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Paddle With A Purpose: A Synthesis on My Perspective on Cultivating an Intentional Life of Happiness

Description

Happiness is an enormously broad topic that has recently gained momentum in the workplace, literature, media and society. There are many interconnected topics and themes contributing to the overall state of being happy. In my book, I dive into the most important topics that contribute to daily and global happiness.…

Happiness is an enormously broad topic that has recently gained momentum in the workplace, literature, media and society. There are many interconnected topics and themes contributing to the overall state of being happy. In my book, I dive into the most important topics that contribute to daily and global happiness. Each of the following topics are explored within the evidence-based literature and juxtaposed with my own life experience and perspective. First, I will explore society’s impact on happiness. Society shapes our perspective more than we realize, so it is important to debunk what rings true to us individually and what does not. Next, I’ll share with you my favorite thing in life—gratitude. Gratitude is the easiest way to transition a negative affect into a positive state of being. In chapter three I will discuss how language and perspective shape our experiences. Word choice and self-talk are extremely impactful in your relationship with yourself and your relationship with others. Chapter four is about complaining and how it serves us and inhibits us. There are many functions to complaining, like self-awareness and enhanced interpersonal relationships as well as consequences like being a draining friend to be around. Then I’ll share about the phenomenon of emotional contagion and compassion and finish it up with the final chapter about being present and practicing happiness in our daily lives. It is most important to live a life full of intentional daily actions. The tone of my book is conversational and meant to serve as an inspirational tool to aide in achieving a happier life.

ContributorsSugarman, Cedar Gaia (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Dawes, Mary (Committee member) / Curry Hart, Rachel (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)

Created2017-05

An Observational Study of the Motivation of Long Distance Cyclists During Faith Based Charity Ride

Description

This observational study explored the motivational factors for recreational cyclists participating in a charity cycling event held by a Christian based nonprofit, the Fuller Center. Participants (n=22; men: n=10; women: n=12) cycled at least one 302 mile segment of a bike ride distancing the whole West Coast (1,657 miles). The…

This observational study explored the motivational factors for recreational cyclists participating in a charity cycling event held by a Christian based nonprofit, the Fuller Center. Participants (n=22; men: n=10; women: n=12) cycled at least one 302 mile segment of a bike ride distancing the whole West Coast (1,657 miles). The purpose of the study was to determine the motives for the cyclists' participation and to then classify those motives as intrinsic or extrinsic. A scale used to measure motivation of marathoners was transcribed to match those of the cycling participants to assess motivation. The participants were divided into 4 groups based on self-reported experience levels, and it was shown that across all types of experience levels, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators were expressed but with greater emphasis on intrinsic factors. The most commonly indicated intrinsic motivation subcategories were life meaning, personal goal achievement, and affiliation, with affiliation being recognized by every individual. The most commonly indicated extrinsic subcategories were competition, recognition, health orientation, and weight concern. Though each rider's story was signature to the individual, the very specific religious background and philanthropic mission of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure weighed heavily into each individual's motivation alongside the classified intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Therefore, this research offered valuable data about motivation of recreational cyclists but future studies should focus on a less specific population.

ContributorsReyes, Naomi Gabrielle (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)

Created2018-05

Corporate Wellness Communications: A Public Relations Strategy

Description

The following is a public relations strategy developed to position Julia Pearl Wellness, a corporate wellness consulting firm, and its owner, Julia Pearl, as credible, professional and experienced. The first portion includes a situational analysis, a research report on corporate wellness programs and the need for health solutions in the…

The following is a public relations strategy developed to position Julia Pearl Wellness, a corporate wellness consulting firm, and its owner, Julia Pearl, as credible, professional and experienced. The first portion includes a situational analysis, a research report on corporate wellness programs and the need for health solutions in the U.S., and market analysis. The campaign proposal, a creative product of the research, provides recommendations and tools for the firm to reach its stakeholders.

ContributorsWerner, Anna Nicole (Author) / Hass, Mark (Thesis director) / Bovio, Sonia (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)

Created2016-12

Effect of Causal Attributions by Physical Therapy Patients for Recovery on Rehabilitation Adherence and Outcome Success

Description

The purpose of the present study was to determine if a relationship exists between adaptive patterns of causal attributions, adherence, and outcome success in physical therapy behavior. Adaptive casual attributions were defined as internal, controllable, and stable attributions as per Weiner's Attribution Theory of Motivation. Participants were seeking physical therapy…

The purpose of the present study was to determine if a relationship exists between adaptive patterns of causal attributions, adherence, and outcome success in physical therapy behavior. Adaptive casual attributions were defined as internal, controllable, and stable attributions as per Weiner's Attribution Theory of Motivation. Participants were seeking physical therapy for a post-surgical knee injury, with (n=3). Attributions were measured using the CDSII questionnaire, and outcome success was measured by the KOOS questionnaire to assess various dimensions of knee functionality. The respective physical therapist for the patient also completed the RAdMAT questionnaire to measure adherence. The data collected for all participants was analyzed qualitatively, with some emphasis on quantitative findings. Results showed mixed evidence for a relationship between adaptive attributions and adherence across the three participants. A trend toward a relationship between adaptive attributions and outcome success was observed in one participant. In addition, it was observed that adherence does play an indirect role in relating adaptive attributions and outcome success for physical therapy. Conclusions drawn from this pilot study should be used to further educate physical therapists and respective patients in how to improve adherence and experience positive outcomes for rehabilitation.

ContributorsDougher, Amelia Jane (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / Shaibi, Stefany (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor)

Created2013-05

How corporations should respond to a public health or social crisis

Description

A guide to implementing empathy in crisis communications

ContributorsLong, Mary Louise (Author) / Schmidtke, Lisa (Thesis director) / Bovio, Sonia (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)

Created2021-05

Precursors to Athlete Burnout

Description

The purpose of this study was to identify the different contributors and predictors related to athlete burnout. Athlete burnout consists of emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishments and sport devaluation. Moreover, motivation type, athletic identity, and being a student athlete can affect athlete burnout. Participants of this study…

The purpose of this study was to identify the different contributors and predictors related to athlete burnout. Athlete burnout consists of emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishments and sport devaluation. Moreover, motivation type, athletic identity, and being a student athlete can affect athlete burnout. Participants of this study were female, Division I soccer student-athletes located in Tempe, Arizona [n=22]. Athlete burnout was assessed with the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Motivation type was assessed with the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ). Athletic identity was assessed with the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS). Student burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Survey (MBI-SS). All of the questionnaires were answered based on a Likert scale. Pearson correlations were used to find relationships between the different variables and athlete burnout. The results showed that 50% of the participants were burnt out at the end of their competitive season. Correlations were shown between the ABQ and its subscales: reduced accomplishment (r=0.6101, p<0.05), physical and mental exhaustion (r=0.8170, p<0.05), and devaluation (r=0.8697, p<0.05). Furthermore, the ABQ was also negatively correlated with general intrinsic motivation (r=-0.4943, p<0.05) and intrinsic motivation to know (r=-0.4865, p<0.05). The results from this study should be used for further research that focuses on education and prevention of athlete burnout in female soccer players.

ContributorsDehakiz, Isabel (Author) / Carleer, Lieske (Co-author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Marsit, Joseph (Committee member) / Ramos, Christopher (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)

Created2021-12

Precursors to Athlete Burnout

Description

The purpose of this study was to identify the different contributors and predictors related to athlete burnout. Athlete burnout consists of emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishments and sport devaluation. Moreover, motivation type, athletic identity, and being a student athlete can affect athlete burnout. Participants of this study…

The purpose of this study was to identify the different contributors and predictors related to athlete burnout. Athlete burnout consists of emotional and physical exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishments and sport devaluation. Moreover, motivation type, athletic identity, and being a student athlete can affect athlete burnout. Participants of this study were female, Division I soccer student-athletes located in Tempe, Arizona [n=22]. Athlete burnout was assessed with the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Motivation type was assessed with the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ). Athletic identity was assessed with the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS). Student burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Student Survey (MBI-SS). All of the questionnaires were answered based on a Likert scale. Pearson correlations were used to find relationships between the different variables and athlete burnout. The results showed that 50% of the participants were burnt out at the end of their competitive season. Correlations were shown between the ABQ and its subscales: reduced accomplishment (r=0.6101, p<0.05), physical and mental exhaustion (r=0.8170, p<0.05), and devaluation (r=0.8697, p<0.05). Furthermore, the ABQ was also negatively correlated with general intrinsic motivation (r=-0.4943, p<0.05) and intrinsic motivation to know (r=-0.4865, p<0.05). The results from this study should be used for further research that focuses on education and prevention of athlete burnout in female soccer players.

ContributorsCarleer, Lieske (Author) / Dehakiz, Isabel (Co-author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Marsit, Joseph (Committee member) / Ramos, Christopher (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)

Created2021-12

Worksite Wellness and Its Impact on Mental Health

Description

The overall goal of this paper is to promote wellness, exercise and positive mental health. To encourage this goal, insight on the benefits of worksite wellness programs will be provided. Current worksite wellness programs focus minimally on the mental health benefits of exercise. Instead they focus on physiological results that…

The overall goal of this paper is to promote wellness, exercise and positive mental health. To encourage this goal, insight on the benefits of worksite wellness programs will be provided. Current worksite wellness programs focus minimally on the mental health benefits of exercise. Instead they focus on physiological results that come with worksite wellness programs. Exercise can provide both physiological and psychological health benefits (Ramirez & Wipfli, 2012). There should be more emphasis on mental health benefits of worksite wellness programs to provide positive mental health benefits in the workplace.
There are many different types of worksite wellness programs such as group fitness, on-site facilities and health allowances. It is important to vary wellness activities due to individuals having different fitness and health motivation. This implementation can become costly and require resources and support that many companies do not want to provide without successful results. Focusing on the psychological health benefits to such programs will allow companies to recognize the increase in productivity and positive work environment that result in worksite wellness programs. This will allow not only employees to benefit from the implementation of such programs but also the succession of the company.
This paper will explore ways to seek future enhancements within worksite wellness programs. Individuals will be given ways to positively contribute to work environments while maintaining healthy lifestyles. Companies will also better understand the importance that top recruits in the industry see within these types of programs. Through worksite wellness programs, employees will be provided with the tools necessary to improve their physical and mental health, while companies will have a more positive work environment as a result.

ContributorsJohnson, Sydney Rae (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Marsit, Joseph (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)

Created2019-05

Let's Get Physical: Determinants to Adolescent Engagement in Physical Activity

Description

The purpose of this study was to use the tenets discussed in the Self-Determination Theory to explore how adolescents are motivated to engage in physical activity and examine the reasons for their participation - or lack thereof - in order to determine the influence of motives on physical activity behaviors…

The purpose of this study was to use the tenets discussed in the Self-Determination Theory to explore how adolescents are motivated to engage in physical activity and examine the reasons for their participation - or lack thereof - in order to determine the influence of motives on physical activity behaviors in an adolescent population. The relative autonomy continuum of the Self-Determination Theory includes amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation. These different levels will be assessed. Participants were seventh grade students at a middle school in the Phoenix metropolitan area (n=70). The adolescents’ relative autonomy levels were assessed with a modified version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. Individual motivational factors were measured from a modified version of the Exercise Motivations Inventory. The adolescents’ locus of causality was then measured using the Locus of Causality for Exercise Scale. Participants were asked to answer two additional questions assessing their perceived time barrier and frequency of physical activity participation. The data were scored using the scoring guidelines provided by each questionnaire after collection through a Google Form and analysis on Google Sheets. Results showed that adolescents with higher levels of identified regulation (3.88), intrinsic motivation (4.22), and locus of causality (4.67) were more likely to also engage in higher levels of physical activity. These findings could be used for future research that focuses on school-based interventions for physical activity through enjoyment so as to increase identified regulation and intrinsic motivation while shifting to a more internal locus of causality in order to increase their overall leisure-time physical activity as a way to combat the increasing rates of childhood overweight and obesity in the United States.

ContributorsWade, Jake (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)

Created2022-05

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