Digital Commons Network^™

Sport-Based Youth Development: An Examination Of The Best Practices Of Three Programs Designed For Adolescent Girls, Hayley De Carolis

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Sports-based youth development programs have used sports to teach essential life skills to participants. Programs designed for adolescent girls have an additional ambition of closing the gender gap that still exists in physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the best practices of sports-based youth development programs worldwide that are designed specifically for adolescent females. The researcher compared program elements, lesson elements, and evaluation methods of each program with recommendations from the literature. The main instruments used for these comparisons were the published curricula of each organization. Results showed minimal variance in program elements but substantial …

Outdoor Adventure Therapy To Increase Physical Activity In Young Adult Cancer Survivors, Elizabeth C. Gill, Suzanne Phelan, Marni Goldenberg, Heather Starnes

Master's Theses

Physical activity (PA) has numerous benefits for cancer survivors, but limited research exists on PA interventions in young adult cancer survivors. Outdoor adventure therapy is a potential method of increasing PA in this demographic. The primary purpose of this non-randomized parallel group study was to determine whether the outdoor adventure camp experience (vs. wait list control) would increase participants’ PA levels immediately following the 7-day camp, as well as three months later. Secondary aims examined correlates of greater PA, including pre-post camp changes in sedentary behavior, exercise self-efficacy, environmental change self-efficacy, perceived barriers to exercise, physical activity enjoyment, and physical …

University Students’ Motives To Exercise According To The Self-Determination Theory, Kashef Zayed, Irene Frieze

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The present study investigated exercise behavior and its motives among Sultan Qaboos University students. Self-determination theory was used to investigate the relationship between these motives and the actual exercise behavior. The study sample consisted of 263 students from the Faculty of Education at Sultan Qaboos University (129 male and 134 female). The participants completed two questionnaires: an exercise behavior questionnaire which was developed specifically for this study; and an Arabic version of the Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2), which was developed by Markland and Ingledew. Descriptive statistics showed that 20% of male students and 77% of female students didn’t participate at …

Determinan Stres Pada Pegawai Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia, Besral Besral, Winne Widiantini

Kesmas

Kejadian stres pada pelbagai kelompok di Indonesia cukup tinggi dan belum banyak diketahui determinannya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui determinan stres pada pegawai Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia (Kemenkes RI). Penelitian potong lintang ini dilakukan pada tahun 2013 terhadap 230 pegawai sekretariat jenderal yang dipilih secara acak. Analisis statistik menggunakan regresi logistik ganda. Responden dikatakan stres jika memiliki skor 28 atau lebih dengan menggunakan 17 pertanyaan terkait personal stress inventory. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan prevalensi stres sebesar 79% dan determinan stres adalah obesitas, usia, jabatan, suku, pendidikan, dan aktivitas fisik. Risiko stres lebih tinggi pada pegawai yang obesitas (ORadj = 1,9), pegawai …

Association Of Physical Activity To The Risk Of Obesity In Adults With Physical Disabilities, Masaru Teramoto, Timothy J. Bungum, Gerald E. Landwer, Dale R. Wagner

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Adults with physical disabilities have an increased risk of obesity. Physical activity is essential to maintaining healthy weight; meanwhile, it is not fully understood how much physical activity is needed in order to decrease the risk of obesity for this population. This paper discusses the association of physical activity to the risk of obesity in adults with physical disabilities. Body Mass Index (BMI) and percent Body Fat (%BF; measure of body composition) are commonly used for determining the prevalence of obesity. Physical activity can help to achieve and maintain optimal BMI and %BF regardless of the presence of physical disabilities. …

Needs Assessment Of School And Community Physical Activity Opportunities In Rural West Virginia: The Mcdowell Choices Planning Effort, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson, Eloise Elliott, Sean Bulger, Emily Jones, Andrea R. Taliaferro, William Neal

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

McDowell CHOICES (Coordinated Health Opportunities Involving Communities, Environments, and Schools) Project is a county wide endeavor aimed at increasing opportunities for physical activity (PA) in McDowell County, West Virginia (WV). A comprehensive needs-assessment laid the foundation of the project.

Methods

During the 6 month needs assessment, multiple sources of data were collected in two Town Hall Meetings (n = 80); a student online PA interest survey (n = 465); a PA and nutrition survey among 5th (10–11 years) and 8th graders (13–14 years) with questions adapted from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (n = 442, response rate …

Examination Of Accelerometer Reactivity Among Children, Adolescents, And Adults: Implications For Influencing Physical Activity Estimates, Proportion Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines, And Associations With Health Outcomes, Robert Eugene Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The health benefits of regular Physical activity (PA) have been rigorously documented and continue to be investigated from the standpoint of prevention, as well as, treatment of a multitude of adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, obesity, sleep disorders, depressive symptomatology and countless others. In order to minimize subjectivity and more accurately measure PA behavior, researchers often use accelerometers. Although this method is considered valid and reliable a methodological issue that has rarely been addressed is the potential “reactivity” effect of measuring PA with an objective measure, such as accelerometry. Reactivity is a behavior change by the participant due to …

Physical Activity And Sports Team Participation As Predictors Of Suicidal Behavior In High School Students, Jacquelyn E. O'Connor

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Youth suicidal behavior is a significant and worldwide public health problem. Although a variety of demographic variables and risk factors have been found to be associated with youth suicidal behavior, research on wellness activities that may be inversely associated with youth suicidal behavior is lacking. Using the Center for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) data from 2011, this study examined the relationship between physical activity, sports participation, and suicidal behavior in high school students. Results indicated that suicidality did vary by level of physical activity in the sample used in the study (t = 4.679, p = …

Project Spraoi: A Strategy To Improve Nutrition And Increase Physical Activity In Primary School Children, Lisa Delaney

Masters

Introduction: Paediatric obesity has become a global epidemic with many countries developing strategies to help tackle its prevalence. School based physical activity (PA) and nutrition interventions have proven to play a promising role in tackling childhood obesity.

Background: Project Spraoi is an Irish primary school based intervention. The intervention was delivered to an intervention school to help enhance PA and nutritional behaviour amongst pupils. The intervention school was assigned an ‘Energizer’; a trained PA and nutrition change agent who worked with the school to achieve the objectives. For evaluation purposes a control school was recruited.

Methodology: Pupils from the intervention …

Patient And Provider Perceptions Of Weight Gain, Physical Activity, And Nutrition In Pregnancy, Kara M. Whitaker

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The high percentage of women who enter pregnancy overweight or obese and gain excessive weight during pregnancy is a growing public health problem. Health care providers are recommended to counsel women on weight gain, physical activity (PA), and nutrition during pregnancy. However, little is known about patient or provider perceptions of these topics. Purpose: Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study examined women’s and health care providers’ perceptions of weight gain, PA, and nutrition in pregnancy. This study also examined the role of the health care provider in optimizing pregnancy weight gain. Methods: Pregnant women between …

The Potential Role Of Exercise In Neuro-Oncology, Prue Cormie, A.K. Nowak, Suzanne K. Chambers, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Patients with brain and other central nervous system cancers experience debilitating physical, cognitive, and emotional effects, which significantly compromise quality of life. Few efficacious pharmacological strategies or supportive care interventions exist to ameliorate these sequelae and patients report high levels of unmet needs in these areas. There is strong theoretical rationale to suggest exercise may be an effective intervention to aid in the management of neuro-oncological disorders. Clinical research has established the efficacy of appropriate exercise in counteracting physical impairments such as fatigue and functional decline, cognitive impairment, as well as psychological effects including depression and anxiety. While there is …

Bone Strength, Load Tolerance And Injury Risk In Elite Australian Football, Nicolas H. Hart

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

A paucity of research exists to characterise and investigate lower-body musculoskeletal characteristics and morphological adaptations in elite Australian Footballers with the aim to improve screening, monitoring and load management practices. Given the high prevalence of lower-body skeletal injuries in Australian Football; and the ability to measure, modify and train muscle and bone strength and their derivatives; this project served to extend scientific understanding of musculoskeletal morphology and bone strength characteristics in elite level field-based team sport athletes through a series of research studies using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT). In particular, studies one and two …

The Effect Of Family And Friend Support On Physical Activity Through Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study, Joanna L. Morrissey, Kathleen F. Janz, Elena M. Letuchy, Shelby L. Francis, Steven M. Levy

Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: This study examined if family and friend support predicted adolescent physical activity (PA) across a five-year time span.

Methods: The Iowa Bone Development Study collected objective measures of physical activity and self-report of physical activity psychosocial factors at ages 13 (n = 306), 15 (n = 356), and 17 yr (n = 317). Total moderate and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) and MVPA after 3 pm on weekdays (MVPA-PM Weekday) were measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Family Support for PA and Friend Support for PA scales were measured using the Choices questionnaire. Models were adjusted for SES (mother’s education) and somatic maturity …

The Predictors Of Obesity In Young Adults, Dominic Richard Tarinelli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is becoming an increasing health concern for young adults. There have been numerous studies on the potential predictors of obesity. However, few studies have researched the predictors of obesity in young adults. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative cross sectional study investigated the potential predictors of obesity in young adults. The 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to gather data on the potential predictors of obesity, including physical activity, health care coverage, excessive alcohol consumption, and demographic characteristics on 1,511 young adults, aged 18-34 years, who were living in New York State. Data were analyzed …

Effects Of Academic And Activity Class Participation On Cognition In Young Adults, Emily N. Simpson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Effect Of A Lifetime Health And Fitness Class On College Students, Tiffany Tara Young Klockziem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity and obesity, both of which are modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, increase substantially during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. CVD is the 5th leading cause of death in people ages 18 to 29. This disease has enormous social and financial repercussions; however, many college age students do not see chronic disease as a personal threat. Few researchers have examined chronic disease risk in young adults or used a consistent, objective measurement of physical activity. A pre-post, quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the association between a health and fitness class, physical education 215 (PHED 215) …

Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Environmental And Policy Assessment – Measurement Issues And Implications, Rahma Jamea Yousef Ajja

Theses and Dissertations

Current research has suggested that supportive healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) policy and practice environments play a significant role in shaping the physical activity levels and eating habits of youth. Subsequently, a wide array of audit tools assessing policy and practice environment characteristics across settings that care for youth were developed. However, the extent that available audit tools accurately reflect the policy environment characteristics of the settings that care for the youth population remains unknown. Therefore, this dissertation encompasses four studies. The purpose of the first study was to examine the measurement properties of audit tools currently in use …

A Multi-Method Analysis Of Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, And Executive Functions Among Urban Minority Girls, Amanda K. Ward

Dissertations

Recent evidence suggests that the summer months represent an especially vulnerable time of year for weight gain, inactivity, and cognitive decline, particularly among adolescent girls. To explore these issues, this study examined the relations between changes in physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and executive functions (EFs) among a sample of sixty-eight, 10-to 14-year-old girls participating in a four-week, community-based summer camp. Objectively measured PA data (i.e., accelerometer), BMI measurements, and EF neuropsychological assessments were conducted prior to the first week of camp and during the last week of camp. Results revealed that girls increased in all measurements of …

The Relationship Between Personality Type And Exercise Motivation, Kayla Michelle Bowman

Online Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide further understanding of the complex nature of physical activity motivation. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to analyze personality type and internal/external autonomous regulation. Method: Subjects were college students age 18 years and older who attended the Fitness Five Project. Data collected from the Ten-Item Personality Inventory and the RM 4-FM: Motivation for Physical Activity Questionnaire were analyzed using a bivariate correlation. Results: Statistical analyses revealed the personality traits extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability were positively associated with intrinsic motivation. Results showed the personality trait openness to experience was …

The Lived Experiences Of Sandwich Generation Women And Their Health Behaviours, Allison Steiner

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Sandwich generation caregivers simultaneously provide care to their aging parents/in-laws and at least one child under 18 years living in the home (Sinha, 2013). In 2012, 2.23 million Canadians were considered sandwiched caregivers. This group is expected to grow as individuals are delaying marriage, resulting in delayed childrearing (Robinson, Barbee, Martin, Singer, Yegidis, 2003). Further, the government has been advocating for caregiving to move from formal to informal caregiving. Although this would help the government immensely, this creates challenges for middle-aged adults occupying multiple roles. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of sandwich generation women …

Investigating The Value Of Workplace-Endorsed Social Media For Improving Deskbound Employee Physical Activity Program Engagement And Reducing Sedentary Behaviour Health Risks, Darren Leigh Webb

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Sedentary (prolonged sitting) behaviour is now recognised as an independent health risk factor contributing to a number of preventable lifestyle related diseases (Katzmarzyk, Church, Craig, & Bouchard, 2009). The widespread integration of computers into the office environment has seen an increase in employee work time participating in technology facilitated desk-based tasks requiring them to remain physically inactive (Philipson & Posner, 2003). According to recent research, workplace sedentary behavioural practices have objectively been measured as accounting for 81.8% of employee time, with a further 15.3% categorised as light activity within office based populations (Parry & Straker, 2013). With a recorded national …

An Assessment Of A 13-Week Teaching Gardens Intervention On Healthy Behavior Outcomes In 4th And 5th Grade Students At Crestwood Elementary School In Las Vegas, Nevada, Miranda Corgiat

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nearly 13 million children and adolescents are considered to be obese in the United States, with children enrolled in Clark County School District showing elevated overweight and obese weight statuses compared to national averages. Carrying an excessive amount of weight can lead children to experience a multitude of complications with their physical and mental health as well as increase their risk of developing various chronic diseases. The American Heart Association's Las Vegas Teaching Gardens program implemented a school-based garden pilot study to target environmental causes of obesity in 4th and 5th grade students at Crestwood Elementary School. The objective of …

The Influence Of Observational Learning On Self-Reported Physical Activity, Self-Efficacy For Physical Activity, And Health-Related Fitness Knowledge For Physical Activity, Charles Gregory Bullock

Dissertations

The obesity epidemic has caused tremendous burden to our economy and healthcare system. Physical activity is one method that can reduce the obesity rate. However, physical activity declines in high school and does not recover. The likelihood of adolescents continuing their involvement in physical activity depends on how they navigate the highs and lows of their physical activity experiences (Feltz & Magyar, 2006). The purpose of this study is to look at the role of observational learning in physical activity and behaviors in an adolescent population. Specifically, this research examines the influence of observational learning on self-reported physical activity, self-efficacy …

Application Of The Transtheoretical Model: Assessing Exercise Behavior In African Americans In A Church-Based Setting, Robin Marie White

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sedentary behavior rates are higher among African-American men and women than in other American races and ethnicities, placing them at greater risk for chronic illness. Routine physical activity reduces the risk of chronic health problems such as: (a) overweight and obesity, (b) type 2 diabetes, (c) hypertension, (d) coronary artery disease, (e) stroke, (f) congestive heart failure, and (g) cancers. Assessment of African-Americans' exercise attitudes in a church-based setting may provide information with which to develop effective interventions to improve physical activity. This descriptive, cross-sectional study used components of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) to assess whether any associations exist between …

A Randomized Controlled Trial To Study The Effects Of Breakfast On Energy Intake, Physical Activity, And Body Fat In Women, Gabrielle Marie Lecheminant

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of eating breakfast on energy intake, physical activity, body weight, and body fat in women who were nonhabitual breakfast eaters over a one-month period. METHODS: We tested 49 premenopausal, nonhabitual breakfast-eating women to compare the effects of eating breakfast versus not eating breakfast. Each participant was randomized to one of two conditions: breakfast or no breakfast. Breakfast eaters were required to eat within an hour and a half of awakening and had to be finished eating their breakfast meal by 8:30 A.M. Non-breakfast eaters were defined as not consuming …

An Examination Of Factors That Influence Health Behaviors Among Low Income African American Women With Type 2 Diabetes In Memphis, Tn: A Qualitative Inquiry Using Mixed Methods, Adole Muruako

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are increasing health concerns in the United States, particularly among women and minorities. Generally, research has highlighted the health disparities that exist among African American women, especially as these disparities relate to obesity and type 2 diabetes. In Memphis, TN, the ZIP codes of 38106 and 38109 have the highest rates of diabetes hospitalizations in the city. Further, African American women in Memphis, TN have been identified as being most vulnerable to experiencing a potentially avoidable hospitalization due to chronic disease. The purpose of study was to identify factors that may impact African American overweight/obese …

Prevalensi Sindrom Metabolik Pada Pekerja Perusahaan, Zahtamal Zahtamal, Yayi Suryo Prabandari, Lientje Setyawati

Kesmas

Sindrom metabolik adalah masalah kesehatan yang prevalensinya cenderung meningkat pada pekerja. Penelitian ini bertujuan memaparkan prevalensi kasus sindrom metabolik yang terjadi pada pekerja perusahaan. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada tahun 2014 pada dua perusahaan di Provinsi Riau dengan rancangan potong lintang. Sumber data adalah rekam medis pekerja yang melakukan medical check up periode Oktober 2013 hingga Februari 2014. Populasi adalah pekerja yang menderita sindrom metabolik sebanyak 131 orang. Sampel penelitian dipilih dengan cara total sampling yakni 131 orang. Instrumen adalah kuesioner, international physical activity questionnaire, tabel 24 hours food recall, dan tabel bantu pencatatan komponen sindrom metabolik. Pengelolaan data dilakukan secara …

Parental Perception Of Healty Eating And Physical Activity: Results From A Preliminary Photovoice Study, Nicole Mareno

Faculty Articles

The aim of this study was to explore parental perception of assets and barriers of healthy eating and physical activity among a group of diverse, economically disadvantaged mothers in southeastern USA.

Home And Workplace Built Environment Supports For Physical Activity, Deepti Adlakha, J. Aaron Hipp, Christine M. Marx, Yang Lin, Rachel Tabak, Elizabeth A. Dodson, Ross C. Brownson

Brown School Faculty Publications

Background: Physical inactivity has been associated with obesity and related chronic diseases. Understanding built environment (BE) influences on specific domains of physical activity (PA) around homes and workplaces is important for public health efforts and interventions to increase population PA. Purpose: To examine the association of home and workplace BE features with PA occurring across specific life domains (work, leisure, and travel). Methods: Between 2012 and 2013, telephone interviews were conducted with participants in four Missouri metropolitan areas. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics, home and workplace supports for PA, and dietary behaviors. Data analysis was conducted in 2013; logistic regression was …

Indares.Com As An Instrument For Research And Educational Support, Michal Vorlicek, Lukas Rubin, Pavel Fical, Filip Kren, Josef Mitas, Jiri Stelzer

Georgia Educational Research Association Conference

Contemporary education and research uses information and communication technologies on a large scale. The Indares (International Database for Research and Educational Support) system (http://www.indares.com) is a purposefully developed on-line server aimed at recording, analysing and comparing physical activity of the system users.

The purpose of this internet-based project is to support education and research in the area of physical activity. Other aims are to increase the awareness of the system users about the issue of physical activity and to provide means to improve their lifestyle. The system is easily accessible to all users and is provided free of …