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Exploring Clergy\u27s Use of Suicide Risk Factor Knowledge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
Get PDFThis qualitative descriptive study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy in relations to suicide risk factors and the interventions they used to prevent suicidality among congregants in Central Florida. Guided by Anthony Jorm’s mental health literacy theory, the study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy related to their knowledge of suicide risk factors and interventions they use to address suicide risk among church congregants. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. A total of 14 clergy members participated in the study. The findings were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, leading to five key themes from the data. The study revealed gaps in clergy members’ knowledge, including limited understanding of suicide risk factors and the need for formal training in suicide prevention. These findings may inform the mental health and counseling fields on how to provide ongoing education on suicide risk factors and collaboration with local clergy
Unveiling the Detrimental Effects of Racial Profiling on Hispanics in the RGV by DPS Under Operation Lone Star
Get PDFThe purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of whether racial profiling by DPS on the Hispanic community in the RGV was indeed an ongoing issue that was causing adverse impacts. Moreover, to design better training for DPS troopers to address the problem of racial profiling against Hispanics. The setting of this study was based on Hispanics born or raised in the RGV. Interviews and focused groups were used to collect data. The MAXQDA was used to help analyze and identify common themes. The two main common themes were positive and negative experiences, with 11 out of the 20 participants incurring a positive feeling with the increased OLS strategies in the RGV. The research indicated that racial profiling is not an ongoing issue. Instead, a minority of the participants felt racially profiled. Future research would be beneficial on this same topic with various ethnicities and demographics to determine whether racial profiling is indeed not a widespread issue in the RGV and if it is more widespread than the study let on. Even though the study indicated that racial profiling is not a significant issue, ethics training for DPS would still be necessary because there are Hispanics who feel like DPS has racially targeted them
Multiple Platform Social Media Engagement Correlation with Perceived Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Active Church Members
Get PDFSocial media has remained an area that each person has related to in their everyday experiences. The growth of social media has continued and expanded to include a wide range of varying platform opportunities for users. Given the variances with social media engagements, everyone differs with their resulting overall mental health characteristics. This study explored the relationship between the user engagement on multiple social media platforms and self-reported depression, stress, and anxiety. The variables included the number of social media platforms and the self-reported responses to the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS21). For this study, the participants included 117 individuals who were at least 18 years of age and older, had an active church membership, and accessed at least three different social media platforms. This study was considered a quantitative correlational study and a Spearman’s rank-order test was utilized to analyze the obtained data. Data generated from this study provided information that extended beyond social media usage and explored the correlation with engagement practices that included accessing multiple platforms on a user’s mental health. A social media flyer and post were provided with a link and QR code to complete the survey. The obtained findings did not reflect a statistically significant correlation between multiple platform social media engagement and depression, anxiety, and stress. Previous research has indicated that social media had a relationship with mental health concerns; however, a consistent contributing factor has not been identified. Recording the age and gender along with identifying the type of platform accessed could have yielded more significant results
The Effect of Defendant Race and Race Salience on Jury Verdicts
Get PDFResearchers have reported conflicting findings about whether mock jurors are more, less, or equally likely to convict Black defendants in mock trials as compared to White defendants. Likewise, past studies have led researchers to disagree on the effect of race salience at trial on verdicts. I therefore examined whether Black defendants were convicted more often than White defendants, as well as whether making race salient in the defense closing argument would reduce guilty verdicts. I randomly assigned 207 participants to read one of four abbreviated trial transcripts in which defendant race (Black, White) and race salience (present, absent) were manipulated in a between-subjects design. After each participant read the assigned trial transcript, they completed attention- and manipulation-checks, rendered a dichotomous verdict, and gave a rating of confidence in that verdict. I ran a logistic regression to determine whether defendant race and/or race salience predicted verdict, as well as whether these variables interacted. Neither race, race salience, nor the interaction were statistically significant. These findings suggest that defendant race and race salience may not always affect verdict
In Victory and In Infamy: An Examination of America’s Revolutionary Struggle Through the Parallel Careers of Colonel Peter Gansevoort and Major General Benedict Arnold
Get PDFThe parallel careers of Peter Gansevoort and Benedict Arnold in Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolution highlight the important role played by Washington’s junior officers in the success of the Revolutionary effort, while emphasizing the personal relationships forged in the crucible of that war. As their commands intersected in the crucial campaign seasons of 1776, 1777, and 1780, Gansevoort and Arnold developed a close personal relationship as each individually, with the aid of the other, played key roles in the retreats, victories, and betrayals that defined each of those respective campaigns. By examining Gansevoort’s largely forgotten career, an entirely new view of Arnold’s unparalleled career emerges, complete in its dramatic victories, petty disputes, and immortal infamy
A Sacramental Model for Digital Ecclesiology: Theological Retrieval for a Mediated Church
Get PDFThe widespread proliferation of digital technologies has opened the door to new ecclesiological questions and challenges for the Christian denominations that have integrated these technologies into their community life and liturgical practices. American evangelicalism is proposed to be especially susceptible to the aforementioned challenges due to its ecclesiological emphases and general posture towards digital media. Using Marshall McLuhan’s seminal insights in media theory, this work argues that the role of digital media in the church shows a significant congruence with Christian sacramental theology. The concept of the digital church is analyzed through McLuhan’s tetrad framework and its weaknesses are highlighted. This work presents a solution by arguing that viewing the church as a sacrament may alleviate the potential dangers of churches being negatively impacted by an unbalanced theology of media
Using Technology Responsibly to Align Church Ministry with God\u27s Plan
Get PDFThe proliferation of digital technologies, including live-streaming services, online community platforms, and virtual events, is revolutionizing the operational dynamics of church ministries. Churches of all sizes are embracing these changes to expand their influence, engage with members in new ways, and enhance the impact of digital technology on their ministry. Implementing digital transformation has led to innovative approaches in worship services, outreach programs, and community engagement, enabling churches to meet the evolving needs of their congregation and the broader community.
This dissertation-in-praxis explores the broader biblical and theological significance to gain a deeper understanding and demonstrate the practical application of technology that honors God. A deeper understanding provides church leaders with a roadmap for fulfilling their biblical stewardship obligations regarding the responsible use of technology and its alignment with God\u27s plan. Acknowledging that God maintains rightful ownership of all possessions is paramount in contemplating stewardship. Church leaders are responsible for practicing accountability when employing digital technologies, which affects their actions for the greater good while actively striving to uphold the principles of fairness and integrity. Therefore, this study examined the steward leadership model within the context of church leaders\u27 ability to shape themselves and others\u27 cultures for obedience to stewardship. The primary objective was to equip church leaders with the necessary resources to establish accountability for information technology transformation and support them in fulfilling their biblical responsibilities for incorporating digital technology into ministry
Relationship of Religiosity and Depression and Anxiety of K-12th Grade Educators
Get PDFAs more people suffer from a decline in mental health, the education profession is especially vulnerable to anxiety and depression. K-12th grade teachers face a plethora of job-related stressors that impact their mental health, which often affects the quality of education and student outcomes. Public school teachers face the daily challenge of managing student behavior, responding to parent, community, and administrator demands, high-stakes testing, and the responsibility of designing rigorous lessons. They must face these challenges while balancing personal stressors such as financial struggles with minimal pay. Additionally, teachers’ mental health influences the culture and climate of the school environment for students. While some teachers utilize healthy coping strategies, including exercise, others turn to unhealthy habits such as substance abuse. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental cross-sectional study is to investigate the relationship between the religiosity of teachers and their depression and anxiety, as well as how school environments affect the mediation relationship between religiosity and mental health. Teachers in the Houston area participated in this quantitative research
A Descriptive, Comparative Study of Preexisting Leadership Qualities and Leadership Effectiveness of Theologically Conservative United States Army Battalion-Level Chaplains
Get PDFThis immediate demand for spiritual and professional leadership can be overwhelming for a new battalion-level chaplain (Blackaby 2001; Howell 2003). They perform or provide religious service for Soldiers who have volunteered to serve their country. By going through the same military training in conjunction with their religious education and experience, chaplains are able to integrate with Soldiers where traditional clergy cannot. There is additional pressure to perform because chaplains, as commissioned officers, are evaluated immediately through an annual Officer Evaluation Report (OER hereafter, DA Form 67-9). With no time to acquire new skills, battalion-level chaplains are forced to rely on their existing leadership qualities to lead the battalion spiritually and advise their commander (AR 165-1, 3-2). This study describes the relationship between preexisting leadership qualities and the level of leadership effectiveness of battalion-level chaplains
Engaging Church Teams to Support Youths Aging Out of Care
Get PDFEmerging Adults (EAs) in out-of-home care (OHC) face significant challenges when aging out of the foster care system, including histories of traumatic experiences. Approximately 30,000 exit Child Protective Services (CPS) annually, with 4,000 becoming instantly homeless. This study used a facilitated grounded theory approach, engaging 14 participants representing two churches. The aim was to identify the topmost factors for gaining interest, commitment, and action from a Volunteer Church Team Volunteer Team to assist one EA in their transition to independent living (IL). Primarily, non-Hispanic White and Native American Indian participants aged 35–65 contributed insights during three hours of brainstorming and individual ideation. The study’s findings present a model for effective church volunteer enlistment and action that supports EAs existing OHC. The model also serves as a template for similar initiatives, such as community service projects. The 15-step model enhances organizational change management theory and volunteer organization team designs. The research underscores the importance of structured volunteerism within the nation’s 300,000 churches in reducing homelessness and other negative outcomes among EAs exiting care