Digital Commons Network^™

Three Studies On Family Meals: Examining The Predictors Of Family Meals And Its Impact On Adolescent Health, Samantha Sittig Goldfarb

All ETDs from UAB

This three-manuscript dissertation addresses gaps in the literature related to the predictors of family meals and its impact on adolescent health behavior. Sharing dinner as a family has been promoted by the media and many researchers as an ideal environment to enrich the parent-child bond and subsequently reduce adolescent risk behaviors such as substance use and delinquency. This dissertation centers on three topics, in particular: (1) the nature of the family meal literature given the multiple adolescent health behavior outcomes, study designs, and model types investigated and used by researchers, (2) the impact of family dinners on adolescent school problems, …

Psychographic Characteristics And Health Behaviors In Young Adults, Jose Alonso Cabriales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Non trivial smoking rates are observed among young adults and Hispanics, particularly as light and intermittent smoking is on the rise. Additionally, the assessment of other health behaviors including alcohol use, physical activity, and dietary practices seems warranted in young adults. The primary aim of this study was to identify clusters of individuals based on psychographics (e.g., lifestyle, preferences, personality characteristics), and their relation to tobacco use within a primarily Hispanic young adult border sample. Secondary aims were the assessment of group differences with respect to alcohol use, …

Self-Efficacy, Self-Determination, And Self-Regulation: The Role Of The Fitness Professional In Social Change Agency, Joshua M. Garrin

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Current epidemiological data reported by governing health authorities reveal the biopsychosocial complexity of health maintenance in the 21st century. As statistics reflect the insidious, worldwide impact of chronic disease and psychosocial stress, the medical domain continues to endorse multidisciplinary approaches to support the myriad systems that underpin health and well-being. With their scope of practice continually expanding to accommodate such needs, fitness professionals (FPs) have become a mainstay on the front lines of health behavior management in recent years. Beyond their role in facilitating physical health gains, contemporary FPs undertake the challenge of instilling health self-efficacy beliefs, reinforcing autonomy and …

Coaching Relationships With Walk-On Athletes, Cortland Blake Dubose

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover what communication practices coaches used on walk-on athletes and to determine whether the coach was successful or unsuccessful from the athletes' perspective. 15 present and former walk-on athletes who played for The University of Texas at El Paso football team served as the participants for the present study. In order to obtain data, the researcher interviewed the walk-on athletes using the phenomenological approach (Sparks, 1993) which utilizes open-ended questions to find out what kind of experience(s) the walk-on athletes shared in relationship to their coach. Results suggested that six major themes surfaced …

A Comparison Of Perceived Stress And Body Mass Index In Hispanic And Non-Hispanic College Students, Luisa Ileana Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Hispanic population in the United States is rapidly increasing and for this reason it is critical to better understand positive and negative factors that may impact the health of Hispanics. Past studies have focused mostly on physiological stress but fewer studies have examined possible differences in cognitively perceived stress. Past studies have suggested that stress reactivity may be lower among Hispanics; and that overall, females experience greater stress than males regardless of ethnicity. Other studies have shown that stress increases the likelihood of increased body mass index (BMI) and body fat accumulation. The purpose of this study was to …

Social Determinants Affecting The Mental Health Of Hiv Infected Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men Living On The U.S. - Mexican Border, Oscar Beltran

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The HIV/AIDS global pandemic is more than three decades old, and although the continual advancement of antiretroviral therapies have successfully decreased the mortality rates of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), little has been done to improve their mental health status and positive inclusion in society (eliminating discrimination and stigma). This is especially true with the Latino PLWHA living in the U.S.-Mexico border area.

This paper presents data from a qualitative study focused on exploring the mental health issues of a subsample of 40 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV/AIDS on the U.S.-Mexico Border. This subsample …

Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Women In The Border Region, Sujehy Arredondo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Hispanic/Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States and are disproportionately affected by alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV). Although a strong relationship between substance use and IPV has been documented in the literature, no studies have explored this relationship among Hispanic women in the El Paso, TX. STUDY AIMS: The aims of this study are to (1) determine the prevalence of alcohol use and intimate partner violence and (2) assess the association between IPV and alcohol use among Hispanic women living in the El Paso Border Region. METHODS: Project VIDA …

Correlates Of Body Image Of Undergraduate Females Attending Andrews University, Jennifer L. Dabros

Dissertations

Problem: Literature on the relationship between ethnic identity and body image has been scarce, focusing almost entirely on the Asian and/or Hispanic population. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence that ethnic identity has on the body image of undergraduate females.

Method: In the present study, I explored the extent to which body image is related to ethnicity in a diverse sample of 345 undergraduate females (43.5% Caucasian American, 17.4% African American, 9.3% West Indian/Caribbean, 14.8% Hispanic American, 12.5%, Asian American, & 2.6% Multi-ethnic) from a Seventh-day Adventist university. Possible correlates of body dissatisfaction such as ethnic …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Sustainability
• Milestones

The Identity Of The Heart Patient In The Context Of The Gift Economy: Heartnet And Media Framing, Lynsey Uridge

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This health communication research examines the identity levels of the heart patient on a therapeutic website HeartNET through an empirical investigation of site interactions as manifestations of a gift economy. The thesis also explores the media’s representation of heart health in both television and print.

This research utilised a longitudinal qualitative ethnographic and netnographic approach involving twenty-six participants who completed two in-depth interviews. The first one-on-one interview occurred during the early stages of the participants’ heart journey, explored their heart story and use of interactive technology for heart health support. The second interview occurred six to twelve months later, and …

Shades Of Grey: The Need For A Multi-Disciplinary Approach To Research Investigating Alcohol And Ageing, Celia Wilkinson, Julie Dare

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper calls for an increase in multi-disciplinary research on the issue of alcohol and ageing, to ensure public health interventions reflect the complex and diverse needs of older drinkers. Older people (65+ years) represent a unique segment of the population; compared to adolescents and younger people, they are more likely to have a range of co-morbid conditions and be taking prescribed medication, and are more physiologically vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. This suggests that from a public health perspective, alcohol use by older people is problematic. However, as with younger people, alcohol use is closely associated with socialisation …

Social Engagement, Setting And Alcohol Use Among A Sample Of Older Australians, Julie Dare, Celia Wilkinson, Steve Allsop, Stacey Waters, Sheila Mchale

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The harms associated with risky alcohol consumption have long been researched and recognised in the health field. However, little available research has focused on older people, or extended analysis of alcohol use by this segment of the population beyond a bio-medical perspective. With the rapid ageing of the global population, research that investigates alcohol use amongst older people from a social perspective is important. This article reports on research with a group of older women and men, to identify and explain factors that influence alcohol consumption. In-depth interviews were conducted in Perth, Western Australia with 20 men and 22 women …

Preventing Childhood Obesity: A Mixed Methods Study Into The Perceptions Of African Americans In A Rural Community, Dayna S. Alexander

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Preventing childhood obesity is a global priority due to adverse health risks and financial burdens. With childhood obesity rates stabilizing it is difficult to determine which factors alone (i.e., genetic, environmental, behavioral, or demographic) increase susceptibility to childhood obesity. Parents influence childhood obesity risk factors through their parenting styles and behaviors. Social behavioral theories and public health evidence demonstrate including parents in childhood obesity efforts could assist in reducing childhood obesity rates. The objective of this study was to assess perceptions of childhood obesity among African Americans with children enrolled in a rural elementary school in the Deep South. The …

Measuring Sense Of Presence And User Characteristics To Predict Effective Training In An Online Simulated Virtual Environment, Gianluca De Leo, Leigh A. Diggs, Elena Radici, Thomas W. Mastaglio

VMASC Publications

Introduction: Virtual-reality solutions have successfully been used to train distributed teams. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between user characteristics and sense of presence in an online virtual-reality environment where distributed teams are trained. A greater sense of presence has the potential to make training in the virtual environment more effective, leading to the formation of teams that perform better in a real environment. Being able to identify, before starting online training, those user characteristics that are predictors of a greater sense of presence can lead to the selection of trainees who would benefit most from the online simulated …

Dating Violence On Small Rural College Campuses: Are Administrator And Student Perceptions Similar?, Jean Allen Oldham

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

In recent years dating violence has become more and more prevalent on college campuses. Reports of the range of dating violence vary widely, with studies reporting from 20% to 85% of college women experiencing dating violence. However, almost all research has been conducted among urban and/or large colleges and universities, with virtually no attention to what is happening on small and/or rural college and university campuses.

When a possible 20% of college women have experienced dating violence on college campuses, there becomes a crucial need for administration at a college to have an accurate assessment of the college’s liability, and …

Libertarian Patriarchalism: Nudges, Procedural Roadblocks, And Reproductive Choice, Govind Persad

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler's proposal that social and legal institutions should steer individuals toward some options and away from others-a stance they dub "libertarian paternalism"-has provoked much high-level discussion in both academic and policy settings. Sunstein and Thaler believe that steering, or "nudging," individuals is easier to justify than the bans or mandates that traditional paternalism involves.

This Article considers the connection between libertarian paternalism and the regulation of reproductive choice. I first discuss the use of nudges to discourage women from exercising their right to choose an abortion, or from becoming or remaining pregnant. I then argue that …

African American Women's Perceptions Of Personal Risks For Heart Disease, Fecelia Laurice Holt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart disease has been the primary cause of death among both men and women in the United States. More African American women are developing and dying from heart disease than any other ethnic group; yet, they are less likely than European American women to know that they have the major risk factors for heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the overall knowledge and health beliefs about heart disease among African American women. Five health belief model constructs of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action were applied as the theoretical framework …

Inspiring Change: Exercise Self-Efficacy, Dispositional Optimism, And Perceived Stress In College Seniors, Joshua M. Garrin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prohealth competencies, positive outcome expectancies, and adaptive stress appraisals have profound implications for the real-world transition of college seniors—a population for which engagement in physical activity reflects a preeminent concern. Prior studies on exercise self-efficacy (ESE), dispositional optimism (DO), perceived stress (PS), and physical activity have yielded inconclusive evidence of the emergent psychosocial challenges encountered during the final year of the college experience. Using a triadic framework of self-efficacy, attribution, and cognitive appraisal theories, this crosssectional, quantitative study was conducted using a web survey to examine (a) the impact of physical activity level on ESE, DO, and PS; (b) the …

The Increasing Weight Of Regulation: Countries Combat The Global Obesity Epidemic, Allyn L. Taylor, Emily W. Parento, Laura A. Schmidt

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Obesity is a global epidemic, exacting an enormous human and economic toll. In the absence of a comprehensive global governance strategy, states have increasingly employed a wide array of legal strategies targeting the drivers of obesity. This article identifies recent global trends in obesity-related legislation and makes the normative case for an updated global governance strategy.

National governments have responded to the epidemic both by strengthening traditional interventions and by developing novel legislative strategies. This response consists of nine important trends: (1) strengthened and tailored tax measures; (2) broader use of counter-advertising and health campaigns; (3) expanded food labeling; (4) …

Internet Usage Among Older African American Adults In Seeking Health Care Information, Sharon D. Smith

Applied Research Projects

As the U.S. elderly population grows, advances and improvements in: healthcare, technology, nutrition and lifestyle has increased the life span of this population. In general, older adults have an increased need for health information. The Internet is a tool providing timely access to this information. This study explored use of the Internet by older African American adults in seeking health care information. Ninety-three African American adults participated in this study. Eleven survey questions gathered data on demographics, use of computers, access to the Internet and use of the Internet in seeking health care information. Twenty-nine percent (25 out of 86) …

Reducing Child Neglect In Linn County Iowa Utilizing The Public Health Model, Jennifer April Barnett

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The issues that arise from child neglect cause a myriad of negative health outcomes. The objective of this thesis is to examine the use of the public health model as a preventive method in decreasing the incidence of child neglect. This study was conducted utilizing a survey that obtained information from 333 parents in Linn County, Iowa. The survey was created to gather social norms related to parenting. The survey gathered data on personal parenting practices and opinions of parenting practices of others within the community. Univariate and bivariate analysis were conducted to report demographics, frequencies in responses and the …

African American Race And Culture And Patients' Perceptions Of Diabetes Health Education, Linda Marie Keenan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans diagnosed with diabetes are less likely to self-manage diabetes-specific modifiable risk factors. As a result, utilization of healthcare services occurs at a greater rate than other racial groups, and thereby incurs higher than expected healthcare costs. This ethnographic study explored the elements of diabetes educational material African Americans in a large city in the southern part of the United States found most useful to facilitate self-management of their disease. Bandura's self-efficacy theory provided the theoretical framework. Research questions addressed the preferred educational content, layout of material, and methods for educational delivery and caregiver support. A purposive sample of …

The Impact Of Vaccination Schedules On Infants' And Children's Physio-Psychological Health: A Qualitative Investigation, Dina A. Alsalih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many people may have become increasingly concerned about the risks associated with vaccines. At the same time, there is a lack of qualitative research on the impact of various vaccinations schedules on individuals' physio-psychological health. In addition, "mandatory" versus "nonmandatory, but recommended" vaccines are still under debate in some Western countries. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the beliefs, experiences, and perceptions of adolescents, parents, and health care providers regarding different vaccination schedules. The health belief model was used as the theoretical framework. The sample consisted of adolescents and parents from different vaccination …

A Comparison Of Water-Related Perceptions And Practices Among Residents Living In Colonias In West Texas And South New Mexico, Relying On Container Or Well Water, Lydia Berenice Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

In the U.S. - Mexico border region, colonia residents must cope with the lack of clean water supply and other basic sanitary services. Because of the lack of infrastructure, colonia residents rely on alternative water supplies including either private wells or hauled water stored in large above-ground containers. Little is known about residents' perceptions of their water supplies, their use practices, and how water-related use and perceptions might differ between colonia residents relying on well water or container water. The purpose of this study was to examine the water-related perceptions and practices of people living in colonias, and to …

The Talk Of Unwed Adolescent Fathers Of Mexican Origin: A Discourse Analysis, Jose Arturo Jaime

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the 1970s, changing family and marriage trends in the United States have led to a dramatic 41% increase in the rate of unwed parents also known as fragile families, i.e., those at high risk of living in poverty and/or disintegrating (McLanahan, Garfinkel, Mincy, & Donahue, 2013, p.3). By 2011, more than 20 million children (28%) lived in biological father-absent homes and one-fourth, or five million, of these children were Hispanic of any race (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Recent studies suggest a clear disparity in cognitive, behavioral and health outcomes for children who live with single or cohabiting parents when …

Barriers To Disaster Preparedness, Evacuation, And Emergency Response In The Colonias Of El Paso County, Anthony Mark Lechuga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The colonias serve as a unique challenge to healthcare professionals and government agencies in developing programs and policies to reach these underserved communities. Minorities, persons of low socioeconomic status, and disabled or medically dependent persons are disproportionally affected by disasters. Researchers have studied several health outcomes prevalent in residents of colonias; however, barriers to disaster preparedness, evacuation, and emergency response have rarely, if ever, been studied in this population. This cross-sectional study applied the constructs of the Health Belief Model to identify common factors, barriers, and attitudes related to disaster preparedness, evacuation, disaster perceptions, and risk communication. Participants of this …

Investigating The Interactions Between Cyanobacteria And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Caroline E. Ward

Honors Theses and Capstones

One well-known pathogen that has been the topic of many recent studies is Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which causes thousands of foodborne illnesses a year, mostly from the ingestion of raw or undercooked oysters. It has been shown cyanobacteria can act as a long-term reservoir of Vibrio cholerae, another pathogenic Vibrio, by encasing the cells within mucilaginous sheaths during which Vibrios enter a viable but non-culturable state. In this study we investigated the interaction of V. parahaemolyticus with cyanobacteria to determine whether cyanobacteria aid in the longevity and survival of V. parahaemolyticus. We found that non-pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus …

The Public Health Pbrn Program: A Summative Report, Center For Public Health Systems And Services Research

UKCPHSSR Research Briefs and Reports

This program seeks to expand the volume and quality of evidence on how best to organize, finance, and deliver public health services by: (1) helping to organize and develop practice-based research networks (PBRNs) comprised of public health agencies and skilled research institutions; (2) selecting grantees to receive funding and technical assistance for PBRN research projects; and (3) facilitating the successful development, implementation, and translation of research projects through PBRNs by providing technical assistance, fostering peer learning, and leading selected multi-network research activities.

Chinese Social Media Reaction To The Mers-Cov And Avian Influenza A (H7n9) Outbreaks, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung, King-Wa Fu, Yuchen Ying, Braydon Schaible, Yi Hao, Chung-Hong Chan, Zion Tsz-Ho Tse

Epidemiology: Faculty Publications (2002-2018)

Background: As internet and social media use have skyrocketed, epidemiologists have begun to use online data such as Google query data and Twitter trends to track the activity levels of influenza and other infectious diseases. In China, Weibo is an extremely popular microblogging site that is equivalent to Twitter. Capitalizing on the wealth of public opinion data contained in posts on Weibo, this study used Weibo as a measure of the Chinese people’s reactions to two different outbreaks: the 2012 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak, and the 2013 outbreak of human infection of avian influenza A(H7N9) in China. …

Online Social Networks To The Rescue: Fulfilling The Ten Essential Public Health Services, Melanie D. Mason, Maureen P. Bezold

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Budget cuts and shortages in the public health workforce have contributed to the reduction of public health services in 91% of state health departments (SHDs). To adjust for these changes, health departments must discover novel ways to deliver essential public health services to their constituents. Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of the content published on SHDs’ Twitter pages to determine if online social networks were used to fulfill the ten essential public health services. While 42 SHDs had a Twitter page, the volume and content of tweets varied. Although tweets were posted that related to all ten of the essential …