Browsing by Subject "adolescents"
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Item Application of the bioecological model and health belief model to self-reported health risk behaviors of adolescents in the united states(2009-05-15) Fleary, Sasha A.Health risk behaviors are responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality among adolescents. Researchers have identified three sources of risk-taking in adolescents ? dispositional, ecological and biological. The Bioecological Model incorporates these three sources of risk-taking, however it lacks explanatory power. For this reason, this thesis focused on explaining risk perception of health risk behaviors (smoking cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use), and health risk behaviors by integrating the Bioecological Model with a more specific Health Belief Model. The relationship between risk perception and health risk behavior was also investigated as a first step in understanding adolescent decision-making using the Health Belief Model. Adolescents from a suburban Indiana area were asked to complete the Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey which assessed egocentrism, self-esteem, social norms, risk perceptions, and the incidence and prevalence of health endangering behaviors. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the ability of the systems in the Bioecological Model and their specific variables to explain risk perception of health risk behaviors. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to determine the ability of the systems in the Bioecological Model and their specific variables to explain health risk behaviors and to moderate the relationships between risk perception and health risk behaviors. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the Bioecological Model is important in understanding adolescent?s risk perception of health risk behaviors, and their self-reported health risk behaviors. It is also important in understanding the relationship between risk perception and health risk behaviors. Adolescent Variables, Microsystem, and Mesosystem were significant in predicting adolescent risk perception of all health risk behaviors examined, and self-reported smoking cigarette behavior and marijuana use. Adolescent variables and Microsystem were the only systems to predict adolescent self-reported alcohol use. The relationship between risk perception and reported smoking cigarette behavior was moderated by Adolescent Variables, Microsystem and Mesosystem, however for alcohol use the path was moderated by Adolescent Variables and for marijuana use the path was moderated by the Mesosytem. Results of this thesis imply the importance of considering the contribution of Bioecological Model variables when implementing prevention intervention programs specific to adolescent health risk behaviors.Item Attitudes about Food(2012-10-19) Baker, Nicole AlexisApproximately 18% of adolescents are obese. Attitudes about Food is a cross sectional study that seeks to identify lifestyle factors associated with adolescent obesity such as fast food consumption, physical activity, attitudes about fast food, and weight perception. The novel aspect of this study is that it seeks to understand how the respondent perceives the health attitudes and behaviors of their closest friends. Subjects were recruited from four youth organizations for a total of 25 participants between the ages of 12-17 years. Respondents completed a 71 item questionnaire, and height and weight were measured by trained interviewers to calculate BMI. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 19.0), and hypotheses were assessed using correlation coefficients. Obese respondents were more likely than non0obese participants to consume at least three fast food meals in the last week (P < .05). Consuming fast food in the last week of the study was associated with exercising one hour a week or less (P < .01). Agreeing that eating fast food is fun was associated with BMI >= 85th percentile (P < .01). Reporting that friends think eating fast food is healthy was associated with eating fast food three or more times in the last week (P < .04) and exercising one hour a week or less (P < .01). Individuals who reported exercising at least four days a week were likely to agree with the statements "eating fast food will make me fat" (P < .03) and "will increase total fat" (p < .05). Finally, overweight adolescents were more likely to underestimate their weight status compared to normal weight and obese respondents. These findings indicate a clustering of risk factors for obesity. Frequent fast food consumption and infrequent physical activity were associated in the present study which could tip the scales of energy balance. Health professionals could focus on raising awareness of the overall diet quality of adolescents who frequently consume fast food while encouraging healthy, fun alternatives to fast food. Screening for overweight status and eliciting peer support for healthy eating are key elements in reducing adolescent obesity.Item Changes in Obesity-related Food Behavior: A Nutrition Education Intervention to Change Attitudes and Other Factors Associated with Food-related Intentions in Adolescents: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior(2011-08-08) Carson, Diane E.This research examines the effect of a nutrition education intervention to change attitudes and other factors associated with eating breakfast and consuming low-fat dairy and whole-grains. Adolescents (n = 106) 11 to 15 years old were recruited from afterschool programs in Los Angeles County, California. Participants in the treatment group (n = 57) met once weekly for 60 minutes during seven weeks. The curriculum focused on changing attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward eating breakfast along with including low-fat dairy and whole grains. The first three lessons focused on basic nutrition concepts. The later lessons focused on identifying barriers and overcoming barriers, goal-setting, and identifying methods to stay motivated. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SAS statistical analysis program (v. 9.2). Eighty-eight percent of participants were Hispanic, 55% were girls, and mean age was 12 years. One-hundred six adolescents completed the questionnaire at baseline and 75 completed it at post-intervention. Cronbach alpha statistic for subjective norms and attitudes toward eating breakfast, consuming low-fat dairy and whole-grains were 0.67 and higher for each dependant variable. Intention was significantly predicted by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control; however, as these models do not differentiate change, additional models were run with interactions between group (treatment versus control) and the change variables. Significant changes in perceived behavioral control were observed among participants in the treatment group regarding drinking skim milk, 1% milk, and 2% milk respectively (p < .05; p < .001; p < .001) and attitude (p < .05). No change was observed in breakfast eating or consumption of wholegrainsItem Children with Psychological Distress or Epilepsy: Somatization and Adaptive Skills(2012-10-19) Villarreal, NicholeThe following study examines two samples of children; children diagnosed as having a chronic illness, and children experiencing psychological distress. Children from both samples are at risk for similar things: poor social skills, challenges in establishing peer relationships, and the later development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Adding to these negative outcomes is the development of somatic complaints within each sample. Little research has examined children experiencing psychological distress prior to diagnosis, nor has a comprehensive study been conducted on children with epilepsy examining each of the adaptive skill areas. Further study of the adaptive skill areas for each group provides a foundation for understanding the strengths and weaknesses that each sample has. The following study is a quantitative, multisource, retrospective research project using parent/guardian completed rating scales relating to child behaviors; medical history information was also obtained from the chronic illness group. The relationship between somatic complaints and adaptive skills for children experiencing psychological distress (n = 128) was explored utilizing nonparametric statistical analysis. Additional nonparametric analyses were used for children with chronic illness (n = 94) to understand the relationship between adaptive skills and somatic complaints with the added medical factors of duration of illness and age of onset. The results of the children experiencing psychological distress suggest that age and sex play a role in adaptive skills, with both groups sharing common deficits in functional communication and adaptive skills. Internalizing and externalizing disorders were both positively correlated with somatic complaints, while adaptability and leadership were negatively correlated. The results of the epilepsy group indicate differing adaptive skill profiles for the complex partial (CP) and secondary generalized (SGTC) tonic clonic group. SGCT group had deficits in the areas of activities of daily living and leadership, while the CP group had no reported adaptive skill concerns but elevations in somatization. For both groups, onset and duration of illness were correlated with adaptability, functional communication and activities of daily living. Exploratory analysis utilizing teacher reports yielded negative correlations between somatization and functional communication, and deficits in the area of adaptability for the CP seizure group.Item Evaluation of a theoretical model of perceptual accuracy and self-management behavior in pediatric diabetes(Texas A&M University, 2005-11-01) Lane, Mariella MarieThis study evaluated a model of perceptual accuracy and self-management behavior in pediatric diabetes. Participants were 169 children and adolescents (10-18 years) attending diabetes summer camps. Error grid analysis quantified global perceptual accuracy and specific blood glucose estimation errors. The mean accuracy index was 15%, failure to detect hyperglycemia being the most frequent error. Path analysis evaluated models for failure to detect hypoglycemia, failure to detect hyperglycemia, and overestimation of normal blood glucose. Results reflected relatively good fit of the data with the models; however, results did not support mediational hypotheses and explained minimal variance in perceptual error. In sum, participants made considerable estimation errors that may affect self-management; however, results did not support the theoretical models in this sample.Item Exploring oral health among pregnant and parenting adolescent women: a mixed methods study(2010-05) Murphey, Christina Leigh; Rew, Lynn; Cappelli, David; Fowles, Eileen; Garcia, Alexandra; Walker, LorraineDespite growing interest in maternal oral health, research aimed at this population is scant. To date, no qualitative studies of adolescent maternal oral health exist. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive, exploratory, concurrent, mixed-methods study was to explore oral health status, beliefs, and practices, and pregnancy and parenting outcomes in this population by triangulating both quantitative and qualitative data. A non-probability, convenience sample of 46 pregnant and parenting adolescents was recruited. Five questionnaires were administered and visual oral examinations were conducted. Twenty-four of these 46 participants also participated in the qualitative component of the study. Adolescents in this study were both pregnant (n = 20; 43.5%) and parenting (n = 26; 56.5%), and primarily of Hispanic decent (n = 38; 83%). Of the 20 adolescents who were pregnant, four had been told by a nurse or physician that they had a pregnancy complication(s). Among the parenting adolescents, the most common past pregnancy complications were self-reported as prematurity (n = 6; 35%) and high blood pressure (n = 3; 18%). Thirty-three (72%) participants reported ever having dental insurance. While 16 (35%) participants had seen a dentist in the past 6 months, another 15 (33%) did not recall their last dental visit. One adolescent reported never having been to a dentist. Associations among visual oral health status and selected contextual variables were non-significant, which may be attributed to the small sample size. However, moderate significant correlations were found between social connectedness and oral-health-related quality of life, as well as between visual oral health status and measures of self-reported dental health. For the qualitative component, six themes related to oral health value and well-being, oral health knowledge, practices, myths, and barriers to accessing oral health services emerged. Triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative data did not produce statistical significance; however, discrepancies were found between the overall objective, visual oral health status, and the subjective perception of oral health status, which supports the overall findings. Future research should focus on larger studies to further explore associations between social connectedness, oral-health-related quality of life, and objective and subjective measures of oral health status and behaviors.Item Factors Associated With Hispanic Female Adolescents' Reproductive Behaviors: A Systematic Review(2012-07-16) Fernandez, AlejandraIt is clear that the US federal government is concerned about the country's teen pregnancy rates and would like to see changes. Without a precise understanding of the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy, and specifically with Hispanic female adolescent pregnancy, monies allocated to prevention programs could go to waste. The focus of this study was to systematically review the current literature as it relates to factors, in this case attitudes, beliefs and practices that influence Hispanic female adolescents' reproductive behaviors. This study consisted of systematically reviewing published studies, through a process of abstracting and organizing their findings into a matrix. Three electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, ERIC, and CINAHL. The initial search yielded a total of 494 publications. After applying specific inclusion criteria, the final sample of publications included forty-nine (n=49). Publications were categorized as primarily quantitative or primarily qualitative studies. Methodological characteristics of each study were judged using an overall methodological quality score (MQS) assigned to each study. Different MQS criteria were developed for qualitative and quantitative studies. A total of 205 findings were abstracted from the 49 included reports. Beliefs that were identified consistently among the studies were norms and values associated with condom use, partner's beliefs, hedonistic beliefs, and communicative beliefs. Norms and values were also seen as important when adolescents chose to remain abstinent. Findings that were unique the Hispanic adolescent population were identified as well with cultural factors showing significant associations. Regarding methodological quality, fewer than 50% of studies included a theoretical framework and only 11 included Hispanic-only samples. Qualitative studies had similar findings to those of the quantitative studies, but also introduced new factors associated with reproductive behaviors. Acculturation constructs were seen among the qualitative studies as being positively associated to sexual abstinence. Other behaviors such as partner's manipulation of birth control and the use of female condoms were unique to the qualitative studies done in this review. This review provided a critical assessment of the literature and it methodological qualities. Findings should be interpreted with caution due to limitations. Concentrating on unique factors associated with the Hispanic population can lead to interventions that are culturally sensitive to this population and effective. Health professionals should focus on conducting more studies with exclusively Hispanic samples and use factors unique to the Hispanic population when planning health education programs that are culturally sensitivity to Hispanic female adolescents' needs and world-views.Item Food Group Consumption in a Sample of Children in Houston Area and Its Related Influencing Factors(2012-07-16) Peng, LuThe objective of this research is to discover if significant relationships exist between age, gender, household income, locations where children/adolescents ate, whom they ate with, whether they considered the food as a meal or a snack, and their consumption of food by food group. Three hundred and twelve children (9-11 years old)/adolescents (13-15 years old) completed a 24-hour dietary intake recall, and a 2-day dietary record. The subject was asked to indicate the amount of food he/she consumed, where he/she consumed it, who was with him/her when he/she consumed the food, and whether he/she considered the food to be a meal or a snack. The information was coded and all the foods were grouped into 12 groups. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The results showed that children had higher intakes of breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, snacks and desserts than adolescents. Girls consumed more snacks and desserts, and condiments than boys. Children/adolescents in families with higher household incomes consumed more snacks and desserts, but fewer meats than those with lower household incomes. Children and adolescents consumed more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats, and snacks and desserts when they ate at home than when they ate away from home. Children/adolescents ate more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats and condiments when they ate with various family members than when they ate alone, with only one family member or with non-family members. Children/adolescents consumed more breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, burgers and sandwiches, snacks and desserts, condiments, but less fats when they ate with their friends as compared to eating with others. Children/adolescents who ate breakfast had higher intakes of breads and cereals, dairy products, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, fats, meats, snacks and desserts, and condiments than those who did not eat breakfast. Children/adolescents who ate more fruit and fruit juices had consumed significantly more breads and cereals, dairy products, vegetables, snacks and desserts, but consumed fewer sweetened beverages than those who did not eat fruits and fruit juices.Item Parental Psychological Control, Religious Coping, and Psychological Distress in Chinese American Christian Adolescents(2014-07-31) Chang, BonnyAsian American adolescents have been documented as having high levels of depressive symptoms and psychological distress. Asian American Christians are an understudied, growing subpopulation of Asian American adolescents who represent a unique intersection of identities that may have implications for how they cope with stress. This study examined the effects of parental psychological control and religious coping on adolescent psychological distress in Chinese American Christian adolescents. A community sample of Chinese American Christian adolescents (N = 52), ages 14 to 18, completed online questionnaires containing measures of parental psychological control, adolescent religious coping, and adolescent psychological distress. Correlational analyses and path analyses were used to assess hypothesized relationships. Path analyses showed significant paths from negative religious coping to depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. While correlational analyses did not show significant associations between composite scores, associations were found between mother erratic emotional behavior and depressive symptoms, mother erratic emotional behavior and anxiety symptoms, and father erratic emotional behavior and depressive symptoms. Mother love withdrawal was associated with greater use of positive religious coping, as well as the specific methods of spiritual connection, religious forgiving, collaborative religious coping, and religious focus. Spiritual discontent, a negative religious coping method, was correlated with depressive symptoms. These findings contribute to our understanding of the roles of parental psychological control and religious coping on psychological distress levels in Chinese American Christian adolescents.Item Psychological and Family Characteristics of Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes(2012-10-19) Mireles, GerardoType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is now increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents at an alarming rate, especially in youth from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Youth diagnosed with T2DM and their families face many challenges associated with the illness and its complications. Given that the prevalence of T2DM in youth is a recent trend, most of the studies examining T2DM have been conducted with adults. The current study expands the literature base of youth with T2DM by collecting demographic and clinical data of youth with T2DM and their families. Regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship among youth's executive function, their body mass index (BMI) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level. Furthermore, the study analyzed the relationship among depressive symptoms and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in youth, and the role of family members in sharing of tasks related to T2DM care and the youth's HRQOL. Results of this study demonstrated that executive function does not predict a youth's HbA1c, nor their BMI. Interestingly, one of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that youth's rating of their ability to adjust to changes in routine or task demands and their ability to modulate emotions significantly correlated with their BMI. Results also demonstrated that HbA1c does not mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and HRQOL, nor the relationship between the family sharing of responsibilities related to T2DM tasks and HRQOL. Future research examining the relationship among psychological and family characteristics can aid the development of diabetes prevention and treatment management.Item Short-term effects of a nutrition education program on food choices in adolescents at risk for type 2 diabetes(2009-10-26) Melissa Domingeaux Ethington; Alice S. Hill, RN, PhD, FAAN; Katrina L. Parker, MD, FAAP; Fred D. Cordova, EdD, RN; Elnora Mendias, RN, PhD, FNP, APRN, BC; Charlotte A. Wisnewski, PhD, RN, BC, CDE, CNEType 2 Diabetes (T2D) among adolescents has increased over the past several decades. Genetic susceptibility may play a role in the occurrence of this illness. However, the current epidemic of T2D among adolescents reflects, in part, changes in the quality of the adolescent diet, particularly fast food consumption. \r\n\r\nTherefore, the aims of this study were to: (1) determine the nutritional intake of adolescents who are at risk for the development of T2D using an interactive CD (Fast Foods and Families: Making Good Choices for Better Health); and (2) identify the level of dietary self-efficacy (DSE) for adolescents at risk for the development of T2D following a nutrition education program (NEP).\r\n\r\nA quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with random assignment was used with 40 adolescents (ages 11 to 15) identified as at risk for T2D. Four NEP sessions were conducted with the intervention group and a 45-minute standard education program session was conducted with the control group. \r\n\r\nForty-seven percent (n = 19) of the adolescents were considered at risk for being overweight (17.5%; n = 7) or were overweight (30%; n = 12). A majority (80%) of adolescents consumed some fast food. Approximately 38% (n = 15) of adolescents reported eating fast food more than twice a week. There were no differences between the groups on their selection of calories, fat, sodium, and sugar (p > .05) following the intervention. DSE improved significantly (t = -5.055, df = 19, p =.000) following the completion of the NEP. While the NEP did not make a difference in the food selected by the adolescents, an improvement in DSE was noted following these sessions. \r\nItem Social Norms Among Peers and Social Norms Among Friends and Their Influences on Adolescents? Sexual Risk Perceptions(2012-02-14) Diep, Cassandra SomadeviThe influence of peers and peer norms is a significant health determinant of adolescent sexual activity, yet little is known in health education about differences between peer pressure and friend pressure on adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate differences between social norms among friends and social norms among peers and determine if differences influence adolescents? sexual risk perceptions. As a secondary data analysis of the 2006 Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors Survey data, this study included 915 adolescents in grades 8, 10, and 12 who completed questions pertaining to perceived sexual activity rates and perceived risks from having unprotected sex. T-tests, analyses of variance, and linear regression analyses indicated that adolescents perceived a difference between social norms among peers and social norms among friends and that these differences influenced risk perceptions differently. Future research should explore how social norms among friends influence adolescents? risk behaviors and how to incorporate this focus into effective and efficient sex education efforts.Item Somatic Complaints and Chinese-American Adolescents: Examining the Role of Parent-child Relationships(2013-06-05) Kao, Grace Sung-TzuMental health needs of Asian-American youth have been documented as substantial and increasing, but limited research has identified explanatory mechanisms or possible targets of intervention for reducing mental health symptoms. The present study contributed to the limited existing research on self-regulatory abilities as mechanisms that may explain the linkage between Chinese-American parenting styles and adolescent somatization. A community sample of Chinese-American parent-adolescent dyads (N= 104) residing in the greater Houston, TX area were recruited to complete a battery of questionnaires containing measures of adolescent somatization, self-regulatory abilities, and parental psychological control. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted to test hypothesized relationships and models. Parent-reported emotional and cognitive self-regulatory control variables were found to mediate the relationship between utilization of aspects of both parent and adolescent-reported parental psychological control and parent-reported adolescent somatization. Additionally, lower parent-adolescent Asian values agreement level was found to predict higher parent-reported somatic complaint occurrence. Results suggest that multiple aspects of self-regulation serve as mediating mechanisms by which parenting styles may influence adolescent somatic complaint occurrence. Findings have implications for understanding of pathways to somatization (and mental health outcomes overall) in the Asian-American youth population.Item The effects of the middle school concept on student achievement as identified by principals and the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) reports in selected middle schools in Texas(Texas A&M University, 2005-02-17) Brundrett, Robert ClintonThe purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between the level of implementation of the middle school concept and student achievement. The level of implementation of the middle school concept was determined by the Texas Assessment of Middle Level Schools (TAMLS) which was completed by a random sample of middle school principals from across Texas. Student achievement and selected demographic data were obtained from the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) reports on the various campuses as published on the Texas Education Agency (TEA, 2003a) website. Student achievement, school size, and demographic variables were investigated using frequency counts, mean scores, standard deviations, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson product?moment correlations across independent variable categories. The independent variable categories were the five criteria and the total score as rated by principals on the TAMLS survey. Major research findings of this study include: 1. Relationships were found between the TAMLS criteria of developmental responsiveness and teacher preparation and professional development with student achievement across all of the research questions examined. 2. Relationships were found between school size, the TAMLS criteria and student achievement. 3. Relationships were found between student ethnicity, the TAMLS criteria, and student achievement. The study results with regard to the relationship between the level of implementation of the middle school concept, taken in its totality, are inconclusive. This finding is supported in a review of the literature. Based on the findings of the study, researcher recommendations include: 1. Middle schools involved in reform efforts to improve student achievement should focus their efforts in the areas of developmental responsiveness and teacher professional development. 2. Principals of large middle schools (n ? 801 students) should consider the implementation of the middle school concept as a design strategy when reform efforts are undertaken.Item Under the Radar: The Effects of Computer Games on Investigative Self-efficacy(2012-02-14) Columbus, Yolanda RoChelle DeboseMinorities are underrepresented in the science workforce yet adequately represented as players of computer games. Findings in career development research suggest that a decision to pursue a science career is directly impacted by a person?s investigative self-efficacy. Because minority students choose to spend a significant amount of time playing computer games this study examines the effects of computer games on investigative self-efficacy. The dissertation is composed of a systematic literature review, the development of a theoretical framework, and an application of the theoretical framework in a quasiexperimental study. In the systematic literature review, the small-to-moderate effect sizes of the 6 systematically identified studies suggest that elements in computer games can potentially affect self-efficacy. Unfortunately, the similarities across the small number of studies makes it difficult to generalize the results to other settings and content areas while variability across the studies makes it difficult to pinpoint which computer game elements or type of computer games affect self-efficacy. An exploration of theories and empirical research in cognitive psychology, career development, and performance in complex environments led to a theoretical framework. The theoretical framework integrates attention, flow, and self-efficacy theories as well as the results of Berry and Broadbent?s (1988) study that compared the effects of implicit and explicit instructions on performance. Using the theoretical framework developed in this dissertation, stealth educational games are proposed as an option for building the investigative self-efficacy of unmotivated or academically struggling learners. The effect of stealth educational games on minority students? investigative selfefficacy was explored. Based on the statistical results in this study and the differences across each of the schools, the potential value of stealth educational games is still unknown. Future research should employ theory to systematically document and define the context in which the game is delivered, incorporate assessments built into the game instead of using surveys, include incentives for student participation and obedience, and compare the effects of a stealth educational game to an explicitly educational game.