Union Representation Elections: Law and Reality: The Authors Respond to the Critics

In Union Representation Elections. Law and Reality (hereinafterLaw and Reality without cross-reference), we examined the desirabilityof continued National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regulationof pre-election campaigning. Our central finding, based upon astudy of thirty-one elections, and interviews with over 1000 employees,was that unlawful campaigning has no greater effect on employeevoting behavior in a union representation election than doeslawful campaigning. Hence, we recommended that the Boardshould no longer attempt to distinguish between lawful and unlawfulcampaigning; that the results of an election, once conducted, shouldbe final; and that speech should be wholly free - that the Boardshould neither set aside elections nor find unfair labor practicesbased on oral or written communications by an employer or a union

Using Focus Groups to Develop a Bone Health Curriculum for After-school Programs

INTRODUCTION: Childhood behaviors influence peak bone mass and osteoporosis risk in later life. The after-school environment provides an opportunity to enrich a child’s learning and experience. Our objective was to gain a better understanding of the knowledge of, attitudes and beliefs about, and barriers to achieving bone health among children, parents, and after-school program leaders from low-income, ethnically diverse communities. Findings led to the development, implementation, and evaluation of a bone health curriculum in the after-school setting. METHODS: Eight focus groups were conducted in three representative communities. Focus group participants included children aged six to eight years, parents of children aged six to eight, and after-school program staff. Transcripts and written notes from each session were reviewed and common themes were identified within each group. RESULTS: Most adults had some understanding of osteoporosis, but did not recognize that childhood behaviors had a role in developing the disease. Program leaders raised concerns about their ability to implement a health program and recommended a flexible format. Parents and program leaders recognized the importance of maintaining a fun atmosphere. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to create a curriculum for a bone health program that meets the unique needs and interests of children and program leaders in the after-school setting. Addressing the needs, interests, and common barriers of the target population is an essential first step in curriculum development

Parent-child interactions and objectively measured child physical activity: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Parents influence their children's behaviors directly through specific parenting practices and indirectly through their parenting style. Some practices such as logistical and emotional support have been shown to be positively associated with child physical activity (PA) levels, while for others (e.g. monitoring) the relationship is not clear. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between parent's PA-related practices, general parenting style, and children's PA level.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During the spring of 2007 a diverse group of 99 parent-child dyads (29% White, 49% Black, 22% Hispanic; 89% mothers) living in low-income rural areas of the US participated in a cross-sectional study. Using validated questionnaires, parents self-reported their parenting style (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved) and activity-related parenting practices. Height and weight were measured for each dyad and parents reported demographic information. Child PA was measured objectively through accelerometers and expressed as absolute counts and minutes engaged in intensity-specific activity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventy-six children had valid accelerometer data. Children engaged in 113.4 ± 37.0 min. of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. Children of <it>permissive </it>parents accumulated more minutes of MVPA than those of <it>uninvolved </it>parents (127.5 vs. 97.1, <it>p </it>< 0.05), while parents who provided above average levels of support had children who participated in more minutes of MVPA (114.2 vs. 98.3, <it>p </it>= 0.03). While controlling for known covariates, an <it>uninvolved </it>parenting style was the only parenting behavior associated with child physical activity. Parenting style moderated the association between two parenting practices - reinforcement and monitoring - and child physical activity. Specifically, post-hoc analyses revealed that for the <it>permissive </it>parenting style group, higher levels of parental reinforcement or monitoring were associated with higher levels of child physical activity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work extends the current literature by demonstrating the potential moderating role of parenting style on the relationship between activity-related parenting practices and children's objectively measured physical activity, while controlling for known covariates. Future studies in this area are warranted and, if confirmed, may help to identify the mechanism by which parents influence their child's physical activity behavior.</p