Genealogy Tells: Informing Health and Aging Policies Using East Tennessean Older Women\u27s Family Histories, Perceptions, and Experiences of Health Inequity

Older women face unique health inequities challenges. This study aims to provide an understanding of older women’s perceptions and situated experiences regarding the gendered health inequities they face and the social determinants (SDH) thereof. It examines how these health inequities are situated in older women’s genealogical (familial) and geographical health and mortality outcomes histories and how their perceptions and experiences of health inequities and their familial mortality outcomes histories are characterized by the geopolitical and social norms in which they live. The purpose of this project is to present policy and decision-makers with insights about and recommendations from older women on their needs and wants in order to mitigate those health inequities. The data for this study was collected through semi-structured interviews with twelve women in Appalachian East Tennessee. Areas examined include: the women’s perceived impact of federal, state, and local policies and interventions on the participants; the role of social norming and health narratives, particularly stigmatization and discrimination around ageism, sexism, and health marginalization of older women, and the resultant older women’s internalization of health norms; the familial role in health inequities; the usage of family health histories and older women’s genealogies of health and mortality outcomes; and the role of place and place-effects. This study also aimed to examine the place-based and temporal geopolitical, social and cultural norming and social conditioning of older women in relation to their perceptions, attitudes and beliefs. This study sought to determine if these norms impact the participants’ awareness or lack of awareness of their family health histories. This study showed that internalization of these norms, and the replicating of beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions that older women have around health inequities and familial mortality outcomes may be reproduced in their own families. The women provided their own recommendations for ways to mitigate the health inequities they face. This has implications for policymaking and intervention design in co-production with older women in order to mitigate older women’s health inequities

The Relation of Hyperactivity to Parenting Stress within the Parent-Child Relationship in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Research indicates that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience more total stress and more stress within specific domains of the parent-child relationship. Specific externalizing behaviors such as hyperactivity have been related to elevated adverse parent-child outcomes in families with typically developing children. To date, the relation of child hyperactivity to parenting stress has not been examined in children with ASD. This study investigated the extent to which child hyperactivity differs between children who are typically developing (TD) and children with ASD. In addition, this study also examined the relation of child hyperactivity to parenting stress. Participants included 39 typically developing children and 25 children with ASD (68.8% male; 74.3% Caucasian) between the ages of three years and six years eleven months (M age = 56.44 months, SD = 13.64 months). Parent and teacher reports were used to evaluate children’s hyperactivity and parent reports were used to determine parenting stress levels. Parents of children with ASD had significantly greater reported overall stress, ΔR2 = .22, B = .58, p = .000, in addition to greater stress on each subscale separately: parent distress, ΔR2 = .18, B = .51, p = .000; parent-child dysfunctional interaction, ΔR2 = .19, B = .53, p = .000; and difficult child, ΔR2 = .22, B = .57, p = .000. Children with ASD also had significantly greater teacher reported hyperactivity, ΔR2 = .05, B = .28, p = .041 and parent reported hyperactivity, ΔR2 = .24, B = .60, p = .000. Parent reported hyperactivity significantly predicted total parenting, stress, ΔR2 = .14, B = .53, p = .000, and each subscale separately: parent distress, ΔR2 = .07, B = .37 p = .018; parent-child dysfunctional interaction, ΔR2 = .13, B = .52, p = .000; and difficult child, ΔR2 = .22, B = .67, p = .000. Hyperactivity did not significantly moderate the relation between diagnostic status and parenting stress for either teacher or parent report. However, it was found that increased hyperactivity within both the TD and ASD groups was associated with significant increases in total parenting stress, difficulties within the parent-child interaction and difficulties associated with the child. Post-hoc analysis revealed that parent reported hyperactivity mediated the relation between diagnostic status and parenting stress, providing further insight into the mechanisms by which diagnostic status may convey vulnerability for parenting stress. Collectively, these findings suggest hyperactivity is a vulnerability factor for children and parents across diagnosis and represents a valuable point of intervention

PLAYING BY EAR: DEVELOPING SPANISH LISTENING STRATEGIES THROUGH MOBILE LEARNING GAMES

This mixed-methods study evaluated the use of a mobile learning game as a pedagogical tool aimed at developing the listening comprehension strategies of college-level Spanish students. Eighty-three students of Spanish 202 (Intermediate Spanish II) played six levels of a mobile learning game designed to guide learners through the listening comprehension process while providing a low-risk practice space for second and foreign language (L2) listening. In order to evaluate change in listening comprehension awareness and perceived use of listening comprehension strategies, an analysis of pretest and posttest survey data was conducted. Additionally, analysis of exit questionnaires, participant interviews, and gameplay data were used to identify which specific aspects of the mobile learning game influenced the development of listening comprehension awareness and strategy use. Quantitative data, in the form of survey and questionnaire results, suggest that playing the game influenced development in perceived listening comprehension strategies use. The change in survey scores from the pretest to posttest was found to show statistical significance on both the overall score for strategy use as well as for three of four sub-sections of the survey that were coded to match instructional content from levels one, two, three, and four of the game. Qualitative data from individual interviews support this finding as well. Both the quantitative and qualitative data indicate that whiteboard animations, auditory vocabulary quizzing, and pair interaction with multiple exposure to the listening text were the game components that most influenced listening comprehension development. In terms of listening strategy awareness, the survey results showed little change from pretest to posttest. Similarly, interview data revealed little evidence of any increase in awareness after playing the game. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that the use of mobile learning games can have a positive impact on listening comprehension in terms of listening comprehension strategy use. These results have implications for foreign language pedagogy as well as future research in this area

Predicting NCLEX-RN performance : an exploration of student demographics, pre-program factors, and nursing program factors.

Nursing programs are experiencing a decline in National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) pass rates among graduates. While researchers have attempted to identify predictors of performance on the NCLEX-RN, identification of predictors remains elusive. Although the literature is replete with studies exploring NCLEX-RN predictors, prediction under the new 2013 NCLEX test plan and passing standards is not well established. Considering the ever-evolving diversity in students, combined with recent changes in the NCLEX-RN, further exploration of predictors of performance is warranted. Using a correlational design, the study sought to identify the predictors of NCLEX-RN performance for Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates. The focal research question for this study was, “Do baccalaureate nursing students’ academic outcomes predict NCLEX-RN performance?” To answer this primary question, the researcher conducted a retrospective review of student records at a single pre-licensure BSN program. A binary logistic regression was performed to model the relationship between academic outcomes and NCLEX-RN outcomes. The analysis revealed a combination of nursing program academic outcomes predicted NCLEX-RN performance. Most particularly, the use of the Adult Health course exam average, score on the Adult Health ATI exam, ATI Comprehensive Predictor performance, and graduation GPA can predict NCLEX-RN outcomes, when controlling for student profile characteristics and academic factors. This study suggests nursing exam scores and standardized test scores can aid in predicting NCLEX-RN performance for BSN graduates. Findings from this study can provide nursing educators a foundation for understanding the factors associated with NCLEX-RN performance and offer a framework for identifying students who are at-risk for NCLEX-RN failure. Moreover, study findings can provide insight into the additional needs of students in preparing for NCLEX-RN and guide educators in developing early intervention programs for high-risk students. Given the national decline in NCLEX-RN pass rates, early identification of at-risk students and implementation of interventions targeting high-risk students can offer a solution for reducing the number of graduates unprepared for the NCLEX-RN and alleviate the burden associated with failure

DO BULIMIC BEHAVIORS INCREASE SHAME? TOWARD AN UNDERSTANDING OF TRANSDIAGNOSTIC RISK

Binge eating is a harmful, maladaptive behavior associated with comorbid psychopathology. Theory posits that increases in maladaptive, transdiagnostic emotions following binge eating in individuals with BN may predict the experience of comorbid symptoms. The current study served as a laboratory test of the first part of this theory: whether state increases in maladaptive emotions occur following engagement in binge eating behavior in women with BN compared with healthy controls. Women (n = 51) were recruited from the community if they met DSM-5 criteria for BN or OSFED BN (of low frequency) (n = 21) or were free of lifetime disordered eating and current psychopathology (n = 30). Participants completed questionnaires assessing eating disorder symptoms (preoccupation with weight and shape, urge to vomit), state shame, and state negative affect before and after consuming a test meal in which they were instructed to binge. Women with BN endorsed significantly greater preoccupation with weight and shape and urge to vomit following test meal consumption compared with controls. Women with BN reported significant increases in state shame, but not state negative affect, following test meal consumption, compared with controls. Results are consistent with a model indicating binge eating precipitates increases in state shame among women with BN. Given shame’s status as a transdiagnostic risk factor, future work should clarify whether state shame following binge eating predicts increases in comorbid symptoms

Technology in the Classroom: A Deweyan Perspective

Approximately one hundred years ago, John Dewey responded to societal changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution by writing a philosophy of education that encouraged experiential learning. Like the Industrial Revolution, the Information Revolution has created similar need for an adjusted philosophy of education. This article explores the educational and pedagogical issues created by the Information Revolution through a Deweyan lens

A Framework for Monitoring Local and Regional Food Systems

The US food system has been experiencing gradual, yet significant, changes in recent years - with many people recognizing that conventional approaches are not only unsustainable, but also detrimental. As an alternative paradigm, the development of local food systems has been flourishing because of the benefits they bring to us: more local control over our food; supporting the local economy and entrepreneurs; healthier food options; fewer “food miles” and the related benefits of lowered use of petroleum; stronger community bonds; job creation for our rural communities; more gentle on the environment; and a more secure food system overall. Monitoring the level of health of various aspects of our food systems and the relevant trends that are occurring can bring us many benefits; allowing us to get a clear picture of our food system at present, being able to assess trends that are occurring, and, in turn, being able to identify weaknesses in the system that need to be addressed. Part I of this Capstone provides a framework for monitoring the trends in our local and regional food system. It is my hope that this framework, developed for the Hardwick Vermont area, will also be useful to other communities, permitting them to make better informed policy and programmatic choices concerning their local food systems. Part II applies the trend-monitoring framework, although in an abbreviated form, to the food system in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom to illustrate the insights that such trend-monitoring can provide

DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORIES OF EXCESSIVE EXERCISE AND FASTING ACROSS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

Repeated excessive exercise (EE) fasting behavior, in the absence of binge eating and purging, are important eating disorder behaviors that are not captured by the current diagnostic system. Though they appear to be harmful and distressing for adults, little is known about these behaviors in youth. To begin to understand their development, I studied the course of the behaviors across the three years of middle school (n = 1,195). Both behaviors were present in middle school girls and boys, and youth progressed along different developmental trajectories of engagement in the behaviors. Youth involved in either behavior experienced elevated levels of depression and some forms of high-risk eating and thinness expectancies. Their distress levels did not differ from those of youth engaging in purging behavior or low levels of binge eating. EE and fasting behavior can be identified in the early stages of adolescence, youth differ in their developmental experience of these behaviors, and they are associated with significant distress very early in development

Lawless Lawyers: Indigeneity, Civility, and Violence

On 8 June 1826, young members of the Family Compact—allegedly disguised as “Indians”—raided William Lyon Mackenzie’s York office, smashing his printing press and throwing his types into Lake Ontario, to protest defamatory editorials. This essay investigates how the cultural memory of “Indian” disguise emerged by asking what this memory reveals about the performative and political dynamics of this protest. At first glance, the performance conventions and disciplinary function of the Types Riot allow it to be compared to folk protest traditions such as “playing Indian” and charivari. However, the Types Riot differed from these popular performances because the participants were members of the provincial elite, not protestors outside of the structures of power. The rioters’ choice of how to perform their “civilized” authority—through an act of lawless law legitimated through citations of “Indigenous” authority—demonstrates inherent contradictions in how power was enacted in Upper Canada. Furthermore, by engaging in a performance that resembled charivari, the rioters called their own civility—attained through education, wealth, and political connections—into question by behaving like peasants. The Types Riot demonstrates that the Family Compact’s claim to authority based on its members’ civility—their superior values, education, and social privilege—was backed by the threat of uncivil violence. The riot revealed a contradiction that the Upper Canadian elite would, no doubt, have preferred remained private: that in the settler-colony, gentlemanly power relied upon the potential for “savage” retribution, cited through the rioters’ “Indian” disguises.Le 8 juin 1826, un groupe de jeunes membres du Pacte de famille—déguisés selon les dires en «!Indiens!»—ont pillé les bureaux de William Lyon Mackenzie à York, détruit sa presse et jeté ses caisses de caractères typographiques dans le lac Ontario pour signaler leur opposition à des éditoriaux diffa- matoires qu’il a publiés. Dans cet article, Davis-Fisch examine l’émergence d’une mémoire culturelle du déguisement «!Indien!» en questionnant la dynamique des aspects performatif et politique de cet événement. À première vue, les conventions performatives et la fonction disciplinaire de l’émeute permettent d’établir des parallèles avec des formes folkloriques de protestation comme celle de «!jouer à l’Indien!» et le charivari. Or, l’émeute dont il est question ici se démarque de ces styles de prestations publiques en ce que les participants appartenaient à l’élite provinciale et faisaient partie des structures de pouvoir. La façon qu’ils ont choisi d’exprimer leur autorité «!civilisée!»—par un acte illégal qu’ils cherchaient à légitimer en citant l’autorité «!indigène!»—illustre des contradictions inhérentes à la représentation du pouvoir dans le Haut-Canada. Qui plus est, en prenant part à un spectacle qui rappe- lait le charivari, les émeutiers remettaient en cause leur civilité—qu’ils devaient à leur scolarisation, à la richesse et à leurs liens politiques—en se comportant comme des paysans. L’événement montre à quel point la prétendue autorité du Pacte de famille, qui s’appuyait sur la civilité de ses membres— leurs valeurs supérieures, leur scolarisation et leurs privilèges sociaux—s’appuyait sur la menace d’une violence incivile. En effet, l’émeute laisse voir une contradiction que l’élite du Haut-Canada aurait sans doute voulu taire, à savoir que, dans la nouvelle colonie, le pouvoir de la noblesse reposait sur sa capa- cité de recourir au châtiment «!sauvage!» évoqué par le déguisement «!indien!» des émeutiers