Browsing by Subject "Female"
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Item Advertising to female runners : a comparative evaluation of Nike and Brooks Running, Inc. in Runner's world magazine(2012-08) Martin, Elizabeth Jane; Eastin, Matthew S.; Stout, Patricia A.This research report aims to examine and evaluate the ways in which two leading running product companies, Nike and Brooks Running, Inc., target female runners in the context of Runner’s World magazine (the world’s leading running-related magazine). It presents relevant past research, theories and methodologies and applies them to the analysis. From the analysis and comparisons, a collection of best practice recommendations are determined in order to inform and advise any company’s future advertising efforts directed at female runners.Item An Examination of Pornography Use as a Predictor of Female Sexual Coercion(2017-07-07) Burks, Alixandra; Miller, HollyApproximately 20% of women and 1.5% of men report experiencing rape during their lifetime and 19% of undergraduate women report they experienced attempted or completed sexual assault since starting college (Center for Disease Control, 2012). These are only a few numbers that indicate the prevalence of sexually aggressive behaviors and highlight the importance of understanding predictors of related constructs like sexual coercion. Definitions of sexual coercion range across studies, but most notably involve verbal or physical means to force someone into unwanted sexual acts. Prior research explored a multitude of predictors for males who engage in sexual coercion; however, little is known regarding female sexual coercion. Previous studies examined marital status, rape myth acceptance, age of first sexual intercourse, psychopathy, and history of sexual victimization experiences. There is no research to date that examines pornography use and pornography modality as predictors of sexual coercion for females. The current study incorporates both the previously indicated empirical predictors in addition to the novel variables of pornography use and modality. The current sample included 744 undergraduate females. Results indicated pornography use and modality were significant predictors of both verbal sexual coercion and an average of verbal and illegal sexual coercion. However, logistic regression results indicate pornography use was no longer a significant predictor after controlling for other variables while pornography modality remained a significant predictor. These results suggest pornography use may not be related to sexual coercion in the same way it is for males after controlling for specific variables. Additionally, psychopathy was associated with higher likelihood of engaging in verbal, illegal, and the average of verbal and illegal sexual coercion and was the strongest predictor of engaging in verbal and average sexual coercion across the regression models. These results add to the limited literature on females who engage in sexual coercion and offer insight into pornography use’s association with these behaviors.Item Beyond sports : a guidebook for potential collegiate female student-athletes(2013-05) Bauerkemper, Paige Elizabeth; Tharinger, Deborah J.Female student-athletes are a growing population on most college campuses. While incorporated into a historically male model, their experiences and outcomes are unique. This report guides potential female student-athletes in the process of deciding to participate by providing information about the female student-athlete experience. Issues to be explored include decision-making, academics, health, and stress. Sports can be a rewarding experience despite the challenge of balancing academics with athletic commitments.Item Female veterans face complex transition, high unemployment(2015-05) Kulshrestha, Kritika Pramod; Todd, Russell; Rivas-Rodriguez, MaggieJulie Puzan left Falls City, Texas, to join the Air Force in September 2003 as soon as she completed high school. Over the next six years, she was deployed to Guam twice as a weapons loader. In 2009 she left the service. That’s when things got tough. When she mustered out, she knew she needed help getting back in civilian life. She just didn’t know where to get it. Eventually she navigated the maze of assistance programs for vets and began putting her life together. Help was out there, but it was hard to find. She also realized that a flood of female vets was coming home to assistance that had been designed for men. Lots of programs dealt with problems like combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, but few were out there to treat the aftermath of sexual assaults and other challenges faced by females. Puzan is among 2.3 million female veterans in or entering the American work force after America's recent series of wars. The economy hasn't been good at absorbing these veterans. The V.A. and other veterans organizations are beginning to reach out to female vets, but find themselves behind the curve given the fast growth of the population they serve. As long as that's true, female vets will have to look hard to find the help they need in a system designed for males.Item Latina superintendents in Texas: A case study of career paths, influences, and motivation(2012-08) Portillo, Laura; Mendez-Morse, Sylvia; Klinker, JoAnn F.; Valle, FernandoABSTRACT Latina Superintendents are few in number in the education world. Although there has been an overall increase in the number of female superintendents in the last two decades, the number of Latina superintendents who hold a doctorate degree is not as high as those of other females in Texas. Many studies on Latina superintendents in school districts are relatively unexamined because of such small numbers of superintendents in the field. This study was conducted to find some answers regarding the Latina superintendent and her career path and barriers, family influences, motivations, and aspirations in seeking and obtaining the superintendent position. The study focused on the experiences of three Latina superintendents in Texas who hold a doctorate degree and found some characteristics and attributes they had in common. The central research question to this study was: What are the factors that facilitated Latinas' attainment of the superintendency in Texas? The sub questions to this study were: a) What are the career paths and barriers of Latina superintendents in Texas? b)What are the commonalities and differences in their career paths that contributed to or impeded their seeking and attaining the superintendency? c) How did their aspirations and motivations contribute to seeking and attaining the superintendency? d) How did the family influence contribute to seeking and attaining the superintendency? e) How has holding a doctorate improved the attainment of the superintendency? This study allowed the researcher and will allow others to increase their interest in the area of female superintendents in a school district and will enable researchers to provide others with answers that might help Latina leaders. This study will help researchers find answers to several questions pertaining to existing female superintendents and how they attained and have retained this leadership position. Most of the literature gears towards male superintendents and the attainment and experiences in this position. The superintendent position remains a male dominant position and therefore it is demonstrated through the lack of literature towards female superintendents and their experiences. The study is a qualitative methodology and the data collected focused primarily through the interviews of three (3) existing Latina Superintendents in Texas who hold a doctorate degree as well as open-ended questions were developed and emailed to the participants to gather information. The audio-taped interviews enabled the researcher to capture precise details and information given by participants. The findings of the study developed five (5) themes that contributed to the attainment of the highest position in public education. The themes are as follows: • strong family influence • exceptional teachers • they had mentors • doctorate • none aspired to be a superintendent early in their careerItem Physical activity in early adolescent girls : an examination of biological, affective, interpersonal and sociocultural influences(2013-08) Standiford, Anne Elizabeth; García, Alexandra Anne, 1964-; Rew, LynnPediatric overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) for age of 85th-95th percentile, and occurs in approximately 33.6% of adolescents 12-19 years of age. Hispanic adolescents are disproportionately at risk for overweight. Excess weight can predispose adolescents to develop diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, osteoporosis, asthma, and certain types of cancer, whereas physical activity can help prevent and treat these diseases. Little is known about the factors that contribute to physical activity in Hispanic adolescent girls. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the influence of personal characteristics, perceptual influences, interpersonal influences and sociocultural influences on physical activity in White and Hispanic adolescent girls. The theoretical framework for this study was self-designed--the Physical Activity Lifestyle Model. Data for this cross-sectional study was collected from girls age 11-14 who presented to the Children's Wellness Center in Del Valle, TX (N = 121) in the summers of 2011 and 2012. Most participants self-identified as Hispanic (n = 106). Participants completed a survey consisting of a 1-day physical activity recall, a demographic questionnaire, and several validated (primarily Likert-type) questionnaires. Height and weight were measured in the clinic. Data analysis began with descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation and percentage) of demographic characteristics, dependent and independent variables, then Pearson correlations, and finally multiple linear regression to determine the influence of the independent variables on physical activity. No significant differences were found between ethnic groups on age, grade or school (p > .05). Physical activity was significantly related to body image (r = .189, p < .05), friend social support (r = .279, p < .01), and family social support (r = .401, p < .01). In addition, physical activity significantly predicted BMI percentile (B = -.043, SE = .019, t = -2.249, p = .027), appearance-related media messages (B = .259, SE = .127, t = 2.038, p = .044), pressures to be thin (B = .311, SE = .149, t = 2.082, p = .040), family social support for physical activity (B = .089, SE = .042, t = 2.139, p = .035), body image (B = .367, SE = .123, t = 2.987, p = .004), and physical activity enjoyment (B = .083, SE = .040, t = 2.089, p = .040). When designing an intervention to promote physical activity, health care providers and educators should consider that multiple external factors influence physical activity participation in Hispanic adolescent girls. Healthcare providers should involve parents and siblings in physical activity interventions for overweight adolescent girls. Interventions should be tailored to work with the adolescent girls' physical and social environment. Public health nurses should work with schools and communities to increase physical activity opportunities for adolescent girls in physical education classes, girls' sports, and after-school programs.Item Post-deployment social support and social conflict in female military veterans(2010-08) Nayback-Beebe, Ann Marie; Yoder, Linda H.; Carter, Patricia A.; Harrison, Tracie C.; Angel, Jacqueline L.; Gaylord, Kathryn M.BACKGROUND: There have been prevailing gender differences in negative mental health outcomes for U.S. female service members (FSMs) returning from combat deployments with rates of depression and post-traumatic stress nearly twice that of their male peers. AIM: The aim of this research study was to examine the extent to which the absence or presence of social support, social conflict, and stressful life events either facilitated or hindered optimal mental health during the post-deployment period and shaped FSMs’ mental health in the context of the post-deployment experience. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: What was the nature of the relationship between social support, social conflict, and stressful life events and mental health symptoms (PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse) in FSMs after deployment to Iraq? And was the degree of social support or the degree of social conflict more highly associated with negative mental health symptoms (greater PTSD symptoms, greater depression symptoms, greater anxiety symptoms, and greater alcohol abuse symptoms) in FSMs after deployment to Iraq? THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: The theoretical framework for this study was derived from Vaux’s theory of social support (Vaux, 1988) and from a model developed by Berkman and Glass (2000) that hypothesized how social support and social networks have direct effects on an individual’s physical, mental, and social health. These two frameworks were viewed from a feminist standpoint perspective. METHODS: This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design used a convenience sample of 150 active duty FSMs who were 6-12 months post-deployment from Iraq and stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. FINDINGS: During preliminary exploratory data analyses and statistical assumption testing, significant between group differences were found between the officer and enlisted FSMs on four variables: annual household income, stressful life events, education, and prior exposure to violence (physical assault, sexual assault, or domestic violence). Additionally, significant differences emerged in bivariate correlations between the predictor and outcome variables when the 13 officer FSMs were separated out from the original sample during statistical analyses. These findings suggested these were two distinct populations; therefore, the sample was divided into two groups based on rank. For the officer FSMs, there were no significant bivariate correlations between social support, social conflict, or post-deployment stressful life events and any of the mental health outcomes although a one-tailed analysis was conducted due to low sample size (n = 13). In contrast, the two-tailed analysis of the enlisted FSMs (n = 137) showed significant positive bivariate correlations (p < .01) between social conflict and stressful life events and the outcome variables depression, PTSD, and anxiety symptom severity. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between social support and the outcome variables depression, PTSD, and anxiety symptom severity. Hierarchical linear regression of the enlisted FSM group showed that depression symptom severity was best explained by the presence of comorbid PTSD symptoms and the absence of social support. The presence of social conflict was excluded in the final model, and stressful life events were not found to be significant in explaining depression symptom severity. Overall, comorbid PTSD symptom severity and the absence of social support accounted for 71% of the variance in depression symptom severity in this group of enlisted FSMs. In contrast, greater PTSD symptom severity in the post-deployment period was best explained by greater comorbid depression symptom severity, the presence of social conflict, and greater stressful life events. The absence of social support did not significantly contribute to the model for PTSD symptom severity. Comorbid depression symptom severity, stressful life events, and the presence of social conflict, which were entered in three steps, accounted for 74% of the variance in PTSD symptom severity reported by this group of enlisted FSMs. And finally, greater anxiety symptom severity was best explained by greater comorbid depression symptom severity, the presence of social conflict, and the absence of social support. The presence of social conflict had a stronger relationship with anxiety symptom severity than the absence of social support in the final model. In addition, the presence of more stressful life events did not significantly contribute to the overall variance in anxiety symptom severity. Comorbid depression symptom severity, the absence of social support, and the presence of social conflict accounted for 68% of the variance in anxiety symptoms reported by this group of enlisted FSMs. The implications and recommendations based on these findings span strategic planning for the military, nursing practice, and future research.Item Risk and protective factors in commercially sexually exploited females(2015-08) Brewer, Chelsea Lynn; Tharinger, Deborah J.; Keith, Timothy, 1952-; Bentley-Edwards, Keisha; Busch-Armendariz, Noel; Awad, Germine; Fernando, April DThe commercial sexual exploitation of female minors is a problem that continues to grow domestically in the United States. Although pathways into exploitation as a minor have been addressed in the current literature, little is known about how to best meet the needs of this elusive and vulnerable population. This dissertation attempted to inform treatment, intervention, and policy for commercially sexually exploited females. The sample consisted of 160 mostly African-American females currently identified as being commercially sexually exploited. Data from the Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths for Commercial Sexual Exploitation version 1.3 were collected by service providers during a initial assessment for mental health and case management services. Resiliency Theory and the Transactional Stages of Change were used to conceptualize risk and resilience for this sample. This study addressed three specific aims. The first described demographics, individual strengths, environmental strengths, and mental health needs of this sample. The second used path analysis to analyze hypothesized relations between risk variables including caregiver risks, abuse history, and living instability, on the outcome variables of mental health symptoms, environmental strengths and individual strengths. The third aim used path analysis to explore hypothesized relations among strength variables, Stockholm Syndrome and exit variables. Two models in aim three explored the outcome variables of exit time and stage of readiness. Results indicated that cultural identity was the greatest individual strength and that the greatest environmental strength was attitude toward education. Adjustment to trauma and depression were rated as the greatest mental health needs for this sample. Age, caregiver risk and abuse history significantly predicted mental health symptoms. Caregiver risk significantly predicted fewer individual and environmental strengths. No variables were found to predict exit time or stage of readiness. However, paths from environmental strengths to Stockholm Syndrome and age of exploitation onset to Stockholm Syndrome were significant in both the exit time and stage of readiness models. These findings suggest the importance of early identification and prevention, and provide support for the construct of Stockholm Syndrome in describing and understanding the exit process. Additional treatment implications are discussed.Item The Career Experiences of African American Female Engineers(2012-10-19) Rice, Delores NichelleWomen of color, specifically African American women, within science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are significantly underrepresented in workplace organizations. However, the majority of the research addressing STEM issues is centered on increasing the pipeline, recruitment, and retention of underrepresented groups in the K-12 and collegiate domain. There is little, if any, literature focused on the career development of African American female engineers holistically. This is a critical missing link in the research which would support efforts to increase diversity in STEM. The purpose of this study was to provide this missing link by examining the career experiences of African American female engineers and exploring their challenges and support systems during their career development. This qualitative study was guided by the basic interpretive inquiry utilizing a life history approach. There were nine African American female participants in the study who currently work in an engineering field within an engineering industry. Data were obtained using in-depth interviewing where the participants were digitally recorded and the files were transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Item The Impact of Traditional Gender Role Beliefs and Relationship Status on Depression in Mexican American Women: A Study in Self- Discrepancies(2012-02-14) Perez, FlorLimited research has been conducted to examine traditional female Mexican American gender role beliefs and its impact on depression. In order to address the research questions, this dissertation developed two manuscripts. The first manuscript is a literature review that examines research concerning depression, Mexican American female gender role beliefs, and Self-Discrepancy theory. The second manuscript is a quantitative study that investigates the impact gender role beliefs and partner status has on depression in Mexican American women. Furthermore, the second manuscript suggests variables that contribute to depression in Mexican American women and recommendations for clinicians. The aim of the second manuscript is to examine the literature concerning depression in Mexican American women and the ways in which traditional gender role beliefs and self-discrepancies may impact Mexican American women's mental health. This dissertation begins by examining the literature concerning depression in Mexican American women. It then explores Mexican American women's gender role socialization, including a review of the values that are taught through this process. This study then provides an in depth inspection of the ideal of marianismo, which guides traditional Mexican American women's gender role beliefs. Next it progresses to discuss Self-Discrepancy theory and possible mental health outcomes. Examples of possible self-discrepancies related to traditional Mexican American women's gender role beliefs are provided to illustrate how depression may occur when self-discrepancies are present. Finally, it provides recommendations for clinicians who work with depressed Mexican American women. The second manuscript examines the impact of traditional gender role beliefs and partner status on depression in a sample of 325 Mexican American women. It is hypothesized that an interaction effect between partner status and gender role beliefs will be found, whereas Mexican American women who are unpartnered and have traditional gender role beliefs will experience a greater amount of depression, due to the presence of a discrepancy. Contrarily, results from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) found no interaction between partner status and gender role beliefs on depression. The manuscript provides possible explanations for such findings. In addition, results from a hierarchical regression indicate that level of education and the family pillar aspect of marianismo significantly impact depression in Mexican American women.Item Trauma and disruption of psychological needs in delinquent female adolescents(2012-05) Groomes, Amber Nicole; Sander, Janay Boswell; Carlson, CindyThe proposed study will explore the relationship between trauma and delinquent behaviors and how this relationship differs between male and female adolescents. I aim to investigate why childhood exposure to interpersonal trauma is a stronger predictor of delinquency in females than males. Within female adolescents, I propose that the relationship between trauma and delinquency is mediated by disruption in attachment schema which is caused by exposure to trauma. Therefore, I will use multiple regression to analyze a moderated mediation model. This model is informed by Social Control Theory and a Feminist Pathways Perspective of crime and delinquency. Study participants will include male and female adolescents attending public high school in Austin, Texas.Item Under the radar : posttraumatic stress disorder, sexual assault, and the college woman(2011-05) Langford, Lindsey Ariene; Awad, Germine H.; Rude, Stephanie S.The current report reviews the recent literature on the relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sexual assault, and the resulting psychological impact on college women. This document is an overview of PTSD and sexual assault as defined in recent literature, and then reviews the significant impact both factors have on the college woman and her surrounding environment. Intervention and prevention strategies for the negative consequences of sexual assault and PTSD are included. Finally, this report provides suggestions for counselors on appropriate treatment and intervention plans for a college campus.