Psychology Commons^™

The Meaning And Essence Of Rationalizing Workplace Injustice: A Phenomenological Study, Wendy F. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The extant literature on organizational justice (OJ) involves employee perceptions of fairness and justice in workplace decisions, outcomes, procedures, and interpersonal treatment. This research examined the dark side of these justice dimensions, including injustice acts of discrimination, bias, and unfair treatment. Workplace injustice is not an uncommon occurrence; however, a different reality emerges as employees are rationalizing their experiences. In this context rationalization involves individuals creating plausible explanations to justify the injustice, making it more acceptable and the psychological processes individuals employ through rationalizing. This qualitative study employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) examining the lived experiences of 12 participants. …

Comparative Efficacy Of Combined Versus Singular Auditory Alpha-Theta Brainwave Entrainment And Hypnotherapy Modalities In Chronic Pain Management, Jennifer Nicole Leavitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This experimental quantitative research, a randomized controlled trial, evaluated combined efficacy of auditory alpha-theta brainwave entrainment (BWE) and hypnotherapy in chronic pain management versus each modality alone. Chronic pain is a serious clinical challenge that may benefit from novel, nonpharmacological interventions. Previous studies have demonstrated benefits of both BWE and hypnotherapy for pain; but research on combined effects was not identified. This study hypothesized that a synergistic approach would offer superior pain relief compared to singular modalities. The study utilized a randomized controlled trial design with a sample size of 38 participants, initially, aged 25 to 65 years old, recruited …

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Effects Of Restrictive Factors On Previously Incarcerated Individuals’ Chances Of Recidivism, Tawanda Shantell Heim-Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the effects of perpetual restrictions and stigmatization for previously incarcerated individual’s vulnerability and efforts to reduce recidivism in society. The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s (1986) social theory as it explains the relationship between the theory of self-efficacy and motivation, and Maslow’s (1954) hierarchy of needs accompanied by humanistic and existential theorists Viktor Frankl’s (1946) logotherapy and Carl Roger’s (1951) humanistic psychology as it emphasizes basic needs for human existence and success which are contradicted by hinderance of perpetual restrictions. Because of the mass stigmatization of people who have been …

Military Children's Lived Experiene: A Continuous Parental Military Deployment, Detria L. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military deployments disrupt the stability of parent-child relationships, especially for adolescents navigating attachment during extended parental separations. This qualitative dissertation study explored the lived experiences of twelve Military Children (MC), ages 14-17, across the three key phases of a continuous six-month to one-year parental deployment: pre-deployment, deployment, and reintegration. This study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to capture MC perspectives on relational dynamics, emotional challenges, and attachment disruptions with both the deployed and non-deployed parents. Participants were recruited via social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), publicly distributed recruitment flyers, and participated in semi-structured interviews conducted through audio-video recorded interviews. …

The Effect Of Moral Bible Stories On Cheating Behavior In Young Children, Angela C. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study sought to evaluate how different versions of a Bible story affected children’s subsequent cheating and lying behavior in a temptation task. The first condition (relational) heard a story about Jacob cheating his brother and lying to his father, but he later told the truth and reunited with his brother. The second story (punitive) was the same up until Jacob had been running away from his brother for years, but in this version he did not tell the truth and never reunited with his family. The relational story emphasized the value of telling the truth while the punitive …

Illuminating The Communication Analysis Of Investigative Interviews And Interrogations: An Interdisciplinary Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis, Erica N. Heller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores communication in investigative interviews and interrogations through a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) across the three disciplines of communication, psychology, and criminal justice. This investigation was guided by two research questions: identifying communication themes in investigative contexts and examining the variations in how the disciplines approach investigative interviews and interrogations. Through the utilization of the QIMS method, this study investigated and analyzed interdisciplinary artifacts from academic and professional (gray) literature. This resulted in the discovery of two key themes, confession-focused goals and inconsistent terminology, and three sub-themes: interviewee focus, siloed mindset, and individualized methodological focus. The findings of …

Social Media, Religion, And Anxiety: Comparison Of Age Groups, Kaye Eileen Redeker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media has become an integral part of daily life for all age groups. The current research is mixed, showing both positive and negative effects from social media on mental health. This study aimed to examine how the duration of social media use compared with anxiety levels, and if religiosity had any effect on social media use and anxiety. It also wanted to determine if there was a correlation between religiosity and social media use, and how social media use and religiosity predicted anxiety. This study filled a gap in research by extending previous studies beyond adolescents and by including …

Living The Text: A Phenomenological And Metacognitive Analysis Of Nehemiah 9 As The Embodiment Of Scripture In The Processing Of Stored Trauma, Dimitrije Stanojevic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study defends the thesis that Nehemiah 9:5–37 is a sermon with psychotherapeutic qualities, aimed at processing unaddressed and cross-generationally stored trauma. It does so through two modes of interpretation: מְפֹרָשׁ “informing” andשֹׂום שֶׂכֶל “forming.” The sermon is delivered on the Day of Atonement, in the aftermath of a communal Scripture reading in Jerusalem, sometime after the return from the Babylonian Exile. Phenomenological and metacognitive frameworks inform the analysis of the passage as transformative and identity-shaping, grounded in repentance and self-reflection.

This textually rich passage weaves together quotations, allusions, echoes, reinterpretations, and summaries—likely the result of multiple editorial hands. Yet, …

Honor, Courage, And Commitment: Institutional Betrayal And Military Identity In Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Amanda Reine Bedford-Rank

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience elevated suicide risk and face unique treatment barriers; however, few studies have examined the role of military-specific constructs in shaping these barriers. This quantitative-correlational study investigated the relationship between institutional betrayal, self-stigma, military identity, and help-seeking attitudes among a sample of U.S. military veterans with PTSD (N = 142). This study also applied semi-qualitative questions to explore military-related trauma themes, PTSD literacy, neuroplasticity, PTSD perceptions, and military acknowledgment. Statistical analysis using SPSS revealed significant positive correlations between institutional betrayal and self-stigma, and a negative relationship with help-seeking attitudes. Notably, the Department …

The Role Of Moral Distress On Burnout And Spiritual Well-Being Among Clinical Healthcare Professionals, Stephanie R. Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clinical healthcare professionals often encounter situations in the workplace that create moral distress, influence spiritual well-being, and lead to the development of burnout. Much of the current research focuses on healthcare employees’ experiences with burnout and morality at work during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically among Asian and Middle Eastern populations. Gaps that exist in the current research include an examination of moral distress among clinical healthcare professionals in the United States in the post-COVID-19 era and an examination of the relationships between moral distress, burnout, and spiritual well-being. The current study aims to fill the gaps in the research by …

Comparing The Association Between Eastern Vs. Western Cultures And Secure Father-Son Attachments, Thomas David Ngugi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research sought to examine the particular elements of Eastern and Western cultures that either promote or hinder the development of secure father-son relationships through research and Biblical context, and suggest approaches to mitigate the factors that impede it. Participants (n=12) were at least 18 years of age, identified as fathers, had a son currently attending high school, and had a predominant cultural background from either the Eastern or Western regions. A purposive and snowball sampling method, face-to-face interactions, social media platforms, and other digital communication were employed to specifically target the needed participants in this phenomenological qualitative cross-sectional study. …

A Phenomenological Study: The Effects Of Mental Toughness On Female Athletes And Return To Competition Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Heidi R. Field

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL) are the most common severe season ending or career ending injury (Petushek et al. 2019). One ACL injury costs the individual and healthcare system $38,000 which includes surgery and rehabilitative costs (Petushek et al., 2019). However, this amount does not account for the psychological effect of ACL injuries on the athletes. For all athletes, a major determinant in the decision to undergo ACL reconstruction surgery is the goal of returning to sport, but only 50% of athletes return to sport following ACL surgical intervention (Ardern et al., 2011). As females are up to three times …

From Volunteer To Member Of The Church Body: How Meaningfulness, Self-Regulation, And Fairness Relate To Giving Of Time And Treasure, Billy J. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches rely almost exclusively on volunteers and committed members to fulfill their mission. With decreasing engagement and financial support among churchgoers, there is a need to understand what motivates volunteers to give their time and resources. This nonexperimental quantitative correlational study examined the relationships between church volunteers’ self-regulation, perceptions of meaningfulness, and fairness, with their reported level of internalization of the local church’s mission, evidenced by their giving behaviors. Utilizing data collected from 86 church volunteers on self-report measures, all validated from previous research and adapted to church context, correlational analyses showed no significant relationship between giving of time and …

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Black Men: Perceived Discrimination, Depression, Social Support, And Marital Satisfaction, D'Anthony Teon Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black Americans have long endured significant psychological distress due to racism and discrimination. Yet, limited research has examined how these stressors impact the mental health of Black males in the context of marital relationships. This study investigated the effect of perceived discrimination on depression in married African American men, examining whether marital satisfaction mediated this relationship and whether social support moderated it. Rooted in the historical legacy of systemic racism and modern forms of aversive discrimination, the study aimed to fill a gap in the literature concerning the intersection of race, gender, and mental well-being. Utilizing a diverse and well-educated …

Meaningfulness As An Avenue To Eudaimonic Well-Being In Remote Workers, Ashley Hofflander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between the perception of meaningful work (MW) and eudaimonic well-being (EW) in remote workers, its predictive capacity, and the mediating roles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Using the Work and Meaning Inventory (Steger et al., 2012), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989), and the Basic Psychological Needs at Work Scale (Ryan & Deci, 2000), data was collected and analyzed through Pearson correlation, simple regression, and mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between MW and EW (r = .56, p < .001), with MW significantly predicting EW (R² = .316, F(1,113) = 52.23, p < .001). Competence was found to mediate this relationship (β = .625, p < .001), while autonomy (β = .481, p = .425) and relatedness (β = .454, p = .274) did not demonstrate significant mediation effects. The study extends Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Model and Self-Determination Theory by emphasizing competence as a key mediator in remote work settings. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of fostering MW through purpose-driven job design and providing remote workers with the necessary training, resources, and feedback to enhance competence and improve well-being.

The Effect Of Defendant Race And Race Salience On Jury Verdicts, Emerson Allen

Senior Honors Theses

Researchers have reported conflicting findings about whether mock jurors are more, less, or equally likely to convict Black defendants in mock trials as compared to White defendants. Likewise, past studies have led researchers to disagree on the effect of race salience at trial on verdicts. I therefore examined whether Black defendants were convicted more often than White defendants, as well as whether making race salient in the defense closing argument would reduce guilty verdicts. I randomly assigned 207 participants to read one of four abbreviated trial transcripts in which defendant race (Black, White) and race salience (present, absent) were manipulated …

Navigating Eating Disorders Through Counseling, Alyssa M. Pelella

Senior Honors Theses

Many different characteristics are involved in eating disorders, each of which helps show that counseling is important to the recovery process. An eating disorder that goes untreated can lead to a higher degree of symptoms over time, like the use of waist trainers, laxatives, and calorie counting. These factors can cause guilt in an individual and can hinder relationships. Males are often overlooked in eating disorder instances, as is the Napoleon complex. Athletes are typically at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder as they are constantly working out, and many times are focused on a goal to fit …

The Ties That Bind: Co-Twin Influences On Psychopathology In A Sample Of Twins, Anjoli E. R. Cero

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has begun to better describe twinship and twin identity development, the potential advantages and disadvantages of twinship, and factors related to twins’ shared psychological symptomatology. Research also supports the concept of emotional contagion, in which one person’s emotional state can be transmitted to another person. This phenomenon may be more common among twins due to factors such as closeness, dependence, and general similarity. The current study proposed a series of regression models to investigate how predictive pathways toward anxiety among a sample of twins could be impacted by the psychological traits and functioning of their co-twins. The current sample …

Emerging Black Male Adults' Lived Experiences With Racial Microaggressions And Social Media, Ian L. Griffin Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Racial microaggressions on social media take a serious psychological toll on emerging Black male adults (EBMAs), leading to heightened stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Despite increasing awareness of these issues, research has yet to fully examine how religious involvement buffers the mental health effects of digital racial adversity. This study examined how EBMAs experience social media racial microaggressions, the impact of these encounters on their mental health, and whether engagement in religious activities helps reduce psychological distress. This research adopted a qualitative phenomenological design, integrating interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and thematic analysis to understand these experiences through microaggression theory …

The Impact Of Rural Recovery Residences On Individuals' Recovery, Brandon Robert Peter Mielke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of individuals currently residing in rural recovery residences, with particular attention paid to perceived helpful factors and challenges regarding living in the residence as well as comparing residents’ experiences to individuals’ experiences in urban recovery residences as delineated by previous studies, as there is little current research examining rural recovery residences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 men who resided in rural recovery residences at the time of the study’s completion. Three research questions guided the interviews and the subsequent comparative analysis: How do individuals living in rural recovery residences describe their lived experiences …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Christian Women With Having Absent Fathers: A Phenomenological Study Of Identity, Self-Esteem, And The Christian Faith, Catherine L. Newsome

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of 10 Black Christian women with absent fathers during childhood and adolescence. Using convenience sampling, these women were recruited through Facebook, TikTok, and email recruitment at Liberty University. The study’s criteria for participation were: (1) Black Christian women 18 years of age or older, (2) raised in a fatherless home during childhood and adolescence, and (3) raised with no stepfather in the home during childhood and adolescence. The study's findings revealed that the participants experienced a void due to the absence of a father figure, the lack of a father’s provision, and …

Parent-Child Relationship Satisfaction Influences After Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Is Delivered To An Anxious Child: A Quantitative Analysis From The Parent’S Perspective, Michelle S. Saunders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media culture is prevalent today, which encourages inclusion, exclusion, self-doubt, bullying, and other positive and negative social and emotional learning (SEL). Children are exposed to social media which has both positive and negative daily consequences. The prognosis and remission rates of anxiety are declining, with the risk of maladaptive regulation symptoms. A strong positive foundation of SEL promotes core identity, beliefs, morals, values, and interpersonal growth throughout a lifespan. Parenting styles (parent), the child’s psychosocial development (child), religious morals and values (religion), and psychotherapy (therapy) are influences of change that can help create healthy SEL. Therapy interventions are sought …

The Role Of Spirituality In Resilience Among Male And Female Education Staff And Role Differences, Cindi R. Bowling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Working in the field of education can be challenging, even more so seems the challenge following a worldwide pandemic. Resilience is needed in any career, but education is one in which it is needed on a continuous basis. Spirituality may increase resilience in life. The idea that Jesus died and rose from the grave for a fallen world and through the Holy Spirit there is power to overcome is one that can help people press through hard times in life. This correlational study examined the relationship between spirituality and resilience in educational staff post-pandemic. To do this, The Daily Spiritual …

Understanding Change Following Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: A Phenomenological Study, Melina K. Bricker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The field of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is growing and broadening, with significant implications for treatment-resistant behavioral health disorders for which traditional therapies have limited impact. Determining the efficacy of such treatments with populations seeking relief from trauma-related chronic behaviors must include an understanding of trauma’s complex impact on regulatory functioning, the perceptual and functional changes experienced as a result of PAT, and implications for future research in addressing trauma-related treatment resistance. To understand the phenomenon of change, questions of motivation, experience, and outcomes in this treatment type must be understood. In this qualitative phenomenological study, 10 patients at a ketamine-assisted …

Relationship Between Mental Health Education And Nurse Preparedness, Deborah C. O'Dell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study was to see if there was a relationship between the type of Mental Health education undergraduate nurses received or the number of Mental Health clinical days they experienced and how prepared they were to care for Mental Health Consumers (MHCs) when they first were employed. This information had never before been studied, so had the potential to change nursing curriculum and provide better care for MHCs. An anonymous survey using the Behavioral Health Care Competency’s questions was used and an invitation to participate was placed on various nursing discussion forums and social media sites. Participants (n = …

Relationship Between Motives For Social Media Use And Depressive Symptoms Among Young Adults, Ashley N. Santiago-Fernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today's world, where technology is advancing at an exponential rate, social media has become an indispensable part of the lives of young people. Research on the relationship between social media use and mental health has yielded mixed results, with some studies emphasizing its benefits while others highlight its negative impacts. To delve deeper into this phenomenon, this quantitative correlational study aimed to conduct a comprehensive study of the relationship between social media use and mental health, specifically depressive symptoms, among young adults. To contribute to the theoretical framework, the study consisted of an online survey (N=182) that assessed motives …

A Phenomenological Look At Licensed Professionals' Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Parental Alienation In The Family Court System, Jacqueline Ziebart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental alienation (PA) frequently emerges in high-conflict child custody disputes and is commonly understood as one parent encouraging a child to unjustifiably reject the other parent. The behaviors associated with PA encompass a complex form of family violence, incorporating elements of both intimate partner violence and child psychological abuse. As a polarizing and multifaceted social issue, PA necessitates further dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals. This qualitative research study explored licensed professionals’ perceptions and lived experiences of PA in the family court system. The research aimed to investigate the meaning professionals attributed to PA across individual, family, and institutional levels. …

Technological Attitudes, Social Media Usage, And Work Ethics Among Educators, Roshani Kundaria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the relationship between social media use, technological attitudes, and work ethics among K-12 educators in the United States. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many educators to transition to remote work and online teaching, individuals have more online presence and social interactions. Understanding how these interactions influence the values associated with work is essential. The decision to utilize a particular social media platform for personal use depends on educators’ individual needs, preferences, and circumstances. Positive and negative attitudes toward technology usage and dependence on technology were examined. The researcher found a negative correlation between technological attitudes and social …

Women Leaders In Healthcare: Emotional Intelligence, Job Satisfaction, And Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Kuan-Yin T. Timothee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and job satisfaction among women in nonclinical leadership roles within the U.S. healthcare sector. As healthcare organizations adapt to technological, social, and economic transformations, they must increase their focus on cultivating EI and promoting OCB, especially in leadership roles (Bowling & Sessa, 2021; Herr et al., 2022; Marstand et al., 2021). Additionally, research has shown that EI facilitates business development and diminishes obstacles to organizational sustenance. Although prior research has established a link between EI and OCB, there is …

Understand The Power Of Resilient Adult Survivors Of Childhood Neglect, Sheena Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of adults from New York (NY) and New Jersey (NJ) who have overcome adverse childhood experiences and describe their experiences in becoming resilient. Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to various health disparities, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and physical health concerns. However, limited research focuses specifically on resilience among survivors of childhood neglect and adversity. The study investigated the subjective experiences of adults residing in New York and New Jersey who have experienced high levels of ACEs, including neglect and abandonment. The study answered the following …