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Title: EMPIRICAL MODELING OF A MARIJUANA EXPECTANCY MEMORY NETWORK IN CHILDREN AS A FUNCTION OF AGE AND MARIJUANA USE.
Creator: Alfonso, Jacqueline, Dunn, Michael, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The present investigation modeled the expectancy memory organization and likely memory activation patterns of marijuana expectancies of children across age and marijuana use. The first phase of the study surveyed 142 children to obtain their first associate to marijuana use. From their responses, the Marijuana Expectancy Inventory for Children and Adolescents (MEICA) was developed. The second phase of the study administered the MEICA to a second sample of 392 children to model marijuana...
Show moreThe present investigation modeled the expectancy memory organization and likely memory activation patterns of marijuana expectancies of children across age and marijuana use. The first phase of the study surveyed 142 children to obtain their first associate to marijuana use. From their responses, the Marijuana Expectancy Inventory for Children and Adolescents (MEICA) was developed. The second phase of the study administered the MEICA to a second sample of 392 children to model marijuana expectancy organization and probable memory activation paths of marijuana users versus never-users. Results indicated that irrespective of age, adolescents who have used marijuana tend to emphasize positive-negative effects, whereas adolescents who have never used marijuana tend to emphasize psychological-physiological effects. Memory activation patterns also differed by marijuana use history such that users are more likely to begin their paths with short-term positive effects of marijuana, versus non-users who access long-term cognitive and physiological effects with more likelihood. This study is the first to examine specific marijuana outcome expectancies of children and adolescents as they relate to marijuana-using behavior. Implications for marijuana prevention and intervention programs, future research, and limitations of the current investigation are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000897, ucf:46629
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000897

Title: MEDIA INFLUENCE ON RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND EMERGING ADULTS.
Creator: Silberman, Kelly, Wright, Chrysalis, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Within the last few decades there has been an abundant increase in the amount of violent video games and movies shown within the media. Many of these violent video games and movies include reckless driving behaviors or certain car scenarios that engross the viewer into wishing to imitate the actions they see on the screen. With that being said, majority of these viewers are adolescents or emerging adults who are beginning to drive and are prone to replicating what they see as adequate driving...
Show moreWithin the last few decades there has been an abundant increase in the amount of violent video games and movies shown within the media. Many of these violent video games and movies include reckless driving behaviors or certain car scenarios that engross the viewer into wishing to imitate the actions they see on the screen. With that being said, majority of these viewers are adolescents or emerging adults who are beginning to drive and are prone to replicating what they see as adequate driving behaviors. The intent of this thesis is to indicate whether or not the amount of risky driving behaviors an adolescent or emerging adult is exposed to, the more likely they are to replicate these scenarios. Through the UCF Sona system participants answered questions related to risky driving behaviors, safety habits, and how often they viewed or played certain video games and movies. Overall, the results of the study indicate that participants exposed to risky driving behaviors in the media replicate these actions themselves. Further research and results should be taken into effect in order to raise awareness among adolescents and emerging adults who are at their early stages of driving.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004680, ucf:45282
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004680

Title: IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND MOTHERHOOD.
Creator: Rosado, Dayanara, Berman, Steven L., University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Adolescent pregnancy creates challenges for this minority population in balancing their motherhood identity with continuing to develop their identity at the adolescent stage, which presents a social problem today. The intent of this thesis is to explore the relationship between identity, adjustment, and social support among college students who were adolescent mothers. The following surveys: Personal Network Matrix (PNM), The Identity Distress Scale (IDS), and The Dimension of Identity...
Show moreAdolescent pregnancy creates challenges for this minority population in balancing their motherhood identity with continuing to develop their identity at the adolescent stage, which presents a social problem today. The intent of this thesis is to explore the relationship between identity, adjustment, and social support among college students who were adolescent mothers. The following surveys: Personal Network Matrix (PNM), The Identity Distress Scale (IDS), and The Dimension of Identity Development Scale (DIDS), were administered through the UCF SONA system. Participants were divided into three groups: mothers who had their first child as a teenager (teen mothers; n = 6), mothers who had their first child at 20 years or older (older mothers; n = 12), and women who have never had children (non-mothers; n = 182). Overall, the results of the study indicated that non-mothers tended to ruminate more than older mothers and the more social support mothers received as an adolescent, the less likely they were to ruminate at the adolescent stage. Moreover, older mothers displayed less identity exploration in breadth than non-mothers and adolescent mothers. Future researchers is needed to further investigate the relationship between social support, adjustment, and identity distress, in order to start building intervention research in assisting adolescent mothers in their struggle with identity development, emotional support, and for the well-being of their offspring.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFH2000096, ucf:45560
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000096

Title: MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR ADOLESCENT CANCER PATIENTS.
Creator: Faherty, Kelsey A, Loerzel, Victoria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Background: According to the National Cancer Institute (2017) approximately 15,270 individuals' ages 0 to 19 years would be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Although pediatric cancer survival rates continue to rise, there are high rates of anxiety, fear, and depression amongst this population. The purpose of this literature review was to explore mental health interventions for adolescent cancer patients. Methodology: A total of 165 articles were found in a literature search. Databases used...
Show moreBackground: According to the National Cancer Institute (2017) approximately 15,270 individuals' ages 0 to 19 years would be diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Although pediatric cancer survival rates continue to rise, there are high rates of anxiety, fear, and depression amongst this population. The purpose of this literature review was to explore mental health interventions for adolescent cancer patients. Methodology: A total of 165 articles were found in a literature search. Databases used include: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Clinical Answers, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. As results were further narrowed based on relevance and set limiters a total of 7 articles were used for the purpose of this review. Results: Multiple interventions were used in the purpose of this review including therapeutic play, animal-assisted activities, complementary and alternative medicine interventions, and coping and stress reduction interventions. Interventions used significantly decreased anxiety, fear, and depression amongst adolescent cancer patients. Conclusion: One intervention was not more successful than another. Interventions that included participants in their plan of care, promoted normalcy, and were developmentally appropriate were successful at decreasing anxiety, depression, and fear in adolescent cancer patients.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000365, ucf:45791
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000365

Title: The Boys' Republic.
Creator: Mueller, Jonas, Hubbard, Susan, Bartkevicius, Jocelyn, Neal, Mary, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The young men in The Boys' Republic live in a world that is continually falling apart. Their houses collapse into sinkholes, forest fires carve out chunks of their towns, plague spreads through their communes, the money runs out on the construction project where they work. This decay mirrors their own collapsing identities, as they are forced to question their mastery of nature, their nostalgia for their youth, their relationships with others, and the value of masculinity itself. Drawing on...
Show moreThe young men in The Boys' Republic live in a world that is continually falling apart. Their houses collapse into sinkholes, forest fires carve out chunks of their towns, plague spreads through their communes, the money runs out on the construction project where they work. This decay mirrors their own collapsing identities, as they are forced to question their mastery of nature, their nostalgia for their youth, their relationships with others, and the value of masculinity itself. Drawing on the work of writers like Dennis Cooper, Flannery O'Connor, and Benjamin Percy, The Boys' Republic depicts men in the midst of both an economic and an emotional recession. Some, like Carson in Hotel or Zachary in Ignus Fatuus, are trapped in their decaying suburbs by youth, poverty, or habit. Others, like Jared in Corona Radiata or Nick in The Boy's Republic, have fled or been ejected from them. Either way, they are haunted by them, and by the selfish, insecure, destructive behavior that they learned there. The Boys' Republic is about boys confronting their own selfishness, and each other's, in a world that can no longer accommodate it but offers no easy replacement.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004578, ucf:49222
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004578

Title: THE INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONTENT AREAS AND ADOLESCENT MOTIVATION.
Creator: Blackwell, Lindsey, Zygouris-Coe, Vicky, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study was designed to investigate the types of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) integrated into the content area classrooms of two local high schools, and whether the use of these ICTs motivated adolescent students to read and write in the content areas. The investigator created a student survey, student, teacher, and other support faculty interview protocols, and a classroom observation protocol to collect data for the study. The investigator faced several challenges...
Show moreThis study was designed to investigate the types of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) integrated into the content area classrooms of two local high schools, and whether the use of these ICTs motivated adolescent students to read and write in the content areas. The investigator created a student survey, student, teacher, and other support faculty interview protocols, and a classroom observation protocol to collect data for the study. The investigator faced several challenges which prevented her from spending adequate time in the schools. Due to these challenges, sufficient data was not obtained to form conclusions about the research questions. This thesis will present the review of literature, methodology, and plan for completing the study in the future.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003554, ucf:48914
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003554

Title: A MIXED METHOD STUDY ON THE ROLE OF THE IMAGINATION IN THE READING COMPREHENSION OF LOW-PROGRESS ADOLESCENTS.
Creator: Puig, Enrique, Robinson, Sandra L., University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Founded on the importance of the imagination according to Greene (1995) and set by the Executive Summary of the 911 Commission Report, the mixed methods grounded theory study looks at a correlation between a set of instruction practices recognized by Egan (2008) for nourishing and developing the imagination and low-progress adolescent students' comprehension. Descriptive data are provided on the school, students, teachers, and district where the study was conducted to illustrate the...
Show moreFounded on the importance of the imagination according to Greene (1995) and set by the Executive Summary of the 911 Commission Report, the mixed methods grounded theory study looks at a correlation between a set of instruction practices recognized by Egan (2008) for nourishing and developing the imagination and low-progress adolescent students' comprehension. Descriptive data are provided on the school, students, teachers, and district where the study was conducted to illustrate the limitation and delimitations of the study. The study is limited to low-progress adolescent students as identified by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and uses pre and post Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR) mandated and administered by Orange County to establish comprehension and determine statistical significance. Participant and non-participant observations are used to triangulate and co-triangulate data to determine the correlation between the frequency of select instructional practices and students' comprehending as evidence by their FAIR reading and Maze scores. Observation of student performance suggests that attention to the implementation of the instruction practices of using poetry, text sets, and sensory stimulation has potential in nurturing low progress adolescent students' imagination and strengthening their cognitive feed-forward mechanism. The data adds to the existing body of work on the interactive nature of reading (Rumelhart, 1994) by elaborating on low progress adolescent students' ability to predict and anticipate; concluding that convergent and divergent thinking, making inter-textual connections, and creating mental models are necessary sub-factors to nourish the imagination and need to be taken into account in instruction to assist low-progress adolescent students in comprehending and developing a defensible interpretation.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003606, ucf:48850
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003606

Title: Development During Middle School: An Ecological-Transactional, Cross-Section Examination of Early Adjustment.
Creator: White, Rachel, Renk, Kimberly, Bedwell, Jeffrey, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study utilized an ecological framework to investigate the types of variables that influence adolescent adjustment during middle school and how influences change or stay the same depending on grade level. A cross-sectional approach was taken in which students entering the beginning of their Sixth Grade year and students nearing the end of their Eighth Grade year were administered a comprehensive questionnaire including items about psychological adjustment, parenting characteristics,...
Show moreThis study utilized an ecological framework to investigate the types of variables that influence adolescent adjustment during middle school and how influences change or stay the same depending on grade level. A cross-sectional approach was taken in which students entering the beginning of their Sixth Grade year and students nearing the end of their Eighth Grade year were administered a comprehensive questionnaire including items about psychological adjustment, parenting characteristics, community support characteristics, ethnic identity, acculturation status, and socio-economic status. Findings suggest that Sixth and Eighth Graders' experience of emotional and behavioral problems is influenced differently. This is particularly salient as it pertains to parenting support and acculturation variables. Findings support the notion that individualized, multi-systemic style interventions are valuable even within the developmental period of adolescence as important changes in risk and protective factors are taking place as one moves from early- to mid-adolescence.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004459, ucf:49347
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004459

Title: THE EFFECT OF VIDEO MODELING AND SOCIAL SKILL INSTRUCTIONON ON THE SOCIAL SKILLS OF ADOLESCENTS WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM AND ASPERGERS SYNDROME: IS THE INCORPERATION OF YOUTUBE VIDEOS EFFECTIVE?.
Creator: Blake, Bruce, Martin, Suzanne, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: ABSTRACT Research conducted on video modeling has shown that these strategies are most effective when they include specific strategies to address conversation skills. Social skills research has also shown that teaching social skills to adolescents in group settings may be more effective than presenting them on an individual basis. Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome (AS) and High functioning Autism (HFA) participated in a12-week Social Skills Training (SST) program. In addition to pre-and...
Show moreABSTRACT Research conducted on video modeling has shown that these strategies are most effective when they include specific strategies to address conversation skills. Social skills research has also shown that teaching social skills to adolescents in group settings may be more effective than presenting them on an individual basis. Adolescents with Aspergers Syndrome (AS) and High functioning Autism (HFA) participated in a12-week Social Skills Training (SST) program. In addition to pre-and post-study measures, conversation skills data were collected before and after the application of the independent variable (video modeling). Follow-up interviews were also conducted with participants, secondary participants, and parents of the primary participants. After a two-week baseline phase, participants attended weekly social skills training and received the treatment of video modeling with videos found on YouTube. This established pre-existing social and conversation skills and enabled the measurement of changes over the course of the 12 week program. After post intervention data were collected, additional data were collected with participants and secondary participants, neuro-typical peers, as a measure of treatment generalization. This study proposed that presenting social skills videos found on YouTube, would be effective in increasing levels of initiation, responses and conversation skills, thereby increasing communication effectiveness and reducing social rejection by peers. Although some gains in conversational skill levels were observed by most participants in the study significant increases in conversation skill levels were not observed in both ASD only group settings or of the ASD neuro-typical mixed group setting.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003393, ucf:48425
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003393

Title: INCREASING PARENTAL AWARENESS AND MONITORING: THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A WEB-BASED PROGRAM TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO REDUCE UNDERAGE ALCOHOL USE.
Creator: Brown, Pamela, Dunn, Michael, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Parent attitudes about underage alcohol use and parent monitoring of the activities of their adolescent children have been found to be directly related to the likelihood of underage alcohol use. Unfortunately, there are relatively few programs or resources available to parents to assist them to reduce their childrenÃ‚Â's potential for early and problematic alcohol involvement. In an effort to address this need, the present project entailed the development and evaluation...
Show moreParent attitudes about underage alcohol use and parent monitoring of the activities of their adolescent children have been found to be directly related to the likelihood of underage alcohol use. Unfortunately, there are relatively few programs or resources available to parents to assist them to reduce their childrenÃ‚Â's potential for early and problematic alcohol involvement. In an effort to address this need, the present project entailed the development and evaluation of a web-based psychoeducational program entitled, Increasing Parental Awareness and Monitoring (iPAM). This online program begins to fill the gap in effective and convenient programming focused on development of parent skills and awareness. The content of the program is based on parenting factors that have been consistently found to correspond to underage alcohol use. The format includes engaging and interactive components that function to promote increased parent knowledge of the problem of underage drinking. In addition, the program is designed to alter permissive or ambivalent attitudes regarding underage alcohol use, and increase parental behaviors that have shown to be effective in reducing youth alcohol involvement. A randomized controlled trial was conducted (n = 34 control; n = 33 experimental) with parents of adolescents in Central Florida who were asked to complete measures before exposure to the program and again approximately one month later. Findings revealed significant differences between the iPAM group and the control group. Specifically, an increase in parent knowledge about underage alcohol use and increased parental monitoring of their adolescent children was revealed. There was also a main effect for time with regard to increased parent-child communication about alcohol. Additionally, while both groups revealed increased communication, the experimental group revealed greater frequency of communication about alcohol although not significantly.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003389, ucf:48454
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003389

Title: Friendship and Informant Characteristics Associated with Agreement among Adolescent and Friend Ratings of Behavior Problems.
Creator: Lauer, Brea-anne, Renk, Kimberly, Beidel, Deborah, Sims, Valerie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Although teacher and parent informants often are used to gather information regarding adolescents' emotional and behavioral functioning, research has suggested that agreement among these raters and adolescents' self-ratings tends to be low to moderate. Given that friends typically play an important role in the lives of adolescents, the present study sought to determine the relative agreement amongst adolescent self-reports and those of their friends as well as factors that might impact this...
Show moreAlthough teacher and parent informants often are used to gather information regarding adolescents' emotional and behavioral functioning, research has suggested that agreement among these raters and adolescents' self-ratings tends to be low to moderate. Given that friends typically play an important role in the lives of adolescents, the present study sought to determine the relative agreement amongst adolescent self-reports and those of their friends as well as factors that might impact this agreement. In particular, a sample of 207 culturally diverse high school students were matched based on perceived friendship closeness and asked to provide ratings of their own emotional and behavioral problems as well as that of an identified friend. Additionally, adolescents provided information regarding their friendship quality, previous exposure to psychopathology in others, and social competence as well as their endorsements for etiological attributions for friends' behavior. Results revealed that adolescent self-ratings and those of their friends demonstrate high levels of agreement for both internalizing and externalizing problems. Further, raters' emotional and behavioral problems were related inconsistently to rating agreement, whereas friendship quality and other rater characteristics (i.e., previous exposure, social competence) did not demonstrate a relationship. Additionally, friends tended to provide explanations for behavior problems that varied according to the type of behavior observed. Specifically, adolescents were more likely to provide explanations that were external in nature for internalizing symptoms, whereas explanations for externalizing symptoms were both internal and external. Overall, this study provided additional support for the utility of friend informants when ratings of adolescents' emotional and behavioral problems are needed.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005824, ucf:50905
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005824

Title: The Effect of a Metalinguistic Approach to Sentence Combining on Written Expression in Eighth Grade Science for Students who Struggle with Literacy.
Creator: Telesca, Lynne, Ehren, Barbara, Zygouris-Coe, Vassiliki, Kong, Anthony Pak Hin, Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Recent data indicate that less than 50% of American secondary students are able to demonstrate grade-level proficiency in reading, writing, and science (National Center for Educational Statistics [NCES], 2007, 2011, 2012a, 2012b). Secondary students' are expected to develop advanced literacy skills, especially in writing, in order to be ready for college and careers. Students are expected to develop these advanced literacy skills, within all academic subjects. In other words, they are...
Show moreRecent data indicate that less than 50% of American secondary students are able to demonstrate grade-level proficiency in reading, writing, and science (National Center for Educational Statistics [NCES], 2007, 2011, 2012a, 2012b). Secondary students' are expected to develop advanced literacy skills, especially in writing, in order to be ready for college and careers. Students are expected to develop these advanced literacy skills, within all academic subjects. In other words, they are expected to develop disciplinary literacy skills. The statistics are alarming overall, but they are particularly alarming in the area of science. Students need strong literacy skills, including written expression, to be prepared for employment opportunities in science fields, which currently are being filled by graduates of other industrialized nations, who have a more advanced skill set. This loss of occupational opportunity poses a threat for the U.S. to remain globally competitive in science innovation and advancement, which ultimately secures economic prosperity. Despite these staggering concerns, there is little research conducted to evaluate effective instructional methods to develop complex writing skills in academic disciplines such as science.To address this critical issue, the present study examined the effects of a metalinguistic approach to the writing intervention of sentence combining with eighth-grade students who struggle with literacy. The researcher conducted the study in a typical science classroom in an urban American school setting. The focus of the intervention was to increase students' metalinguistic awareness of science text, to improve written sentence complexity in science, as well as the written expression and determination of comparison and contrast of science content. The study employed a quasi-experimental design. The participants consisted of an experimental group (two classes) who received the treatment during typical science instruction and a comparison group (three classes) who did not receive treatment, but participated in their typical science instruction. There were four participating teachers and 84 participating students. The researcher conducted the study over a period of seven weeks within regularly scheduled science classes. Twenty intervention sessions were conducted for a length of 20 minutes each, totaling 400 minutes or 6.6 hours. Hierarchical repeated measures ANOVA and hierarchical repeated measures MANOVA analyses revealed that the experimental group performed significantly better than the comparison group on their ability to determine similarities and differences (compare and contrast) related to science content, with a medium effect. The experimental group achieved a slightly higher marginal mean over the comparison group on their ability to combine sentences, with a small effect. Multiple statistical analyses revealed a trend of higher marginal means in favor of the experimental group over the comparison group on several measures of written sentence complexity on both the science compare and contrast writing prompt (small-medium effect) and the science expository essay (medium to large effect). One experimental class also demonstrated higher scores in their overall sentence correctness on science expository essay as compared to all the other classes. These findings suggest that sentence combining, utilizing a metalinguistic approach, may hold promise as an effective writing intervention in a content area classroom, for secondary students who struggle with literacy. Furthermore, the findings suggest that a metalinguistic approach to sentence combining can be successfully embedded within a content area class, which may result in increased concept knowledge and writing skills in that academic discipline. Implications for practice and future research directions are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005891, ucf:50897
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005891

Title: Nutrition Literacy and Demographic Variables as Predictors of Adolescent Weight Status in a Florida County.
Creator: Damato-Kubiet, Leslee, Sole, Mary, Bushy, Angeline, Conner, Norma, Berman, Steven, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Problem: In recent years, childhood obesity has increased to epidemic proportions across the United States (U.S.) in parallel with adult obesity, which often reflects poor dietary choices and bad nutritional habits. Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parent and adolescent nutrition literacy expressed as nutrition knowledge and skills, with total household income and parent level of education, as predictors of weight status in adolescents that live in a...
Show moreProblem: In recent years, childhood obesity has increased to epidemic proportions across the United States (U.S.) in parallel with adult obesity, which often reflects poor dietary choices and bad nutritional habits. Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parent and adolescent nutrition literacy expressed as nutrition knowledge and skills, with total household income and parent level of education, as predictors of weight status in adolescents that live in a Florida community. The secondary purpose of this study was to examine the implications for nutrition literacy levels within parent/adolescent dyads to identify public health initiatives aimed at adult and adolescent populations.Methods: A descriptive, correlational design was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 110 parent-adolescent dyads recruited from a free physical exam event hosted by a local health care facility. Three instruments were completed by each dyad: 1) demographic survey, 2) Nutrition Literacy Survey (NLS; knowledge), and 3) Newest Vital Sign (NVS; skills). Physiologic measurements for the study included anthropometric measurement of the adolescent child's height (cm) and weight (kg) without shoes and BMI scores were calculated. In addition to actual value, BMI was categorized as low/normal and overweight/obese for analysis. Paired t-tests were used to compare means for the NLS and NVS survey in parent-adolescent dyads. Bivariate correlation scores were computed between the two variables of parent/adolescent NLS and NVS scores. Lastly, regression models for examining adolescent BMI were compared with the independent variables of the study.Results: The sample of adult participants (n =110) comprised males (n = 30, 27%) and females (n =80, 73%) ranging in age from 34 to 55 years (M= 41.9, SD= 4.77). Adolescent participants (n=110) comprised males (n = 61, 55%) and females (n = 49, 45%) ranging in age from 13 to 17 years (M = 15.1, SD = 1.43). Adolescent male participants had higher BMI (27 + 3.48) than females (24 + 2.90), t (108) = 4.83, (p = (<) .001). Adolescent males were categorized more overweight/obese than females (67.2% versus 24.5%). The parent NLS mean score (M=19) indicated low overall levels of general nutrition knowledge whereas the adolescent NLS mean score (M=21.7) demonstrated greater aptitude for nutrition knowledge than parent scores. The parent NVS mean score (M=4.1) suggested adequate levels of nutrition skills. Likewise, the adolescent NVS mean score (M= 4.1) suggested adequate nutrition skills, similar to scores in the adult population. Spearman rho correlations yielded positive correlations between parent/adolescent nutrition knowledge, (rs = .224, p = .019), and parents' nutrition knowledge and skills (rs = .596, p (<) .001). Positive correlations were also noted between adolescents' nutrition knowledge and parents' nutrition skills (rs = .257, p = .007) and adolescents' nutrition knowledge and nutrition skills (rs = .260. p = .006). Three regression models were calculated to examine adolescent BMI with the independent variables of the study. Analysis of regression coefficients for each model indicated that none of the variables demonstrated significance as a predictor of adolescent BMI.Discussion/Implications: The results of the study suggest that parents and adolescents may have similar amounts of nutrition literacy when examining the constructs of nutrition knowledge and skills; however, BMI is not solely dependent on these skill sets. Examination of the factors that influence parents and adolescent children's weight status are important elements in shaping families adoption of sound dietary habits and improving health outcomes.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005154, ucf:50685
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005154

Title: The Effect of Question-Answer Relationships on Ninth-Grade Students' Ability to Accurately Answer Comprehension Questions.
Creator: Stafford, Tammy, Zygouris-Coe, Vassiliki, Xu, Lihua, Boote, David, Wilson, Nance, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This experimental research study examined the effects of the Question-Answer Relationships (QAR) taxonomy on ninth-grade students' ability to answer comprehension questions. Participants included 32 incoming ninth-grade students who were required to attend summer school due to poor attendance, grades, and/or standardized test scores. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Experimental group participants received one week of initial strategy instruction...
Show moreThis experimental research study examined the effects of the Question-Answer Relationships (QAR) taxonomy on ninth-grade students' ability to answer comprehension questions. Participants included 32 incoming ninth-grade students who were required to attend summer school due to poor attendance, grades, and/or standardized test scores. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Experimental group participants received one week of initial strategy instruction followed by three weeks of maintenance activities. Results indicated that the strategy had a negative effect on students' question-answering ability and raised questions regarding comprehension instruction, length of interventions, and the role of scaffolded support for a target population of adolescent readers. Discussion of the results revolves around interventions, QAR instruction, reading ability, and motivation of the participants.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004605, ucf:49921
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004605

Title: The Impact of a Group Counseling Intervention on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Older Adolescents' Levels of Hope, Coping, and Suicidality.
Creator: Lamb, Catherine, Lambie, Glenn, Barden, Sejal, Conley, Abigail, Witta, Eleanor, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This investigation examined the impact of an eight-week group counseling intervention on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) older adolescents' (aged 18-20) levels of hopefulness, coping skills, and suicidality. An experimental, randomized-controlled-trial research design was employed to identify differences between the intervention group and waitlist control group participants' hopefulness, coping skills, and suicidality scores. In addition, the relationship between the...
Show moreThis investigation examined the impact of an eight-week group counseling intervention on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) older adolescents' (aged 18-20) levels of hopefulness, coping skills, and suicidality. An experimental, randomized-controlled-trial research design was employed to identify differences between the intervention group and waitlist control group participants' hopefulness, coping skills, and suicidality scores. In addition, the relationship between the LGBTQ+ participants' outcome variables (hopefulness, coping skills, and suicidality) scores was examined. Furthermore, the impact of group therapeutic factors experienced by the LGBTQ+ participants in intervention group for the variables of hopefulness, coping skills, and suicidality was examined.Key findings included a significant interaction between time and group placement, indicating that the intervention group participants experienced significant improvements on measures of hopefulness, coping behaviors, and suicidality when compared to participants in the waitlist control group. In addition, hope was demonstrated to be a strong and significant predictor of suicidality. Furthermore, it was found that group therapeutic factors had a positive effect on intervention group participants' Adaptive Coping scores, but did not have an effect on Hopefulness, Maladaptive Coping, or Suicidality as hypothesized. Lastly, there was no significant differences between the demographic variables perceptions of parental/guardian support, perceptions of peer support, gender identity, or ethnicity on their hopefulness, coping behaviors, or suicidality. There was, however, a significant difference between bisexual's and lesbian's post-test scores on Suicidality, with bisexuals scoring significantly lower. No other significant differences were observed between sexual orientation and the other key constructs.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005194, ucf:50633
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005194

Title: THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN ADOLESCENT RELATIONSHIPS AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT.
Creator: Cyr, Betty-Ann, Berman, Dr. Steven, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking sites are changing the way people interact with each other. The popularity of these communication technologies among emerging adults in particular has grown exponentially, with little accompanying research to understand their influences on psychosocial development. This study explores the relationship between communication technology usage (text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking) and adolescent...
Show moreText messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking sites are changing the way people interact with each other. The popularity of these communication technologies among emerging adults in particular has grown exponentially, with little accompanying research to understand their influences on psychosocial development. This study explores the relationship between communication technology usage (text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking) and adolescent adjustment among 268 high school students. It was hypothesized that use of communication technology would be related to psychological adjustment, including identity development, relationship attachment and peer conflict. Participants were recruited from three public high schools in central Florida (69% female, 81.9% White). Time spent using communication technology was significantly correlated with psychological symptom severity (i.e. anxiety and depression), identity distress, peer aggression, and existential anxiety. It was also significantly but negatively correlated with relationship avoidance. Degree of usage of communication technology for interpersonal communication was significantly correlated with peer aggression, relationship anxiety, and existential anxiety. Those with a preoccupied style (high in relationship anxiety, low in relationship avoidance) spent significantly more time using communication technology than those in the dismissive (high in avoidance, low in anxiety), fearful (high in both), and secure (low in both) styles. Further analyses and their implications for adolescent development will be discussed.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFH0004213, ucf:44908
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004213

Title: Effects of a Reading Strategy with Digital Social Studies Texts for Eighth Grade Students.
Creator: Doan, Melissa, Ehren, Barbara, Little, Mary, Kent-Walsh, Jennifer, Hahs-Vaughn, Debbie, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Recent data indicate that only 34% of American eighth grade students are able to demonstrate grade-level proficiency with academic reading tasks (NCES, 2011). The staggering nature of statistics such as this is even more profound when considering that high level literacy skills combined with mastery of digital texts have become practical requirements for success in secondary education, post-secondary education, and virtually all vocational contexts. Despite this incongruent scenario, little...
Show moreRecent data indicate that only 34% of American eighth grade students are able to demonstrate grade-level proficiency with academic reading tasks (NCES, 2011). The staggering nature of statistics such as this is even more profound when considering that high level literacy skills combined with mastery of digital texts have become practical requirements for success in secondary education, post-secondary education, and virtually all vocational contexts. Despite this incongruent scenario, little research has been conducted to evaluate instructional methods and reading comprehension strategies with digital texts.To address this critical issue, the present study examined the effects of a metacognitive reading comprehension instructional protocol (STRUCTURE Your Reading [SYR]; Ehren, 2008) with eighth grade students using digital texts in a standard social studies classroom in an urban American school setting. The focus of the protocol was on teaching strategies and self-questioning prompts before, during, and after reading. The study employed a randomized controlled design and consisted of three conditions with a total of 4 participating teachers and 124 participating students. The study was conducted over 25 instructional days and two instructional units with 13.83 treatment hours within the standard, social studies classes. Hierarchical ANCOVA analyses revealed that when controlling for pre-test measurements, the comparison and experimental groups performed significantly better than the control group with instructional unit test scores (Unit 2), reading strategy use in all stages of reading (before, during, and after), and self-questioning prompts during reading. Comparison and experimental groups did not significantly differ in these gains, indicating that this instructional protocol is effective with both paper and digital text. These findings suggest that the SYR instructional protocol is effective with secondary students in content area classrooms when using digital text. Furthermore, they suggest that metacognition and reading comprehension strategy instruction are able to be successfully embedded within a content area class and result in academic and metacognitive gains. Clinical implications and future research directions and are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004244, ucf:49537
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004244

Title: A Value Sensitive Design Approach to Adolescent Mobile Online Safety.
Creator: Ghosh, Arup Kumar, ,, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: With the rise of adolescent smartphone use, concerns about teen online safety are also on the rise. A number of parental control apps are available for mobile devices, but adoption of these apps has been markedly low. To better understand these apps, their users, and design opportunities in the space of mobile online safety for adolescents, we have conducted four studies informed by the principles of Value Sensitive Design (VSD). In Study 1 (Chapter 2), we conducted a web-based survey of 215...
Show moreWith the rise of adolescent smartphone use, concerns about teen online safety are also on the rise. A number of parental control apps are available for mobile devices, but adoption of these apps has been markedly low. To better understand these apps, their users, and design opportunities in the space of mobile online safety for adolescents, we have conducted four studies informed by the principles of Value Sensitive Design (VSD). In Study 1 (Chapter 2), we conducted a web-based survey of 215 parents and their teens (ages 13-17) using two separate logistic regression models (parent and teen) to examine the factors that predicted parental use of technical monitoring apps on their teens' mobile devices. Both parent and teen models confirmed that low autonomy granting (e.g., authoritarian) parents were the most likely to use parental control apps. The teen model revealed additional nuances, indicating that teens who were victimized online and had peer problems were more likely to be monitored by their parents. Overall, increased parental control was associated with more (not fewer) online risks. In Study 2 (Chapter 3), we conducted a structured, qualitative feature analysis of 75 Android mobile apps designed for promoting adolescent online safety. We found that the available apps overwhelmingly supported parental control through restriction and monitoring over teen self-regulation or parental active mediation. In Study 3 (Chapter 4), we conducted a qualitative analysis of 736 reviews of 37 mobile online safety apps from Google Play that were publicly posted and written by teens. Our results indicate that teen ratings were significantly lower than that of parents with 76% of the teen reviews giving apps a single star. Teens felt that the apps were overly restrictive and invasive of their personal privacy, negatively impacting their relationships with their parents. For our final study (Chapter 5), we developed a mobile app prototype suggesting alternative designs for keeping teens safe online and conducted a user study which showed that parents and children (ages 10-17) both significantly preferred our new app design over existing parental control apps. Both parents and children reported that our VSD informed design is less privacy-invasive for children and would improve communication and trust relationship between them. Yet, more work needs to be done to improve approaches for risk detection and mediation that support online safety. In summary, this research will enable researchers and designers to create more effective solutions for teen online safety that will help promote more positive parent-teen relationships.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007181, ucf:52256
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007181

Title: THE EFFECTS OF WEARABLE FITNESS DEVICES ON PEDIATRIC OBESITY: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW.
Creator: Sabina, Kevin, Decker, Jonathan, Hill, Peggy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Childhood obesity is a foremost concern throughout the health care community. Approximately 17.6% of the pediatric population meet the criteria for obesity, which can lead to health disparities later in life, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging mobile and wearable lifestyle tracking devices can be a viable solution to the challenging problem of childhood obesity through behavior changes, feasibility, and adherence. The purpose of this literature...
Show moreChildhood obesity is a foremost concern throughout the health care community. Approximately 17.6% of the pediatric population meet the criteria for obesity, which can lead to health disparities later in life, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging mobile and wearable lifestyle tracking devices can be a viable solution to the challenging problem of childhood obesity through behavior changes, feasibility, and adherence. The purpose of this literature review was to determine the effect that mobile and wearable activity tracking devices have on the obese pediatric population. A centralized review of the literature was conducted using various data basesand resulted in 19 articles. 5 articles were chosen to review in more detail. 13 other articles were hand searched through credible resource citations, rendering 14 articles that met all criteria. The three general themes found in this literature review suggest that wearable activity tracking devices can be designed and effectively used by the pediatric population. Also, wearable activity tracking devices are accurate in conveying information on physical activity, calories, and heart rate. Lastly, wearable activity tracking devices can initiate behavioral changes in children leading to an increase in physical activity, resulting in the prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity.While in a majority of the studies analyzed trails were short. The research suggests wearable activity tracking devices will produce the desired results of increased activity in pediatric populations when they are worn correctly, are adequately engaging, and when they are designed in a feasible manner that is appealing to children.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFH2000375, ucf:45824
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000375

Title: THE MEDIATING ROLES OF COPING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ON ADOLESCENT LESBIAN HOMELESSNESS.
Creator: Craft, Katelynn, Jacinto, George, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This paper analyzes the stress and coping mechanisms of lesbian homeless adolescents to identify potential buffers against homelessness. The Minority Stress Model and identity theories are used as a framework to interpret the findings in the literature. Based on the findings in the literature, it is possible to conclude that lesbian homeless youth are more susceptible to minority stress due to a lack of adaptive coping resources and social support. Increased levels of minority stress may lead...
Show moreThis paper analyzes the stress and coping mechanisms of lesbian homeless adolescents to identify potential buffers against homelessness. The Minority Stress Model and identity theories are used as a framework to interpret the findings in the literature. Based on the findings in the literature, it is possible to conclude that lesbian homeless youth are more susceptible to minority stress due to a lack of adaptive coping resources and social support. Increased levels of minority stress may lead to internalizing and externalizing symptoms that cause runaway and throwaway episodes in homeless youth. This paper proposes a new model to understand the internal and environmental factors that contribute to homelessness in lesbian adolescents.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004748, ucf:45368
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004748

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