Psychology Commons^™

Children’S Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity On Weekdays Versus Weekend Days: A Multi-Country Analysis, Keith Brazendale, Keith W. Beets, Bridget Armstrong, R Glenn Weaver, Ethan T. Hunt, Russell R. Pate, Timothy A. Brusseau, Amy Bohnert, Timothy Olds, Rafael M. Tassitano, Maria Cecilia M. Tenorio, Jeanette Garcia, Lars B. Andersen, Rachel Davey, Pedro C. Hallal, Russell Jago, Elin Kolle, Susi Kriemler, Peter L. Kristensen, Soyang Kwon, Jardena J. Pider, Jo Salmon, Luis B. Sardinha, Esther M F Van Sluijs

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Purpose

The Structured Days Hypothesis (SDH) posits that children’s behaviors associated with obesity – such as physical activity – are more favorable on days that contain more ‘structure’ (i.e., a pre-planned, segmented, and adult-supervised environment) such as school weekdays, compared to days with less structure, such as weekend days. The purpose of this study was to compare children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels on weekdays versus weekend days using a large, multi-country, accelerometer-measured physical activity dataset.

Methods

Data were received from the International Children’s Accelerometer Database (ICAD) July 2019. The ICAD inclusion criteria for a valid day of wear, only …

The Roles Of Hpa Axis Activity And Attentional Bias In The Development Of Anxiety Symptoms In Low-Income Mexican-Origin Children, Stephanie Brewer

Dissertations

The overarching goal of this research is to increase understanding of the development of anxiety in children of low-income Mexican-origin immigrants. Mexican-origin children display disproportionately high rates of mental disorders such as anxiety, as they face many chronic stressors related to poverty and immigration. A likely mediator of this process is HPA axis activity, causing a buildup of cortisol in the body in response to chronic stress. There is a large amount of evidence indicating that HPA axis activity is a mechanism through which accumulated poverty-related stress causes mental illness, but this mediator has not been examined in relation to …

Spina Bifida, Grayson N. Holmbeck, Kathy Zebracki, Jaclyn Lennon Papadakis, Colleen F. Bechtel Driscoll

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Spina bifida (SB) is a relatively common congenital birth defect that has a pervasive impact on the physical, neurocognitive, psychological, and social functioning of affected individuals and their families. Given the characteristics of this condition as well as the complexities of medical adherence in this population, pediatric psychologists are uniquely qualified to provide assessment and intervention services to these individuals.

Children's Exposure To Violence Across Contexts: Profiles Of Family, School, And Community Witnessing And Victimization, Catherine Mary Rice

Master's Theses

Children residing in low-income, urban neighborhoods are at a disproportionately higher risk of exposure to violence (ETV) across multiple contexts compared to their peers, including witnessing violence and direct victimization. The many negative effects of ETV are compounded when youth experience ETV across multiple settings and when these experiences are chronic. Despite this, much of the research on ETV during childhood focuses on a single form of violence (e.g., family victimization or witnessing community violence). The current study examines patterns of frequency of ETV, including witnessing and victimization, across family, school, and community contexts, using person-centered methods to elucidate the …

Adhd And Attention Problems In Children With And Without Spina Bifida, Rachel M. Wasserman, Alison M. Stoner, Alexa Stern, Grayson N. Holmbeck

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Objectives: To identify differences in the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between typically developing children and children with spina bifida. Method: Sixty-eight children with spina bifida and 68 demographically matched, typically developing children participated in a larger, longitudinal study. Rates of maternal, paternal, and teacher reports of attention problems, as well as rates of maternal reports of ADHD diagnosis, diagnosing provider, pharmaceutical treatment, mental health treatment, and academic accommodations were obtained at 5 time points over a period of 8 years and were compared across groups. Results: Children with spina bifida were more likely to have an …

Summertime Sleep And Bmi In Urban Minority Girls: Relations To Physical Activity And Executive Functions, Carolyn Rose Bates

Master's Theses

Urban minority youth, particularly females, are at high risk for increased weight gain during the summertime months, and may also experience insufficient sleep at this time. Few studies have objectively measured summertime sleep in this population or related sleep to weight gain during this season. The current study draws on a sample of 66 urban minority girls aged 10-to-14 who participated in a community-based summer day camp program promoting physical activity (PA). The study objectively characterizes sleep in this sample, both in unstructured and structured contexts. Additionally, the study examines potential pathways underlying summertime relations between sleep and weight, including …

The Moderating Effects Of Organized Activities On The Relations Between Body Mass And Social Adjustment In Adolescents, Christopher T. Stanley, Amy M. Bohnert

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Overweight and obese children and adolescents often experience social adjusment difficulties, including higher rates of peer victimization and loneliness. Our primary goal was to examine the moderating influences of various aspects of organized activity involvement (i.e., intensity, duration, amount of physical activity, perceived importance, liking, and quality of adult- and peer relationships) on body mass index (BMI) and social adjustment relations. Results suggested that activity involvement moderated BMI-adjustment relations in certain instances. Specifically, fewer hours and less physical activity was associated with less loneliness among heavier adolescents. This study affirms the need for further research to address the impact that …