School of Public Health
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633
The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.
Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.
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Item Relationships between the Frequency of Family Meals, Overweight, Dietary Intake and TV Viewing Behaviors among White, Hispanic, and Black Maryland Adolescent Girls(2013) Siddiqui, Sheena Fatima; Saksvig, Brit I; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Objective: Examine relationships between frequency of family meals (FFM) and overweight, dietary intake (DI) and TV viewing behaviors, and examine relationships by race/ethnicity among adolescent girls. Methods: Secondary analysis of TAAG 2 data was conducted. Participants categorized in two groups based on overweight status. Personal data, DI and TV viewing behaviors were collected. Multivariate logistic regression used to estimate parameters. Results: No association between FFM and overweight or between FFM and overweight by race/ethnicity; significant associations found in the relationships between FFM and specific DI and TV viewing behaviors; and effect modification plays role in the relationship between FFM and weekly breakfast intake only. Conclusion: Findings suggest that additional research is needed to establish if FFM has an effect on overweight, families who have ≥three FM may promote positive DI behaviors and watch less TV, and more studies exploring the racial/ethnic differences in FFM and DI behaviors relationship are needed.Item Investigating Neighborhood Walkability and its Association with Physical Activity Levels and Body Composition of a Sample of Maryland Adolescent Girls(2010) Jones, Lindsey Irene; Young, Deborah R; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Recent ecologic studies have begun to focus on characteristics of the built environment that influence physical activity (PA). Specifically, neighborhood walkability is emerging as an important determinant of PA in adults. At this point in time, there is conflicting evidence on how neighborhood walkability influences the PA levels of adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between individual's neighborhood walk score and individual's body mass index, body fat percentage, weight status, PA levels and meeting PA guidelines in a sample of adolescent girls. Additional analysis investigated the correlation between two objective measures of neighborhood walkability. This analysis was unable to show an association between PA levels or body composition of adolescent girls from the TAAG Maryland field site. Neighborhood walkability as assessed by the website walkscore.com was positively correlated with a GIS derived walkability index (r=.63 p<.0001).Item Relationships Between Health Behaviors, Perceived Health Status, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adolescent Girls(2008) Goldsholl, Stacy Danielle; Young, Deborah R; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Poor physical fitness and diet contribute to increases in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors including BMI, waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and HDL-C levels. These behaviors are also associated with positive perceptions of health status. It was hypothesized that the associations between positive health behaviors and CVD risk factors would be mediated by perceived health status in adolescent girls. Regression models were used to test for independent effects and mediation. 185 girls were analyzed, 83% were African American and 50% were overweight. Perceived health status predicted WC, BMI, and SBP. Fat consumption predicted WC and SBP. There were no associations between health behaviors and perceived health status. Adolescent girls are able to accurately assess their overall health status regardless of fitness or dietary behaviors. Interventions should encourage girls to consider these healthy behaviors when assessing health status to increase participation in these behaviors.Item Factors Influencing the Implementation and Receptivity of a Physical Activity Intervention in Three Middle Schools(2006-09-26) Barr-Anderson, Daheia Julina; Young, Deborah R; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Introduction: Recent trials with adolescents have intervened to increase physical activity levels. Primary results report on the outcome (change in physical activity) with less focus on the evaluation of the intervention strategies and activities. This dissertation project presents an in-depth analysis of the extent to which Trial of Activity of Adolescent Girls (TAAG), a physical activity intervention targeting middle school girls, was implemented and received in three Maryland schools. Individual, social, and environmental factors were explored. Methods: Responses from select quantitative process evaluation data were used to assess dose, fidelity, and reach for each TAAG component. Information was integrated with data from nine focus groups with girls and 24 in-depth interviews with school staff, community partners, and TAAG university staff, who were key participants of the intervention activities. The focus group and interview data were analyzed using thematic methodology to identify key concepts, categories, and themes. Results: Implementation of the intervention varied by school and by intervention component. Qualitative interviews suggested that school differences could be attributed to school staff buy-in, administrative and faculty/staff support, and student behavior. Study staff implemented the intervention to teachers with higher levels of dose, fidelity, and reach than what teachers delivered to students. Notably, fidelity for physical education (PE) concepts and health education with activity challenges (HEAC) lessons was lower. Class observations indicated that PE objectives were observed 6% to 93% of the time, and 38% to 82% of HEAC lesson components were fully completed. Reasons reported by teachers for low fidelity were lack of time, administrative barriers, and limited space for activities. Reach for most components were high. Participation in after school programs ranged from approximately 9-22 girls. Girls reported lack of transportation, cost of programs, lack of interest, and time conflict as reasons for not joining programs. Conclusion: To maximize intervention efforts, it is important for researchers to decrease factors that negatively influence how well physical activity initiatives are executed as planned. Different data sources can provide information to better understand factors influencing program implementation.