Health and Physical Education Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of A "Patient Discharge Information" Booklet In Patient Education Programs In Saudi Arabia, Amani Mohammed Al Rebeh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of the Patient Discharge Information (PDI) booklet on the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of participants who were cesarean patients in local hospitals in Saudi Arabia. This study investigated the following two research questions: (1) does the participant have information, resources, and understand basic personal health information regarding her health conditions including diagnosis, treatment, self-care management, medication instructions, normal expected symptoms, dangerous signs and what to do, as well as lifestyle changes?; and (2) how does patient discharge information provided by the hospital make a difference in participants’ knowledge, attitude, and …

Perceived Effects Of Family Status Changes On Male Collegiate Outdoor Recreation Coordinators, Andrew K. Martin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A career as a collegiate outdoor recreation professional is both a challenging and rewarding occupation. It is a position that consists of inconsistent hours as well as extended periods away from home. This qualitative study identified how changes in family status affect an individual’s perception of the position as a collegiate outdoor recreation coordinator. More specifically, the perceived benefits or challenges that occur throughout the family status changes, and what effect, if any, these perceptions had on the individual’s work performance, job satisfaction and career longevity.

Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight individuals who were employed …

Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Of Undergraduate Learning In A Multidimensional Wellness Course, Kristi Leonard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Introductory wellness courses are common among American institutions of higher education. These courses are typically of a unidimensional approach, focusing on just the physical component of wellness. Some wellness educators would argue that a multidimensional approach is a richer and more valuable learning experience. Furthermore, technology has played a larger role in wellness education, as it is being created, developed, and implemented into the field. Therefore, college wellness educators and curriculum designers need to determine the implications for both online and face-to-face instructional methods in their execution of teaching the holistic concept of wellness to their students.

The purpose of …

The Difference Connection Makes : Roles The Middle School Teacher Plays In Changing Adolescent Girls’ Lives, Denise M. Pralle

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Within the classroom setting, 'fitting in' can be a very difficult matter for both students as well as teachers. A sense of community and respect for others, which prevails in the elementary grades, seems more subdued among middle-schoolers as competition and the struggle for independence becomes part of the hidden curriculum. Adolescent girls especially struggle to imitate what developmental psychologists suggest is necessary at this age: independence and disconnection from others. However, disconnection at this stage of development may partially account for the competition, disrespect of others, and loss of morality in and out of the classroom. Connected classroom teachers …

A Study Of Cultural Orientation And Attitudes And Meaning Toward Play: A Cross Cultural Investigation Among Emerging Adulthood In The People Republic Of China, Hong Kong, And United States, Winnie Wing-Sze Wong

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine play among emerging adults in the People Republic of China, Hong Kong, and the United States. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the respondents' perceptions of play and their personal cultural orientation. The study also explored the relationship between respondents' perceptions of play's importance and their cultural orientation. Respondents' frequency of play was also studied to determine whether there were relationships between frequency of play, countries of origin, and personal cultural orientation. Finally, the study considered the interactive effects among perceptions of play, play's importance, personal …

The Value Of Leisure In Coping With Natural Disaster: A Case Study In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Katrina, Germaine Jackson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have witnessed more than their share of cataclysmic events, both natural and human-made. Most notable is Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 storm that ravaged the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi. The infamous history of Hurricane Katrina's devastation stems from a couple of factors. First, the death toll reached what, for Americans, was a shockingly high figure of 1,577 people. Second, and more socially and politically relevant, was the federal government's mismanagement of the crisis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of leisure services available to adolescents following the traumatic …

The Efficacy Of An Intuitive Eating Education Program In A School Nutrition Education Curriculum, Nicole Healy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Childhood and adolescent obesity and eating disorders are increasing at an alarming rate in the United States and they occur at younger ages than previously observed. To combat childhood and adolescent obesity, many school nutrition education programs offer obesity prevention programs. Some of these programs consist of restrictive eating plans for obesity prevention, yet their efficacy has been questioned because an unintended consequence is that they may actually increase eating disorder behaviors. An alternative to programs that focus on restrictive eating is the Intuitive eating approach, which is based on the premise that an adherence to physiological cues in determining …

A Comparison Of Face-To-Face And Online Instructional Delivery Methods In Large-Group Settings In A University Undergraduate Wellness Course, Lea Ann Shaddox

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Utilization of online delivery of the lecture component in an undergraduate wellness course is unique and undocumented in research. Wellness courses are traditionally taught with face-to-face lectures plus an activity component. This discipline is distinctive in terms of its activity components that are not conducted online.

The purpose of this study was to investigate two large group face-to-face and online courses to determine if the students enrolled were demographically equivalent and if there were differences in academic achievement in terms of final course grades and between subgroups of students. For the fall 2006 and spring 2007 semesters, 1,814 students were …

Mental Toughness In High School Wrestlers Before And After A Competitive Wrestling Season, Mandi Jo Drees

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Very little research has examined mental toughness abilities of high school sport participants. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to assess the mental toughness abilities of high school wrestlers as well as determine if an entire competitive season results in a change in mental toughness in wrestlers. A total of 63 high school male wrestlers participated in this study. They were asked to complete the MeBTough Questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire at the beginning of the regular competitive wrestling season and again at the end of the competitive wrestling season. Data was collected over a 3 month period at …

Psychosocial Correlates Of Physical Activity Among School Aged Children, Elizabeth Nicklay

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine psychosocial correlates that best predict physical activity behaviors of Iowa public school children, grades 4-12. Subproblems of the study included determining psychosocial predictors of physical activity specific to gender and grade level differences. The Physical Activity Questionnaire-Children (PAQ-C) and Physical Activity Questionnaire-Adolescents (PAQ-A) were used to measure the physical activity behaviors and The Children's Physical Activity Scale (CPAC) was used to measure the psychological factors of physical activity of the 5,408 participants. Results show that males, at all ages, reported greater levels of physical activity than their female classmates. There was also …

Parental Influences On Children’S Physical Activity, Molly Eshelman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The general purpose of this study was to investigate the role of parental influence on children's physical activity (PA) behaviors. The specific purposes were to (1) determine the relationship between parental attitudes and their children's PA, (2) determine if parental exercise habits are related to their children's PA participation, (3) determine if parental knowledge of physical activity recommendations is related to their children's PA participation, ( 4) examine the nature of parenting practices on their children's PA participation, and (5) investigate the mediating effect of socio-economic status on the influence parents have on their children's PA participation. Questionnaires were obtained …

The Relationship Between Academic Achievement And Physical Fitness In Adolescents, George William Centeio

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In today's schools, there is a major emphasis placed on academic proficiency particularly in the areas of reading, math, and science. Society is also seeing increases in the number of people who are obese and inactive. Some believe that increasing physical activity and/or improving physical fitness will result in better academic achievement of students in school. This study examined the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness in adolescents. The participants included 200 ( 118 male, 82 female), high school students, at a rural high school located in the Midwestern region of the United States. Student's third trimester, end of …

Does Motor Skill Level Affect Physical Activity-Related Self-Efficacy And Enjoyment In Third Grade Students?, Rachel Kautzky-Braley

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Childhood obesity has nearly tripled in the past three decades. Because of these alarming numbers, government health officials are highly concerned with causes of this trend. It has been shown that poor diet, certain behaviors such as television viewing, and a lack of physical activity are some of the causes of this increase. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and enjoyment and a child's motor skill level. The study participants included 80 third grade students (43 girls and 37 boys). The sample was split into an intervention group (n=43) and a control group (n=37). …

The Heart Rate Response Of 5th Grade Students To Various Physical Education Activities, Mark Jungmann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In an effort to make future curricular choices, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of participation in various activities on 5th grade students' heart rates. It was hypothesized that different activities would influence students' mean heart rates and time in target heart rate zone (THRZ) differently. Heart rate measurements were obtained through the use of Polar E600 heart rate monitors (HRM) during the 2006-2007 school year at Grundy Center, Iowa Elementary School. The data from the heart rate monitors were downloaded into Polar PE Manager Software to gather necessary information for this study. Subjects of …

A Study Of The Level Of Interest Among Adolescents In Physical Education, Brooke N. Davitt

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There has been an incredible amount attention given to the issue of childhood obesity in America today because the prevalence and incidence rates have grown at alarming rates. When addressing this problem, there are multiple things to consider, (a) diet, (b) exercise, (c) support systems, (d) healthy behavior modification, and ( e) interest toward physical activity. This last item mentioned is of significance for the current study. In this study, adolescent children, ages 11 to 18, were asked to evaluate their interest in physical activity, specifically badminton, volleyball, and HALS Pals, during their physical education class. These children were also …

Relationships Among Physical Activity Knowledge, Perceived Importance Of Physical Activity, And Physical Activity Behaviors Of College Students, Trent W. Tangen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of physical activity guidelines, the perceived importance of physical activity, and the actual physical activity behaviors among college students. Comparisons according to gender, class standing, academic major, and completion of a required personal wellness course were also made. In addition, a secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between knowledge of physical activity guidelines, perceived importance of physical activity, and actual physical activity behavior. A questionnaire developed by Morrow, Jackson, Bazzarre, Milne, and Blair (1999) was used to determine if participants knew the appropriate frequency, intensity, …

The Effects Of An Educational Intervention Lesson On Fourth And Fifth Grade Students’ Ability To Sustain Effort (Pace) During A Modified 1-Mile Run Test, Rick Schupbach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an educational intervention lesson on fourth and fifth grade students' ability to sustain effort (pace) in an identified target heart rate zone during a modified I -mile run test. It was hypothesized that after participating in the intervention, students would be able to sustain effort in their target heart rate zone more consistently than before receiving the educational program. Computerized heart rate measures were obtained for fourth and fifth grade students by the use of Polar E600 watches during pretest and posttest modified 1 -mile runs. The data …

A Study Of Elementary Instructors' Teaching Of Forearm Passing As A Part Of Volleyball Instruction, Tsui-Feng Tiffany Yeh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the teaching of forearm passing as a key component of volleyball game performance. More specifically, this study investigated teachers' content knowledge and teaching knowledge (pedagogical content knowledge) related to forearm passing as described by the teachers and manifested in teaching practices in the teaching environment.

Six elementary physical education instructors participated in this study. Several methods were used for gathering different information about forearm passing research including systematic observation, videotaping, field notes, and formal and informal interviews.

The findings revealed that (a) teachers' teaching philosophy significantly influenced their teaching and designing volleyball …

Relationship Between Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers’ Value Orientation In Curriculum Decisions And Attitudes Towards Teaching Students With Disabilities, Wing Yin Tai

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-service teachers' value orientation in making curriculum decisions and their attitudes toward teaching students with disabilities. Results of this study will provide suggestions for current teacher education curricula and help pre-service teachers meet the demands in inclusive settings. Participants in this study included 49 volunteer junior and senior students at the University of Northern Iowa majoring in Physical Education (Teaching). Data collection in this study was achieved through a questionnaire that included the Value Orientation Inventory (VOi-SF) and the Physical Educators' Attitudes toward Individuals with Disabilities III (PEATID-III). The …

Correlates Of Physical Activity Among Adolescent Males And Females, Rhonda Baumann

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical fitness measures, selected psychosocial correlates of physical activity, and self-reported physical activity among seventh and eighth-grade students in rural Iowa. Computerized physical fitness measures were obtained by the HealthFirst Trifit™ computer system, attitudes about physical activity were measured by the Correlates of Physical Activity in Children (CP AC) questionnaire, and physical activity levels were measured by the Physical Activity Questionnaire-Adolescents (PAQ-A). All subjects were enrolled at Tilford Middle School in Vinton, Iowa. Data were collected on 253 seventh and eighth grade students enrolled at Tilford Middle School …

Iowa Physical Educators’ Access To Usage Of, And Perceived Importance Of Technology In The Field Of Physical Education, Jennifer Hadler

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Iowa physical education teachers regarding the importance of various technologies available for use in a physical education classroom. A second purpose was to determine the access to and usage of selected pieces of technology. Data were compared based on years of teaching experience and gender. A questionnaire was sent to Iowa physical educators to determine access and use of 20 different pieces of technology. Teachers also ranked the importance of each technology as "Important," "Somewhat Important," or "Not Important." Results of the study indicated the most accessible technologies …

Relationship Of Perceived Physical Competence, Exercise Intensity, And Body Mass Index To Enjoyment Of Elementary Students In Physical Education, Wei Mei Sin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The sedentary lifestyles of some children have led to negative consequences for present and long-term health. Schools have the potential to improve the health of youth by providing positive enjoyable learning environments that promote physical activity outside school. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of perceived physical competence, exercise intensity, and body mass index to enjoyment in physical education among elementary students. The sample consisted of 56 fourth and fifth grade students enrolled at Grundy Center Elementary School in Iowa. A self-report questionnaire was used to ascertain information regarding children's enjoyment during participation in physical education …

Objectified Body Consciousness And Eating Attitudes And Behaviors Of College Females And Males, Danielle Jo Eastman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigated the relationship between objectified body consciousness (OBC) and eating attitudes and behaviors of both female and male students at a Midwestern university. Based on a survey completed by 369 females and 181 males, relationships between OBC as measured by the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS; McKinley, 1995) and eating attitudes and behaviors as measured by the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garner, Olmstead, Bohr, & Garfinkle, 1982) were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlations. The OBCS consists of three subscales representing body surveillance, body shame, and control beliefs. A higher score on the EA T-26 indicates an increased likelihood …

The Influence Of Significant Others On High School Students’ Expectancies, Task Value, And Motivation In Physical Education, Skip M. Williams

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In physical education, students perform physical activities among their peers and teachers. Some students are highly skilled, while others are developing their skill, and some just do not participate at all. It has been questioned why one child would approach a new opportunity with excitement and enthusiasm and another child (with the same opportunity) would have anxiety and self-doubt. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of significant others on high school students' expectancies for success, task value, and motivation in physical education class. Specifically, this study examined perceived influence of significant others' beliefs on students': expectancies …

Examination Of Amount Of Time Spent In Heart Rate Zone During A Cup Stacking Unit In 4th-Grade Students, Kimberly Jo Boelke

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

One of the most influential places a young person learns exercise patterns is through the physical education program at school. Schools have the potential to improve the health of youth by providing instruction, programs, and services that promote enjoyable lifetime physical activity (Centers for Disease Control, 1997). During physical activity time in physical education class, a student should remain within the target heart rate zone, as to gain cardiovascular benefits. Students also develop motor skills during physical education class, and to help students become proficient and comfortable with these motor skills, hand-eye coordination needs to be developed. Development of hand-eye …

The Relationship Between Time Spent In Physical Activity During Daily Physical Education And Selected Physical Fitness Components Among Elementary And Secondary Students, Shelley Mccumber

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between the time spent in physical activity in the physical education classroom and the scores on the Fitness gram battery tests of the mile walk/run, sit-ups, flexed arm hang, trunk lift, and the sit and reach in elementary and secondary students. Two sub-problems were also investigated: (1) were there differences in the total amount of time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary students; and (2) were there differences in the percent of total class time spent in physical activity between elementary students and secondary …

Multi-Agency Inclusive Recreation Service Delivery Model: An Assessment Of Services, Angela Rae Glanz

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of recreation agency staff involved in a multi-agency inclusive recreation program serving individuals with disabilities in the Cedar Valley region. This study focused on analyzing the agency staff perceptions of 20 service quality attributes offered by the Together We Play program. Importance-performance analysis, an evaluation tool, was used to determine the effectiveness or satisfaction of the inclusion services being offered. Participants in the study (N=43) completed the survey instrument containing four sections: (a) perceived importance of20 service quality attributes, (b) perceived effectiveness of 20 service quality attributes, ( c) agencies …

A Descriptive Study Of The Frequency And Intensity Of Physical Activity Among Incoming First-Year Students At Luther College, Kristi Leonard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Young adults are not as active as they should be in comparison to national standards. They are more overweight than is healthy. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical activity volume (frequency + intensity) of incoming first-year students at an Iowa liberal arts college. Did certain demographic characteristics, such as gender; projected major area of study; age; native language; religious preference; ethnic background; and past high school and projected college athletic, theater/drama, and music participation of these students make a difference in their volume of physical activity? This study focused on the examination of exercise behaviors of …

Perceived Exercise Constraints And Motivation For Exercise Among University Undergraduate Students, Ryan Paul Harkema

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceived exercise constraints and motivation for exercise among university undergraduate students, and to identify if there is a difference in perceived exercise constraints and motivation for exercise among university undergraduate students in the three exercise behavior categories of regular exercise participants, intermediary exercise participants, and nonparticipants. As issues related to overweight and obesity continue to grow in the United States, research efforts must concentrate upon exercise behavior and the factors that influence exercise participation levels. This study focused upon the exercise behaviors of university undergraduate students, as Americans aged …

American Indian Women Warriors: Their Perceptions Of Success Factors In Graduate School, Loretta Dominquez

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Higher education is not just a Black and White issue, but also an issue regarding First Nations people (i.e., American Indian/Native American and Alaskan Indians). American Indians throughout history in the U.S. have been neglected in all levels of education. American Indian women in graduate programs have experienced prejudices, isolation, and lack of support, guidance, or mentoring from the faculty, staff, or administration in graduate programs. An ethnographic qualitative research of personal interviews was the methodology chosen to grasp the personal perceptions of four American Indian woman warriors in professional higher educational positions. They shared their experiences of their success …