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Self-Distraction as a Positive Coping Mechanism for Adolescents of Incarcerated Parents
Get PDFChildren of incarcerated parents have been an increasing area of scholarly focus, especially considering that the United States holds one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world. The purpose of this qualitative basic study was to explore the perceptions of adolescents, ages 18-21, whose parents are incarcerated in prison, and their use of self-distraction from parental incarceration as a positive coping mechanism. The study was grounded in Hill’s family stress theory. Purposive and snowball sample strategies were employed in this study to obtain participants from a private Facebook group. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 participants who met the study inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis revealed nine primary themes: (a) children of incarcerated parents experiencing emotional turmoil and misunderstood pain, (b) children of incarcerated parents utilizing family members for support, (c) children of incarcerated parents utilizing social connections for support, (d) children of incarcerated parents using creative and structured activities, (e) children of incarcerated parents missing parent-child connection, (f) children of incarcerated parents using spirituality as a source of comfort and resilience, (g) children of incarcerated parents utilized professional supports as a central coping resource, (h) children of incarcerated parents find strength and growth, and (i) children of incarcerated parents perceived coping mechanism as helpful. The findings may contribute to positive social change by informing educators, mental health professionals, and community organizations about coping strategies, thereby promoting strength-based interventions for youth affected by parental incarceration
Adolescent Social Media Use During COVID-19 Isolation and Subsequent Loneliness, Anxiety, and Depression
Get PDFThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents spent time in social isolation from their peers due to periods of mandated lockdown. It was unclear how social media use during lockdown could have influenced adolescents’ mental health after the pandemic. Psychosocial development theory and self-socialization theory formed the theoretical framework for this study. This study examined 158 adolescents aged 13-17 who experienced lockdowns and movement restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The independent variables were a) the social media sites most frequented during lockdowns, and b) the purposes of their use. The RCADS and the UCLA Loneliness Scale provided participants’ levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness (DVs). Nonparametric analyses revealed there were no relationships between social media sites used and the purposes of their use, and levels of loneliness. Relationships were found between social media use and anxiety, as well as between purposes of social media use and anxiety and depression. These results fell in line with past research, which indicated that social media use puts adolescents at higher risk of mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. Post hoc results were hampered by a high number of comparison groups. However, escaping life was a key reason for social media use among those with the highest anxiety and depression scores. Finding humor and entertainment were listed by those with the lowest anxiety scores; connecting with others was listed by those with the lowest depression scores. Implications for positive social change include understanding the use of social media during periods of enforced isolation and how programs and supports can be developed to reduce risk factors associated with social media use
The Perceived Impact of Officer-Involved Domestic Violence on Law Enforcement Administrators
Get PDFThe frequency of officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV) is a serious problem in the law enforcement profession. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to determine what measures and specific domestic violence policies are working well and what is working poorly in Florida. This study is critical because it can aid upcoming law enforcement administrators (LEAs) and current LEAs in improving the policies and measures they use in their agency to combat OIDV among their officers and recruits. Jacques’s organizational culture theory (OCT) provided a framework for this study. I used purposeful snowball sampling methods to recruit participants for this study. Six law enforcement administrators were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, face to face, and or by phone. All participants were asked a sequence of 21 questions. Participants’ data were manually coded, and thematic analysis was used to make the research meaningful. As indicated by the research, Florida has a zero tolerance stance for OIDV. All participants knew that their agency had policies in place; however, they could not effectively articulate their policies but could explain the measures in response to OIDV. The most effective measures used by LEAs were mental health wellness initiatives, employee assistance programs (EAPs), administrative investigations, internal investigations, continuous training, and preventive education. Many LEAs felt that their agency measures to combat OIDV worked well, and no changes were needed. LEAs’ failure to effectively articulate their policies creates a possibility for social change. When LEAs are knowledgeable of their policies and how to respond to them, this helps them to make informed decisions, which leads to a positive social change
A Qualitative Study of Cash Welfare Assistance Recipients’ Preparedness for Economic Self-Sufficiency
Get PDFSingle mothers receiving cash welfare assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, may not be prepared for economic self-sufficiency due to TANF’s primary focus on employment and limited focus on self-sufficiency barriers. Past studies have found that cash welfare assistance recipients may not become self-sufficient due to low-wage employment, limited education, and the lack of a public policy-based standardization of the concept of economic self-sufficiency. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of single mother TANF recipients pursuing economic self-sufficiency through the lens of the capabilities approach, life chances theory, and the feminization of poverty. Rooted in the qualitative research tradition, this study employed a joint narrative inquiry-case study approach to explore the participants’ perspectives and experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nine single mother former and current TANF recipients, then organized, coded, analyzed, and evaluated via triangulation. The results were that single mother cash welfare assistance recipients’ economic self-sufficiency preparedness was informed by education, employment, financial resources management, environmental factors, economic self-sufficiency barriers, personal motivations, personal attributes, self-determination, and other considerations presented in this study. Social change implications included influencing cash welfare assistance policies that may help facilitate economic self-sufficiency in single mother cash welfare assistance recipients by addressing shortcomings of the current work-centric focus of current policies and by presenting meaningful solutions to economic self-sufficiency barriers
Enhancing Registered Nurse Retention and Job Satisfaction through Comprehensive Career Development Initiatives in Non-Profit Urban Hospitals
Get PDFThis integrative review was conducted to examine how comprehensive career development initiatives influence registered nurse retention and job satisfaction in non-profit urban hospitals, which are affected by limited advancement opportunities, inadequate mentorship, and unsupportive work environments. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model and the Authentic Nurse Leadership framework, this review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2019 to 2024 to identify evidence-based, leadership-driven strategies for improving nurse retention. Four key themes emerged: (a) career development and advancement through structured learning pathways, mentorship, and leadership training; (b) empowerment and decision-making via participative management and clinical autonomy; (c) supportive work environments that prioritize safe staffing, inclusive leadership, and diversity; and (d) professional recognition and organizational commitment through tailored retention efforts and values alignment. Findings underscore that authentic leadership fosters trust, psychological safety, and engagement, elements essential to retaining nurses in financially constrained environments. Career development strategies, when supported by transparent and ethical leadership, significantly reduce burnout and professional stagnation. Broader implications for social change include care continuity, economic mobility for historically marginalized nurses, and health equity for underserved communities. These strategies address key domains of the social determinants of health, including economic stability, access to education, and quality of healthcare. Ultimately, investing in structured, leadership-supported career development not only strengthens nurse satisfaction and retention but also contributes to more equitable and sustainable healthcare systems
Effective Strategies for Succession in Family-Owned Businesses
Get PDFMany family-owned businesses face significant difficulties when they hand leadership responsibilities from established leaders to the next generation. Without deliberate succession plans that follow a clear framework, family-owned business leaders experience uncertainty, threatening family wealth. The intergenerational sustainability of family-owned enterprises is crucial for the health of local economies, community development, and organizational resilience. Grounded in the sustainable family business theory, this project explored succession strategies employed by leaders of family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Hawaii to ensure the continuity of their businesses for future generations. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews and document analyses involving six leaders of family businesses who have effectively navigated generational succession. Through thematic analysis, several key strategies emerged, including (a) the necessity of succession planning, (b) embracing and overcoming common challenges, and (c) effective succession strategies. A key recommendation is for family business leaders to start succession planning at an early stage in the business lifecycle. The implications for positive social change with the development of succession planning strategies increase the potential for the long-term sustainability of the business. Successful family-owned business leaders benefit the local economy by generating increased profits and employment opportunities
Effective Business Strategies to Reduce Rural Hospital Closures
Get PDFRural hospital closures disproportionately impact the lives of rural residents across the United States, directly affecting health outcomes for rural communities and the overall financial viability of rural health institutions. Policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community stakeholders are concerned about these closures because they threaten access to care and contribute to health disparities. Grounded in Fiedler’s contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore business strategies rural hospital administrators use to prevent rural hospital closures. The participants were five rural hospital administrators who successfully prevented the closure of their rural hospitals. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, 12 themes emerged: (a) quality of care, (b) community engagement, (c) financial viability, (d) policy advocacy, (e) telemedicine, (f) networking, (g) medical reimbursement, (h) innovative services, (i) workforce health, (j) services based on needs, (k) patient travel, and (l) certifications. A key recommendation is for policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community stakeholders to use these identified innovative strategies to improve budgeting, staffing, and service delivery. The implications for positive social change include the potential for rural hospitals to enhance financial outcomes, advance critical health services, and improve quality of care for rural communities
Exploration of How Study District-Wide Stakeholders Achieved Reading Success for Students With Disabilities
Get PDFThe problem that this study addressed is that students with disabilities (SWDs) demonstrated low reading achievement in U.S. public schools as shown by annual state standardized scores. The study district achieved the anomaly of more than 50% of SWDs achieving Proficient and Advanced on the state reading assessment. The gap in practice was that it was unknown how the study district stakeholders achieved such success in SWDs’ reading achievement. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate how archival data supports and how teachers and administrators explain the successful reading achievement of SWDs in the study school district. The five principles framework by the Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence employed to guide the education of at-risk students served as the conceptual framework. Data were analyzed using a priori and open coding with the following themes emerging: teachers and administrators explain the success in SWD’s reading achievement with (a) collaborative practices to support student reading and instructional services, (b) data-driven decision-making used to design instruction and interventions, (c) vision and resource allocation prioritizing learning for all students, and (d) evidence-based practices employed to engage learners and support achievement. A white paper was created to summarize the study findings as best practice guidance on how to strengthen SWDs’ reading achievement, thereby creating positive social change for this population of learners
Reorganization: An Exploration of Public Workplace Outsourcing, A Strategic Plan
Get PDFAn education agency experienced a decline in loan originations from 2013 to 2023, creating fiscal challenges that threatened service sustainability. This created a need for operational strategies to stabilize funding and preserve resources. The problem was significant to the organization and the community’s ability to obtain equitable educational opportunities. The practice-focused question asked: What are the perspectives of staff and management concerning the agency\u27s strategies to downsize and realign for sustainability? The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore staff and management perspectives on downsizing and outsourcing as strategies to maintain operations. The study was informed by concepts of strategic downsizing and outsourcing in public administration. Survey responses were collected from persons across the organization and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis process, involving iterative coding, pattern recognition, and theme development to capture organizational perspectives. Findings indicated areas of concern regarding employee well-being, external relations, organizational culture, and efficiency in management practices. Recommendations included initiatives to strengthen workforce health, build community partnerships, and improve operational effectiveness; and were integrated into a strategic plan that addressed identified challenges and provided a framework for sustaining service quality. The implications for public administration practice include offering decision makers a structured framework to address fiscal constraints while maintaining service quality; and they support positive social change by safeguarding equitable access to educational opportunities and promoting community resilience
Government Policies Influencing the Retainment of Civil Engineers in Guyana\u27s Public Sector
Get PDFThe low retention of civil engineers in Guyana’s public sector has impeded the execution of needed infrastructure projects in the country. The literature reviewed highlighted that there continued to be questions regarding why people leave engineering jobs. Moreover, there was a limited understanding of what societal attributes influenced the problem, while there continued to be a growing demand for civil engineers. The literature specific to government policies influencing the retention of civil engineers in the public sector was lacking, presenting an opportunity to expand the application of the policy feedback theory, which provided a lens for examining retention measures in the public sector. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of current and former civil engineers on how government policies influenced their decision to remain or leave employment in the public sector. Purposive non-convenience sampling techniques were used to recruit 20 civil engineers with work experience in the public sector. Four themes were identified: (a) reasons for working as civil engineers, (b) factors influencing the decision of civil engineers to leave the public sector, (c) factors influencing the decision of civil engineers to stay in the public sector, and (d) a comprehensive policy that contributes to civil engineering development. Policymakers in Guyana and other countries can potentially use the identified strategies to foster a culture that engages civil engineers, leading to positive social change by retaining valuable civil engineers and ensuring quality social infrastructure for citizens