Browsing by Author "Graham, Dan, committee member"
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Item Open Access Adverse childhood experiences and allostatic load in adolescence and emerging adulthood(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) French, Kate M., author; Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, advisor; Graham, Dan, committee member; Shomaker, Lauren, committee memberAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which include experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, have been shown to be associated with increased occurrence of a number of diseases and risk behaviors in later adulthood (Felitti et al., 1998). In an effort to explain how adversity in childhood is related to later disease, the theoretical framework of allostasis and allostatic load (AL) is often employed (Danese & McEwen, 2012). In this context, it is postulated that the body responds adaptively to a variety of psychosocial stressors in a multi-systemic fashion (McEwen, 1998). The nervous, endocrine, and immune systems act and interact to respond to stressors in a way that allows the body to mobilize the resources necessary to remain safe in the face of threats and recover from that mobilization in a way that promotes physiologically balanced state of allostasis. However, repeated or chronic stressors can overwhelm the body's ability to respond toward long-term adaptation, and the body enters a state of AL. Dysregulated stress responses are a hallmark of allostatic load and can impair the body's ability to mobilize resources or recover from stressors efficiently leading to an imbalance of multiple physiologic responses. This imbalance is thought to cause "wear and tear" on the body, leading to later disease (McEwen, 1998). Although these dysregulated stress responses and the resulting physiological imbalances are thought to begin in childhood and continue throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood as well as in adults, little empirical research has been done with participants in these developmentally sensitive periods. In this study, a community sample (n = 114) of adolescents and emerging adults self-reported the ACEs they had experienced. An AL summary score was calculated by assigning scores to the highest risk quartiles of body mass index, blood pressure, self-rated health, baseline heart rate, and change in heart rate in response to a psychosocial stressor. ACE scores were compared with AL indices and the AL summary score along with age, sex, ethnicity, family income, and maternal support. Bivariate analyses indicated that ACEs were positively associated with body mass index, baseline heart rate, and age; and negatively associated with maternal support. When controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, family income, and maternal support in a multiple regression analysis, the positive association between ACEs and baseline heart rate remained such that participants who reported more ACEs had higher baseline heart rates. The results of this study indicate a need for further investigation between ACEs and AL indices including indications of dysregulated stress responses. Additionally, the negative association between ACEs and maternal support deserves further research attention.Item Open Access Caring more about careless responding: applying the theory of planned behavior to reduce careless responding on online surveys(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Marshall, Alyssa D., author; Fisher, Gwen, advisor; Gibbons, Alyssa, advisor; Kraiger, Kurt, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee member; Henle, Chris, committee memberCareless responding behavior on online surveys is an insidious problem that can distort research findings in concerning and counter-intuitive ways (McGonagle, Huang, & Walsh, 2016). This study aimed to develop practical strategies for reducing careless responding behavior and to provide theoretical support for the notion that careless responding is a planned behavior affected by motivational processes. This study applied the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) to develop three careless responding interventions. One intervention was targeted at each of the theory's antecedent variables – attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Using a sample of 591 MTurk participants, I examined the interventions' effects on antecedent variables, intentions to respond carefully, and six different measures of careless responding behavior as compared to a control group who received no intervention. Overall, this study found that the theory of planned behavior does explain significant variance in careless responding behavior. This supports the notion that careless responding is a planned behavior affected by motivational processes. Further, this study found that the perceived behavioral control intervention was effective at reducing careless responding on most metrics, though the attitudes and subjective norms interventions were not. None of the interventions produced measurable effects on antecedent variables or intentions to respond carefully. These findings suggest that the perceived behavioral control intervention may be a beneficial addition to future survey research.Item Open Access Enhancing visual search performance: investigating cue effectiveness, dual cueing, automation bias, and attentional tunneling in complex search scenes with head-mounted displays(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Warden, Amelia C., author; Cleary, Anne, advisor; Wickens, Christopher D., advisor; Graham, Dan, committee member; Arefin, Mohammad, committee memberIn large complex environments, such as urban driving or flying a plane, human attention may be overloaded, leading to negative consequences when encountering expected and unexpected hazards, like pedestrians crossing the street or a cart on the runway. In such situations, the searcher may benefit from attention cues presented with an HMD. The current experiments address gaps in HMD attention cueing by investigating the effectiveness of different cue properties: cue precision, dual-cueing, cue frame-of-reference, and the impact of imperfectly reliable automation. In all three experiments, participants searched for a routine target (cued or uncued) and an uncued, less expected high priority target. Search efficiency was examined across three different platforms with increasing search field sizes and realism: a static search with a 2D wide-angle desktop display (Experiment 1), a static search presented with an augmented-reality head-mounted display (AR-HMD; Experiment 2), and dynamic search in a 3D virtual reality environment (Experiment 3). Search performance benefited from cueing compared to an unaided search in all experiments. Dual-cueing provided the greatest benefit with the AR-HMD when the searcher's field-of-view (FOV) was constrained by the device's FOV because the searcher benefited from a global cue that indicated which direction they could find the locally cued target. While cueing improved search efficiency, cues showed an overall automation bias, with searchers blindly following incorrect automation. This bias was slightly amplified by the dual cue compared to the single cue. Lastly, there was a trend suggesting automation-based attentional tunneling, where the uncued, less expected high priority target was missed. Overall, attention cueing significantly enhances search performance, particularly with dual cues when targets appear outside of the searcher's FOV. But cueing also introduces an automation bias. These findings have design implications for optimizing automated cueing systems for various platforms to enhance hazard detection in real-world large scenes.Item Open Access Evaluating gender/sex measures for inclusion of non-binary participants(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Schlechter, Thomas E., author; Conner, Bradley T., advisor; Dockendorff, Kari, committee member; Prince, Mark, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberWith the amount of research on Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive communities growing, there has been increasing attention paid to the methods used to collect and analyze gender/sex data from participants. Across fields, multiple methods of collecting gender/sex data have been used, but recently a large portion of the literature has highlighted the Two-Step Method (Tate et al., 2013; NASEM, 2022) as a current best practice. However, the Two-Step Method is not without flaws, notably the disagreement on inclusion of categories outside of man, woman, and transgender which may limit the extent to which Non-Binary participants feel included and represented by this approach. This study asked Non-Binary participants to respond to three different survey instruments used for gender/sex data collection and then asked to rate how well they understood the question(s) and if they felt included by the questions. Additionally, participants rated the accuracy of the category each measure assigned them to their own lived experience. Results found that all measures were comprehensible and inclusive, but that measures explicitly including Non-Binary as a category were more accurate to participants. Implications for these results in the inclusion of Non-Binary communities in research are discussed.Item Open Access Exploring daily-level characteristics of the cannabis-exercise relationship(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Stallsmith, Vanessa T., author; Karoly, Hollis, advisor; Prince, Mark, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee member; Bell, Chris, committee memberPhysical inactivity is a growing public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 53.3% of U.S. adults meet the recommendation for aerobic physical activity, and alarmingly, only 23.2% meet the recommendation for both aerobic and muscle-training activity. This leads researchers to wonder what strategies or behaviors may facilitate exercise engagement. Interestingly, preliminary research has shown that cannabis, one of the most widely used substances in the United States, may be positively related to physical activity. However, most research on cannabis and exercise has been cross-sectional and administered low doses of low-THC cannabis, which is not representative of common legal-market cannabis products or typical use patterns in the U.S. Additionally, these studies did not evaluate other factors that may occur in the context of the cannabis-exercise relationship such as affect. The current study will leverage a daily-diary design to explore relationships between exercise, cannabis use, and affect. It will also characterize a sample of participants who both use cannabis and frequently exercise in terms of their demographics, cannabis use, exercise engagement, exercise enjoyment, goal attainment, and motives for combining cannabis with exercise. Overall, this study aims to (1) characterize daily-level associations between exercise engagement and cannabis use, (2) explore daily-level associations between exercise engagement and affect over the course of the study, and (3) utilize descriptive statistics to characterize the sample in order to understand who is likely to use cannabis and exercise, how they do it, why, and their resultant experiences.Item Open Access Exploring the relationship between hormonal contraceptive methods and symptoms of depression and bulimia nervosa(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Almengual, Mallory, author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Cox-York, Kimberly, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberResearch has been unable to determine if there is a link between hormonal contraceptive (HC) use, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Bulimia Nervosa (BN). There is a well-documented sex discrepancy in the lifetime prevalence of both of these diagnoses such that women are disproportionately affected. Prevalence rates of MDD are similar between males and females during childhood. However, following the onset of puberty, women are inordinately affected by MDD. This difference has been observed throughout the duration of the female reproductive years. Prevalence rates of MDD between males and females return to equivalence following menopause. Females are also at a much greater risk of developing an eating disorder (ED) during their lifetime, and the age of onset typically aligns with puberty. The effects of HC use on mental health remain largely unknown. The current body of research on HC use and MDD is characterized by inconsistent, and even contradictory, findings about both the presence and direction of the such a relationship. There is a paucity of research examining HC use and BN, though changes in appetite and weight gain are two of the most commonly reported side effects of HC use. The present study aimed to explore such relationships among a sample of undergraduate women at Colorado State University. Using self-report measures, this project attempted to examine potential correlations between HC use and symptoms of MDD and BN. Data from 378 respondents was collected via survey and analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression. Participants were categorized into HC users and Nonhormonal Contraceptive (NC) users. No significant relationship was observed between HC use and MDD. Negative correlations were identified between HC use and two measures of maladaptive eating implicated in the etiology and maintenance of BN: Cognitive Restraint and Emotional Eating. These findings suggest that HC use might actually serve as a protective factor for the development of BN. Further research is needed to better understand these relationships and to better inform individuals considering HC as part of their reproductive health practices.Item Open Access Giving language to horticultural therapy: framing horticultural therapy through the lens of empirically supported therapies(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Ascencio, Jaime M., author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Prince, Mark, advisor; Graham, Dan, committee member; Shillington, Audrey, committee memberHorticultural therapy, a plant-based intervention for reaching client goals, is an under-researched yet promising treatment modality for psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to forge a connection between empirically supported therapies (ESTs) and horticultural therapy's interventions by describing how EST methods were used in horticultural therapy. A horticultural therapy proof-of-concept study incorporated behavioral, positive, and humanistic ESTs with youth with disabilities and at-risk youth. The largest positive impacts of the intervention were on clients' prevocational skills, social skills, and gardening skills. No change was detected on measures of mindfulness, resilience, nature relatedness, or strengths use. The impact on depression yielded mixed results, and a small worsening was seen in the self-report of anxiety, strengths use, and emotion regulation. This study demonstrated that horticultural therapy utilizes components of a variety of ESTs and its impact can be quantitatively evaluated.Item Open Access Goal orientation and alcohol use during the transition to college(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Grant, Allison M., author; Harman, Jennifer, advisor; Prince, Mark, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee member; Riggs, Nate, committee memberAlcohol use peaks in early adulthood and rates are significantly higher among college students than their non-college attending peers. Negative alcohol-related outcomes are common among college drinkers. This longitudinal study aimed to reduce negative alcohol-related outcomes, indirectly, by promoting the salience of first-year students' academic goals. Students were randomly assigned to set academic goals or no goals (control) at the start of the fall 2014 semester. Alcohol-related cognitions, past-month alcohol use, negative consequences of drinking, self-control, goal importance, and goal commitment were measured at baseline. Students revisited their goals and completed the alcohol measures in three follow-up surveys. The Motivational Model of Alcohol Use provided structure for testing hypotheses that setting academic goals would be associated with reduced negative alcohol-related outcomes via the effect of condition on drinking motives (H1), self-control would moderate the associations between goal condition, alcohol-related cognitions, and negative alcohol-related outcomes (H2), and goal covariates would moderate the association between self-control, alcohol-related cognitions, and negative alcohol-related outcomes (H3). Longitudinal path models were estimated in Mplus using Bayesian methods. All models fit the data well, but provided limited support for the hypotheses. Setting academic goals did not influence negative alcohol-related outcomes, indirectly, however a meaningful and negative direct effect on negative alcohol-related outcomes was found. Self-control did not moderate the association between goal condition and negative alcohol-related outcomes. Finally, goal importance did not moderate the association between self-control and negative outcomes via drinking motives. Setting academic goals represents a promising, but complex tool for preventing college alcohol misuse.Item Open Access Hormonal contraception and eating pathology: a study among undergraduate women(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Almengual, Mallory, author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Prince, Mark, committee member; Cox-York, Kimberly, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberObjective: To investigate the relationship between hormonal contraceptive (HC) use and eating pathology, and to assess the moderating effects of cognitive restraint and other demographic features on this relationship among undergraduate women at Colorado State University. Method: A correlational study design was used to collect data from 458 female undergraduate participants through self-report assessments capturing demographic information, reproductive health history, and constructs associated with eating pathology. Specific measures included the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18), the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), and the Beck's Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Participants were categorized based on their HC use—especially focusing on Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) and Short-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (SARC)—to establish the connection between the type of HC and symptoms of eating pathology. Multiple linear regression analyses identified relationships, with a consideration of potential mediating effects of cognitive restraint and demographic variables. Results: Findings revealed a significant relationship between long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) use and specific psychological outcomes, such as reduced interpersonal insecurity and increased emotional dysregulation, suggesting a multidimensional impact of HC types on psychological and behavioral patterns in this population. Although cognitive restraint was anticipated to be a moderating factor, the study did not find evidence to support a significant moderating effect on the relationship between HC use and eating pathology. Age of menstrual regularity emerged as a noteworthy covariate affecting psychological outcomes. Conclusion: The study offers important insights into the variant effects of different types of HCs on psychological health and eating behaviors among college-aged women. These findings indicate that different types of hormonal contraceptives may have unique effects on psychological outcomes and eating behaviors. The differential outcomes with LARC and SARC underscore the need for comprehensive, individualized reproductive health counseling that both addresses the potential psychological impacts of contraceptive methods and is sensitive to the evident disparities. Further research is recommended to decipher the complex interactions between HC use, cognitive restraint, and eating pathology. These findings have critical implications for refining clinical practices and reproductive health education to promote the wellbeing and bodily autonomy of menstruating individuals, and to better address the mental health needs related to contraceptive choices.Item Open Access Individual perceptions of culture and change: a unifying perspective on change-oriented organizational cultures(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Weston, James W., author; Byrne, Zinta, advisor; Fisher, Gwen, committee member; Ganster, Dan, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberOrganizational change has become a mainstay for today's organizations. Yet, organizational change efforts overwhelmingly represent unsuccessful and stressful events for both organizations and employees. Much of the extant literature on organizational change focuses on a modified culture as an outcome of change, but this ignores the potential for organizational culture itself to facilitate organizational change efforts by engendering an inherent value for organizational change in employees before changes even happen. I propose that one potential solution to unsuccessful change efforts is for organizations to adopt a change-oriented culture, making change acceptable rather than an obstacle to overcome. Because a changed culture is the typical change outcome, existing organizational culture frameworks are broad and therefore address organizational change (e.g., adaptive culture in the competing values framework, or learning organizations) in a cursory manner. Furthermore, these broad frameworks were developed in parallel yet isolated streams of research; hence, their value for predicting organizational change outcomes is limited. Therefore, to address failing organizational change efforts and disjointed culture frameworks, I synthesize the facets of existing organizational culture frameworks that focus on change to create and define a change-oriented culture. Data from multiple samples of a total of 963 Amazon's Mechanical Turk workers were used to test the psychometric properties of a new measure of change-oriented organizational culture. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationship of change-oriented organizational culture to its nomological network above and beyond existing cultural frameworks. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that change-oriented culture directly relates to organizational change attitudes, turnover intentions, and organizational commitment; indirectly relates to change-related behaviors through readiness for change; and indirectly relates to perceptions of change success through resistance to change. Moreover, change-oriented organizational culture related to change-related attitudes and organizationally relevant outcomes significantly better than the adhocracy dimension of the competing values framework, the innovative dimension of Wallach's organizational culture measure, and perceptions of learning organizational culture. However, both change-oriented organizational culture and perceptions of learning organizational culture related to affective commitment to change and organizational commitment equally well. This study advances the organizational culture literature by proposing a new theoretical orientation to change – that the culture can facilitate change efforts rather than simply serve as an outcome of change interventions – and furthermore, provides a first attempt at defining and collecting empirical data to support the validity of a change-oriented culture dimension.Item Embargo Multi-dimensional aspects of mindfulness: psychometric evaluation, neurobiological underpinnings, and experiential insights(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Duffy, John R., author; Thomas, Michael L., advisor; Davalos, Deana, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee member; Stephans, Jaclyn, committee memberObjective: This dissertation aimed to deepen our understanding of mindfulness by exploring a psychometric evaluation of self-report scales, neurobiological underpinnings, and experiential insights in a multidimensional approach. The objective encompassed three specific aims: firstly, to evaluate the psychometric effectiveness of two self-report scales; the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) within populations diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ensuring these tools' validity and reliability while addressing the complexity of mindfulness. Secondly, the research intended to synthesize existing literature on brain networks related to mindfulness through an umbrella review (a review of reviews / metanalyses), aimed to clarify the neural mechanisms of mindfulness. Thirdly, the study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare brain activity between a control group performing a visualization task (control) and a group engaged in a guided compassion meditation (experimental). This comprehensive framework sought to advance the field of mindfulness research by integrating psychometric analysis, brain network review synthesis, and experimental neuroimaging to enhance theoretical understanding of mindfulness. Method: We employed a three-pronged methodological approach. Firstly, a psychometric evaluation of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) to assess their reliability and validity in a PTSD-affected veteran population. Secondly, we conducted an umbrella review to synthesize existing research on brain networks and connectivity related to mindfulness to map out neural correlates and their implications. Thirdly, an experimental study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) compared neural activation patterns between participants engaged in a visualization task and those practicing guided compassion meditation, aimed to identify distinct neural activities associated with this mindfulness practices. Results: The psychometric evaluation of the MAAS and FFMQ confirmed their validity and reliability in assessing mindfulness in PTSD populations, highlighting mindfulness as a complex, multifaceted construct. An umbrella review of existing literature demonstrated the significant impact of mindfulness on brain connectivity, particularly in the DMN, CEN, and SN networks. The experimental fMRI study revealed distinct neural activation patterns between compassion mindfulness and a visualization task, with compassion mindfulness showing decreased activity in regions involved in emotional regulation and cognitive functions, such as the medial superior prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. Conclusions: These findings affirm the utility of MAAS and FFMQ reliability and validity, but demand more nuanced research based on a more multifaceted concept of mindfulness. The impact of mindfulness on large-scale brain networks underscores its potential to enhance cognitive and emotional regulation through neuroplasticity. However, significant methodological variability across studies calls for standardized research protocols to ensure consistency and reliability. Future research should address these limitations, explore the long-term effects of mindfulness, and include diverse populations to improve the generalizability of mindfulness-based interventions. Finally, significant differences in neural activation patterns between visualization tasks and compassion mindfulness meditation, indicate that such mindfulness practices may uniquely influence brain regions associated with emotional regulation and cognitive processes. These findings highlight the potential of compassion mindfulness to modulate brain activity in these areas, offering insights into its mechanisms and benefits.Item Open Access Physical activity: improving assessment tools and behavior in children(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Schaefer, Christine A., author; Browning, Ray, advisor; Hickey, Matthew, committee member; Nelson, Tracy, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberAdequate physical activity (PA) is a critical component of chronic disease prevention and a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, studies suggest that US children do not meet the recommended 60 minutes of PA per day. However, recent advances in measurement techniques are enabling researchers to gather more detailed objective PA data, allowing for an improved understanding of children's PA accumulation and patterns. This information will enable researchers and policy makers to better design and evaluate interventions aimed at increasing PA, ultimately reducing the prevalence of chronic disease. These ongoing advances in objective PA monitoring devices call for studies to test and refine the methods by which PA data are processed and interpreted. Specifically, although these novel PA devices and methods (e.g., accelerometers and activity intensity classification methodologies) are being calibrated and validated using laboratory protocols, their accuracy in estimating children's free-living PA has not been well-established. Additionally, given the well-established sporadic nature of children's activity, it is critical to measure activity during very short time intervals (i.e., 1-2 second bouts), requiring devices that can record and store acceleration data at a relatively high-resolution (e.g. 30-100 Hz). Importantly, though many intervention studies have been conducted with the goal of increasing daily PA, none have used high frequency acceleration data to examine the accumulation of PA in a free-living setting, nor to evaluate the effectiveness of these PA interventions. However, the need to do so is widely recognized among the PA monitoring community. Therefore, the following dissertation describes a series of experiments with the overall aim of improving PA measurement tools and behaviors in children. In the first study (Chapter 2), we attempt to establish cutpoints to distinguish between sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous activity using a novel wrist-mounted accelerometry device. We also examine the effects of various bout lengths (periods of consecutive seconds of activity above the moderate threshold) on the estimated MVPA accumulation. Moderately accurate cutpoints resulted (~70-75% accuracy). We also found very high estimates of daily MVPA (>300 minutes). Because of the high estimates of daily MVPA as well as the relative difficulty in distinguishing between light and moderate activity by the confusion matrix, we began to further investigate the effects of the specific processing methodologies we used. This led us to the second study (Chapter 3), whereby we attempted to investigate the ability of three different processing methodologies to accurately detect MVPA. In this study, we applied three different processing methodologies (band pass filtered: BPEN, unfiltered: ENMO, and low pass filtered: LPENMO) to three separate independent samples of children: a calibration sample, a direct observation (classroom/recess) sample, and a multi-day, free-living sample. Results from this study suggested that BPEN is likely overestimating MVPA. ENMO and LPENMO both appeared to accurately detect MVPA compared to direct observation data (~85%). Because of these relatively good accuracies, and because low pass filtering is considered a best practice in signal processing, we elected to move forward with the low pass filtering methodology. Once we had established a methodology that we felt accurately detected MVPA, we were able to process and analyze data from the IPLAY (Intervention of PhysicaL Activity in Youth) study. IPLAY is a large-scale, school-based intervention aimed at increasing activity through either curriculum intervention (SPARK), environmental intervention (renovated playgrounds), or the combination of the two (see Chapter 4 for a more detailed description of the intervention). Results revealed no differences in lunch recess, school day or full day MVPA between the groups. In addition, relatively high estimates of daily MVPA resulted (~140 minutes), as well as a lack of effect of BMI z-score on MVPA accumulation. The combination of these studies adds a significant contribution to the literature around PA in children. Specifically, the investigation into processing methodologies demonstrates how critical this step is in being able to interpret acceleration data. It also provides a framework for other investigators to process acceleration data, with the goal of producing comparable results. The evaluation of the IPLAY study suggests the need for additional opportunities for children to be active during the day. The high estimates of daily MVPA suggest the need to further investigate how/when activity is being accumulated. Finally, an investigation into whether the PA guidelines ought to be re-established given novel methodologies for quantifying PA is warranted.Item Open Access Predictors of health behaviors and cardiovascular disease risk factors for professional firefighters(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Dussinger, Beth, author; Nelson, Tracy, advisor; Lipsey, Tiffany, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberAlthough the leading cause of mortality among all Americans is cardiovascular disease (CVD), accounting for about 32% of deaths, the risk among firefighters is even higher. About 45% of on-duty firefighter deaths result from CVD. While their strenuous job duties most often precipitate the CVD-related events, almost all of these incidents are occurring in firefighters with underlying risk factors for CVD. Health behaviors such as diet and exercise are known to have large impacts on known CVD risk factors; however, the dietary habits of firefighters have not been extensively studied. Also the impact of various work-related factors on diet and exercise has not been quantitatively documented. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to elucidate the association between health behaviors and CVD risk factors among firefighters and to analyze predictors for these health behaviors including call volume, social norms and other factors associated with the fire station environment. Subjects included 42 professional firefighters (mean age 41.0 ± 9.6 years, 95.2% male) who participated in the Heart Disease Prevention Program (HDPP) at Colorado State University. These evaluations provided data on body fat percentage, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, C-reactive protein, cardiorespiratory fitness, overall coronary risk, and records of on-duty and off-duty diet. These individuals and 40 more Colorado firefighters (mean age 41.0 ± 8.7 years, 92.5% male) completed a questionnaire on motivations for health behaviors. Of these 82 firefighters, 46 completed an on-line dietary screener. Most participants displayed risk factors for CVD, including increased rates of obesity, systolic blood pressure, and triglycerides. Diet records also showed reason for some concerns and correlation with CVD risk factors. Firefighters reported consuming about 37% of their daily calories from fat. Diet records showed sodium intake of 65% more than the tolerable upper level (UL) and fiber intake 25% lower than the adequate intake level (AI). The American Heart Association goals were met for fruits and vegetables by about 26% of participating firefighters, for whole grains by about 28%, for sugar-sweetened beverages by about 35%, for sodium by 0%, and for physical activity by 43%. Sodium intake was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p<.05) and physical activity was negatively correlated with SBP (p<.05). Increased consumption of added sugar showed correlation with increased body fat percentage, triglycerides, and overall coronary risk (p<.05). The volume of emergency calls showed minimal association with CVD risk factors, diet and exercise. Aspects of social norms and group cohesion appeared to have some correlation with diet and exercise behaviors. Convenience and the availability of unhealthy snacks at the fire station were commonly reported and showed associations with the diet. Emotional eating cues and cost were not shown to be strongly related to eating habits. Certain family and home environment factors appeared to also be strongly connected with health behaviors. In conclusion, these findings suggest there are work-related predictors of health behaviors and CVD risk for firefighters, but the home environment showed associations with health behaviors, too.Item Open Access Relational maintenance in mixed-modality romantic relationships(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) McDonald, James Ney, author; Harman, Jennifer, advisor; Martey, Rosa, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee member; Byrne, Zinta, committee memberSocial information processing theory (SIP) provides clear predictions for how online and offline relationships should differ, but does not cover mixed-modality relationships (MMRs). Individuals in MMRs employ both face-to-face (FtF) and technology mediated communication (TMC) for relational maintenance. Stafford and Canary (1991) and Stafford et al. (2000) suggest that self-disclosure and discussion of one's relationship (relational maintenance strategies originally referred to collectively as "openness") depend on the use of another strategy, assurance-giving, to determine one's association with relationship satisfaction. I sought to determine whether relationship-talk and self-disclosure, independent of assurance-giving, are negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, and whether the use of face-to-face (FtF) or technology mediated communication (TMC) have any bearing on the interaction between assurance-giving and openness strategies. It was expected that assurance-giving would moderate the relationship between openness strategies and satisfaction when the strategies were enacted by the same communication channel but not when communicated by different channels. Mechanical Turk users (n = 289) in romantic relationships completed the openness and assurance-giving subscales of the Stafford et al. (2000) revision of the Relational Maintenance Strategy Measure (RMSM), reporting their engagement in maintenance behaviors using FtF and via TMC. Regression analyses were used to determine whether three maintenance strategies (assurance-giving, self-disclosure, and relationship-talk), communicated using either of two general channels (FtF and TMC), predicted satisfaction in romantic relationships, and whether assurance-giving interacted with either relationship-talk or self-disclosure, using TMC or FtF channels. The direct negative relationship between openness and satisfaction found in past research was not replicated in this study, but both TMC self-disclosure and TMC relationship-talk interacted significantly with TMC assurance-giving. For individuals with average or below average engagement in assurance-giving via TMC, greater engagement in self-disclosure or relationship-talk predicted lower satisfaction. These results suggest that openness strategies are not inherently harmful when communicated using FtF, but when communicated via TMC they may be detrimental to satisfaction if relationship partners do not complement openness strategies with heavy engagement in assurance-giving.Item Open Access School-day physical activity in elementary school children: when and how much?(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Rauh, Erin M., author; Browning, Raymond C., advisor; Graham, Dan, committee member; Nelson, Tracy, committee memberChildhood obesity prevalence has reached an all-time high across the United States. Despite the link between limited physical activity (PA) and increased risk of obesity, current data suggest that few children are meeting PA guidelines. The school day has been targeted for PA interventions; however, with the exception of physical education (PE) and recess, there is little information on when children engage in PA during the school day. Furthermore, few studies have reported school-day PA at epoch lengths (i.e., one-second) that are representative of children's sporadic movement patterns. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine temporal characteristics and inter-child variability of PA accumulation across the elementary school day in an effort to better inform PA intervention approaches. METHODS: Using a wrist-mounted GENEActiv accelerometer, we collected six days of accelerometry data from 133 children in first, third, and fifth grades who were participating in the Intervention of PhysicaL Activity in Youth (IPLAY) study. Acceleration data were collected at 75 Hz, filtered, and vector summed over a one-second interval. We then used calibration-derived intensity cutpoints to determine the amount of time spent in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA). School-day MVPA was quantified during distinct CIs, which included the entire school day, class time, break time (i.e., AM recess, PM recess, and lunch/recess combined), and PE, to determine MVPA accumulation and inter-child variability in the time spent in MVPA. RESULTS: Children spent a mean of 30.3% (122 min.) of the entire school day, 27.9% (95 min.) of class time, 42.6% (17 min.) of PE, and 49.3% (18 min.) of break time engaged in MVPA. The maximum percentage of time spent in MVPA across each custom interval was 43.2% (176 min.), 41.7% (152 min.), 69.3% (34 min.), and 72.5% (33 min.) of the entire school day, class time, PE, and break time, respectively. Break time and PE demonstrated the greatest inter-child variability between the minimum and maximum percentage of time spent in MVPA. During the entire school day and class time, first and third graders spent a significantly greater percentage of time in MVPA than did fifth graders. During break time, boys spent a significantly greater percentage of time in MVPA than did girls. Surprisingly, no main effect of weight status was found. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that elementary-aged children, regardless of weight status, are meeting/exceeding recommended amounts of school-day MVPA. Despite these findings, which may be due to the use of acceleration data summed over a very short one second interval, there is still room for increasing mean school-day MVPA, potentially by up to ~50 minutes per day.Item Open Access Strategic encoding and episodic discrimination (SEED) model of error correction(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Hausman, Hannah, author; Rhodes, Matthew G., advisor; Cleary, Anne, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee member; Folkstead, James, committee memberDespite what many students and teachers believe, making errors while learning can improve long-term learning of correct information. This paper proposes the Strategic Encoding and Episodic Discrimination (SEED) model of error correction, which proposes that in comparison to errorless learning, making errors while learning enables individuals to effectively adapt how they encode the correct answer and then, on a later memory test, use episodic memory to discriminate between the correct answer and other information that may be retrieved. Experiment 1 tested the strategic encoding component of SEED and found that errorful learning enhanced memory relative to errorless learning, but the benefits of errorful learning could not be explained by strategic adaptations in study times. Experiment 2 tested both the strategic encoding and episodic discrimination components of SEED and contrasted SEED with other accounts of error correction. The results of Experiment 2 were largely consistent with SEED and revealed that errorful learning enhanced memory by both increasing the likelihood that the correct answer was retrieved on the final test and improving participants' ability to distinguish between correct and incorrect answers.Item Open Access To save carbon or to save forest: comparing effectiveness of climate impact messaging on household energy behavior(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Curcio, Hannah, author; Aloise-Young, Pat, advisor; Graham, Dan, committee member; Marzolf, Greg, committee member; Tompkins, Sara Anne, committee memberImpacts from the climate change crisis are already being seen across the world. With these adverse events, awareness of, and communication about, climate change is increasing. Despite this, though, there has been an inadequate increase in climate action. Thus, it is important to determine the best ways to communicate climate impact information to consumers. The present study investigates how we can best frame climate impact messages for them to be effective in changing consumer behavior. Specifically, the effectiveness of four different carbon messages was examined in the context of household energy behavior. While meeting U.S. electricity demand with renewable energy is an attainable goal, it will require greater flexibility in the electricity grid, including flexibility in demand timing. Thus far, utility companies have used price signals as a main form of demand response. However, communicating environmental savings to consumers in addition to/instead of price savings is an emerging trend. For these reasons, the present study focused on the impact that climate impact messages may have consumers' willingness to shift their appliance use toward a time of day when renewable energy sources are more plentiful. Participants were recruited online and through local environmental groups. In an online survey, 244 participants were randomly assigned to one of four messaging conditions for three household appliances (air conditioning, dishwasher, and washing machine). The goal of the messages is to convince consumers to shift the times they use these appliances, and, as a result, shift demand on the electricity grid, to 9 a.m. (a time with higher renewable energy sources on average in the continental U.S.). Based on previous message framing research, the messages tested were framed in terms of environmental gain: specifically, the environmental savings accomplished by the behavior change. Three messages were created based on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions data, with savings calculated in terms of pounds of CO2 emissions, percent change in CO2 emissions, and the equivalent of acres of forest planted. (For example, "…would cut your yearly CO2 emissions by the equivalent of planting 475 square feet of forest…") A fourth message simply stated that the behavior is "more environmentally friendly" to test a non-numeric message. Participants were asked the likelihood of changing the time that they run each appliance, first with no message present (which acted as a baseline covariate) and then with the randomly assigned message present. Because previous research has shown that numeracy plays a role in the effectiveness of numerical messaging, I also tested a numeracy moderation effect. To compare participants' likelihood of switching across messaging conditions and to test whether numeracy played a moderating role, I ran individual analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) for each of the three appliances. This allowed me to control for participants' baseline likelihood (i.e., with no environmental message), by adding it as a covariate. Across all three appliances, neither the main effects of messaging condition and numeracy nor the interaction between the two were significant predictors of post-test likelihood. This means there was no evidence to suggest a difference in effectiveness between the messaging conditions, although there was a notable nonsignificant trend of the forest equivalency message performing better. Additionally, I ran mean differences tests comparing baseline likelihood and experimental likelihood for each of the conditions. These tests showed strong evidence that each climate impact message significantly increased participants' likelihood of switching the time they use their appliances. The finding that the messages were effective confirms the need to understand how to optimize the impact that climate impact messages can have on behavior and the mechanisms through which they are effective. Furthermore, the finding that the forest equivalency message had the strongest effect of the four messages (though not statistically significant) is worth researching further, because of the potential applications of this finding. Communicating climate impact information in terms of equivalency in square footage of forest planted easily allows for visualizations to be included, more so than other numerical messages, which may increase a message's saliency and persuasiveness. Furthermore, the findings of the present study and a pilot study that is reported suggest that future research should examine effectiveness within different segments of the population. More research, overall, is needed to further investigate the most effective ways to inform consumers about the climate impact of their behaviors.Item Open Access Workplace health training: a theoretical and empirical model(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Drake, Travis, author; Kraiger, Kurt, advisor; Gibbons, Alyssa, advisor; Graham, Dan, committee member; Sarason, Yolanda, committee memberFor the current study I proposed a complete, integrated model of workplace health training including its antecedents, structure, and outcomes. Additionally, I proposed the concept of 'training enrichment', where different types of training would have a multiplicative effect on relevant work outcomes. Based on this proposed model, I empirically tested the longitudinal effects of workplace health training on employee attitudes, employee performance ratings, and learning culture. I hypothesized that: 1) the structure of my empirical model would fit the data, 2) workplace health training would positively impact employee attitudes and employee performance, 3) a strong learning culture would lead to increased employee participation in workplace health training, and 4) workplace health training would interact with leadership training to positively impact employee attitudes and employee performance. Results from the structural equation model and associated statistical tests showed that while the structure of the model was appropriate, the longitudinal effects of the training were minimal. Overall, this study provides a strong foundation for structuring workplace health training, as well as some evidence of its longitudinal effectiveness.Item Open Access You've only got your looks to lose: the effects of message framing and individual-level differences on selective exposure to health messages(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Grace, Jesse N., author; Long, Marilee, advisor; Anderson, Ashley, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberThis study investigated how individual differences, such as exercise and healthy nutrition involvement, attitudes, and motivations, affect selective exposure to variously framed health messages. The study starts to bridge a gap in the social marketing literature, which mainly focuses on message effectiveness. Yet, it is not possible for a message to successfully promote healthy behavior change if it is not selected in the first place. The study utilized a split-plot, quasi-experimental design. The participants were shown four article headlines per topic; the two topics were healthy nutrition and exercise. For each topic, the article headlines were manipulated in a 2 (motivation frame: appearance vs. health) x 2 (strategy frame: gain vs. loss) within-subjects design. Selective exposure was measured unobtrusively by noting the order in which participants chose articles to read and the amount of time participants spent reading each article they chose. The results show individual differences influence message selection, therefore providing evidence for the importance of individual differences with regard to message framing. The study contributes to selective exposure, strategic communication, and health communication literature, as well as contributing to our knowledge of message tailoring for social marketing of healthy behavior changes and maintenance.