Theses and Dissertations - Department of Health Science

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations - Department of Health Science by Subject "Health Sciences, Education"

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    Development of a theory based instrument to predict the influence of sexually-oriented music lyrics on the sexual attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of African-American adolescents
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2010) Gordon, Brian C.; Perko, Mike; Turner, Lori W.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Early sexual initiation among American adolescents represents a major public health problem. African-American adolescents (AAas) report earlier age of sexual initiation, which places them at an increased risk of ill health outcomes. Approximately 3 million adolescents are infected with a STI yearly, with the highest incidence occurring in African Americans from impoverished, inner city environments. A relationship among media exposure and media's influence on adolescents' sexual perceptions, attitudes, and intentions has been suggested. However, answers as to whether sexually-oriented music lyrics influence adolescent sexual initiation are unclear. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument based on the Theory of Reasoned Action to enable researchers to predict the influence of sexually-oriented music lyrics on the sexual attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of AAas. A nine step process was followed to develop a survey to enable researchers to predict the influence of sexually-oriented music lyrics on the sexual attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of African-American adolescents. The steps were: 1) identify the attitudinal object, 2) collect a pool of opinion items, 3) submit pool of items to expert panel for review, 4) pilot test draft of the survey, 5) administer item pool to a group of respondents, 6) score each item for each respondent, 7) sum respondents' item scores, 8) correlate item scores with total scale scores for all respondents, and 9) apply statistical criteria for elimination of test items. One hundred eighty-five (n =185) AAas in grades 6-8 residing in rural and urban communities in Alabama participated in the study. An initial pool of items (n =95) was developed based on the TRA, a review of the literature, and input received through focus group interviews with the target audience. Items were eliminated through expert panel review (n =49), item response discrimination, factor analysis (1), and Cronbach's alpha (3). Four subscales were identified with reliability statistics ranging from .722-.940. The final instrument consisted of 44 items with a Cronbach's alpha of .846. Future research should utilize this survey to determine the influence sexually-oriented music lyrics may have on the sexual attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of African-American adolescents.
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    Knowledge, engagement, and perceptions of the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for cardiovascular physical activity: a university undergraduate comparison
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2010) Brown, George Milton; Usdan, Stuart L.; Turner, Lori W.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Background: The early onset of chronic disease is a major health concern facing the nation. Leading health indicators support physical activity to reduce the mortality and morbidity rates among individuals. The college years represent a time of transition and potential for improved adherence to positive health behaviors. As institutions of higher education seek to improve retention through positive health behavior, an increase in attention to physical activity is warranted. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, engagement and perceptions of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for cardiovascular physical activity among university freshmen and seniors. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to survey all University of Alabama undergraduate students (N=21,775). A 26-question electronic survey was used to collect data. Results: A total of 877 surveys were returned representing a four percent (4.0%) response rate. The mean knowledge scores were 4.26 (out of possible 8.0). Students engaged in moderate intensity physical activity on less (M=3.73) days per week than recommended by the ACSM. For vigorous intensity physical activity students reported engagement on more (M=4.06) days per week than recommended by the ACSM. Knowledge of physical activity guidelines was a significant predictor of engagement in vigorous intensity physical activity for both freshmen (n=216, p=.040) and seniors (n=211, p=.016). Significant differences (p=.047) by year in school were found with respect to walking activity where freshman walked more often than seniors. Age (p=.012), race (p<.001) and year in school (P=.047) were all significant with respect to moderate intensity physical activity. Males engaged in more vigorous intensity physical activity than females (p=.003). When examining physical among classes, freshman students reported significant differences in engagement to vigorous intensity physical activity based on the constructs of perceived self-efficacy (p<.001) and perceived barriers (p=.006). Seniors reported significant differences in engagement to vigorous intensity physical activity based on perceived benefits (p=.002) and perceived severity (p=.019). Discussion: University freshman and seniors vary in reasons for engagement in physical activity. While knowledge is not synonymous with engagement it does have an impact on a student's overall decision and understanding of the health benefits of physical activity.
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    Osteoporosis knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors of college students: utilization of the Health Belief Model
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Edmonds, Ellen; Turner, Lori W.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    The purpose of this study is to determine the level of osteoporosis knowledge, beliefs and behavior among college students. In addition, this study will examine perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers and self-efficacy related to osteoporosis prevention. Women and men of all ethnicities at the University of Central Arkansas were asked to participate in the study. The Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale, Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale, and Osteoporosis Preventing Behaviors Survey were utilized. Correlations were used to determine the degree of relationship between variables. After determining which independent variables were significant, a multiple regression was completed to determine prediction. Participants did not perceive themselves as susceptible to osteoporosis and perceived minimal barriers to physical activity and calcium intake. Their knowledge was minimal concerning alternate sources of calcium and less traditional forms of physical activity. Physical activity was correlated with perceived barriers, health motivation, and calcium intake. Calcium intake was correlated with perceived barriers, health motivation, and knowledge. Prevention programs should aim to increase osteoporosis knowledge of risk factors and preventing behaviors and to decrease high risk factor behaviors in adolescence when bone health can be increased. Health professionals can attempt to decrease perceived barriers to physical activity in college age individuals by providing comprehensive programs based on supported factors shown to influence behavior, including social support and self-efficacy.
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    Relationships between religiosity, spirituality and health behaviors among college students
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2010) Harcrow, Michelle Senter; Turner, Lori W.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    The influence of religion and spirituality on factors relating to an individual's health behaviors has emerged as an area of interest for researchers, in recent years. Religiosity (formal and informal religious practice, both public and private) and spirituality (individual's relationship to something sacred; meaning and values of one's purpose) are regarded as having extensive influence on an individual's cognitions, emotions and behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between religion, spirituality, and social support in relation to physical activity and intakes of dietary fat among a sample of college students (n = 914) from a large, public university in the southeastern United States. Data of interest were collected via a classroom-based assessment battery and analyzed. Most relationships between religiosity, spirituality, physical activity and dietary fat intake were not statistically significant. Intakes of dietary fat were found to be higher in students that reported greater levels of behavioral and functional religiosity. Greater levels of reported social support were found to be significantly related to higher levels of both moderate and vigorous physical activity. The magnitude of the relationships between the variables did not appear to be affected after controlling for demographics and social support. Overall, a few significant relationships were identified between religiosity, spirituality, physical activity and dietary fat intake, suggesting that the influence and function of religiosity and spirituality on the development and maintenance of health behaviors among college students may be small. This research has several implications for researchers and other college health professionals, with an interest in promoting chronic disease prevention through physical activity and dietary behaviors. This research provides a better understanding of the religious and spiritual landscape, as well as, the physical activity behaviors and intakes of dietary fat of college students. Thus, this examination of religiosity, spirituality, physical activity, and dietary fat intake among college students should be of interest to researchers of chronic disease prevention and to entities fostering programs to support these health-promoting behaviors.
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    A theory-based investigation of leisure time physical activity among college students
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2010) Beville, Jill Marie; Umstattd, M. Renee; Turner, Lori W.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    This study examined the leisure time physical activity behavior of college students using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and two constructs, descriptive norm and self-efficacy, from the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM). A sample of college students (n = 621) from a large, public university in the southeastern United States participated. Data were collected via a self-report class-room based assessment battery. The assessment battery contained questions related to leisure time physical activity, TPB constructs descriptive norm and self-efficacy and demographic information. In general, the results of this research indicate the utility of the TPB in examining leisure time physical activity among college students. In addition, this study supports the inclusion of the IBM constructs descriptive norm and self-efficacy in examining leisure time physical activity. The TPB constructs; attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were positively associated with intention to engage in leisure time physical activity among this sample of college students. The results of the final hierarchical regression model indicated that subjective norm was negatively associated with leisure time physical activity and intention was positively associated with leisure time physical activity behavior. In addition, the two IBM constructs descriptive norm and self-efficacy were positively associated with leisure time physical activity behavior. Finally, the results also found gender differences in the TPB and IBM constructs. For males, intention and subjective norm were significantly related to leisure time physical activity. For the females, intention, attitude and self-efficacy were significantly related to leisure time physical activity. This research has several implications for researchers and other college health professionals, with an interest in promoting leisure time physical activity. This research provides a better understanding of the leisure time physical activity behaviors of college students with regard to the TPB and IBM constructs (descriptive norm and self-efficacy). This examination of leisure time physical activity among college students should be of interest to those fostering programs, services and facilities to support this behavior, and particularly campus recreation professionals.