Digital Commons Network^™

Food Insecurity, Race, And Adolescent Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Nhanes 2001-06, Kritika Shankar

Master's Theses

Abstract

Introduction: Non-Alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver condition in the U.S and is an emerging public health concern in adolescents. Risk factors for adolescent NAFLD remain largely unexamined.

Aim: To investigate if demographic and dietary-related factors are linked with NAFLD in adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from NHANES (2001-2006) ages 12-19 (n=4714) were analyzed. NAFLD was defined as >30 u/L ALT. Food Insecurity levels (child, adult, household), race/ethnicity, sex, BMI, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) were tested using multivariate binary logistic regression with elevated ALT (no, yes) as the dependent variable.

Results: Risk for …

First-Time Juvenile Arrestees' Odd Symptoms: The Role Of Parent-School Interaction And Race, Ari Romano-Verthelyi

Master's Theses

Objective.Disruptive behaviors are bidirectionally associated with low-quality parent-school interactions (Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler, 1995). However, Non-White children are more likely to be identified by teachers as behaviorally disruptive (Epstein et al., 2005), more likely to have low-quality parent-school interactions (Serpell & Mashburn, 2012), and more likely to be engaged in the justice system (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2013).Considering that non-White parents may interact with schools and teachers differently than White parents (Mariñez-Lona & Quintana, 2009), it is unclear to what extent race might influence the predictive relationship between aspects of parent-school interactions and disruptive behavior problems. Thus, this study will examine …

Understanding Chronic Pain Trajectory In Adolescents Undergoing Spinal Fusion Surgery, Mallory Aaron Perry

Doctoral Dissertations

Each year, millions of children and adolescents undergo surgical procedures that put them at risk for experiencing persistent postsurgical pain (PPP). This dissertation focuses on identifying relationships among pre­surgical behavioral and psychosocial factors, peripheral and central pain sensitivity, and differential mRNA expression levels. The concurrent examination of each of these factors is novel and may lead to new targeted interventions to manage PPP in children undergoing spinal fusion (SF). The overall structure of this dissertation is a five-manuscript format. The outline is as follows: [1] Introduction, which introduces the aims, theoretical framework and purpose of the dissertation; [2] Integrative literature …

Operationalizing Recovery From Substance Use Disorders Among Adolescents In High School, Yiyun Chen

Doctoral Dissertations

The term “recovery” has been widely adopted in substance use-related literature. But no operational standard can be found regarding how to measure recovery among substance use population under 18 years old. Using data from 294 adolescents who were followed for 12 months after receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), we find converging evidence of a general recovery factor v, extracted from 15 indicators, that potentially reflects adolescents’ level of recovery from SUDs. The latent v score generated using factor loadings is associated with criterion variables in the expected directions where positive correlations were found with for life satisfaction, …

“A Joke You Can’T Tell”: Using Photography To Understand The Lived Experience Of Adolescents In Homeless Families, Michael Reeves

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of adolescents in homeless families. The extant research lacks the perspective of homeless adolescents themselves, how they cope, and the assets that help them. Like their peers, homeless adolescents face many challenges, but in environments that can be less conducive to successful development. Housing instability can interfere with the social exposure often experienced in school and in communities, potentially leaving homeless adolescents more vulnerable to negative peer and social influences.

This exploratory research took a strengths perspective, using critical theory and phenomenology, to better understand the lived experience of …

Parenting Style, Adolescent Suicidal Behavior And Self-Disclosure In A Sample Of Saint Lucian Adolescents, Emmanuel Ihemedu

Doctoral Dissertations

Since Baumrind’s (1966, 1967) initial theory on parenting styles, numerous studies have investigated the relationship between parenting styles and adolescent development. Despite this work on parenting style and adolescent behavior, there is still limited research on parenting styles, adolescent suicidal behavior, and self-disclosure. This study investigated whether, or not there is an association between parenting styles, adolescent suicidal behavior, and self-disclosure among adolescents of Saint Lucia and determined whether these relations were moderated by gender and family structure. The sample included 597 adolescents, 200 boys, 383 girls, 14 who identified as other, between the ages of 14 and …

Mixed Signals: Examining Ethnic Affirmation As A Factor In The Discrimination-Depression Relationship With Multiracial And Monoracial Minority Adolescent Girls, Linda A. Oshin

Master's Theses

Multiracial adolescents are a growing segment of our population, but not much is known about their ethnic-racial identity development. The current study examined ethnic affirmation, a dimension of ethnic-racial identity, and race socialization and their influence in the relationship between perceived group discrimination and depressive symptoms among multiracial (n = 42) and monoracial minority Black (n = 29) and Latina (n = 95) adolescents (M=15.4 years). Results showed that there were no mean differences between multiracial and monoracial adolescents in ethnic affirmation, maternal race/ethnic socialization, or depressive symptoms. Multiracial adolescents reported significantly less perceived discrimination. …

Self Hypnosis For School Success: Empowering Adolescents With Anxiety And Stress, Nilani Shankar

Doctoral Dissertations

Self-hypnosis is a treatment that has been utilized to address the social-emotional concerns of adolescents with high levels of anxiety and stress. In this study, a multiple baseline design across three high school-aged participants was implemented to examine whether self-hypnosis could decrease symptoms of anxiety and stress and help to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The results of the study indicated that the treatment resulted in decreases in trait and state anxiety for two out of three participants, improvements in stress levels for two out of three participants, and improvements in HRQoL for all three participants. Participants reported that …

A Pilot Study Investigating Comprehension Of Driving Vocabulary In Adolescents With Language Impairment, Jessica M. Pandolfe

Master's Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate if adolescents with LI are at increased risk relative to unimpaired peers at struggling to comprehend driving-related vocabulary found in driving preparation material.

Method: This study included 11 adolescents with LI and 11 adolescent controls with typical language development. Participants completed a self-developed receptive vocabulary measure, the Driving-Related Picture Vocabulary Task, which consisted of simple noun, compound noun, and simple verb driving terminology.

Results: The Driving-Related Picture Vocabulary Task was found to have strong convergent validity with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Fourth Edition (Dunn & Dunn, 2007). Strong positive correlation was …

The Relationship Between Drug Use And Depressive Symptoms Among High School Students, Andrea Huntley

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Study Investigating The Comprehension Of Miranda Rights By Adolescents With Language Impairment, Anne Marie Lieser

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Married Young Women’S Sexual And Reproductive Health In Low-Income Communities In Mumbai, India, Marie A. Brault

Doctoral Dissertations

Archival abstract submitted

Assessing Knowledge And Attitudes Of The Human Papillomavirus Infection And Vaccine Among Adolescents In Hartford, Ct, Anita C. Chandrasekaran

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Under The Radar: Comprehending Mental Health Needs And Services In School-Based Health Centers For Children And Adolescents, Ranbir Mangat Bains

Doctoral Dissertations

Among children and adolescents, one in five suffers from mental health disorders. Those belonging to diverse racial and ethnic groups are less likely to receive adequate treatment than their white counterparts. They are also more likely to reside in households at or below the poverty level. Though public schools are the largest providers of mental health services, the services they provide are inconsistent. School-based health centers (SBHC) have been providing comprehensive health and mental health services within or near schools for over 40 years. Majority are located in urban, inner cities and evidence for their success in providing mental health …

Promoting Academic Talent Development In Adolescents: Protective Factors And Linkages To Summer Program Participation, Kelly L. Kearney

Doctoral Dissertations

Special summer programs are considered a popular service-delivery approach to bolster the talent development of all students. This study seeks to explore protective factors that influence high-ability students’ talent development. Factors influencing the talent development of high-ability students are understudied, often in favor of researching underachievement and resilience.

Because very little research seeks the perceptions of these students in their own words, this study used a grounded theory approach to explore 54 students’ perceptions of their own talent development within the context of a residential, inquiry-based summer program for high-ability adolescents. Responses across all parts of the study revealed three …

Self-Distancing To Reduce Anger In High School Students, Koichi Yoshikawa

Doctoral Dissertations

The present study employed an experimental design to examine the efficacy of self-distancing as an intervention in a sample of high school students for promoting reflective adaptation to anger inducing events relative to a control group using self-reflection/self-immersion. Despite the prevalent assumption that self-reflection facilitates the resolution of negative emotions, evidence demonstrates that self-reflection often leads to anger rumination. Recent experimental studies on college students, elementary school students, and couples have found that self-distancing interventions, as compared to self-immersion/reflection interventions or a no-treatment control, lead to adaptive responses to anger and reductions in future aggression. As adolescents are particularly prone …

The Effects Of Age, Gender, And Gender Role Ideology On Adolescents' Social Perspective-Taking Ability And Tendency, Kaitlin M. Flannery

Master's Theses

The current research examined gender and age differences in adolescents’ social perspective-taking (SPT), or the social-cognitive ability to infer another person’s thoughts and feelings. This study aimed to demonstrate that SPT Ability and SPT Tendency are distinct constructs that should be considered separately. The influence of youths’ gender role ideologies on SPT also was considered. In a sample of adolescents ranging from ages 12 to 17 (N=158), participants reported their tendency to take the perspective of a specific same-age, same-gender friend, and also were assessed in their ability to use SPT in a hypothetical context. The results indicated …

Social And Environmental Risk Factors For Anemia And Malnutrition Among Adolescent Girls In Mumbai, India, Dylan E. Graetz

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Interventions To Reduce Anxiety For Gifted Children And Adolescents, Amy H. Gaesser

Doctoral Dissertations

Interventions to Reduce Anxiety for Gifted Children and Adolescents

Amy H. Gaesser, PhD

University of Connecticut, 2014

This study examined the anxiety levels of gifted students, as well as the effectiveness of two interventions: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Using the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale-2 (RCMAS-2), Phase I of this study examined anxiety levels in gifted youth (n = 153) participating in private and public gifted education programs, grades 6-12, in two Northeastern states. ANOVA analyses indicated that gender (F [1, 149] = 13.52, p< .001, h₂= .08) and school setting (F …

It Isn’T Just Skin Deep: Adolescents And Appearance In Connecticut, Avery Lachance

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Academic Vocabulary Development Of Spanish-English Bilingual Students In Middle School, Eileen Mercedes Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the vocabulary development of Spanish-English bilingual adolescents (n= 98) from the end of 6^th through the end of 7^th grade in a dual language setting by looking at the patterns of growth in English and Spanish vocabulary post intervention and adding to the body of research on vocabulary development. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM).

At the first level (TIME), the analysis helped to describe the shape of each person’s individual growth trajectory and to examine within person variability. The analysis at the second level (STUDENTS) considered inter-individual differences in …