Digital Commons Network^™

Children In The Workplace: An Exploration In Library Policy Making, Sharolyn Swenson, Marissa Anne Bischoff, Ryan Lee

Faculty Publications

Children in the workplace are becoming a more common discussion in various work environments, including libraries. Since the university has no policy addressing this issue, a task force was charged to draft a recommended policy for the university library regarding bringing children to the workplace. The task force reviewed existing policies and conducted a survey and interviews with library employees. The resulting policy provided guidelines for employees and their supervisors without being overly prescriptive. This article provides a case study of how the task force used assessment methods and tools to create an appropriate and inclusive policy. While the specific …

Protections And Liabilities: Parental Attributes Of Lynch Victims, Peter Shumway Polhill

Theses and Dissertations

Minimal research has focused on how lynching was not purely an individual-level event but, at times, was a family-level process. Prior research has focused on the economic forces, social factors, and individual level attributes that changed the probability of being lynched. Research studying these topics has identified that marginalization, status, distinctiveness, and the racial threat hypothesis contribute to lynching. However, this research has not studied child victims and how parental level attributes may intersect differently with these theoretical perspectives. Using machine-learning tools, I created census linked data which identifies the families of child lynch victims and other non-victim families in …

Development And Validation Of A Spanish Nutrition Screening Tool For Hispanic American 3 To 5-Year-Olds, Denisse Arias Olivas

Theses and Dissertations

Latinos comprise 18.9% of the population in the United States and are the largest and fastest growing minority group. Obesity prevalence was 26.2% among Hispanic children compared to 16.6% among non-Hispanic White children. The obesity epidemic among Latino children has been growing rapidly over the past three decades. Multiple barriers, such as lack of culturally appropriate screening tools, language, and lack of access to nutritional assessment and expert consultation, prevents screening of Latino children and further nutritional guidance. For this reason, prevention efforts such as the use of nutritional screening tools is required for early intervention, more so with populations …

Undernutrition Among Children In Guatemala, Ellie Ostvig

Ballard Brief

Undernutrition in Guatemala is a serious issue that affects physical, mental, and social well-being. Children are most vulnerable to this dangerous condition, and in Guatemala, almost 50% of children experience inadequate growth and development due to a lack of appropriate nutrient intake. Because of food insecurity and lack of nutrients, young children do not have adequate access to the nutrition that they need. Guatemala is located in an area that makes it prone to natural disasters, which also contributes to the high rates of undernutrition. Undernourished children also experience intense disadvantages because of their weakened immune systems and cognitive underdevelopment. …

Child Abuse In Residential Homes Of Ghana, Alyssa Minor

Ballard Brief

Children placed in residential homes in Ghana suffer from physical violence and physical neglect more often than children in family-based homes. In overcrowded residential homes, many basic needs are often not being met, and the use of physical violence is common due to inadequate funding, lack of training, lack of clear policies, and years of normalizing violent disciplinary actions. This problem of child abuse within residential homes of Ghana creates financial burdens on the country and negative psychosocial effects for children suffering from neglect or physical violence, hindering their ability to reach their full earnings potential. Very few interventions have …

Child Malnutrition In Cambodia, Ashley G. Bernal

Ballard Brief

Malnutrition has been recognized as a global issue and has a high prevalence in poorer countries like Cambodia. Children are most affected by malnutrition, especially those under age 5. Malnourished children are at an increased risk for developing diseases, developmental delays, and dying at an earlier age. Child malnutrition in Cambodia is primarily due to a lack of education, cultural beliefs and practices, food insecurity, and recurrent diarrhea. The current best practice is vitamin A supplementation, provided by groups such as Helen Keller International through medical professionals and community volunteers.

Fruits Of Maternal Love, Simona Ershova

AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

Digital Painting

Effectiveness Of Group Interventions For Weight Loss For Youth: A Meta-Analytic Review, Monica Carolina Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Nearly 19.3% of children in the United States have obesity. There are several behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs available for children and adolescents that have proven effective in managing weight. Many of these treatments are delivered to groups of children rather than to individual youth. However, previous reviews of the literature have not explored the unique effects of group treatment modalities. Research has shown that social ties, particularly with peers, have an impact on adolescents' physical activity engagement and dietary habits. Therefore, it is important to explore how the interaction component of group delivered BWL treatments contributes to their …

A Proposal For Paid Family Leave In Utah, Erin Wong

Student Works

When a woman gives birth, the arrival of that child will have a statistically significant negative impact on that woman’s employment, earning potential, health, and overall wellbeing. The arrival of a child has no statistically significant impact on men’s employment, earning potential, or overall health and wellbeing. The labor force experiences a drain of talent and productivity when mothers leave the market in large numbers after having a child. Many mothers who wish to remain the workforce after childbirth are faced with the impossible choice of their child’s health or their own job and earning potential. Many fathers or partners …

Sexual Abuse Of Children In The United States Foster Care System, Abigail Hessing

Ballard Brief

Foster care is a long-running and relatively commonplace system in the US: however, in 2019 there were an estimated 400,000 children in foster care, leaving the system overwhelmed and at its peak capacity. Of those children, it is estimated that up to 40% of them had experienced some type of abuse within the system. Looking at sexual abuse specifically, vulnerable children are often targeted by sexual predators, and when grouped together in a system underequipped to provide adequate protection, foster care children can become easily accessible targets for sexual abuse. Caretakers who are undersupported and households that are overfilled create …

Prevention Of Eating Disorders In Children: A Guide For Nurse Practitioners, Michelle Yeates, Jane Lassetter Phd, Rn

Student Works

Eating disorders are prevalent in Western society and are highly influenced by body dissatisfaction and disordered eating patterns. Disordered eating refers to unhealthy behaviors used to control and influence weight with the potential to become eating disorders. Eating disorders can lead to or further accelerate both physical and emotional damage. As such, it is important to determine possible contributing factors to decrease negative outcomes. Because parents are typically the primary caretakers of children, it is necessary for nurse practitioners (NPs) to know how to best educate parents in the prevention of eating disorders in their children. This clinical paper provides …

Educational Disparities Among Girls In India, Jenna Cook

Ballard Brief

There are great educational disparities among girls in India. Low literacy rates and lack of education are some of the inequalities found in this demographic. Many of these girls are raised without the expectation that they will complete their education, and since they become the mothers of the next generation, educational disparities become a cyclical. intergenerational issue. Many other factors contribute to the lack of education, such as cultural values, child marriage, a scarcity of feminine hygiene products, and child labor. The continued shortage of formal education among young females leads to poverty, decreased child well-being, health issues, and increased …

Elevated School Dropout Rates In Rural China, Mollie Bradley

Ballard Brief

Children in the rural provinces of northern and western China face challenges in obtaining educational opportunities that could aid them in overcoming their poverty-ridden upbringing. These challenges come due to inherent inequalities between the rural and urban regions of China. which stem from a historical diversion of resources from the western to eastern provinces. The factors that specifically affect students and their families as they strive to attend school and gain a quality education are the lack of properly trained and motivated teachers. the high cost of schooling borne by families. the economic inequality of rural and urban provinces, the …

Chronic Poverty Among Youth In The United States, Kara Reed

Ballard Brief

In the United States, 15.5 million children are living in poverty. The more time children spend in poverty, the more likely they are to continue to experience poverty as an adult. The cycle of intergenerational and chronic poverty is perpetuated by various factors. such as unsatisfied basic needs. lack of access to quality education, and issues related to underemployment and unemployment. As a result. youth in poverty are more likely to perform poorly in school, be exposed to and affected by crime. and experience health problems. Some leading practices for poverty focus on strengthening the quality of early childhood education. …

A Space For Every Student: Assessing The Utility Of A Family Friendly Study Room In A University Library, Tyler Graff, Bob Ridge, Holt Zaugg

Faculty Publications

Students currently in and returning to college are increasingly likely to have children. The demands of academic and family life can conflict, making it difficult for student parents to navigate both. Brigham Young University recently built a Family Friendly Study Room in the university library to provide a place for student-parents to care for their children while engaging in academic work. This study assessed the impact of the FFSR on patrons. Results show that the space is highly valued and offers both academic and relationship benefits. Moreover, students’ suggestions provide important feedback for future improvements. Recommendations for creating family-friendly spaces …

Enhancing Social, Emotional, And Language Learning In Children With Language Impairment., Bonnie Brinton, Phd, Martin Fujiki, Phd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction: We were extremely grateful to receive a 2016 Mentored Environment Grant. Our project was entitled Enhancing Social, Emotional, and Language Learning in Children with Language Impairment. The purpose of this project was to employ a multiple baseline, single subject design to investigate the efficacy of a social communication intervention designed to foster emotional and language learning simultaneously for children with developmental language disorders (language impairment). The treatment program was designed to be administered within the service delivery model (and constraints) of the public school system.

Cognition And Behavioral Outcome In Children And Adolescents With Previous Ecmo Treatment: A Case Series With Neuroimaging Correlates, Juliann Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving procedure for patients in respiratory or cardiac distress. Prior studies have demonstrated several known risks to the procedure, such as hypoxia, stroke, and other neurological complications (Cheng et al., 2014) that can lead to temporary or permanent deficits in motor abilities, developmental trajectory, academic abilities, and cognition (Glass et al., 1995). Although several studies have investigated morbidity and mortality rates of pediatric ECMO patients, few have looked at cognitive deficits, and even fewer at magnetic resonance imaging in relation to neuropsychological outcome and behavioral, emotional, or social functioning. The aims of this study …

Social Outcome Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Meta-Analysis, Jonathan James Mietchen

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Children and adolescents with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at increased risk for developing social incompetence and impairment in broad psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between history of TBI, social competence, and broad psychosocial functioning using meta-analytic methods. Methods: Studies relating to social outcome following pediatric TBI were searched for using scientific, academic databases. Sixteen studies (N=2,005) met inclusion criteria, and relevant data relating to social functioning was extracted. Meta-analytic methods were used in order to obtain Hedges's g effect size data for mild, moderate, and severe TBI groups. …

Project Sweat (Summer Weight And Environmental Assessment Trial): Study Protocol Of An Observational Study Using A Multistate, Prospective Design That Examines The Weight Gain Trajectory Among A Racially And Ethnically Diverse Convenience Sample Of Economically Disadvantaged School-Age Children, Laura C. Hopkins, Christine Penicka, Carly Evich, Blake Jones, Carolyn Gunther

Faculty Publications

Introduction Racial/ethnic minority school-age children are at risk for unhealthy weight gain during the summer, and there is a dearth of information regarding the underlying behavioural and environmental factors. The study objective is to provide an in-depth examination of dietary and physical activity behaviours and food, physical activity, and social environments of African American and Hispanic school-age children during the summer.

Methods and analysis An observational study will be conducted using a multistate (Ohio and Indiana, USA) prospective design examining the weight gain trajectory among a racially/ethnically diverse convenience sample of economically disadvantaged school-age children. In addition, a subset of …

Handgrip Strength In Children With Cystic Fibrosis, Hannah Taylor Gibson

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is the primary accepted method to determine nutrition status in children with cystic fibrosis (CF); however, lean body mass (LBM) is more strongly associated with pulmonary function. Handgrip strength (HGS) measures muscle function and is reflective of LBM. The aims of this study were to assess if there was a relationship among HGS, nutrition status, and pulmonary function, to assess if HGS changed after hospitalization, and to assess if there was a relationship between HGS and nutrient intake. Methods: Twenty-three children with CF ages 6-18 years participated. BMI z-scores, nutrition risk scores, and …

Associations Between Physical And Sedentary Activity Regularity And Sleep In Preschoolers And Kindergartners, Kara Mcrae Duraccio

Theses and Dissertations

Short sleep duration in childhood has been associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity. Research suggests that physical activity might mediate this association; however, studies examining associations between physical activity and sleep in young children have reported equivocal findings. A possible explanation for these inconsistencies is that past studies have looked at total physical activity counts rather than examining physical activity regularity. We aim to explore the relationship of regular physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in preschoolers and kindergartners. 131 children (ages 4-6) were included in this study. Each child wore a waist-worn accelerometer for three days …

Psychometrically Equivalent Bisyllabic Word Lists For Spanish Pediatric Word Recognition Testing, Brenda Karina Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

While recorded speech audiometry materials have been developed in Spanish for adults, currently there are no speech audiometry materials available in Spanish that are suitable for a pediatric population. Thus, the purposes of this study were (a) to analyze Spanish bisyllabic words previously developed for adults to determine the words' appropriateness when testing word recognition scores in native Spanish-speaking children and (b) to compare the logistic regressions results from the Spanish adult data obtained in a previous study with the logistic regressions from Spanish pediatric data obtained in the present study. Using common-use children's dictionaries in the Spanish language, a …

Malnutrition And Handgrip Strength In Hospitalized And Non-Hospitalized Children 6-14 Years Old, Kayla Camille Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Malnutrition is concerning in children because it effects proper growth and development. Handgrip Strength (HGS) has been identified as a diagnostic indicator for identifying pediatric malnutrition but normal reference ranges have not yet been established; therefore, HGS can be used to identify malnutrition but not quantify the degree of malnutrition: mild, moderate, or severe. The aim of this study was to determine if HGS differed between hospitalized and non-hospitalized children and to describe the association between HGS and several parameters including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). One hundred nine hospitalized and 110 non-hospitalized pediatric …

Prereaders And Eyetracking, Anna Banks, Steven Luke

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Reading to children has long been considered a critical factor in the development of their reading skill¹. However, very little research has been done on prereader children and their eye movements. Studies that have been performed show that children tend to fixate more on the illustrations in books than on the words in the books (looking at the words only 7% of the time)². Moreover, children tend to look more at illustrations of objects that are mentioned in the story³. To date there is very little research investigating whether children’s eye movements are so …

Faroosh And Elina, Faroosh, Elina, Tsos

TSOS Interview Gallery

Faroosh was a cameraman for a private television program in Afghanistan working on a documentary about the Taliban. When he and his crew were discovered, the Taliban attacked them and he and his wife fled to Turkey, walking 12 hours to get there. Upon arrival the police arrested and harassed them. Turkey was not a safe place. After several suicide bombings in the area, they decided to move on to Greece, where they are in a refugee camp without any progress in their situation. They have no money to move forward and no ability to work and the economic situation …

Fawad And Zakeela, Fawad, Zakeela, Tsos

TSOS Interview Gallery

Fawad and his wife, Zakeela, have three children. Zakeela was a beautician, and Fawad was a singer in the Baghlan district in Afghanistan. The music he produced was not in accordance with the strict restrictions of the Taliban. They threatened his life and assaulted him many times, so he decided to leave with his family to Kabul. Fawad’s day job was as an FM radio producer; at night, he moonlighted as a singer and musician. He produced music for ceremonies and weddings, often performing for the women’s part, which the Taliban did not accept. Eventually, his life was again threatened, …

Reject Or Redemptive Fathers? A Content Analysis Of Father Portrayals In Top Box Office Family Films, Cassidy Jo Wadsworth

Theses and Dissertations

More research is needed to fully understand the way in which parents, particularly fathers, are portrayed in family films and the effects those portrayals might have. Viewers, particularly parents, need to understand how the material their children view presents reality and how it may shape their children's perspectives of the real world, particularly where the family unit and parenting role are concerned. By exploring these portrayals through the lens of Cultivation Theory, this study sought to answer this overarching question: How are fathers portrayed in family films as opposed to television? This quantitative study explores the top twenty films from …

Bibliotherapy As An Intervention For Aggressive Elementary Children, Kari Newman

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of bibliotherapy as an intervention for aggressive elementary children at a residential treatment center in the western United States. Bibliotherapy was provided for six children, three boys and three girls, ages 9 to 11, Caucasian and Hispanic, who took part in one of two groups. The study involved a multi-baseline design, beginning with a baseline phase, followed by two separate intervention phases comprised of eight sessions of bibliotherapy. Data gathered from almost daily observations along with pre- and post-intervention ratings of aggressive behaviors indicated that four of the six students demonstrated notable decreases in observed …

Participation In Sports And The Development Of Resilience In Adolescents, Jason Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents today are faced with an array of risk factors including sexual activity and drug and alcohol use, as well as environmental factors that are beyond their control, such as parental divorce and poverty. The attribute of resilience is an extremely desirable quality that, if developed, has the capacity to reduce the effect of many of these risk factors that many adolescents are exposed to. Sport participation is a potential intervention that a large portion of adolescents can have access to through school and community programs that could potentially foster resilience. The current causal-comparative, non-experimental study sought to add to …

Health Insurance Market Inefficiencies For The Children Of Teen Mothers, Joshua Witter, Joseph Price

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I was awarded an ORCA grant to research the unique health insurance market that the children of teen mothers face. I became concerned that these children may not have equal access to private insurance coverage and as a result were at risk of being uninsured or over-enrolling in public insurance programs such as Medicaid. The majority of these children are living in three-generation households where their grandparents are the primary financial provider for the household members. In many instances, but not all, insurance companies will not permit dependent grandchildren to be added to the grandparent’s health insurance plan, especially if …