The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) accumulates annual data from state department of corrections. The information that the BJS accumulates annually is relevant to this study because it shows the possibility of the many African American women as well as other women in need of assistance while their loved one is incarcerated. The purpose of this study was to explore lived experiences of African American women involved with an incarcerated spouse, partner, or mate. The focal point of interest was how lived experiences affect African American women's physical and psychological well-being. The theoretical framework for this study comprised both the resilience theory and Bandura's self-efficacy theory. The research question that guided this study was: What are the significant experiences acquired during the incarceration process of the spouse, partner, or mate? Data were collected using semi structured interviews conducted with African American women over the age of 18 from a metropolitan city in the northeastern United States with incarcerated spouses, partners, or mates. NVivo software was used to find emergent themes from the data. The conclusions from the research, has endorsed positive social change by enlightening the helping professional. There are psychological implications that these women encountered during their lived experiences such as anxiety disorder, depression, trauma, stigma and shame, as well as criminality by association by staying in the relationship. The community should sustain these anguished women and be a factor in their well-being during the incarceration of their spouses, partners, or mates, as well as guiding them through the penal system via a resource center.

Studies have found links between physician relationships with nurses, patient safety culture, and patient outcomes, but less is known about a similar link between physician relationships with allied health professionals (AHPs), patient safety culture, and patient outcomes. The purpose of this exploratory quantitative, survey study was to investigate whether physician interactions with AHPs contribute to improved patient-safety culture, AHP empowerment, and self-efficacy. Based on a theoretical framework consisting of structural empowerment, psychological empowerment, and self-efficacy, it was hypothesized that self-efficacy is predicted by structural and psychological empowerment and self-efficacy predicts a positive patient safety culture. The AHP Survey of Physician Collaboration was constructed using psychometrically sound items from instruments that have studied similar phenomena. A purposive sample with 95 respondents consisted of occupational and physical therapists currently working in hospitals. Pearson Product-Moment correlation, standard multiple regression analysis, independent groups t-tests, and one-way between groups analyses of variance were employed. Although the survey results did not indicate a statistically significant relationship between psychological empowerment and patient-safety culture, findings in this study indicated that patient-safety culture has a significant positive correlation with structural empowerment and self-efficacy. Structural empowerment and self-efficacy were found to significantly predict patient-safety culture. The results did not show differences based on gender, profession, age, or years of service. By illustrating the nature of the relationship between physicians and AHPs, the results of this study can affect social change through enhancing the ability to reduce the number of preventable negative health outcomes in hospitals.

The Critical Incident Team (CIT) training program equips police officers with knowledge regarding mental illness and practical skills for effectively interacting with a mentally ill suspect. In addition to improving officer and suspect safety by decreasing the number of violent encounters between police and the mentally ill, CIT goals include reducing the number of mentally ill individuals who are arrested and providing them with assistance through community resources. However, there is a lack of empirical research on whether CIT training decreases arrest rates and increases diversion rates for mentally ill subjects. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure the effects of CIT training on arrest and diversion rates of mentally ill subjects. The theoretical foundation for the study was evidence-based policing. Reports from a single police department in the southwestern United States were reviewed, and arrest and diversion incidents from 6-months pre and post CIT training for 30 police officers were collected. A paired-samples t test was used to analyze the data, which indicated that there was not a statistical difference in arrest rates or diversion rates between pre and post CIT training. Results corroborated the findings of other studies showing that arrest and diversion rates are not affected by CIT programs. Law enforcement agencies that currently have or are looking to implement a CIT program may find the study useful, as it reports an increase in resources being provided to mentally ill subjects following contact with a CIT officer. Recommendations include additional research into the effectiveness of the CIT program as well as the continuation of collaboration between community mental health organizations and police, both of which may lead to positive social change.

Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that impacts all members of a household, including pets. There is comprehensive quantitative evidence to suggest that domestic violence and pet abuse commonly co-occur; however, as the personal accounts of pet-owning survivors have started to emerge through qualitative investigation, more research is needed to understand the unique experiences of pet abuse that take place alongside instances of domestic violence. This phenomenological investigation utilized control balance theory and a feminist framework to uncover the experiences of survivors who entered their pets into an animal care program specifically designed to help during times of domestic violence escape. Data from interviews with 12 participants were compared to secondary qualitative data from anonymous animal abuse surveys at the community partner organization. A lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify global themes related to survivors' experiences of pet ownership while escaping domestic violence. From these testimonies, pets were revealed to be important to consider in responding to domestic violence because pets not only played key roles of emotional support in the survivors' lives, but they were also threatened and harmed by abusers to control victims. Furthermore, the provision of pet care for survivors who were escaping domestic violence was determined to be a meaningful intervention. Through learning of the experiences of pet ownership along the trajectory of recovery for domestic violence survivors, advocates may be better prepared to serve clients at this intersection. Furthermore, the empirical understanding of the role of the human-animal bond in domestic violence survivorship was augmented by this study.

Sex offenders are commonly grouped into categories based on the characteristics (e.g., victim age, relationship to offender) of their victims for criminal sentencing and treatment purposes. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to address the gap in the lack of literature comparing recidivism rates among biological fathers and male parental figures who committed incestuous child sexual abuse in Hawai'i against children 15 years or younger. This study was the first attempt in the state to examine the number of inmates who had completed their maximum sentences and were later returned to prison for new felony incest offenses. Secondary data were obtained from the Safety Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) within the state of Hawai'i Department of Public Safety (DPS) from the years 1988 to 2013. Areas of recidivism and crimes involving biological fathers, stepfathers, boyfriends of the victims' mothers, foster parents, and hana'i family members were included (N = 1,727). Three hundred and ten met the criteria for the current study. The study had 2 independent variables: the offender's relationship to the victim (e.g., biological, adoptive, stepparent, foster parent or hana'i family members); or the residency status of the offender (e.g., lived with the victim versus did not live with the victim). The dependent variable was the recidivism rates of the incest offenders (i.e., new incest offense convictions). Analysis of these variables using the ï?£2 with Cramer's V statistical test lacked statistical significance as there was no documented evidence of recidivism in either group. The potential for social change and clinical significance still exists. Further analysis of the effectiveness of the SOTP may aid in sustaining low recidivism rates.

Thirty percent of older adults fall every year with devastating physical and economic consequences. Physical activity is the primary recommendation for fall prevention, but less than 30% of older adults meet the physical activity guidelines of the various professional organizations. Recent work demonstrated that psychological factors were more specific in identifying fall risk but work on psychological issues related to physical activity in the older adult is limited. This study explored motivation and limits to being physically active in 76 adults with a mean age of 88 living in the assisted living setting, using concurrent mixed method research. The theoretical foundation was a 3-pronged method using self-determination, self-efficacy, and resilience theories to explore such issues as autonomy, vicarious experience, and positivism. Quantitative data were used to examine the individual influences of various psychological factors on physical activity participation through multi regression analysis. No significant relationships were found, although it emerged that fear of falling was a greater influence in limiting physical activity than balance confidence or fall efficacy. Qualitative open-ended questions further explored the research question with triangulation through interviews with activity staff. Four primary themes emerged covering function, emotions, influences, and "want" demonstrating a strong desire for healthy living and independence. Results of this study can assist the development of suitable programs for this population. Implications for positive social change include the potential to increase physical activity and possibly decrease the number of devastating falls in the older adult population.

Past research regarding historical trauma in the Lakota, one of the three major groups of the Oceti Sakowin or Sioux, has contributed to the historical trauma theory, but gaps continue to exist. The purpose of the study was to examine the historical trauma experiences and grief responses of individuals who identify as Oceti Sakowin, specifically the Nakota and Dakota, including present experiences. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was the study's methodology and the conceptual framework of this research was historical trauma theory, which refers to the persistence of trauma and transmission of trauma from generation to generation. Participant interviews were conducted using a researcher-designed interview schedule. Participants were Oceti Sakowin who identify as Nakota or Dakota and who were over the age of 18, and a total of 8 participants were interviewed. This research yielded themes about how the phenomena affected the participants, which can provide insight into how others who have had their own experiences relate to the phenomena. These themes were concerns and pain about ancestors' experience, concern for personal experiences but hope for the future, and the loss of the past is the sorrow of today. Increasing the knowledge of historical trauma and historical trauma grief responses can lead to better understanding that leads to positive social change through greater empathy and sensitivity toward those who have had these experiences, which can increase respect toward the traditions and cultures of others as well as culturally informed interventions to address historical trauma and grief.

Skin cancer incidence is increasing while the rates of other cancers is declining. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether health self-efficacy predicted skin cancer protective behaviors. The theory of health self-efficacy provided the framework for the study. Secondary data were collected from the 2008 and 2014 Health Information National Trends Surveys. The study sample included women 18-34 years of age because this population is especially vulnerable to skin cancer. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated that higher levels of health self-efficacy predicted greater sunscreen use, but higher health self-efficacy levels did not predict avoidance of tanning bed or booth use. No significant changes were found in sunscreen use and tanning bed and booth use between 2008 and 2014. Findings may be used to develop educational programs and medical interventions to decrease the incidence of skin cancer.

The subject of forgiveness has been heavily explored during the past few decades; however, limited research has been conducted on the phenomenology of emotional forgiveness, the internal process of replacing negative feelings with positive feelings. This study explored the emotional forgiveness experiences of 7 adult men who were previous victims of abuse by their parents. Using Moustakas's phenomenological research approach, the participants were interviewed about their experiences of emotional forgiving their abusive parents. The recall, empathize, altruism, commitment, and holding on, REACH forgiveness model and family systems theory were the conceptual frameworks to explore the central research question, which addressed the meaning of emotional forgiveness in adult males. The interview data were coded and grouped into themes of shared meaning. The results revealed 8 distinct themes: coping, evolution of emotions, substance abuse, cognitive distortions, making meaning of the abuse, forgiving because Christ first forgave me, and God's grace. Further, the lived experiences revealed that emotional forgiveness was largely dependent on the adult male's acceptance of their difficulty to emotionally forgive and seeking God's grace to help them emotionally forgive their abusive parent. Results of this study have the potential to benefit adult males who struggle to emotionally forgive their abusive parent by providing insights into the emotional forgiveness experience. Furthermore, the results from this study can be shared with the professional community to help them understand the phenomenon of adult males who have survived an abusive parent.

Decades of qualitative case studies suggest that organizations must be able to deal with change effectively to compete and survive. Many researchers have linked higher workforce levels of agility and resilience to organizations' abilities to deal with change more successfully; however, there is a scarcity of empirical research addressing the efficacy of agility and resilience development in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine the development of workforce resilience and agility, as measured by FIT for Change assessment. The theory of planned behavior was the study's theoretical framework, theorizing that changing attitudes and beliefs about change through a learning program might lead to more positive behaviors in response to change. The primary research question was whether a significant difference exists between individual agility and resilience levels before and after a learning intervention in the target population (N = 612) of associates employed by a large healthcare organization who participated in the learning intervention. Due to the abnormal distribution of the data and failed assumption of homogeneity of the regression slopes, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used in lieu of ANCOVA. The results indicated that Agility scores increased on the second test (p = .000). Resilience scores did not change significantly on the second test (p = .913). This study is significant to healthcare organizations undergoing change and may result in organizations investing in development of agility and resilience of their workforce. Developing agility and resilience in people facilitates social change by creating communities that do not just survive but adapt in an optimistic way and find opportunities benefiting the society even during the most adverse changes.