Psychology Commons^™

Expectations And Outcomes Of Choosing Reiki For Rheumatoid Arthritis, Theresa Jimenez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about the use of Reiki as an alternative medical treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) symptoms and/or side effects. The current study addressed how sufferers of RA made their decision to use Reiki, their experiences using Reiki to treat their symptoms, and changes in their symptoms or side effects from RA. Two sets of in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 participants. The first interview addressed how decisions to use Reiki were made and the second interview addressed participants’ experiences with Reiki to treat their symptoms and side effects. Psychological attribution theory and the covariation attribution model were used …

Coping Strategies Among Disciplined Psychologists Working High-Conflict Custody Cases, Stephanie Joy Norris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychologists who work with high conflict custody cases have one of the highest risks of receiving a board complaint against their license. There is no qualitative research specific to psychologists who have been disciplined from their state licensing board because of their work with high conflict custody cases. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the meaning of the experiences of psychologists who have worked or are currently working on high-conflict custody cases and have received discipline from their state licensing board. The transactional theory of stress and coping was used as the foundation for which …

Stress, Coping, And Adjustment Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of Foster Care, Helen S. Hogin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research lacked information on the stress, coping, and adjustment of individuals transitioning to adulthood from foster care. Transitioning out of foster care when adulthood is reached can be challenging, resulting in mental and physical health problems, decline in overall wellbeing, and poor outcomes. Elevated stress can make coping and adjusting to social life more difficult. The purpose of this study was to explore former foster youths’ perspectives and experiences of stress and what coping strategies were effective as they adjusted to society. The transactional model of stress and coping served as the study’s framework. The research questions focused on …

Time Spent Gaming And Marital Quality: The Effect Of Mmorpgs, Kimberly J. Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is not known if, or to what degree, time spent playing massive multi online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) and adult attachment style affect marital quality. This study attempts to deliver a clearer image about the statistical links between MMORPGs and marital quality to better understand how MMORPGs can affect this relational area. Attachment theory is the theoretical model used in this study. The Hayes mediation analysis was used to answer the research questions. However, correlations were performed initially, to evaluate the suitability of the mediation analysis. The 240 respondents were selected using a convenience sampling approach, through the use of …

Attitudes Toward The Electability Of Atheist And Nontraditional Religious Candidates, Brittany Escobedo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Atheists are underrepresented in political office compared to their numbers in the general population. In the United States, anti-atheist prejudice is prevalent, likely contributing to the disparity in atheist representation. Informed by social identity theory and the sociofunctional approach to prejudice, the purpose of this study was to examine the comparative electability of atheists compared to other minority religious identities, as well as one nonminority option for a baseline reference of attitudes. Using the voter likelihood scale and three 7-point semantic differential scales, 579 participants rated their intention to vote for and their feelings of trust, disgust, and fear toward …

The Experience Of Conflicting Identities Amongst African American Law Enforcement Officers, Jeremy R. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement’s unjust treatment of African Americans is a worldwide concern but impacts the African American community in different ways, particularly African American law enforcement officers who are placed in conflicting positions. They aspire to see change and more conforming police treatment, compared to other racial populations, but work for the same organization that exhibits the biased treatment they desire to have abolished. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore African American law enforcement officers’ experiences of conflicting identities. The theoretical foundation was based on Turner’s theory of self-categorization (SCT). The key research questions addressed African American …

Educators’ Perspectives Regarding The Influence Of Prison Education Programs On Recidivism, Deana Payton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several factors impact whether inmates are successful upon release. Lack of education and job skills are critical reasons for unsuccessful reintegration. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and observations of prison educators regarding inmate participation and motivation in prison education programs. Cloward and Ohlin’s opportunity theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight prison educators. Results of axial coding and thematic analysis resulted in four themes: time commitment, access to programs, negative interaction, and incentives. Findings indicated that from the educator’s perspective, inmates who were motivated and …

Predictors Of Co-Rumination In Adolescent Friendships, Rebecca Emily Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Co-rumination is talking excessively about problems with another person such as a same-sex best friend. Co-rumination is found to impact adjustment, such that co-rumination is related to an increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms but also an increase in friendship quality. The consequences of co-rumination have been studied, but predictors of co-rumination over time have yet to be studied. The study investigated factors that may predict co-rumination such as attachment style (secure, dismissing, preoccupied), expectations of rejection (angry, anxious), and gender orientation (masculinity and femininity) over a 9-month period. Theoretical frameworks included response styles theory, maternal deprivation theory, and rejection …

Adults’ Reflections On Their Lived Experiences With Adolescent Social Anxiety Disorder, Shelley Marie Skelton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health disorders for children and youths, and social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the third most common anxiety disorder. SAD can negatively impact school performance, mental health, and healthy social development. In comparison to other forms of anxiety, current treatments for SAD have not been as efficacious. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore other factors of adolescent SAD, such as the role of resilience. The two research questions addressed the lived experiences of adolescents with SAD and how they developed resilience in relation to their SAD. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of …

Volunteer Motivation Of Individuals In Rural Pacific Northwest, Lenea Kindred Pierzchanowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Volunteering is a selfless social action in which an individual chooses to participate through personal motivations. These actions of public service are a combination of need-based vacancies within organizations and unpaid compensation for filling those needs. The purpose of this research was to identify motivational attributes of individuals who volunteer in the identified rural area using one-on-one semi-structured interviews through the lens of the volunteer process model, in addition to the social identity, ecological, and social capital theories. The 15 participants for this study were over the age of 18, fluently spoke and read English, and had been a volunteer …

Exploring Postsurgical Decision Attitudes Among Young Women Electing Hysterectomy, Mary Esther Webb-Tafoya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over half a million women undergo a hysterectomy procedure for reproductive issues each year. For over a decade, researchers have explored the impact of a hysterectomy on women over age 35 with a diagnosis of malignancy. Much less is known on the impact of an elected hysterectomy over alternative treatments for younger women with benign reproductive issues. The purpose of this study was to understand women’s postsurgical attitude towards an elected hysterectomy. A qualitative phenomenological design was used with purposive sampling to interview 15 women between 18-40 years of age who had a hysterectomy for a benign reproductive issue using …

The Lived Experience Of La Raza’S Membership In Lowrider Car Clubs: A Phenomenological Study, Elizabeth Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lowriding is a cultural practice that has become a way of life among some Raza or individuals of Mexican descent. However, the literature lacks an understanding of these individuals and what has influenced their participation in car clubs. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experience of Raza, who are members of lowrider car clubs. The theoretical frameworks were Erikson’s identity development theory, social identity theory, and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory. These guided this qualitative study to answer the following research questions: How Raza described their lived experience as members of a lowrider car club and …

Factors Predicting Counselor Education And Supervision Doctoral Student Career Choices, Lisa Corbin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the increased need for counselor educators, less than half of graduates of counselor education and supervision (CES) programs enter into faculty positions after graduation. There is also a significant lack of diversity among counselor educators. Some researchers found that the quality of a mentoring relationship influences the mentee’s self-efficacy and career choice. The purpose of this quantitative survey research study was to explore the perceived quality of the participant’s mentoring relationship as measured by the Mentorship in Clinical Training Scale (MiCTS) and whether that score predicted the participant’s career choice or a change in career choice, investigate whether students’ …

Empathy And Risk For Compassion Fatigue Among Immigrant African Pastors In The United States, Paul Affar Meenu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The importance of caregiver empathy in positive client outcomes has been established in the literature. However, helping traumatized people has a potentially deleterious emotional effect on the helping professional, putting them at risk for compassion fatigue. The stress-process model provided the framework for the study. Survey data were collected from 138 immigrant African pastors in the United States. Compassion fatigue dimensions were measured by the Professional Quality of Life Scale, and empathy dimensions were measured by the Empathy Assessment Index. Results of multivariate canonical correlation analysis revealed that empathy predicts compassion fatigue susceptibility. Pastors who scored low on empathy subscales …

Behavioral Strategies And Predicting Impulsive Aggression In Among Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Raul Alafa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have explored the relationship between the application of written attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impulsive aggression (IA) behavioral intervention strategies with current public-school educational plans in reducing aggression and how exclusion of behavioral strategies may increase aggression and impact students’ long-term ability to control emotions. However, the social learning theory of aggression suggests that positive self-efficacy and modeling may improve effective coping. This study explored the relationship between aggression as measured by the modified overt aggression scale and the individualized education program (IEP)/504 Plan behavioral strategies’ effectiveness for ADHD aggression as measured by a repeated measured analysis of variance. Data …

Continuing Education And Predictors Of Self-Reported Professional Competency Among Trauma Counselors, Desiree Lynn Grin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractContinuing Education and Predictors of Self-Reported Professional Competency Among Trauma Counselors by Desiree Lynn Grin

MS, Walden University, 2019MA, Capella University, 2009 BS, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 2003

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counseling Psychology

Walden University November 2021 Abstract Currently, there is limited research about outcomes for therapists who choose to engage in professional trainings for ongoing education. Although other professions track this kind of information, there is a dearth of information for mental health counselors. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of counselors’ motivations, …

African American Men’S Negative Personal Experiences With And Trust In Police, Cachet Dominique Burks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men’s negative experiences with the police have impacted their trust of police. Many African American men have experienced psychological trauma, more specifically posttraumatic stress disorder, due to their encounters with police. As a result of these negative personal experiences, their reporting of crimes has decreased significantly, and gun-related violence is going unreported. There is limited literature on this topic. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore the negative personal experiences that some African American men have with police officers and their experiences of trust of law enforcement. Personal construct theory, which is a theory that …

Effect Of Human-Animal Interactions On Retail Employees’ Job Satisfaction And Job Performance, Michelle Elizabeth Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that companion animals can have a positive effect on people who suffer from mental and physical illnesses; however, few studies have considered the impact of human-animal interactions (HAIs) on employees in the work environment. This quantitative study investigated the effect of HAIs on 146 employees’ job satisfaction and job performance in three retail environments with a range of potential animal interactions: retail store with no animal presence (none), retail store with occasional animal presence (occasional), and retail store with persistent animal presence (constant). Retail employees’ job satisfaction and performance in each retail setting were assessed using the …

The Role Of Psychological Distress In Maintaining Exercise After Cancer Diagnosis, Patrick Tertulien

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCancer affects the lives of thousands of people every day and is a leading cause of death. Exercise has been shown to yield mental and physical benefits for patients and survivors, but the experiences of cancer patients who face a multiplicity of psychological stressors have not been clearly described. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the psychological factors that are associated with continuing to exercise after cancer diagnosis, during and/or following their treatment. The focus was on how cancer survivors maintained a regular routine of exercise while experiencing psychological distress associated with cancer diagnosis, treatment, and concerns …

Social Determinants Of Health And Health Behaviors Of Hispanics, Suheily Valderrama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mexican Americans experience higher morbidity and mortality than non-Hispanic whites, a problem known as health disparities, which is often explained by differences in social determinants of health (SDH). SDH are social and economic conditions that influence health-related behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between SDH (income, education, neighborhood safety, and health care access), and health behaviors (diet, sleep, and physical activity) of Hispanics. The cumulative inequality (CI) theory was used to inform this study. A secondary data analysis of 37078 Hispanic adults who completed the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey was conducted. …

Reduced Recidivism In Drug Offenders By Treatment Involving Motivational Interviewing, Meleeka Clary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIncarcerated substance users frequently recidivate because of a lack of substance treatment; it was not known whether motivational interviewing (MI) significantly reduces recidivism among substance users. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MI as a treatment method for reducing recidivism among incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders. Social cognitive and extrinsic motivation theories served as the theoretical foundation for the study. Motivation is an important factor in offender engagement with treatment and has been linked to improved treatment outcomes. The research questions asked whether the availability of MI in detention facilities was significantly related …

Experience Of Nigerian Female Prostitutes Who Are Victimized By Police, Anitha Scroggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian police are not trusted by the population they swore to protect because they often assault, manipulate, exploit, and humiliate citizens as a form of intimidation to achieve a personal gain, especially from those who are involved in illegal activities like prostitution. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of Nigerian prostitutes and learn how they use adaptive coping strategies to cope with the stress of police victimization. This study’s underlying theory was the distress tolerance theory, which was utilized to understand the emergence of adaptive coping strategies. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with …

Resilience As A Moderator Between Food And Housing Insecurity And Mental Distress, Denise Mchugh Loggie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of food insecurity (FI) and housing insecurity (HI) in college students has increased over the last decade along with an associated increase in mental health problems. Studies show significant increases in many markers for mental distress in this population including a higher prevalence of mood disorders, non-lethal self-harm, and attempted and completed suicides, particularly over the last decade. Compounding these challenges is the low level of resilience found in college-age young adults, potentially limiting their ability to cope with and recover from the hardship of FI and HI. This quantitative study, guided by resilience theory and Maslow’s hierarchy …

Strategies For Establishing A Diverse Workforce Within A University Health System’S Department, Shanee Chantel Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Balanced diversity in health care promotes patient satisfaction and enhances innovation. Obtaining a culturally balanced workplace requires recruitment strategies that encourage inclusiveness among team members from various backgrounds. The purpose of this doctoral study was to explore the issue of lack of diversity in a behavioral health organization’s (BHO’s) student intern program and identify strategies for creating greater diversity in the workplace. The Baldrige excellence framework, the conceptual framework that guided the research, was designed to help BHOs to improve their overall business performance to accomplish goals and increase organizational sustainability. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: diversity training, …

School Personnel’S Perceptions Toward Transfer Versus Nontransfer Students In A Borderland School, Maria Isabel Quiñones Velez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School personnel serving highly transient student populations in borderland schools in the southwestern United States may have different perceptions toward transfer students and nontransfer students. Few quantitative studies have measured the perceptions that arise as school personnel confront the unique challenges of providing services to transfer students. Research-based evidence of the perceptions of school personnel in a southwestern border town is needed. The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify the presence, or not, of different perceptions of school personnel toward students who transfer from other school systems due to specific circumstances versus the perceptions toward nontransfer students who …

Ghanaian Immigrant Women In The United States Beliefs About Maternal Nutrition And Fetal Development, Yassi Azhdari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ghanaian women, in their native country, experience a high rate of anemia, malaria, and malnutrition while pregnant. Poor health outcomes for mother and child are caused by a lack of protein in their diet, food taboos, consumption of nutrient-poor foods, and infections. These conditions may cause pregnancy complications such as premature birth, or maternal or fetal death. There is little known about, the differences between the Ghanaian and U.S. birth experience, and foods used by Ghanaian immigrant women while pregnant. The biopsychosocial model was used in this descriptive qualitative study to examine how Ghanaian immigrant women are impacted by pregnancy …

Lived Experiences Of Parents Regarding Their Elementary-Age Child’S Exclusion From School Due To Behavioral Problems, Lauren Claire Ferber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDisciplinary exclusion, particularly school expulsion, presents a significant challenge to school-age children and their families. Although the impacts of disciplinary exclusion from school on children are well-known, less is known about how this phenomenon affects their parents. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of parents who have a child who has been subjected to disciplinary exclusion due to behavioral problems in the classroom. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory provided the framework for this study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 12 parents of children who faced exclusion. Four themes emerged from coding analysis: …

The Association Between Teacher Attachment Style And Student Engagement, Susan Bonnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The teacher-student relationship is an important dynamic in student engagement. Higher education retention strategies include the teacher-student relationship as a focus. The present study focused on the attachment style of the teacher and the impact that it has on student engagement. The theoretical basis for this study was Bowlby’s attachment theory. Student engagement, both behavioral and academic, was measured after 9 weeks of a semester in general education classes. A quantitative design was used to determine the relationship between the teacher’s attachment style and student engagement. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the results. Significant differences …

New York City Police Officers’ Experiences Of 9/11, Christine Fiore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPolice officers were some of the first responders to the World Trade Center bombings on September 11, 2001. Longitudinal studies have revealed that some New York City (NYC) police officers were better able to cope than others, yet the long-term effects of officers’ coping strategies are unknown. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the coping strategies used by NYC police officers during 9/11 and how these police officers continue to cope with their experiences today. Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping provided the foundation for this study. The participants included nine NYC police …

Puerto Rico School Administrators’ Authentic Leadership And Turnover Intent Moderated By Supervisor Support, Cristal Vazquez Davila

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The turnover rates of Puerto Rican high school teachers continue to increase and have an adverse effect not only on the quality of education but also on the budget of Puerto Rico’s Department of Education (PRDE). By examining the factors of perceived supervisor support and authentic leadership influencing teachers’ turnover intentions, steps can be taken to reduce the turnover rates. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between school administrators’ authenticity and the turnover intentions of a sample of high school teachers employed by the PRDE. The framework was based on social exchange theory, authentic leadership theory, …