Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Social And Ecological Determinants Of Physical Activity For Youth With Cerebral Palsy, George E. Gorton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, increasing risk for noncommunicable disease and compromised physical, social, and mental health. However, fewer than 20% of U.S. youth meet physical activity guidelines; youth with disabilities are even less active. Physical activity is influenced by personal, family, social, organizational, community, and environmental factors acting within a social-ecological framework. To what extent is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which social and ecological factors are associated with participation of youth with cerebral palsy in physical activity. The research design was a cross-sectional, quantitative …

Myth Endorsement And Children’S Age Of Referral To Augmentative And Alternative Communication, Jennifer Madaffari Ferreira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children who are born without functional speech and who have complex communication needs are at a disadvantage because of their inability to verbally respond. Professionals disagree on when to incorporate augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), often missing critical windows of development. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the extent to which endorsement of myths related to AAC intervention persist among speech language pathologists (SLPs) and pediatricians, and the extent to which these myths and other factors influence age of referral for children with complex communication needs to receive therapy that incorporates AAC. Perlovsky’s theory of a hierarchical …

Urban And Rural Alaskan Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Regarding Palliative Care, Mary Bernadette Cavalier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Palliative care provides multidisciplinary treatment of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and families with serious illnesses. Alaska has the highest per capita rates of serious illnesses in the United States, but many Alaskans lack access to palliative care. Using Engel’s biopsychosocial model of care, Saunders’ total pain theory, and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the purpose of this study was to assess the role of physicians regarding palliative care access in Alaska. This quantitative multivariable regression analysis examined the relationship between 133 Alaskan physicians’ knowledge and attitudes (independent variables) and their behaviors (dependent variable) regarding palliative care; …

The Impact Of Boko Haram Insurgency On The People Of Borno State, Chris Kaiser Granville

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although researchers have examined the causes and impacts of terrorism in Nigeria, there is no known research on the impact of Boko Haram’s insurgency on the people of Borno State based on their lived experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the social, political, and economic consequences of the Boko Haram insurgency on the people of Borno State. The study’s theoretical framework was based on the relative deprivation theory; the theory was used to diagnose the problem of the Boko Haram insurgency and articulate possible alternative solutions. The central research question concerned the adverse effects of the …

Exploring Cybersecurity Awareness And Training Strategies To Protect Information Systems And Data, Michael Hanna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs contribute to compromises of organizational information systems and data. Inappropriate actions from users due to ineffective SETA programs may result in legal consequences, fines, reputational damage, adverse impacts on national security, and criminal acts. Grounded in social cognitive theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies hospitality organizational information technology (IT) leaders utilized to implement SETA successfully. The participants were organizational IT leaders from four organizations in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Data collection was performed using telephone and video teleconference interviews with organizational IT leaders (n = 6) …

Evaluation Of Inappropriate Use Of Antibiotics In The Long-Term Care Community, Charlene A. Hughes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of antibiotics prescribed in the 65 and older population significantly increased related to the diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Although empiric treatment is necessary at times, it can lead to antibiotic resistance; therefore, clinical symptomology with an active infection verified by diagnostic testing is the requirement for the treatment of a UTI. This project addressed the practice-focused question of how the implementation of an evidenced-based antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) in a nursing home on the East Coast may impact the overuse of antibiotics in that clinical setting. The project, guided by the theory of planned behavior, was …

A Multiple Case Study Of School Administrators On Use Of Disciplinary Measures, Michele L. Jones-Pace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disproportionately high rates of out-of-school suspension and expulsion of African American children represent an ongoing issue in the U.S. public school system. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory was used as the theoretical framework for this multiple case study. The research question focused on the perceptions, perspectives, and experiences of a purposeful sample of 7 high school principals and what they believed were the reasons for persistently high rates of out-of-school suspension for African American students. The principals represented Title I and non-Title I schools located in urban, rural, and suburban regions of a southern state. Data from individual interviews and archival data …

Prevention Of Sex Trafficking And Perspectives From Parents In Ogwa Community Edo State Nigeria, Nkechi Iwuoha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a high rate of trafficked girls and women from the Ogwa community in Edo state, Nigeria. The Edo government has developed a top-down centralized approach to the prevention of sex trafficking that has proved largely ineffective. The wholistic involvement of people in the decision-making regarding the strategies to prevent sex trafficking can directly create an impact through policy formulation and implementation. However, few studies have addressed the perspective of parents of vulnerable youth to positively impact the policy outcome on sex trafficking. Hence, the goal of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to explore the perceptions of parents …

Experiences Of College Freshmen Women Who Eat In A Social Environment, Kylie Cowens Blodgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social cognitive theory suggests that social surroundings influence health behaviors, and social modeling literature supports that eating behaviors are influenced by social norms. Eating decisions are especially vulnerable to social influence during the transition to college, although current interventions do not address social influence in the context of the eating environment itself or consider how men and women may experience this environment differently. This generic qualitative study explored how freshmen women perceived their experiences eating in a cafeteria setting. The research questions investigated freshmen women’s perceptions about social influence on self-efficacy, self-regulation, outcome expectations, and modeling of normative information …

Exploring Gender Dysphoria Among Active-Duty Transgender Service Members In A Right-To-Serve-Openly Military, Ralph Ogburn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Defense’s June 2016 directive-type memorandum 16-005 permitting transgender service members to serve openly in the U.S. military disqualifies transgender personnel with a history of gender dysphoria from serving in the military unless a licensed medical doctor certifies that they have been free from significant distress for 18 months. Research has illuminated the prevalence of gender dysphoria among military veteran transgender members due to their military experiences, but not in active-duty military. Informed by role theory and minority stress theory, the purpose of this interpretive phenomenological analysis study was to explore role conflict and stress in the …

Previously Incarcerated Individuals’ Perceptions Of Decision-Making Leading To Their Solitary Confinement, Rita Pavone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the issue of communication in prison systems in conjunction with an overextended utilization of isolation confinement methods. Using Sexton’s conceptualization of the penal subjective consciousness model as a guide, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand the experiences of confined offenders related to their experiences regarding the perspectives of prison officials based on a variety of factors including criminal background, social status, and programming needs. Data from semi-structured interviews with 25 participants addressed the process of communication between prison personnel and inmates from the time of incarceration through placement in isolation confinement, and then …

Strategies To Reduce Absenteeism In The Public Sector Workplace, Dr. John G. Turner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When unplanned absences occur, employers incur lost productivity and additional costs. In the United States, missed work because of employee absence costs organizations about $202 billion dollars annually. Grounded in Burn’s transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore effective strategies public works department leaders use to reduce absenteeism in the workplace. The participants included 9 leaders who worked in a chosen department in the local government who successfully reduced absenteeism in the workplace. The data collection process included conducting semistructured interviews and reviewing organizational documents. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis …

Examining The Criminogenic Effect Of Imprisonment On Drug Offender Recidivism, Tiffany Jean Vedder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have found criminogenic consequences of imprisonment when testing the deterrence hypothesis, yet few studies were found that examined the magnitude of post release criminal offenses among the drug offender population. The specific deterrence and criminogenic effects of imprisonment were the theoretical frameworks that guided this study of Harris County, Texas, to determine if incarceration predicted serious reoffending among low-level drug offenders. A Journal of Science and Law (Scilaw) archival dataset based on Harris County court records was used to build the sample. Chi-squared test of association and logistic regression statistics were used to analyze a sample of first-time drug …

Stigma And The Life Experiences Of Recovering Counselors, Carroll Annette Beverly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stigmatization, labelling, and stereotyping have been recognized through historical literature as categories that classify recovering counselors with the status of a second-class citizen. One of the subtle impacts of stigmatization on recovering counselors has been the reluctance of these counselors to share their substance abuse histories or admit they formerly used alcohol and other drugs. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore the impact of stigma on the life experiences of recovering counselors in the addiction and counseling fields. The social identity theory was the theoretical foundation of this study. Four participants (3 recovering counselors and …

Attitudes And Beliefs Related To Risk Of Sexually Transmitted Infection In Swingers Who Do Not Use Condoms, Deborah Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) affects the public as a hidden epidemic of contagious disease with significant economic and health impacts. There are 110 million living with STI in the United States, with 20 million new infections annually. Condom use can reduce STI, but some people have sex without condoms, with risk for contracting or transmitting STI increasing when a person is in the same sexual network. Swingers are a growing sexual network and are a group at high risk of developing and spreading STI. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to develop an understanding of the attitudes and …

Innovation-Driven Growth In Heavy Equipment Firms, Raynald J. Gallant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of innovation-driven revenue growth can have adverse effects on organizational outcomes. Company leaders who do not pursue innovation put their firm's survival at risk. Grounded in Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation and Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between company culture, company maturity, company revenue, and innovation-driven revenue growth rate in global heavy equipment manufacturing firms. Secondary data (N = 50) were collected from the Yellow Table, an annual listing of the top 50 global heavy equipment companies by revenue from 2002 to 2018. The results of the …

Social Workers' Perceptions Of Exercise In Treating Chronic Mental Illnesses: Action Research, Carlene Battiste-Downie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social Workers' Perceptions of Exercise in Treating Chronic Mental Illnesses: Action Research

by

Carlene Battiste-Downie

MSW, Fordham University, 2000

BS, Oneonta State University, 1993

DSW Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Social Work

Walden University

July 2020

Though social workers are an integral part of the mental health profession, there is a fundamental gap in the clinical mental health social workers' practice. This gap is a lack of physical exercise as part of the routine regimen in treating clients suffering from chronic mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, …

Experiences Of Ptsd Sufferers Who Participate In Internet-Based Virtual World Activities In Desktop Virtual Reality Environments, Colleen Margaret Crary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Treatments for posttraumatic stress have remained largely static for 3 decades, resulting in low recovery rates, high degrees of retrogression, and noncompliance by patients, calling for new approaches for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of people with PTSD who participate in Desktop Virtual Reality Environments (DVREs). The research questions asked about the lived experiences of adults with PTSD who use the DVRE, and what they perceive as changes in their narratives about PTSD through their use of the DVRE. Twenty-three participants responded to a 10-item, open-ended questionnaire. Findings show that although each …

Job Self-Efficacy, Alexithymia And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Paulette Andrea Gayle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers work in a volatile environment and are regularly exposed to inmates’ violence or cruelty. These factors negatively affect their job performance, contribute to physiological and mental health issues that could result in secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. Researchers have identified job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits as mitigating factors against elevated stress. Other researchers have identified the traits as strongly associated with mental health illnesses. The purpose of this quantitative study, using a convenience sampling strategy, was to determine whether job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits were predictors of STS among a sample of 79 correctional officers working for Her …

Examining The Impact Of An Afterschool Program On The Lives Of At-Risk Youth, Hazel Green-Dunston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences, and the impact mentoring has on at-risk youths between the ages of 11-14 years of age in afterschool programs in the southeast region of the United States. It addresses if afterschool mentoring programs reduce juvenile delinquency in at-risk youths. The theoretical framework of this qualitative study is Bandura’s social learning theory in which individuals have a chance to reproduce a desirable behavior outcome. The social learning theory suggests that when exposing at-risk youths to positive behaviors, they have a lower probability of engaging in delinquent activities. The …

Integration Of Social Work Practices With Refugees: An Action Research Study, Avril Williams Knox

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States is facing an increasing number of refugees and asylees who resettled and were forced to migrate from their countries of origin. In the United States, social service professionals and social workers of resettlement agencies are responsible for the program enrollment and follow-up with newly arrived refugees. Hence, there is a huge learning curve for these individuals. Although a substantial number of refugees are linked to appropriate resources, many are neglected and are unable to sustain themselves. This action research was based upon family systems theory. Integrative techniques used by social workers were explored. The information was subjective, …

Does Counselor Type Affect A Manualized Treatment?, Cynthia C. Kay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study was to determine whether there are differences in client treatment outcomes based upon the type of counselor who conducted an empirically supported treatment called Seeking Safety for persons diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. Many studies show that counselors’ personal attributes impact treatment; however, this study added to the literature by focusing on a standardized treatment for the co-occurrence disorder of substance use and posttraumatic stress disorder. Archival data from an outpatient treatment facility was used. Clients were provided integrated services, which included psychological and substance use treatment. The participants/clients were men and women …

Foster Parents’ Perceptions Of Services Needed To Help Manage Foster Children’S Emotional And Behavioral Issues, Timothy A. Lance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children entering the foster care system in the United States have higher rates of behavioral and emotional issues than children in the general population. Research has revealed that foster parents need to be trained in how to manage the emotional and behavioral problems of children placed in their care. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding foster care providers’ perceptions of services they may need to assist them in managing their foster children’s behavioral and emotional problems. A generic qualitative approach was used to address the question: What are foster parents’ perceptions of services they need to effectively manage …

Mental Health Needs In Schools As Predictors Of Burnout In School Counselors, Sondra Junek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found an increasing number of students with mental health issues, and

school counselors are often the first resource available to students. School counselors are

faced with many job duties including supporting students’ academic, career, and

emotional needs. Maintaining these duties of school counseling can increase stress and

lead to burnout. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine mental health

needs, mental health knowledge, and mental health skills as predictors of each of the

three subscales of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal

accomplishment) among early, middle, and late career school counselors. Lazarus and

Folkman’s transactional theory …

Decentralization And Good Governance In Angolan Local Governments, Nkosi Mankenda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective provision of public goods and services is among the common issues affecting local governments in Angola. Administrative decentralization is a well-known strategy to foster municipal governance, yet Angolan citizens perceive a lack of impact from this strategy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of leaders and followers in public administration regarding the lack of impact of administrative decentralization on Northern Angola, and to examine the role of public administration education to reverse this trend. The theoretical frameworks were Pierson’s path dependence theory and Cooperrider’s appreciative inquiry theory. Data were collected from semistructured interviews …

Influence Of Implicit Racial Bias On Police Officers’ Decision To Use Force, Billy L. Moffett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. police administrators have embraced the implicit racial bias model to minimize the racial bias in their officers’ use-of-force decisions amid a public outcry on excessive police force and racism against African Americans. Although researchers have investigated whether officers have an implicit racial bias, they have not analyzed implicit bias from a police officer’s naturalistic perspective. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology study was to describe what implicit racial bias perceptions emerged from a small sample of experienced officers when the officers were confronted with a use-of-force decision during an encounter with an African American man. The implicit racial bias …

Effects Of Government Regulations And Reimbursement Policies On Home Health Administration In Illinois., Sally Nwafor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent changes in government regulations and reimbursement policies threaten the financial viability and the ability of home health agencies to provide the necessary services. There is a gap in knowledge about the effect of the changes in healthcare policies on the administration of home health businesses in Illinois. The purpose of this study was to bridge the knowledge gap by investigating the effect of the regulatory and policy changes on home health administration in Illinois. The research question focused on the challenges that home health administrators face due to the changes in government regulation and reimbursement policies, and the strategies …

The Relationship Between Spirituality And Mental Health Among Kidney Dialysis Patients, Eddy Darcy Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 9th leading cause of death in the United States is kidney disease. An estimated 37 million Americans in the United States, or about 15% of the adult population, have some level of chronic kidney disease. Kidney disease is multifaceted and has implications for both physical and psychological health of a patient. However, research on kidney dialysis patients has primarily focused on physical health. Grounded in social learning theory, this quantitative study used a correlational research design to examine the relationship between spirituality and mental health in 128 kidney dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney dialysis patients at kidney …

Funding Impacts On Existing Social Workers Providing Services To African American Battered Women, Dalicia Victorica Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers who work in domestic violence shelters have many different impacts that can affect their ability to provide services to battered women. Research is lacking on how funding impacts the abilities of existing social workers to provide services to African American battered women who are at domestic violence shelters in Columbia, South Carolina. The purpose of this study was to examine how a lack of funding impacts the abilities of existing social workers who work at domestic violence shelters to provide services to African American battered women. Conflict theory was used to gain an understanding of how funding issues …

Perceptions Of Reproductive Health Services Of Young African American Mothers With Low Literacy, Timika S. Anderson-Reeves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As they begin to shift decision-making from their parents to themselves, many African American adolescent girls embracing motherhood and living with low literacy seek reproductive health services at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Emerging adult African American mothers engaged in reproductive health services at urban FQHCs are provided services based on the centers’ promulgated health policies. Although FQHC staff assess for health literacy levels, they often do not design organizational processes to support reproductive health mothers with literacy challenges and diverse learning styles, and little is known about how young African American mothers with low literacy experience FQHCs’ reproductive health …