Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 26, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2006. / Title from title page screen, viewed on April 27, 2007. Dissertation Committee: Linda Lyman (chair), Amee Adkins, Diana Jones, Dianne Gardner. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-197) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2004. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3139154. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-39).

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

abstract: It is widely documented and accepted that athletes have difficulty maintaining adequate hydration status and that dehydration is a key risk factor for the heat-related illnesses commonly observed among athletes. Research has also suggested that hydration status can influence cognitive performance. Educational interventions focused on rehydration strategies have had minimal success reducing dehydration rates; hence, alternative interventions promoting adequate hydration status in athletes should be explored. This trial examined the efficacy of a commercial hydration mobile application (app) for reducing dehydration rates in campus athletes. Fifty-eight college students aged 18-40 y, who participated in club-level collegiate athletics were recruited from a large Southwestern university and randomized by team to one of two study arms, the Standard of Care – Education (EDU) or the hydration mobile app (APP), to determine if app technology improved hydration status as compared to traditional education messaging. Twenty-three (79%) in the EDU group and twenty (69%) in the APP group were mildly-dehydrated at baseline based on the three-day averages of hydration assessment (USG 1.010). Moreover, 31% (n=9) and 28% (n=8) of the EDU and APP groups, respectively, were dehydrated (USG 1.020). No significant differences were found between the EDU and APP groups following the intervention. Three-day average post-intervention USG testing showed 76% (n=22) and 72% (n=21) of the EDU and APP groups respectively were at best mildly-dehydrated. Additionally, 28% (n=8) and 17% (n=5) were considered dehydrated. Neither intervention improved hydration status after four weeks of treatment. Further analyses of cognitive measures were conducted by hydration assessment groups at baseline and post-intervention: hydrated (HYD) (USG < 1.020) or dehydrated (DEH) (USG 1.020). No significant differences between hydration status were found between intervention groups. Additionally, no significant improvements were seen for either group, which indicates there is still a need for a novel way to improve hydration status in this population. Multi-dimensional interventions and individualized interventions to improve hydration status in this at-risk population may be more effective. Additional research should be conducted to determine if there is any cognitive performance enhancement associated with dehydration or mild-dehydration by reassessing previous data and conducting future trials. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness 2017

No description available.

M.Phil. / This study examined the relationship between perceived and observed body image of female Comrades Marathon athletes. To address this issue, 49 female Comrades Marathon athletes (mean age = 38.4) completed the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, a standardised instrument assessing affective, cognitive, and behavioural components of appearance-related body image. Anthropometry measured body height, body weight and body fat percentage and was calculated on the basis of six skinfolds as stipulated at the Montreal Olympic Games Anthropological Project. Two groups were established and subjects were classified as underweight or normal/overweight. General findings revealed that the two groups differed only according to three variables of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, being fitness orientation (p-value = 0.005<0.05), health orientation (p-value = 0.029< 0.05) and self-classified weight (p-value < 0.0005). Discussion focuses on factors that could influence perceived and observed body image and the role that exercise and sport play in the formation of an athlete’s body image. Practical implications for sport psychologists and coaches who work with athletes are addressed.

Recent studies have shown an increasing impact of online social networks such as Twitter on sports media. The following study aims to provide insight about communication patterns of athletes during the Olympic Games 2012 in London. Drawing on literature from traditional fields such as social capital (Field 2003), the 'uses and gratifications' approach (Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch 1974), self- presentation (Goffmann 1971) and recent studies about social media in sports (Kassing and Sanderson 2012), a Twitter-analysis of ten athletes was conducted during the Olympic Games 2012 in London. Following a content analysis of 1042 tweets (including 246 pictures), the research findings of this study reveal that athletes predominantly use Twitter as a platform for self- presentation. Furthermore, the analysis showed the possibility for fans to use Twitter in order to overcome the parasocial orbit (Kassing and Sanderson 2012) of virtual space and engage in actual social interaction with athletes. It is concluded that linkages of athletes with various stakeholders and the official framework of social media guidelines by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), result in self- restricting communication patterns of the athletes during the Olympic Games 2012.

To determine whether running imposes an additional iron cost on the female athlete, the response to an identical iron supplementation regime (200 mg elemental iron/day for 12-13.5 weeks) was assessed in two groups of iron deficient females classified as either runners (n=11) or non-runners (n=11). Criteria for selection was iron deficiency (serum ferritin ≤ 20 ng/ml) with an absence of anaemia (haemoglobin ≥12 g/dl). The response to therapy was evaluated on the basis of changes in serum ferritin and haemoglobin levels. Dietary intakes, physical activity and menstruation were monitored by all subjects. Runners averaged 32±8 miles running/week while the non-runners remained relatively sedentary during the supplementation period. Menstrual losses were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in absorbable iron intake between the groups (p=0.10) and intakes ranged from 0.4-2.6 mg absorbable iron /day. Inadequate iron intakes were clearly demonstrated in 62% of the dietary records. As expected, there was a significant improvement in iron status over the period of oral iron therapy. Although the average overall change in serum ferritin for non-runners was 37.1 ng/ml compared to 26.6 ng/ml for the runners, this was not statistically significant (p=0.29) due to the very large interindividual variability in the change scores. Similarly, there was no significant difference in haemoglobin between the groups when averaged over time (p=0.81) and runners and non-runners demonstrated a similar pattern of change in haemoglobin over the course of supplementation. Regardless of their athletic practices, all females in their reproductive years appear to be at high risk of iron deficiency, primarily due to inadequate nutrition. Regular blood donation was also recognized as a potential contributing factor to the observed iron deficiency in these females, particularly in the non-runners. Because iron deficiency is undesirable for optimal health and well-being, recognition and prevention is highly recommended. Regular monitoring of iron status is particularly important in high performance athletes since a minor deficiency can potentially hinder peak performance and/or lead to the development of anaemia. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate