Browsing by Subject "Adolescents"
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Item Acculturation, Alcohol Expectancies, and Alcohol Use Among Mexican-American Adolescents(2011-02-22) Flato, Claudia GracielaThe current study was designed to examine the influence of cultural orientation on alcohol involvement among Mexican-American adolescents. Also, this study assessed whether cultural orientation predicted positive and negative alcohol expectancies for the effects of drinking one to two drinks or bingeing; and whether alcohol-use expectancies mediated the effects of acculturation on drinking practices. The participants were 300 Mexican-American high school students (M = 16.5, SD = 1.15; 178 female and 122 male) from a city along the Texas/Mexico border who were mostly self-identified as 2nd generation Mexican-Americans. The students completed the questionnaires regarding alcohol involvement, acculturation, and alcohol expectancies. Significant findings in the current study indicated a higher orientation to Mexican culture predicted higher levels of alcohol involvement for boys; whereas, a higher orientation to U.S. culture predicted higher alcohol involvement for girls. Also, identification with Mexican culture for girls predicted negative alcohol expectancies for low and high quantities of alcohol use.Item Adolescent academic achievement in Chinese immigrant families : the direct effects of individual and dyadic acculturation processes and the indirect effects of family obligation and academic engagement(2011-08) Ammon, Natalie Younok 1981-; Kim, Su YeongThe Asian immigrant population is growing more rapidly than any other group in the U.S. (Social Science Data Analysis Network, 2004), and Chinese Americans represent the largest Asian subgroup (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002). Assuming recent trends continue, the number of first- and second-generation Chinese children will increase dramatically, and their developmental needs will demand special attention. Using structural equation modeling to analyze two waves of data from a study on 444 Chinese families, this project aims to provide a better understanding of the relations between family members’ adaptations to life in the U.S. and adolescents’ academic grade point average (GPA). Chinese children of immigrants have been found to succeed in school (Fuligni, Tseng, & Lam, 1999). However, little is known about the ways in which their academic achievement may be related to acculturation, the process through which an individual or group makes socio-cultural or behavioral adjustments through repeated contact with another group or culture (Gordon, 1964; Berry, 2003). Exploring the variation in acculturative processes among Chinese immigrant family members and identifying how the various acculturative strategies may relate to adolescent academic achievement would bridge a gap in the extant literature. Therefore, the first objective of this study was to assess whether fathers’, mothers’, and adolescents’ individual acculturation to American and Chinese cultures were related to adolescents’ GPA. The second goal was to test for moderation effects in these relations. Interaction terms were created for parents’ acculturation in relation to adolescents’ acculturation to test whether the connections between adolescents’ acculturation to the American and Chinese cultures and adolescents’ GPA were conditional on either fathers’ or mothers’ American or Chinese orientation. Third, this study included two culturally salient factors as mediators of potential relations found between individual and dyadic acculturative processes and adolescents’ academic achievement. These mediators were adolescents’ sense of family obligation and adolescents’ level of behavioral academic engagement. The fourth and final objective was to assess whether there was invariance by adolescent gender in the structural model.Item An analysis of the literature on self-compassion, self-esteem, and body image as predictors of adolescent reckless behavior(2009-12) Holder, Christen Marie; Schallert, Diane L.; Tharinger, DeborahAdolescent reckless behavior is a major concern for society because it leads to the three most common causes of mortality for this age group. Body image and self-esteem have been proposed as constructs that have an effect on adolescents’ participation in reckless behavior. Self-esteem, however, has been garnering criticism in recent years for promoting narcissism and downward social comparison with others. Self-compassion is an alternative to self-esteem that focuses on accepting oneself and having feelings of common humanity. This report proposes a study that would measure reckless behavior in adolescents, and look at the effect self-compassion, self-esteem, and body image has on it. In addition, self-compassion will be examined to see if it moderates the effect body image has on self-esteem.Item Assessing the diathesis-stress model in pre- and early adolescent girls and an examination of core beliefs as predictors of depression(2009-08) Rosenberg, Valerie Faye; Stark, Kevin DouglasDepression is one of the most common psychological disorders and may be considered as one of the most prevalent forms of emotional/psychological illness among children. The prevalence of depressive disorders tends to rise dramatically during adolescence. Cognitive diathesis-stress models maintain that depression is produced through an interaction between cognitive vulnerability and negative life events. According to Beck, core beliefs are at the core of cognitive vulnerability. After the occurrence of a negative life event, the core belief is activated and influences how the individual interprets the negative life event. Beck maintains that three core beliefs are central to the development and maintenance of depressive disorders: the belief that one is helpless, unlovable, and/or worthless. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a coding system for a storytelling task could reliably assess Beck’s core beliefs. In doing so, this study sought to build upon previous research on the relations between negative life events, core beliefs, and depressive symptomatology among pre- and early adolescent females. Participants were 130 girls ranging in age from 9 to 14. All girls completed a self-report measure of life events and a projective story-telling measure that was used to assess their core beliefs. Participants also completed a semi-structured diagnostic interview, which served as the primary measure of depressive symptom severity. In support of previous research, both negative life events and negative core beliefs uniquely predicted the severity of depressive symptoms. Consistent with Beck’s cognitive model, the helpless and unlovable core beliefs uniquely predicted severity of depressive symptoms, although the worthless core belief did not. Further examination indicated that the helpless core belief was a more powerful influence on depressive symptoms than were the unlovable and worthless core beliefs. Contrary to Beck’s diathesis-stress model, however, negative core beliefs did not moderate the effects of negative life events on depressive symptomatology. For girls aged 9-11, however, a helpless core belief moderated the effects of negative life events on depressive symptom severity. Implications of these results, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.Item Associations between health behaviors and adolescents life satisfaction using structural equation modeling (SEM)(2016-08) Wang, Wanyi; Lin, Lizhen, Ph. D.; Whittaker, Tiffany ALife satisfaction is an important indicator in suicidal behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of health-related behaviors on adolescent life satisfaction using structural equation modeling (SEM). Data were obtained from the Health Behavior in School-Age Children (HBSC), 2001-2002. Because of the complex nature, SEM was preferred to be used over regression models in the present study. The results indicated that good eating habits and high scores of self-reported health played the greatest roles in promoting life satisfaction. The effects of both factors on life satisfaction were also mediated by academic achievement. Physical activity was a positive predictor of life satisfaction, but its effect appears to be mediated by health and academic achievement, rather than affecting life satisfaction directly. Moreover, physical activity was positively associated with good eating habits. These results generated from SEM were also compared with that from multiple linear regressions. Slight differences in the standardized coefficients for the total effects between SEM and regression models were detected due to the existing latent variable in SEM, but the general proportion variance accounted for in each outcome variable were similar across the two analyses. In summary, although there were some limitations for the study design and the building of the model, this study suggested that good habits with respect to diets may be beneficial for improvements in health and academic achievement, which in turn lead to positive scores of adolescent life satisfaction. High frequent physical activity and low BMI were poor but acceptable predictors of life satisfaction.Item Attention in children and adolescents with nonverbal learning disabilities(2009-08) Butcher, Brianne Janeé; Keith, Timothy, 1952-; Nussbaum, NancyNonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD) is a syndrome characterized by impaired social perception, visual-spatial skills, fine motor coordination, and mathematics abilities. Researchers have found that children with NVLD often have significant symptoms of inattention, and there is evidence that the majority of children with NVLD also meet clinical criteria for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive Subtype (ADHD:PI) (Brown, 2000; Gross-Tsur & Shalev, 1995; Voeller, 1996). Although significant overlap is observed between NVLD and behavioral symptoms of ADHD, little research has focused on the specific attention problems of children with NVLD. Given the high incidence of co-morbid attention problems with NVLD (Brown, 2000), many researchers have proposed that overlapping neural regions are responsible for the similarity in attention impairments observed in both NVLD and ADHD:PI (Denckla, 2000; Stefanatos, 2001). Other researchers suggest that there are distinct neurological impairments in children with NVLD and both subtypes of ADHD that result in attention problems. Specifically, Rourke (1995) suggested a developmental sequence that results in generally intact auditory attention with impaired attention for visual stimuli in children with NVLD. This study sought to reconcile the discrepancy between conceptualizations of attention problems in children with NVLD. It was hypothesized that children with NVLD would exhibit distinct profiles of strengths and weaknesses on neuropsychological measures of attention compared to children with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Subtype (ADHD:PI) and ADHD, Combined Subtype (ADHD:C). Specifically, it was expected that the three diagnostic groups would differ on the neuropsychological measures depending on the attention modality (auditory vs. visual). Extant neuropsychological data from 88 children between the ages of 9 and 15 years of age with diagnoses of NVLD, ADHD:PI, and ADHD:C were analyzed. Neuropsychological measures of processing speed, working memory, vigilance, and inhibition were examined to compare specific domains of attention functioning in the three groups. Evidence from the current study supported the model in which NVLD and the two ADHD subtypes represent a continuum of dysfunction dependant on overlapping neural regions. Moreover, specific attention strengths and weaknesses in children with NVLD compared to children with ADHD:PI, ADHD:C, and normative data were identified in order to inform clinical diagnosis and intervention.Item Contextualizing immigrant adolescents’ high school outcomes by their school environments and friend groups.(2015-03-19) Halbesleben, Katie L. 1989-; Sherman, Martha G.Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health and the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study in combination with conducting hierarchical linear modeling analyses, this dissertation looks at the effects of school environments and friend groups on immigrant adolescents’ level of school attachment and GPA in high school. Past research suggests that immigrant adolescents’ may be influenced by their surroundings to a greater degree than their peers when evaluating educational adjustment, well-being, and success. Using these theoretical motivations, my broad research question evaluates how certain school structures and friend groups influence immigrant adolescents’ school attachment and GPA. While many of my original hypotheses need to be modified in light of my quantitative findings, there are several valuable findings from each research chapter. From Chapter 3, I find that while academic tracking programs’ manifest function is to increase educational achievements for individual students, there are also instances in which academic programs negatively impact school attachment and GPA for immigrant and minority adolescent populations. From Chapter 4, I find that adolescents do not benefit as greatly from having friendships with a higher mean GPA on school attachment and GPA if they are immigrant adolescents compared to non-immigrant adolescents. In Chapter 5, I evaluate second-generation adolescents’ attendance at Hispanic and black minority schools and how the addition of having friends who dropped out of high school magnifies a negative effect on their GPA. Based on these findings, it is the hope that school administrations consider how they can foster environments where students have the greatest likelihood of academic success, when taking into account school-level variables and individual-level adolescent variables at their school sites.Item The contribution of retell to the identification of struggling adolescent readers(2010-05) Reed, Deborah Kay; Vaughn, Sharon, 1952-; Bryant, Diane P.; Rieth, Herbert J.; Roberts, Greg; Sorrells, AudreyThis measurement study examined the construct validity of the retell component of the Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (Texas Education Agency, University of Houston, & The University of Texas System, 2008a) within a confirmatory factor analysis framework. The role of retell, provided after a one-minute oral reading fluency measure, was investigated by comparing the fit of a three-factor model of reading competence to the data collected on a diverse sample of seventh- and eighth-grade students (N=394). The final model demonstrated adequate to mediocre fit (χ2 = 97.316 {32}; CFI = 0.958; TLI = 0.941; RMSEA = .081). Results suggest that retell was a significant contributor to comprehension (Δχ2=16.652{1}, p < .001), fluency (Δχ2=10.882{1}, p = .001), and word identification (Δχ2=7.84{1}, p = .005). However, the χ2 difference was greater for comprehension, as was the factor loading for comprehension (.250, p < .001) compared to fluency (.194, p < .001) and word identification .167, p < .001). Retell did, however, have a large residual variance (.938), suggesting it did not function well as a measure of comprehension in its current state with low inter-rater reliability (K = .37). Narrative retell scores (.352, p< .001) were better predictors of comprehension than expository retell scores (from .2221 to .264, p < .001) or the combination of all three scores (Δχ2=134.261{19}; p < .001), but average retell scores produced a more parsimonious model than narrative retell scores alone (ΔAIC = 58.275; ΔBIC = 58.275). Average retell was only weakly correlated to other measures of comprehension (from r = .155 to r = .257, p < .01). However, the relationship was stronger than the relationship between retell and other measures of fluency (from r = .158 to r = .183, p < .01) or word identification (r = .132, p < .05). In addition, retell did not demonstrate differential item functioning when student characteristics (e.g., primary language, socioeconomic status, ability level) were entered as covariates, even though there were overall latent differences.Item Depression in children and adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome : the role of peer victimization and self-perceived social competence(2010-12) Harris, Kate Elizabeth; Keith, Timothy, 1952-; Allen, Greg D.Depression is among the most prevalent comorbid conditions in children with Asperger’s Syndrome. Little research has examined the variables that may contribute to depression among such children. Children with Asperger’s show social skill deficits and are often subjected to peer victimization, including isolation and teasing by their peers. It is hypothesized that peer victimization experienced by children with Asperger’s will, in part, explain their self-perceived social competence. It is also hypothesized that self-perceived social competence and peer victimization will help explain depression among such children. Multiple regression will be used to examine these presumed effects.Item Difference Between Hispanic Adolescent Males in Alternative and Regular Education Placement(2011-08-08) Kocian, Brandi R.Researchers have identified numerous risk and protective factors that might provide insight into the academic difficulties and success that Hispanic adolescents experience. Maladjusted outcomes cannot be attributed to a single risk factor; risk factors do not act in isolation and often have complex relationships with other risk factors. This study uses an ecological risk factor model that suggests that there are multiple risk factors related to adolescent being placed in an alternative education setting and that these risk factors exist at six levels: community-based factors, school-based factors, peer-based factors, family-based factors, child's perception factors, and acculturation-based factors. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the protective and risk factors in the area of family, community, school, peers, child?s perception, and acculturation levels between Hispanic males who have been placed in DAEP (Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement) and their same aged Hispanic male peers who have not been previously placed in the DAEP. The sample for this study (N=119) was collected from a large urban school district in Texas. The participants were seventh and eighth graders between the ages of 12 and 16 years of age. The non-DAEP group was comprised of a majority of 7th grade students (71.7%), while the DAEP group had a larger number of 8th grade students (62.7%). This study addressed four research questions. The first question investigated if there was a difference between the two groups when the ecological levels where combined to create a cumulative risk score. The non-DAEP group had significantly lower cumulative risk scores than the DAEP. The second research question investigated if there was a difference in each cumulative risk index (i.e., family, school, peers, community, child?s perception, and acculturation) between the two groups. There was no significant difference found between the non-DAEP and DAEP group for family-based risk scores or the child's perception risk scores; however, a significant difference was found between the two groups on the peer-based, community-based, acculturation-based, and school-based factors. The third question examined the unique contribution school, peers, community, family, and acculturation makes in the prediction of the child?s perception factor for Hispanic males. A hierarchical multiple regression suggested only the community-based, family-based, and acculturation-based variables made a significant contribution to the child's perception factor. The fourth question examined if the child's perception factor mediated the relationship between placement in the DAEP and the family-based, community-based, peer-based, school-based, and acculturation-based factors. The effects of the five variables on group placement and child's perception factors were assessed through the use of structural equation modeling using the program AMOS. (Analysis of Movement Structures; See Figure 2).Item The effects of a multicomponent reading intervention and a no treatment comparison on the reading comprehension of adolescent students who are adequate word readers and low in reading comprehension(2012-12) Solis, Michael R.; Vaughn, Sharon, 1952-; Rieth, Herbert J; O'Reilly, Mark F; Roberts, Gregory J; Robinson, Daniel; Flower, Andrea LThis experimental study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of multicomponent reading intervention and a no treatment comparison condition on the reading comprehension of adolescent students with adequate word reading and low reading comprehension. The sample consisted of 44 students in 9th grade who were randomly assigned to an intervention treatment offered as an elective course (N=25) or a no treatment comparison (N=19). Reading intervention teachers, trained by experienced research staff provided instruction for 90-min sessions two to three times per week during for approximately 80 sessions. Treatment effects for each outcome measure were estimated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results indicate no statistically significant differences between conditions. Effects, which were calculated with partial eta squared (η2), ranged from -.26 to .23 with two of the three measures favoring the treatment condition. Three separate repeated measure of analysis of variance (RM-ANCOVAs) were conducted using the Kaufmann Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT) as a covariate for the following measures: (1) Woodcock Johnson Passage Comprehension subtest (WJIII-PC); (2) Test of Sentence Reading Efficiency (TOSRE); (3) Gates MacGinitie Reading test (GM-RT). An additional ANCOVA was conducted for the GM-RT using the pretest scores from the GM-RT as a covariate. Results indicate that the treatment condition was not favorable to a no treatment comparison for students with adequate word reading and low comprehension. More research into ways to make reading comprehension instruction more effective for Adolescent students with low reading comprehension is warranted.Item Effects of parental divorce on children in relation to development and attachment style(2010-05) Cox, Sarah Elizabeth, 1982-; Rochlen, Aaron B.; Moore, Leslie A.Extensive research on the impact of divorce on children has been conducted. Much of this research emphasizes negative findings. Debate over the factors that exacerbate or alleviate these negative findings exists, and prompted investigation in this literature review. Two factors that may determine how children will react to parental divorce are the child's developmental acuity and attachment style at the time of the divorce event. This review explains developmental tasks from a psychosocial and cognitive perspective for developing children from birth to age 18. An understanding of these models can be used to examine how children may be vulnerable to the stresses in a divorcing family, as well as identifying how to help children of all ages become resilient. Research included in this review suggests that a secure attachment and consistent parenting are the best buffers from negative effects. This literature review is intended to be a guide to aid parents, counselors, and other professionals who seek the best outcome for children of divorce.Item Examining relationships between supportive resources and psychological well-being at a single-gender school(2014-05) Coffee, Katherine Learned; Steinhardt, MaryGuided by the positive youth development (PYD) framework and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, this dissertation project involved the performance of two studies that were designed to explore the multifaceted aspects of personal and environmental sources of support, positive emotions, stress, depressive symptoms, and resilience. Examined in Study I was the question of whether one's positivity would differentiate levels of personal and environmental resources. Examined in Study II were the association, if any, between stress and resilience on depressive symptoms and whether resilience would exhibit a moderating effect of stress on depressive symptoms. Multivariate analysis of covariance and hierarchical multiple regression were used to test the different models in these studies. A sample of 510 students at an all-girl public middle and high school completed the survey (75% response rate). Results showed that (a) the different categories of positivity distinguished levels of personal and environmental resources, (b) stress had a significant positive direct effect on depressive symptoms, (c) resilience had a significant negative direct effect on depressive symptoms, and (d) the interaction between stress and resilience had a significant buffering effect on depressive symptoms. While adolescence is a challenging time in particular for girls, findings from the present study support PYD and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions as advantageous frameworks for developing empirically based interventions. Strategies that increase students' positive emotions in schools, which in turn broaden their thinking, coping, and social interactions, would be efficacious. Further, the results from Study II suggest that students with higher levels of resiliency were protected from the impact of stress, thus potentially explaining their lower scores for depressive symptoms compared to those students with lower levels of reported resilience. This supports the significant role of individual resiliency as a personal resource against depressive symptoms when experiencing higher levels of stress. Given the seriousness of declining psychological well-being in young girls as a major public health concern, coupled with the compounding effects later into life, programs that provide opportunities for young girls to cultivated resiliency will be, theoretically, highly effective.Item Factors comprising adolescents’ readiness for sexual behaviors : a latent profile analysis(2014-12) Orozco-Lapray, Diana Lucellan; Kim, Su YeongThe current study used multi-wave data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to examine the existence of typologies of readiness for sexual intercourse and contraception among a nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 15-18. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the current study used latent profile analyses to establish five profiles of sexual readiness based on adolescents' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control for sexual intercourse and contraception. Analyses were conducted cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and five classes were confirmed at each of two waves. The current study established and characterized four profiles of readiness for sexual behavior at both waves: “impulsive adolescents,” “precarious adolescents,” “well-controlled adolescents,” and “conservatively-reared adolescents.” Two separate fifth profiles also emerged: “hasty adolescents” at wave 1, and “unrestrained adolescents” at wave 2. Logistic regression of longitudinal data indicated that compared to “impulsive adolescents” at wave 1, “precarious” and “conservatively-reared” adolescents were significantly less likely to engage in sexual intercourse at wave 2, and “well-controlled” adolescents were significantly less likely to engage in casual sex. Wave 1 cross-sectional data indicated that “precarious” adolescents were less likely to have used contraception either at their first time or most recent time of sex, and all other profiles were more likely to have employed contraception than “impulsive” adolescents. Wave 2 cross-sectional analyses indicated that two profiles (“precarious” and “conservatively-reared”) were less likely to engage in sexual intercourse, and two profiles (“well-controlled” and “unrestrained”) were more likely to engage in sexual intercourse than “impulsive” adolescents.Item Family functioning and conduct problems in maltreated adolescents: a gendered analysis(2016-08) Groomes, Amber Nicole; Carlson, Cindy I., 1949-; Keith, Timothy Z; Sander, Janay B; Neff, Kristin DAlthough the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent conduct problems is well established, the mechanisms by which maltreatment results in conduct problems are not well understood. Further research is needed to understand the complex development of delinquent and disruptive behavior in maltreated youth, specifically as it pertains to girls. Based on a review of the literature, it appears critical to understand the ways in which family functioning is impeded by abuse and neglect and how this relational trauma may predict internalizing disorders and conduct problems in adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to test a model predicting the development of conduct problems in adolescence that included maltreatment, dysfunctional family processes and internalizing symptoms as contributing variables, and to explore gender differences in the relationships among variables. A latent variable structural equation model (SEM) was developed and tested in a sample of 315 adolescents aged 13 to 18 who participated in a comprehensive psychological evaluation at a residential treatment facility. The SEM model evaluated the direct and indirect effects of child maltreatment, dysfunctional family processes, and internalizing problems on conduct problems. The model was evaluated across gender groups to measure whether dysfunctional family functioning was a stronger predictor of internalizing or conduct problems in females as compared to males. Results of the study indicated a direct effect of self-reported childhood maltreatment and dysfunctional family processes on internalizing problems but only dysfunctional family processes had a significant direct effect on conduct problems. Maltreatment had a significant indirect impact on conduct problems via dysfunctional family processes; such that maltreatment lead to greater dysfunctional family processes which in turn lead to more severe conduct problems. Analyses by gender demonstrated that the relationship between dysfunctional family processes and internalizing problems was equivalent for both males and females, and the relationship between dysfunctional family processes and conduct problems was statistically significant only for males. The results of this study support further exploration of the gender-specific mechanisms by which maltreatment leads to conduct problems. Results suggest that practitioners should focus on family functioning in the prevention and intervention of conduct problems in maltreated adolescents.Item Gender dynamics in the parental household and their effects on the sexual behavior of Mexican youth(2010-05) Martinez Canizales, Georgina; Potter, Joseph E.; Hummer, Robert; Cavanagh, Shannon; Regnerus, Mark; Stolp, ChandlerGender norms shape our sexual experiences because they provide us with information about the appropriate behavior for men and women in social interactions (Allgeier and McCormick, 1983). Family is one of the places where we first learn about gender norms. Research on youth sexuality shows the importance of family on the sexuality of individuals through paths such as parent-child communication, parents‟ gender attitudes, parental surveillance, etc. However, less is known about other practices in the family, such as gender dynamics, or gender role practices, that could also affect the sexuality of young individuals. The aim of this dissertation is to analyze whether the sexual division of decision-making power and labor (gender dynamics) in which vii youngsters were raised, have any effect on their age at sexual debut, and their use of condoms as a contraceptive method. The source of information is the National Survey of Youth 2000 for Mexico. A discrete time hazard model is used in the analysis of age at sexual debut and a logistic regression was performed to analyze condom use. Results show that egalitarian gender dynamics have effects that differ by socioeconomic status and gender. The most remarkable findings are that shared decision-making power decreases the likelihood of an early sexual debut among girls with low socioeconomic status, and increases the likelihood of condom use among girls with high socioeconomic status.Item Health literacy in adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease(2015-05) Perry, Elizabeth Leigh; Carter, Patricia A.; Mackert, Michael M; Becker, Heather; Garcia, Alexandra; Johnson, Karen; Buchanan, GeorgeHealth literacy is "the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions" (Ratzan & Parker, 2000). Little literature exists on adolescent health literacy; and, none exists on health literacy in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) (Perry, 2014). The purpose of this study was to a) describe factors influencing facilitators and barriers of health literacy levels in adolescents with SCD and b) gather reliability and validity evidence for the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) for use in adolescents. This cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study included administration of a demographics form and the REALM-Teen and NVS health literacy instruments to 75 Black, non-Hispanic adolescent SCD patients at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. There were 37 male and 38 female participants. The mean age of participants was 14.7 years (SD=2.2). The mean grade level of participants was 8.7 (SD=2.2). The mean REALM-Teen score was 53.7 (SD=12.8). The mean NVS score was 2.37 (SD=1.33). Current grade level and health literacy scores showed the highest significant positive correlation (r =.52, p < .01). Health literacy scores were also significantly positively correlated with age (r =.49, p < .01) and income (r =.37, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis showed that current grade level and annual household income explain a significant amount of the variance in health literacy scores (F (2. 49)= 15.92, p=.000, R² =.394, R² [subscript adjusted]=.369). The model also showed that current grade level significantly contributed to the model (β= 3.09, SE (β)=.698, Standardized β = .521, p=.000); however, income did not contribute further (β= 1.60, SE(β)=.858, Standardized β =.219, p=.069). Thus, with every unit increase in current grade level, a three-point increase in health literacy scores occurs, with all other variables being held constant. Results of criterion validity analysis showed that the correlation between NVS scores and REALM-Teen scores was a significant moderate, positive correlation (r=.383, p<.01). The internal consistency for the NVS in this population was poor (Cronbach's α=.627) due at least in part to low correlations between items requiring numeracy and reading skills. Therefore, this study gave great insight into health literacy levels in adolescents with SCD, laying a solid foundation for future nursing, policy, and research initiatives.Item The impact of peer death on adolescent girls : an efficacy study of the Adolescent Grief and Loss group(2010-08) Malone, Pamela Ann; Pomeroy, Elizabeth Cheney, 1955-; Springer, David W.; Jones, Barbara; Holleran Steiker, Lori; McCarthy, ChristopherMany adolescent girls experience the death of a peer, which is often sudden and at times violent. These deaths are typically viewed as preventable, which can complicate the grief reactions of adolescent girls. The impact of peer death on adolescent girls involves a number of physical, emotional, social, and cognitive grief responses. Negative outcomes include school problems, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. This study examines the efficacy of the Adolescent Grief and Loss (AGL) group, a six-week group designed to address the needs of adolescent girls who have experienced the death of a peer within the past two years. The goal of the AGL group was to reduce or lessen physical, emotional, social, and cognitive responses to grief, and to foster mutual support and connection to others via various tasks associated with each group session. The AGL group was conducted in four different public high schools in Central Texas, with a sample size of 20 girls. A mixed methods design was utilized for this study, integrating both quantitative and qualitative research designs. The quantitative component employed a non-experimental simple time-series design, using two pre-test and three post-test time points. The qualitative component was based on a phenomenological analysis of adolescent grief and loss response, which included open-ended questions developed to capture each adolescent girl’s individual experience of peer death. Questions were also asked to elicit the girls’ experience of participating in the AGL group. The quantitative results of the study indicate that adolescent girls benefited from participation in the AGL group as evidenced by significantly reduced scores on the Loss Response List for all domains of physical, emotional, social, and cognitive grief responses. The qualitative findings yielded five overarching themes of experience of peer death: the story, physical reactions, emotional reactions, social reactions, and cognitive reactions. Integration of the quantitative and qualitative findings of this research study strongly support the benefits of providing a grief and loss group to adolescent girls who have been impacted by the experience of peer death.Item The influence of food and beverage advertising on youth : an eye-tracking approach(2012-05) Velazquez, Cayley Erin; Pasch, Keryn E.; Bartholomew, John; Loukas, Alexandra; Mackert, Michael; Perry, Cheryl L.Overweight and obesity are influenced by many factors, however, food and beverage advertising and its influence on the dietary preferences and choices of youth is important. Models providing explanations for the association between advertising and youth outcomes have been proposed, yet few have been tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how objective measures of attention to food and beverage advertising were associated with the (1) unhealthy food and beverage preferences (2) unhealthy food and beverage choices and (3) overweight/obesity status of youth, and how susceptibility to food and beverage advertising moderated these associations. Participants included 102 youth (m age = 11.6; 56.4% Caucasian; 43.1% female) who viewed 40 food and beverage advertisements on a computer and had their eye movements recorded. Attention measures included total time, total unhealthy time, fixation length (animated characters/branded logos, unhealthy food and beverage items), and fixation count (animated characters/branded logos, unhealthy food and beverage items). Participants self-reported susceptibility to food and beverage advertising, unhealthy food and beverage preferences, unhealthy food and beverage choices, and overweight/obesity. Regression models, controlling for gender, and moderation analyses were conducted. Fixation length and count for unhealthy food and beverage items were each positively and significantly associated with unhealthy food and beverage preferences. Fixation count for unhealthy food and beverage items was positively and marginally associated with unhealthy food and beverage choices. Findings indicate that individuals who look longer and more frequently at unhealthy food and beverage items appear to prefer them, and may also choose them. Susceptibility to food and beverage advertising moderated the association between fixation count for animated characters/branded logos and BMI z-score, suggesting that under conditions of high susceptibility to food and beverage advertising, those with a higher fixation count for animated characters/branded logos had a lower BMI z-score. Future research should include longitudinal studies, as well as work which examines the role of other potential moderating variables. Findings may have important implications for use in intervention programs, in the development of advertising messages for healthy food and beverage items, and/or policy initiatives aimed at changing the landscape of food and beverage advertising.Item The influence of religion in adolescence on adolescents’ attitude toward marital timing(2012-08) Redford, Kristen Lee; Regnerus, Mark; Woodberry, Robert D.Existing research identified strong links between religion and marriage behaviors, but few sources have evaluated the effect of religion on marital attitudes. This study sought to examine the relationship between adolescent religious affiliation and religiosity and the age at which adolescents wish to marry. Using the National Study of Youth and Religion, results showed that Christian adolescents in America wish to marry sooner at statistically significant levels than non-Christian adolescents, and that within Christian denominations, Evangelical Protestant and Mormon adolescents wish to marry sooner than Mainline Protestants. Religiosity had a less statistically significant effect on the marital timing attitude than religious affiliation, challenging findings of some of the existing literature. A reciprocal relationship was also examined to see if being married at younger ages predicted placement in certain religious affiliations and a change in religiosity. This study contributes to existing literature on the relationship between religion and marriage and family by shedding light on effectiveness of the transmission of family values affirmed by Christian denominations to their adolescent members. These findings help better understand the increase in the age of first marriage, as fewer adolescents and young adults claim a religious affiliation, reducing the number of people that want to get married at younger ages.
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