Jerome Thayer

Trends in Body Fat, Body Mass Index and Physical Fitness Among Male and Female College Students

There have been many publications in recent years reporting on the quantity of physical activity among college students using indirect indicators such as steps walked per day or time spent on physical activities. The purpose of this study was to describe the trends of physical fitness related to BMI and body fat among university students between 1996 and 2008. The results showed a significant decline in the average fitness levels measured as an estimation of VO2max for male and female students (p < 0.001 for both sexes). The linear trend for BMI by years was not significant for both sexes (p for males = 0.772, p for females = 0.253). On average, in the last 13 years, % body fat was increasing 0.513%/year for males and 0.654%/year for females. There is a significant indirect correlation between the student’s VO2max levels and % body fat, r = −0.489; p < 0.001 for males; and r = −0.416, p < 0.001 for females. Approximately 23.9% of the variance in the VO2max levels in males and 17.3% in females can be explained by the variance in % body fat. The results support recent findings that physical fitness among college students is declining and body fatness is increasing.

Effects of role conflicts and role satisfactions on stress of three professions in Hong Kong: a path analysis approach

Numerous studies have been conducted to test the causal relationship among role conflict, role satisfaction and stress. However, they are mostly done in the USA. Given that Chinese culture is different from American culture, models developed in the West may not apply to the Chinese population. This study, therefore, examined the causal relationship among work conflict, family conflict, job satisfaction, marital satisfaction, life satisfaction and stress. Subjects of this study included nurses, social workers, and managers in Hong Kong. Path analysis was conducted and its result showed a good fit of the model. The findings indicate that job satisfaction and marital satisfaction experienced by the subjects were affected by work conflict and family conflict as well as inter‐role conflict. Likewise, their stress level was also influenced by life satisfaction which in turn was affected by job satisfaction and marital satisfaction.

Measuring Faith Maturity: Reassessing Valuegenesis and Development of a Denomination-specific Scale

The Valuegenesis Faith-Maturity Scale and two related short-form scales developed for mainline Protestant use were evaluated for validity for Seventh-day Adventists. Inappropriate items were identified using statistical procedures and results from a survey of Adventist educators and pastors. New long- and short-form faith-maturity scales were developed. Different findings from adult/youth and grade-level comparisons using the five scales suggested that denomination-specific scale construction and validation are needed. The new long-form scale was very similar to one of the short-form scales constructed for mainline Protestant use and may be appropriate for other denominations.

Diligence and Academic Performance

The research literature in education is devoting increasing attention to the role of student effort in academic performance. This study posits a construct, diligence, which expresses or reflects an...

Clergy training for effective response to intimate partner violence disclosure: Immediate and long-term benefits

ABSTRACT This study reports findings from an intimate partner violence-training project in which 104 Seventh-Day Adventist pastors received a 4-hr training in responding effectively to intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure. The educational endeavor targeted three areas for improvement in clergy response: (a) increasing pastors’ understanding of the unique dynamics in abusive relationships, (b) providing information on IPV resources and services, and (c) developing pastors’ abilities and motivations to be proactive in addressing IPV. Pretest, posttest and 1-year follow up data indicate that pastors who engaged in IPV training demonstrated immediate and long-term positive changes. Specifically, participants showed improvements in each of the targeted areas. Beyond the gains in knowledge and attitudes about IPV, the study results also indicate that pastors receiving training expanded their activities to positively address IPV in their congregations. Social workers can play a significant role in addressing clergy training needs by strengthening pastors’ abilities to respond appropriately to parishioners’ IPV disclosures.

The Influence of Spiritually-based Learning Opportunities on Personal Faith and Denominational Loyalty in Seventh-Day Adventist Academies

ABSTRACT This study examined how Bible teachers, involvement in leadership in school-wide spiritual activities, and personal school-sponsored spiritual activities were related to students’ relationship with God and their denominational loyalty. Data were obtained from seniors in 19 Seventh-day Adventist academies. Students’ intention to remain in the Seventh-day Adventist church after they finish high school or leave their parents’ home (denominational loyalty) was explained by their involvement and leadership in school-sponsored spiritual activities and the influence of their Bible teacher. However, the effect of these variables on denominational loyalty was primarily due to the extent that they affected the students’ relationship with God.