Browsing by Subject "quality of life"
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Item Aesthetic responses to urban greenway trail corridors: Implications for sustainable development in tourism and recreation settings(Texas A&M University, 2005-08-29) Chon, Jin HyungUrban greenway trails are emerging as potential tourist attractions in cities and are well recognized for their recreation opportunities in general. The study presented an opportunity to expand the scope of aesthetic response research into the realm of urban greenway trails. The concept of likability (Nasar, 1998) was used as a guiding concept in the study. In order to gather data for the study, a web-based virtual tour was developed and implemented. Treatments were assigned to 6 groups that viewed two urban greenway trail corridors. Each trail had three treatments including the existing trail condition, a manipulated trail condition, and a reverse in direction of the existing trail condition. Analyses were conducted to 1) identify dimensions of aesthetic responses, 2) examine relationships between cognitive evaluation, affective response, trail characteristics, and likability, and 3) evaluate specific greenway trail characteristics and their relationships to the trail experience. Results indicated five aesthetic dimensions of the greenway trail corridors. The cognitive dimensions were maintenance, distinctiveness, and naturalness and the affective dimensions were pleasantness and arousal. Pleasantness and distinctiveness were the strongest predictors of likability in urban greenway trails. In terms of greenway trail characteristics, six of eight specific characteristics had predictive value in relation to how inviting the virtual trail was to the viewer. Finally, several greenway trail characteristics had significant influences on human perception and the likability of trail environments. This study proposed a new way of conceptualizing likability and a model of relationships leading to likability. One of the major implications of this study is to identify a way to improve physical conditions of greenway corridors in urban areas based on aesthetic responses. The study also implied that greenways can encompass natural or man-made features and can be managed and developed as a tourist attraction while providing local opportunities in cities. Aesthetic quality influences perceived quality of life and sense of well-being. Findings of the study can help enhance the aesthetic quality of the greenway trails that can contribute to sustainable development in various tourism and recreation settings.Item Aging of Development: the Saemangeum Tideland Reclamation Project (STRP) in South Korea and Sustainable Development of the Two Townships in and out of the STRP(2012-07-16) Choi, In HuckIs the biggest tideland reclamation project in the world (the STRP) sustainable? Since 1991, the STRP which aims at converting mudflats into 401 km2 farmland and industrial complex has been carried out in the southwestern coast of South Korea. I designed a comparative study between two neighboring rural townships with nearly identical social and ecological features except that one is within the project area and no longer has mudflats, and the other is outside of the project area and has retained its mudflats (an important source of clams). This dissertation answers the question above by comparing, sustainable development indicators and quality of life indicators in the two townships. I expected to find that people living in the township within the project area would be more sustainable because they have gone through with the environment versus development controversy in their own villages and many of them participated in person in protests with the national/local environmental movement organizations. This study uses one of the best known consumption-based sustainable development indicators (SDIs) - Personal Ecological Footprint (PEF), combined with the ethnographic data from the two townships (Gyehwa-township and Simwon-township) ? to demonstrate that the PEF values of the two townships appear to be the same and the status of quality of life is quite similar. As an explanation of the unexpected result, this study contends that the level of sustainable development of the people in the in-project area (Gyehwa-township) has been more affected by nation-wide economic development trajectory than by a major regional development project (the STRP). The first stage of the STRP - the construction of the dykes - has brought about a significant effect of displacement, which cannot be said to be sustainable. However, the total influence on sustainable development in South Korea by the STRP will be determined by the progress of the second stage - internal development.Item Arthritis impact on the physical function, disability, and health-related quality of life among older Mexican-Americans(2009-03-02) Saad M. Bindawas; Elizabeth J. Protas, P.T., Ph.D.; Yong-fang Kuo, Ph.D.; Soham Al Snih, M.D., Ph.D.; Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, O.T.R., Ph.D.; Dennis L. Hart, P.T., Ph.D.; Anita C. Mercado, M.D.Background and Purpose: Arthritis is a major cause of disability with a sizable impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults, especially among older non-Hispanic white subjects. The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between arthritis and its effects on the physical function, disability, and health-related quality of life, over time, among older Mexican-Americans, the fastest growing subset of the older population. \r\nDesign: A six-year prospective cohort study (2000 to 2006). Setting: Five Southwestern states: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California. \r\nParticipants: A population-based sample of 621 non-institutionalized Mexican-Americans aged 65 or older from wave four of the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (Hispanic EPESE). \r\nMeasurements: Included sociodemographic variables, self-reported of: arthritis, pain on weight-bearing, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), physical and mental HRQoL, medical conditions, cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Lower and upper extremity muscles strength, lower body function test and body mass index (BMI) were also obtained. General linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the time effect on: 1) each stage of the disablement process and 2) physical and mental HRQoL over three points of time (2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2006). This study conforms to STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) guidelines for cohort studies. \r\nResults: The results indicate 1) a significant association between arthritis and greater impairment (pain and poor muscle strength), functional limitation, disability (ADL and IADL), and physical HRQoL across time; and 2) a significant association between impairment, functional limitation, and IADL limitation with physical and mental HRQoL across time. Conclusions: In older Mexican-Americans, arthritis is a highly prevalent medical condition which significantly impacts physical function, daily activities, and physical HRQoL over time. In this cohort, impairment, functional limitation, and disability were associated with poorer physical and mental HRQoL. These findings could guide efforts in reaching the goals of the National Arthritis Action Plan, as well as the Healthy People 2010 initiative goals of increasing quality of life and eliminating health disparities in this segment of the older U.S. population.Item Growing minds: evaluating the effects of gardening on quality of life and obesity in older adults(2009-05-15) Lillard, Aime Jo SommerfeldOlder adults represent a growing part of the population of the United States. Due to decreased physical activity, dietary changes, and alterations in metabolic rate this population is susceptible to an increased rate of diseases. The generation entering older adulthood is one which welcomed fast food and meal replacement foods allowing them to adapt to a more sedentary lifestyle and to need programs of preventative health. The Nutrition and Life Satisfaction Survey was used to investigate gardening as a preventative health intervention for older adults. This instrument was used to compare older (age 50+) gardeners and nongardeners on their perceptions of personal life satisfaction, nutrition, health, and gardening habits. The instrument was posted online at the Aggie Horticulture website in spring 2005. Respondents differentiated themselves as gardeners or nongardeners by responding positively or negatively to the question ?Do you garden?? Then, they completed the questionnaire about their quality of life andhealth status and, for gardeners, their gardening habits. Results indicated that gardeners had more desirable responses: Overall quality of life scores were higher for gardeners compared to nongardeners, and four individual quality of life statements yielded more positive answers by gardeners. Additionally, gardeners reported a higher consumption of total fruits and vegetables, including herbs, and of vegetables only including herbs. Personal reports of physical activity and of perceived health were higher among gardeners. Females were more likely than males to garden and spend a higher percentage of their budget on fruits and vegetables. Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and higher levels of physical activity result in healthier lifestyles and, in turn, can increase quality of life.Item Relationship among religious coping, psychosocial factors, and quality of life in individuals with type 2 diabetes(2009-06-02) Lager, Julia M.The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among religious coping, acceptance of diabetes, social support, diabetes management, and quality of life among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Religious coping, acceptance of diabetes, and social support were hypothesized to encourage adherence to self - management behaviors thus enhancing quality of life. A convenience sample of 247 T2DM patients was recruited from local churches, clinics, a diabetes support group, and a diabetes education class. Participants completed a 10-page survey comprising the following reliable and valid scales: Religious Problem Solving Scale-Short Form, Ideas About Diabetes-Revised Scale (IAD-R), the PRQ2000, the Religious Support Scale, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities-Revised, and the Diabetes Quality of Life Measure. The mean age of the respondents was 54 years, with the majority being female (68%), Caucasian (53%), and of Protestant religious affiliation (58%). Gender and ethnic differences were found for religious coping, acceptance of diabetes, and selfmanagement behaviors. African Americans and women were more religious and used more religious coping. African Americans also felt more inhibited by diabetes and women were more likely to regularly examine their feet. Gender, general social support, and feeling less inhibited by diabetes (subscale of acceptance) were significant predictors of quality of life in the multivariate (regression) analysis (F (19, 219) = 7.777, p < .001; adjusted R2 = .351). Results of this study support past research indicating the influence of gender, social support, and feeling inhibited by diabetes on respondents' quality of life. Attention to patients' level of social support and diabetes education that teaches patients how to integrate the disease into their life may be critical to improving quality of life.Item The Relation Between Family Functioning, Health-related Quality of Life, and Metabolic Control in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes(2011-10-21) Lawrence, Kelly AnnThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family functioning, health-related quality of life, and metabolic control in order to identify areas for intervention that can improve medical and psychosocial outcomes for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Children (N = 45) ages 8-17, both male and female, with type 1 diabetes, along with one caregiver (parent or legal guardian) (N = 45) were asked to complete the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) generic and diabetes-specific form to assess health-related quality of life along with the Diabetes Family Behavior Checklist and the Family Relationship Index of the Family Environment Scale to assess family functioning. Recent Hemoglobin A1c (A1c) was obtained from the physician at their visit or by parent report to assess metabolic control. Results indicated a significant relationship with poorer metabolic control relating to poorer physical health-related quality of life, as reported by children. All reports indicated a significant correlation between metabolic control and both general and diabetes specific health-related quality of life. There was a significant relationship with mother?s educational level on the outcome variables; educational level was therefore used as a control variable in all regression analyses. Child-reported general family functioning accounted for a significant amount of variance in child reported general health-related quality of life. Parent score on the non-supportive scale for diabetes specific family functioning accounted for a significant amount of variance in parent reported general health-related quality of life and diabetes specific health-related quality of life for their child. Results demonstrated the importance of obtaining both child and parent perspectives on issues regarding general family functioning and health-related quality of life and diabetes specific family functioning and health-related quality of life. In addition, they illustrated the importance of assessing health-related quality of life for children with diabetes as opposed to merely looking at the physical effects.