Browsing by Subject "behavior"
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Eating Disorders: Best Age for Education and Prevention(2004-05-01) Chasmawala, Jayshri R.; Susan Franks; Susan Eve; Muriel MarshallChasmawala, Jayshri R., Eating Disorders: Best Age for Prevention and Education. Master of Public Health (Dual Degree D.O./M.P.H.), May 2004, 22 pp., 11 tables, 6 illustrations, references, 16 titles. Objective: This study attempts to determine the best age to design a prevention program to prevent the development of eating disorders based on adolescents’ behavior and attitudes towards eating disorders. Methods: Forty students aged 11-17 answered a self-reported questionnaire regarding dieting and weight, identification of emotional states, and general awareness of eating disorders. Age group divided the sample: 13 years of age and younger; and 14 years of age and older. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine existence of any differences between the populations. Results: An overall difference in the age groups exists with statistic significance. The difference in mean values of interoceptive awareness is statistically significant between the age groups. Conclusion: Interoceptive Awareness, not awareness level of eating disorders, is more indicative of the best age for prevention. Younger age children may benefit more from prevention due to lack of emotional maturity which leads to higher risk of development of eating disorders.Item Health Risk, Behavior and Attitudes of Urban African American Men Toward Prostate Cancer Screening(2006-05-01) Samuel, Prattus; Sue Lurie; Kristine Lykens; Sejong BaeSamuel, Prauttus K., Health Risk, Behavior and Attitudes of Urban African American Men Toward Prostate Screening. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 20, 2006, 84 pp., 10 tables, 1 illustration, 72 references. In Texas, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among non-Hispanic whites and African American (AA) males. This thesis addresses the research questions: what psycho-social characteristics associated with men who participate in prostate screening? What psycho-social and clinical characteristics are associated with reported risk factors? Focus groups were conducted to identify attitudes, perceptions and health beliefs of African American men’s early detection behavior. Existing data from a prostate screening program in Dallas County, Texas was analyzed to determine associations of demographic variables, risk factors variables and screening participation for each subgroup with AA as the group of interest. Comparison of responses and data analysis provided the framework for a conceptual model.Item The Effect of Exercise Training on Behavior and Oxidative Stress in Aging Mice(2005-08-01) Taylor, Sara A.; Michael Forster; Joan F. Carroll; Susan FranksTaylor, Sara A., The effect of exercise training on behavior and oxidative stress in aging mice. Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), August 2005, 136 pp., 17 figures, bibliography, 97 titles. Purpose: Accrued oxidative damage to brain tissue is a proposed mechanism of cognitive deficits observed in aging. In mammalian tissue, it is hypothesized that a balance normally exists between pro-oxidants (reactive oxygen/nitrogen species) and endogenous antioxidant enzymes that are able to inhibit the activity of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. As long as this balance is maintained, oxidative damage is moderated, but if the production of pro-oxidants becomes excessive or if the activity of antioxidants lags, oxidative stress and ultimately oxidative damage to tissues may result. It is the hypothesis of this project that exercise training is able to prevent decreased antioxidant activity in brain tissue, produce a favorable shift in the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance, and thus moderate oxidative damage in the aging mice brain. Methods: 3 and 20 month old C57BL/6 mice were either subjected to 8 weeks of treadmill exercise followed by 3 weeks of concurrent exercise and behavior testing, or else they were age-matched, non-exercised controls. Mice were tested on multiple behavioral tasks that tested sensorimotor learning as well as tasks that required utilization of various component of cognitive learning. After exercise and behavior testing regimens were completed, biochemistry assays for protein oxidative damage as well as for antioxidant enzyme activity were performed on several brain regions. Results: It is a finding of the study that moderate, short-term exercise initiated in aged C57BL/6 mice resulted in increased fitness in the aged mice to the same degree as observed in young mice, improved some psychomotor skills, including bridge-walking and reaction time, and improved age-impaired spatial memory performance. Moreover, exercise training showed a lack of effect on oxidative damage in all brain regions, increased activity of glutathione peroxidase in the cerebellum and striatum of young, but not aged mice, and it increased the activity of catalase in the cortex of aged mice. Conclusions: The data presented in this project shows that exercise does moderate some age associated cognitive deficits, and the findings do not preclude the possibility that exercise produces this effect by reducing accrued oxidative damage that occurs with aging.Item The impact of circadian misalignment on health and wellness in medical students(2020-05) Roig, Christopher A.; Roane, Brandy M.; Cunningham, J. Thomas; Gwirtz, Patricia A.Circadian misalignment, or "social jetlag" refers to a mismatch between the internal circadian clock and external timings (e.g. societal timings) and behaviorally manifests as inappropriately timed sleep/wake cycles or misalignment of sleep patterns with meal timings. Previous literature shows circadian misalignment to contribute to a large number of adverse health outcomes including metabolic changes and disorders, mood disturbance, and decreased daytime functioning. A number of the adverse health outcomes of circadian misalignment, such as depression, suicidality, and burnout are all common within the medical student population. Medical students also tend to exhibit behaviors which promote circadian misalignment, such as staying up late to study, pulling all-nighters for exams, and sleeping in on weekends. Despite these links, very little literature exists regarding the prevalence, manifestations, and effects of circadian misalignment on medical students. This study identifies key behaviors related to circadian misalignment in medical students, as well as identifying negative outcomes associated with these behaviors.Item The Impact of Graduation and Work on Health and Behavior(2006-08-01) Minzenmayer, Tracey; Watson, Warren; Townsend, Alicia; Franks, SusanMinzenmayer, Tracey. The Impact of Graduation and Work on Health and Behavior. Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), August, 2006, 131 pp., 1 table, references, 125 titles. The transition of young adults from the educational system to the workplace is affected by individual, cultural, economic, and institutional factors within the specific context of the time of transition. Since World War II, there have been a number of changes in both the order and timing of reaching the traditional markers of adulthood such as financial independence, work, marriage, and children. The lack of guidance in navigating the new path to adulthood has resulted in anecdotal evidence of increased stress in young adults. Little health research has been conducted on new graduates to evaluate the sources and effects of this stress. The current study surveyed psychological distress, health behaviors, and occupational variables in young adults between one and four years after they had received their undergraduate degrees. The majority of the sample believed they could potentially perform their job duties without the benefit of their degree, and over a third regretted their choice of major. A fourth of the sample had jobs that were unrelated to their undergraduate degrees. Underemployment, or not making use of their college education, was strongly associated with depression and worry in the respondents. Having adequate social support had positive relationships with job satisfaction and organizational commitment and was associated with low levels of stress, depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and worry. High levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were associated with less sleep. Unfortunately, this study was limited by a small number of respondents, but it is still clear that many graduates are not experiencing all of the benefits of having a college degree. There appears to be a discrepancy between their education and the demands of the workplace. It is recommended that institutions of higher education and employers find ways to address this discrepancy and to better guide graduates through the transition.