Perception of Stress Observed by Family Members of Dentists Who Have Committed Suicide
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Perception of Stress Observed by Family Members of Dentists Who Have Committed Suicide Lillian D. Williams Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Dentistry Commons, and the Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Lillian Delores Williams has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Jeffrey Harlow, Committee Chairperson, Human Services Faculty Dr. Hayley Stulmaker, Committee Member, Human Services Faculty Dr. Sarah Matthey, University Reviewer, Human Services Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Perception of Stress Observed by Family Members of Dentists Who Have Committed Suicide by Lillian Delores Williams MS, Troy University, 2013 BA, Augusta State University, 2011 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human and Social Services Walden University Human and Social Services November 2020 Abstract Research aimed at the observed stress from being a dentist, and how it may have impacted the occurrence of their suicide did not appear to be prevalent among empirical suicide studies. The purpose of this basic, qualitative study was to explore how the family members perceived occupational stress as precursor events in dentists who committed suicide. Using the interpersonal theory of suicide as the conceptual basis, 4 family members of dentists who committed suicide were interviewed to understand how family members perceived occupational stress in the dentist using semi structured interviews. Through a series of precoding and recoding, interview data were analyzed to identify similarities that may have identified the presence of occupational stressors as a precursor to suicide. There were six themes identified in the data: (a) observations of stress, (b) thwarted belongingness, (c) negative perceptions, (d) perceived burdensomeness, (e) work-life balance, and (f) substance abuse. These themes identified stressors that due to occupation was not the cause of the suicide, but there was a pattern of factors that preceded the suicide in each dentist. This study contributes to suicide research and should substantiate the need for education centered on the identification of suicide precursors. This study has the potential to create social change in reducing stigma associated with suicide, and encouraging individual, societal, and legislative level changes focused on increasing suicide education programs and suicide reduction interventions. Perception of Stress Observed by Family Members of Dentists Who Have Committed Suicide by Lillian Delores Williams MS, Troy University, 2013 BA, Augusta State University, 2011 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human and Social Services Walden University Human and Social Services Dedication To my parents, Andrew and Connie Tillman, Sr, thanks for life, prayers, and scriptures, I was listening (sometimes). To my brother Andrew Tillman, Jr, my lifelong bestie, the future Dr. Andrae L. Abrams, my cousin/sister/friend Mrs. Glennis H. White without you, where would I be? And if you threw a party, thank you for…everything! To my oldest son Carlos A. Goodwin you have had to go on ALL my journeys with me, because of you I grew up, I found my voice, now, it is your turn. To my baby boy Melvin Williams, III, you are our miracle, our reminder to take nothing for granted, and that is my reminder also to you. To my love, Jusiyah A. Pettaway, you have enriched my maternal experience fully, I am so blessed to have you in my life and heart. To my husband, Melvin Williams, Jr, whew, finally! I know I did not always make it easy, thank you for being consistently you, my anchor, my shield, my compass, my champion, and my love. Finally, Lillian Seabrook Rouse and Dolores Ealy Tillman, my namesakes, my grandmothers, black women, and descendants of slaves. I stand on your shoulders walking forward on paths you laid and cleared for me with your blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices. Your legacies continue, your names will not be forgotten, we will continue to tell your stories. Acknowledgments Special Thanks to Dr. Fred Rueggeberg for being a positive presence on this journey, from the beginning, you have always treated me as a colleague and always made me feel grand! Dr. Robert Kaltenbach, thanks for allowing me to bounce my thoughts off you. It took a village to get me here, and I would like to thank my village. Dr. Veena Pannu, Mrs. Orris Knight-Sims, Ms. Ashley Christman, Mrs. Kandyce A’See, Mrs. Angela Jenkins, Mrs. Tammy Rodrigues, Ms. Gina Torres, Mrs. Anahi Caceres Delgadillo, Dr. Trina Hutto, Mr. Bernard Bembry, and Mrs. Jacquelyn Byrd. Thank you all for putting up with me, encouraging me, fussing at me, checking in on me, holding me accountable, bandaging me, restoring me, laughing with me, crying with me, and staying with me through this journey. My lifelines and fellow doctoral candidates, Mrs. Carolyn Hanson and Ms. Crystal Perry, we are on this journey together, and you truly helped keep me going! My loves: Dr. Busola Olaseinde, Dr. Samantha Cook, Dr. Deja Opusunju, Dr. Elizabeth Muraya, Dr. Brandon Sadberry, Dr. Destiny Redding, Dr. Kamarin Moon, Dr. Lincoln Fantaski, Dr. Matthew Giordono, Dr. Tamika Cooper-Brown, Dr. Emily Latteri, and my baby doll, Tiffany McNear. Because of you all, I kept going, and because of you all I will continue to go forward. I would like to acknowledge my dissertation committee, I have learned invaluable lessons on this journey, the road was long, and I am glad this task is completed. Finally, to all the families who have lost loved ones by suicide, I hope you are able to gain comfort in the memories of those you have lost. To those families and individuals who participated in this research, thank you for trusting me with your stories. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................4 Genetics and Suicide ............................................................................................... 4 Psychological Factors ............................................................................................. 5 Occupation .............................................................................................................. 6 Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................7 Research Question .........................................................................................................8 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................8 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................9 Definitions....................................................................................................................10 Assumptions .................................................................................................................11 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................12 Limitations ...................................................................................................................14 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................14 Significance to Practice......................................................................................... 15 Significance to Theory .......................................................................................... 17 Significance to Social Change .............................................................................. 17 Summary and Transition ..............................................................................................18 i Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................21 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................21 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................23