Matching Items (12)
Filtering by
- Member of: Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
- Status: Published
Description
The objective of this study was to access whether there were any associations between food insecurity, weight status and emotional eating for adults and youth, and to discover whether emotional eating was prevalent for both age groups. By gathering participants from six various low-income housing communities throughout the Phoenix, Arizona, the researchers were able to gather data from 114 participants, 57 adults and 57 youth. The participants were a convenience sample, and were recruited by flyers sent via the mail and door-to-door announcements in the spring and summer of 2014. The adult and youth were asked to complete a survey that was part of a larger study, which included the Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire to access the participants' emotional eating. The participants' height and weight were measured manually and were integrated into the BMI system, and the participants' food insecurity statuses were validated using the US Household Food Security Survey. The results of the study illustrated associations between food insecurity and emotional eating for adults, but not for youth. In addition, there were no associations between adults' emotional eating and their child's emotional eating. The results from this study were consisted with the current research examining the associations of food insecurity and emotional eating, where there is only a correlation between food insecurity and emotional eating for adults. However, this study was not consistent with past research accessing the associations between adults' emotional eating and their child's emotional eating since this study found no relationship between the two. Being that a cross-sectional survey-based research was incorporated into this study, further research needs to explore on food insecurity, weight status and emotional eating to determine their causality.
ContributorsVannortrick, Taylor Michelle (Author) / Bruening, Meg (Thesis director) / Lucio, Joanna (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2015-12
Description
Social structure is the product of the costs and benefits of group living. Dyadic social bonds in female chacma baboons are strong and long-standing, conferring fitness benefits upon both individuals while contributing to a greater social structure. Longitudinal grooming data collected from 2001-2007 from Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana, illuminate social network dynamics of 50 female chacma baboons. Utilizing social network analysis (SNA), we analyzed social structure above the level of the dyad to see if attribute data (age, rank, and number of close female kin) was predictive of network location. Our SNA data was longitudinal, unbalanced, and continuous. We therefore used linear mixed-effects models (LMEs) and respective AIC/BIC values to choose the most likely predictive attributes for each SNA metric. From the chosen LMEs, rank was present most often. High rank predicted a higher frequency of outward grooming, an overall lower number of grooming partners, and a less extensive social network. It appears that high-ranking females have a fewer number of social bonds than low-ranking females, but that they are stronger. Considering that enduring social bonds result in increased offspring longevity, future studies include examining the potential adaptive value of weak, transient, more numerous social bonds.
ContributorsBest, Megan Renee (Author) / Silk, Joan B. (Thesis director) / Schaefer, David (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
Objective: Fewer than 50% of female college freshmen meet physical activity (PA) guidelines. Innovative approaches that help college women increase their PA are warranted. The study purpose was to pilot test a magazine-based discussion group for improving PA, self-worth, and nutrition behaviors in freshmen college females. Method: Thirty-seven women (18-20 years) were randomized to intervention (n=17) and control (n=20) groups. The intervention group participated in an 8-week magazine-based discussion group adapted from a previously tested social cognitive theory based intervention, Fit Minded. Excerpts from a popular women's health magazine were discussed during weekly meetings incorporating PA, self-worth and nutrition education. The control group did not attend meetings, but received the magazines. Outcomes and feasibility measures included: self-reported PA, general self-worth, knowledge self-worth, self-efficacy, social support, and daily fruits, vegetables, junk food, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Results: Twelve participants from the intervention group attended more than 75% of meetings. A time effect was observed for PA (p=0.001) and family social support (p=0.002). Time x group effects were observed for PA (p=0.001), general self-worth (p=0.04), knowledge self-worth (p=0.03), and daily sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (p=0.03), with the intervention group reporting greater increases in PA, general self-worth and knowledge self-worth and greater decreases in daily sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Although not significant, the intervention group demonstrated positive trends in self-efficacy, friend social support and fruit and veggie consumption as compared to the control group. Conclusion: A magazine-based discussion group may provide a promising platform to improve PA, self-worth and nutrition behaviors in female college freshmen.
ContributorsPellitteri, Katelyn (Author) / Huberty, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Bruening, Meg (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / School of Social Transformation (Contributor) / Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
Neophobia is a sensory phenomenon common in children that makes novel foods taste unpleasant. Our study tested exposure and pairing effects on neophobia in children by exposing them to novel vegetables paired with varying textures. Results showed a significant increase in liking for all subject groups after six exposures, which is less exposure than required in other studies. Except in one case, texture was not related to a change in liking that differed significantly from other groups.
ContributorsMiller, Eric James (Author) / Phillips, Elizabeth Capaldi (Thesis director) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Bruening, Meg (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Economics (Contributor)
Created2013-05
Description
Photovoice is a participatory action research method that was used to investigate the food access and food choices of youth in low-income, high-obesity communities of urban Phoenix. To better understand the challenges adolescents face when making the conscious decision to eat healthy, impactful methods of photovoice, surveys and focus groups were used. This study investigated food access and food choice perceptions of adolescents aged 10-14 years old that were enrolled in ASU-Mayo Clinic Obesity Solutions, FitPHX Kids Energy Zones. Overall, the findings of this thesis present many interwoven barriers preventing low-income inner-city youth from eating healthy. Results from the study suggest that the four main barriers to healthy eating are the abundant access to unhealthy food, misunderstanding of a healthy diet, intrapersonal sentiments toward unhealthy food choices and emotional conflicts toward eating. Together those barriers create a complex environment conducive to unhealthy eating.
ContributorsElms, Audrey Elizabeth (Author) / Bruening, Meg (Thesis director) / Williams, Deborah (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
OBJECTIVE: Freshman year at college is a time in an adolescent's life marked by a large amount of change in environment, as well as a shift in peer influences. Past research has shown that there are a variety of influences both personal and socio-environmental that affect weight control behaviors in college freshmen. This study examined the relationship between unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCB) and two different personal and socio-environmental factors: time spent on each meal, and the perception that friends are partaking in UWCB. The Social Cognitive Theory was used to explain the intricate and intertwined association between the personal and socio-cognitive factors. METHOD: Unhealthy weight control behavior was assessed from first-year university students (n= 1241) living in campus dorms at Arizona State University. Demographics included Male (n=438) Female (n=802) first-year students with an average age of 17.5 years from various ethnic backgrounds. This was a secondary analysis of the devilSPARC study at Arizona State University and students completed a check-in survey upon participation. The survey asked for an estimation of time spent at meals and also asked the students to determine the individual's use of unhealthy weight control behaviors (vomiting, dieting, diet pills, steroids, substances, and protein shakes) as well as the observation of friend's participating in weight control behaviors. Students received a $15 Amazon gift card and devilSPARC swag as an incentive for participating. All participation was voluntary. RESULTS: This study found that unhealthy weight control behaviors were associated with spending more time on meals; this was relevant during the breakfast period. As well, the use of unhealthy weight control behaviors was associated with friends participating in unhealthy weight control behaviors in regards to both unhealthy weight loss and weight gain behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest both personal and socio-environmental factors affect the use of unhealthy weight control behaviors in college freshmen. Interventions for education should focus on body image and healthy weight control behaviors for college freshmen, intervening both before individuals enter college, as well as during the first year at university. This research is an important contribution to the literature, as it examines unhealthy weight control behaviors in college freshmen and the potential influences they face that lead them to develop such behaviors. Future studies should delve deeper into researching the relationship between time spent eating and weight control behaviors, as that has not been extensively studied in the literature.
ContributorsSwanson, Kendra Melanie (Author) / Bruening, Meg (Thesis director) / Mason, Maureen (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the content of nutrition marketing materials within the cafeterias of schools in Central Arizona. By collecting photographs of marketing material from three elementary schools, one K-8 school, three middle schools and three high schools, 59 pieces of nutrition marketing were gathered. The schools chosen were a convenience sample and selected from schools that were already participating in ASU' s School Lunch Study. The photographs were sorted by grade level and then coded quantitatively and qualitatively for their purpose, visual components, strategies used and relevance. Results from this novel study provided insight into prevalence, size, textual content, educational content, strategies for fruit and vegetable marketing, messaging and overall design of existing nutrition marketing within the sample schools. This study found that the prevalence of nutrition marketing within all school cafeterias appeared to be low, particularly within elementary and middle schools. Diverse types of messaging were present among elementary, middle and high schools and a variety of appeals were utilized with little consistency. Many of the strategies used in the nutrition marketing appeared disconnected from the population it was intended to appeal to. Educational components were notably lacking within middle school cafeterias but were often effectively integrated into high school nutrition marketing. The results are unique to this population, and further research is required to evaluate the content of existing nutrition material on a larger scale, so efforts can be made to improve the persuasiveness of nutrition marketing in promoting fruit and vegetable consumption.
ContributorsXavier, Raevyn Francine (Author) / Bruening, Meg (Thesis director) / Adams, Marc (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Background While extensive research has been conducted among college students consuming alcohol with energy drinks, there is limited research exploring how extracurricular activities could have an impact on energy drink consumption and sleep. Understanding the association between student involvement and the impact it could have on sleep and energy drink consumption among college freshmen is essential in promoting healthy behaviors while in college. Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between student involvement, average hours of sleep, and predicted prevalence of energy drink and coffee consumption amongst college freshmen living in residence halls at a large, public university in the Southwest. Student involvement and fewer hours of sleep hypothesized to observe higher energy drink consumption. Methods This study was a secondary data analysis of the second wave of the longitudinal SPARC (Social impact of Physical Activity and nutRition in College) study assessing college freshmen (n=599; 70.6% female; 50.9% non-white) living on campus. Students were enrolled in this study during the 2015\u20142016 school year. Mutually adjusted generalized estimating equation (GEE) binomial models examined the relationship between involvement (academic clubs, sport clubs, honors, taking 16 or more credit hours, and having a job) and sleep with energy drink and coffee consumption, controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, Pell grant status, ever having tried alcohol, and clustering of students in residence halls. Results On average, students were enrolled in 15 credits, slept an average 8 hours per night, those who had a job worked 14 hours for pay per week, 35% reported consuming energy drinks in the past week, and about 29% of students reported coffee consumption. Males showed a higher predicted prevalence of energy drink consumption compared to females (p<0.001), where females showed a higher predicted prevalence of coffee consumption compared to males (<0.001); energy drink consumption was less prevalent amongst Hispanic students compared to white students (p=0.018), but more prevalent amongst black students compared to white students (p=0.002); no associations between race were found in predicted prevalence of coffee consumption. Average hours of sleep per night was inversely associated with energy drink consumption predicted prevalence (p<0.001). There was a lower predicted prevalence of energy drink and coffee consumption in honors student status (p<0.001) compared to non-honors students. Students taking 16 or more class credit hours showed a higher predicted prevalence in both energy drink (p=0.050) and coffee consumption (p=0.023) compared to students taking less than 16 class credit hours. Students involved in physically active clubs showed a greater predicted prevalence of coffee consumption (p<0.001) compared to students not in physically active clubs. There was no difference in the predicted prevalence in energy drink consumption amongst students involved in physically active clubs (p=0.710), non-physically active clubs (p=0.493), and having a job (p=0.146). Coffee consumption predicted prevalence showed no significant prevalence amongst students of different race and ethnicity [Black (p=0.507), Hispanic (p=103), Other (p=116)] as well as students involved in non-physically active (p=0.839) clubs and who had a paid job (p=0.088). Conclusion Associations observed between average hours of sleep, the different types of involvement of student activities, and energy drink and coffee consumption, were interesting in that a few findings were found to be contrary to the hypotheses. Future research should delve deeper into student involvement within honors programs to understand the contextual factors of why these students showed a significant inverse association in energy drink consumption. Contrary to hypothesis, sleep and energy drink consumption prevalence were indirectly related leading future research to examine and understand why students are consuming energy drinks since on average participants were meeting recommended sleep guidelines. Nutrition interventions are needed for the groups at consuming energy drinks and alcohol in combination due to the study finding increased predicted prevalence amongst these groups as well as the increased risky health behavior associated with the combination found in the literature. Support or Funding Information This study was supported by the NIH Common Fund from the Office of the Director and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, grant number 1DP5OD017910-01 (PI: M. Bruening). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
ContributorsBender, Rebecca Leigh (Author) / Bruening, Meg (Thesis director) / McCoy, Maureen (Committee member) / Brennhofer, Stephanie (Committee member) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Past studies have shown that, in comparison to lean participants, overweight and obese patients had higher fecal concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). This larger concentration could come from a variety of factors, such as varied lower colonic fermentation between lean and obese participants, dietary intake, or microbiome diversity. Initially, SCFA were thought to be beneficial in that they reduced gut inflammation contradicting such associations between obesity and increased SCFA concentration. This study looked further into these varied SCFA levels by observing the fecal pH as a reflection of both body mass index (BMI) and central adiposity levels. Analysis of the changes in fecal pH, waist circumference, and BMI of the participants revealed no correlation between the variables. However, upon running a mixed model with covariates, it was determined that there were no significant associations between fecal pH, BMI, and waist circumference. Due to the fact that this study was only done over a year long period, it may take a longer time period or more significant changes in BMI and waist circumference to produce a significant correlation.
ContributorsNorwood, Katrina Grace (Author) / Whisner, Corrie (Thesis director) / Bruening, Meg (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Binge drinking has clear consequences but subtle influences among undergraduate students. While theories of perceived drinking norms and social identity have been determined to be predictive of binge drinking behavior, few studies have tested these influences outside of fraternities, sororities, and athletic teams and little research exists employing social network analysis (SNA) to quantify social ties. In this study, a small, undergraduate dance team was identified to test social identity theory using social network analysis in a peripheral social group. Each member was interviewed for demographic information, personal drinking habits, personal network structure, perceptions of peer drinking within both the personal network and the whole-network (the dance team), and sociometric position within the dance team. Personal network characteristics, whole-network dynamics and perceptions of peer drinking were tested for predictive value of individual binge drinking behavior utilizing binary logistic regression analysis. Results for predictor variables were weakened due to the small sample size (n = 13) and low variability within some constant variables, returning no statistically significant (p < 0.05) independent variables. However, while odds ratios could not be used to construct regression equations, four models were statistically significant overall. Each model was tested again without the constants; no models nor variables were statistically significant. These models indicated, within this sample, that 1) the proportion of a group that adopts binge drinking behavior is predictive of that behavior for the interviewee (in terms of the overall personal network as well as the triads within the personal network); and 2) the perception of the average team member's maximum alcohol intake along with the proportion of the personal network composed of team members is predictive of individual binge drinking behavior. Low variance in the variables and the small sample size warrant further research to test the viability of targeting anti-binge drinking campaigns toward peripheral social groups.
ContributorsOlivas, Elijah (Author) / Schaefer, David (Thesis director) / Stotts, Rhian (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05