Digital Commons Network^™

Communicating Pain Unseen: Addressing Health Outcomes In Sexual Activity For Women With Endometriosis, Madison Wiese

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Roughly 160 million women live with endometriosis, a chronic disease involving the uterine lining shedding on the outside of the uterus causing immense physical and emotional pain (Becker et al., 2020). One common symptom of endometriosis is dyspareunia, or painful sex (Ballard et al., 2008). This study aims to uncover how gender expectations from society impact women with endometriosis specifically in sexual encounters. Informed by the traditional sexual script theory and sexual script theory, the study examines how traditional gender norms might influence women’s prioritization of their own health needs as well as the physical, emotional, and relational health outcomes …

The Prevalence Of Physical Health Problems Among Youth In The Juvenile Justice System: A Systematic Review., Wadiya A. Udell, Selina Mohammed

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Justice-involved youth suffer from a range of health problems. Using health and social science databases, we summarize findings from studies reporting rates of physical health problems among youth in the juvenile justice system published between 2006 and 2017. A total of 23 were identified, with the majority examining sexual health problems and focusing on youth confined to correctional facilities. Although fewer studies focused on non-sexual health problems and non-detained youth, findings suggest disparities across some physical health problems impacting youth within various levels of justice system involvement. Given the health risks faced by justice-involved youth and their long-term consequences, more …

Elevator Or Stairs? A Dive Into Patron Decision Making, Lucas D. Elliott, Oliver W.A. Wilson, Melissa Bopp

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

• When put in a situation to get to higher/lower floors of a building, there are many factors that go into play for whether an individual chooses to take the stairs (active) or ride the elevator (sedentary).
• Students were approached at waiting area for the four elevators in a University Library and were asked series of questions regarding their reasoning for taking the stair or elevator to ascend, as well as their thoughts on the stairwell appearance.
• Point of application #1: Stairwell appearance and aesthetics should be considered during the design process in order to increase use and physical activity amongst …

Rural Or Underserved Practice Interest Among Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students. Do Clinical Education Experiences Change Opinions?, Brandon Godin, Trenton Poulson, Mac Neil Moresca, Tyler Satoshige

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: People living in rural and underserved areas are poorly served by our country's healthcare system. The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy reports that approximately 18% of people in the United States live in rural areas. Within the physician and nursing literature the largest reported predictor of rural practice is having a rural background. Mandated rural medical rotations during training have been shown to positively alter interest in rural practice and employment. While nursing and medical students have been thus studied, limited evidence exists for physical therapists. The objective of this study was to determine how rural …

Exploring The Cultural Perceptions Of Physical Activity Among Transnational Nigerian Immigrants, Kelechi D. Ibe-Lamberts, Daudet Ilunga Tshiswaka, Abi Fapohunda

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Transnational Nigerian Immigrants, as other Transnational African Immigrants, are a subset of African immigrants with the unique ability to sustain multi-national ties. These ties could potentially affect health behavior choices and participation in physical activity. Physical Activity has the potential to improve health and prevent chronic diseases; however, there is a lack of literature regarding physical activity and its determinants within the Transnational African Immigrant population in general. This study investigated the cultural factors that shape Transnational Nigerian Immigrants’ perceptions and attitudes towards physical activity.

Methods: Semi-structured, individual interviews supported by photo-elicitation were conducted on 24 Transnational …

Household Financial Assets Inequity And Health Disparities Among Young Adults: Evidence From The National Longitudinal Study Of Adolescent To Adult Health, Shiyou Wu, Xiafei Wang, Qi Wu, Kathleen Mullan Harris

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction: Research has established a strong relationship between financial resources and health outcomes. Yet, little is known about the effects of assets disparities on health outcomes, especially during the critical period when adolescents transition to adults.

Methods: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 10,861), this study investigated the relationships between three household total assets value groups (low, moderate, and high assets) and three net worth groups (negative, neutral, and positive) on young adults’ general health, obese, and depression.

Results: Both assets and debts were related to young adults’ health status, …

The Relationship Between Education And Health: Reducing Disparities Through A Contextual Approach, Anna Zajacova, Elizabeth M. Lawrence

Sociology Faculty Research

Adults with higher educational attainment live healthier and longer lives compared with their less educated peers. The disparities are large and widening. We posit that understanding the educational and macrolevel contexts in which this association occurs is key to reducing health disparities and improving population health. In this article, we briefly review and critically assess the current state of research on the relationship between education and health in the United States. We then outline three directions for further research: We extend the conceptualization of education beyond attainment and demonstrate the centrality of the schooling process to health; we highlight the …

Situating Food Insecurity In A Historic Albuquerque Community: The Whorled Relationship Between Food Insecurity And Place, Janet Page-Reeves, Maurice Moffett, Molly Bleecker, Katharine Linder, Jeannie Romero, Carol Krause

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This article examines conceptualizations of the relationship between food insecurity and place. We use an ethnographically inspired and community-engaged approach to situate our analysis of fluid dynamics at work in a community with high levels of food insecurity. We propose that the relationship between place and people’s experience of food insecurity is recursive, dialectical, and “whorled.” This relationship reflects complex, interconnected, and multidimensional processes with consequences for the health of residents. Our research demonstrates the key nature of the health-place nexus by exploring how food insecurity articulates with place in unexpected ways that go beyond discussions of food, …

The Impact Of Economic Recession On The Health Of Adult Nevadans, Ariana Goertz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Recessions are generally considered to cause negative consequences, but recent studies have provided evidence that some health outcomes improve as the economy deteriorates. The relationship between economic downfalls and health is not straightforward; it is important to look at how health has been impacted in one of the areas hit hardest by the recession. Las Vegas, Nevada was previously considered recession-proof, seemingly unaffected by previous economic downturns exhibited by the rest of the country. However, during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, Las Vegas led the country in highest rates of unemployment and foreclosures. This was quite a collapse for a …

The Impact Of Shift Work On Diabetes Self-Management Activities, Daniel Navarro

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the United States 26 million people are affected by diabetes, which can result in microvascular and macrovascular complications. As a consequence, once a person is diagnosed with diabetes, aggressive clinical management is imperative to minimize poor glycemic control’s devastating outcomes. However, for some patients reaching optimum blood glucose levels is challenging due to the complexity of diabetes’ care. In order for patients with diabetes to achieve good blood glucose control, they must engage in self-care activities that include routine blood glucose checks, dietary control, physical activity, and routine medical provider visits, simultaneously with their medication regimen. Diabetes associated self-care …

The Effects Of Disbursement Of Foreign Aid To African Countries: A Case Study Of Ghana And Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire), Jemilat Kike Thompson-Odoom

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The African continent has received aid from developed countries for decades. This thesis seeks to examine the impact of foreign aid to developing countries using Ghana and Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire) as case studies. The study will contribute to the existing body of knowledge by examining the effectiveness of foreign aid. The study is based on data gathered primarily from development partners and donor countries. Indicators such as mortality rate, tuberculosis and access to sanitation facilities were used to test the failure or success of foreign aid in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Corruption perceptions from both countries were also analyzed …

Considering Sport Participation As A Source For Physical Activity Among Adolescents, Jennifer Pharr, Nancy L. Lough

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

Studies have shown participation in sport is lower among girls than boys, decreases as students matriculate through high school, is lowest among Black and Hispanic girls and has a positive relationship with SES. With sport recognized as a contributor to physical activity and health in adolescents, consideration of diminishing rates of participation appears warranted. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns related to differences in self-reported sport participation between genders, ethnic groups, grades and SES.

METHODS:

This study was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of data collected for a sport interest survey. All students in grades 8-11 attending …

Family-Farm Therapy: An Urban Therapy Clinic To Address The Multifaceted Needs Of Multi-Stressed Families And Their Surrounding Communities, Felisa M. Huene

Graduate Research Symposium (GCUA) (2010 - 2017)

Family-Farm Therapy incorporates a therapeutic clinic within an urban farming community site, and focuses on multi-stressed family systems and the larger community system. The goal is for systemic change within the family and the community by creating positive relationships and personal acceptance. Farming has traditionally been a family endeavor which makes it a unique environment to be utilized as metaphors for family systems, their interactions, behaviors, and structure. Multi-stressed families have socioeconomic hurdles that complicate their ability to adjust to change and crisis in their family. Farming addresses such hurdles by offering economic sustenance, increased physical health, and community acceptance. …

The Relationship Between Sex-Typing And Help-Seeking Behaviors In Adults, Joshua Juvrud

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The process of expressing what is masculine promotes attitudes and behaviors that can discourage men from seeking help, contributing to numerous health issues in males. The purpose of this study was to explore how personally endorsed gender stereotypes vs. gender stereotyped attitudes impacted help-seeking behavior. In the current study, female and male adults completed challenging puzzle tasks, recalled previous health help-seeking behavior, and completed sex-typed measures. Females utilized personally endorsed gender stereotypes more during the puzzle tasks, while males utilized both personally endorsed gender stereotypes as well as gender stereotyped attitudes. When males recalled health-related events, however, personally endorsed feminine …

Ethnic And Gender Differences In Psychosocial Factors In Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islanders, And Asian American Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Jillian Inouye, Dongmei Li, James Davis, Richard Arakaki

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This study examined the differences between 207 Asians and Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) with type 2 diabetes among various psychosocial measures. Responses to five multivariable regression models including the Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQOL) and Short Form -36® Health Survey (SF-36) were analyzed. Differences were determined by linear contrasts in the multivariate linear regression models after adjusted for multiple demographic and socioeconomic variables. Compared to Asians, NHOPIs perceived a lower impact of diabetes on their quality of life; highlighting differences in perceptions of self-efficacy and self-care activities. Females did better on their diet while males perceived better …

A Pilot Self-Care Group Intervention For Low-Income Hiv-Positive Women, Maithe Enriquez, Margaret S. Miles, Jacki Witt, Paul Gore, Nancy Lackey

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This article describes the development of a self-care intervention and examines its efficacy with low-income HIV-positive women (n=34) in the Midwestern United States. Adapted from an individual nurse-led intervention, this effort focused on increasing self-care behaviors through enhancing self-esteem and social support. The investigators used a community-based participatory approach and partnered with three HIV-positive women to adapt and pilot test the new group intervention. A within-group, repeated-measures, pre-/post-test design, together with participant interviews, was used to evaluate the intervention. Mean scores on measures of self-care behaviors, self-esteem, social support and depressive symptoms all changed in the clinically desirable direction. Group …

Health Status Effects On Human Female Mate Preferences And Sociosexuality, Tiffany Alexandra Alvarez

McNair Poster Presentations

Much literature suggests that the sociosexual strategies of females are highly sensitive and consequently responsive to change and its parameters. Through the investigation of an unexplored contextual variant—health status—this study aimed to broaden the understanding of the facultative nature of human female sociosexuality and mate preferences paradigms. We recruited normally cycling women between the ages of 18 and 30 when they were sick (A) had them complete a questionnaire designed to obtain, among other things, measures of their symptom severity and sociosexuality (B) had them evaluate the appeal of two computer manipulated markers of sexual dimorphism (those present in the …

Health Effects Associated With Foreclosure: A Secondary Analysis Of Hospital Discharge Data, Nancy N. Menzel, Sheniz Moonie, Melva Thompson-Robinson

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the health effects of high home foreclosure rates in an area of the United States of America and the utility of hospital discharge data for this purpose.

Methods: We analyzed hospital discharge data from three postal zip codes using the principal diagnosis for 25 Diagnostic Related Groups associated with stress. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize hospital discharge rates for each condition by year and zip code. To test for differences across time, the Cochran-Armitage trend test was performed.

Results: Most conditions did not demonstrate a statistical change between 2005 and …

Injury In Nevada, Michelle Chino, Jonathon Lavalley, Darlene R. Haff, Deborah A. Harris, Andrea R. Rivers

Public Health Faculty Publications

Injury is a major threat to health and safety. In a typical day in the US, 400 people will die as the result of an injury, 7,500 will be hospitalized due to an injury, and more than 150,000 will suffer an injury severe enough to restrict activities and seek medical attention. Many of these deaths, hospitalizations, and disabling events will be the result of motor vehicle crashes. Others will result from vio­lence, falls, drowning, and poisoning – all of which are considered injuries.

The costs of injury are high. In the United States, the cost of injuries is estimated to …

Sex And The Agricultural Transition: Dental Health Among Early Agricultural Females, Misty Fields

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This project analyzed dentition from a sample (n =142) of Early Agricultural period skeletons (B.C. 1600-200 A.D.) from the site of La Playa (SON F:10:3), Sonora, Mexico. Data was collected on pathology rates for dental caries and antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) to test the hypothesis that hormone-fluctuations associated with pregnancy increase dental pathology in females. Males and females were not found to have significant differences in caries rates. However, statistically significant differences in AMTL were found with females exhibiting more tooth loss than males ( p=.022). When compared across age categories, reproductive-age females had substantial increases in AMTL compared to …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Child Maltreatment Reporting Training Program For Mandated Mental Health Professionals, Krisann Marie Alvarez

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Despite a legal mandate to report suspected child maltreatment, the literature has consistently reported a failure by mandated professionals to report suspected maltreatment. Lack of knowledge regarding child maltreatment, reporting requirements and possible consequences of reporting have been cited as impediments to reporting. Previous research has recommended the development of training programs to address these hindrances. However, empirically validated training programs specific to the reporting of child maltreatment in mental health professionals have yet to be developed. Therefore, this study is the first to examine the efficacy of a child maltreatment reporting training program which addresses knowledge of child maltreatment …

Cavities On The Cob: Dental Health And The Agricultural Transition In Sonora, Mexico, James Thomas Watson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This research uses a predictive model based on dental health to test the hypothesis that maize dependence gradually increased among human groups in the Sonoran Desert over the course of the Early Agricultural period (1500 B.C.--A.D. 200). The hypothesis is tested by recording a suite of ten dental observations that correlate with this fundamental change in subsistence on a sample of 246 prehistoric human skeletons dating to the Early Agricultural period recovered from La Playa (SON F:10:3), Sonora, Mexico. The sample is evenly distributed among demographic variables, burial treatments, and location within the site. Erosion of the burials, however, restricted …

The Relationship Between The Health-Promoting Practices Of Advanced Practice Nurses And Their Counseling Of Patients, Wanda Marie Boyer

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Among healthcare professionals, there is little research on health promotion and health-promoting practices, particularly advanced practice nurses (APN's) The literature also reveals a paucity of research on the counseling practices of APN's. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to examine the relationships between selected variables, derived from Pender's revised Health Promotion Model (1996), and the degree to which they explain advanced practice nurses' current practice of health-promoting behaviors from a random sample of APN's (N = 357). The random sample was obtained from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The study also described the relationship between these behaviors …

Instrument Development And Validation For Use In A Health Education Program, Joanna Lynn Blockey

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study was conducted to establish the validity and reliability of a dependent measure instrument developed specifically for health education programs geared to expectant mothers and their significant others who smoke; This study's instrument was distributed to 201 randomly chosen college students participating in health education, general education, educational psychology, and communication studies classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Results from this study found that the instrument has merit. The confirmatory factor analysis, which proved the instrument's reliability, isolated three different areas of study: beliefs about smoking in general; the effects of smoking on pre- and post-natal babies; …

Health Care Needs Of Sheltered Homeless Women, Mary Ellen Gauthier

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Identification of health needs of sheltered homeless women is a vital step in assisting this vulnerable population to productive members of society. The purpose of the study was to determine the health care needs of sheltered homeless women in LasVegas. Few studies have been done focusing on the health needs of sheltered homeless women. Dorthea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing provided the theoretical framework for this descriptive study. In order to identify health needs, fifty women participated in structured interviews where both objective and subjective data were collected. Frequencies were calculated in order to describe the population and identify …

Determinants Of Health Promotion Behavior In Active Duty Air Force Personnel, Bridgette Jolene Grabowski

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Today's health care system has increasingly focused on health promotion and disease prevention activities. Within the United States' Air Force, emphasis has also been placed on health promoting lifestyle activities. However, the Air Force has a paucity of research regarding health promotion behavior and characteristics that influence a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this research study was to determine the extent perceived locus of control and demographic factors, as selected factors of Nola Pender's Health Promotion Model, can predict health promotion behavior in a random sample of 217 active duty AF personnel assigned to a southwestern base. The results of …

Health Patterns Of Nurses Who Smoke, John Louis Yuhos

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This descriptive comparative study examined the usefulness of Pender's (1996) Health Promotion Model to explain the occurrence and differences of health-promoting behavior between nurses who smoke and nurses who do not. A convenience sample of 283 nurses completed two assessment instruments, the Health-Promoting Life-Style Profile (HPLP-II) and the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale. Significant differences were found in the mean scores on subscales of the HPLP-II and the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale between nurses who smoke and those who do not. A posteriori comparisons of three groups of nurses; current smoking nurses, former smoking nurses and never …

Leadership Styles Of Three Hispanic-American Women In Health Science, Kristel Heira Pankau

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Case study methodology was utilized to explore and describe leadership styles of selected Hispanic American women in management positions in the field of health science. A non-probability, stratified sample of convenience was used to process and determine final selection of three participants. At the time of the study all participants held full-time management positions for no less than four consecutive years. Participants ranged in age from thirty-five to fifty years; The study also investigated the influence of personal biography, including, factors which fostered and constrained leadership in the women selected. Data were collected from questionnaire responses, interviews, and observations at …

Personality And Marital Satisfaction: The Role Of Similarity And Psychological Health, Gretchen Garcia

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

I examined how similarity between spouses' personalities and absolute levels of the personality traits among spouses were related to marital satisfaction in a sample of 76 heterosexual couples. Personality characteristics were measured with the Index of Self-esteem and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory, which assesses levels of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used to measure marital satisfaction. Personality domains that are associated with psychological health including Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Self-esteem would correlate to marital satisfaction. Moreover, it was hypothesized that similarity of the spouses on the factors of Extraversion and Openness would be positively …

A Comparison Of Health-Promoting Practices Of Nevada Rural And Urban Nurses, Donna Nepper Jacobs

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to compare health-promoting lifestyle practices of rural and urban nurses in Nevada. Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework for this study. A total of 266 randomly sampled rural and urban nurses participated in completing two self-administered questionnaires, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile and a biographical data sheet; Eight research questions were answered in the study. Seven of the research questions sought to determine if significant differences existed between rural and urban nurses on the total Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) and six subscales. No significant differences were identified between the two groups. …