Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on August 5, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-87).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2004. / Title from title page screen, viewed November 17, 2005. Dissertation Committee: Robert L. Fisher (chair), Marilyn Moore, Marilyn Morey, Deborah B. Gentry. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-140) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-171). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42).

The U.S. toxic food environment has impacted the increased rates of childhood obesity and disordered eating patterns (Battle & Brownell, 1996), and prevention efforts are beginning to take an ecological approach to addressing these weight-based problems. Researchers have begun to discuss the importance of starting prevention efforts during infancy and early childhood (Flynn et al., 2006; Olstad & McCargar, 2008). Caregivers and parents have the most impact on child eating and activity levels during early development, but there is scarce research on ways to engage parents in programming. The present study used a qualitative design to investigate parents' experiences receiving, making meaning of, and applying sociocultural messages about children's health and nutrition. Individual interviews were conducted with parents from 16 very low-income Early Head Start families. Interview transcripts, field notes, documentary evidence, and follow-up participant checks were used during grounded theory analysis of the data (Corbin & Strauss, 2008). A theoretical model of parental movement toward action was developed that included (a) the culture and context influencing parents, (b) parents' sources of social and cultural messages, (c) parental attitude and engagement, (d) parental motivation for action, (e) intervening conditions impacting motivation and application, and (f) parent action taken on the individual and social levels. The categories and subcategories of the model are illustrated by narrative data. Implications for research, parent engagement, and prevention programming for weight-related problems in young children are discussed.

In the present study we examined parent participation in an extrafamilial context (Head Start) and the liunily and child development conditions that predicted such participation. Participants included 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds and their pa rents in the Northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho areas. The families were grouped according to the ch il d's previous Head Start ex peri ence: those who had received home-based services in year one followed by center-based services in the second year ( l-IB to CB); those who had received no services in year one and home-based services in year two (HB only); and those families who had recei ved no services in year one and cente r-based services in year two (CB only). Pa rent involvement was measured using the Family Involvement Questionnaire {FIQ) which measured parent involvement according to three ll1c tnrs: home-based involvement (II Bl), school-based involvement (SBJ), and home-school confcrcncing (1-lSC). The chil dren's development assessments included the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Fmotional Scale (ASQ:SE) and the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning-Third Edition (DIAL 3). Through using the FIQ, this study investigated the predictors of the type and quantity of parental involvement using class grouping (l-IB to CB, l-IB only, & CB only), family demographics. and children's ASQ:SE, and DIAL 3 scores as independent variables. Our study revealed that even though the class grouping had no significant relation to parent involvement, there were a few independent variables that were beneficial in predicting parents' involvement. The most signi ficant finding was that the chi ld 's ASQ:SE score could be used to help predict the variance in both home-based involvement and school-based involvement acti vit ies. This study found that the higher the number of the ASQ:SE score, the parents were less likely to participate in home-based and school-based activities. Other interesting findings included that as the number or children increased, the amount of home-based parent involvement decreased. In addition to this, we found that if the parents were European-American and married, they were more likely to report being involved in home-school conferencing activities.

Cross-sectional and geographical data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics were combined with school-district level data from the Census Bureau’s F-33 Survey of Local Government. Use of this unique dataset, allows for the examination of the longterm effects of preschool participation while controlling for the quality of schooling encountered post-program. Former Head Start participants report better health status than individuals with no preschool experience or experience in preschools other than Head Start. Individuals who attended these other preschools outperformed the Head Start group when it came to high school graduation and overall educational attainment. No differences were detected in regard to the groups’ employment status and income. School quality did not appear to be a strong determinant of future success. Neither did it appear to explain the fadeout effect found in many other studies. Long-term effects did not vary much by Head Start region indicating that program quality is of similar quality across the nation. Some differences in benefits were found between rural and urban programs. Respondents who attended Head Start in urban and suburban areas report better health status than their rural peers. Individuals from rural areas were more likely to graduate from high school and have higher incomes than people from urban areas. Intergenerational benefits were also examined. Children whose mothers attended Head Start as a child are more likely to be eligible for the program than children whose mothers had no preschool experience. Among the eligible population, children of Head Start mothers are statistically more likely to actually attend the program than children whose mother did not attend Head Start.

No description available.