Marilyn Frenn

Addressing health disparities in middle school students' nutrition and exercise.

Those with low income, especially women of African American and Hispanic heritage have the greatest risk of inactivity and obesity. A 4-session (Internet and video) intervention with healthy snack and gym labs was tested in 2 (gym lab in 1) urban low-middle-income middle schools to improve low fat diet and moderate and vigorous physical activity.1 The gym lab was particularly beneficial (p = .002). Fat in diet decreased with each Internet session in which students participated. Percentage of fat in food was reduced significantly p = .018 for Black, White, and Black/Native American girls in the intervention group. Interventions delivered through Internet and video may enable reduction of health disparities in students by encouraging those most at risk to consume 30% or less calories from fat and to engage in moderate and vigorous physical activity.

Physical Activity Parenting Measurement and Research: Challenges, Explanations, and Solutions

Physical activity (PA) parenting research has proliferated over the past decade, with findings verifying the influential role that parents play in childrens emerging PA behaviors. This knowledge, however, has not translated into effective family-based PA interventions. During a preconference workshop to the 2012 International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity annual meeting, a PA parenting workgroup met to: (1) Discuss challenges in PA parenting research that may limit its translation, (2) identify explanations or reasons for such challenges, and (3) recommend strategies for future research. Challenges discussed by the workgroup included a proliferation of disconnected and inconsistently measured constructs, a limited understanding of the dimensions of PA parenting, and a narrow conceptualization of hypothesized moderators of the relationship between PA parenting and child PA. Potential reasons for such challenges emphasized by the group included a disinclination to employ theory when developing measures and examining predictors and outcomes of PA parenting as well as a lack of agreed-upon measurement standards. Suggested solutions focused on the need to link PA parenting research with general parenting research, define and adopt rigorous standards of measurement, and identify new methods to assess PA parenting. As an initial step toward implementing these recommendations, the workgroup developed a conceptual model that: (1) Integrates parenting dimensions from the general parenting literature into the conceptualization of PA parenting, (2) draws on behavioral and developmental theory, and (3) emphasizes areas which have been neglected to date including precursors to PA parenting and effect modifiers.

Parenting and feeding behaviors associated with school-aged African American and White children.

Pediatric obesity is multifactorial and difficult to treat. Parenting and feeding behaviors have been shown to influence a child’s weight status. Most prior studies have focused on preschool-aged White children. Additional complicating factors include parents’ inability to accurately identify their child’s abnormal weight status. Parenting and feeding behaviors used by 176 African American and White parents of school-age children were examined. Assessment included (a) identifying what behaviors were reported when parent expressed concern with child’s weight and (b) the relationship of these behaviors on child’s body mass index percentile (BMI%), considering ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and parent’s body mass index (BMI). Findings included African American parents and parents concerned about their child’s weight exhibited increased controlling/authoritarian parenting and feeding behaviors. Parents were able to accurately identify their child’s weight status. Parenting and feeding behaviors played a significant role in the children’s BMI% even when controlling for ethnicity, SES, and parent’s BMI.

Health Promotion: Theoretical Perspectives and Clinical Applications

The article addresses the realities of health promotion practice in a managed care environment, synthesizing the most important findings from the midrange theories currently guiding wellness-oriented research. Factors that have been shown to predict engagement in a number of health behaviors are identified and are formulated into a guide for clinical assessment, intervention, and outcome evaluation for clients across the life span.

Parenting Behaviors of African American and Caucasian Families: Parent and Child Perceptions, Associations With Child Weight, and Ability to Identify Abnormal Weight Status

This study examined the agreement between parent and child perceptions of parenting behaviors, the relationship of the behaviors with the childs weight status, and the ability of the parent to correctly identify weight status in 176 parent-child dyads (89 Caucasian and 87 African American). Correlational and regression analyses were used. Findings included moderate to weak correlations in child and parent assessments of parenting behaviors. Caucasian dyads had higher correlations than African American dyads. Most parents correctly identified their own and their childs weight status. Parents of overweight children used increased controlling behaviors, but the number of controlling behaviors decreased when the parent expressed concern with their childs weight.

Peer leaders and adolescents participating in a multicomponent school based nutrition intervention had dietary improvements.

Participants Students {mean age 12.8 y}* in middle or junior high school. Schools were eligible if they had ≥ 20% of students approved for the free and reduced price lunch programme and ≥ 30 students in each of the seventh and eighth grades. 3878 students completed the baseline survey in fall 1998, and 3503 (90%) completed the year end survey in spring 1999 (51% boys, 69% white). Intervention The 16 schools were pair matched; 8 schools (1748 students) were allocated to the intervention, and 8 schools (1755 students) were allocated to a control condition. Students in intervention schools were exposed for 1 school year to varying levels of a multicomponent nutrition programme called Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School (TEENS): environment interventions only, which included school promotion of fruits, vegetables, and lower fat foods (n=845); classroom plus environment interventions (n=677); and training as peer leaders (to lead small group activities and discussions) and classroom plus environment interventions (n=226, peer leader group). The classroom intervention component consisted of 10 behaviourally based sessions (based on social cognitive theory) that used nutrition themes, involved self assessment and goal setting, and included family education and activities.

Authoritative feeding behaviors to reduce child BMI through online interventions.

PURPOSE.: The purpose of the study was to examine the feasibility and initial efficacies of parent- and/or child-focused online interventions and variables correlated with child body mass index percentile change. DESIGN AND METHODS.: A feasibility and cluster randomized controlled pilot study was used. RESULTS.: Recruitment was more effective at parent-teacher conferences compared with when materials were sent home with fifth- to eighth-grade culturally diverse students. Retention was 90% for students and 62-74% for parents. Authoritative parent feeding behaviors were associated with lower child body mass index. A larger study is warranted. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.: Online approaches may provide a feasible option for childhood obesity prevention and amelioration.

ADVANCING NURSING EDUCATION SCIENCE: An Analysis of the NLN's Grants Program 2008–2010

ABSTRACT The National League for Nursing has responded to the increasing need for nursing education research through its grant program. Significant growth in proposals has intensified competition for funds and challenged the Nursing Education Research Advisory Councils review process. The purpose of this article is to explore the NLNs nursing education research proposals from 2008 to 2010 in order to improve performance and provide guidance to future nursing education researchers. Beginning with the 2008 grant cycle, a database was developed to assist in performance improvement. A total of 113 proposals were submitted; of those, 24 were funded for a success rate of greater than 21 percent. Various designs and samples were employed and all geographic regions of the United States were represented. Inter‐rater reliability among reviewers remained high and the scientific rigor of proposals steadily increased. Increased funding from other sources is urgently needed to build the science of nursing education.

Engaging students through collaboration: how Project FUN works.

Students from three disciplines designed, developed, and implemented exercise and nutrition interventions, online modules and videos, to benefit low-income middle school students. The process used to incorporate the scholarship of teaching into a collaborative college-level application of learning is described.

Pre-Death Grief, Resourcefulness and Perceived Stress Among Care Givers of Partners with Young Onset Dementia

More than 200,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD). YOD is dementia diagnosed prior to the age of 65. Most persons of YOD are cared for by their partners. Using the theoretical framework of Resilience Theory, this cross-sectional, correlational study examined the moderating effects of personal and social resourcefulness on the relationship between predeath grief and perceived stress among 104 YOD caregiving partners (life partners/spouses) using an online survey platform. Results indicated a large positive correlation between predeath grief and caregiver perceived stress (r = .65; p < .001). Together predeath grief, personal resourcefulness and social resourcefulness explained 51.5% of the variance in perceived stress. Personal resourcefulness did not moderate the relationship. Social resourcefulness did positively moderate this relationship between predeath grief and perceived stress. These findings allow for a better understanding of the caregiving experience for a partner with YOD and creates opportunities for future research studies.