Human Development & Family Science

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Research from the Department of Human Development & Family Science. The department website may be found at https://www.ndsu.edu/hdfs/

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Age and Gender Differences in Attitudes and Knowledge about Alzheimer's Disease
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Moreira, Rashidat Oladotun
The purpose of this study was to examine possible age and gender discrepancies in knowledge and attitudes towards individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Data were taken from a Midwestern survey study of community-dwelling adults aged 18-88 (N=211). Participants were divided into two age groups: younger adults (ages 18-49), and older adults, encompassing the Baby Boom generation (ages 49+). The findings indicated that, relative to older adults, younger adults were: less likely to know someone with AD; less likely to make lifestyle changes to reduce their AD risk; and less factually knowledgeable about AD. However, younger adults reported more positive attitudes about AD. When demographic variables, knowing someone with AD, and knowledge of AD were examined simultaneously as predictors of attitudes, the following were significant: age, knowledge, and knowing someone with AD. Gender had no significant relationships with any of the outcome variables examined. Interpretations of these findings were discussed.
Evaluation of Osteoporosis Educational Interventions on Knowledge, Health Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, Dietary Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Evenson, Alexa
Osteoporosis is a serious public health issue, which is growing in significance because of our aging population. It is estimated that 34 million individuals in the United States are at risk for osteoporosis. Education may be key to increasing preventative behaviors in younger adults to help prevent osteoporosis in later life. One purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of three revised scales, which were revised to include vitamin D related items: Osteoporosis Knowledge Test -D, Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale-D, and the Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale-D. These revised scales were then used to determine the effects of educational interventions (lecture versus hands-on activities) on osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy, dietary calcium, and dietary vitamin D intake in a sample of college age adults. A sample of 153 college age men and women completed online pre- and post-questionnaires to assess osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy using the validated revised Osteoporosis Knowledge Test (OKT-D), revised Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS-D), and revised Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale (OSES-D) respectively. Pre and post three-day food diaries were used to assess dietary calcium, vitamin D, and kcalorie intake. In general, the college age adults in this sample were low in osteoporosis knowledge. Both intervention styles increased osteoporosis knowledge and health beliefs but not self-efficacy. Dietary calcium intakes at baseline met the recommendations while dietary vitamin D did not. No significant increases were found in dietary calcium or vitamin D intake after the educational interventions. Osteoporosis health beliefs were a significant predictor of dietary calcium intake (p<.044) and vitamin D intake (p<.047) accounting for approximately 11.2% and 10.1% of the variance respectively. Self-efficacy was a significant predictor of vitamin D intake (p<.01) only, accounting for approximately 7.3% of the variance. These findings suggest different types of osteoporosis educational interventions may increase knowledge and health beliefs in college-age adults but may not change behaviors. Perhaps tailored interventions towards specific health beliefs and self-efficacy are needed to warrant behavior change.
Factors Associated With Turnover Rates of Certified Nursing Assistants in Long-Term Care Facilities: The Impact on Residents and the Implementation of Empowered Workforce Strategies
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Fritzler, Katharina James
This paper reviews factors associated with high turnover rates of certified nursing assistants employed in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Adults 85 and older are the main consumers of LTC services. It is projected that the LTC industry will experience an increase in demand as this oldest-old subgroup of the aging population grows. Therefore, it is necessary to have an ample and caring workforce to meet this emerging need. The direct target population for this paper is certified nursing assistants, while residents in long-term care facilities represent the indirect population. The objective of this paper is to explore factors that positively correlate with high turnover rates of certified nursing assistants in this specific setting, and to provide intervention strategies that will offset this trend. In turn, the intervention strategies should positively impact the quality of life and care amongst the evaluated residents.
Graduate Counseling Students' Interest in Gerocounseling A Quantitative Study
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Nielsen, Twyla Ann
A growing population of older persons in the United States will require not only additional counselors but counselors who are trained to work with an aging adult population. Recent trends indicate that counselor education programs have moved away from gerocounseling as an academic track as well as eliminating units on aging from courses currently offered to counselors-in-training. Some graduate counselor education programs offer individual courses in aspects of gerontological counseling. If the counseling profession is to meet the rapidly increasing needs of a growing older population, more attention must be given to training counselors to meet the needs of this population. The purpose of this study was to assess graduate counseling students, from counselor education programs, regarding the students’ willingness to participate in gerocounseling training and identify specific topics of interest that the graduate counseling students would most be interested in counseling aging adults. Forty-four counselor education programs were contacted in the North Central Region of the Association of Counselor and Education Supervision (North Central ACES) and 211 students responded to the electronic survey through Survey Monkey. The results showed that graduate counseling students are very interested in gerocounseling and working with older adults. Students were willing to take additional coursework but not to the extent that it would delay graduation. Students indicated that they felt prepared to counsel older adults; however, none of the graduate counseling students surveyed had completed their field experience which could impact that sense of preparedness. As the aging population increases, so does the need for counselors who can help older adults with life transitions. It is important that counselor education programs have faculty that identify as gerontology specialists, that graduate counseling students have specialized coursework and are performing research specific to counseling older adults.
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.
Older Adults Fighting Obesity with Bariatric Surgery: Benefits, Side Effects and Outcomes
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Marihart, Cindy Lou
The prevalence of obesity has increased at a rapid rate indicating that it is one of the fastest growing diseases in the older adult population. Since life expectancy has increased, some obese older adults are living longer; their quality of life may be compromised. Obese older adults may be facing years of discomfort, lack of mobility, and chronic ill health. This study compares bariatric surgery outcomes across four adult age groups, specifically comparing changes in body mass index (BMI), surgery side effects, existing disease outcomes and quality of life concerns. Satisfaction with the surgery and weight loss is also reviewed as well as the patients overall feelings about their health and future. The research design for this study was a survey method, using a cross-sectional, self-reported questionnaire. The 534 respondents who were 18 months or more post- surgery were divided into four age groups in years: 18-49 (n=171), 50-59 (n=148), 60-69 (n=138) and ≥ 70 (n=77). All age groups lost weight after bariatric surgery and all groups experienced some weight regain. The older and oldest age groups were as successful at losing weight and keeping it off as the young and midlife age groups. There were significant improvements in eight chronic diseases across all age groups. Older and oldest age groups had similar or better outcomes compared to the young and midlife groups on most diseases and had fewer side effects. Satisfaction with the weight loss since surgery was reported by over 79% of all the age groups, and there were significant improvements in quality of life among all age groups. While all the age groups improved greatly, the young age group (ages 18 – 49) perceptions seemed less positive than the other three age groups which were all 50 years old and older. In conclusion bariatric surgery should be considered for disease management for older adults as much as it is for younger adults.
The Role of Music Among Healthy Older Performance Musicians
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Hutchison, Barbara
This qualitative study explored the role of music in the lives of 18 healthy older performance musicians (PMs). PMs began music education in early childhood and developed music competencies of advanced, expert, and virtuoso by voice, instruments, and composing music. The phenomenology approach to data consisted of a 7-item demographic questionnaire, and an 18-semi-structured interview questionnaire. From the themes of community music participation, wellness, and happiness emerged 11 subthemes. The role of participating in community music validated PMs’ music identity. First, values and beliefs explained music was life and a livelihood; second, music participation continued for decades because conductors chose complex repertoires that encouraged learning, and showcased music competencies. Third, camaraderie and enduring relationships sustained social connectedness, and fourth worldwide travel was inherent to performance and socialization. The role of music and wellness supported PMs’ healthy aging through the life course. First, emotional wellness explained sense of self to trust and share emotions with others and aligning views of aging to make adaptations to aging processes when needed. Second, intellectual wellness explained the relationship between complex music and brain health. Third, physical wellness explained personal benefits of physical fitness, nutrition, and intellectual energy to performing music. Fourth, sociological wellness explained PMs’ favorite music connected with family, friends, and community. The role of music and happiness clarified motivations to needing and wanting challenging repertoires. First, lifelong learning of music was resultant to happiness, and, second, happiness was resultant to performing repertoires expertly, and third, performing music was exhilarating and fun despite the countless hours of practice to perform expertly. This study found that music was critical to PMs’ health, happiness, and well-being. Future research should include audiology because hearing loss is endemic among musicians. Furthermore, establishment of regional U.S. research teams should gather data on yearly cycles, and longitudinal qualitative studies to help build a base of knowledge on PMs, and bridge the gap in literature to reverse the current empty trend. These efforts will help make seminal contributions for all generations and society.
The Role of Three Factors in Community Mobility for Rural Older Adults
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Powell, Joanne Mary
This paper will identify mobility options leading to quality of life for older adults who live in rural communities. This paper will create an assessment plan to determine the current status and needs for transportation and mobility of older adults in a rural community related to walkability, drivability, and public transportation. A sampling data collection plan for conducting the assessment will be developed based on review of existing community assessments. This paper will develop a plan for how the data will be analyzed and presented. Results of this case study will be used for future improvements in community livability as it relates to older adults and their mobility options and preferences.
Structured Life Review and its Impact on Family Interactions
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Dahley, Laurie K.
Communication has been deemed by Nelson, Schrader, and Eidsness (2009) as critical to the ability to provide quality end-of-life care. While past research has focused on communication between healthcare professionals and the patient/family unit, this qualitative study explored the impact of a life review technique on family interactions. Structured life review interviews were conducted with fifteen residents of a skilled nursing facility in the presence of family members. Follow-up interviews were conducted with elders and family members to determine the impact of the intervention on family interactions as well as individual effects. Using qualitative methodology, open-ended questions were employed to enhance our understanding of the participant's experience through the life review process. Themes that emerged included: affirmation of prior knowledge, living legacy, new information, opened communication, enhanced understanding, affirmation of the older adult, testimonials, and bridging distant family relationships. Two articles for publication were produced as a result of the project. The first article defined and reviewed all of the themes identified in the study. Along with the discussion of themes, its potential as a tool to improve communication and family interactions was explored. The second article focused on the psychological impact of the life review process experienced by the individual as well as the family system. In addition, the implications for social work practice with older adults were examined and recommendations for implementation were reviewed. Possible direction of future research was also discussed.

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