Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science Doctoral Work

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Browsing Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science Doctoral Work by browse.metadata.program "Exercise Science"

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    The Association Between Workplace Lactation Accommodations and Corporate Lactation Programs and Breastfeeding Duration in Working Women
    (North Dakota State University, 2017) Hilliard, Elizabeth
    Breastfeeding support has increased over the past 2 decades, especially in the workplace. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 provided several protections for working, breastfeeding women. Prior to the passage of this legislation, the North Dakota State Legislature amended SB 2344 to create an Infant Friendly business designation available to any business or organization in the state providing specified lactation accommodations for their employees. While this amendment has been in effect since 2009, and the first cohort of businesses was designated in 2011, there has been no evaluation of this designation to determine effectiveness. The purpose of this research is to examine the difference in breastfeeding continuation rates between women working for Infant Friendly and non-designated businesses, and to identify how intention, self-efficacy, and other worksite factors influence breastfeeding duration. An 85 item online questionnaire was developed and distributed using various sampling methods to working women across the state of North Dakota. T-tests, Analysis of Variance, and forward step-wise regression were used to analyze results. While there was no statistically significant difference in breastfeeding duration between designated and non - designated businesses, there was a 3-month difference in duration between continually designated businesses and those letting their designation lapse. Participants disagreed that breastfeeding education was available from their employers. With regard to intention, women who intended to exclusively breastfeed did so with a four month longer duration than those with other feeding intentions, although the results were not statistically significant. Women who perceived only minor challenges with combining breastfeeding and working, and those with greater self-efficacy for breastfeeding had longer breastfeeding durations as well. While the designation is a starting point for worksite breastfeeding support, it could be more comprehensive. Adding a policy promotion and breastfeeding education component to the designation may improve awareness and use of accommodations, making the designation more impactful. These additions may also aid in increasing breastfeeding intention and self-efficacy among working women, and decrease the perception of barriers.
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    Changes in Physical Activity and Quality of Life of Cancer Survivors Participating in a Group Exercise Program
    (North Dakota State University, 2017) Greterman, Sarah
    Although cancer survival rates are improving, cancer treatment is often associated with adverse biopsychosocial symptoms, including increased risk of anxiety, depression, and social isolation, and reduced physical fitness and quality of life (QOL) (Courneya, 2003; Howlader, et al., 2012; Rajotte, et al., 2012). Since the early 1990’s, interest in the potential benefits of participation in exercise on the well-being of cancer survivors has been growing (Pinto & Floyd, 2007). Although physical activity (PA) has shown to improve physical functioning and QOL many adverse biopsychosocial effects often impact one’s ability to engage in regular PA, and challenges overall well-being. (Knobf, Musanti, & Dorward, 2007). To overcome some of these barriers, the LIVESTRONG® Foundation partnered with numerous YMCA’s establishing a structured 12-week post-treatment group exercise program for cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in PA and QOL among cancer survivors participating in a LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA group-exercise program. Subjects (N=47) participating in a program in Fargo, North Dakota, between July 2011 and August 2014, were grouped into cohorts based on their monthly start date. PA was monitored using the SenseWear armband activity monitor and QOL was assessed using the FACT-G. Both PA and QOL were evaluated at three different time points: end of week 1, week 6, and week 12. Overall, results indicated participants engaged in more than 4 hours of PA each day, with more than 40 minutes of moderate-vigorous PA per day. Furthermore, significant declines in sedentary activity were observed from week 1 to week 6 and week 6 to week 12, based on wear time. In addition, participants started the program with relatively high QOL. All areas of QOL improved, with the most significant improvements correlated with physical well-being. Although it was difficult to determine exact cause and effect relationships relative to participation in the LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA group exercise program, the fact that participants met the minimum ACSM PA recommendations at each time point, expressed a significant decline in sedentary activity, and displayed improvements in QOL is promising.
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    Effects of Sit-Stand Desks in a College Class
    (North Dakota State University, 2016) Frost, Jeremy
    This disquisition examined the effects of sit-stand desks in a college classroom over the course of a semester and was split into two studies. Paper 1 determined the pattern of sit-stand desk usage over the course of a semester, the relationship to movement outside of class, and likeability of the sit-stand desks. Paper 2 determined the effect of using adjustable-height (sit-stand) desks in a college class on attention (AT), stress (ST), musculoskeletal discomfort (MD), anxiety (AN), and academic performance. Participants (total n=18; control=6) were recruited from two sections of the same course at a public university in Minnesota. Individual daily standing time for the intervention group ranged from 0-100% of daily attendance time and the daily group average ranged from 2.1-38.4%. Weekly standing was lower (p<.05) in week 8 than week 5, 9, 11, 13, and 15. There was no difference in standing percentage between Wednesdays and Fridays. A third of all standing bouts were less than 0.3 min and two-thirds were less than 2 min in length. Perception Questionnaire answers were positive for using the desk and their effect on ability to work in class. The amount of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) did not differ between groups or between time points (week 7 vs. 14). All participants completed visual analogue scales (VAS) to measure AT, ST, MD, and AN from week 3-15, and took exams at week 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 15. The main findings indicated lower MD scores for the intervention group, higher week 6 than week 11 scores for AN and ST, and more variability in AT and ST scores. Exam scores were not different between groups. There was no difference in direct observation of attention (OAT) between groups (total n=15; control=6) at week 9, 12, or 13. The results indicate the sit-stand desks were utilized at low levels, and for short durations, for most participants, but perceptions of desk use remained positive. In addition, sit-stand desks were associated with lower MD scores and weekly fluctuations in AT, ST, and AN. Future interventions should attempt to minimize the variability in desk use.
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    Life Skills at a Tribal College: Effects of a Culturally Relevant Educational Intervention on College Retention & Self-efficacy for Healthy Choices among American Indian Tribal College Students
    (North Dakota State University, 2016) Keith, Jill Fabricius
    American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AIAN) have the lowest rates of college retention and graduation in the U.S. Additionally, AIAN face health disparities including higher rates of obesity/overweight and Type 2 diabetes. The study purpose was to explore the effects of a culturally relevant life skills curriculum delivered in a family-style environment on self-efficacy, healthy choices, and college retention in tribal college students over four separate semesters. A non-experimental cohort design using mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) was utilized for the study. Participants in the study (full study completion, n=9; initial participants, n=26) were purposively sampled newly enrolled, academically under-prepared tribal college students. Participant demographics included various tribal affiliations, ages, and number of dependents. Research instruments included pre- and post-questionnaires and pre- and post-telephone interviews. General self-efficacy did not increase significantly, nutrition knowledge increased but not significantly, and nutrition attitudes and beliefs were not different between pre- and post-intervention. Dietary analysis reflected improved intake of healthy choices, however none of the participants met dietary recommendations for any food group. Eating behaviors such as eating in front of the TV decreased. Retention of students within-semester was lower among participants than overall students at the tribal college. However, semester-to-semester retention rates of Life Skills at a Tribal College participants who completed the course were significantly higher than those participants who did not complete the course and significantly higher than overall semester-to-semester retention rates at the tribal college. Qualitative analysis revealed a variety of barriers and strategies for making healthy food choices. Addressing self-efficacy and perception of capabilities regarding making healthy food choices can help AIAN students feel more capable of success and impact the quality of their diet. However, challenges remain to college retention and improving dietary intake to meet recommendations.