Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Obesity-Related Health Behaviors And Stress Among Sexual Minority Women, Kristen Andrea Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adult obesity rates have continued to rise with 40% of the adult population in the United States currently being categorized as obese. Sexual minority women are more prone to obesity than heterosexual women. Obesity has been linked to several causes of premature and preventable death and has often been attributed to changeable health behaviors such as physical activity, diet, and sleep. Additionally, stress has been shown to impact health behaviors as well as rates of obesity. Sexual minority women are known to experience more stress due to their minority status, a concept described in minority stress theory which states that …

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder In The Classroom, Gizelle Edith Tircuit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have identified emotional disturbance (ED) as the fastest growingdiagnosed disability among school-age children. The National Institute of Mental Health estimated that of the 473,000 school-aged students who would qualify as having an ED, the school systems formally identify only 1%. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is the most recent depressive disorder added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) and the newest subcategory of ED. There have been few studies on student populations with DMDD, and a significant gap exists in the literature supporting this population in the classroom. The purpose of the study was …

Prejudice Of Mexican American Students Toward Recently Immigrated Mexican Students, Peter Valle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prejudice against people of Mexican descent has been a pernicious social problem in the United States. A gap in the literature exists concerning racial and or cultural biases that may exist between Mexican immigrant students and U.S.-born Mexican American students. The purpose of this qualitative and phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of newly immigrated Mexican students facing prejudice from U.S.-born students of Mexican descent in the classroom. Interviews were conducted with five immigrant college students from Mexico living in Texas, recruited through social media and snowballing. The theoretical foundation was Tajfel’s social identity theory and in-group versus …

The Lived Experience Of Parents Of Children With Irlen Syndrome: A Biopsychosocial Perspective Of The Effects Of Tinted Lenses And Colored Overlays, Bettina Lenise Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reading illiteracy is a continuing problem in society. Irlen purported many individuals struggle with reading due to a perceptual processing problem called Irlen Syndrome (IS). Existing research supports the use of colored overlays and tinted lenses to alleviate reading difficulties but has focused primarily on the biological benefits of improved reading while neglecting the IS child’s psychological and social well-being. Viewed from a biopsychosocial perspective, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of parents of children with IS who used colored overlays or tinted lenses. Engel’s biopsychosocial theory acted as a guide for the …

Stressors Of Special Education Teachers Working With Autistic Students With Behavioral Challenges, Malisa Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In special education there are disabilities and health concerns teachers have to keep at the forefront when working with autistic students. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to gain knowledge and understanding regarding special education teachers’ perceptions of the stressors they experience when interacting with students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and who also have behavioral challenges. This study was grounded in transactional theory. Six participants were included, and semi-structured interviews were conducted via social media calls and phone calls. The following themes emerged: Participants believed that autistic students, while having behavior challenges, were capable of calming …

Vicarious Traumatization And Vicarious Resilience In Mental Health Professionals: An Investigation Of Group Differences, Marie Demchak-Buotte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate individual differences between mental health professionals with varied levels of clinical experience and their personal levels of vicarious trauma (VT) and vicarious resilience (VR) as measured by the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), respectively. A sample of 161 mental health professionals in New York State completed the scales and separate one-way between-subjects ANOVA tests examined the relationship between variables. A test for the moderating effect of the percentage of trauma clients on the clinician’s caseloads was also conducted between experience level of the clinician and their …

Poststroke Depression And The Lived Experiences Of The Family Caregiver And Care Recipient Dyad, Tiffany Chere' Gurley-Nettles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPoststroke depression in stroke survivors is a more common occurrence than once believed as the survivor of stroke must contend with the loss of their former self and with residual physical, communicative, cognitive, and/or psychological changes. Family members who become informal caregivers, with minimal to no training in some cases, may experience stress from having to adjust to new family roles and responsibilities. Limited information is available on the lived experiences of the family caregiver and the survivor of stroke. The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of the survivor or stroke with poststroke depression and …

Improving Staff Retention In Adolescent Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, Tasha C. Moses

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHigh direct care staff (DCS) turnover in psychiatric residential treatment facilities presents significant organizational challenges. Insufficient DCS levels and high turnover rates can undermine an organization’s ability to provide quality care to residents who have acute psychiatric symptoms, maintain a safe environment, and achieve strategic goals. This case study was grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework and focused on the DCS retention challenges experienced by a psychiatric residential treatment facility in the southeastern United States. Sources of data included semi structured interviews with seven organizational leaders, a review of organizational archival records, and an academic literature review. Thematic content analysis …

Impact Of Gender Of The Offender On Perceptions And Criminal Sentencing Of Child Sexual Abuse Cases In Puerto Rico, Sigrid Enid Vázquez-Tirado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The gender of the adult offender may influence perceptions and criminal sentencing of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases in Puerto Rico. Extralegal factors such as culture and stereotypes may impact how CSA crimes are perceived and handled. The traumagenic dynamic model and the focal concerns theory of sentencing provided the theoretical frameworks for the study. Data were gathered by convenience sampling. To measure perceptions and sentencing decisions, 525 participants were asked to read a hypothetical case of CSA by a teacher with a minor student. Point-biserial correlational analyses were used to assess the influence of the independent variable (sex of …

The Cbt Program "Thinking For A Change"And Its Impact On Offenders, James Wesson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe CBT Program “Thinking for a Change” and its Impact on Offenders By James Wesson

Forensic Psychology MS, Walden University, 2014Criminal Behavior MS, Tiffin University, 2012 Criminal Justice Administration BS, Tiffin University, 2011

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Studies –Criminal Justice with a specialization in Law and Public Policy

Walden University May 2021

Abstract One of the major problems that the United States criminal justice system faces regarding corrections is an exceedingly high rate of recidivism. The state of Ohio has been highly proactive in trying to address this …

Social Networking As A Motivator For Social Gathering, Henrietta Abeley Abbey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the United States, many activists use social media platforms to interact with protesters to organize demonstrations and protests rapidly. Some politically motivated social gatherings are organized online without the knowledge of government or law enforcement personnel. Gatherings can become violent and result in chaos. The purpose of this research is to determine the extent to which a variety of social media platforms contribute to New York City protesters and activists’ participation in demonstrations that potentially pose a threat to the community. The study involved a qualitative methodology explicitly focused on a phenomenological understanding of responses provided by activists and …

Volunteer Coordinators’ Practices To Motivate And Retain Volunteers In Animal Welfare Organizations, Amy J. Clement

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Animal welfare organizations depend on volunteers to continue to take care of animals and rehome them. Animal overpopulation is estimated at 70 million animals and without enough volunteers to help socialize them, they can be unadoptable and subject to euthanasia. The problem addressed through this study was volunteer turnover in animal welfare organizations and resulting negative impacts on animal welfare. Researchers have examined person-organization fit related to employee retention in for-profit environments but not the experience of volunteer coordinators in animal welfare organizations. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine practices and experiences of volunteer coordinators to …

The Political Astuteness Of The New Mexico Registered Nurse, Gloria Sue Doherty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States spends the most per capita of all the developed countries on healthcare but demonstrates the worst healthcare outcomes. National agencies have turned to Registered Nurses (RNs) to improve healthcare outcomes through participation in healthcare policy development. Although the recommendation for participation in policy development exists, RNs, including those in the U.S. state of New Mexico have not participated at high levels. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to measure the political astuteness of RNs in New Mexico and to determine to what extent nursing leaders have been successful in diffusing Institute of Medicine recommendations. Rogers’s …

Chronic Pain, Malingering, And The Word Memory Test, Dawn Marie Emmett Bishop

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe importance of using scientifically grounded strategies to detect malingering has been established in the literature and past research. Many reliable tools have been established for the detection of malingered neurocognition; however, research on how pain may affect these tools is sparse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pain on cognitive symptom validity testing and to establish the validity of the Word Memory Test (WMT), a cognitive symptom validity test with good sensitivity and specificity, when the test taker is feigning pain (simulating) or remembering pain. The biopsychosocial model and the gate theory of pain …

Delinquent Behavior And Recidivism Among Juveniles In The Southeastern United States, Anthony Bernard Essix Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, juvenile delinquent behavior has continued to rise despite attempts by the legal system and policymakers. Much of the research contributing to the understanding of juvenile delinquency and recidivism has been focused on risk factors believed to push an individual to show signs of delinquency. Limited research has been conducted to explain how policies affect juvenile behaviors. The current study examined risk factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency to determine if a factor may have been overlooked in prior juvenile studies. Based on anomie and strain theory, a qualitative method of general inquiry was used to gain …

Paradigm In Social Security Measures: Impetus For Policy Reform In Zimbabwe, Locary Kuponandishe Hlabanu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was intended to address lack of knowledge regarding how the social security system in Zimbabwe is perceived by recipients and government employees and what policy reforms could be sought. The study explored perceptions of participants regarding the existing social security system in Zimbabwe. The welfare state theory guided the detailed inquiry. A qualitative case study research design was used to extract feelings, thoughts, and intentions of recipients of social security and government employees and to explore how the results could be applied to improve social security policy in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from a nonrandom purposefully selected sample …

Nuclear Facility Emergency Management: Effective Implementation Of Training, Drills, And Exercises, Jesseca Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The continuous availability of affordable and sustainable energy is the essence of modern economies, not only in the developed countries, but also in developing countries. However, nuclear power also has considerable public health and safety hazards that create emergency situations that must be responded to urgently and effectively. It is necessary that every player in the nuclear industry implements effective training, drills, and exercises to ensure emergency preparedness and response in line with the federal requirements. The normalization process theory was applied in this qualitative, single case study to address the key factors needed for effective training, drills, and exercises …

Corruption In Togo's Land Registration And Its Impact On Real Estate Development, Gbati Kakaye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract:Researchers have asserted that following malaria and AIDS, land-related conflict, exacerbated by rampant real estate corruption, is the third-largest problem and leading cause of death in Togo. The current study provided a means of gaining better understanding of the impact of corruption on real estate development in Togo by addressing the following research questions: How is corruption manifested in Togo’s land registration process and how has corruption in land registration process impacted real estate development? Theoretically, the study was underpinned by the cultural and neo-institutional economics framework. Data were collected through individual interviews and a focus group discussion with 15 …

Ministry Of Education Management Committee Members’ Perceptions Of Shared Organizational Vision, Theresa Obiageli Mbonu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPersistent challenges in the Nigerian educational system have made education delivery ineffective as students’ performance levels on national examinations have remained low. Students’ average performance has been below 40% on the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) for 7 consecutive years in the region of this research. Stakeholders blamed heads of schools and teachers, yet the Ministry of Education made significant decisions about schools’ inputs. Leaders at the Ministry of Education may need to adopt a shared vision approach to addressing persistent educational challenges. There was no study available to indicate the understanding of educational leaders at this level concerning …

Social Work Practice And Childhood Obesity In Cumberland County In North Carolina, Patience Dione Ngalle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2018, approximately 20% of children aged 5 to 22 years in the United States suffered from childhood obesity, which results in long-term mental health needs. The purpose of this project was to better understand the effective strategies used by clinical social workers in addressing the mental health needs of obese children. Systems theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. The study also included a basic qualitative design. Six clinical social workers from six different practices based in Cumberland County, North Carolina, participated in this study. The results from computer-aided qualitative data analysis of the interview data that followed …

Job-Related Stress And Burnout On Turnover Intention Of Nurses In Dallas, Texas, During Covid-19, George Ochieng

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn a country with a large aging population such as the United States, nursing is a crucial profession that is also a high-stress and high-turnover occupation, leading to a shortage of nurses and increased healthcare costs. The year 2017 saw a 10-year high in nurse turnover. The general management problem is that current efforts to decrease the turnover of nurses remain ineffective. The specific problem studied was the high turnover of nurses in Dallas, Texas, linked to work-related stress and burnout. This quantitative nonexperimental regression and moderation research study aimed to study factors that predict or reduce turnover intention. This …

Treatment Efficacy Of Parent-Led Aba For Children With Autism And Their Parents, Lindsey Renee Sneed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex and heterogenous, neurodevelopmental disorder. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a common treatment modality for children with autism with marked improvements demonstrated in communication, social, and adaptive functioning. The most common implementation of ABA is a practitioner-led model, whereby a paraprofessional directly implements treatment with the oversight of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Parent mediated treatments are another model proving to be efficacious for children with autism and their parents. While this model is applied in therapeutic treatments such as speech pathology, early intervention, and other behavioral approaches (e.g., ESDM, PRT), parent mediated treatment has …

The Implementation Of David’S Law To Address Cyberbullying In Texas Public School Districts, Helene Marie Topping

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSince the advent of the internet and the proliferation of social media in recent decades, a new form of bullying, cyberbullying, has emerged with serious repercussions for the physical and mental health of many persons, especially youth. In response, legislation was passed in all 50 states, including Texas, where the mandate to address all bullying, including cyberbullying, behaviors in schools was formalized by David’s Law in 2017. This law requires that policy and procedures be put in place in Texas public school districts. The problem is that it has not been determined whether David’s Law has been implemented in all …

The Relationship Between Programming After Critical Incidents, Shootings, And Resilience In Police, Michelle Lise Vincent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine whether there was a relationship between resilience, posttraumatic growth, and reintegration programming after a critical incident and/or line of duty shooting through the cognitive, self-efficacy and resiliency theoretical lenses. The research aimed to determine if police officers, who participated in reintegration programming, specifically in this study, Edmonton Police’s Reintegration After Critical Incident programming, produced higher scores in resilience as measured on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and posttraumatic growth, as measured on the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory scale (PTGI), with Canadian police officers compared to police officers who do not participate in …

Resilience As A Moderator Between Adverse Childhood Events And Health In Motherhood, Katherine Walker Schneider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adverse childhood events (ACEs) and motherhood on a weighted linear composite of health status and health harming behavior, while moderating for a measure of resilience. Felitti’s theory of ACEs and Garmezy’s theory of resilience are the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions that are addressed in this study are how ACEs and resilience affect health-related outcomes in women and how motherhood influence health-related outcomes as a function of ACEs when moderated by resilience. A quantitative research design with a convenience sample was used to anonymously survey 205 …

Exploring The Religious Motives Of The Boko Haram Terrorism In Nigeria, Andrew Abah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Boko Haram (BH) terrorism in Nigeria has persisted for over a decade, and the attacks continue to get more sophisticated, deadly, and well-coordinated with each passing year. Given the sect’s focus on religious institutions, especially churches and mosques considered not to be practicing the kind of Islam the BH expresses, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the religious motivation that drives their terrorist activities. The primary research question that guided this qualitative study on the religious motivations, reconciliation of activities and beliefs, and perspectives regarding minimizing BH terrorism in Nigeria. The study’s theoretical framework was the frustration-aggression theory …

Effects Of Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Compassion Fatigue On Attrition Intention Of African American Mental Health Professionals, Kimberly A. Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe African American community tends to stigmatize mental health services and is underrepresented in both client and therapist populations. Retention of African American mental health professionals (MHPs) may mitigate distrust in these services, allowing more individuals to seek out counseling. The purpose of this nonexperimental survey study was to investigate if compassion fatigue, burnout, or compassion satisfaction can predict intended attrition rates in African American MHPs. Constructivist self-development theory was employed to predict both resiliency and the potential adverse effects of listening to client narratives of 99 African American MHPs with a variety of mental health credentials. Stepwise multiple regression …

The Lived Experience Of Family In Biological Children Living In Therapeutic Foster Homes, Maria K. Betts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Therapeutic-level foster homes provide housing and care for special needs children removed from their own homes. The addition of a special needs child can lead to increased family stress. However, recent reviews of the literature show that there is very little literature aimed at understanding what the biological children in these homes experience. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experience of family in adults who, as children, were these biological children. The family stress and coping model was used as a conceptual framework of understanding. Data were obtained from participants in Upstate New York from both …

The Successful Road Of Reentry After Conviction, Coretta Paula Butts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA problem exists for ex-convicts who are undergoing re-assimilation: their career options are limited once the label of ex-convict is applied to them. Labeling, which has created a gap between unsuccessful prisoner reentry and successful prisoner reentry, is a prevalent issue in the United States. Although research is available on the effects of labeling, limited information is available regarding the social effects labeling has on ex-convicts during their reentry process. The purpose of the study was to examine the current policies and procedures of Hillsborough County reentry programs in the state of Florida to investigate why they are failing to …

Florida’S Veteran Treatment Courts, John Rocco Capra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Following the terror attacks on the United States, an increasing number of veterans are returning to civilian life after having experienced service in active combat zones. As a result, many of these veterans are returning from their military service suffering from serious mental health issues and other injuries that include posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and major depression. Since the early 1990s, several specialized therapeutic courts have been developed as part of an effort to address a specific population within the state criminal justice systems. One of these recent court systems is the Veterans Treatment Court (VTC), created first …