Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Examining Negative And Positive Consequences Of Acknowledging White Privilege, Davery Bettger, Jenna Saunders, Piljoo Kang

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Acknowledging racial privilege can be a psychologically distressing experience for White individuals, potentially eliciting feelings of guilt that threaten one’s positive self-image. By conducting qualitative empirical research through semi-structured interviews with 36 young White individuals in the southern United States, we found that some participants believe guilt about White privilege hinders their ability to view themselves positively. Others believed that the guilt they felt played a constructive role in addressing and changing their own biases or engaging in social justice. Therefore, the way that White people experience guilt may have an impact on their attitudes and behavior surrounding White privilege.

Exploring The Research On The Transformative Power Of Narrative Therapy, Hajar Ouakrim, Craft Baine

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Narrative therapy is a dynamic method that highlights the importance of individual narratives in forming personalities and perspectives. When going through the process of communicating your struggles and removing existing dominant narratives, narrative therapy allows individuals to cultivate preferred narrative including their identities, connections, and emotions. Although there have been numerous studies of narrative therapy in various contexts, to date, no study has attempted to summarize these findings. Therefore, we are conducting a meta-analysis to identify trends in the effectiveness of narrative therapy. Our analysis includes 87 empirical studies of narrative therapy.

"I Don't Have White Privilege Because I Worked Hard For What I Have", Jenna Sanders, Piljoo Kang, Adrianna Mceachern

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Despite being an important research topic, there is a dearth of empirical studies on how White individuals understand White privilege and their identity. We have conducted qualitative research by interviewing 36 White young adults attending a Southern United States liberal arts college. The interviewees' responses were qualitatively analyzed using keywords and thematic categories and ranged from denial to acceptance of White privilege. White privilege means their successes would no longer be the reward of hard work but the result of an uncontrollable factor: race. In this case, they clarify that their parents or themselves started with nothing and had to …

Employment Role Change And Resilient Coping On Affective Well-Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hatun Almuhanna, Penelope Seminario, Lynette Bikos

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of employment related role change directly upon affective well-being and indirectly through resilient coping in the first year-and-a-half of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 197; age M=48.85, SD = 15.28) completed up to 24 waves. Results suggested that the direct effect of role change on affective well-being was statistically significant (B = 0.037, p < 0.024). Although there was a significant effect of resilient coping on affective well-being (B = 0.227, p < 0.001), the indirect effect passing from employment role change through resilience coping to affective well-being was not (B = 0.002, 95CI -0.006, 0.010, p 0.574). The results speak to the centrality of the employment role.

Factors Influencing Shelter Dog Retention And Return, Hallie Anselmi

School of Psychology, Family, and Community Research Conference

Adopting a dog from a shelter is an impactful decision for both dog and owner. To better understand adoption outcomes, I explore the influences of a dog’s age, time spent in the shelter (SLOS), and time in foster care. Data from a Washington shelter (n = 224) were analyzed using a logistic regression and correlations. The regression indicated no significant results between the variables, however, there was a significant correlation between age and SLOS. The data was limited by a small return sample. Overall, this study helps add to the narrative for how shelters can increase adoptions and decrease returns.

Social Identity Comparison Of Black And White Students Of Attend Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Korliss Hall Datcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Throughout college, social identity and belonging to social groups significantly shape an individual’s identity. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have become more diverse as more White students, faculty, staff, and administrators have begun to learn and work in this environment. This mixed-methods study aimed to contrast self-reported measures and experiences between Black and White students attending historically HBCUs. Social identity theory guided the study, as the theory suggests that groups, such as family, culture, and academic class, play a significant part in establishing pride and self-esteem. The qualitative component of the study explored the perceptions of social identity among …

The Lived Experience Of Parents With Newborns In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu): A Heuristic Inquiry, Abigail Bilyk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents with newborns who require medical care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) immediately following birth are at an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress. While quantitative research studies have determined that a NICU admission can have detrimental effects on parents, a better understanding of the lived experience for both mothers and fathers is necessary to ensure adequacy in the standard of care given to parents while their newborn is admitted to the NICU. The phenomenon has not previously been explored using the phenomenological approach of heuristic inquiry. Constructivism, social constructivism, and the transactional model of stress and coping …

Impact Of Workplace Racial Discrimination On The Health Of Black Men, Denise Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived racially discriminatory experiences of Black men in the workplace in New York City and how those incidents affected their overall health. The study used Critical Race Theory as the theoretical framework and analyzed data gathered through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants. Findings from coding analysis indicated that Black men routinely engaged in acts of John Henryism to receive positive recognition as they navigated negative societal stereotyping, namely proving that they, as individuals, were not negative stereotypes. Additionally, the study revealed that exposure to racial discrimination in the workplace …

Effects Of Personality On The Relationship Between Hybrid Work Characteristics And Employee Engagement, Cassandra J. Brewer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need for remote work has sparked a global discussion about the prospects of adopting home, office, remote, and hybrid work patterns. There are opportunities and challenges with the adoption of remote and hybrid work from individual, group, and leadership perspectives. In a post-COVID-19 world where changes to the way individuals work have been impacted, this study addresses the effect of the built environment on employee engagement and whether personality impacts the relationship between hybrid work characteristics and employee engagement in the modern workplace. A quantitative non-experimental, correlational multiple regression research design was used to analyze the relationships between variables. …

Ripl: Recursive Inference For Policy Learning, Kunal Jha, Jeremy R. Manning, Alberto Quattrini Li

Computer Science Senior Theses

Humans excel at understanding the thoughts and intentions of others (theory of mind) and leverage this ability to learn and adapt in social environments. However, replicating this capability in artificial agents remains a challenge. This paper explores the gap between fast, efficient learning often achieved by Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms and the interpretability and adaptability desired in agents interacting with humans. We propose a novel approach that integrates an inference network within existing RL frameworks. This allows agents to reason about the beliefs of others (nested reasoning) while learning optimal actions. Our method leverages approximate solutions to the I-POMDP framework, …

Consciousness And The Reality Of Monsters In Horror Movies: Dehumanization And What Monsters In Horror Films Say About Us, Leila Kincaid

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This essay responds to Carroll’s The Nature of Horror from the perspective of transdisciplinary phenomenological film theory, largely developed by Edgar Morin in the 1950s. It argues that Carrolls’s reduction of the phenomenological value of horror films to an unreal category minimizes and even dismisses the inherent value of horror films. Morin, Allan Combs, and others offer more integral and transdisciplinary methods for art interpretation and functionality. They help us understand how monsters in horror films can stand as mirrors and reflections of the monstrous in ourselves and society. Thus, the transformational function and value of film is revealed and …

The Impact Of Irrational Beliefs On Dysfunctional Decision-Making In B2b Salespeople, Barron W. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations

The complexity of the contemporary business-to-business (B2B) sales landscape requires salespeople to respond faster, be more knowledgeable, and add more value to buyer interactions than ever before. As such, B2B salespeople must carefully consider the impact of their decisions since they have the potential to directly impact organizational revenue and bottom-line outcomes. The present research utilizes rational-emotive behavior theory to examine judgment and decision-making in B2B salespeople. Research questions are presented and tested with a sample of 306 B2B salespeople using structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis reveal that irrational beliefs lead to dysfunctional emotions, and in turn, …

Vocabulary Retention And Color Effect Differences Among Developmental Community College Students, Eric Scott Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The completion of developmental community college (DCC) courses is a crucial step in community college education to reach the national goal of increasing college success. DCC students are a unique population who require specific strategies such as vocabulary retention (VR) to achieve academic success. Prior research on vocabulary has been limited to VR and color effects. However, there is a lack of research on the intersection of these two variables (VR and color effects). This quantitative research study used the theoretical lens feature integration theory (FIT) to examine the effects that text color has on VR among DCC students. Additionally, …

Impact Of Toxic Leadership On The Mental Health Of Employees In Texas State Agencies, Dr. Monika Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the impact of toxic leadership on the mental health of employees within Texas state agencies, utilizing betrayal trauma theory (BTT) as the theoretical framework. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, specifically through semi-structured interviews with eight employees who have experienced toxic leadership firsthand. These interviews aimed to uncover the psychological effects of such leadership on employees, with particular attention to symptoms of stress, anxiety, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that toxic leadership was significantly associated with increased psychological distress among employees. This distress manifested as heightened anxiety, depression, …

It Takes A Village: Stories Of Black Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Cherieda A. Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While several studies have reviewed the experiences of Black grandparent caregivers, there are limited sources that describe the stories of Black grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren and the challenges they face. Utilizing the concepts from Bowen family systems theory, the goal of this study was to explore the stories of Black grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren to discover preventive and enhanced counseling techniques for the next generation. Data were collected and analyzed from narrative inquiry interviews with six participants who were Black caregivers for their grandchildren in the state of Mississippi. After analysis of the data, …

The Self-Perceived Level Of Wellness Among Ghanaian Mental Health Counselors, Adwoa Bonney-Graves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Ghana, many people seek help for their mental health; however, despite the great need, there are often barriers or factors that can create unwellness among mental health counselors. There is a gap in the research literature addressing whether unwellness among Ghanaian mental health counselors is caused by external factors of counselor caseload, low funding, and minimal work staff. This quantitative study aimed to fill this gap by using predictive regression analysis to determine whether there is a correlation between Ghanaian counselors’ unwellness and counselor caseload, low funding, and minimal work staff. The study participants (N = 96) were Ghanaian …

Social Support, Caregiver Burden, And Anxiety/Depression Among Family Caregivers Of Stroke Patients, Rosalyn Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Family caregivers encounter challenges when caring for relatives recovering from a stroke. Family caregivers often experience negative mental health outcomes including higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which years of caregiving experience, emotional and instrumental support, and caregiver burden predict anxiety and depression among family caregivers of stroke patients. The caregiving stress process model theoretical framework guided the research. This quantitative study used a non-experimental correlational research design. Participants were recruited using Survey Monkey and included a non-random convenience sample of 111 family caregivers of stroke patients who …

Understanding Parasocial Relationships And The Mental Health Impact, Leslee Lynae Bennett

Master's Theses

Parasocial relationships have recently become a topic of discussion in our society. This is because individuals are still looking for something to connect with after the COVID-19 pandemic. These relationships originally were more common among young people, but due to the constant usage of media, individuals have become more attached to popularity which results in an unrealistic online connection. Parasocial relationships are both a fascination and a danger due to the mental connections an individual makes within themselves. This research is a qualitative study of previous research done on parasocial relationships. Topics discussed in this thesis will cover multiple facets …

Comparison Of Vivitrol And Suboxone In Terms Of Lowering Relapse Among Opioid Addicts, Nicolle Tourdot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug overdoses are increasing, and the heroin epidemic is becoming more evident. There are ways to get these individuals’ help. Medically assisted treatments (MATs) involve use of medications alongside counseling and therapies to treat individuals with a substance abuse disorder. This subject is important to the human services administration field, more specifically those who focus on addiction. As the epidemic of opioid use continues, so does the need for treatment. Without that treatment, the problem will get worse and inevitably have negatives effects on the entire world. Those effects involve crime, increasing costs to the public, overall health, and child …

Exploring The Relationships Between Motivations, Beliefs, Emotions, And Behaviors In The Context Of Organizational Change Readiness, Sidney Taylor Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations

Organizational change is an inevitable and key feature of an organization’s lifecycle, especially in today’s constantly shifting technological, cultural, and corporate landscapes. However, organizations often struggle to adapt, and change initiatives rarely succeed. Because of this, organizational change readiness has become a popular area of study in the field of industrial-organization psychology. Change readiness in the organizational context has been redefined several times over the past four decades, with recent efforts focused on developing a comprehensive definition and corresponding instrument of measurement for the concept. Change readiness at the individual level is intended to evaluate the psychological state in which …

Demands At Work: The Moderating Influence Of Motivation On The Relationship Between Challenge Demands And Employee Work Engagement, Lauren R. Dinnat

Doctoral Dissertations

Work engagement is a popular topic due to the positive outcomes linked to it. For example, engaged workers are shown to be more productive workers and better organizational citizens. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory has been the most widely accepted explanatory model for work engagement due to its flexibility to be applied to all work environments. While the JD-R does not argue that motivation is fixed, it does not account for moment-to-moment changes in motivation. A state theory of motivation that examines how motivation may impact the relationships between demands and work engagement has yet to be examined. This study …

Predictors Of Spiritual Struggle: Exploring The Role Of Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Religious Behaviors Among Religiously Affiliated University Students, Harvey J. Burnett Jr, Duane Mcbride

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

This study examined how exposure to traumatic experiences, protective factors such as Psychological Body Armor (TM) (PBA), physical wellness behaviors, and religious practices predict spiritual struggle among students attending a religiously affiliated university. Preliminary findings revealed that PBA, non-class assigned Bible and Christian literature readings were predictive of reduced spiritual struggle.

Witnessing Eyewitness Coercion And Familiarity Affects Defense Attorneys’ Evaluations Of Trial Prospects, Jason Carty

Student Theses

Abstract

The current study is designed to determine whether two case factors affect criminal defense attorneys’ plea decision-making: witness coercion and witness familiarity with the defendant. A sample of 133 criminal defense attorneys (123 after attention checks) reviewed a mock case vignette and a witness interview which varies on two dimensions: coerciveness (coercive, non-coercive) and witness relationship to the defendant (friend, stranger). Attorneys reported their impressions of the case and indicated their recommended minimum and maximum length of negotiated plea agreements, how likely their client was to be convicted at trial, how coercive they thought the mock interview was, and …

On Mothers And Measures: The (Re)Production Of Mothering Ideologies In Psychological Measures Of Motherhood, Ella R. Keogh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Across disciplines, researchers look to motherhood as a site of theorization about the growth and wellbeing of the population because of their important role in biological and social reproduction. Psychologists frequently study motherhood and as such play an important role in producing an ideal maternal subject. Past research has shown that the measurement tools we use in psychology are laden with bias, stereotypes, and ideologies about the group being studied and as such are producing ideologically charged results that filter into the world under the semblance of scientific objectivity (McClelland et al., 2020). Using critical measurement analysis, I found that …

Constructivism, Curiosity, And Metacognitive Bias In The Age Of Google, Matthew Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this experimental, posttest-only control-group study was to determine if there are differences in levels of metacognitive bias between those who do and do not use Google on a practice activity prior to the administration of a general knowledge test, when controlling for epistemic curiosity. The study seeks to help fill the gap in the literature by examining differences in metacognitive bias across not only the experimental variable of Google access, but also by participant variables, providing a more thorough understanding of how differences in individuals may moderate the relationship between Google use and bias. A sample of …

Secure Attachment Styles And Depression In Adolescents With Co-Rumination As A Moderator, Kimberly Murray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression among adolescents has increased over the years and can affect development and potentially lead to substance abuse, self-injurious behavior, and suicide. Adolescents with secure attachments to parents have been found to have fewer symptoms of depression. Co-rumination with friends has shown to be related to positive quality in friendships due to self-disclosure between friends; however, co-rumination also is related to an increase in depression. The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine whether adolescent’s attachment style with parents is associated with depression and whether this association is moderated by co-rumination with friends. The theories that were used to …

Previously Incacerated Women's Emotional Experince Of Giving Birth In A U.S. Prison, Brigit Ichard-Henderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previously Incarcerated Women’s Emotional Experience of Giving Birth in a U.S. Prison by Brigit Ichard-Henderson MA, Walden University, 2018 MA, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, 2014 BS, Excelsior University, 2009 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Walden University May 2024   Women have been giving birth while incarcerated since the advent of confinement as a punishment for crime. There is a plethora of information on incarceration rates, pathways to incarceration, access to health care and education while incarcerated, and reasons for recidivism among women. However, little is known about women’s experiences …

Exploring Black Business Owners' Experience In Public Procurement Contracts, Khamillia Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black businesses are on the rise in the United States, and most are formed with the goal of achieving greater economic stability and positive impact on their communities. However, Black business owners often lack sufficient opportunities and access to essential resources (i.e., capital), which negatively affects their business stability efforts (Bento & Hwang, 2022). Black business owners can access procurement contracts as a unique way to access capital to grow and sustain their businesses (Chepkoit, 2018; Shelton & Minniti, 2018), yet they received 1.67% of public funds compared to 15.64% awarded to other non-minority small businesses (Choi et al., 2022; …

Effects Of Covid-19 On Mental Health Workers' Job Satisfaction, Employee Burnout, And Intent To Leave, Colton Jacobs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 disease emerged in December 2019 and created a worldwide pandemic. As the COVID-19 virus spread, healthcare workers faced increased workloads and burnout due to increased stress. With a current abundance of research to better understand how the pandemic affected healthcare workers, minimal research has been conducted to investigate the effects on mental health workers. It is imperative to better understand how the consequences of the pandemic affected mental health workers due to their importance in supporting the mental well-being of our communities. This study focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced job satisfaction, burnout syndrome, and intent to …

The Impact Of A Group Mentoring Program On Psychosocial Development And Sense Of Belonging In Undergraduate Students, Natasha L. Varnick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentoring has been studied in corporate and academic environments as a means of providing career and psychosocial support for young colleagues or students. Initially, mentoring was viewed as a single dyadic relationship between a mentor and a mentee. However, in recent years, it has been better understood in terms of mentoring constellations or group mentoring, as multiple mentors may best aid the development of individuals. While much mentoring research has examined professional development, this study focused on the psychosocial development that mentoring can provide. The relationship between mentoring and sense of belonging was also examined. It was hypothesized that students …