Rural-Urban Differences in Caregiver Burden Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among a National Sample of Informal Caregivers

The objective of this exploratory study was to explore potential associations between changes to caregiver burden (CB) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rural-urban status using a nationally representative sample of 761 informal caregivers. Tertiles of two measures of rural-urban status were used: Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCAs) and population density. Bivariate and multivariable binary and ordinal logistic regression were used to asses study objectives. Using RUCAs, rural informal caregivers were more than twice as likely as urban informal caregivers to report a substantial increase in CB due to COVID-19 (OR 2.27, 95% CI [1.28–4.02]). Similar results were observed for population density tertiles (OR 2.20, 95% CI [1.22–3.96]). Having a COVID-19 diagnosis was also significantly associated with increased CB. Understanding and addressing the root causes of rural-urban disparities in CB among informal caregivers is critical to improving caregiver health and maintaining this critical component of the healthcare system

Self-reported changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and screen time among informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Informal caregivers providing unpaid assistance may be vulnerable to changes in health behaviors due to modifications in caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this cross-sectional study explored self-reported changes in physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and screen time among informal caregivers providing care for older adults aged 50+ during the pandemic. Methods: Study participants were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and reported their perceived changes (increased a lot, increased a little, remained the same, decreased a little, decreased a lot) in moderate-intensity PA (MPA), vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), sedentary behavior, and screen time (weekday and weekend) during the pandemic. For analytic purposes, response categories were categorized into three-level ordinal variables—increased (increased a lot, increased a little), no change (remained the same), decreased (decreased a little, decreased a lot). Multinomial logistic regression models assessed the likelihood of changes (vs. no change) in MPA, VPA, sedentary behavior, and screen time (weekday, weekend) based on caregiving and demographic characteristics. Results: In total, 2574 individuals accessed the study link, 464 of whom did not meet eligibility requirements. In addition, people who completed 80% or less of the survey (n = 1171) and/or duplicate IP addresse (n = 104) were excluded, resulting in an analytic sample of n = 835. The sample was 69% male, had a mean age of 34 (SD = 9.7), and 48% reported increased VPA, while 55% reported increased MPA. The majority also reported increased sedentary behavior, as well as increased screen time. Respondents living with their care recipient were more likely to report increased weekday screen time (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.55, 95% CI 1.11–2.16) and sedentary behavior (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.28–2.53) than respondents not living with the care recipient. Those living with their care recipient were also more likely to reported increased MPA (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.16–2.32), and VPA (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.09–2.15), but also more likely to report a decrease in VPA (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.14–2.70). Conclusion: The majority of respondents reported that their MPA, VPA PA, sedentary behavior, and screen time had changed during the pandemic. Living with the care recipient was associated with both positive and negative changes in behavior. Future research can explore factors associated with these reported changes in behavior

Keep Your Stats in the Cloud! Evaluating the Use of Google Sheets to Teach Quantitative Methods

Teaching quantitative methods at the undergraduate level is a difficult yet rewarding endeavor due to the challenges instructors face in presenting the material. One way to bolster student learning is through the use of statistical software packages. Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet program capable of many basic statistical procedures, which has yet to be evaluated for use in quantitative methods courses. This article contains pros and cons to using Google Sheets in the classroom and provides an evaluation of student attitudes toward using Google Sheets in an introductory quantitative methods class. The results suggest favorable student attitudes toward Google Sheets and which attitudes toward Google Sheets show a positive relationship with quantitative self-efficacy. Thus, based on the positive student attitudes and the unique features of Google Sheets, it is a viable program to use in introductory methods classes. However, due to limited functionality, Google Sheets may not be useful for more advanced courses. Future research may want to evaluate the use of third-party Google Sheets applications, which can increase functionality, and the use of Google Sheets in online classes

Development and Testing of Program Evaluation Instruments for the iCook 4-H Curriculum

Objective: To develop and test the validity of program outcome evaluation instruments for cooking, eating, and playing together for obesity prevention during iCook 4-H. Design: Instrument development for both youth and adults through pre-post testing of items newly constructed and compiled to address key curriculum constructs. Testing occurred throughout program intervention and dissemination to determine dimensionality, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and validity. Setting: A 5-state out-of-school program in cooperative extension and other community sites. Participants: Youths aged 9−10 years; adults were main food preparers; the first phase involved 214 dyads and the second phase, 74 dyads. Main Outcome Measure(s): Youth measures were cooking skills, culinary self-efficacy, physical activity, and openness to new foods. Adult measures were cooking together, physical activity, and eating together. Analysis: Exploratory factor analysis to determine initial scale structure and confirmatory factor analysis to confirm factor structures. Longitudinal invariance tests to see whether the factor structure held over time. Test-retest reliability was determined by Pearson r and internal consistency was determined by coefficient V and Cronbach a. Validity testing was determined by Pearson r correlations. Results: Youth cooking skills, openness to new foods, and adult eating together and cooking together showed strong evidence for dimensionality, reliability, and validity. Youth physical activity and adult physical activity measures showed strong evidence for dimensionality and validity but not reliability. The youth culinary selfefficacy measure showed strong evidence for reliability and validity but weaker evidence for dimensionality. Conclusions and Implications: Program outcome evaluation instruments for youths and adults were developed and tested to accompany the iCook 4-H curriculum. Program leaders, stakeholders, and administrators may monitor outcomes within and across programs and generate consistent reporting

Development and Testing of Program Evaluation Instruments for the iCook 4-H Curriculum

Objective To develop and test the validity of program outcome evaluation instruments for cooking, eating, and playing together for obesity prevention during iCook 4-H. Design Instrument development for both youth and adults through pre-post testing of items newly constructed and compiled to address key curriculum constructs. Testing occurred throughout program intervention and dissemination to determine dimensionality, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and validity. Setting A 5-state out-of-school program in cooperative extension and other community sites. Participants Youths aged 9–10 years; adults were main food preparers; the first phase involved 214 dyads and the second phase, 74 dyads. Main Outcome Measure(s) Youth measures were cooking skills, culinary self-efficacy, physical activity, and openness to new foods. Adult measures were cooking together, physical activity, and eating together. Analysis Exploratory factor analysis to determine initial scale structure and confirmatory factor analysis to confirm factor structures. Longitudinal invariance tests to see whether the factor structure held over time. Test-retest reliability was determined by Pearson r and internal consistency was determined by coefficient Ω and Cronbach α. Validity testing was determined by Pearson rcorrelations. Results Youth cooking skills, openness to new foods, and adult eating together and cooking together showed strong evidence for dimensionality, reliability, and validity. Youth physical activity and adult physical activity measures showed strong evidence for dimensionality and validity but not reliability. The youth culinary self-efficacy measure showed strong evidence for reliability and validity but weaker evidence for dimensionality. Conclusions and Implications Program outcome evaluation instruments for youths and adults were developed and tested to accompany the iCook 4-Hcurriculum. Program leaders, stakeholders, and administrators may monitor outcomes within and across programs and generate consistent reporting

Towards a Higher-Order Model of Resilience

Resilience theory often conceptualizes resilience as a higher-order construct that draws upon other constructs which individuals use to adapt when facing adverse circumstances. However, current research on resilience often reduces it to a single construct. The single construct approach poses the risk of missing the effects that the underlying resilience components may have on the adverse event or behavior under study. To address this discrepancy, the current study developed and tested a higher-order model of resilience with underlying components from a trait resilience perspective. Two samples were gathered from Mechanical Turk (n = 500) and undergraduate college students (n = 720) who completed measures of 8 constructs theorized to underlie resilience, and a previously validated measure of resilience. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, results suggested six constructs (purpose in life, self-esteem, life satisfaction, cognitive flexibility, proactive coping, and social support) comprise a higher-order model of resilience. Invariance testing showed acceptable model fit across the two samples, across genders, and across ethnicities, offering evidence of generalizability for the higher-order model. We found evidence for validity by correlating the higher-order factor in our sample with the already validated resilience measure. These findings provide support for a higher-order model of resilience with at least six underlying components. Future research could determine if the six components used to identify resilience have different effects based on the context within which they are studied, and other future studies should consider validating the higher-order model using additional underlying constructs and samples

Creation and validation of the barriers to alcohol reduction (BAR) scale using classical test theory and item response theory

Those who binge drink are at increased risk for alcohol-related consequences when compared to non-binge drinkers. Research shows individuals may face barriers to reducing their drinking behavior, but few measures exist to assess these barriers. This study created and validated the Barriers to Alcohol Reduction (BAR) scale. Participants were college students (n = 230) who endorsed at least one instance of past-month binge drinking (4+ drinks for women or 5+ drinks for men). Using classical test theory, exploratory structural equation modeling found a two-factor structure of personal/psychosocial barriers and perceived program barriers. The sub-factors, and full scale had reasonable internal consistency (i.e., coefficient omega = 0.78 (personal/psychosocial), 0.82 (program barriers), and 0.83 (full measure)). The BAR also showed evidence for convergent validity with the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (r = 0.39, p < .001) and discriminant validity with Barriers to Physical Activity (r = −0.02, p = .81). Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis showed the two factors separately met the unidimensionality assumption, and provided further evidence for severity of the items on the two factors. Results suggest that the BAR measure appears reliable and valid for use in an undergraduate student population of binge drinkers. Future studies may want to re-examine this measure in a more diverse sample. Keywords: Barriers, Alcohol use, Measuremen

Comparing Student Attitudes to Spreadsheet and Advanced Statistical Packages

The statistical package chosen to aid in teaching quantitative methods is at the instructor’s discretion, but little research has investigated student attitude toward these different packages. This study compared Google Sheets, a spreadsheet package similar to Microsoft Excel, and a traditional package, SPSS, to determine which of the two programs students preferred to use. One hundred and thirty-nine students enrolled in a quantitative methods course completed surveys at the middle and end of the semester during Spring 2016 and Fall 2016. The results suggested Google Sheets was preferred to SPSS at both time points, and attitudes toward Google Sheets improved over time. Further research could investigate the perspectives of students in other levels of experience with statistics and other statistical packages