Doctoral Dissertations

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Browsing Doctoral Dissertations by Department "Health & Human Performance"
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    A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FISH INTAKE AND CENTRAL ADIPOSITY
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2016-03-25) Morris, Tracy Garrison ; Weatherby, Norman ; Colson, Janet ; Owusu, Andrew ; Ragan, Brian ; Health & Human Performance
    Accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, or central adiposity, increases prevalence of many chronic diseases and mortality, this relationship is independent of total of body fat. Central adiposity is commonly defined as having a waist circumference of > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women. Increased fish intake may have a beneficial effect on central adiposity. This prospective study examined the longitudinal relationship between fish intake at baseline and central adiposity over time.
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    A ZERO-HOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM'S BENEFIT ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ELEMENTARY AGED SCHOOL CHILDREN
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-11-09) Phillips, Kristin Lynn ; Dunlap, John ; Palmer, Thomas ; Belcher, Donald ; Health & Human Performance
    With childhood obesity on the rise and the need for American children to be academically successful compared to peer nations, it is imperative that physical activity become part of the typical school day for all elementary aged school children. There is an understanding that physical activity not only benefits physical fitness and health, but that it positively affects children’s academic achievement. With only one-half of American children meeting the CDC’s recommendation of 60 minutes daily, the physical and cognitive effects of inactivity have been widespread and undeniable.
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    AN EXAMINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY AND STIGMA AGAINST MENTAL ILLNESS USING AN ITEM RESPONSE THEORY APPROACH
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2018) Bowman, Angela S. ; Health & Human Performance
    Mental illness is a leading cause of disease burden for college age individuals and impacts an estimated 43 million Americans annually. The individual burden of mental illness causes high physical morbidity and mortality that leads to a dramatically shortened lifespan. Mental illness is highly treatable, and early intervention leads to an improved long-term outcome. Regardless of level of disability, people displaying symptoms of mental illness are more harshly stigmatized than those with other non-mental health ailments. The latter stigmatization results in years long delay in mental health help-seeking. Existing evidence indicates that health literacy is vital to maintaining good physical health. However, the knowledge and skills that facilitate one’s ability to prevent, recognize, and manage mental health related issues has not been incorporated into traditional definitions of health literacy. Mental health literacy programming has been hypothesized to improve delays in mental health help-seeking through improved knowledge and awareness that results in reduced stigma against mental illness. The evidence base supporting this hypothesis is lacking mainly due to the need for theory-based psychometrically sound instruments that allow for reliable and valid measurement of mental health literacy. The appropriate assessment of mental health literacy is critical to reducing the burden of mental illness stigma. Thus, this study uses advanced statistical and psychometric analyses, including item response theory, to examine items of a recently developed scale purporting to measure mental health literacy. Major scale revisions are elucidated, and using theory-based test construction practices, a new mental health literacy scale is proposed. The psychometric properties of the new scale are discussed, as is the extent to which mental health literacy is related to enacted mental illness stigma. The use of the new mental health literacy scale as part of evidenced-based interventions to improve mental health literacy should help lessen the burden of stigma against people with mental health problems.
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    ATHLETES FROM FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION SCHOOLS PERCEPTIONS OF SPORT SPECIALIZATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PERFECTIONISM
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-12-12) Hughes, Jason Neal ; Jubenville, Colby ; Gray, Joey ; Rost, James ; McAlister, James ; Health & Human Performance
    Sport specialization is an emerging trend amongst athletes today who are looking to gain an advantage over the competition. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate the psychological consequences of sport specialization. The purpose of study was to investigate the effect that sport specialization has on perfectionism. Additionally, this study examined if specializing in sport had any long-term consequences by investigating the time in which someone specializes in sport and its relationship with perfectionism.
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    BARRIERS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG KUWAITI UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-01-29) Alsahli, Sultan Mohammed ; Belcher, Dr. Don ; Lee, Dr. Yun Soo ; Mincey, Dr. Rosemarie ; Health & Human Performance
    ABSTRACT
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    Becoming an Outdoors-Woman: relationships among frequency of participation in BOW programs, enduring involvement, and leisure satisfaction /
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2011) Hargrove, Karen ; Health & Human Performance
    The purpose of the study was to define the relationships among the frequency of participation in the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program, overall participation in outdoor recreation following BOW participation, the dimensions of enduring involvement, and overall leisure satisfaction. In addition, possible relationships among the five dimensions of enduring involvement and the six subcomponents of leisure satisfaction were examined. The sample consisted of 1,283 women who had participated in at least one BOW program or event within the past 12 months. Demographic data were collected from the sample. Multiple regression analysis showed that only the number of activities not related to the BOW program and the enduring involvement dimension of identity expression were significant predictors of overall leisure satisfaction. Correlation analysis showed that participants' BOW program participation was significantly related to all five dimensions of enduring involvement. Correlation analysis showed an overall significant relationship (p less than .001) between BOW and non-BOW participation. The number of BOW activities and BOW frequency of participation over the past 12 months were significantly related, the number of outdoor recreation activities not related to BOW (non-BOW) and non-BOW frequency of participation were significantly related, and that there was a significant negative relationship between BOW participation and non-BOW participation. All five dimensions of enduring involvement were significantly related to all six subscales of leisure satisfaction (p less than .001). Independent t-tests showed statistically significant differences between those who purchased gear or equipment, licenses, and memberships in conservation, environmental, or other outdoor-related organizations and those who did not purchase gear or equipment, licenses, or memberships in their mean scores for all five dimensions of enduring involvement. The highest mean scores for purchasers were in the attracition and the identity affirmation dimensions of enduring involvement; the highest mean scores for those who did not purchase were in identity affirmation. Results of this study suggest that women's outdoor recreation activity outside the BOW program is an important predictor of their leisure satisfaction, and that BOW participation and the five dimensions of enduring involvement are correlated. Leisure satisfaction subscales and enduring involvement dimensions are positively correlated, and that purchase behavior is linked to the dimensions of enduring involvement. This study represents the first known use of the Modified Involvement Scale (MIS) (Kyle, Absher, et al., 2007) with a program of activities, rather than with a single outdoor activity.
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    BHUTANESE REFUGEES' HEALTH BEHAVIORS AND PERCEPTIONS: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING BHUTANESE REFUGEES' POST-RESETTLEMENT EXPERIENCES WITH HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2014-06-26) Oliver, Brittney Dunnae-Najie ; Owusu, Andrew ; Bates, Denise ; Hamilton, Gloria ; Health & Human Performance
    Extant research investigating the health perceptions and behaviors of Bhutanese refugees is limited, especially in resettled populations. The purpose of the current research was to explore Bhutanese refugees' perceived experiences with health services received post-resettlement as well as their post-resettlement health care practices and continued use of pre-resettlement health behaviors. A qualitative approach was utilized in the current study. Three audio-recorded focus groups were conducted with Nepali-speaking women in the Bhutanese refugee community. Participants were also asked to complete a demographic questionnaire. English transcripts were coded and analyzed using a grounded theory, constant comparison approach.
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    Caffeine supplementation and reactive agility in elite youth soccer players /
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2012) Jordan, James ; Health & Human Performance
    Caffeine has been shown to provide ergogenic benefits to sports performance. However, limited research is available on the effects of caffeine on agility performance. This study examined the effects of 6 mg kg -1 body mass of caffeine on performance of a reactive agility test (RAT) in 17 elite, male, youth soccer players. Using a double-blind, repeated-measures design, players completed 4 days of testing on the RAT after a standardized warm-up. Height and body mass were measured and players were accommodated to the RAT on Day 1. Day 2 was used to establish the participants' baseline performance on the RAT. Players were randomly assigned to caffeine or placebo on Day 3 and the condition was reversed on Day 4. Caffeine or placebo was ingested in a gelatin capsule 1 hour prior to performing the RAT. During days 2, 3, and 4, players completed 3 randomized run-throughs of the RAT with at least one run-through to the right and left sides to assess players' performance to their dominant and non-dominant sides. There were no significant differences in players' reaction times among the experimental conditions for reaction time to the dominant side, however, there were significantly faster reaction times to their non-dominant side with caffeine F (2, 15) = 4.185, p = .036, eta = .358. There were no significant differences among experimental conditions on players' sprint times to their dominant and non-dominant sides. There were no significant differences among conditions on players' total times to complete the RAT to their dominant side, however, total times to their non-dominant side was approaching significance F (2, 15) = 3.643, p = .051, eta = .327. There were no significant differences among conditions on players' heart rates at any point of measurement. There were no significant differences among conditions on player's RPE after the completion on the warm-up however, players' RPE at the conclusion of the RAT was significantly higher with caffeine F
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    Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Grenadian Women
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-02-23) Todd, Angela Fachini ; Bates-Fredi, Denise ; Weatherby, Norman ; Miller, Hilary ; Health & Human Performance
    Abstract
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    Changes in movement mechanics and trial time between a pre-planned change of direction speed task and a reactive agility task /
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2009) Bettle, Jeremy ; Health & Human Performance
    The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the introduction of a cognitive component to a change of direction task would have an effect on the application of medio-lateral and vertical forces, the angle of the lower limb at push-off, and movement time in elite college soccer players (N = 18). Participants were tested in either pre-planned change of direction speed (CODS) then reactive agility, or reactive agility then pre-planned CODS. Measures of total trial time, lower limb angle, medio-lateral ground reaction forces (GRF), and vertical GRF were carried out. A one-way repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) documented a relationship among medio-lateral ground reaction force, vertical ground reaction force, lower limb angle, and total trial time with type of activity F (4, 14) = 4.21, p = .02, lambda = .45. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated that total trial time was longer in the reactive agility task than in the pre-planned CODS task F (1, 17) = 4.32, p = .001, Eta2 = .46. An additional one-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated response time was longer in the reactive agility task than in the pre-planned CODS task, F (1,1 7) = 12.14, p = .003, Eta2 = .42. There was no difference in movement time between pre-planned CODS and reactive agility tasks. No changes were observed in any other variables between pre-planned CODS and reactive agility tasks. These findings have important implications for the training and testing of athletes. It is important to include a cognitive component in agility training due to the fact that improvement in the physical aspects of agility may not be enough for athletes to achieve the highest level of performance. Inclusion of these components is likely to have a direct impact on an athlete's performance in his or her chosen sport.
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    Clinical Utility of the CARE Item Set
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-02-07) Bloodworth, Linda Capps ; Weatherby, Norman ; Kang, Minsoo ; Hinote, Brian ; Health & Human Performance
    The Continuity Assessment Record Evaluation (CARE) Item Set provides a reliable, valid measure of mobility and self-care outcomes in post-acute settings. If the CARE Item Set can provide direction for the therapy plan of care, its value is multiplied. The assessment and treatment planning process would be streamlined if rehabilitation therapists can use the CARE Item Set to identify risk factors for adverse events, focus interventions on the most critical tasks for community discharge, and quantify function for rehabilitation goals.
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    COLLECTIVE MEMORIES OF LGBTQ+ YOUTH IN TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOLS
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2018-05-10) Prairie, Tara Marisa ; Wrye, Bethany ; Gray, Joey ; Weatherby, Norman ; Eller, Jackie ; Health & Human Performance
    Introduction: Although bullying impacts students nationwide, evidence shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, and pansexual (LGBTQ+) youth experience bullying victimization at higher rates than their non-LGBTQ+ peers (Kann et al., 2016; Kosciw et al., 2013; Peterson et al., 2017; Singh et al., 2013). It is important for researchers to find adequate interventions that can help promote safe environments within schools for LGBTQ+ students. Previous research has found that participatory action research (PAR) such as collective memory work (CMW) shows potential for “developing ongoing positive social change in the environments” for transgender, queer, and questioning youth (Johnson, Singh & Gonzalez, 2014). Johnson et al., (2014) conducted a successful study utilizing CMW which led to the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition. This study seeks to replicate Johnson et al., (2014) and better understand the high school experiences of LGBTQ+ youth by examining the phenomenon through the theoretical framework of social constructionism using collective memory work (CMW) as the research method.
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    A COMPARISON OF LEADERSHIP PRACTICES OF COLLEGIATE STUDENT-ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETE PEERS: SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO THE LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION CRISIS IN CORPORATE AMERICA
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2013-06-01) Lund, Bruce L. ; Estes, Steve ; Colclough, Scott ; Thomas, Earl ; Whiteside, Harold ; Health & Human Performance
    Executives throughout corporate America have been critical of higher education due to a lack in leadership readiness of recent college graduates. The leadership epidemic of young professionals is being described as the Leadership-Succession Crisis in corporate America where a shortage of young, high potential leaders who are capable of replacing upper-level managers transitioning out of their current roles exists. Recent literature suggests Human Resource (HR) departments are recruiting and hiring former student-athletes as a possible solution to the Leadership Succession Crisis. Participation in sports has long been viewed to provide athletes with increased leadership ability dating back some 2,500 years to the ancient Olympic Games. Athletic involvement is widely believed to provide enhanced leadership development. Athletes have the opportunity to learn and grow in structured environments through ongoing relationships with teammates and coaches. However, limited empirical evidence exists when comparing leadership development of student-athletes with their non-athlete peers.
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    COMPARISONS OF MUSCLE ACTIVATION AND VOLUME DURING TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE LOWER BODY RESISTANCE EXERCISES IN TRAINED WOMEN
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-08-01) Korak, John Korak ; Coons, John ; Caputo, Jennifer ; Fuller, Dana ; Paquette, Max ; Health & Human Performance
    Lower body resistance exercises have positive outcomes on health and knowledge of how muscles activate during resistance training is important to understand for rehabilitative and training purposes. Therefore, the purpose of the first study was to measure muscle activation patterns among the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris muscles during the back squat, front squat, and deadlift exercises in resistance trained women (N = 13). The purpose of the second study was to examine volume alterations and muscle activation patters among the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, gluteus maximus, and rectus femoris muscles between a traditional and rest-pause Smith machine squat while performing four sets to movement failure (N = 13).
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    COMPARISONS OF MUSCLE ACTIVATION AND VOLUME DURING TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE LOWER BODY RESISTANCE EXERCISES IN TRAINED WOMEN
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-08-01) Korak, John Korak ; Coons, John ; Caputo, Jennifer ; Fuller, Dana ; Paquette, Max ; Health & Human Performance
    Lower body resistance exercises have positive outcomes on health and knowledge of how muscles activate during resistance training is important to understand for rehabilitative and training purposes. Therefore, the purpose of the first study was to measure muscle activation patterns among the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris muscles during the back squat, front squat, and deadlift exercises in resistance trained women (N = 13). The purpose of the second study was to examine volume alterations and muscle activation patters among the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, gluteus maximus, and rectus femoris muscles between a traditional and rest-pause Smith machine squat while performing four sets to movement failure (N = 13).
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    Creating a College Women's Wellness Program: Innovation for Health Promotion
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-02-19) Malone, Joe ; Belcher, Don ; Hamilton, Gloria ; Estes, Steve ; Health & Human Performance
    Abstract
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    Creating a Sense of Community through Leisure
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2015-10-29) Monu, Jessica ; Dunlap, Rudy ; Weatherby, Norman ; Edwards, Michael ; Health & Human Performance
    Rural communities make up an important aspect of the American society. For many individuals, rural communities provide a unique culture, as well as opportunities for employment, social interaction, and leisure activities. Through this study a clearer picture was discerned of how residents’ leisure activities could help them cope with change, and possibly strengthen their overall sense of community. This study looked at a typical rural mid-western community, which has undergone a number of economic and social changes throughout the years. Focusing on its resident’s leisure activities, using McMillan and Chavis’ (1986) sense of community model, which includes the components of membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection.
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    Determining employee brand commitment in NCAA Division I college athletics : a path analysis of internal marketing practices and their influence on organizational commitment /
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2009) Martinez, J ; Health & Human Performance
    Building on King & Grace's (2008) Employee Brand Commitment Model, the purpose of this study is to determine the perceptions of internal marketing practices in college athletics and to examine if internal marketing practices have an effect on the level of organizational commitment among departmental employees.
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    DEVELOPMENT OF A CONCUSSION ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT FOR THE SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2017-12-30) Mun, Junbae ; Kang, Minsoo ; Health & Human Performance
    The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a practical concussion evaluation tool for the South Korean soldiers (SKS). This study was conducted in two phases. For phase 1, the English version of the current standardized assessment of concussion (SAC) was adapted for SKS by modifying and adding some items for resolving psychometric issues and considering cultural and linguistic equivalences, which led to develop the Korean version of the adapted SAC (K-SAC). The psychometric properties of the K-SAC were evaluated using an advanced measurement theory of Rasch model in a sample of healthy young adults without concussive injury. For phase 2, K-SAC was administered three times (i.e., baseline, time of injury, and after 48 hours) for the concussion and non-concussion groups, and the data collected was analyzed using a two-way repeated measured ANOVA to evaluate the validity of K-SAC in concussion assessment. The results of phase 1 indicated that the developed K-SAC has sound psychometric properties at baseline evaluation of cognitive function in the target population. All items of K-SAC were properly contributed to measure cognitive function level of the sample. There was no ceiling effect on the K-SAC scores. The item difficulties of K-SAC covered all range of participants’ cognitive function levels, ranging from very easy to very difficult. The results of phase 2 demonstrated that the K-SAC also has a good validity for concussion assessment. There were significant mean differences in K-SAC scores between concussion and non-concussion groups at time of injury and no differences at baseline and after 48 hours. In concussion group, K-SAC score at time of concussion was significantly different when compared to the scores at baseline and after 48 hours. The findings of this study supports that the K-SAC can be a potential field concussion evaluation instrument for SKS. Further research will be required to validate K-SAC and improve generalizability of K-SAC in various settings and populations.
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    Development of concerns about student learning in physical education teacher candidates during student teaching /
    (Middle Tennessee State University, 2011) Sharp, Elizabeth ; Health & Human Performance
    The discussion about teacher concerns, or what Teacher Candidates (TCs) focus on while teaching, has existed since the 1960's. Fuller first suggested a developmental conceptualization of concerns of teachers that led to a categorization of self, task, and impact concerns. The model was first introduced as stages that a teacher progressed through in their career but it has been suggested that it should be viewed as a contextual model. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of TC concerns during their student teaching internship and to investigate the influence of video technology on TCs impact concerns. Three physical education teacher candidates participated in the study during an entire semester of student teaching. Data collection included observations, journals, interviews, and the TCQ-PE. Findings indicated that TC concerns moved in a contextual model instead of hierarchally. Though the concern ratings varied throughout the study, impact concerns were always present. The emergence of a new category, conflict of belief, was also documented in this study. A case of one TC is included to illustrate the value of understanding how TC concerns develop and ways to address those concerns.