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While national and state-level literature has documented racial inequities in school discipline, limited research has focused on how these policies are specifically implemented and perceived within the Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Region School. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine factors related to higher rate of expulsions and school suspensions of Black high school students in the CMSR Schools in comparison to their peers through the lens of the critical race theory. This research was used to engage teachers and administrators on current school suspension and expulsion policies while encouraging modifications to those policies that warranted equity and …


Exploring Ex-Offenders’ Perceptions Of Their Learning Experiences And The Shape Of Criminal Activity In Louisiana, Carla Buntyn Oct 2025

Exploring Ex-Offenders’ Perceptions Of Their Learning Experiences And The Shape Of Criminal Activity In Louisiana, Carla Buntyn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of 12 formerly incarcerated males in Louisiana between the ages of 18 and 25, with a focus on their perspectives related to schooling, social environments, and involvement in criminal activity. Guided by general strain theory, the research explored how participants described their learning experiences under Common Core standards and whether they perceived connections between those experiences and their criminal activity. The research question asked: How do American male ex-offenders between the ages of 18 and 25 in Louisiana describe the relationship between Common Core learning experiences and their criminal activity? Data were collected …


Compassion Fatigue And Daily Spiritual Experience Among Mental Health Male Technicians In Locked Facilities, Felicia Mar'shae Davis Ramsey Oct 2025

Compassion Fatigue And Daily Spiritual Experience Among Mental Health Male Technicians In Locked Facilities, Felicia Mar'shae Davis Ramsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health provider’s ongoing exposure to clients’ traumatic experiences can cause increased compassion fatigue. Due to negative implications on mental health professionals’ work and personal life experiences, researchers have increasingly studied burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress. The study included a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to interview mental health providers across specialties and regulations to acquire understanding of professionals lived experiences of compassion within their personal lives, work lives, and spirituality. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of compassion fatigue in male mental health technician and how they use …


Police Officers’ Perceptions Of The Cultural, Structural, And Potential Training Barriers That Prevent Police Agencies From Adopting An Effective Emergency Response System, Allan David Dunham Oct 2025

Police Officers’ Perceptions Of The Cultural, Structural, And Potential Training Barriers That Prevent Police Agencies From Adopting An Effective Emergency Response System, Allan David Dunham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the proven efficacy of the incident command system (ICS), police agencies face obstacles in effective critical incident response. This qualitative study explored the cultural, structural, and potential training barriers that hinder the adoption of the ICS within police agencies. The purpose was to investigate how police can more effectively adopt this unified command structure designed for multiagency emergency response. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the research question addressed how California police officers’ attitudes, perceived social norms, and sense of behavioral control influence their adoption of incident command system principles. Data were collected using semistructured Zoom interviews with …


Resources And Strategies Needed To Address The Problem Of Child Labor In Erbil, Kurdistan Region Of Iraq, Evan Faiq Oct 2025

Resources And Strategies Needed To Address The Problem Of Child Labor In Erbil, Kurdistan Region Of Iraq, Evan Faiq

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child labor is an international practice that has been on the rise in some parts of the world including Erbil, the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the different resources needed but not available for the victims, how child labor has impacted the community, and how the criminal justice system can better approach the child labor issue and reduce it in Erbil, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Social conflict theory was used to guide the study. Data were collected from 15 interviews with individuals from different areas of the criminal justice department, local organizations …


Strategies For Addressing Junior College Attrition Among Female African American Nontraditional Students, Antweshia Hawes-Wood Oct 2025

Strategies For Addressing Junior College Attrition Among Female African American Nontraditional Students, Antweshia Hawes-Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female African American nontraditional students (25+ years with family and work demands) have high attrition rates, they leave degree programs before graduating, worsening socioeconomic disparities. This phenomenological study described their experiences with support services, which shaped student self-efficacy related to completing programs, and identified what changes were needed to improve support for higher graduation rates among female African American nontraditional students participating in 2-year degree programs offered by junior colleges. Guided by Bean’s industrial model of student attrition and Fishbein and Aizen’s importance of intention model, the study posed two research questions: What are the lived experiences of female nontraditional …


Comparing Parents' And School Officials' Perceptions Of School Safety In A Rural Community In North Texas, Gidget S. Pettibon Oct 2025

Comparing Parents' And School Officials' Perceptions Of School Safety In A Rural Community In North Texas, Gidget S. Pettibon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With different types and sizes of school districts across the United States, not all federal safety and security recommendations will work for every school district. The school district stakeholders are important components to help administrators understand whether the current policies are working and provide recommendations for change. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and compare the perceptions of parents and school officials on safety practices at a rural school district in North Texas. Using routine activity theory, this study provided information on how current practices were perceived by stakeholders in ensuring a safe school environment. Data were …


Perceptions Of Educators Toward Implementing Professional Development Training In Inclusive Classrooms, Saleha Ahmed Syed Oct 2025

Perceptions Of Educators Toward Implementing Professional Development Training In Inclusive Classrooms, Saleha Ahmed Syed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored educators’ perceptions of implementing professional development training (PDT) in inclusive classrooms. Inclusive training could benefit both teachers and students with disabilities. Few researchers had previously examined educators’ attitudes and beliefs about implementing inclusive PDT and teaching students with disabilities. The research question focused on how educators applied inclusive instructional training in their classrooms. This phenomenological study investigated the attitudes and perceptions of eight public school teachers regarding the implementation of professional development in their inclusive classrooms and their biases toward these students, using Fishbein and Ajzen’s theory of reasoned action as a framework. Interview data …


Exploring Challenges Of Parents With Disabilities Affecting Custody Of The Children, Kendyll King Oct 2025

Exploring Challenges Of Parents With Disabilities Affecting Custody Of The Children, Kendyll King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 promoting equality for people with disabilities, parents with developmental and intellectual disabilities experience high rates of involvement with child welfare services due to outdated terminology, information about disabilities, and policies. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and determine if they differ from those of parents without a disability. This was a generic qualitative study grounded in intersectionality theory. Education, employment, health and safety concerns, independence, assistive technology, social services involvement, and supports or resources were examined through the perspective of the …


Identifying Motivators For Retention Of Service Workers In Youth Group Care Programs, Michelle Lynn Briegel Oct 2025

Identifying Motivators For Retention Of Service Workers In Youth Group Care Programs, Michelle Lynn Briegel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential group care programs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified human service workers. This workforce retention issue affects the quality of care provided to vulnerable children and youth, as well as the overall stability of residential group care. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore why service workers in front-line jobs choose to stay in their positions in youth-serving residential group care programs, guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation. Nine participants were recruited through purposeful sampling via social media and email, with the criterion that they had been employed at …


Exploring The Black Woman Experience Related To Sexual Practice, Sexual Identity, And Sexual Expression: A Qualitative Study, Ashley V. Rodriguez Oct 2025

Exploring The Black Woman Experience Related To Sexual Practice, Sexual Identity, And Sexual Expression: A Qualitative Study, Ashley V. Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study revealed the complex interplay between personal identities and social constructs, focusing on Black-identifying women and their lived experiences with sex, sexuality, and sexual expression. Over centuries, societal influences depicted Black women as hypersexual, simultaneously exposing them to criticism, shame, and judgment for their sexual expression and meaning-making related to sex and sexuality. Consequently, Black women remain a high-risk demographic for unsafe sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections. Using intersectionality theory and Black feminist theory, this study explored how Black-identifying women give meaning to sex, sexuality, and sexual expression as they shape the Black feminine experience. I sought to …


Trauma As A Predictor Of Engagement Among Former Foster Youth Parents Involved With Child Welfare, Sarah Gordon Oct 2025

Trauma As A Predictor Of Engagement Among Former Foster Youth Parents Involved With Child Welfare, Sarah Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The specific research problem addressed in this study is that the relationship between parent engagement with child safety personnel and the trauma histories of parents with transgenerational child welfare involvement is not well understood. Parent engagement is a critical component of child safety family outcomes. Although past research recognizes lower engagement for former foster youth (FFY) parents with child safety systems and the negative effects of trauma throughout a person’s life, there is no prior research that examines how trauma affects FFY parent engagement with child safety systems. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional …


The Exploration Of The Housing Exclusion Impact Among Michigan Ex-Offenders, Jackie Adam Harris Oct 2025

The Exploration Of The Housing Exclusion Impact Among Michigan Ex-Offenders, Jackie Adam Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ex-offenders possibly felt excluded when private landlords or property managers conducted background checks and decided to immediately deny ex-offenders housing opportunities. The problem this study addressed was how landlords and property managers’ exclusion of ex-offenders impacted reentry post-incarceration. There was a gap regarding how Michigan private landlords impacted ex-offenders’ success factor in securing safe housing upon reentry back to society. The key findings related to the literature in ways that showed how landlords acknowledged outside biases, yet described ex-offender tenants as appreciative, positive, and respectful. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how state and federal policies …


Lived Experiences Of Postdoctoral And Licensed Psychologists Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents, Kim Colleen Anaya Oct 2025

Lived Experiences Of Postdoctoral And Licensed Psychologists Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents, Kim Colleen Anaya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted to explore the lived experiences of licensed psychologists in diagnosing adolescents with bipolar disorder, aiming to answer two key questions: How do psychologists make sense of diagnosing bipolar disorder in adolescents? And do they rely on their education and lived experience in the diagnostic process? Drawing from developmental psychology, clinical decision-making theories, and ethical considerations, the study highlights the complexities and challenges of diagnosing bipolar disorder in youth. Semi-structured interviews with four psychologists were transcribed and analyzed to identify recurring themes, which emphasized the importance of collateral information, developmental context, and professional judgment. …


Civic Engagement Among African American Women And The 2024 Presidential Election, Arquena Dailey Oct 2025

Civic Engagement Among African American Women And The 2024 Presidential Election, Arquena Dailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although election data exists on the importance of African American women for the Democratic Party, a gap remains in the literature regarding the influences of African American women who participated in the Democratic Party civic engagement during the 2024 presidential election. Key findings from existing literature included the tension between hope and burnout and the reliance on faith-based and peer networks to sustain motivation. The purpose of this study was to explore the influences responsible for African American women’s civic engagement in the 2024 presidential election. This authentic narrative qualitative study’s conceptual framework was grounded in the digital peer influence …