Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Development, Short-Term Efficacy, And Pilot Implementation Of An E-Learning Course In Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviour For Pre-Service Early Childhood Educators, Brianne Bruijns

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to develop an e-Learning course in physical activity and sedentary behaviour and test its short-term efficacy and implementation among pre- and in-service early childhood educators (ECEs). The Delphi approach was adopted for Study 1, wherein a panel of international experts in physical activity and sedentary behaviour suggested topics for the course and, together with a panel of ECE experts, rated their importance. Study 2 employed a pre-post design to explore the changes in pre- and in-service ECEs’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour-related knowledge, self-efficacy, behavioural intention, and perceived behavioural control following course completion. …

Exercise Prescription Practices In University Counseling Centers: Testing The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model, A'Naja M. Newsome

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The co-occurence of physical inactivity and poor mental health in the college student population can lead to chronic health issues that have negative short-term (e.g., academic success and weight gain) and long-term (e.g., obesity, serious mental illness, and premature mortality) impacts. Integrating exercise prescription into the mental health treatment plan of college students could enhance the holistic care model described by The American College Health Association (ACHA) and Healthy Campus task force. Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that mental health professionals (MHPs) hold regarding exercise prescription is important for policy formation and program development for college student health. The …

Accelerometer-Determined Physical Behavior Metrics And Their Associations With Sarcopenia Among Oldest-Old Adults, Eric M. Eberl

Masters Theses

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle function and muscle mass which frequently occurs among the oldest-old adult population (aged 85+ years). The analysis of accelerometer-determined physical behavior volumes and patterns of oldest-old adults might provide novel insights into the associations with sarcopenia and its components. METHODS: A total of 145 participants in the primary sample and 87 participants in the subsample with a mean age of 88.2 (2.5) years from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study cohort provided cross-sectional data of handgrip strength, appendicular lean mass, gait speed, and accelerometry. Probable, confirmed, and severe sarcopenia were assessed based …

Advancing Knowledge Of Exercise As A Therapeutic Management Strategy For Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Pamela J. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among premenopausal women with a prevalence that ranges 15-21%. The estimated financial burden in the United States for evaluating and treating premenopausal women with PCOS was over $8 billion in 2020. PCOS etiology is complex and poorly understood, as is the optimal treatment and management. Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend exercise as first-line treatment. Yet, the optimal exercise type and “dosing” are not defined. As last reported for women with PCOS, less than 60% are regularly physically active and more than 25% are sedentary. Additionally, little to no published data …

Investigating Physiological Determinants Of Mental Health In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Daniela A. Testani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background

Fifty-seven percent of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience mental health symptoms including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although CP is non progressive, secondary conditions can have progressive effects on an individuals’ functional abilities. Particularly, untreated mental health symptoms can negatively affect a child’s quality of life. Children with CP also experience fatigue, pain, poor physical activity, and sleep disturbances. The presence of these physiological symptoms, separate and in combination, may impact mental health; however, it has not been systematically examined. Identifying factors that contribute to mental health symptoms may prevent the maintenance of these issues into adulthood.

Objectives …

Household Food Security, Lifestyle Factors, And Glycemic Control Among Youth And Young Adults With Diabetes, Lauren A. Reid

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between household food insecurity (HFI) and glycemic control, physical activity, and diet quality in youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Among older adults, HFI has been shown to complicate diabetes management due to the essential role of diet in diabetes management and the financial stress associated with HFI. Although HFI is more prevalent among YYA with diabetes than the general population, there are only a handful of studies that have focused on this population and, studies that include YYA with T2D …

Relationship Between Cognitive Performance, Physical Activity, And Socio-Demographic/ Individual Characteristics Among Aging Americans, Imtiaz Masfique Dowllah

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the attenuation of association following adjustments for covariates, participants who engaged in 3–6 hr/wk of vigorous- and > 1 hr/wk of moderate-intensity PA scored significantly higher in tests that assessed executive function and processing speed domains of cognition compared to inactive peers (η2 = 0.005 & 0.007 respectively, p < 0.05). Also, after adjustment, the effects of 1–3 hr/wk of vigorous-intensity PA became trivial for the delayed recall memory domain test scores (β = 0.33; 95% CI: –0.01, 0.67; η2 = 0.002; p = 0.56). There was no clear dose-response relationship between the cognitive test scores and weekly moderate-intensity PA. Interestingly, higher handgrip strength and higher late-life body-mass-index were associated with a higher performance across all cognitive domains. Observed associations provide evidence linking habitual PA with superior cognition health among older adults. Furthermore, increased muscle strength and higher late-life adiposity may …

The Impact Of Participation In A Mentored Cycling Program, Dana Bolduc

DNP Scholarly Projects

Physical activity (PA) has the potential to have a positive impact on mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and self-esteem. In particular, this project focused on self-esteem because low self-esteem can lead to increased risk of developing anxiety or depression. In contrast, high self-esteem can have a protective effect against anxiety and depression. Group PA programs combined with mentorship have been shown to build relationships and enhance self-esteem. The purpose of this DNP project was to determine the impact of participation in a rural midwestern, mentored cycling program on self-esteem in an at-risk adolescent population. Self-esteem was measured using …

Obesity Prevention Toolkit To Combat Weight Gain Related To Sedentary Behavior And Dietary Habits In College Students: An Evidence-Based Project, Maria Amos, Martha Fuller

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: Forty percent of the US population ages 20-39 are categorized as obese,

their BMI is over 30, and 35% of college age students are obese or overweight. Issues related to obesity cost the US $147 billion annually. Between 40%-50% of college students are reported to be inactive. Inactivity can lead to increased morbidity and mortality related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, musculoskeletal issues, and depression. Providing dietary and physical activity education and access to nutritional information promotes behavior change in young adults.

Aims of Service Change: This evidence-based project proposal aims to provide a toolkit …

Increasing Physical Activity In Children And Adolescents During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alyssa Plisic

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Exercise benefits physical and mental health, prevents chronic disease, and improves overall quality of life. Most children and adolescents do not meet daily physical activity recommendations (Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, 2019). The COVID-19 pandemic created large barriers for engagement in exercise and further decreased levels of activity in this population (Dunton et al., 2020; Moore et al., 2020; Sekulic et al., 2020). This project evaluates the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity in youth 8-17 years old. An exercise journal increased activity in all participants and promoted attention to daily activity. Overall activity and participation in …

Relationship Between Physical Activity, Objective Sleep Parameters And Circadian Rhythm In Patients With Head And Neck Cancer Receiving Chemoradiotherapy- A Longitudinal Study, Rachita Gururaj

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity In A University Community Before And After A Covid-19 Shutdown, Brynn Hudgins

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Reaching recommended levels of physical activity (PA) is important for achieving and maintaining health, however there are many potential barriers which may impact an individual’s ability to engage in PA. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the transition to remote teaching and learning, shut-downs of places to engage in PA, and changes to the daily work routine of university staff. Therefore, overall PA levels were likely impacted. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a significant change in PA occurred before and after one university transitioned to remote learning and working due to COVID-19 shutdowns. Subjects were recruited from …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Physical Activity And Health Influences Among College Students, Rachael Larkin

Honors Theses

Objective: To assess the associations between physical activity, subjective well-being (SWB), and social media influences before, during, and after the 2020 COVID-19 period among college-aged students. Participants: Male and female students from the University of Mississippi who were between the ages of 18-25 volunteered to participate in this study. Out of 10,000 invitation emails distributed, a total of 290 individuals responded and were used for the subsequent analysis. Results: Almost half of the respondents (46.1%) noted a decrease in physical activity from before March-May (M-M) 2020 to during M-M 2020. In addition, 41% of the respondents reported an increase in …

Examining Physical Activity Behaviors And Psychometric Beliefs Of College Students Before And After The Covid-19 Shutdown, James White Iii

Graduate Theses

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine PA behaviors, social support and self-efficacy for PA, Rosenberg self-esteem, and perceptions of body weight before and after the COVID-19 shutdown (March 15, 2020) among the college demographic.

Participants: 311 college students from a four-year, comprehensive, southeastern university in the United States were included in the study from December 1, 2020 until March 5, 2021.

Methods: Surveys were conducted via Qualtrics, an online survey system, and consisted of approximately 40 items, including demographic information, PA behaviors, social support and exercise, self-esteem, self-efficacy to exercise, and perceptions of body weight and self-image. …

Association Between Disability And Physical Activity Levels In Individuals With Serious Mental Illness, Rahul Shinde

Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Theses and Dissertations

Background: Every year 970 million people have a mental or substance use disorder globally. Approximately 7.5% i.e. 94 million of Indian population suffers from Serious Mental illness. Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is defined as any mental health condition that severely impairs anywhere from one to many critical life activities. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are prominent conditions associated with disability and less physical activity. The current research is intended to understand association between disability and physical activity levels in clinically stable individuals with SMI. Aim: To study the relation between disability and physical activity levels in individuals with serious mental illness. …

Movement Integration In Classrooms: Factors Associated With The Adoption And Implementation Of Physical Activity In Us Elementary Schools, R. Blake Densley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The intentional integration of movement in elementary school classrooms—including both brief instructional breaks for physical activity, or the integration of physical activity with lessons—can benefit children’s physical health and education outcomes. Teachers are key implementation agents, but despite movement integration (MI) being considered an educational best practice, many classroom teachers do not regularly use it. The aim of this study was to obtain updated nationally-representative prevalence estimates in US public elementary schools, regarding four key outcomes pertaining to teachers’ implementation of physical activity: 1) school adoption of physically active lessons (PALs); 2) school adoption of physical activity breaks (PABs); 3) …

How The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Affected Physical Activity, Sleep And Mental Health In University Students, Faculty And Staff And To Examine The Relationship Between These Variables, Zachary Parisi

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Increased physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in decreasing stress. This project will expand on this knowledge while also studying college students, a demographic that has been less studied. This study will also examine the impact of COVID-19 on these variables. COVID-19 changed many peoples’ activities of daily life, and possibly physically activity levels, due to public health measures such as lockdowns and remote learning. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected physical activity, sleep, and mental health in university students, faculty and staff and to examine the relationship …

How Participation In Team V. Individual Sports Affects The Physical Activity Levels Of College Students, Kellie Jackson

Honors Theses

The present study investigated the association between team and individual sports participation and the physical activity levels of college students at the University of Southern Mississippi. Participants (n=72) responded to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to determine their physical activity levels over the duration of one week. Participants also responded to the Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ) to examine the similarities and differences in motivation among current, former, and never athletes. Participants who classified themselves as current and former athletes reported spending more time engaged in physical activity than never athletes. Among current athletes, former athletes, and never athletes, all …

Examining The Relationship Of Physical Activity, Inflammation & Adiposity On Physical Function With Gender Differences, Jeanne Hlebichuk

Dissertations (1934 -)

Older adults are a rapidly growing segment of the population in the United States. The ability to maintain physical function declines with age and is a critical factor that contributes to living independently. Physical activity has been shown to slow declines in physical function and decrease chronic inflammation. Increases in adipose tissue and decreases in muscle mass are associated with aging. The increase in adipose tissue produces inflammatory markers that can negatively impact older adults’ health. Males and females’ biological changes with aging have been hypothesized to differ. The purposes of this study were to :1) examine the relationship between …

Physical Activity Guidelines For People With Alzheimer’S Disease Of Various Ambulatory And Cognitive Status, Amanda Katherine Wright

Kinesiology and Public Health

With the rapidly growing elderly population in the United States, the number of people diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is increasing dramatically. For these patients, it is crucial to slow the rate of progression. Research has proven that exercise improves cognition, and recent findings suggest a similar association among those with AD. However, this is complicated by the large majority of AD patients becoming non-ambulatory as the disease progresses. Thus, there is a large gap in the literature to meet the needs of non-ambulatory AD patients working to slow their disease’s progression. The first purpose of this article …

Association Between Physical Activity And Stress In A National Cohort Of Undergraduate Students From The Spring 2019 National College Health Assessment Ii, Melissa Lee

Health Sciences Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A national cohort of undergraduate college students who participated in the spring 2019 National College Health Assessment II (NCHA) reported stress as their number one academic impediment. While stressis a complex phenomenon, there is evidence that describes physical activity as a small but significant predictor of stress levels. The dissertation was a correlational study of retrospective, de-identified, secondary data from a national cohort of 43,756 undergraduate students, aged 18-24 who participated in the spring 2019 NCHA. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between physical activity, including aerobic and strength, and self-reported stress within the cohort. Chi-square …

Using Physical Exercise Interventions To Reduce Depression And Anxiety In People With Lung Cancer, Jordan E. Dubocq

Honors Undergraduate Theses

People with lung cancer are at a high risk of developing anxiety and depression during cancer treatments. Previous research has shown physical activity to be effective in improving psychological symptoms in people with cancer, however, the majority of studies have focused on female breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this literature review was to determine if physical activity interventions can effectively and feasibly reduce anxiety and depression in people with lung cancer who are undergoing treatment. A database search was conducted in CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and SPORTDiscus. The search resulted in 265 articles and 9 were selected for …

Complementary And Alternative Medicine (Cam) For Individuals With Epilepsy, April Detrick

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Individuals with epilepsy manage the clinical manifestations of the condition, primarily seizure-related activity, with daily use of pharmacologic agents, making it one of the most common neurological conditions treated with drug therapy for symptom management. Pharmacologic agents for epilepsy, also known as anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), are commonly prescribed to treat seizures and neurologic conditions associated with epilepsy but can lead to a reduced quality of life and many unwanted side effects. Complementary and alternative treatments can also provide relief from seizures associated with epilepsy. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the effectiveness of complementary and alternative treatments …

An Examination Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Health Threat, Stress, And Social Isolation On Lifestyle Habits As Analyzed Through The Protection Motivation Theory, Luciana Adib Soares

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 emerged in China in 2019 and quickly spread to other countries, leading to mandated lockdowns and social isolation. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of the COVID-19-generated stress, health threat, and social isolation on dietary, physical activity, and self-care habits of adults in Florida, utilizing the PMT as a framework. Participants (n = 478) completed online surveys about demographics, perceived stress, and changes in lifestyle habits. Significant positive changes were reported in cooking at home (p < .001) frequency, sweets (p < .001), and breakfast (p = .009) consumption, outdoors physical activity (p = .005), self-care (p < .001), relaxation (p < .001), and rest (p < .001) habits. Significant negative changes were reported in fast food (p = .004) and snack (p < .001) consumption. A significant relationship existed between self-reported stress, perceived threat, (r = .33, p < .001), and perceived efficacy, (r = -.15, p = .002). Perceived threat was the most important predictor of changes …

Healthy, Fit, & Strong: A Parent-Child Physical Activity Program For Families With Obese And Overweight Adolescents, Patrick Maloney

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Over 20% of Kentucky children between the ages of 10-17 are obese, the third highest prevalence in the nation. The Healthy, Fit, & Strong Program works with children with a BMI above the 85th percentile and their parents to improve behaviors related to physical activity (PA) and nutrition. The intervention is a 12-week program which features tri-weekly physical activity sessions and nutrition classes. Both children and parents participate in activities in order to build knowledge and confidence related to healthy behaviors. The goal of this intervention is to improve upon baseline physical activity levels and diet as well as to …

Effects Of Acute Exercise Intensity On Source Episodic Memory: Considerations By Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Brandon Thomas Rigdon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prior research suggests that behavioral (e.g., acute exercise) and psychological factors (e.g., metamemory; monitoring and control of one’s memory processes) may influence memory function. However, there is conflicting results on the optimal intensity of acute exercise to enhance memory and whether acute exercise can also enhance metamemory. Further, very limited research has evaluated whether acute exercise can influence source episodic memory. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an intensity-specific effect of acute aerobic exercise on source episodic memory and metamemory accuracy. A secondary objective was to evaluate if cardiorespiratory fitness moderates this potential relationship. …

Identifying Factors To Inform The Development Of Adaptive Interventions For Increasing Physical Activity Behavior Among People With Multiple Schlerosis, Yumi Kim

All ETDs from UAB

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) can benefit from physical activity, specifically exercise, for the management of disease symptoms, including walking impairments, fatigue, and depression, and improvements in quality of life. However, people with MS do not engage in adequate amounts of physical activity for the accrual of health benefits. Researchers have focused on the delivery of exercise training and behavioral interventions to improve levels of physical activity in MS. To date, there is an emerging body of research supporting the efficacy of these interventions for increasing and potentially sustaining physical activity behavior in people with MS. Yet, people with MS …