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The Impact of Unethical Leadership Practices on Employees’ Hierarchical Needs: A Descriptive Case Study
No full textThis qualitative descriptive case study explored how unethical leadership disrupts employees’ ability to satisfy fundamental human needs as defined in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Unethical behaviors such as manipulation, exploitation, and abuse of authority were found to undermine employee well-being, trust, and workplace functionality. The purpose of this study was to examine employees’ lived experiences with unethical leadership and how such leadership influenced the fulfillment of their hierarchical needs across the dimensions of safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow’s framework guided the analysis of these relationships, providing insight into the ways unethical practices obstruct motivation and engagement. Purposeful sampling identified participants with experience in organizational settings affected by unethical leadership, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis to ensure triangulation and credibility. Thematic analysis revealed that unethical leadership impaired employees’ ability to meet psychological and professional needs, resulting in emotional exhaustion, diminished confidence, mistrust, and restricted professional growth. Participants described feelings of disengagement, anxiety, and a lasting sense of psychological strain that negatively influenced morale and organizational commitment. The findings underscored the urgent need for organizations to promote ethical leadership and protect employee well-being through leadership development, ethical training, and transparent reporting systems. These initiatives are essential for fostering trust, accountability, and a positive organizational culture. The study’s implications highlight the importance of ethical conduct as a foundation for employee motivation, retention, and long-term organizational success. Future research should examine how organizational climate moderates the effects of unethical leadership and identify proactive strategies to prevent such behaviors. Overall, this study advances understanding of how unethical leadership undermines the fulfillment of employees’ hierarchical needs, leading to adverse psychological, professional, and organizational outcomes, while offering practical guidance for cultivating ethical, human-centered leadership practices that support both individual and institutional effectiveness
Navigating the Divide: Understanding the Academic, Social, and Athletic Barriers of NAIA Student-Athletes
No full textThe purpose of this research was to understand the low retention rate at NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) institutions. Athletics drive enrollment at these institutions, and student athletes play a crucial role in boosting retention and graduation rates. This study explores the experiences and perspectives of student athletes who enroll at NAIA institutions using a narrative inquiry method. Using Tinto's theory, this study examines how student athletes at NAIA institutions decide to stay or leave. Fifteen participants were chosen through purposive sampling. Interviews and qualitative analysis revealed key factors influencing their persistence or departure. The findings highlighted a broad spectrum of experiences among NAIA student-athletes. Many make college choices rooted in a keen sense of athletic identity, often arriving on campus less prepared for academic demands and actively seeking out meaningful support networks. Student-athletes consistently expressed the need for community, financial stability, and opportunities for career development and personal growth. These insights provide practical guidance for educators and administrators seeking to strengthen retention efforts. The study underscores the significance of academic integration, social support, and institutional commitment in nurturing persistent student engagement. This research adds to the wider conversation on student retention and presents actionable recommendations to enrich the educational environment at NAIA institutions
Collaborative Partnerships with School Librarians in Fixed Rotation: A Qualitative Study
No full textThis qualitative case study explored how school librarians working within fixed schedule rotations in Texas elementary schools build and sustain collaborative partnerships with other educators. The study addressed the problem that fixed library schedules often inhibit collaboration between librarians and classroom teachers, limiting the development of a collaborative school culture. Grounded in standards from the American Association of School Libraries (AASL), the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the study aimed to identify strategies and interventions that enhance collaboration despite these constraints. The study focused on 14 TEA-certified school librarians with master’s degrees in library and information science working in a large metropolitan area. Data collection included interviews, focus groups, and artifact analysis, such as lesson and collaboration plans. Interviews were conducted using Riverside.FM. A hybrid analysis process combined Delve software with manual methods like printed transcripts and researcher note cards for thematic coding. Findings revealed that while fixed scheduling presents substantial barriers to collaboration, such as a lack of shared planning time and isolation from classroom instruction, librarians still find meaningful ways to collaborate. These include informal communication, partnerships with ancillary educators, and asynchronous instructional tools. These practices show that collaboration is possible, even when institutional scheduling structures are rigid. The study offers several implications for practice. School leaders should intentionally support librarians as instructional partners by including them in planning and professional learning opportunities to help teachers better understand how librarians support instruction and curriculum. Future researchers can build on this study by expanding stakeholder perspectives, comparing scheduling models, and examining the relationship between collaboration and student outcomes
A New Modality: Scaffolding Asynchronous On-Demand Instruction with Microsoft Power Automate
No full textAt our library, we have beta-tested a series of email-based modules called “Learn in a Week.” When students can sign up for a module, they will receive one message per day for the ensuing week; each module covers a different information literacy topic ranging from the simple “Choosing a research topic” to more complex topics like “Finding Tests & Measures.” Through this program, we can carefully scaffold asynchronous learning over seven mini-lessons (each an email) and pace the students’ learning to facilitate retention and application. On the students’ end, they can choose when to initiate learning and consume the emails at their own pace.
This model of on-demand, scaffolded email-based training can be easily implemented by any institution with Microsoft 365. The modules are powered by Microsoft Power Automate flows that are triggered when a student submits a Microsoft Form. These can be provided alongside other modalities covering the same topics (such as live webinars, recorded webinars, and libguides) to ensure students have a choice in how they learn. The "Learn in a Week" email-based modules represent a promising and scalable solution to the challenge of delivering scaffolded, on-demand, asynchronous information literacy instruction
Continuous Improvement in the Face of Change Evaluating and Enhancing Library Webinars at an Online University
No full textOur project had two specific goals. First, we wanted to minimize the cognitive load needed to understand the format and purposes of our webinars. In the wake of National University and Northcentral University's recent merger, our students were bombarded with a vast number of new resources and updated information. It was therefore essential that our library services (including webinars) were intuitive and easy to understand. Our second goal was to ensure an effective return on investment of librarian time by identifying both less-attended and highly popular webinars in the wake of an increased, post-merger student population. We conducted a quantitative analysis of webinar attendance data over the previous year. Data collection involved collating and correcting data from two Libcal systems, due to the recent merger of two library systems. Attendance data was then averaged and correlated with the audience, time of day, and day of the week. The results were then color-coded to support rapid interpretation of the results. The quantitative analysis was augmented with a qualitative assessment of librarian feedback and published literature to contextualize attendance data, interpret meaning, and extrapolate best practices. From our research, we generated a list of best practices for webinar titles, descriptions, branding, and tags. We also were able to identify several under-attended webinars suitable to be retired from their current live webinar format, as well as some highly popular webinars that should be offered more often. Through the internal assessment process, we also identified our webinars as an opportunity for continuous review and improvement
Re-Authoring the Narrative: An Investigation into Narrative Therapy’s Impact on the Mental Health Healing of Women Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence
No full textThis capstone project explores the literature on narrative therapy and its impact on the mental health healing of women who have experienced domestic violence. Violence against women continues to be a problem in society. As the patriarchal modern society continues to colonize and normalize abuse and neglect women’s rights, clinical research continues its attention on reporting data that shows women experiencing chronic intimate partner and family violence. Women who experience such types of domestic violence can have lasting mental health struggles. However, the current literature has mixed evidence on what may be best for treatment. Narrative therapy aims to externalize the problematic narratives in a client’s life and empower them to find their desired story. Therefore, there is a clinical curiosity about the state of the literature on using narrative therapy in this clinical population. A literature review yielded ten qualitative, two quantitative, and one case conceptualization study on the relevant topic. Three primary themes emerged, with narrative stories showing resistance to domestic violence, the cultural variation in women's experiences with narrative therapy, and the pathways of re-authoring stories away from abuse. The results summary and clinical applications are discussed, with potential future directions and concluding statements
Impact of Ambiguous Grief on Families and Caregivers Caused by a Loved One’s Addiction
No full textGrief is often associated with death or significant loss, it can also manifest when someone witnesses a person, they care about suffer from addiction, this type of grief, sometimes referred to as "ambiguous grief" occurs when a loved one is physically present but psychologically or emotionally absent due to their addiction (Oswald, 2023). The problem is that this type of grief is often more complex due to societal stigma, guilt, and uncertainty about the circumstances of death (Dyregrov et al., 2020). Families’ traumatic exposure to addiction leads to intense feelings of anger, guilt, depression, ambivalence, and unresolved grief, as well as overwhelming anxiety caused by the enormous responsibility of preventing death (Thatcher, 2023). Worldwide, alcohol is the seventh risk factor for ill health, both in terms of mortality and disability for years (Gual & Drummond, 2022). The rate of comorbidity among individuals with mental and addictive disorders provided clear evidence that mental disorders have an impact on the psychopathology of substance dependence like alcohol addiction (Salazar-Guerra et al., 2020). All forms of trauma are characterized by losses, such as the loss of safety, loss of sense of self, loss of hope, loss of relationship, loss of a loved-one, etc. (Giacomucci, 2020). Ambiguous loss can occur when one's sibling abuses substances, as the sibling may be physically present yet be psychologically absent in terms of the co-sibling (and the family). The intangible grief that can occur while a person who is addicted is still present requires further examination (Sampson et al., 2023). Mental health professionals need to be aware of the devastating impact of addiction problems on all family members to validate their experiences and support them in recovering from trauma and loss in the family (Missouridou, 2023). Those who grow up with a dysfunctional individual who 5 is addicted to substance experience two layers of loss; the loss of childhood, and the loss of letting go of the idealized or fantasy image of a caring loved one (Bekesi & Kassai, 2024)
Parenting Children with Disabilities: Effects on the Marital Relationship
No full textThis literature review examines the complex challenges faced by heterosexual families raising children with disabilities. It focuses on the emotional. Physical, and social impacts. It explores the parents' experience of stress, anxiety, and depression and additionally highlights gender differences in caregiving roles, where mothers often bear a disproportionate burden while fathers may feel isolated. The literature review also considers the effects on siblings, who may experience feelings of neglect and emotional distress while also investigating societal issues such as stigma, discrimination, and limited access to resources. Also explored is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families of children with disabilities. The findings emphasize the role and importance of counselling psychology. Considering tailored interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and family counselling, to support parental mental health, foster resilience, and promote positive family dynamics. The literature review advocates for comprehensive support systems comprised of financial assistance, accessible services, and inclusive policies, to empower families and create a more equitable environment for individuals with disabilities
Holding It, Together: Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals in Grief
No full textThis capstone examines how neurodiverse individuals experience and express grief in ways that are often misunderstood and overlooked. Neurodiverse people, especially youth, frequently face unique forms of loss. For neurodiverse individuals, whose grief is often unrecognized or misinterpreted, these experiences can lead to feelings of isolation and abandonment and create significant changes in stability, relationships, and life roles. Using a person-centred perspective, this capstone project explores ways to better support neurodiverse individuals through inclusive, flexible therapeutic practices. This work seeks to honour the unique ways neurodiverse individuals express grief, adapting our therapeutic approach to truly meet their needs and offer a more compassionate path to healing
Martial Arts as a Form of Adjunctive Therapy
Get PDFThe most common treatments for individuals experiencing a mental health disorder are the use of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Though these treatments offer benefits for many people living with a mental health disorder, there remains a population that does not experience a reduction of their mental health symptoms. Adjunctive interventions have been an effective means to aid those individuals to experience a reduction in their mental health disorders. Various adjunctive interventions have been explored in the literature. However, martial arts as an adjunctive intervention has not been fully examined. There is a vast amount of research on how exercise, mind-body interventions, mindfulness, and neural exercises individually can provide benefits for individuals living with mental health disorders. Martial arts entail all of these interventions in a group setting. In this Capstone, I examined the benefits of martial arts as a form of exercise, how it creates a mind-body connection, facilitates mindfulness, and can be a neural exercise under a polyvagal lens. A framework for a martial arts adjunctive intervention group has also been discussed for mental health professionals