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Title: The effect of growth-restriction on voluntary physical activity engagement in mice
Creator: Leszczynski, Eric
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: INTRODUCTION. Current evidence suggests that early life growth restriction reduces physical activity engagement. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of early life growth-restriction on levels of wheel running in mice, and determine if known biological mechanisms regulate physical activity engagement. METHODS. Using a cross-fostering, protein-restricted nutritive model, mice were growth-restricted during either gestation (GUN; N = 3 litters) or postnatal...
Show moreINTRODUCTION. Current evidence suggests that early life growth restriction reduces physical activity engagement. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of early life growth-restriction on levels of wheel running in mice, and determine if known biological mechanisms regulate physical activity engagement. METHODS. Using a cross-fostering, protein-restricted nutritive model, mice were growth-restricted during either gestation (GUN; N = 3 litters) or postnatal life (PUN; N = 3 litters), along with a well fed control group (CON; N = 3 litters). At 21 days of age, all mice pups were weaned and fed a non-restrictive healthy diet for the remainder of the study. At 45 days of age mice were individually housed in cages with free moving running wheels to assess physical activity engagement. At day 70, mice were euthanized, and the nucleus accumbens was analyzed for dopamine receptor 1 expression. Skeletal muscle fiber type and cross-sectional area of the soleus, extensor digitorom longus, and diaphragm were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The soleus from the other hind leg was evaluated for calsequestrin 1 and annexin A6 expression. RESULTS. The PUN female mice had a reduction (P = 0.0221) in wheel revolutions per day as compared to the GUN and CON females. PUN female mice also expressed significantly higher Drd1(P = 0.0247) and Casq1 (P = 0.0398) compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION. Growth-restriction during lactation reduced physical activity in female mice by reducing the central drive to be active and displayed a more fatigable skeletal muscle phenotype.
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Title: A physical activity and nutrition education program in elementary schools : target population needs, barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and physical activity
Creator: Wilson, Simone A.
Date: 2014
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The global childhood obesity crisis, especially in the low-income (LI) minority population, has motivated much interest in interventions addressing important related lifestyle behaviors such as healthy eating (HE) and physical activity (PE). Understanding the perceived barriers and facilitators to HE and PA experienced by children and parents/primary caregivers (PC) is important for intervention success. Based on the Social Cognitive Theory and grounded theory, a mixed method (quantitative...
Show moreThe global childhood obesity crisis, especially in the low-income (LI) minority population, has motivated much interest in interventions addressing important related lifestyle behaviors such as healthy eating (HE) and physical activity (PE). Understanding the perceived barriers and facilitators to HE and PA experienced by children and parents/primary caregivers (PC) is important for intervention success. Based on the Social Cognitive Theory and grounded theory, a mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) study was conducted among (n=27) 5 th grade LI elementary students and 11 parents to assess: dietary quality (DQ), PA and related behaviors, weight and health perceptions, food security, child and adult weight status, family nutrition and PA, as well as perceived barriers and facilitators to HE and PA. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 59% for children and 90% for adults. Food insecurity was reported by 41% of children and DQ (Healthy Eating Index-score) for both children and adults needed improvement (64/100). For PA, 81% of children were not meeting the recommendation. For both children and parents the major facilitators to HE and PA were media (exergames and televised nutrition and PA embedded programs), the PA & HE (PE-Nut) program, and community access. The major barriers were neighborhood safety, accessibility to recreation centers, lack of community modeling of healthy lifestyles, time and monetary constraints. Family ecology was found to promote a positive understanding as well as enhance misconceptions of children regarding health, HE, and PA. PE-Nut and other similar programs are therefore much needed to facilitate as well as ensure accuracy of messages/understanding in this and perhaps other target populations. -- Abstract.
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Title: Examination of test-retest reliability of a computerized neurocognitive test battery
Creator: Nakayama, Yusuke
Date: 2013
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: "Context: Test-retest reliability is a critical issue in utilization of computerized neurocognitive assessments employing pre-participation baseline test followed by a series of post-concussion tests. Low test-retest reliability was reported by Broglio et al. (2007) for one of the most widely used neurocognitive test battery, Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) with specific testing intervals. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to re-examine the test-retest...
Show more"Context: Test-retest reliability is a critical issue in utilization of computerized neurocognitive assessments employing pre-participation baseline test followed by a series of post-concussion tests. Low test-retest reliability was reported by Broglio et al. (2007) for one of the most widely used neurocognitive test battery, Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) with specific testing intervals. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to re-examine the test-retest reliability of ImPACT between baseline, 45 days and 50 days after baseline ... " Abstract.
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Title: The role of a soccer-based program in the acculturation of refugee youth : a retrospective examination
Creator: Capalbo, Lucas Silvestre
Date: 2019
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Sports have been said to be a powerful platform to help refugee youth overcome traumas from migration (Oliff, 2007) and to facilitate their adjustment in their country of settlement (Rich, Misener, & Debeau, 2015). Sport participation among refugee youth has also linked to greater agency (McDonald, Spaaij, & Dudik, 2018) and prosocial behavior (Nathan et al., 2013) among other benefits. Studies investigating sport-based programs for the social inclusion of refugees have used different...
Show moreSports have been said to be a powerful platform to help refugee youth overcome traumas from migration (Oliff, 2007) and to facilitate their adjustment in their country of settlement (Rich, Misener, & Debeau, 2015). Sport participation among refugee youth has also linked to greater agency (McDonald, Spaaij, & Dudik, 2018) and prosocial behavior (Nathan et al., 2013) among other benefits. Studies investigating sport-based programs for the social inclusion of refugees have used different methodologies like participatory action research and quasi-experimental mixed method designs in order to understand the effects that these programs had on their participants. However, very few of these studies investigated the refugee youth in-depth. To remedy this state of affairs a hermeneutical phenomenological research design was used in this study to directly assess participant experiences in exploring the role of a soccer-based program in the acculturation of refugee youth. The soccer-based program in the acculturation of refugee youth was a yearly program that involved two practices and one game per week along with mandatory tutoring sessions. Data was collected from in-depth interviews conducted with 8 former participants of a soccer-based program for refugees in a mid-Michigan city in the USA. The content of their interviews was transcribed and analyzed using initial coding and theory-based coding. The latter compared the participants' acculturation experiences in the society of settlement with Berry's (1997) framework for acculturation research. Results showed that participation in the program contributed to the refugees' English acquisition, academic performance, and social and personal development. Participants said they learned multiple functional skills like "respect" and "making right choices" from interacting with the program's experienced staff and coach. Finally, participation led to the participants' integration among other refugees but was also found to contribute to their marginalization among their American peers.
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Title: Use of accelerometry and machine learning to measure free-living physical activity and sedentary behavior
Creator: Montoye, Alexander Henry
Date: 2014
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: IntroductionPhysical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are important behavioral variables that are associated with many key short- and long-term health indices. Objective and highly accurate methods of measuring PA and SB are needed in order to better understand the relationships of PA and SB with various health outcomes, determine population levels of PA and SB, identify and target groups at high risk of having low PA or high SB, and assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed to...
Show moreIntroductionPhysical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are important behavioral variables that are associated with many key short- and long-term health indices. Objective and highly accurate methods of measuring PA and SB are needed in order to better understand the relationships of PA and SB with various health outcomes, determine population levels of PA and SB, identify and target groups at high risk of having low PA or high SB, and assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed to increase PA and reduce SB in populations. Of the available measurement tools, accelerometer-based activity monitors have gained popularity due to their blend of feasibility for use and relatively high accuracy for assessing PA (by identifying specific activity types), SB, and energy expenditure (EE). However, little research has been done to compare the accuracy of accelerometers placed on different parts of the body, and current data modeling methods are either 1) simple to use but lack accuracy or 2) highly accurate but highly complex. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was 1) to develop accurate and relatively simple data processing and modeling methods for accelerometer data and 2) to compare accelerometers located on the right hip, right thigh, and both wrists for classification of activity type and prediction of SB and EE.MethodsHealthy adults (n=44) were recruited to participate in a 90-minute simulated free-living protocol. For the protocol, participants performed 14 activities for between 3-10 minutes, with order, duration, and intensity of activities left up to participants. Participants wore a portable metabolic analyzer (for a criterion measure of EE) and four accelerometers, which were placed on the right hip, right thigh, and both wrists. The order and timing of the activities performed during the protocol was recorded by a trained research assistant (for a criterion measure of activity type and SB). Machine learning algorithms (i.e., artificial neural networks) were created by extracting simple-to-compute features from the data from each of the four accelerometers in order to classify activity type and predict SB and EE. Accuracy of the four accelerometers for each outcome variable was assessed by comparing predictions from the accelerometers to the actual values obtained by the criterion measures. Additionally, we processed, cleaned, and extracted features of the accelerometer data in Microsoft Excel and created the artificial neural networks using R software, thereby accomplishing our goal of using simple methods to create machine learning algorithms to model accelerometer data. ResultsOverall, the thigh accelerometer provided the highest predictive accuracy for EE, although both the wrists and hip accelerometers also provided highly accurate EE predictions. For recognition of activity type, the wrist accelerometers achieved the highest accuracy while the hip accelerometer had the lowest accuracy. Finally, for prediction of SB, the hip and left wrist accelerometers provided the highest accuracy while the right wrist accelerometer provided the lowest accuracy. DiscussionOur study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of accelerometers placed on the hip, thigh, and wrists for prediction of activity type, SB, and EE. These findings suggest that single accelerometers can be used for accurate measurement of PA, SB, and EE, although the optimal accelerometer placement site will depend on the specific research question. Further research should be conducted in a true free-living setting with a more diverse population, different sets of activities, and when using other types of machine learning to mode the accelerometer data.
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Title: An examination of the impact of a physical activity-based service-learning course on undergraduate student leaders
Creator: Whitley, Meredith Anne
Date: 2012
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Over the past 25 years, there has been a call for change within American higher education, with an increasing number of foundations, national organizations, and individual researchers pushing for institutions of higher education to become more involved with the surrounding communities and American society (Campus Compact, 2011; Glass & Fitzgerald, 2010). In response to this call for a more engaged campus, colleges and universities have begun to seek out partnerships with community agencies,...
Show moreOver the past 25 years, there has been a call for change within American higher education, with an increasing number of foundations, national organizations, and individual researchers pushing for institutions of higher education to become more involved with the surrounding communities and American society (Campus Compact, 2011; Glass & Fitzgerald, 2010). In response to this call for a more engaged campus, colleges and universities have begun to seek out partnerships with community agencies, organizations, and other groups (Bringle & Hatcher, 2002; Driscoll, Holland, Gelmon, & Kerrigan, 1996), as well as invest in many different forms of engaged scholarship. One form of engaged scholarship that is becoming increasingly prevalent in institutions of higher learning is that of service-learning, which merges academic study with meaningful service in the community (Butin, 2010; Eyler, 2009). Service-learning has been incorporated into a wide range of fields, although the field of kinesiology has not yet embraced service-learning as a common pedagogical practice (Watson, Hueglin, Crandall, & Eisenman, 2002). In order to increase the prevalence of service-learning courses within kinesiology, it is necessary for research to be conducted on courses within this field. This dissertation examined one physical activity-based service-learning course within kinesiology. The primary purpose of the study was to explore the impact of this course on the undergraduate students enrolled, with a focus on personal growth, academic and intellectual development, and social and community engagement. The secondary purpose was to explore how these changes occurred during a physical activity-based service-learning course. These aims were addressed through a semester-long qualitative study, with in-depth interviews with six undergraduate student leaders and the course instructor, along with reflections completed by the students and the primary investigator in the role of a participant observer. The data were analyzed with a combined nomothetic and idiographic methodological approach, with commonalities and patterns being identified across participants in addition to the individual characteristics, experiences, and outcomes for each individual participant (Dunn, 1994; Gould, Tuffey, Udry, & Loehr, 1997). Results revealed that the participants all experienced growth and development from their experiences in the service-learning course, including leadership development, improved interpersonal skills, increased knowledge of social justice issues, and enhanced self-understanding. However, the participants varied significantly in terms of the number, depth, and complexity of these proximal outcomes, with the variance largely explained by the students' predisposing factors (e.g., race, gender, previous volunteering experience), the service-learning experience variables (e.g., feedback from the course instructor, effort level of students, integration of course content and service-learning experience), and the mediating variables (i.e., quality and quantity of reflection and cognitive complexity). These findings led to new insights within the field of service-learning as well as a deeper understanding of previous findings, resulting in a refined comprehensive theoretical framework that can be used by researchers, practitioners, administrators, and funders for the study, practice, and funding of service-learning. Along with a detailed discussion of this theoretical framework as it relates to the study and practice of service-learning, other practical implications of this dissertation are explored, including the design of coach education and mentoring programs and the potential impact on the field of kinesiology.
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Title: Haptic assistance strategies for enhancing the learning of kinematically redundant motor tasks
Creator: Lokesh, Rakshith
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Advances in robotic technology and interfaces have led to the adoption of robot-mediated assistance for training motor skills in a wide array of fields ranging from neurorehabilitation to skill acquisition. The assistance from the robot to control movements during learning is 'haptic' - i.e., in the form of forces applied to the body. Even though numerous studies have explored haptic assistance strategies to enhance motor learning, this has been examined only in 'non-redundant' tasks where...
Show moreAdvances in robotic technology and interfaces have led to the adoption of robot-mediated assistance for training motor skills in a wide array of fields ranging from neurorehabilitation to skill acquisition. The assistance from the robot to control movements during learning is 'haptic' - i.e., in the form of forces applied to the body. Even though numerous studies have explored haptic assistance strategies to enhance motor learning, this has been examined only in 'non-redundant' tasks where there is only a single movement solution available. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to develop haptic assistance strategies for kinematically redundant motor tasks where multiple solutions are available. We designed a kinematically redundant steering task and used it as a framework for this dissertation. The task was to manipulate a cursor placed at the mean position of the two hands along a 'W-shaped' path as fast as possible while maintaining the cursor inside the track. This made the task kinematically redundant because the same cursor position could be achieved with different hand positions. We then conducted three experiments to examine the role of haptic feedback when learning such tasks with redundant solutions. In our first experiment, we explored the effects of task difficulty on learning and how kinematic redundancy is utilized during task learning, without any haptic feedback. We found that the participants exploited the redundancy in the task to enhance task performance and reduced variability that did not affect task performance with learning. Surprisingly, while task difficulty had an effect on performance, we found no effect of task difficulty on the utilization of redundancy in the task. In the second experiment, we enabled haptic assistance at the redundant effectors (hands) in two ways: (i) restricted the usage of redundant solutions, or (ii) allowed the usage of redundant solutions. We also compared the effect of training with progressively reducing assistance levels versus training at constant assistance levels. We found that restricting the usage of redundant solutions was detrimental to motor learning, indicating that using redundancy was critical to learning. Moreover, fading assistance linearly did not offer any learning benefits relative to constant assistance. In the third experiment, we tested the effectiveness of a performance-adaptive assistance algorithm in comparison to linearly reducing assistance. We found that the adaptive assistance group showed enhanced learning over the linearly faded assistance group. Analysis of the task learning dynamics revealed how adaptive assistance was beneficial for different initially skilled participants. We have also presented a learning dynamic variable that correlated with the retention of task performance after training with haptic assistance.Overall, this dissertation explored the application of haptic assistance strategies for kinematically redundant motor tasks with multiple effectors. The outcomes of this dissertation will motivate research for the exploration of novel haptic assistance strategies in neurorehabilitation, human-robot collaboration, athletic training, etc.
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Title: Changing movement patterns using reinforcement learning
Creator: Lin, Tzu-Hsiang
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Humans interact with the world by generating movements, which make it important to understand the process of motor learning. There are two aspects of motor learning: (1) an improvement in task performance (e.g., learning to throw farther), and (2) a change in the movement pattern (e.g., learning to throw with an improved coordination or technique even if there is no change in task performance). Most studies on motor learning focus on the first aspect of task performance; however, the second...
Show moreHumans interact with the world by generating movements, which make it important to understand the process of motor learning. There are two aspects of motor learning: (1) an improvement in task performance (e.g., learning to throw farther), and (2) a change in the movement pattern (e.g., learning to throw with an improved coordination or technique even if there is no change in task performance). Most studies on motor learning focus on the first aspect of task performance; however, the second aspect of movement pattern is also important and ubiquitous in our daily life - for example, we learn a better movement pattern to carry heavy objects to prevent injuries or the patients re-learn to perform movements in the rehab setting. In this dissertation, I designed a learning protocol that provided reinforcement feedback to guide participants to learn alternative movement patterns to perform the same task. Reinforcement feedback provides participants with a signal to start exploring different movement patterns but does not provide direct information about the desired movement pattern. Therefore the key question of this dissertation was to address the issue of how to schedule the reinforcement feedback to shift participants toward an alternative movement pattern in tasks requiring coordination of multiple body segments. In experiment one, I tested how providing 'online' reinforcement feedback (i.e. feedback provided during the movement) could shift the participants to alternative movement patterns. In experiment two, I tested how providing 'terminal' reinforcement feedback (i.e. feedback provided at the end of the movement) could shift participants toward alternative movement patterns, and if an adaptive method that adjusts reinforcement based on prior performance had better learning outcomes. In summary, I found: (1) reinforcement feedback can be used to change movement patterns in task requiring coordination of multiple body segments, although it is less successful when compared to its use in simpler tasks (2) online reinforcement feedback resulted in quick changes toward the desired movement pattern, and the amount of practice was the primary factor that determined retention, and (3) terminal reinforcement feedback resulted in less change toward the desired movement pattern, and an adaptive algorithm was needed to achieve better learning outcomes. These results contribute to the fields of motor learning and computational motor neuroscience to understand how the central nervous system uses feedback to change movement patterns, and can be applied to the fields of skill acquisition or motor rehabilitation to help people learn motor skills.
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Title: Fundamental movement skills in children with and without autism spectrum disorder, and the multi-domain effects of an early motor intervention
Creator: Felzer-Kim, Isabella Theresa
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: It is increasingly clear that obesity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an important public health concern. Despite this, research shows a lack of consensus on how to address this issue. The current dissertation presents data from an observational study of children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), investigating their fundamental movement skills, body composition, and moderate - to - vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). This observational study found...
Show moreIt is increasingly clear that obesity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an important public health concern. Despite this, research shows a lack of consensus on how to address this issue. The current dissertation presents data from an observational study of children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), investigating their fundamental movement skills, body composition, and moderate - to - vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). This observational study found the largest difference between diagnostic groups in fundamental movement skills (F (1,26) = 24.71, p < 0.001), followed by body composition (F (1, 26) = 6.34, p = 0.02), and no difference in MVPA (F (1, 26) = 0.11, p = 0.75). This dissertation also presents results from an Applied Behavior Analysis fundamental movement skills intervention for preschoolers with ASD. The intervention is the first of its kind implemented in early intensive behavioral intervention centers, an ecologically valid environment with wide reach. Motor scores showed improvement relative to the control group (F (1, 12) = 4.98; p = 0.02). Behavior technicians implementing the study expressed polarized views on the feasibility of the intervention, rating the intervention low in feasibility overall. Despite inclusion of a social play component in the intervention, there were no benefits observed in their existing behavioral intervention therapy progress (F (1,12) = 0.06, p = 0.81). These results can be used to advocate for (a) increased research attention to physical development in ASD, (b) continued fundamental movement skill training for children with ASD, and (c) cross-disciplinary collaboration between the fields of clinical Psychology and Kinesiology.
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Title: Mass movement patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation : stability and phasic relationships in the developmental sequence of the forceful overarm throw in children
Creator: Evans, Richard A.
Date: 1980
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Title: Gender role conflict and psychosocial concerns across race and school type as influences on adolescent girls' sport participation and withdrawal
Creator: Wright, Elizabeth A.
Date: 2013
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: One of the most popular activities for both boys and girls to participate in are sports, with over 44 million youth involved in youth sports (National Council of Youth Sports, 2008). While girls are participating at higher rates than they were before the passage of Title IX in 1972, there still exists a discrepancy between the number of boys and girls who participate in sports. Further, there is an even larger discrepancy when looking at the demographics of the adolescent girls who are...
Show moreOne of the most popular activities for both boys and girls to participate in are sports, with over 44 million youth involved in youth sports (National Council of Youth Sports, 2008). While girls are participating at higher rates than they were before the passage of Title IX in 1972, there still exists a discrepancy between the number of boys and girls who participate in sports. Further, there is an even larger discrepancy when looking at the demographics of the adolescent girls who are participating at the lowest (girls of color and girls from low-income urban areas) and highest (girls who are white and reside in suburban areas) rates.One way of studying these discrepancies in sport participation is examining if gender role conflict or psychosocial concerns have a significant impact on adolescent girls' sport participation. With there being a lack of research that studies the sport experiences of girls of various racial and economic backgrounds, this study filled this void by examining not only girls' gender role conflict and psychosocial concerns, but also their overall levels of sport participation and their views on gender appropriateness of sports.Two hundred and thirty-six girls who attended middle SES suburban (n = 130) and low SES urban (n = 106) high schools participated in this study. It was found that adolescent girls reported low amounts of gender role conflict and psychosocial concerns. Related, girls also reported that gender role conflict and psychosocial concerns played a small role in any decreased middle school sport participation. Some differences emerged when examining girls' experienceswith these two measures across race, with African American girls having significantly more concerns with their image and African American girls from middle SES suburban schools reporting the highest amount of impact of gender role conflict.There were similar mixed findings when examining current sport participation. Girls who were current athletes in high school actually had higher gender role conflict scores than those girls who were non-current sport participants. There were limited differences between current and non-current sport participants' psychosocial concerns, with non-current sport participants reporting significantly higher image concerns. Similar results were found with girls who had played and quit a feminine sport, as they had higher image concerns than girls who had played a quit a masculine sport. When looking at middle school and high school sport participation, white girls from middle SES suburban schools were typically the girls that participated the most in sport. What played an especially significant role was the type of school a girl attended, with African American girls particularly negatively impacted with their high school sport participation if they attended a low SES urban school.While more research is needed to confirm these patterns, what these findings suggest is that there is a significant decrease in sport participation between middle school and high school, but only for girls that attend low SES urban schools. Noting the small amount of impact that psychosocial concerns and gender role conflict had with girls in this study, it can be tentatively concluded that there are other reasons that impact adolescent girls' decreasing or quitting their sport participation.
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Title: Self-Regulation Moderates the Relationship Between Fine Motor Skills and Writing in Early Childhood
Creator: Chandler, Madison C.
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Learning to write is challenging for young children, as they must integrate their still-developing fine motor skills with an understanding of written language to produce a mark that has meaning. Complicating things more is the fact that children are often asked to produce a variety of written products with varying task demands (e.g., writing single letters vs. combining these letters to form entire words or sentences). Although theoretical models of writing highlight the importance of both...
Show moreLearning to write is challenging for young children, as they must integrate their still-developing fine motor skills with an understanding of written language to produce a mark that has meaning. Complicating things more is the fact that children are often asked to produce a variety of written products with varying task demands (e.g., writing single letters vs. combining these letters to form entire words or sentences). Although theoretical models of writing highlight the importance of both self-regulation and fine motor skills for writing, our current understanding of how these two constructs interact to support writing remains incomplete. Thus, this dissertation examined the extent to which self-regulation moderates the relation between fine motor skills and early writing development – and whether this relation differs by writing task difficulty. To address this, two diverse cross-sectional samples of 3-5-year-old children from Head Start programs were assessed on motor skills, self-regulation, and a variety of writing tasks at the beginning (N = 333) and end (N = 405) of the preschool year. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the potential moderating association between fine motor skill and self-regulation on early writing skills, with separate models fit for each writing task. After controlling for demographic factors, results indicated that self-regulation was important at the beginning of the year for children with higher levels of motor skills when completing a challenging writing task. Self-regulation was also important at the end of the school year for both 1) children with lower motor skills, but only for the simpler writing tasks, and 2) for children with higher motor skills on the more-challenging writing tasks. Findings suggest that the relation between self-regulation and writing is dependent upon task difficulty, and that self-regulation and motor skills may compensate for deficits in one or the other skill when children perform writing tasks.
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Title: THE EFFECT OF GROWTH-RESTRICTION ON THE MURINE GUT MICROBIOME
Creator: Quinn, Melissa
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: ABSTRACTTHE EFFECT OF GROWTH-RESTRICTION ON THE MURINE GUT MICROBIOME By Melissa QuinnINTRODUCTION. Growth restriction induced by undernutrition in early life increases the risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. We hypothesized growth restriction would alter the gut microbiome and metabolome across the lifespan, impairing vital growth signaling processes necessary for proper development, with a primary focus on muscular and hepatic Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) expression....
Show moreABSTRACTTHE EFFECT OF GROWTH-RESTRICTION ON THE MURINE GUT MICROBIOME By Melissa QuinnINTRODUCTION. Growth restriction induced by undernutrition in early life increases the risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. We hypothesized growth restriction would alter the gut microbiome and metabolome across the lifespan, impairing vital growth signaling processes necessary for proper development, with a primary focus on muscular and hepatic Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1) expression. METHODS. A cross-fostering, protein-restricted nutritive model (8% protein) was used to induce undernutrition during gestation (GUN) or lactation (PUN). At 21 days of age (PN21), all mice were weaned to a control diet (CON; 20% protein), isolating undernutrition to specific windows of early life. Fecal samples were collected weekly PN18-PN80 to determine longitudinal programming effects of growth restriction on the gut microbiome (CON N=5, GUN N=6, PUN N=6) and metabolome. Fecal sample DNA was extracted for amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes using PCR, and then the amplicons were sequenced with the Illumina pipeline and analyzed using the Qiita bioinformatics software. Cecum samples were also collected at PN21 (CON N=4, GUN N=6, PUN N=5) and PN80 (CON N=5, GUN N=6, PUN N=6) for microbiome analysis. Liver samples were collected at PN21(CON N=12, GUN N=6, PUN N=7) and PN80 (CON N=13, GUN N=9, PUN N=11) and analyzed along with the cecum for metabolomics via tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and analyzed with the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) bioinformatics software. IGF-1 expression in the liver and gastrocnemius (CON N=15, GUN N=12, PUN N=13) was analyzed via a Total Protein NIR western blot to establish a connection between the gut microbiome, tissue metabolome and organ growth. RESULTS. The Beta-Diversity of the fecal microbiome was significantly separated by treatment group using Weighted UniFrac measures (PERMANOVA p=0.0001). Differences in the microbiome were not evident through analysis at the Phylum level (Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio) but were instead driven by longitudinal alterations in the abundance of specific genera and species in PUN. Linear mixed model (LMM) analysis revealed PUN having significantly higher abundance of specific bacteria compared to GUN and CON across the lifespan including: Bacteroides uniformis, B. acidifaciens, B. ovatus, Bifidobacterium sp. and Clostridium sacchrogumia. Rikenellaceae was the only microbe that was significantly lower in abundance in the PUN group over time compared to GUN and CON. Additionally, the PUN metabolome was significantly altered compared to GUN and CON, primarily characterized by reduced: essential amino acids (EAAs: methionine, phenylalanine and tyrosine), riboflavin (B2), primary bile acids, and decreased Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); and increased acylcarnitines and fecal peptides. NIR Western blot analysis revealed significantly lower IGF-1 expression in the liver at PN21 in GUN (p=0.0012) and PUN (p<0.001) as well as overall lower expression in the muscle in PUN (p=0.037) and GUN (p=0.007) compared to CON. CONCLUSION: The gut microbiome and metabolome are altered by early life growth restriction at PN21 and through adulthood. Elevated sugar-fermenting bacteria in the PUN group represent gut microbiome immaturity and delayed development. Temporary metabolic alterations of early life growth restriction are seen in decreased primary bile acids and increased synthesis of liver acylcarnitines, both of which are indicative as adaptations of the pups being calorie-restricted as a result of the low-protein fed dam. More permanent outcomes of growth restriction were evident by increased peptide excretion over the lifespan, significantly decreased methionine and riboflavin – which prevented protein synthesis to occur during early life development, and overall decreased muscle IGF-1 expression and DHEA levels in the PUN mice. Many of the metabolic pathways permanently altered by growth restriction are seen in the liver, making this organ an important site for future research on the development of treatment modalities that can limit growth restriction induced chronic disease.
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Title: ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS AND COACH BURN-OUT IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS
Creator: Mignano, Michael John
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Occupational burn-out was recently included in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (WHO, 2018) as an occupational phenomenon. Sport coaches’ experiences of burn-out and stress have been studied within the field of sport and exercise psychology of the past several decades. The purpose of the current study was to examine the prevalence of coach burn-out, examine how organizational factors are associated with burn-out, and explore coaching stressors utilizing...
Show moreOccupational burn-out was recently included in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (WHO, 2018) as an occupational phenomenon. Sport coaches’ experiences of burn-out and stress have been studied within the field of sport and exercise psychology of the past several decades. The purpose of the current study was to examine the prevalence of coach burn-out, examine how organizational factors are associated with burn-out, and explore coaching stressors utilizing the Coaching Stressors Scale, a 12-item instrument developed by the researcher. Using Horn’s (2002) Working Model of Coaching Effectiveness as the theoretical framework, coach demographics, organizational climate measures, perceived organizational support, perceptions of stress, turnover intention, resilience and burn-out were assessed. For measuring burn-out, the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Educators Survey was used. NCAA collegiate golf coaches (n = 96) in the United States were the sample participants. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the three purposes of the study. Based on these findings, coach burn-out prevalence was relatively low. However, several key organizational factors were significantly associated with burn-out. Additionally, the variables of workplace stress, perceived organizational support, and resilience were significant predictors of the three dimensions of burn-out. Future research should focus on coach burn-out measure development, longitudinal studies of burnout in coaches, and interventions that examines the role of sport organizations in expanding resilience and coach wellbeing.
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Title: Feasibility and efficacy of fitness- and skill-based high-intensity interval exercise protocols in children
Creator: Ricci, Jeanette M.
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: It is recommended that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day; three occasions should specifically include vigorous physical activity (VPA) to promote cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and maintain weight status. One evidence-based strategy to promote VPA in children is high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). The current dissertation presents data from two laboratory-based studies investigating the cardiometabolic and perceptual...
Show moreIt is recommended that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day; three occasions should specifically include vigorous physical activity (VPA) to promote cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and maintain weight status. One evidence-based strategy to promote VPA in children is high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). The current dissertation presents data from two laboratory-based studies investigating the cardiometabolic and perceptual responses to a body-weight resistance HIIE protocol (CIRC) compared to treadmill-based HIIE (TM) in boys and girls. The first acute study found similar mean heart rate (HR) responses (86 ± 6 %HRpeak for CIRC and 85 ± 4 %HRpeak for TM, P>0.05) yet a greater mean oxygen consumption (VO2) response to TM (70 ± 9 %VO2peak for CIRC versus 77 ± 5 %VO2peak for TM, P= 0.008) in boys. In contrast, mean HR and VO2 were similar in girls, but during group CIRC mean HR was higher than in both individual conditions [92 ± 7 %HRpeak (Group CIRC); 86 ± 7 %HRpeak (CIRC); 85 ± 4 %HRpeak (TM)]. Also in girls, VO2 responses were similar between CIRC and TM (76 ± 11 %VO2peak for CIRC versus 76 ± 10 %VO2peak for TM, P= 0.60). In both boys and girls, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), affective valence, and enjoyment responses were similar between CIRC and TM (P>0.05), and only RPE increased during exercise (P<0.001). This dissertation also presents results from a fitness- and skill-based HIIE intervention delivered to 4th and 5th grade students during physical education (PE). The intervention, which focused on promoting physical health outcomes, addressed critical gaps in the HIIE literature by adopting a theoretical approach that focused on the psychosocial experiences of the delivered intervention. Students participating in the HIIE intervention significantly improved their cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength relative to the control group (F(1,49) = 17.40, P<0.001, ηp2= 0.26; (F(1,54) = 5.67, P= 0.02, ηp2= 0.09), respectively). A greater amount of time was spent engaging in MVPA in the intervention group compared to the control group, based on both HR and accelerometer data (38.1 ± 7.9 vs. 32.8 ± 8.7 min/hr; P=0.025, ηp2= 0.08; 23.4 ± 5.0 vs. 15.7 ± 4.7 min/hr; P<0.001, ηp2= 0.45, respectively). However, only the accelerometer data supported that students in the intervention accumulated greater amounts of VPA during PE (4.5 ± 2.6 vs. 2.3 ± 1.3 min/hr; P<0.001, ηp2= 0.27). Participants and the physical educator reported favorable program satisfaction and feasibility ratings. Lastly, the program did not change students’ perceptions of autonomy, relatedness, and competence during PE, which did not differ from the control group and remained positive after the intervention (F(3,52) = 1.37, P=0.26, ηp2= 0.07). These results can be used to advocate for the implementation of fitness- and skill-based HIIE interventions that incorporate both physical fitness and motor competence components delivered in PE settings. The Self Determination Theory may be a suitable theoretical framework to guide future HIIE interventions given that this intervention increased students’ physical activity levels without negatively influencing their psychosocial perceptions towards PE, including their enjoyment and their perceptions of autonomy, relatedness, and competence.
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Title: Peer relationships and sport commitment
Creator: Oluyedun, Olufemi Adetokunbo
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Peers play a vital role in shaping quality sport experiences. Early descriptive work has highlighted the importance of considering the social context when examining sport commitment, the desire or resolve to maintain sport participation. Yet, little research has investigated the specific role of peers in contributing to sport commitment. Peers may be especially important to sport commitment because athletes often pursue sport to cultivate a sense of affiliation and to make friends....
Show morePeers play a vital role in shaping quality sport experiences. Early descriptive work has highlighted the importance of considering the social context when examining sport commitment, the desire or resolve to maintain sport participation. Yet, little research has investigated the specific role of peers in contributing to sport commitment. Peers may be especially important to sport commitment because athletes often pursue sport to cultivate a sense of affiliation and to make friends. Accordingly, this dissertation examined how various peer relationships constructs predict sport commitment in highly involved athletes. The purpose of Study 1 was to examine whether impression motivation moderates the association of social constraints and sport commitment. Collegiate athletes (N = 257) completed established measures of impression motivation, perceptions of social constraints, and both enthusiastic and constrained sport commitment. Results largely suggested that impression motivation did not moderate the relationship between social constraints and sport commitment. One of the eight models run was significant and supported the moderation hypothesis. Self-development impression motivation (IM) was found to moderate the relationship between social constraints and the enthusiastic form of commitment, such that higher impression motivation strengthened that association. Overall, this model accounted for an additional 4% of variance predicted above and beyond the main effect of social constraints.The purpose of Study 2 was to (a) examine how positive friendship quality dimensions and friendship conflict would predict sport commitment, and (b) examine how other peer variables (peer acceptance, impression motivation) add to prediction of sport commitment beyond the friendship dimensions. Collegiate track and field athletes (N = 198) completed established measures of friendship quality, friendship conflict, peer acceptance, and impression motivation. Higher loyalty and intimacy and perceptions of conflict along with lower conflict resolution associated with greater constrained commitment. Thus, the more loyal an athlete was to their close friend, combined with higher perceived conflict and weaker perceived capacity to resolve conflict, associated with a greater perceived sense of obligation to remain in sport. Results addressing our secondary purpose suggested that a span of peer constructs would best predict sport commitment. Higher self-esteem enhancement and supportiveness, things in common, loyalty and intimacy, companionship and pleasant play, self-development IM, social identity development IM, and avoidance of negative outcomes IM collectively predicted more enthusiastic commitment. In addition, less things in common, conflict resolution, and peer acceptance combined with higher conflict and avoidance of damaging impressions IM predicted commitment that was more constrained and less enthusiastic. Our findings suggest that a "social tapestry" of peer constructs predict sport commitment. Friendship quality linked to sport commitment in a theoretically consistent direction, but only when considered alongside peer acceptance and impression motivation. This noted, the redundancy statistics for each root were 6.3% and 6.2% respectively, indicating a modest finding. Together, this dissertation shows that peer relationships matter to sport commitment, albeit modestly. These studies suggest that examining the full social tapestry of an athlete may best enrich our understanding of how social relationships, such as those with peers, tie to sport commitment.
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Title: The social environment of sport and athletes' doping-related cognitions
Creator: Harris, Tyler Scott
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Research on doping moral disengagement (MD; temporary endorsement of a transgressive behavior) suggests this cognition is influential in athletes' doping-related decisions. This line of research should also include social variables such as subjective norms (perceived approval of or pressure to perform a behavior from significant others) and descriptive norms (perceived prevalence of a behavior), because these normative perceptions reflect the social context within which cognitions like doping...
Show moreResearch on doping moral disengagement (MD; temporary endorsement of a transgressive behavior) suggests this cognition is influential in athletes' doping-related decisions. This line of research should also include social variables such as subjective norms (perceived approval of or pressure to perform a behavior from significant others) and descriptive norms (perceived prevalence of a behavior), because these normative perceptions reflect the social context within which cognitions like doping MD take place. All of these variables have been found to independently predict outcomes such as anticipated guilt from doping (Ring & Kavussanu, 2017), doping intentions (Ntoumanis et al., 2014) and doping susceptibility/consideration (Boardley et al., 2019). Examining these variables together, especially in different populations (i.e., disability and able-bodied sport), could offer a fuller picture of doping-related cognitions. This holds long-term potential to develop more effective, theory-driven anti-doping interventions and maintain the spirit of fair play in sport. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how morality-based cognitions and the social environment of sport (as reflected in norms-based cognitions) associate with doping-related cognitions.Study 1 was a cross-sectional examination of how doping MD, descriptive norms, and subjective norms responses of disability sport athletes are patterned. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups. One-way MANOVAs determined mean differences across groups on the variables of anticipated guilt and doping intentions. One cluster, characterized by high levels of all focal variables, was one of two clusters to score significantly lower on anticipated guilt, and the only cluster to score significantly higher on doping intentions than the other athlete groups. This at-risk pattern of cognitions, which was expressed in the smallest cluster (n = 15), warrants particular attention in future anti-doping campaigns. Study 2 used latent variable analysis to examine athletes' doping MD, descriptive norms, and subjective norms as predictors of doping consideration, directly and indirectly via anticipated guilt. A model was tested with the expected relationships and exhibited adequate to excellent fit to the data. Doping MD had significant direct and indirect effects on doping consideration, and the direct effect persisted when controlling for social desirability. Such effects were not present for the descriptive norms and subjective norms constructs. Findings suggest the strength of the relationship between doping MD and doping-related outcomes is stronger than that tied to social norms. Such results may be applied to anti-doping educational programs, which have not often deliberately targeted doping MD. In sum, this dissertation extends the literature supporting the role of doping MD in athletes' doping-related outcomes. This role persists across sport type and when controlling for social desirability. It also appears to be more salient than normative influences in predicting doping-related outcomes. Researchers and anti-doping interventionists may benefit from incorporating doping MD as a target of future research and education efforts, which could lead to more effective doping prevention.
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Title: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY EXAMINING IF AND HOW MUSIC IS PERCEIVED TO EFFECT SELF-EFFICACY AND PRE-PERFORMANCE EMOTIONS IN TENNIS PLAYERS
Creator: Alamah, Adam
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The aim of the present study was to understand if listening to music is a common part of tennis players’ pre-performance routines, and how this relates to emotion, memory, self-efficacy, and auditory imagery. Participants were recruited by contacting mid-Michigan college coaches and college club team coaches. After explaining the study to the coaches, a survey was sent to each participant online, requesting permission to take part in the study. Overall, 52 participants’ data were analyzed (n...
Show moreThe aim of the present study was to understand if listening to music is a common part of tennis players’ pre-performance routines, and how this relates to emotion, memory, self-efficacy, and auditory imagery. Participants were recruited by contacting mid-Michigan college coaches and college club team coaches. After explaining the study to the coaches, a survey was sent to each participant online, requesting permission to take part in the study. Overall, 52 participants’ data were analyzed (n=52). Results showed that 58% of players typically listen to music before playing, either always or most often. Most players (90%) reported music leads to a positive mood state after listening. Although there was no relationship found between music which elicits memories of past successful events and perceived self-efficacy (p>.05), there was a statistically significant relationship found between music which elicits a positive mood and self-efficacy (p< .05). Also, over half of players used auditory imagery during match play, but less than half of participants perceived this had a positive effect on them. In conclusion, the present study showed music is an integral part of tennis player’s pre-performance routines, music which leads to an overall positive mood state is related to self-efficacy, and that players commonly engage in auditory imagery during match play. Limitations include the use of an unvalidated survey, survey length, and the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on survey response rate and specific questions such as amount of time players spent on court. Further research is required to continue to explore the relationship between music, emotion, memory, and self-efficacy in tennis players, as well as athletes of other sports.
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Title: Conflict management with high school sport captains : a pilot intervention
Creator: Secaras, Lauren
Date: 2020
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Sport scholars have explored the idea of learning life skills through sport and the ways in which skills learned through sport can be transferred into other areas of life (Gould & Carson, 2002). Conflict management is a life skill that can be learned in sport and could help individuals in other aspects of their lives. Research has examined how conflict affects sport teams and the ways athletes perceive conflict on their teams (Holt, Knight, & Zukiwski, 2012; Paradis, Carron, & Martin, 2014)....
Show moreSport scholars have explored the idea of learning life skills through sport and the ways in which skills learned through sport can be transferred into other areas of life (Gould & Carson, 2002). Conflict management is a life skill that can be learned in sport and could help individuals in other aspects of their lives. Research has examined how conflict affects sport teams and the ways athletes perceive conflict on their teams (Holt, Knight, & Zukiwski, 2012; Paradis, Carron, & Martin, 2014). Also, sport captains have reported feeling responsible for facilitating relationships on their teams and managing conflict (Voelker, Gould, & Crawford, 2011). With this building body of research, there still has not been a shared or evaluated medium for athletes to explicitly learn about conflict management. This study tested the effectiveness of a conflict management workshop designed for high school sport leaders to learn about conflict and practice applying their conflict management skills. Using a mixed-methods research design, this study measured cognitive and skill-based learning outcomes of the workshop. Results indicated this pilot workshop was effective in increasing cognitive flexibility and certain aspects of problem solving (i.e., a more positive outlook on problems, a rational problem-solving style, and less avoidance of problems). Practical implications include sharing and implementing this workshop with sport stakeholders in order to increase high school student-athletes' knowledge of conflict management and develop conflict management skills that can be used in all aspects of their lives.
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Title: All in the Family : An Exploration of Family Functioning in Travel Ice Hockey
Creator: Wright, Emily M.
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Within the youth sport domain, research has primarily emphasized the broad contributions of parents to the development of youth athletes, and the positive and negative impact they may have on children’s psychosocial experiences (Knight, 2019). The importance of family, especially parents, as a direct and indirect influence on a child’s development through sport is well-documented (Dorsch et al., 2021). While a considerable amount of attention has been given to the study of youth sport parents...
Show moreWithin the youth sport domain, research has primarily emphasized the broad contributions of parents to the development of youth athletes, and the positive and negative impact they may have on children’s psychosocial experiences (Knight, 2019). The importance of family, especially parents, as a direct and indirect influence on a child’s development through sport is well-documented (Dorsch et al., 2021). While a considerable amount of attention has been given to the study of youth sport parents, relatively less research has explored the family as a collective system, specifically related to their functioning in sport. Given this information, the overall purpose of this study was to understand family functioning in travel ice hockey. The Circumplex model of marital and family systems (Olson, 2000) was used to guide this study, which is comprised of three dimensions considered essential for understanding family functioning: cohesion, flexibility, and communication. The study was conducted in two phases, each associated with a specific purpose. A retrospective, cross-sectional, mixed methods design was employed by implementing a participant selection model within a multiple case study approach. A participant selection model was implemented to complete Phase 1 of the study. In Phase 1, 35 mothers and/or fathers of travel ice hockey players between the ages of 8-18 years old completed the self-report Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale – Fourth Edition (FACES IV), a validated measure of perceptions of family functioning. These results were then used to purposefully select four families with maximally different levels of family functioning to complete of this study, which involved in-depth qualitative interviews. To address purpose one, which aimed to use the Circumplex model FACES IV self-report measure to assess family functioning in travel ice hockey families, Phase 1 results suggested that the sample was comprised of normal, balanced functioning types. Thus, the identification of distinct family types nor any of the six family types derived from the validation of the Circumplex model was found. In an absolute sense, the study findings did not reflect the Circumplex model. To address purpose two, which aimed to conduct an exploratory assessment of the utility of the Circumplex model to understand family functioning in the travel ice hockey experience, Phase 2 interview data were then analyzed within and across families according to the dimensions of the Circumplex model. Findings highlighted the nuances of family functioning by highlighting how the four families were characterized as generally normal, balanced family types, yet functioned differently in the context of travel ice hockey. While differences in family functioning within each family case emerged, core themes across the family cases were identified, which supported dimensions of the Circumplex model, while also showcasing other key considerations outside of the Circumplex model that may be important for understanding family functioning in travel ice hockey. The current study emphasized the importance of exploring families as one unit, or system, allowing the researcher to move from an individualized, top-down approach toward a more integrated approach that considered the family as a coordinated system. Taken together, this study enriched our understanding of family functioning in travel ice hockey through use of a systems approach and highlighted the importance of continued research on this topic.
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