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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Correlation Between Laura’S Law And The Incarceration Of The Mentally Ill In A Southwestern State, Aaron Alarcon-Bowen Jan 2022

The Correlation Between Laura’S Law And The Incarceration Of The Mentally Ill In A Southwestern State, Aaron Alarcon-Bowen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Assisted outpatient treatment and involuntary outpatient treatment laws refer to the power of the court system to order community-based treatment without hospitalization to individuals with a mental illness diagnosis. Studies have linked these laws to a decrease in the use of incarceration among this population. The effectiveness of the assisted outpatient treatment law in a Southwestern state, known as Laura’s Law, has not been studied. With a theoretical foundation based on the social contract and multiple streams analysis theories, a quantitative, casual, comparative study using an independent t test was centered on determining whether the mean numbers of incarcerated individuals …


Intra-Racial Bullying Among African American Female Students In Middle School, Lashaunda Cunningham Jan 2022

Intra-Racial Bullying Among African American Female Students In Middle School, Lashaunda Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIntra-racial bullying is increasing within the African American population, especially middle school. This specific form of bullying can be difficult for administrators to investigate as it is unlike the typical forms of bullying that school officials observe or witness daily. There was a gap in the literature regarding limited research that has examined intra-racial bullying from the perspectives of teachers, administrators, and hallway monitors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the patterns, trends, characteristics, and reasons that result in intra-racial bullying among African American female students in middle school from the perspectives of adults who work in …


Emotional Intelligence And Self-Perceptions Of Counseling Competency In Counselors In Training, Ariel Katherine Hernandez Jan 2022

Emotional Intelligence And Self-Perceptions Of Counseling Competency In Counselors In Training, Ariel Katherine Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Counselor educators and regulatory boards continue to develop criteria to prepare counselors in training (CITs) for clinical practice. Despite the significant support they receive within the counseling course curriculum, some students lack the necessary counseling competency to succeed in the field experience component of their training. Emotional intelligence (EI) may be relevant in the ability of CITs to manage their emotions and relationships in personal, professional, and academic settings, but there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the relationship between EI and counseling competence. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between EI and self-perception …


The Biopsychosocial Impact Of Racial Discrimination Among African Americans, Amy Renae Amin Jan 2022

The Biopsychosocial Impact Of Racial Discrimination Among African Americans, Amy Renae Amin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between racial discrimination and anger, stress, and obesity. The stress-disease model provided a theoretical perspective of the biological, psychological, and social pathways from stress. Past research regarding the correlation between racial discrimination, anger, stress, and obesity reported a possible connection, but results have been mixed. This research expanded upon existing literature that proposed that blatant or subtle experiences of racial discrimination are pathways to mental and physical health consequences. The hypothesis was that there was a significant relationship between racial discrimination and the levels of stress, anger, and obesity. Racial …


The Beliefs And Practices Of Black Single Mothers Who Promoted College Completion Among Their Offspring, Michelle Arlene Akere-Azeez Jan 2022

The Beliefs And Practices Of Black Single Mothers Who Promoted College Completion Among Their Offspring, Michelle Arlene Akere-Azeez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, the number of single mothers among Blacks has steadily increased over time, with single motherhood being associated with a higher level of poverty and other social problems. Unfortunately, these adverse effects have led to a low rate of college completion among children of low-income Black single mothers, which has resulted in a cycle of generational poverty. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to identify the beliefs and practices of low-income Black single mothers who influenced successful college completion among their offspring. Data were collected using semi structured interviews of eight low-income Black single mothers …


General Education Elementary Teacher Competencies And Training In Teaching Children With Autism In The U.S. Virgin Islands, Merle Merinda Elizabeth Durand Jan 2022

General Education Elementary Teacher Competencies And Training In Teaching Children With Autism In The U.S. Virgin Islands, Merle Merinda Elizabeth Durand

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing. The overall problem in this study focused on showing how a lack of teacher training in ASD-specific courses could result in a lack of competencies in meeting the educational needs of children with autism in an inclusive setting. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine if a difference exists in four teaching competencies among general education elementary teachers teaching children with autism in the general education classroom in the U.S. Virgin Islands based training. The theoretical framework was grounded in Medley’s teaching competence theory …


Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder In Southwest Michigan, Kathy A. Carruthers Jan 2022

Stigma Toward People With Opioid Use Disorder In Southwest Michigan, Kathy A. Carruthers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The opioid epidemic is one of the largest health problems in America. In one Southwest Michigan county, opioid overdose deaths increased from 36 deaths in 2008 to 104 deaths in 2017. In the same county, stigma was identified as the highest-ranked reason people do not seek opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge that social work practitioners have regarding stigma toward people who inject drugs with OUD in Southwest Michigan. The purpose aligned with social work values as people with OUD are marginalized and cannot advocate for themselves. The theoretical framework that guided …


The Role Of Women In Public Administration In Saint Lucia, Elizabeth Elicia Bailey Jan 2022

The Role Of Women In Public Administration In Saint Lucia, Elizabeth Elicia Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women continue to face stereotypes and barriers with their advancement to leadership positions. Nonetheless, there is an increasing number of females in leadership roles partly due to programs and policies for the advancement of women, causing several women to aspire to and take up top leadership positions in the public sector. In Saint Lucia, women hold about 70% of the senior management positions that were once dominated primarily by men. However, little is known about the role of women in public administration in Saint Lucia. This qualitative study aimed to understand the perceptions of male and female leaders relating to …


Financial Aid Knowledge And Resources Among First-Generation College Students, Carmelitia J. Coleman Jan 2022

Financial Aid Knowledge And Resources Among First-Generation College Students, Carmelitia J. Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFirst-generation, freshmen students struggle to complete the financial aid process at a 4-year private university in Louisiana, impacting their financial and academic well-being. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore first-generation, freshmen student perceptions of how they construct knowledge about the financial aid process and resources needed to help them complete the process. The conceptual framework of the study was comprised of Piaget’s theory of constructivism, which is grounded in the idea of learners constructing their own knowledge based on experience. The first research question addressed how first-generation, freshmen students constructed knowledge about the financial aid process. …


How Social Workers In Long Term Care Facilities In The State Of Florida Assist Lgbt Aging Adults To Acclimate To Each Other And The Facility, Katherine Louise Curci-Degaro Jan 2022

How Social Workers In Long Term Care Facilities In The State Of Florida Assist Lgbt Aging Adults To Acclimate To Each Other And The Facility, Katherine Louise Curci-Degaro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The elderly LGBT community is growing in the State of Florida, and some members of this group face inequalities when accessing long-term care services. Social workers play an important role in assisting residents to acclimate to their settings, and without their involvement, LGBT older adults may be forced back into secrecy regarding their sexual orientation. For social workers in long term care facilities, understanding how discrimination, oppression, and stigma interacted in the lives of these LGBT older adults is important in understanding these adults and their experiences in long-term care facilities. This doctoral project used a qualitative research design. Fifteen …


Social Support Needs Of African American Single Parent Women Residing In Atlanta, Tyneisha Douglas Jan 2022

Social Support Needs Of African American Single Parent Women Residing In Atlanta, Tyneisha Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers may serve marginalized groups of people such as single parents who may face challenges and barriers to raising a healthy family. African American mothers are more likely to have adverse experiences with parenting without a partner or additional supportive primary caregiver than women in other racial groups. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the mental health challenges that impact African American women who are single parents. Social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Data were collected from individual interviews with ten parents from daycare centers in the metropolitan Atlanta area that …


Development Of A Capacity Building Program To Promote Trauma-Informed Services, Juan Miguel Medina Jan 2022

Development Of A Capacity Building Program To Promote Trauma-Informed Services, Juan Miguel Medina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Wichita County, Texas experienced decreased academic performances of elementary level children in 24 out of 45 communities. Higher numbers of traumatic experiences increase a child's risk of not meeting developmental benchmarks. The purpose of this capstone project is to support the development of a trauma-informed capacity-building program. Ungar's resiliency theory was used to understand the factors related to building resilience in children to prevent trauma. Using action research, the researcher explored how developing program content may improve an agency's system readiness to deliver effective trauma-informed care. Data were collected from a focus group with local social workers. Content analysis was …


Perceptions Of Implicit Bias In New York City Healthcare System During Covid-19, Kiesha Jackson Jan 2022

Perceptions Of Implicit Bias In New York City Healthcare System During Covid-19, Kiesha Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Implicit bias has been identified as a significant problem that hinders effective healthcare delivery. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory phenomenological study was to examine whether implicit bias influenced healthcare services for African Americans with comorbidities aged 30 and over living in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current studies show healthcare disparities, revealing barriers with healthcare delivery; however, they do not disclose a patient’s lived experience qualitatively, which constituted a gap in the literature. The frameworks of the behavioral model of health services use, and social construction and policy design guided this study. Research questions addressed (a) whether …


Juvenile Probation Officers' Perceptions Of Strategies To Reduce Juvenile Delinquency In Maryland, Ebenezer Nwaedozie Obonna Jan 2022

Juvenile Probation Officers' Perceptions Of Strategies To Reduce Juvenile Delinquency In Maryland, Ebenezer Nwaedozie Obonna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractYoung offenders aged 10 to 17 years have increasingly become involved with the juvenile justice system, causing concerns about their future prospects and their role in positively contributing to the prosperity of society, particularly in Maryland. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to provide detailed descriptions of the strategies that stakeholders in the juvenile criminal justice system and the offenders can use to reduce youth crime in Maryland. Cognitive-behavioral therapy theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 11 probation officers from Maryland. Findings from thematic analysis demonstrated that some juvenile justice …


Exploring Perceptions Of Staff Preparedness For Emergency Response In Transitional Houses In Texas, Patrick Onuoha Jan 2022

Exploring Perceptions Of Staff Preparedness For Emergency Response In Transitional Houses In Texas, Patrick Onuoha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDisaster preparedness for emergency response within transitional houses is a problem that often fails to receive attention, a situation that can lead to injuries or death during disaster events. One of the factors responsible for this lapse is the contractual nature of most of the transitional houses, with inherent inadequacies in types and quality of services. Although research in this area is relatively scarce, a synthesis of literature reviewed suggested greater focus on disaster management in other areas and almost nothing with regards to transitional houses. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand staff emergency preparedness in …


Law Enforcement’S Effect On Rape Victims’ Initial Interview: A Victim Advocate’S Perspective, Nkenge Pruden Jan 2022

Law Enforcement’S Effect On Rape Victims’ Initial Interview: A Victim Advocate’S Perspective, Nkenge Pruden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Among the U.S. military community, organizations have been established to focus solely on sexual assault reporting, prevention efforts, and support for survivors. Although more victims are reporting their sexual assault, the number of perpetrators going to prison have not increased significantly. Some studies suggest victims’ unwillingness to report and cooperate with the proponents of criminal justice process are the reasons for the lack of rightful justice. The intent of this study was to examine the interaction between law enforcement and the sexual assault victim via the perception of the victim advocate. The importance of this study was to understand whether …


An Evaluation Of A Drug Policy At A Federal University In Southeastern Nigeria, Linus N. Okahia Jan 2022

An Evaluation Of A Drug Policy At A Federal University In Southeastern Nigeria, Linus N. Okahia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug abuse among university students has become a public health problem. The prevalence of drug abuse has negatively impacted the students, causing serious health outcomes. Finding a solution has the potential to benefit both students and society. Various intervention strategies have been adopted but the results have varied. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to evaluate the administrators’ and students’ perceptions of anti-drug-use policy at a federal university in Southeastern Nigeria to determine its effectiveness on drug abuse prevention among students. The policy feedback theory (PFT), which helps to understand and analyze the policy process, was the explanatory …


A Case Study Of Senate Bill 123 Nonviolent Felony Offenders Suboxone Use, Jessica Scott Jan 2022

A Case Study Of Senate Bill 123 Nonviolent Felony Offenders Suboxone Use, Jessica Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2003, a midwestern state passed legislation implementing a program with the goal of treating nonviolent felony offenders leaving prison sentences for more severe crimes. The current study examined legislation focusing on substance abuse treatment rather than incarceration. The purpose of this was to bridge this gap in knowledge by investigating the legislative session’s actions to aid members in the provision of services related to the Senate Bill 123 program. The central research question of this study examined the experiences of healthcare practitioners and addiction counselors associated with SB 123 nonviolent adult offenders requiring drug and alcohol treatment concerning Suboxone …


Perception Of Promotability Among Employees In Nonprofit Health And Social Impact Services, Victoria Leann Rodino Jan 2022

Perception Of Promotability Among Employees In Nonprofit Health And Social Impact Services, Victoria Leann Rodino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many human resource departments are developing and improving their talent management systems to identify and develop employee talent within the organization. However, nonprofit organizations face unique challenges including under-developed human resource structures and limited resources or funds. As a result, many nonprofit organizations are unable to effectively communicate their promotability processes, resulting in negative employee behaviors including lack of motivation, decreased engagement, and enhanced turnover intention. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the employee perception of promotability within the nonprofit sector. Social exchange and social cognitive theories were used to explore the perception of promotability among …


Latino Pastors’ Perceptions Of Referring Intimate Partner Violence Victims To Secular, Esther M. Rios Jan 2022

Latino Pastors’ Perceptions Of Referring Intimate Partner Violence Victims To Secular, Esther M. Rios

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information about intimate partner violence (IPV) perceptions within the Latino clergy population is scarce. This research study investigated perceptions, experiences, and biases, precluding Latino clergy in referring church members to outside resources. The research question focused on Latino pastors’ perceptions about referring church members victims of IPV to secular organizations. Understanding clergy’s IPV perceptions provided an opportunity for scholars to explore ways for clergy to discover other organizations contributions to IPV. Historical oppression was used as the framework for the study because Latino women victims of IPV experience severe victimization and are afraid to report the abuse. Previous research does …


Built Environment And Well-Being Of Stem Women Employed In The Petroleum Sector, Natalie Robinson Jan 2022

Built Environment And Well-Being Of Stem Women Employed In The Petroleum Sector, Natalie Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Male-dominated occupations have received increased attention concerning the environmental health and retention of its specialized workforce. Research studies on the impact of the environment suggest that ecological and infrastructure conditions of the workplace affect the psychological health and physical well-being of employees across both public and private industries. Presently, in the context of the oil and gas and engineering field, there is a literature gap in exploring whether workplace conditions or adverse circumstances in male-dominated built environments negatively affect the psychological well-being and retention of women employed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations. For the current qualitative study, …


Case Study: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities And Threats Analysis For My Brother’S Keeper Organization, Tyriek Bobby Washington Jan 2022

Case Study: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities And Threats Analysis For My Brother’S Keeper Organization, Tyriek Bobby Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this case study, strategies to increase the impact of mentorship programs and academic success of African American high school students were examined through the use of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. The purpose of this case study was to gather empirical data to identify opportunities for First Generation College Bound, Inc., an affiliate of the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative to strategically improve and expand their program. The research question focused on identifying the programs’ current administrative practices as well as areas to better engage and support mentees. Using the conceptual framework of Hersey and Blanchard’s …


The Perceptions And Practices Of Child Welfare Caseworkers And Decision-Making Related To Reunification, Sonja D. Ulrich Jan 2022

The Perceptions And Practices Of Child Welfare Caseworkers And Decision-Making Related To Reunification, Sonja D. Ulrich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The child welfare system exists to support safe and healthy families. When children cannot remain safely with family, they are removed and often placed with nonrelatives. Only half of all of the children removed from their homes achieve reunification. In the current study, research questions examined the perceptions of caseworkers in determining whether or when a child could reunify with their family of removal, and how the perceptions of the caseworker affected their practice regarding reunification. Using social learning theory as a framework, a caseworker’s decisions were viewed as a balance between their work environment and their personal perceptions. Following …


The Social Worker’S Experience Regarding Social Isolation In Middle Schools, Jeanne Williams Jan 2022

The Social Worker’S Experience Regarding Social Isolation In Middle Schools, Jeanne Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMiddle school is a time when adolescents struggle with social challenges, self-identity, and self-esteem. Social workers are critical stakeholders to support families in schools; these professionals serve in a unique capacity to assist with attendance, provide medical and behavioralsupport and connect families with resources to mitigate barriers to students’ success. Little is known, however, about the role social workers play in preventing and addressing the social isolation of middle school students. The purpose of this project was to explore the role of the social worker as it relates to preventing and addressing the social isolation of middle school students. Self-determination …


Cultural Responsiveness In Policing, Stacy Berry Workman Jan 2022

Cultural Responsiveness In Policing, Stacy Berry Workman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the last decade, headlines have highlighted police-citizen conflicts. With the continuing change in communities to an increasingly diverse population, communication and interactions between officers and citizens must progress towards fairness and transparency. The delivery of culturally competent public safety services facilitates more favorable client outcomes, more effective interpersonal communication, and increased service satisfaction from clients. Although this is heavily stressed in public safety agencies and can decrease the possibility of tort liability for failing to provide adequate services or appropriate treatment, the emphasis varies. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the policies and influences of law …


The Contribution Of Socioeconomic Status, Stress, And Happiness To Substance Abuse Among Adults In America, Volaura Anderson Jan 2022

The Contribution Of Socioeconomic Status, Stress, And Happiness To Substance Abuse Among Adults In America, Volaura Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem studied was that by 2025, over 5 million adults in the United States will likely be suffering from different disorders caused by substance use. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), stress, happiness, and the frequency of drug use amongst adults over the age of 45 years who resided in the State of Florida and were currently enrolled in a substance use recovery program. The stress process model guided this study and the research questions focused on determining any relationships between frequency of drug use, SES, stress, and …


Disparities In The Sentencing Of African American Men In Wayne County, Michigan, Brian Banks Jan 2022

Disparities In The Sentencing Of African American Men In Wayne County, Michigan, Brian Banks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe ability of judges in the U.S. criminal justice system to administer penalties based on a defendant’s socioeconomic status has resulted in a disproportionate number of African Americans receiving harsher penalties than those of other racial groups and socioeconomic statuses. Currently, there is little evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of harsher sentencing of defendants with lower socioeconomic statuses in preventing crime or lowering recidivism, but more work is needed to clarify what sentencing factors judges use. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the factors that Wayne County, Michigan, judges used during the sentencing process of criminal defendants, along …


Phenomenology Of How The Doctor-Patient Relationship Plays A Role In Cardiovascular, Sanam Sarahbi Jan 2022

Phenomenology Of How The Doctor-Patient Relationship Plays A Role In Cardiovascular, Sanam Sarahbi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in men and women for most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Physicians are the most frequently sought-after source of support for self-management of chronic diseases of patients. Social support from physicians may help facilitate patient resiliency. This phenomenological study involved using the social support theory as the theoretical lens and health literacy as the conceptual framework to explore how CVD patients perceive experiences with their physicians foster resiliency. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect rich descriptions of CVD patient experiences. Data were analyzed by using Moustakas’ modification of …


Exploring The Relationships Between Autism Parent Training And Fathers’ Parental Involvement, Ray Brown Jan 2022

Exploring The Relationships Between Autism Parent Training And Fathers’ Parental Involvement, Ray Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAs the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in American children has increased over the past decade, many local and state agencies are seeking avenues to become more efficient in the type of training services they offer. One such training is referred as Autism Parent Training (APT). The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between fathers’ participation in APT and the factors related to involvement with their children prior to training and after attending training. This study relied on the developmental learning perspective as a theoretical framework, which asserts that the experience a person has in his/her …


Expectations And Reality: Post Deployment Reintegration Through The Lived Experiences Of Military Spouses, Michele Marie Brown Jan 2022

Expectations And Reality: Post Deployment Reintegration Through The Lived Experiences Of Military Spouses, Michele Marie Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study aims to understand how post-deployment reintegration impacted the quality of life, functionality, adjustment, and levels of distress among military spouses. Additionally, this study analyzed data collected from 11 individual military spouse responses to gain firsthand insight into the challenges of post-deployment reintegration and the resiliency factors that influence stability. While extensive research existed on the challenges associated with the hardships of physical distance and absence, there was limited research on the impact of post-deployment reintegration on the overall quality of life of a military spouse. Three theories explored the extremely individualized experiences of military spouses’ post-deployment reintegration. …