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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Attribution And Attribution Error In Relationship To False Confessions, Michael L. Johnson Jan 2019

Attribution And Attribution Error In Relationship To False Confessions, Michael L. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

False confessions are the most difficult type of confession to detect. Because the Reid interview and interrogation technique is the global gold standard for interviews, interrogations, and confessions, it is used to obtain confessions from suspects. However, the Reid method has been untested in regard to if it can detect false confessions to potentially eliminate wrongful convictions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to perform a content analysis of videos of confessions using several models that make up the Reid interview and interrogation technique. Utilizing attribution theory as a framework, these models were qualitatively assessed for their ability to …

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Approved Victim Contact And Treatment Outcomes Among Domestic Violence Offenders, Brian Timothy Longworth Jan 2019

Approved Victim Contact And Treatment Outcomes Among Domestic Violence Offenders, Brian Timothy Longworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Batterer intervention programs (BIPs) were developed to address high recidivism rates and low treatment completion rates in domestic violence offenders. Segregation between these offenders and their victims has been traditional in BIPs, but there has been no research exploring if this separation is related to treatment outcome. This research explored the relation between offender contact with their children or victims and outcomes including recidivism and treatment completion. Most domestic violence interventions are psychoeducational in nature and are based on the cognitive behavioral theory premise that if an individual'€™s thinking process can be changed, a change in actions can result. This …

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Experiences Of Peer Mentors Who Mentor At-Risk Students, Nicole Danielle Miller Jan 2019

Experiences Of Peer Mentors Who Mentor At-Risk Students, Nicole Danielle Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the number of underprepared, at-risk students entering college, many institutions have developed initiatives to help support student success. Previous research has shown that peer mentoring has been used to support student success, but there is limited research on the mentoring experience from the peer mentors'€™ perspective. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of peer mentors who mentor at-risk college students at a 4-year institution. Using a phenomenological design, 8 peer mentors were interviewed. This study was built on Lave and Wegner'€™s theory of situated learning and Zachary'€™s 4-phase mentoring model to help explain …

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The Impact Of Felony Criminal History On The Perceptions Of Hiring Managers, Larrica Mosley Jan 2019

The Impact Of Felony Criminal History On The Perceptions Of Hiring Managers, Larrica Mosley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with a criminal background face several barriers to securing employment, one of which is the reluctance of hiring managers to extend employment offers to them. African American ex-offenders are disproportionately affected by these barriers. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of hiring managers in a metropolitan area in the Southern United States and to identify the factors that influence the hiring decisions of ex-offenders. A descriptive study design was used to explore whether type of criminal offense, length of crime, or race of offender affect a hiring manager'€™s decision to hire an ex-felon. The disparate …

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School-Based Social Work And Socioemotional Learning Interventions In Alternative Education Programs, Heather Oosterhoff Jan 2019

School-Based Social Work And Socioemotional Learning Interventions In Alternative Education Programs, Heather Oosterhoff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Active school social workers are tasked with teaching social-emotional learning to students, including high need youth placed in alternative education settings. Multitiered systems of support provide a framework utilized by school systems to identify and address all student needs. However, a gap in research exists for evidenced-based social-emotional learning practices for students falling within Tier 3 of the multitiered systems of support framework, particularly those separated from the mainstream population and educated in alternative programs. This study explored how school social workers address the social-emotional learning needs of students in alternative education settings within the state of Illinois. The qualitative …

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Efficacy, Risks, And Ethics Of Aversive Or Positive Therapy In Identical Twins, Jacqueline Salerno Jan 2019

Efficacy, Risks, And Ethics Of Aversive Or Positive Therapy In Identical Twins, Jacqueline Salerno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aversion therapy has reemerged as a treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) but remains unpopular, as it is perceived to be unethical. The purpose of this mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was to investigate the effectiveness of positive therapy and aversion therapy in the treatment of twins with SIB as well as to understand the lived experiences of their caretakers regarding treatment ethics. The frameworks used included classical and operant conditioning as well as utilitarian ethics theory. Quantitative research questions focused on changes in SIB, aggressive and prosocial behaviors with treatment, while the qualitative research question focused on the perceptions of caretakers …

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Social Networks And Sense Of Community Effects On Psychological Distress Among Community X Residents, Marci A. Salone Jan 2019

Social Networks And Sense Of Community Effects On Psychological Distress Among Community X Residents, Marci A. Salone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A certain community within the southern region of Texas has consistently been linked to escalating poverty, high crime rates, low educational achievement, and poor physical and mental health. For the purpose of this research, this community will be referred to as Community X. Although some researchers have found that sense of community and supportive social networks are associated with healthy mental and physical functioning, others have suggested that in a debilitated community social networks can facilitate psychological distress and a strong sense of community is difficult to develop. Guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study …

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Teachers' And Principals' Perceptions Of Antibullying Programs In A U.S. Middle School, Nneka Uzoma Jan 2019

Teachers' And Principals' Perceptions Of Antibullying Programs In A U.S. Middle School, Nneka Uzoma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School bullying has become a serious issue in U.S. schools, with children being harassed, hurt, and even killed or driven to suicide or homicide as a result of being bullied. Bullying in schools has persisted despite the various intervention measures taken to curtail the phenomenon. The purpose of this phenomenological exploration was to explore how teachers and principals at a U.S. middle school perceive the school's existing bullying programs and elicit recommendations about how to improve the programs. The theoretical basis of this investigation was Bandura's social learning theory. Data were collected through interviews with 4 principles and 6 teachers. …

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Impact Of Work-Related Electronic Communications Behavior Outside Of Normal Working Hours, Beulah Lavell Williams Jan 2019

Impact Of Work-Related Electronic Communications Behavior Outside Of Normal Working Hours, Beulah Lavell Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employers' reliance on asynchronous electronic communications, connective technology devices, and remote work arrangements has led employees to feel preoccupied with staying connected after-hours to be responsive to work-related demands. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of professional workers who coped with constant pressure to monitor and immediately respond to work-related electronic communications during nonwork hours. The conceptual framework was supported by boundary and border theory and the constructs of work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, information and communication technology. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 16 professional workers near Washington, DC. Moustakas's modified …

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Socioeconomic Impacts: Exploring Relationships Between Parenting Styles And Emotional Intelligence In Odd, Radhia Afif Jan 2019

Socioeconomic Impacts: Exploring Relationships Between Parenting Styles And Emotional Intelligence In Odd, Radhia Afif

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) are at a higher risk to develop other serious problems based on reoccurring symptoms such as; aggression, hostility, and lack of empathy for others. Based on the emotional intelligence theory, it may be possible that understanding emotional intelligence in children with ODD could help reduce future psychological and social problems. This quantitative study addresses the problem of poor or low Emotional Intelligence (EI) in children diagnosed with ODD. A correlation between parenting style, as defined by Baumrind's parenting style theory, and the development of emotional intelligence has been found in current research. However, …

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Body Weight Self-Perceptions And Experiences Of Nigerian Women Immigrants, Fatimah Binta Ali Jan 2019

Body Weight Self-Perceptions And Experiences Of Nigerian Women Immigrants, Fatimah Binta Ali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low-income immigrants in the United States experience declining health with increasing length of stay in the country. Their declining health over time has been associated with increased smoking, obesity prevalence, and higher risk for developing diabetes and heart disease. How immigrants perceive their body weight and size, influenced by social interaction, culture, gender, and acculturation is also significant to healthy weight maintenance. Not knowing one's healthy weight could result in body weight misperception and resistance to attaining a healthy weight. The aim of this qualitative study, based on the social constructivist framework, was to understand Nigerian women immigrants' (NWI's) body …

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Caribbean Students' Experience Of Readiness For The Secondary Education Certificate Exam, Cleon Pauline Athill Jan 2019

Caribbean Students' Experience Of Readiness For The Secondary Education Certificate Exam, Cleon Pauline Athill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While there is general agreement about its importance, the construct of educational readiness is nebulous with much debate about what constitutes readiness. Readiness has been found to be a multidimensional psychological construct from a psychometric perspective. However, there is a growing awareness that this psychometric focus is lopsided, and that readiness does not only reside in the child. Further, there is an accompanying appreciation that readiness research may need to focus more on the subjective experience of individuals within the context of their environment. This phenomenological study, using Bronfenbrenner's social-ecological model, explored how Antigua and Barbudan students experienced readiness as …

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Family Caregivers' Perspectives On Establishing Hospice Care In Belize, Rachael Florita Battle Jan 2019

Family Caregivers' Perspectives On Establishing Hospice Care In Belize, Rachael Florita Battle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

End-of-life (EOL) care decisions present a challenge for family caregivers. Despite the increasing number of terminally ill patients in need of pain management and comfort care, there is limited qualitative data about how populations in the developing world can access culturally appropriate resources and EOL support. In this phenomenological study, 17 Garifuna family caregivers in southern Belize were interviewed about their experience caring for terminally family members. The conceptual frameworks were Kübler-Ross’s hospice approach and Watson’s theory of human caring. The two theories were selected based on their significance to this process: Kübler Ross’s hospice approach and its impact on …

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Adult Character Strength Use And Its Relationship To Physical And Mental Health, Angela Beth Bergen Jan 2019

Adult Character Strength Use And Its Relationship To Physical And Mental Health, Angela Beth Bergen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this study, the use of human character strengths was evaluated as a component of mental and physical health. The majority of previous character strengths research has been limited to monotonic use of character strengths. This study evaluated subjective outcomes based on a new measure of how much adults reported underusing, optimally using, and overusing their character strengths. This exploratory study was theoretically grounded in the upward spiral model of lifestyle change. The underuse, optimal use, and overuse of character strengths were evaluated as predictors of physical and mental health status, health behaviors, and emotions. Using a convenience sample of …

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Experiences Of Parents With Chronically Ill Children Regarding The Affordable Care Act, Kimberly Vaunterice Bracey Jan 2019

Experiences Of Parents With Chronically Ill Children Regarding The Affordable Care Act, Kimberly Vaunterice Bracey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ways in which the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) affect parents with chronically ill children are not well understood. The purpose of this phenomenographic study was to gain greater insight into the perceived experiences of parents of chronically ill children regarding implementation of the ACA in a southern state. Argyris's intervention theory provided the framework for the study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 12 female parents who are caregivers of chronically ill children. Data were analyzed and coded to identify categories and themes. Findings indicated that parents view physicians and policymakers …

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Gang Injunctions Effects: The Experiences Of Residents And Enjoined Gang Members, Natasha R. Burnett Jan 2019

Gang Injunctions Effects: The Experiences Of Residents And Enjoined Gang Members, Natasha R. Burnett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Civil gang injunctions (CGIs) are bans on nuisance behavior that have been enacted against gang members. Numerous studies conducted on the efficacy of CGIs have proven that they have little to no long-term effects on the communities in which they are implemented, nor on the gang members enjoined under them and their gang activities. The purpose of this empirical, phenomenological interpretative analysis study was to (a) determine the sociofamilial effects of CGIs on community residents; (b) determine the effects of CGIs on the behaviors and activities of enjoined gang members; and (c) determine the overall efficacy of CGIs based on …

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Experiences Of Postsecondary Students With Physical Disabilities With Online Learning, Amanda Elizabeth Cole Jan 2019

Experiences Of Postsecondary Students With Physical Disabilities With Online Learning, Amanda Elizabeth Cole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over one tenth of students in postsecondary education have a documented disability as defined by the Americans with Disability Act. However, faculty and course designers often lack understanding of these students' experiences, which leads to insufficient accommodations. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of students with physical disabilities (SWD) in online courses. The research was grounded in self-determination theory, which posits 3 basic needs for self-actualization: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This theory in combination with universal design for learning provided a lens for exploring these experiences. Data collection included 8 interviews with postsecondary students …

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Factors For Parent-Reported Adhd Diagnosis In Hispanic Elementary School-Aged Children, Maria Elva Diaz-Garcia Jan 2019

Factors For Parent-Reported Adhd Diagnosis In Hispanic Elementary School-Aged Children, Maria Elva Diaz-Garcia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attention/deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects a sizable number of children ages 4 to 17 and can be impairing into adulthood. Genetics are partly responsible, but research shows that psychosocial disparity and the interaction of select demographic factors significantly influence ADHD prevalence. There is limited research on the primary factors for an ADHD diagnosis in Hispanic elementary school-aged children. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional survey research was to determine the impact of disparity and interaction of psychosocial factors on an ADHD diagnosis. The research questions asked whether there was a relationship between the independent variables (mother's marital status, family income, …

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Gaming, Workplace, Self-Esteem, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Sarah Marie Dyson Jan 2019

Gaming, Workplace, Self-Esteem, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Sarah Marie Dyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is ample information on the negative aspects of video game playing, we know less about the benefits and how the benefits transfer to the gamers’ workplace. Further understanding of these relationships may offer employees and employers more insight on how they can reduce counterproductive workplace behaviors (CWB) while also improving workplace morale and productivity. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study is to examine the relationships between time spent engaging in gameplay, workplace self-esteem, and positive and negative workplace behaviors among gamers. Participants anonymously completed an online questionnaire utilizing the Behind the Screen Measure, Counterproductive Workplace Behavior Checklist, …

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Experiences Of Young Homeless Adults In Transitional Housing, Cornelia Edoh Jan 2019

Experiences Of Young Homeless Adults In Transitional Housing, Cornelia Edoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness continues to be a major and a comprehensive issue facing the United States, and it is a broad concern when it affects young adults. Research on the way individuals who are homeless perceive shelters, transitional programs, and housing program in general has been limited. Transitional living programs deliver critically needed temporary services for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations and provide them with the skills and the experiences needed to become independent. The study used a phenomenological design to explore the experiences of young homeless adults who are using transitional housing. The findings of this study may help young adults to …

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Implementation Of A Transcultural Nursing Education Program To Improve Nurses' Cultural Competence, Ann Marie Elizabeth Edwards Jan 2019

Implementation Of A Transcultural Nursing Education Program To Improve Nurses' Cultural Competence, Ann Marie Elizabeth Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The exponential growth of culturally diverse populations in the United States has led to a multicultural patient population while the nursing workforce remains predominantly White. At the project site, managers identified that staff nurses struggled to deliver culturally competent care. The purpose of this project was to improve the cultural competence of registered nurses (RNs) through a transcultural nursing education program. Leininger's transcultural nursing theory guided the project. Sources of evidence used to develop a face-to-face educational program included peer-reviewed journals, credible websites, and the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence Among Healthcare Professionals-R tool. Aggregate pretest and …

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Bioterrorism Hardening: An Exploratory Study Of Emts Preparedness And Practices, Ndubuisi Chinemerem Ejike Jan 2019

Bioterrorism Hardening: An Exploratory Study Of Emts Preparedness And Practices, Ndubuisi Chinemerem Ejike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2001 anthrax attacks heightened awareness of the possibility of weaponizing biological agents such as Ebola, anthrax, and smallpox and hence, the Bioterrorism Act of 2002 to prevent biological attacks and reduce bioterrorism threats and vulnerabilities. However, the 2014 Ebola epidemic raised concerns about unpreparedness for bioterrorism within the healthcare community and about secondary infections from healthcare workers. Using Kingdon's conceptualization of multiple streams as the foundation, the purpose of this case study was to explore the nature of bioterrorism threats and the level of preparedness of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who were involved in the 2014 Ebola epidemic in …

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Relationship Of Years Of Experience To Aggression, Empathy, And Alcohol Intake Among Attorneys, Ashley Frantz Jan 2019

Relationship Of Years Of Experience To Aggression, Empathy, And Alcohol Intake Among Attorneys, Ashley Frantz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attorneys are at an increased risk of negative psychological and physical effects due to stressors in their careers. The purpose of this study was to identify if sex crime attorneys and homicide attorneys identify with significant psychological changes throughout their careers. The framework for this study was theoretical in nature and utilized the social cognitive processing theory. This quantitative study (N = 28) included the use of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Multi-Dimensional Emotional Empathy Scale. A minimal significance was found correlating a decrease in aggression to years of experience as an attorney. …

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Self-Injurious Behavior And Social Media Use By Adolescents, Victoria Lynn Fye Jan 2019

Self-Injurious Behavior And Social Media Use By Adolescents, Victoria Lynn Fye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a surprising dearth of research related to the phenomenon of self-injurious behavior/nonsuicidal self-injury (SIB/NSSI), such as cutting. Research conducted on SIB has revealed that this maladaptive behavior is more common among adolescents than other populations. The act of posting SIB on social media deserves research attention, as it seems to contradict what had previously been considered a very private behavior. The goal of this qualitative case study was to better understand why adolescents engage in SIB as well as investigate why they post these behaviors on social media. Merton's theory of social strain and anomie, which focuses on …

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Guardians' Experiences With Mental Health Care For Adolescents With Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Saudia Y. George Jan 2019

Guardians' Experiences With Mental Health Care For Adolescents With Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Saudia Y. George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) is a growing public health problem in the United States, especially among adolescent children. Despite awareness of the diagnosis and the effects that it has on the child, little attention has been given to the effects that PBD has on the guardian. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the factors influencing guardians' experiences related to PBD. Penchansky and Thomas' Theory of Access and Family Systems Theory were used in this study to explore guardians lived experiences of PBD, its effects on the entire family system, and mental health service treatment. This approach …

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Relationship Between Perceived Contribution, Professional Respect, And Employee Engagement, Rafael Eustacio Guarin Jan 2019

Relationship Between Perceived Contribution, Professional Respect, And Employee Engagement, Rafael Eustacio Guarin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees are a threat to a company's survival in a highly competitive world. Despite employee engagement benefits, the mediation of interactions between leaders and followers and the specific drivers of engagement remain poorly understood. This correlational study was grounded on leader member exchange (LMX) theory and examined the relationship between 2 dimensions of LMX (perceived contribution and professional respect) and employee engagement. In this study, 68 manufacturing employees from the southern region of the United States responded to 2 surveys to measure the LMX dimensions and the level of employee engagement. Using multiple regression analysis, the existence of a …

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Framing Islamophobia And Civil Liberties: American Political Discourse Post 9/11, Lama Hamdan Jan 2019

Framing Islamophobia And Civil Liberties: American Political Discourse Post 9/11, Lama Hamdan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rhetorical frames are used to support political agendas, define problems, diagnose causes, make policy judgments, and suggest solutions. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, politicians and media pundits used Islamophobia as a fear-mongering tactic to justify public policy formation. The purpose of this study was to analyze public discourse on Islamic terrorism in arguments advocating government surveillance, restrictive immigration policies, and other erosions of U.S. constitutional protections of its citizens. This study drew on the postmodern theories of Lakoff, Lyotard, and Said to critically examine U.S. political discourse on Islam and terrorism. Three conceptual rhetorical frames were examined: Clash …

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Service Providers' Perspectives On Coping Strategies Of Discharged Adolescent Psychiatric Patients, Laneeka S. Henry Jan 2019

Service Providers' Perspectives On Coping Strategies Of Discharged Adolescent Psychiatric Patients, Laneeka S. Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Using systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of service providers about the psychiatric experiences of hospitalized adolescents, their coping strategies and the aftercare services they used following discharge. The goal was to learn about their experiences as they transitioned into mainstream culture. This study was conducted for psychiatric policy makers to assist with implementing therapeutic programs that teach adolescents coping strategies that help them make a smooth transition. The technique used to recruit 21 participants (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and direct care workers) was snowballing. The participants involved in face-to-face or …

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Job Transitioning Experiences Of Blue-Collar Employees After Federal Downsizing, Eduardo Hurtado Jan 2019

Job Transitioning Experiences Of Blue-Collar Employees After Federal Downsizing, Eduardo Hurtado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Downsizing, realignment, and closure of military bases have forced many low-skilled, blue-collar federal employees into involuntary job loss and job transition. The impact of involuntary job loss on blue-collar workers has been linked to stress and other adverse psychological effects. There is gap in the literature regarding the lived experiences of federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive phenomenological study was to examine lived experiences of job loss and job transition for federal blue-collar employees following downsizing of military bases. Schlossberg's transition theory provided a conceptual framework for the study. Ten ex-federal blue-collar …

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Resilience And Healthy Adult Relationships Post-Childhood Maltreatment, Nicole Sharie Jackson Jan 2019

Resilience And Healthy Adult Relationships Post-Childhood Maltreatment, Nicole Sharie Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of resilience and protective factors (PFs) in the life of women who have experienced childhood maltreatment (CHM). A further purpose was to understand how women who faced CHM develop resilience, and how the proper use or misuse of PFs later affected their adult relationships, whether intimate, social, or familial. Resiliency theory was the theoretical foundation that informed the study. A qualitative methodology with an interpretative phenomenological analysis design was used in this study. Participants included 7 women who were recruited through social media support groups for adult survivors of child …

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