Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Social Workers’ Attitudes Toward Medication-Assisted Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, William Tillman Spivey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the last decade, opioid misuse has emerged as a major problem in the United States. The extreme increase in overdose deaths affects both public health and social welfare in north central Florida. Social workers play a major role in the delivery of treatment for opioid misuse. Medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder has become widely used yet faces debate among social workers. The practice-focused research question for this project addressed the attitudes of social workers toward the use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Social learning theory was the theoretical framework used in this action research study. Data …

Effects Of School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports In An African American All-Boys Urban School, Theresa Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Teachers and administrators spend a great deal of time addressing minor to moderate school discipline behaviors with punitive actions such as suspensions and expulsions from school. Past research has revealed that such punitive actions do not correct the unwanted behavior, and extensive use of punitive disciplinary actions have been linked to negative outcomes such as repeated suspensions, repeating grades due to time missed from school, increased likelihood of dropping out of school, or potential involvement in the juvenile justice system. This single case study design addressed the following research question: How school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) affected …

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder In The Classroom, Gizelle Edith Tircuit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Educational Attainment And Growth Among Individuals With Absent Fathers, Angelica Yolanda Barrera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are more than 20 million children who are growing up in a fatherless home. It is understood that this population is more likely to experience a variety of intrapersonal and interpersonal issues when compared to children who grow up in a home with both parents. These issues include being twice as likely to drop out of school. Although few of these individuals pursue a higher education, very little understanding of the underlying variables that contribute to such education-seeking behaviors is available for this population. Guided by the theory of positive disintegration and the posttraumatic growth conceptual model, the purpose …

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’ …

Parents’ Perceptions On The Impact That Sros Have On School Safety, John Mayfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School Resource Officers (SROs) are an essential element in school safety and an even more critical component in the field of community-orientated policing. While numerous research studies have examined SROs from many different lenses, none have examined the impact that SROs have on school safety through a parents' lens. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to examine parents’ perceptions on the impact that SROs have on school safety through an online survey accessible to parents through SurveyMonkey. The research question's goal was to answer two fundamental questions, to examine the degree that parents support the presence of SROs …

Nonprofit Board Members' Perceptions Of The Initial Orientation And Ongoing Board Member Training, Janice M. Trapp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many nonprofit organizations have implemented board development practices that include an initial orientation and ongoing training to improve board performance. However, recent studies have shown that board members struggle with understanding their roles, responsibilities, and board governance. This lack of understanding limits their ability to perform their roles effectively, which may impact the members’ performance and the organizations’ performance. This generic qualitative study explored board members’ perceptions of whether the initial orientation and ongoing training they received in preparation for board service adequately prepared them for board governance. Inglis et al.’s three factor-framework of strategic activities, operations, and resource planning …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Legislative Factors That Influence The Creation Of Sex Offender Laws In Pennsylvania, Julie E. Wagner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNonviolent sexual offenders are known to have lesser risk of reoffense than their violent sexual offender counterparts; however, both categories of sexual offenders are contained within the same registry in Pennsylvania, without indication of the differences in the nature of their crimes. It was not known why Pennsylvania’s laws require all sex offenders to be listed in one homogenous group. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify the factors legislators use to determine how a sex offense crime is categorized in legislative decisions in Pennsylvania. Social construction theory served as the theoretical foundation for the study. Data …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

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

Walden University May 2021

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Black Fathers Experiences Of Paternal Abandonment Through Raising & Disciplining Their Sons, William Douglas Harvey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black male children have long experienced paternal abandonment. In some instances, those male children grow up to have sons of their own, yet have no frame of reference of fatherhood from their upbringing. The specific issue for this study was exploring the capacity to control the quality of one’s life entering fatherhood, even when considering the influences related to paternal abandonment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of paternally abandoned Black fathers and their experience of raising their male offspring, to understand how those Black fathers’ past occurrence may affect their relationships with their …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Public Participation In Los Angeles Water Resources Management, Hyginus Onyinyechukwu Mmeje

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public participation is essential to the efficient management of resources. However, there are significant problems with water resources management and water importation practices in Southern California due to lack of public awareness and input. Little is known regarding specific participants’ perceptions that could help in addressing the challenges of Los Angeles water resources management. Grounded in the advocacy coalition framework, this qualitative study was conducted with the purpose of narrowing this knowledge gap. The study explored the role of public participation in Los Angeles water resources management from the perspectives of key actors, resident stakeholders, nonprofit organizations, water agency administrators, …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Relationship Between Religious Beliefs And Systems, Educational Levels, And Victim Blaming, Frances Runyon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault and victim blaming are a severe problem. Being sexually assaulted increases the risk of physical and mental health issues for the victims. When the victims are blamed for being sexually assaulted, their physical and mental health issues increase substantially. Many victims do not seek help or support services because of the fear of being blamed. People believe in a just world, and blame the victims because it is more difficult to accept that bad things happen to good people. When people admit that bad things can happen to good people, they acknowledge that these things can happen to …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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

Barriers To Sex Offender Reintegration, Brittney Wolf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Barriers to successful offender reintegration are important to address in treatment approach, and most of the information known about risk to reoffend is created by researchers, treatment providers, and victim experiences. Exploring and learning about the barriers experienced by sex offenders during the reintegration process can provide additional insight into sex offender treatment approaches, reentry processes, community beliefs, and legislation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify barriers that sex offenders experience during the reintegration process that may lead them to reoffending. The risk-need-responsivity framework was used to guide the interpretation of identified barriers. The sample consisted of …

Hiv/Aids And Substance Use Among Older Adults, Jamerlia E. Wyatt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV/AIDS and substance abuse among older adults is a significant national and worldwide problem. As older HIV-positive adults continue to age, they will have problems with managing their HIV/AIDS, comorbidity disorders, and quality of life, which can lead to substance abuse. The purpose of this descriptive, phenomenological study was to explore the socio-risk behaviors, specific treatment preferences, and daily lived experiences of adults aged 50 years and older living with HIV/AIDS and substance use in a large northeastern urban city. The conceptual framework used to ground this qualitative study was Engel's biopsychosocial model. The purposeful sampling method was used to …

Psychological Coercion Among Trafficked Sex Workers: A Grounded Study Approach, Rebecca Ann Laurento

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMillions of individuals have become involved in human sex trafficking (HST) each year. This study involved an exploration of how these individuals became victims to psychological coercion and their experiences with HST. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to add to the current literature and provide a foundation for future researchers. Given the lack of literature on this topic, professional practitioners may not understand this problem or know how to support these victims of HST. The gap in literature this study addressed pertained to the processes and dynamics of psychological coercion for individuals involved with HST. Oppression …

Role Of Nigerian Labor Force Demand In Domestic Child Trafficking, Muideen Adegboyega Salami

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractChild trafficking, especially internal trafficking of children, is increasing despite efforts by Nigerian federal, state, and local governments and agencies and other local and international organizations. Internal child trafficking has denied many Nigerian children access to quality education and human rights protections. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of law enforcement officers and bureaucrats regarding the influence of domestic labor demand on internal child trafficking in Nigeria. The labor market segmentation theory and routine activities theory provided theoretical foundations to explore the demand or pull factor of internal child trafficking in Nigeria. Data were …

Homeless Shelter Social Workers’ Lived Experiences As Providers For Older Schizophrenic Women, Joan Marcy Spencer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The costs of social change efforts addressing homelessness among mentally ill individuals has increased in the United States over the past 40 years. Social workers face challenges with developing or executing individualized housing and mental health plans for older homeless women with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences among homeless shelter social workers who help women with schizophrenia during housing and mental health support implementation. This transcendental phenomenological study was anchored with Husserl’s theoretical context of human perceptions of reality within previous subjective experiences. The research question was: When implementing mental health and housing …

Integration Of Morphine And Virtual Reality: Pain Management For Adult Hospice Cancer Patients, Arlisa Hurd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is currently a problem in that cancer patients engaging in hospice may experience an excessive amount of perceived pain and a decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore an intervention that could lessen the perceived pain experienced by, and increase the quality of life of, cancer patients engaging in hospice. Immersion music virtual reality (IMVR) allows a user to interact with a realistic, computer-generated environment. 3D music (IMVR) is likely suited for pain management with patients in hospice and was used for this study. The theory for the study is the gate control theory. …

Exploring The Parenting Styles In Juvenile-Facilitated Parricide, Justess Jacobson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile-facilitated parricide is a rare crime when a juvenile child murders their parent. Parricide cases are unique in that the offender defies the normal parent-child relationship when they kill their own parent. The purpose of this study was to explore the parenting styles that occur in juvenile-facilitated parricide. By using a qualitative case study analysis methodology, this study examined the effect of parenting styles on the bonds between a parent and child, which creates the necessary tension for a child to be able to kill their parents. Attachment theory was used to understand how a child bonds through parenting styles …

Experience Of Parents Receiving In-Home Behavioral Treatment For Their Child With Autism, Gerald Lavarias

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In-home applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment has well-documented results and is widely recommended for children with autism. Since 1987, parents have sought and implemented ABA treatment in their homes for their children with autism. However, research on parents’ lived experiences with in-home ABA treatment is limited. As such, there is a need to study the impact and influence of ABA treatment on parents’ quality of life (e.g., challenges, scheduling, parenting). This qualitative study explored parents’ lived experiences while their children with autism received in-home ABA treatment. A phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of 5 parent participants who …

Alternative Treatment Method For Dementia In The Southwest Region Of Arizona, Angela May Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative professional administrative study was to explore anddevelop a new innovative method of treatment for dementia clients using reminiscence therapy (RT) in a proposed 24-hour care village in Tucson, Arizona. In this proposed 24- hour care village, patients would remain in an environment conducive to a safe and normal lifestyle. This administrative study is a qualitative study using grounded theory and sources of evidence included current research, personal interviews, and articles. Data were collected from interviews with 10 administrators of memory care facilities in Tucson, Arizona, to determine if existing administrative staff were aware of RT …