Masters Theses

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Browsing Masters Theses by Author "Aday, Ronald"
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    BIRTHING OPTIONS AND LIFE CHANCES: HOW DO LIFE CHANCES SHAPE WOMEN’S ATTITUDES TOWARDS DIFFERENT BIRTHING OPTIONS?
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-11-18) Foust, Victoria Ellen ; Dye, Meredith ; Amey, Foster ; Aday, Ronald ; Sociology
    Childbirth options for American women have followed at least two very distinct transitions over the past century. In the first transition, the field of obstetrics emerged within the medical profession to gain prestige and discredit former forms of childbirth practices such as natural delivery, home births, and midwifery. After this transition, women had few choices regarding childbirth other than medicalized options. Today, a second transition is evident—some women are seeking more natural and traditional alternatives rather than the stark strictly medical interventions of pregnancy and childbirth. Using survey data from a convenience sample of 113 women ages 18 or older, the present study examined women’s birthing decisions. More specifically, I explored how women choose medical or alternative options. I framed the study with Cockerham’s theory of health lifestyles, which argues that life chances (i.e., structural variables) impact life choices, including the ways women make decisions regarding childbirth. Cross-tabulations and chi square tests, revealed two statistically significant relationships between life chances and preferences for childbirth. First, women who perceived their diets as healthy were more likely to favor alternative options over medical options. In addition, women in non-southern regions of the U.S. were more likely to favor alternative birthing options. However, upon further analysis, regardless of healthy or non-healthy diets, women in southern regions of the U.S. favored medical birthing options over alternative options. Both of these associations could be explained by additional variables such as lack of resources, knowledge, and traditional belief systems.
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    EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF PARENT EDUCATION: A PROGRAM EVALUATION OF THE FAMILY CENTER
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-06-21) Bunch, Daphne Lynn ; Aday, Ronald ; Amey, Foster ; Dye, Meredith ; Sociology
    The maltreatment of children continues to be a matter of public concern in the community. As a result, there is a growing interest in the importance of evidence-based intervention to assist parents acquire more appropriate parenting skills. This research evaluates the effectiveness of the Nurturing Parenting Program which is offered through The Family Center in the Middle Tennessee region. Using secondary data provided by 903 program participants, the study explored the risks factors for positive parenting based on the Adult Adolescent Parenting Inventory-2. Based on participants from three distinct locations (community, local jails, and drug treatment facilities), findings suggest that the program was successful in lowering the overall risk for child abuse for participants. However, non-white, older parents, single parents, and those with less than high school education face more challenges in overcoming child maltreatment tendencies.
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    GETTING AHEAD: EXAMINING THE INTERGENERATIONAL BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A COLLEGE SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2019) Counts, Hanna ; Aday, Ronald ; Eller, Jackie ; Wallace, Brandon ; Sociology
    This quasi-experimental study was designed to examine whether increased friendly exposure or contact with an older adult population would influence college students’ (n = 18) attitudes toward aging and their career choices in gerontology. The Aging Health and Development Program (AHeAD) offered at a large southeastern university connects college students and older residents of a local assisted living facility. The students in this service-learning course are required to develop weekly enrichment and fun activities that will motivate the older residents. Students and older residents were paired together to maximize the opportunity for a more intimate bonding experience. The Perceptions of Aging and Elderly Inventory (PAEI) and the Elderly Patient Care Inventory (EPCI) were used to measure the effects of the program on student attitudes toward aging as well as their views on working with the older adult population. Qualitative comments by the students provided a better understanding of the true value of an intergenerational service-learning component in addressing any age bias and prejudiced views of the elderly educational process. It was also found that this intergenerational program enhanced the quality of life for participating seniors. Based on observations and qualitative interviews, residents praised the program for the joyful interactions with younger people, for the opportunity of being exposed to youthful ideas, and feeling more connected with the outside world, especially for those who were socially isolated. Challenges associated with intergenerational service-learning programs and specific recommendations for improving the AHeAD program are included in this evaluation.
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    Islamophobia and the Young Muslim American Experience
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-07-15) Al-Hamdani, Yaasameen ; MacLean, Vicky ; Dye, Meredith ; Aday, Ronald ; Sociology
    The objective of this research is to gain a better understanding of how young Muslim Americans describe their cross-cultural experiences with Islamophobia, and how their experiences shape their social identities and coping strategies. The study extends the pilot study and taxonomy of Nadal et al. (2012) using a phenomenological research design and focus group interviews to describe the subjective perceptions and lived experiences of young adult Muslim Americans. The study provides detailed descriptions of the experiences, perceptions, and sense of belonging of young Muslim Americans coming of age within a changing historical and social context. Confirming and extending earlier research findings reveal how participants describe distinctive aspects of the Muslim identity, perceptions of lack of public awareness of the Islamic culture, and experiences of negative repercussions from the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States
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    Men as Caregivers of Frail Elderly: Gender Differences in the Caregiving Experience
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2013-03-29) Watson, Lori Nicole ; Wallace, Brandon ; Aday, Ronald ; Mertig, Angela ; Sociology
    Though most informal caregivers are women, the number of men providing care for aging family members is increasing. Yet, research on male caregivers is limited. More is needed to understand the unique skills, needs, and issues of men. Using secondary data from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH II) study, this thesis evaluates the hypotheses that (1) males have lower caregiver burden than females, (2) males receive more social support than females as caregivers, and (3) male caregivers have less desire to institutionalize care recipients than female caregivers. Findings indicate that males do indeed have lower caregiver burden scores than females, but contrary to what was hypothesized, they receive less social support. No significant difference in desire to institutionalize was found. Possible explanations of these findings are discussed, as are implications for future research and practice.
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    The Elephant in the Classroom: College Students' Perceptions of Mental Health and Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services on College Campuses
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-03-23) Ong, Victoria Maria ; MacLean, Vicky ; Huey Dye, Meredith ; Aday, Ronald ; Sociology
    One-quarter of all college students will experience a mental health problem throughout their college career. In response to this, colleges and universities have worked to improve mental health services on campuses. However, students still face barriers to accessing mental health services on college campuses. In this thesis, I focus on examining college students’ perceptions of mental health and barriers to accessing mental health services on college campuses. A total of 46 students were surveyed using survey monkey and asked both closed and open ended questions. A number of variables were used to measure perceptions, such as stigma, campus attitudes toward mental health, and barriers to accessing mental health services. Results from this study indicate that while most college students have a personal experience with mental health problems and believe that mental health problems are prevalent on their college campuses, barriers to accessing campus mental health services exist. College students in this study had confidence in campus mental health services, but felt that these barriers, such as stigma and a lack of mental health knowledge, often prevented students from accessing services.
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    The First Five: Narratives on Thriving With HIV
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-10-29) Brooks, Marcus ; Amey, Foster ; Aday, Ronald ; MacLean, Vicky ; Sociology
    The current study seeks to provide insight into the lives of newly diagnosed HIV-positive gay men living in the southern United States. This work investigates how six gay men with HIV navigate healthcare and social service infrastructures, negotiate disclosures, manage stigma, and work to maintain a healthy sense of themselves by engaging in adaptive coping mechanisms within the first five years post diagnosis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were organized to excavate descriptive information on three dimensions particularly salient to overall wellness: Access to Care, Social Support, and Well-Being. Narratives from these men describe an intersectional positioning where people with access and ability to utilize resources can expect minimal issues achieving and maintaining viral suppression. Data also show that social support from close friends and community integration in the form of activism and education help the men overcome expected and enacted stigma concerning HIV infection. Further ethnographic research can seek to investigate these dimensions of wellness over the life course or utilize similar methodology to investigate other demographic cohorts.
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    WELCOME TO THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY: ASSURED FOOD SECURITY AND GOOD HEALTH NOT INCLUDED
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-06-24) Pogacsnik, Amber Renee ; Dye, Meredith ; Hinote, Brian ; Aday, Ronald ; Sociology
    Experienced by millions of Americans annually, food insecurity is the limited/uncertain access to readily obtainable and nutritionally adequate safe foods that are secured in a socially acceptable way and contribute to an active and healthy lifestyle (Anderson 1990). Previous findings suggest that a complex relationship exists between food security status and health status, especially among Hispanic populations; however, the number of studies addressing this relationship is limited. Utilizing secondary data from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, this study aims to assess how food security status affects health status for American households, and how acculturation moderates this relationship for Hispanic households.