Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Maternal and child nutrition support in the food environment(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2015) Houghtaling, Bailey Elizabeth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Carmen Byker; Carmen Byker Shanks and Mica Jenkins were co-authors of the article, 'Factors associated with increased likelihood of breastfeeding among participants of the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): a systematic review of literature' submitted to the journal 'Public health nutrition' which is contained within this thesis.; Carmen Byker Shanks, Teresa Smith and Selena Ahmed were co-authors of the article, 'Validation and adaptation of the nutrition environment measure in stores (NEMS-S) to assess infant feeding resource support in the food environment' submitted to the journal 'Preventing chronic disease' which is contained within this thesis.Infant feeding resources are often found within food environments yet have not been a main focus of food environment investigations. Food options in the retail environment are important, complex factor in dietary choices that can either be promotional or preventative of healthy behaviors. At the same time, breastfeeding is considered a top public health priority due to its unparalleled, favorable health outcomes that impact infants, mothers, and entire communities. For this reason the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least one year after birth. There are multiple practical and social barriers to breastfeeding for women that support the need for appropriate formula varieties in the food environment to support infant nutrition. The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) promotes breastfeeding as an optimal source of nutrition for infants, and offers breastfeeding incentives for enrolled mother-infant pairs resulting in higher assistance allotment for foods, or formula supplements for non-breastfed infants. This research includes a systematic review of literature conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement guidelines in order to identify factors associated with increased likelihood of breastfeeding among WIC participants. This research also introduces a measure adapted from the Nutrition Environment Measure in Stores (NEMS-S) formulated to capture infant feeding support in the food environment. The Infant Feeding Resource Survey (IFRS) captures WIC-supported brand formulas and alternate brand varieties in addition to resource support necessary for breast or formula feeding in store settings. Review findings indicate sociodemographic characteristics, environmental and media support, government policy, intent to breastfeed, attitudes toward breastfeeding, social support, and time exposed to WIC program are correlated with increasing breastfeeding rates within this population. Application of the IFRS indicated a reduced variety of infant feeding resource options in more rural locations in Montana. Data provides valuable information in extension of the state of the science of food environment focused research.Item A hermeneutic interpretation of stories about resilient adults' images of past adolescent and childhood stressors(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 1995) Plummer, John EarleItem Rural Grandparents raising grandchildren : predictors of parental stress(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2004) Conway, Marcia Anne; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bethany L. LetiecqThe number of grandparents raising grandchildren has increased dramatically in the West and throughout United States in recent years. Although research on grandparent caregivers is increasing, there remains little research that addresses the challenges and issues facing grandparents raising grandchildren in rural locales. To address this shortcoming, this study examines the parental stressors experienced by rural grandparent caregivers and explores individual, parental, and community level factors that may be related to stress including length of time in the primary caregiver role, grandparentsα income level, psychological well-being, parental confidence, and perceived social support. Eighty-three grandparents raising their grandchildren were recruited for this study from across the state using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Respondents were asked to fill out a survey about their experience raising their grandchild(ren). A total of forty-four grandparents participated in this study. Data indicate that as grandparents continue in the parenting role, their parental confidence and perceived social support increases. Significant differences were noted between American Indian and Caucasian caregivers. For example, American Indian caregivers reported experiencing significantly more time in the caregiving role, reported lower incomes, and experienced more depressive symptoms than their Caucasian counterparts. The best predictors of parental stress were depression and parental confidence. As depression increased, stress likewise increased. As parental confidence increased, parental stress decreased. These findings hold important implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.Item Family coping and adaptation among grandparents rearing grandchildren(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2007) Porterfield, Fonda K.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bethany L. LetiecqOver the past decade, grandparent caregiving, in which grandparents take on the sole custody of their grandchildren without a parent present, has been one of the fastest growing family forms in the U.S. Most studies on grandparent caregiver functioning have focused on the challenges and deficits of grandfamilies. Little research has been conducted on the adaptive processes of grandparent caregivers and the coping mechanisms they employ to deal with parenting the second time around. The current study was based on qualitative data generated from 26 in-depth, face-to-face interviews with grandparents who were rearing their grandchildren. Interviews were conducted with 10 grandfathers and 23 grandmothers who were the sole care providers of their grandchildren. The majority of grandparents were providing care for their grandchildren due to their adult child's substance abuse and/or mental illness. During each interview, a semi-structured interview protocol was followed. These interviews began by generating a genogram of the family system, including four generations of the family: the grandparents' parents, the grandparents, their adult children, and their grandchildren.Item Determinants of skate sprint cross-country skiing performance for junior and collegiate skiers(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2010) Willis, Sarah Jean; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Daniel P. HeilAlthough previous research has established some correlates of sprint cross-country ski performance, it has not been determined which tests are the best determinants of sprint performance. There may be other tests or combinations of both lab- and field- based tests that are better able to determine sprint performance. PURPOSE: To investigate correlational relationships between a battery of test variables as predictors of skate roller skiing sprint performance in male and female junior and collegiate Nordic skiers. METHODS: Eleven female (Mean±SD; Age (yrs): 19±2; Height (cm): 167.6±5.5; Body Mass (kg): 64.9±7.0; Relative VO ₂MAX (ml/kg/min): 56.9±3.3) and nine male (Age (yrs): 18±1; Height (cm): 180.1±6.6; Body Mass (kg): 69.9±2.2; Relative VO ₂MAX (ml/kg/min): 70.6±4.8) competitive junior and collegiate skiers performed several lab tests including a maximal ski-striding treadmill test to exhaustion (VO ₂MAX, lactate threshold, TTE). Additional lab tests included upper body power (UBP) tests of 10 and 60 seconds, and lower body power (LBP) tests using a timing pad (1-jump, 4-jump, 60-jump vertical jump tests). Field-based roller skiing tests (40 m flying sprint, and 400 m sprint on a 200 m indoor track) were also completed. Skiers then performed a 1200 m skate roller ski sprint time trial on the indoor track. Pearson-Product Moment correlations assessed the linear relationship between all lab- and field-based variables and average race speed (m/sec) for time trial variables. Correlations were evaluated for both statistical significance (a = 0.01) and practical meaningfulness (r > or = 0.60). RESULTS: Treadmill variables correlated moderate to high with skate roller skiing sprint speed (r = 0.78 - 0.80) as did the indoor skate roller ski testing (r = 0.74 - 0.78). Recovery parameters of blood lactate measured 3 minutes post trials correlated moderately (r = 0.59 - 0.78) as well as both the UBP 10- and 60- second tests and the jump height variables of the vertical jump testing (r = 0.63 - 0.68 and r = 0.59 - 0.71). CONCLUSION: The correlations between the lab- and field-based tests and skate roller skiing sprint speed indicated that it is important to assess multiple testing methods with a variety of test durations to best determine skate sprint skiing performance.