An Analysis Of Employment Policies And Their Effect On Work-Life Balance For Caregiving Parents Of Children With Special Needs, Sara Panella

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

This capstone addresses the work-­‐life conflict facing employed caregiver parents with special needs children by 1) identifying what employed parents of children with disabilities need from their employer in order to achieve a work-­‐life balance that improves economic security and emotional well-­‐being, and 2) evaluating how well policies address those needs. An investigation of work-­‐family conflict and stress among parents of special needs children is conducted by examining the current literature and conducting interviews with caregivers to explore their work-­‐life balance needs. Policy recommendations are provided, based on an analysis of public and workplace policies currently in use and policy …

Who Done It? Rurality Vs. Ses As Critical Factors In Evaluating The Prevalence Of Child Psychosocial Concerns In Primary Care, Robert M. Tolliver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of child psychosocial concerns in rural primary care, hypothesized to be greater than national averages due to lacking mental health services in rural areas. This study was an examination of the role of SES, various definitions of “rural,” and the interaction of SES and rurality, in predicting parent-reported child psychosocial concerns in Appalachian primary care clinics. Caregivers presenting with their child at one of 8 pediatric primary care sites (n=2,672) were recruited to complete a measure assessing demographics and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC). Results showed that while rural status …

Closing The Rural Mortality Gap? An Examination Of 10-Year Cardiovascular Mortality Trends In Washington And Aroostook Counties, Maine, Christy Daggett

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

This study examines a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality1 in two rural, white, low-income counties in Maine over 1999-2009: Washington County and Aroostook County. Two similar counties with similarly high rates of CVD mortality– Penobscot and Piscataquis - were selected as comparators. The study considers different factors known to correlate with CVD mortality, including behavioral risk factors, co-morbid conditions, insurance coverage, and social determinants of health.

Health Service Utilization And Stigma Among Hiv-Positive Men-Who-Have-Sex-With Men (Msm) In Rural Appalachia, Roger L. Blackwell Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Health Service Utilization and Stigma among

HIV-Positive Men-Who-Have-Sex-With-Men (MSM) in Rural Appalachia

by

Roger Lee Blackwell

The world has now entered the third decade of the AIDS epidemic. Men-who-have-sex-with-men continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. The United States still struggles in its response to this ongoing crisis in many areas: disease prevention, treatment, and HIV related stigma, prejudice and discrimination. Much of the information reported on MSM living with HIV has come from urban population centers, but only a few studies have focused on HIV positive MSM living in rural areas. Therefore, the overall aim of this dissertation …

Factors Associated With Parental Decision Making And Childhood Vaccination, Zuwen Qiu-Shultz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In order to better understand factors affecting immunization status, logistic regression was used to assess the association of various socio-demographic factors and whether parents would have their child immunized if not a state mandate. Factors included in the study were race, household income, number of children in the household, number of adults in the household, if the child had a primary provider, if the child had a health check-up in the last twelve months, and medical insurance status of the child. The combined Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey Result of 2009-2010 (Year Two) and 2010-2011 (Year Three) conducted by the Nevada …

The Relationship Between Quality Of Parks And Playgrounds And Park-Based Physical Activity In Children, Hammad Ali Qazi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Research on the quality of parks and playgrounds has been limited, particularly regarding how conditions and cleanliness of parks and playgrounds influence park-based physical activity in children. This thesis explored the relationship between the quality of parks and playgrounds and physical activity in children, through a scoping review and a mixed-methods study.

The scoping review used a systematic search to identify gaps in the literature and to disseminate research findings on the topic. A total of 10 articles were selected in accordance with the selection criteria. The review showed that the features, amenities, and safety of parks and playgrounds were …

Association Of Dietary Intake Patterns With Emotion Regulation, Megan Holt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Western dietary patterns, characterized by high intakes of trans fatty acids (TFA’s), are associated with numerous preventable chronic diseases. Conversely, a Mediterranean dietary pattern is known to be favorably associated with health. Recent findings suggest a correlation between Mediterranean dietary patterns and positive affect, and an inverse correlation with negative affect. Trans fatty acid intake is also associated with negative affect. Further, affect disturbances are associated with emotion dysregulation. We have yet to understand the association of diet with emotion regulation after taking affect disturbances into consideration. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of Mediterranean diet …

Risk Factors For Diabetes Mellitus: A Comparative Analysis Of Subpopulation Differences In A Large Canadian Sample, Michael James Taylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: Certain Canadian subpopulations observe numerous modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for diabetes. This study compares immigrants and Aboriginals (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) with Canada-born individuals at higher risks for diabetes, and deciphers the determinant differences between them.

Methods: Pooled Canadian Community Health Survey data (2001-2010) were used. Time trends for diabetes within each subsample were calculated using individual survey year prevalence rates; diabetes diagnoses were self-reported (N=33,565). Various risk factors were also examined using logistic regression.

Results: Diabetes prevalence rates significantly increased from 2001 to 2010 for each subpopulation, as well as the total sample: Canada-Born individuals (3.9% …

Exercise Participation During Weight Loss On A High Protein – Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan In Females Aged 15-25 Years, Margaret Mobley-Meulman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Obese adults have an increased risk for serious health conditions including high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and certain cancers (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Participation in exercise can help control weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the incidence of cardiac events, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancers, osteoporotic fractures, gallbladder disease, obesity, depression, anxiety, and delay mortality …

Unpacking The Temperament Weight Relationship: The Mediating Role Of Food Preferences, Sarah A. Berry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the mediating role of possible food preferences on the temperamentweight relationship among 18-month-old toddlers. Parents of 37 typically developing toddlers completed the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ). During a lab visit toddlers’ weight and recumbent length were measured and recorded. Toddlers also completed a sequential touching task to examine their ability to categorize a healthy group of foods and an unhealthy group of foods. The only temperament measure found to associate with both child weight status and food categorization was inhibitory control. Toddlers’ food categorization was not found to mediate the relationship between inhibitory control and …

The Smart Technology To Manage Type 2 Diabetes And Achieve Health Goals Through Record Keeping And Tailored Feedback (Smart) Study, Jody C. Schuurman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Lifestyle interventions reduce the risk of diabetic complications; however, many of these interventions are difficult to implement in everyday practice. This study investigated whether a smartphone application and data mining system, GlucoGuide™, could be a functional and effective tool to supplement a lifestyle intervention in order to enhance patient care for people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D). Using a quasi-experimental design, seventeen participants diagnosed with prediabetes or T2D were given the STEP™ test and a lifestyle prescription, and either a paper journal or the GlucoGuide™ system to record important health markers. The primary analysis compared clinical fasting blood …

Variables To Predict Risk Of Hospital Readmission, Julie I. Carroll

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

As the healthcare industry transitions toward accountable care and payment reform, creative approaches to healthcare is imperative. Poorly coordinated care and shorter hospital stays have resulted in higher rates of readmissions. This has large implications for hospitals and health systems.

Childhood Obesity And Overweight: Causes And Implications In Preschool Children, Melissa L. Sittner

Kinesiology and Public Health

The root causes of childhood obesity and overweight are currently hot topics of research. While many causes have been discovered, researchers are still weighing them against one another while taking the lifestyles of at-risk populations into account. Some of these causes include lack of physical activity, increase in screen time, and the implications of health disparities borne of a child’s socioeconomic status. These causes and more are reviewed further and applied to the population of interest: preschool aged children in the United States, and more specifically preschool aged children of San Luis Obispo County in California. The need for multi-level …

Maternal Smoking, Weight Status And Preecalmpsia And Eclampsia Risk Among Women Living In San Bernardino County, Fiona Bedelia Lewis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Preeclampsia is defined as pregnancy-induced hypertension affecting between 2% and 8% of pregnancies and accounting for about 10-15% of maternal deaths worldwide. Eclampsia is defined as the occurrence of one or more episodes of seizures in a pregnant woman related only to a preeclampsia diagnosis. Preeclampsia, if poorly managed, can progress to eclampsia resulting in injury and death to both mother and infant. The etiology of preeclampsia is not completely understood. Oxidative stress leading to abnormal placenta development and endothelial dysfunction are thought to be key components in the biological mechanism of preeclampsia.

Modifiable risk factors include maternal body weight …

Associations Between Alcohol Consumption And Fasting Blood Glucose In Young Adults, Julie Ann Lucca

Master's Theses

Current research shows moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk of diabetes and excessive consumption or binge drinking can cause insulin resistance and diabetes. In 2010, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United Statesand was responsible for significant health complications: blindness, kidney failure, and limb amputations, and is a large national economic burden. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) is a tool used to help diagnose diabetes. Abnormally high FBG, ≥100 mg/dl, is indicative of diabetes and pre-diabetes. Few studies have observed diabetic prevalence among young adults or college students. Studying young adults can help provide added …

Use Of Social Media In Adolescent Obesity Intervention, Helen Hansen

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Childhood and adolescent obesity strongly predicts adult obesity (Spruijt-Metz, 2011) and literature highlights the transitional period into college as a “high risk weight gain period” (Holm-Denoma, Joiner, Vohs, & Heatherton, 2008). Obesity is associated with poor physical outcomes (Freedman, Dietz, Srinivasan, & Berenson, 1999; Katz & D’Ambrosio, 2010) and psychological conditions are found in 34% of children and adolescents with an obesity-related condition, in comparison to 20% of the children in the general population (Wang & Beydoun, 2007). In the context of obesity programs, growing evidence supports the efficacy of increasing physical activity without calorie restriction to decrease body fat …

The Relationship Between Snacking Habits And Impulsivity Levels In Adolescents, Bayley E. Clarke

Scripps Senior Theses

Adolescent obesity is an important public health issue, and one important factor that contributes to the problem is overeating, eating more than required for homeostasis. Appetitive behaviors such as overeating may in part be the result of poor control of impulsive behavior. This study investigated the relationship between impulsivity factors and snacking habits. The Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency Questionnaire (YAQ) and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) were completed by 198 Southern California high school students (56% female; age M=15.8, SD=0.9). Four subscales were calculated from responses on the YAQ and included the frequency of consuming sweetened drinks, sweet snacks, salty snacks, …

Stay Beautiful -- Stay Alive: Assessing The Receptivity Of African American Beauty Salon Owners To The Integration Of Breast Cancer Intervention Programs Into Salon Operations, Funmi Apantaku-Onayemi

Ed.D. Dissertations

The lower incidence rate of breast cancer in African American women is dwarfed by the excessive number of deaths due to late diagnosis and treatment. Lack of screening, socioeconomic factors, fatalistic beliefs and inequality of care are major contributing factors. Studies have suggested that those who had more knowledge about breast cancer are more likely to have reduced fatalistic attitudes and engage in screening behaviors. This study investigated beauty salons as sustainable and viable venues to reach women with health intervention programs because they fit the prescriptions of the principles of adult learning. In a mixed-method, descriptive study involving 115 …

The U.S. Healthcare System: The Political And Personal Perspective, Sofia Gabirelle Seckler

Honors Capstone Projects - All

A large proportion of American adults lack health insurance, due to job loss and a wide variety of other issues. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Supreme Court decision affirming its constitutional legality, the availability of healthcare is set to increase in the near future. This honors thesis addresses the fit, or lack of fit, between the ACA provisions and the needs of the currently uninsured. My study involved ten interviews with patients at a free clinic for the uninsured in Syracuse, NY, and an interview with the Commissioner of Health from Onondaga County. For …

Preventing Skin Cancer In Adolescent Girls Through Intervention With Their Mothers, Mary K. Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Indoor tanning (IT) before the age of 35 increases one’s risk for melanoma by 75%, and epidemiological data show a 6.1% annual increase in the incidence of melanomas in white women younger than age 44 in the US. Population-based studies reveal that 15% of adolescents and 8% to 14% of their primary caregivers have engaged in IT in the past year.

The compelling case for IT being a significant risk factor for melanoma, together with the high rates of IT in teen girls and their mothers, provided a strong rationale for conducting an antitanning intervention directed at mother-daughter dyads. This …

Determinants Of Food Insecurity Among Vulnerable White And Latino Households: Contextualizing The Impact Of Sociodemographic And Household-Level Factors, Alexandra Lund

Master's Theses

Household-level characteristics have been shown to be associated with food insecurity but studies among vulnerable populations are sparse. A food security assessment was developed to determine food security and collect sociodemographic and household level data across San Luis Obispo County. The assessments were administered to vulnerable groups through interviews at multiple sites across the County. Three household characteristics (marital status, number of children in the household and number of workers in the household) were examined in this analysis. A total of 808 surveys were collected, 69% in English and 31% in Spanish. Through ethnicity-stratified sequentially adjusted logistic regression models, the …

An Investigation Of The Perceptions Of Community Residents And Volunteer Researchers For The Community Health Of The Clarke Square Neighborhood, Meghan Jones, Kelly Dione

Professional Projects

The study explored the similarities and differences in community residents’ perceptions and volunteer researchers’ perceptions of community health indicators in the Clarke Square Neighborhood. The study sought to identify noteworthy differences between community residents’ perceptions and volunteer researchers’ perceptions, indicating the importance of including community members in community health research. In the study, community residents in the Clarke Square Neighborhood conducted a survey that had previously been done by volunteer researchers from the Urban Ecology Center and the Medical College of Wisconsin regarding community health indicators in the Clarke Square Neighborhood. The study also included a focus group, which discussed …

Evidence-Based, Best Practice Workplace Interventions To Reduce Overweight And Obesity Rates Among Employees In One Maine Organization: Identification Of Strategic Models, Joanna Aronica

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Wellness programs have evolved over several decades and a great deal of research has been conducted to measure the efficacy of the programs. The goal of this capstone is to explore obesity in the workplace and its impact on chronic disease in one Maine organization and to identify innovative and best practice, evidence based interventions that will reduce the risk.

Cultivating Resistance: Food Justice In The Criminal Justice System, Caitlin M. Watkins

Pitzer Senior Theses

This Senior Thesis in Environmental Analysis seeks to explore the ways in which certain food-oriented programs for incarcerated women and women on parole critically resist the Prison Industrial Complex and the Industrial Food System by securing social and ecological equity through the acquisition of food justice. It focuses on three case studies: the Crossroads’ Meatless Mondays program, Fallen Fruit from Rising Women: A Crossroads Social Enterprise, and Cultivating Dreams Prison Garden Project: An Organic Garden for Women in Prison. Each project utilizes food as a tool to build community, provide valuable skill sets of cooking and gardening, and educate women …

Factors That Contribute To Adverse Events Involving Care- Dependent Community Dwelling Older Adults And Their Caregivers., Dorothy J. Gotzmeister

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The research on home and community care shows that when safely delivered it can be an efficient way to support elders who require care, potentially preventing a move into costlier institutional care. Learning from system-wide safety breakdowns that occur is necessary to establish appropriate prevention strategies. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that contributed to adverse events in care-dependent community-dwelling older adults and their caregivers. Using a multiple case study methodology, eight falls were investigated using a comprehensive Systemic Falls Investigative Method. Using within case and across case analyses, a total of 280 contributing factors were …

Perceptions Of Herbal Remedies Among California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo Students, Maria Cacciatore, Kimmie Layland, Nicole Morrisey

Social Sciences

Many practitioners now recognize that herbal remedies can be an effective and natural alternative to the standard American, western biomedicine. The objective of our research project is to discover the perceptions about herbal remedies as alternative medicine among Cal Poly students. Specifically we ask, why are they chosen and how students gauge their effectiveness. We seek to see if students have experimented with these herbal remedies, why they chose this route for wellness, and how they value the use of herbal alternative. If we are successful in this project, we will have a greater understanding of how young educated adults …

The Impact Of Protection Motivation Theory Grounded Messaging On Diabetes Prevention Behaviours Following Gestational Diabetes, Jennifer M. Jacob

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GDM) are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). Despite this risk, few women are engaging in diabetes prevention behaviours. Methods: The Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was employed to design and evaluate a post-GDM diabetes prevention information session. The utility of this theory in predicting intentions and diabetes prevention behaviours was assessed using regression analysis. Results: Two of the four PMT variables, response efficacy and self efficacy were found to be consistent predictors of intention across most of the recommended behaviours, accounting for between 25% and 77% of the variance in intention. Intention was …

Exploring The Efficacy Of The Community Organization Health Model As A Tool For Evaluating Sport-For-Development Programs: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Three Model Programs, Lauren Faye Denman

Master's Theses

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is currently one of the most pressing world-wide concerns regarding the health and well-being of our global population. Due to the lack of a cure, recent efforts have focused on prevention measures for the disease. HIV prevention, particularly with the youth population, has spawned creative programs, such as the use of sport as an educational tool to equip youth with the skills to avoid contracting HIV. Due to the potent effect sport-for-development efforts exhibit on both individual and cultural level change, it can be assumed that HIV prevention sport-for-development programs are worth maintaining. Within the use of …

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Prevention: Effect Of Neuromuscular Training Compliance On Muscular Strength Development, Daisuke Sugimoto

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) originates from posterior part of the medial side of the lateral condyle of femur to anterior intercondylar notch between a transverse meniscal ligament and medial side of medial meniscus of tibia. Once ACL is disrupted, pain, effusion and atrophy are commonly observable and cause functional disability. Because of the functional limitations, athletic participation is severely restricted. ACL injury is more prevalent in physically active females compared to their male counterparts in the sports of basketball and soccer in high school and collegiate levels.

Several attributes of females are considered risk factors for the higher ACL …

The Impact Of Telephonic Health Coaching On Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, And Cholesterol Levels, Jill Marie Hansen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of telephonic health coaching in reducing the risk behaviors of physical inactivity and imprudent dietary behaviors and improving cholesterol levels from Year 1 to Year 2. Data related to 45,410 employees was drawn from seven employer groups from January 1, 2009 to December 12, 2012. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, one sample t-tests, and Pearson's product-moment correlational analyses were used to describe the employees in data set and test the hypotheses of this study. Health coaching participants were significantly more likely to be females than males. Participants in health coaching …