Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

A Retrospective Analysis Of Integrative Group Medical Visits For Low-Income Patients With Anxiety Disorders In Primary Care, Annamma Udaya Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High utilization of the emergency department (ED) by patients with anxiety symptoms has brought attention to mental health access disparities among low-income racially/ethnically diverse populations. The health system in this study attempted to increase access to mental health care with integrative group medical visits (IGMVs), a nonpharmacological intervention with biomedical care consultation, health education, and peer support. The purpose of this retrospective comparative analysis, guided by integrative health equity in primary care framework, was to determine whether patients with diagnoses of anxiety who attended four or more IGMVs had reduced nonemergent ED utilization, reduced prescribed doses of benzodiazepine (BZD), and …

Adult Day Care Staff Education To Improve Communication And Behavioral Management Skills, Kathy Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIneffective communication and behavioral management skills are quality and safety issues that were identified at a local adult day care facility in the Southwest United States. Administrators at the facility identified a knowledge gap in communication and behavior management techniques for patients with cognitive impairment. An educational program, with a PowerPoint presentation and verbal feedback as key components, was developed and used to address the identified gap in practice related to individuals with cognitive impairments at the facility. The adult learning theory and the plan-do-study-act model provided supportive frameworks for program development and staff education. The project question explored whether …

Emotional Reactions In First-Time African American Fathers During The Postnatal Period, Aisha Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIndividuals who have recently become first-time parents can find the experience to be both rewarding and challenging. While research has mainly focused on the challenging experiences of first-time mothers after giving birth, recent studies have begun to find that first-time fathers may have just as difficult a time adjusting to their new role. Most research studies conducted in this area have primarily focused on the experience of European American and Asian American first-time fathers and not specifically on African American fathers. Social exchange theory was used in this interpretive phenomenological analysis study to explore how first-time African American fathers handled …

Factors Associated With Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Persons With Serious Psychological Distress, Minn A. Oh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Serious psychological distress (SPD) is an important individual and public health concern, but inconsistent results exist in the literature in terms of help-seeking behaviors and health-related outcomes among persons with SPD. The purpose of this study was to address this issue and understand clinical factors, access and quality of care factors, and sociodemographic factors associated with help-seeking behaviors among adults with SPD using the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). CHIS data were collected in 2015 as a part of a two-year cycle (2015-2016) and surveyed 42,089 adults. For multivariable analyses, logistic regression analyses were performed. Participants with chronic health conditions …

Social Support Experiences Of Stably Housed Emancipated Foster Youth, Camron L. Whitacre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth emancipating from foster care are at increased risk of housing instability and homelessness and have reduced access to needed social supports to aid in the difficult transition to independent living. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived formal social support experiences of stably housed emancipated foster youth. Purposive sampling techniques and inclusion criteria guided the recruitment of nine study participants from a state-administered postemancipation services program to take part in semistructured interviews. A conceptual framework, including social convoy and attachment theories, informed inquiry, and interpretation of findings. Participant lived experiences illuminated the importance of …

African American Mothers’ Experience In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Lauren Magruder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black/African American (B/AA) mothers struggle disproportionately with problems related to childbirth. B/AA mothers have higher rates of premature births, infant death prior to age one, and death during childbirth. The purpose of this research was to add to present knowledge regarding B/AA mothers who have had a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Womanist theory was selected as a framework for the study because it focuses on the intersection of gender and race in relation to B/AA women. The experience of B/AA women in U.S. society is unique, in that it involves several pervasive stereotypes and controlling images. …

Substance Use, Mental Health Problems And Missed Appointments By Race, Gender, And Sexual Orientation Among Hiv-Infected Individuals, Abraham Adonis Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disproportionately affects African American men who have sex with men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 African American adult and adolescent African American men accounted for 42% (16,002) of all HIV diagnoses (37,968). Furthermore, while substance use is common among this population, in previous studies very few individuals with HIV have reported receiving substance abuse treatment or discussing substance use with HIV medical providers. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in substance use/mental health problems by race, gender, and sexual orientation among HIV-infected individuals. This study also …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are high rates of recidivism among U.S. Black youth when compared to other races, such as Whites and Hispanics. The purpose of the study was to examine the lived experiences of Black youth in the juvenile justice system and in diversion programs. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, twelve Black adults between the ages of 18 to 40 were interviewed about their lived experiences while participating in mental health courts and in-home probation as youth. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the risk, need, and responsivity model. The primary research question examined the lived experiences and perceptions …

The Experience Of Therapists Working With Mexican American Children Of Substance Abusing Parents, Tracy M. Basile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe need for culturally competent mental health providers and the Mexican American immigrant population in the United States are growing. This study focused on themes from therapists’ narratives that may help to comprehend the intricacy of difficulties facing Mexican American children living with substance-abusing parents. The firsthand knowledge and experiences of the therapists who have worked with this population provided a basic understanding of what to expect and which therapeutic interventions may work best for both the child and their parents. The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to qualitatively identify therapists’ lived experiences and understand how they interacted with …

Mental Health Provider Experiences Among Juvenile Offenders With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Vanessa West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has indicated various treatment options available such as medication management or family therapy for juvenile offenders struggling with a diagnosis of, or symptoms of, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Exploring mental health clinicians’ perceptions may provide insight into treatment needed for this population to contribute positively to society. Past researchers refrained from obtaining mental health clinicians’ perspectives on treatment when working with this population. Rational choice theory indicates that individuals examine the costs and benefits of their actions prior to making decisions. Gestalt/feature-intensive processing theory promotes the inclusion of necessary information to help with processing when making decisions. Youth …

Educational Strategies For Healthcare Providers Of Postpartum Women With Substance Use Disorder, Agnes Denise White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProviding educational strategies to maternal-child staff members can improve their attitudes, perceptions, and stigma towards the childbearing age women who are substance users. In the United States, an increased number of pregnant women have substance abuse problems. It is important that the maternal child staff have the resources and are equipped to care for women who are substance users struggling with their addictions and motherhood. The purpose of this project was to determine whether an educational program provided to postpartum nurses increased knowledge on the special needs of the new mother with a substance abuse issue. The education of the …

Effects Of Attribution And Appraisal Of Control On Emergency Department Nurse Stress When Treating Patients With Severe Mental Illness, Cynthia Lynn Bentzen-Mercer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAs the prevalence of severe mental illness continues to rise and access to mental health care is scarce, an increasing number of U.S. adults seek treatment in emergency departments. Nurses who triage the severity of a medical emergency may appraise the situation both through the lens of mental illness stigma and the degree of confidence they have to control the outcome. However, the research community knows little about the extent to which attribution and appraisal of control affect nurses’ appraisal of stress. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental, canonical correlational study was to examine the extent to which various combinations …

Post-Conflict Mental Health Policy And Substance Use Among Liberian Adults, Ekua Amonoo-Lartson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe objective of post-conflict countries after an extended period of war and trauma is to maintain peace and stability. However, the physical and psychological effects of substance use to cope with the devastation of war remains long after the crisis has ended. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine substance use among Liberian working-age adults, including their substance use habits, experiences with substance use, and access to mental health rehabilitative treatment. The access to medical care theoretical framework was used to guide the study. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews with 15 individuals regarding their experiences …

The Experience Of Recovery From Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Black Men, Zeneth Myrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can result in consequences that are devastating and long lasting. Differences in the nature of CSA for males and females potentially influence recovery and the role of moderating factors, such as spirituality. Studies of recovery from CSA, especially men's experiences of recovery, are relatively few indicating that this is an under researched area. This lack of studies is particularly evident for ethnic minority groups. While addressing the gap in the literature, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of recovery from CSA among African, Caribbean, Black identified male survivors of CSA living …

Reducing The Rate Of Physical Interventions By Increasing Staff Confidence When Using Verbal De-Escalation Techniques, Elizabeth Pavlesich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When working with patients who have the potential to become physically aggressive, verbal de-escalation is an important technique that can defuse a dangerous situation. At the project site in the mental health emergency department (MHED), workplace violence was on the rise based on the reported use of physical interventions (rates of brief holds and physical restraint use). The purpose of this quality improvement evaluation project was to determine whether an educational training program on verbal de-escalation techniques would increase staff’s confidence in the use of verbal de-escalation and decrease the rate of physical interventions used in the MHED. The change …

Missionary Kids And Trauma, Lindsay Elizabeth Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMissionary Kids and Trauma by Lindsay E. Stone

MA, Walden University, 2019MA, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2010 BS, Charleston Southern University, 2006

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human and Social Services

Walden University February 2021 Abstract Missionary kids (MKs) around the world are more exposed to trauma than non-MKs. MKs often struggle with grief, loss, and stressors of cross-cultural living. Childhood trauma leads to short-and long-term effects of trauma, often into adulthood. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore adult, Christian MKs’ perceptions of external trauma on …

Teacher Perception On Integrating School Psychology In The Developing Nation Of Grenada, Carla Erica Maria St. Louis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractInternationally, formalized school psychology and related services strive to address the academic and mental health of students in schools. In developing nations, teachers are the primary professionals to address students’ needs in schools. Little research has focused on teachers’ perceptions of students’ needs, available services’ quality, and how formalized structures with qualified certified professionals can further address students’ needs. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems and Nastasi’s participatory culture-specific intervention model are the theoretical underpinnings of this qualitative study and focus group interviews were used to investigate special education needs (SEN) teachers’ perceptions. Data were collected using open ended questions and probes with …

The Systemic Experiences Of Social Workers In An Inpatient, State Psychiatric Hospital, Kesia Gwaltney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The National Alliance on Mental Illness surmised that 1 in 25 (9.8 million) adults in the United States are diagnosed with a serious mental illness annually. Of the 9.8 million people diagnosed, approximately 63% of them are psychiatrically hospitalized with repeat hospitalizations within 1 year of discharge. Social workers play a vital role in the treatment modalities of the patients they serve in the psychiatric hospital; however, there is no research that examined the professional systemic experiences of social workers in state, inpatient psychiatric hospitals and how these experiences may affect treatment outcomes of patients as it relates to frequent …

Ambivalence Over Emotion Expression And The Effects Of Religious Coping In African American Christians, Anya Loraine Dobbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are 10% more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to report having serious mental health issues from psychological stressors. Mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety, that arise from psychological stressors, are more than likely to go untreated in African Americans. African Americans are more likely to turn to religion- their church, their pastors, and fellow parishioners to address these concerns. Religion and religious coping has influenced African Americans’ attitudes regarding help-seeking and mental health treatment, with the “Black Church” historically being a source of many things, including mental health care. Pargament’s theory of religious coping served as a …

Therapists' Perspectives On Aiding Individuals To Maintain Social Connection While Struggling With Health Concerns, Shari Howington-Carlin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore therapists’ perspectives on aiding individuals to maintain social connection while struggling with health concerns. Social relationships support physical and psychological well-being, yet individuals struggling with physical or mental health issues often have difficulty maintaining their relationships. Therapists, as health professionals, often discuss physical as well as emotional health concerns with their patients, including components of physiological and psychological heath care. Emerging neuroscience is aiding in understanding how research in this field supports early intervention for health outcomes around healthy social and family relationships during chronic disease or illness onset.The researcher conducted a phenomenological …