Human Development & Family Science Doctoral Work

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Browsing Human Development & Family Science Doctoral Work by browse.metadata.program "Developmental Science"

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    Longitudinal Analyses of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge and Parent-Adolescent Communication of At-Risk Adolescents
    (North Dakota State University, 2017) Mudzongo, Courage Chikomborero
    Despite declining rates, unintended adolescent pregnancy remains a considerable public health challenge in the United States (Hamilton, Martin, & Osterman, 2015). Unintended pregnancy leads to a host of negative outcomes not only for adolescents, but also for their children who are more likely to get trapped in a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break (Rew & Wong, 2006). Factors such as poverty are difficult to address; nonetheless, sexual reproductive health (SRH) knowledge and parent-adolescent communication (PAC) have been identified as important tools for prevention, and potentially modifiable (Swenson et al., 2009; 2010). The goal of the current study was to examine change in SRH knowledge and PAC. Pretest, posttest, and three-month follow-up data were collected from 176 adolescents (M = 15.70 years, SD = 1.93) who participated in a comprehensive sexual health education program conducted in a Midwestern state with conservative adolescent SRH policies. Study one examined change in SRH knowledge over time, and assessed whether sexual experience, religiosity, cultural awareness, immigration status, and gender moderated change in SRH knowledge. Multi-level modeling analyses showed that SRH knowledge increased; however, the rate decreased over time. Immigrants had significantly lower initial SRH knowledge compared to American-born participants; however, neither group experienced change over time. Adolescents with high cultural awareness had lower initial SRH knowledge; however, their SRH knowledge increased over time whereas it declined for participants with low cultural awareness. Finally, girls had lower initial SRH knowledge; however, they experienced greater growth compared to boys over time. In the second study, we examined the relation between PAC and sexual experience, religiosity, cultural awareness, immigration status, and gender. Our results showed that only immigration status was associated with PAC. At pretest, American-born participants had higher PAC; however, there was no change over time. Discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention among at-risk adolescents living in states that are socially and politically conservative towards adolescent SRH.
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    Longitudinal Associations among Personality, Perceived Control, and Health for American and Japanese Aging Adults
    (North Dakota State University, 2019) Toyama, Masahiro
    Perceived control is associated with health throughout adulthood, yet has also been found to decline with age possibly due to age-related experiences of increasing losses and limitations in life circumstances. Perceived control may also be affected by individual personality characteristics, which also predict health through late adulthood. Although previous studies have addressed these associations, research is lacking in examining nuanced associations among personality, perceived control, and health all together as well as age and gender differences in these associations. Moreover, perceived control may be related to individualistic values (e.g., autonomy, agency) that vary cross-culturally and the implications of perceived control as well as personality for health may differ in distinct cultures. However, cross-cultural research on longitudinal associations of personality, perceived control, and health is further limited. In order to address the gap in the literature, the present dissertation, consisting of three studies, focuses on investigating longitudinal associations among personality, perceived control, and health for American and Japanese middle-aged and older adults. The first two studies address longitudinal associations between personality and perceived control (Study 1) and the potential mediation of perceived control for longitudinal associations between personality and health (Study 2) for 4,611 American adults (aged 40 to 75 at baseline). Study 3 examines associations among personality, perceived control, and health for 827 Japanese adults (aged 40 to 79 at baseline) in contrast to Americans. The findings suggest that neuroticism and conscientiousness are consistent predictors for perceived control over time and that perceived control mediates longitudinal associations of neuroticism and conscientiousness with functional health for American adults. Such mediation was not found for Japanese adults despite overall similar tendencies except for associations between personality and perceived control. No age differences in associations among personality, perceived control, and health were found for both nationalities (who were in their 40s to 70s at baseline) while there were some gender differences in a limited few associations for Americans. The dissertation contributes to the literature by furthering the understanding of longitudinal associations of personality, perceived control, and health and indicating future directions for research including exploring potential avenues to promoting health through perceived control.
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    Media Use, Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction in Emerging Adults
    (North Dakota State University, 2016) Brennan, Alison Leigh
    Emerging adults in America are avid users of media, including magazines and pornographic film. Use of this media is associated with body dissatisfaction and reduced sexual satisfaction. However, existing research has not examined media use, body dissatisfaction and sexual satisfaction within the same study. Additionally, the effects of pornographic film use on body image have not been extensively studied, and existing research does not adequately consider how reasons for use might relate to effects of viewing this type of media. The present study tests an integrated model of the relationships among media use, body dissatisfaction and sexual satisfaction and examines how reasons for use of pornographic film relate to emerging adults’ perceptions of their own bodies and sexual abilities. First, the proposed integrated model was tested separately by gender, using women’s magazine use as the media variable for women and pornographic film as the media variable for men. Pornographic film use was not a significant predictor in the men’s model. In the women’s model, magazine use had a positive, direct effect on sexual satisfaction. Second, chi-square tests were used to determine whether relationships existed between reasons for, and outcomes of, use of pornographic film. Regardless of gender, use of pornographic film for the purpose of “ideas, tips or instruction” was associated with engaging in body comparison. Reasons for use were not associated with reported reactions to engaging in comparison. T-tests were also used to determine if differences existed in BMI and body image among consumers who reported responding with negative self-evaluations versus those who did not respond negatively when comparing their bodies to the bodies of actors in pornographic film. When compared to those who did not respond negatively to body comparison, women who reported reacting negatively to body comparison were higher in drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction while men had higher BMIs, greater drive for low body fat, and greater body dissatisfaction. This study suggests that researchers must consider the possibility of positive effects and include consumer motivations and other dispositional factors as moderators of effects of viewing pornographic film and other media.
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    Retraining the Brain to Prevent Disordered Eating: Approach Versus Avoidance
    (North Dakota State University, 2019) Jones, Maegan Elizabeth
    Emerging adult college women are at particular risk for developing unhealthy eating habits. Despite this, methods of intervention in this population are understudied. This study sought to test whether an implicit, cognitive retraining program could alter how women approach foods. Specifically, the researcher wanted to determine if the Behavioral Activation System (BAS), which encourages individuals to approach positive goals, and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), which helps individuals avoid negative outcomes, could be manipulated. Thus, this study examined whether a dot-probe retraining program could significantly alter women’s approaches to healthy foods. Dot-probe programs present two pictures side-by-side; when the pictures disappear, a stimulus, in this case a “+”, appears where one of the pictures was previously located. In this project, participants assigned to an experimental training program would have the “+” located under healthy foods most of the time, in order to encourage BAS activation and approach behaviors. In addition, because it is imperative to understand how women’s families affect their thin ideal internalization (i.e., drive for thinness and restraint) and their approach/avoidance habits, the quality of past and current parent-daughter relationships were examined. Indeed, no known research has examined how the parent-child relationship may affect BAS/BIS usage. Forty emerging adult women were recruited; half were assigned to an experimental training group, while the other half completed a sham training group, in which they equally reacted to all foods. Participants were asked to complete five sessions on their own devices, in their chosen environment. By the final training sessions, those in the experimental group (n = 15) reacted to healthy foods two times faster than those in the sham group (n = 15). In addition, a series of moderation analyses found that, even when participants had high levels of thin ideal internalization, positive parenting characteristics such as a current high-quality mother-daughter relationship and past low paternal control improved participants’ reaction times to healthy foods. These findings suggest that a combination of both a biologically-based method of intervention and a family systems intervention may lead women to have healthier approaches to foods, thereby potentially preventing the development of unhealthy eating habits.
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    Summer Youth Work Programs: An Evaluation and Examination of Variables Contributing to Adolescent Career Development
    (North Dakota State University, 2017) Wenner, Jennifer Rose
    Adolescence is crucial for career development, as youth begin to engage in activities to prepare for their careers. However, at-risk and rural youth may face barriers to developing useful career traits like career adaptability and work hope. One barrier is insufficient parental support. Parental support is associated with the development of skills and characteristics that promote career success (Keller & Whiston, 2008). However, certain personal and social variables, including grit and mentoring relationships, may help youth succeed despite inadequate parental support. Additionally, programs that engage at-risk youth in work-related tasks and experiences may help youth develop positive career trajectories. Therefore, youth work programs must be evaluated, given their potential to impact career development. The research involved 106 youth ages 14-23 who participated in summer work-training programs. Participants took a pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up to examine change in program goals over time, and identify relationships and personal characteristics that can help youth develop career adaptability and work hope. Study one examined outcomes consistent with program goals to assess program effectiveness. Linear regression analyses showed that worksite performance only increased for those who had previously worked, such that those with more previous work experience had greater improvement in worksite performance. Multilevel models showed a significant or marginally significant increase in understanding the value of school and career adaptability over time. No significant increase was found for leadership and work hope. T-tests showed worksite supervisors scored the quality of their mentoring relationship with participants significantly higher than participants, and regression analyses showed participant perceptions of the mentoring relationship did not predict the continuity of the relationship three months later. The second study focused on personal characteristics and social relationships that are related to career adaptability and work hope. Multilevel models showed parental support and grit significantly positively predicted career adaptability and work hope. Grit moderated the relation between parent support and career adaptability, but not parent support and work hope. No findings were significant regarding perceived mentoring relationship or changes over time. The discussion focuses on program effectiveness, future directions, ways to improve programming, and ways to promote career traits.
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    Understanding the Social Effects of Water Intervention Implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Study in Kitui, Kenya
    (North Dakota State University, 2015) Zolnikov, Tara Rava
    Global public health interventions focus on creating solutions to unaddressed humanitarian issues in developing countries; priority projects include providing communities with access to water, food, and healthcare. Nearby access to safe drinking water is a primary public health concern and a frequent public health intervention. Intervention success may depend on other factors in addition to health outcomes. However, previous research has focused solely on health effect outcomes and has not reviewed the impact of social effects from implemented water interventions. The purpose of this study was to understand the impacts of an implemented water intervention on social relationships among community members in Sub-Saharan Africa. A qualitative phenomenological approach with 52 semi-structured interviews was used to examine relationship experiences among primary water gatherers and their families after the implementation of water interventions in the community. This study took place throughout the historically semi-arid eastern region in Kitui, Kenya, where community members have been beneficiaries of various water interventions. Prior to the water intervention, family members experienced economic hardships, diminished community rapport, irregular meal times and food availability, infrequent family conversations, irritation with lack of bathing and cleanliness, and general discontent without the availability of one able-bodied family member. Participants’ experiences after implemented water interventions revealed enhanced relationships within household family units and within the community; additional personal time was gained and used to re-build relationships. The newly established relationships encouraged growth through family discussions and in conversations understanding and providing solutions to economic or individual challenges. This research provides evidence of an increased need for access to quality water for communities throughout the world in order to positively impact family relationships, which may ultimately contribute to the acceptance of the intervention. iv Clearly, the findings from this study are important to consider during the development phase of water interventions.