Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploration Of The Role Of Neighborhood Residential Segregation By Race And Ethnicity In Obesity Risk Among School-Aged, Melissa L. Fair

Theses and Dissertations

Youth obesity prevalence remains high, despite decades of intervention. Grounded in the social ecological model, neighborhoods and schools are important settings in addressing the complex systems that influence obesity. Contributing to disparities, by race/ethnicity, Black and Hispanic youth are more likely to live in segregated neighborhoods and attend segregated schools, which are also more likely to have high rates of poverty and are less likely to have high quality nutrition and built environments. Leveraging data from local school district (district and state department of education) and national datasets (ACS, Childhood Opportunity Index 2.0), this study examined the associations between school …

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Green Space, And Walkability And Risk For Falls And Fracture Among Postmenopausal Women: The Women’S Health Initiative, Marilyn Elizabeth Wende

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess whether neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), walkability, and green space impacts fall and fracture incidence among postmenopausal women, and to assess important modifiers for these relationships, such as fall history, physical activity, physical impairment, race/ethnicity, and rurality. Data from the Women’s Health Initiative study from 1993 to 2012 (N=161,808) was used.

SES had a significant relationship with falling after adjustment (intermediate vs low SES OR=0.99, p=0.0309; high vs low SES OR=0.99, p=0.1192). Study arm participation and fall frequency at baseline significantly modified this relationship. Walkability had a significant relationship with falling incidence after …

The Influence Of Light In The Built Environment To Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Nathanael T. Kohl

Theses and Dissertations

Current mental health statistics for US active duty and Veteran members justify research into the causes and remedies for those plagued with negative mental health outcomes. Recent research has suggested that the built environment is connected to our mental health. This study investigated this connection with active duty and Veteran populations across the US. A literature review was completed on what factors of light in the built environment affects mental health outcomes. An analysis of active duty and Veteran mental health symptoms and the natural light rating in their residence was completed to understand the design changes that can be …

Electronic Image Detectability Under Varying Illumination Conditions, Jeremy J. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Light in the built environment plays an essential role in the vision and the health of humans through non-visual receptors in the eyes. Unfortunately, image analysts and other Air Force personnel who engage in the detection of objects on softcopy displays are often required to work in very dimly-lit or dark environments as higher illumination reduces the contrast of displayed information. Literature has shown that increases in light exposure improves circadian rhythm entrainment and reduces the negative health consequences of insufficient lighting. This research examines the effects of indoor lighting to determine if increases in ambient illumination or changes to …