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Relationship Of Stress, Sleep, Physical Activity, And Food Insecurity On Eating Behaviors And Obesity, Amy Lee Richards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is an urgent need to find effective interventions to prevent and reduce obesity as it is associated with chronic disease and decreased quality of life. Gaining a better understanding of how modifiable variables such as stress, sleep, physical activity, and food insecurity are related to eating behaviors associated with obesity is essential to guide the direction of future interventions and research. Interventions that hold promise need to be tested to determine if they have merit or not. This dissertation presents three papers. Two papers are cross-sectional studies evaluating associations between eating behaviors, obesity, and modifiable variables (stress, sleep, physical …

The Effects Of Religious And Body-Related Affirmations On Disordered Eating Attitudes And Body Dissatisfaction, Cassandra A. Vogt

Masters Theses

The relationship between disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and religion is complex. Previous research demonstrated that religious body affirmations are beneficial in reducing body dissatisfaction among undergraduate females. Because previous research used affirmations which were simultaneously religious in nature and related to the body, it is difficult to determine if the religiousness of the affirmation is the beneficial characteristic. The current study investigated which type of affirmation had the strongest effect on disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction. More specifically, the five experimental conditions included: religious body affirmations, religious non-body affirmations, non-religious body affirmations, non-religious non-body affirmations, and neutral control statements. …

Perceptions Of Body Image Among College Men, Colton David Janes

Masters Theses

This study sought to better understand what influences male body image perceptions among college men attending a mid-sized Midwestern university. A qualitative research approach was utilized to better establish a better understanding on how college men construct their body image perceptions. Nine male undergraduate students in their third year or greater participated in one-on-one interviews. These participants self-identified as a member of a single-gender student organization including a social Greek letter fraternity, university athletic team, and/or other student organization(s) on-campus. Results of this study revealed that one of the most influential forces of body image perception among participants was the …

Experiences Of Middle-Aged, African American Women With Excessive Weight, Tina Ann Mcclaire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity and overweight issues are nationally recognized crises for African American women. A noteworthy gap remains in the literature regarding this population's experiences with excessive weight, specifically, the role of culture and social support networks on their experience with being overweight. Without an understanding of the experience and meaning of being overweight for African American women, physicians and clinicians will not be able to fully support African American women in their weight loss journeys. Using the social learning theory as a framework, the purpose of this phenomenological research study was to explore experiences of obese or overweight middle-aged African American …

The Narrative Of The Outsider: Marginalization In The Works Of María Luisa Bemberg, Lucrecia Martel, And Lucía Puenzo, Natalie Nagl

Wayne State University Dissertations

Through film and literature, my dissertation explores the representation of race, social class, and gender in the works of three Argentine directors. These social constructs have become so ingrained in interpersonal relations that there is rigidity in how they are considered. Therefore, those individuals who do not think and interact appropriately with the constructs occupy the outside. The possibility of marginalization adds another layer to the constructs by sensitizing them to the point that they affect the individual and their relationships (i.e. psychologically and socially). However, several representations, such as those that make up our corpus, challenge the definitions of …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire In Vegans And Omnivores, Sydney Heiss

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of eating-related pathology; however, the original four-factor structure has proven difficult to replicate in diverse samples of respondents. Based on the differences in dietary patterns in vegans that are often interpreted as indicative as greater eating disorder symptoms, proper measurement of eating disorder measures is especially important. The purpose of this study was to compare goodness-of-fit of five alternative models of the EDE-Q in a sample of vegans recruited from the community (i.e., individuals refraining from all animal products, n = 395) and undergraduate …

Female Athlete Body Project Intervention With Professional Ballet Dancers, Sasha Gorrell

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Professional dancers have increased vulnerability for eating disorders (EDs), with three times higher risk than non-dancers. Among ballet dancers, generalized risk for EDs associated with internalization of female beauty ideals (i.e., the thin-ideal) in western culture is compounded by idealization of a ballet-specific body ideal, a combination that confers unique vulnerability for eating pathology. Empirical support has been established for a healthy weight intervention (HWI) that promotes body acceptance and reducing eating pathology; the current study adapted a HWI specifically tailored to female athletes for implementation among professional ballet dancers. Participants from two elite ballet companies were randomized to a …

A "Default Option" While Online Grocery Shopping To Enhance Nutrition Within A Food Insecure Population, Jaime Ashley Coffino

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

There is a need for sustainable interventions that improve diet-related health within the food insecure community. We examined if use of a “default” prefilled online grocery shopping cart, compared to nutrition education, would result in the purchase of healthier food items. Fifty participants (M age = 46.4 ± 12.46 years; M body mass index = 28.59 ± 6.48 kg/m2; 74.0% male) were randomized to: (1) read a brochure containing nutrition information (n = 23) or (2) be presented with a “default” prefilled online shopping cart containing groceries that meet nutritional guidelines to which they could freely make changes before completing …

Examining The Role Of Ethnic Identity In The Relationship Between Characteristics Of Autism Spectrum Disorders And Eating Disorders, Ashley Bojorquez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present work provides a synthetic literature review investigating the potential role of ethnic identity in the relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and eating disorders (EDs). To date, there is no literature that directly examines the role that ethnic identity may play in the relationship between these two disorders. However, there is reason to believe it may; previous literature has shown that race/ethnicity plays a role in both of these disorders, and the role of ethnic identity has been more fully explored in the ED population. Notably, there is little research that examines the role of ethnic identity on …

Age And Gender Differences In Particpation Rates, Motivators For, And Barriers To Exercise, Margot E. Hickey, Susan E. Mason

Modern Psychological Studies

Participants completed a questionnaire about their involvement in exercise and the motivators for and barriers to their participation in physical activities. There was a significant age difference in the total number of barriers reported. There were also significant gender differences in several aspects of exercise, within both a college sample and a sample of community residents. Because of the numerous health benefits of exercise for men and women of all ages, it is important that we understand what motivates individuals to be active. The findings of the present study suggest that the individual’s age and gender are important factors to …

The Mobius Strip Of Total Health: Manipulation Of Thinking Prior To Exercise Activity, Joseph A. Schenk

Honors College Theses

Research shows mental and physical health are interdependent. We sought to test various methods of external motivation to effect change in the physical performance and mental health of students enrolled in walking classes. We hypothesized that if there was a correlation between physical exercise and mental health and we could motivate individuals to exercise, then that motivation would in turn result in better mental health. Participants, 19 in the pilot and 320 in the main study, were randomly assigned into three groups to receive messages prior to conducting physical activity: those who received neutral messages about exercise, those who received …

Weight Status As A Mediator Of The Association Between Preschool Extraversion And Adolescent Restrained Eating, Maren Hankey, Katherine M. Kidwell, Jennifer Mize Nelson, Kimberly Andrews Espy, Timothy D. Nelson

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objectives To determine the longitudinal association between preschool extraversion and weight/dieting outcomes in adolescence.

Methods Children (N = 180) were recruited as part of a longitudinal study, with child temperament assessed in preschool (age 5.25 years), weight assessed in 2nd grade and early adolescence, and eating outcomes assessed in early adolescence (mean age = 12.02 years).

Results Preschoolers high in extraversion were significantly more likely to have higher body mass index z-scores (zBMI) and more restrained eating behaviors in adolescence. zBMI was found to mediate the relationship between extraversion and restrained eating, such that children with high levels …

The Impact Of Treatment Beliefs, Caregiver Participation, And Treatment Adherence On Treatment Outcome In Childhood Mental Illness, Alexandra Gallagher

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

One in five children in the United States is diagnosed with a mental health disorder; however, not all of them receive the appropriate services (NAMI, 2015). When services are accessible, lack of engagement in treatment can contribute to high dropout and to limited treatment success (Staudt, 2007). In literature on adults, one well studied factor that contributes to participation and engagement in treatment is an individual’s treatment beliefs and expectations. In the case of children, however, it is important to consider not only their treatment beliefs and expectations, but also the beliefs and expectations of their primary caregivers, because they …

Universal Depression Screening In Student Health Centers Across U.S. College Campuses: Prevalence And Characteristics Associated With Use, Ivie English

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Universal depression screening at university student health centers can increase identification and treatment of depression among college students, but the rates of screening in these settings were, until now, unknown (Shepardson & Funderburk, 2014). The U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF), American College Health Association, and other organizations have recommended that all primary care settings universally screen for depression, provided that necessary supports are in place (USPSTF, 2016; ACHA, 2010). Notably, others disagree (Joffres et al., 2013; Mitchell et al., 2009; Gilbody et al., 2005). An online survey was electronically mailed to 493 college health center directors and/or medical directors of …

Examining The Relationship Between Attachment, Peer Influence, And Parent Modeling With Student Fitness, Mae D. Adams Shirley

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

While college should be an ideal place for physical fitness behaviors to be supported through academic programming, access to exercise facilities and nutritional education, students are not engaging in the recommend daily physical fitness requirements (Gyurcsik, Johnson & Perrett, 2006). Studies examining the poor health behaviors of college students suggest there is a growing need for students to adopt lifelong fitness behaviors that are both sustainable and meet the recommended guidelines for health. Strong relationships have been found to positively influence exercise attitudes and behaviors (Feeny, 2000). The present study sought to examine a relationship between attachment style, parental modeling …

A Program Evaluation Of The Hope House, Andrea N. R. Hartman

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Research increasingly shows the widespread problem of homelessness in the United States. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hope House, a transitional housing program, in satisfying the needs of the homeless women residents they are serving and to identify areas that may need to be improved. Participants included 67 women the Hope House served and 6 staff who work at the Hope House. A mixed-methods design was employed to explore experiences and common themes related to how the Hope House women residents view the services the Hope House provides. Quantitatively, participants endorsed an overwhelmingly …

Examining Binge Eating Rates Between Caucasian-American And African-American Men, Elizabeth Anne Raky

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Eating disorders (ED) are maladaptive eating patterns that can have social, biological, health, and occupational consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore and compare binge eating episodes, locus of control, and body dissatisfaction between African-American men (n = 66; 53.70%) and Caucasian-American men (n = 57; 46.30%). There is a current gap in the existing literature regarding the study of men who BE and a sampling bias with regard to ethnic minorities. Based on Bandura's social learning theory model and Rotter's locus of control, the purpose of this research was to determine and compare the relationship between BE, …

The Effect Of Two Modes Of Aerobic Assessment On Fifth Grade Students' Self Efficacy, Debra Roth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining youth physical activity levels and lack of aerobic fitness have been well documented with a corresponding rise in obesity levels and health issues. Based on Bandura's social cognitive theory, healthy physical activity levels and aerobic fitness are strongly connected to positive physical activity self-efficacy beliefs. This study examined whether student physical activity self-efficacy, motivation, and effort were different for the FitnessGram-® (FG) 1-Mile Run when compared to the 15-minute Aerobic Assessment Based on Improvement (AABI). A concurrent mixed method quasi-experimental approach measured 5th grade students' physical activity self-efficacy beliefs through a pretest and posttest survey while aerobic assessment scores …

Behavioral Differences Between Urban And Rural American Crows (Corvus Brachyrhynchos), Carolina Montenegro

All Master's Theses

The consequences of transforming a natural environment into a human-modified environment (i.e., urbanization) on wildlife has long been a topic of concern, but has been hampered by a lack of empirical evidence focused on animal behavior. The current study was designed to explore behavioral differences between urban and rural American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) by installing baited perches in urban and rural settings in Kittitas County, Washington. In order to observe differences in urban and rural crow behavior to approach or avoidance-oriented stimuli, perches included custom cameras and audio equipment that alternated between periods of playing crow calls or …

The Effect Of Social Influence On Perception Of Tornado Warnings, Jason A. Parker

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Tornado activity annually results in many deaths throughout the U.S. As a result, the emergency alert system (including tornado warnings) has made considerable advancements throughout the past few decades. However, continued improvements could be made to warning content that aid to facilitate adaptive decision-making by increasing individuals’ motivation to respond. One method that could increase adaptive responses to warnings is by including the modality of descriptive social information within the warning. Research suggests that normative social influence acts as a powerful motivator for individuals to conform toward the witnessed or perceived behaviors of others. The current study examined the impact …

Eating Your Feelings: The Relationship Between Core Affect And Food Choices, Kana V. Rolett

Honors Theses

The psychology of eating behavior is increasingly important given that more than one- third of Americans are obese, with 74% of men considered overweight or obese (Overweight and Obesity Statistics, 2012). This study examines the relationship between core affect and healthy food choices. Though previous research has examined relationships between specific emotions and eating behavior, little is known about core affect or about these relationships in more naturalistic settings (outside the lab). To evaluate the role of core affect in healthy food choices, a field study was conducted in the University of Richmond (UR) dining hall to measure UR students’ …

Direct Care Provider Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Treatment Motivation Of Dual-Diagnosed Female Offenders, Cara Renee Tilbury

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dual-diagnosed female offenders (DDFOs) present direct care providers with complex psychosocial needs and challenges that result in a serious lack of motivation to attain, sustain, and continue treatment after release from prison. Unsuccessful treatment of DDFOs represents a significant public health and safety risk including continuing criminal acts, increased health care costs, accidents related to substance abuse, and poor reintegration. Through in-depth semistructured interviews with direct care providers, this phenomenological study's focus was on examining the motivational facilitators associated with treatment adherence, barriers to treatment adherence, and approaches for enhancing treatment motivation. Nine major themes emerged from this research, including …

Theory Of Planned Behavior Analysis And Organic Food Consumption Of American Consumers, Marie Elizabeth Donahue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The majority of organic foods consumed by Americans are sourced internationally, which has global-reaching implications on health, economics, and sustainability. Current research findings show that environmental devastation and negative health outcomes have resulted from unsustainable, nonorganic agricultural practices; including herbicides, pesticides, and overcultivation. However, there is a lack of quantitative research on factors that motivate Americans to consume organic food. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this quantitative study employed an online survey to examine the role of attitudes, subjective norms, descriptive norms, and perceived behavioral control on the intention and behavior of American consumers to consume organic foods. …

The Influence Of Patient-Practitioner Orientation On Practitioners’ Self-Perception Of Adhering To A Motivational Interviewing Style Of Communication In Medical Settings, Brian Ashenfelter

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

As of 2012, approximately 117 million adults have experienced at least one chronic illness (CDC; 2014). Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the probability of developing particular chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and specific forms of cancer (CDC; 2014). Individuals with chronic conditions may continue engaging in unhealthy lifestyle choices, despite having knowledge of the adverse ramifications. This includes nicotine use, dieting, and a sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity. There are various manners in which primary care practitioners can address lifestyle choices with their patients. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patientcentered approach, which is used to facilitate readiness …

Implementing The Academy Of Nutrition And Dietetics Benchmarks For Nutrition Education For Children: Child-Care Providers’ Perspectives, Dipti A. Dev, Virginia Carraway-Stage, Daniel J. Schober, Brent A. Mcbride, Car Mun Kok, Samantha Ramsay

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Background — National childhood obesity prevention policies recommend that childcare providers educate young children about nutrition to improve their nutrition knowledge and eating habits. Yet, the provision of nutrition education (NE) to children in child-care settings is limited.

Objective — Using the 2011 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics benchmarks for NE in child care as a guiding framework, researchers assessed child-care providers’ perspectives regarding delivery of NE through books, posters, mealtime conversations, handson learning, and sensory exploration of foods to young children (aged 2 to 5 years).

Design — Using a qualitative design (realist method), individual, semistructured interviews were conducted …

‘Why I Sent My Child Away’: Culturally Structured Motivations For Long-Distance Parenting, Deepa Srivastava, Maria Rosario De Guzman

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Although long-distance parenting is often depicted as a response to crisis (e.g., economic) or other stressful life events, it is sometimes undertaken in various culturally normative situations. This current study explores the motivations of South Asian Indian immigrant parents for sending their young children to India to live temporarily with their grandparents. This qualitative study involves in-depth interviews with first generation immigrant parents about their experiences and motivations for sending their children to India. Analysis of the data revealed five themes, namely, (a) contextual and daily challenges in caring for their children in the United States, (b) parents’ concern around …

He’S Just Content To Sit: A Qualitative Study Of Mothers’ Perceptions Of Infant Obesity And Physical Activity, Danae Dinkel, Kailey Snyder, Anastasia Kyvelidou, Victoria Molfese

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Background: Rates of obesity among children ages zero to five are rapidly increasing. Greater efforts are needed to promote healthy behaviors of young children. Mothers are especially important targets for promoting health as mothers’ views play a vital role in helping their children foster healthy habits from an early age. Research has found parents’ views of infants’ weight may influence their feeding practices; however, limited research has explored mothers’ view of infants’ weight in relation to the promotion of physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of mothers of normal weight infants and overweight …

Personal Health Behaviors And Health Counseling Practices Of Professional Psychologists And Trainees Across Setting And Population Types, Alexa Barnett

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the health behaviors and health counseling practices among psychologists and psychology trainees, focusing on a variety of settings of practice. Both psychologists and trainees self-reported practicing a greater number of health enhancing behaviors compared to equivalent U.S. adults. Results indicated a higher rate of health counseling activity when psychologists and trainees endorsed counseling on health behaviors as more important, and additionally when having more training in health counseling. The results of this study expand upon the growing literature related to health professionals’ personal health behaviors and focuses on population health needs for improved health behaviors. Future research …

Relationships Among Health Counseling Training Experiences And Time Engaged In Counseling, Percentage Of Patients Counseled, Practitioner Confidence, And Perceived Importance, Stephen Edward Lupe

Theses and Dissertations

In the current healthcare system, the need for collaborative care is higher than ever. With current reforms in reimbursement and healthcare policies, it is becoming increasingly necessary for psychologists and other practitioners to break ranks with their traditional roles and to participate as a part of a multidisciplinary team that works in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. This study aims to look at the health counseling behaviors of psychologists and graduate psychology students from an APA accredited clinical psychology graduate program. It aims to examine the relationships among health counseling training variables and time spent engaging in health counseling, highest …

The Lived Experience Of Intersectionality Among African American Women With Breast Cancer, Teri D. Armour Burton

Dissertations

African American women (AAW) continue to have breast cancer mortality rates that are 42% higher than White women (De Santis et al., 2015). Researchers suggest that an epistemological approach that integrates the biomedical and feminist models would be more effective in addressing health disparities. The concept of intersectionality, which grew out of the Black feminist movement, provides a lens in which to view the lived experiences of AAW with breast cancer. The intersectionality paradigm attempts to address the marginalized, oppressive, intersecting social existence of AAW through the examination of identity, social class, and power.

This qualitative study applied a descriptive …