This study was designed to explore perceptions and lived experiences of avid adolescent male readers, in order to better understand their development as readers. This study explored: (1) how previous reading experiences influence the development of the avid adolescent male reader and (2) how the reading habits and preferences of avid adolescent male readers are socially constructed. Rosenblatt's (1978) Transactional Theory of Literary Work forms the theoretical framework of this study. Rosenblatt (1978) argued that as readers engage with texts, they bring an individual schema to these literary transactions. This prior knowledge and experience are the lens through which the individual reader understands the content of the text. Even when reading the same text, readers respond to the text in individual ways, based on their individual schema. Through the use of a naturalistic inquiry design, data was generated through a series of interviews with the participants. Data analysis was qualitative and iterative, triangulated with multiple interviews, interview mapping, thematic tables, dialogic memos, and researcher field notes. Data analysis led to a better understanding of the development of the avid adolescent male reader, including: (a) the role of family culture on reading identity, (b) peer group influence on reading habits of avid adolescent male readers, and (c) transactional responses of avid adolescent male readers both in and out of educational settings. Data generated during interviews illuminated the complex, individuated and interwoven nature of the elements present in the development of the avid adolescent male reader. Finally, this study gives insight into how understanding the development of these readers may provide teachers with instructional strategies and reading opportunities that support all developing readers. / Ph. D.

Substance use is characterized by use of licit and illicit substances, paired with adverse consequences. Substance use and abuse are major concerns among the adolescent population. Some of the most popular substances used among adolescents include alcohol and marijuana. Adolescents who use substances have often demonstrated risky behaviors. These risky behaviors include delinquency and antisocial behaviors, such as decreased commitment to school, burglary, and theft. Behaviors such as unprotected sexual intercourse while under the influence of substances places the adolescent at risk for pregnancy and STis. Adolescents may develop depressive symptoms related to substance use, as well as attempt to commit suicide while using substances when feeling sad. Effective nursing interventions are needed to target these adolescents and prevent or cease substance use. The purpose of this integrated literature review was to explore current nursing interventions for adolescent substance use. Another aim was to determine the need for improvement on these interventions or the need for a new action plan. Findings showed that brief motivational interviewing is an effective intervention method for adolescent substance use. The advantage to brief motivational interviewing is - that it is non-confrontational, short in duration, promotes reduced substance use, and leads to complete cessation. With the use of evidence-based interventions, nurses and other health care providers can take part 1~ early preveritioh and cessation of adolescent substance use.

In the United States, childhood and adolescent obesity is a problem of growing concern. With nearly 17% of children between the ages of two and 19 years classified as obese, healthcare providers, clinical scientists, and program managers must collaborate to reduce the prevalence of obesity. Obese children are more likely to be obese adults, who are at an increased risk to develop type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease, compared to non-obese individuals. Children are classified as obese based on body composition. CDC, WHO, and IOTF have developed definitions to classify the weight status of children; however, these definitions are based on reference populations' data rather than physiological ideal growth and development. Physicians and scientists measure body composition with a variety of direct and indirect techniques. Although there are advantages and disadvantages to each method, there is no database to compare the measurements to determine whether the child has an increased risk for developing a disease based on his or her weight status. While the current literature debates the use of one definition or measurement tool over another, there is a need for longitudinal studies to establish a true definition for obesity and healthy model of child growth and development from birth to adulthood. This review summaries the current arguments and provides suggestions for further research to increase the understanding of obesity in children and adolescents.

Background Estimates of 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) occur annually in adolescent athletes participating in contact sports (Daneshvar et al., 2011). Current clinical guidelines call for interventions to include education, assessment, screening, and long term management of injury by the adolescent's primary care provider (PCP) (Giza et al., 2013). Without proper knowledge of the injury's physiological process and progression, providers are possibly increasing the risk of continued brain injury in this population (Reddy & Collins, 2009). Purpose This doctorate of nursing practice project aimed to determine if a gap existed between provider knowledge about the current guidelines for management of mTBI in adolescent athletes of Arizona. Knowledge obtained from this survey could be further used to drive practice change. Methods A quantitative needs assessments study was conducted via data collection obtained through PCP's participation in an anonymous electronic survey using the survey software Qualtrics. Survey links were sent to potential participant's email addresses throughout Yuma County, AZ. An additional survey link was posted to the Arizona Nurses Association e-newsletter. The survey consists of 28 questions divided into three categories of demographics, knowledge, and practice questions. Outcomes Survey results were limited due to only 21 providers responding to the request for participation. From this sampling, it was determined that participant's clinical knowledge and practice related to screening, assessment, long term management, and continuity of care between the ED provider and follow up care with the primary provider were not congruent with current practice guidelines.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

No description available.

Bakgrund/problemformulering: Tankar och känslor kring träning och kost bland elitidrottande ungdomar är något som tidigare undersökts i begränsad utsträckning. Därför finns det anledning att ta reda på ungdomarnas egna uppfattningar och erfarenheter inom området. Syfte: Att undersöka hur idrottsaktiva ungdomar som tränar eller tävlar på elitnivå, eller för att nå elitnivå, tänker och känner kring träning och träningsvanor samt kring kost och kostvanor. Metod och design: För denna studie användes kvalitativ metod med deskriptiv design. Data insamlades genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med fem elitidrottande ungdomar. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys tillämpades. Resultatsammanfattning: Träning var en central del i livet. Starka motivationsfaktorer var den inre drivkraften och träningskompisarna. Skador, sjukdom och andra motgångar påverkade idrottarna negativt. Idrottarna planerade sina måltider för att maximera prestationen. Medvetenheten kring kostens påverkan var hög, likaså kunskapen kring livsmedlen. Mat väckte både positiva och negativa känslor. Omgivningen visades ha betydande roll för idrottarna. Slutsats: Deltagarna i studien var motiverade, målinriktade samt medvetna om sina tränings- och kostvanor. Flera uppgav att det var svårt att lyssna på kroppen, framförallt vid skada eller sjukdom. Vidare forskning, i större skala, är nödvändigt för ökad kunskap inom området. / Background: What elite athlete adolescents think and feel about exercise and nutrition is vaguely examined, why there is reason to investigate the experiences and perceptions among these individuals. Purpose: To investigate the thoughts and feelings about exercise and nutrition among a group of elite athlete adolescents. Methods and design: A qualitative descriptive design was used for this study. Through semi-structured interviews with five elite athlete adolescents, data was obtained. A qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Exercise was central in the athletes’ lives. The biggest driving force was the motivation that came from themselves and their team-mates. Injuries, illness and other obstacles affected the athletes negatively. The athletes planned their meals to maximize the performance. The awareness of the importance of nutrition for performance was high, also the knowledge. Both positive and negative feelings were associated with food. The surroundings played an important role for the athletes. Conclusion: The participants of this study were motivated, determined and aware of their training habits and diet. It was hard to listen to the body, especially when injured or sick. More studies, in larger scale, are necessary to gain further knowledge in the field.

Family structure as a predictive variable of juvenile delinquency has been studied for the last hundred years. This relationship originated due to societal belief that divorce was detrimental to adolescents. Due to the changing societal roles in the United States, family structure has been changing. More children are growing up in non-intact families, such as single-parent households, households with stepparents, cohabitating families, and households without a parent present. To study the effect family structure has on juvenile delinquency, researchers have utilized social control theory, differential association, self-control theory and general strain theory to conceptualize variables to explain why family structure influences delinquent behavior. A review of previous literature on this topic indicates that living in intact households, which are households with two biological parents who are married, have, on average, the lowest rates of delinquency. This thesis investigates the relationship between family structure and lifetime marijuana use among eighth and tenth grade adolescents in the United States through the use of secondary data analysis of Monitoring the Future Study, 2012. The results provide support for the relationship between family structure and lifetime marijuana use.

The decision by teenagers either to consider or to attempt to commit suicide was addressed in this research. Covariance structure analysis (LISREL) techniques were used to examine the influence of four social-psychological factors (psychic disruption, delinquency, family disruption, and school problems) upon a suicidal orientation.