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Adults with intellectual disability (ID) have a higher rate of falls than the general population, and changing health behaviors through exercise program could enhance health and reduce falls in this population. However, the feasibility study of fall prevention based on the theoretical framework for adults with ID has not been explored to date. This study examined the feasibility of a home-based exercise intervention for people with ID living in a residential setting. We provided an 8 week intervention consisting of a training workshop for support workers and sessions for adults with ID devoted to behavior reward, education about fall prevention and exercise, and exercise training. Adults with ID (n = 33) and support workers, including caregivers (n = 3), staff (n = 8), and one administrator, participated in this study. Adults with ID significantly improved physical performance, self-efficacy for activity, fall efficacy, and support from friends and support workers. There were no significant changes in free-living PA. There was no adverse event during the intervention, and the average adherence rate was sufficient. Adults with ID, support workers, and an administrator were satisfied with the program and had the intention to continue the program. The intervention was feasible and perhaps efficacious for adults with ID living in group-homes.

Despite concerted efforts among the engineering community – educators, employers, research funders, policymakers, and engineering professionals – to increase women’s enrollment and persistence in undergraduate engineering programs, women’s underrepresentation in the engineering profession continues to persist into the twenty-first century. As a result of this trend, especially given women’s proportion of the overall U.S. population and college enrollment, the need for further investigation of the issue has been well established. While numerous studies have examined this issue, many have done so quantitatively. Therefore, it has been recommended by the engineering community that an expanded use of qualitative methods be considered to address this research gap and add to the scope and rigor in understanding factors that influence women’s choice and persistence in engineering (Koro‐Ljungberg & Douglas, 2008). The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of women in an undergraduate engineering program at a large, comprehensive research university located in the Northeast region of the U.S. to gain a better understanding of factors that help shape and influence women’s choice and persistence in engineering. Lent, Brown, and Hackett’s (1994) social cognitive career theory (SCCT) provided a guiding framework to illustrate how the participants’ educational choice behaviors were influenced by a number of variables related to their personal characteristics, experiences, and environment. To strengthen the study’s credibility member checking procedures were used to authenticate the findings and the interpretation of the participants’ experiences and triangulation methods were used to validate the findings and illustrate convergence in evidence across female student and female faculty participants’ experiences. The findings revealed several recurrent themes across the participants’ experiences that aligned with the SCCT framework, offering a unique perspective of how choice and persistence in engineering took shape for the participants in the study. Themes related to women’s choice of engineering were STEM or engineering exposure, self-efficacy in math and science, engineering outcome expectations, engineering agency beliefs, and pre-college environmental support. Themes related to women’s persistence in engineering were engineering barriers for women, women’s engineering barrier-coping strategies, and engineering environmental support. / Educational Administration

Many people experience a romantic breakup at some point in their lives, but people's reactions can vary considerably. A common way of coping with the dissolution of a romantic relationship is to seek support and opportunities to talk with close others. Although talking with social network members may prove helpful for some, the Social-Cognitive Processing (SCP) model posits that interpersonal interactions can hinder emotional recovery and adjustment if the disclosers feel the social network members are responding in a socially constraining way. As a result of perceiving social constraints, individuals may try to avoid thinking and talking about the breakup altogether, which, in turn, may interfere with the cognitive processing necessary to move forward from the breakup. The current research marked the first time the SCP model was explored with regards to the dissolution of romantic relationships, and it evaluated the utility of the SCP model in potentially explaining the variable nature of adjustment to a romantic breakup. One hundred and seventy-four eligible participants completed this online study. Participants completed various questionnaires pertaining to their previous relationship and subsequent breakup, their feelings and experiences following the romantic dissolution, their tendencies to think about the breakup, and the degree to which they discussed the relationship dissolution with others and the reactions they received during these conversations. In support of the SCP model, the results indicated that social constraints were associated with greater psychological distress. Furthermore, avoidance partially mediated the relation between social constraints and psychological distress as levels of social support decreased. This suggests that higher levels of social support might help buffer against engaging in avoidance in response to social constraints. In an initial attempt to examine whether the extent of avoidance displayed varied as a function of a dispositional variable (i.e., self-monitoring), no support was found. Future research should continue to investigate additional factors that may moderate the relation between social constraints and psychological distress through avoidance. / Psychology

Computer Science (CS) is among the fastest-growing fields. To fill the abundance of positions in Computer Science, early learning experiences should be implemented to promote interest in the field. This research aims to observe the impact of a design-based computer science treatment on 5th-grade students' interest in computer science careers. The treatment consisted of nine one-hour lessons in which the researcher introduced computer science content to students. At the end of the treatment, participants developed an application to study for a state-wide science assessment. To measure a change in students' career interests following the treatment, an adapted version of the STEM Career Interest Survey (STEM-CIS), grounded by Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), was implemented using a pre-survey-post-survey design. Qualitative data was collected using focus groups to explain quantitative findings further. The samples' post-survey (39.62) mean was greater than the pre-survey mean (37.17), but the paired t-test was just above the statical significance level of 0.05, t(28)= -2.04, p =.051. There was a statistically significant increase for the survey items that align with the SCCT aspects Interest (t(30)= -2.30, p =.028) and Contextual Support (t(30)= -2.25, p =.032). The researcher identified several themes related to a positive perception toward the treatment and computer science and general during qualitative data analysis. These findings indicate a design-based computer science treatment can increase 5th-grade students' interest in computer science careers. / Doctor of Philosophy / Learning experiences influence an individual's career development. This dissertation observes the impact of a design-based computer science project in a 5th-grade classroom. The researcher implemented a pre-survey-post-survey design to measure change following the treatment. The researcher calculated the difference between survey means and ran a matched paired t-test to determine the statistical significance. The results of the paired t-test were not statistically significant. Still, the survey items that aligned with interest and contextual support had a statistically significant increase following the treatment. Additionally, the researcher conducted focus groups to collect qualitative data to explain quantitative findings further. Content analysis of the qualitative data revealed participants had a positive perception of the treatment and computer science in general. These results imply that a design-based computer science treatment can increase 5th-grade students' interest in computer science careers.

In the U.S., diabetes mellitus cases have been increasing, from 25 million in 2010 to 29 million in 2012. Healthy People 2020, the U.S. National Health Agenda, has established specific goals and objectives for diabetes. In the U.S., prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes for adult Hispanics was 38% and 12%, respectively, in 2012. The total estimated diabetes cost in the U.S. has been increasing, from $176 billion in 2007 to $245 billion in 2012. The current study had two research hypotheses; the formative phase was expected to demonstrate a need for a community-based Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) self-management intervention for Spanish-speaking Hispanics. Random Control Trial (RTC) was expected to demonstrate the potential impact in preventing and managing T2DM. Methods. A community-based lifestyle education curriculum was translated into Spanish, and adapted to Hispanic culture. This study includes three phases: 1) a formative phase; 2) a two-group pilot RCT with Hispanic Living with Diabetes (HBLD) and a delayed treatment condition; and 3) post-HBLD focus groups held with three participating groups of HBLD. Results. Of 60 participants screened in the formative phase, 62% had A1c > 5.7%, and 75% did not have medical insurance. Of 6 participants who completed the pilot, A1c decreased for all six participants. Of 67 participants screened in phase 2, 61% had A1c > 5.7%. Of 30 HBLD participants in the RCT, baseline versus 3-month mean A1c increased 0.2 for the delayed control group (n = 10) and did not experience any change for the intervention group (n = 11). The difference in A1c change from baseline to follow up between treatment groups was not statistically significant (Kruskal Wallis, p < 0.05). Diabetes knowledge and SCT variables change from baseline to follow-up between groups were not statistically significant. Major themes identified in focus group discussions included barriers to access to health and nutrition services, the value of having a Spanish-speaking Hispanic as a health educator, and barriers to recruiting community members as promotoras. Implications. HBLD has potential to reduce complications of diabetes among Hispanic participants by providing education to those who may not otherwise have access to it. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the proportion of participants enrolled in a community-based weight loss program that would accept and use a wearable device (Fitbit) if included as part of the program. A sample of 526 newly enrolled, adult, female weight loss program participants (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) were recruited. Participants were randomized to either a Fitbit experimental condition or no-Fitbit control condition, and received emailed information on program features. The experimental condition email also included a free Fitbit offer. The full sample (n=526) was 44±12.6 years old with a BMI of 37±6.2 kg/m2. The proportion of experimental sample (n=266) that accepted and synced was 50% and 23%, respectively. Twenty-two participants in the control condition (8%) also independently obtained and synced a Fitbit. Ninety-nine percent passively declined (did not respond to request for Fitbit color and size information). Those that declined were older (46±13.4 vs. 42±11.3 years of age, p=.001) and weighed less (214±38.9lbs. vs. 231±41.3lbs., p=.01) than those who accepted. Those in the experimental sample who synced were younger (42±10.0 vs. 45±13.2 years of age, p=.012), and weighed more (237±45.2lbs. vs. 217±38.1lbs., p=.002) than those who accepted but did not sync. This thesis provides preliminary support that 23% of participants will accept and sync a free wearable device. These data can be used for decision making, combined with effectiveness and cost data, and research on wearable activity trackers and community, incentive, and web-based weight loss. / Master of Science

Sport media has been a known producer of traditional gender images that reflect inequality between sexes. Sport media has been studied endlessly, but one aspect that has not fostered as much attention is sport media, advertising, and children. Sports Illustrated for Kids is the only sport media print magazine for children, with a readership age of 8-15 years old. Images and gender stereotypes have been used continuously by advertising companies to sell products to consumers. Children in particular cannot accurately determine between content that is meant to inform and content that is meant to sell. This study examined whether editorial and advertising images in Sports Illustrated for Kids reflects actual participation rates of athletic activities based on gender in issues from the past decade. Utilizing past research, this study looked at overall numbers and stereotypes by examining factors such as state of dress, photo angle, and motion in photograph. Findings show that females are still under and misrepresented in SIK. Even so, findings of this study suggest representation of women in team neutral sport such as soccer and basketball is on the rise. Findings could have implications for SIK's young readership as well as highlight a need for more education about advertising and editorial practices being implemented. / Master of Arts / Sport media has been a known producer of traditional gender images that reflect inequality between sexes. Sport media has been studied endlessly, but one aspect that has not fostered as much attention is sport media, advertising, and children. Sports Illustrated for Kids is the only sport media print magazine for children, with a readership age of 8-15 years old. Images and gender stereotypes have been used continuously by advertising companies to sell products to consumers. Children in particular cannot accurately determine between content that is meant to inform and content that is meant to sell. This study examined whether editorial and advertising images in Sports Illustrated for Kids reflects actual participation rates of athletic activities based on gender in issues from the past decade. Utilizing past research, this study looked at overall numbers and stereotypes by examining factors such as state of dress, photo angle, and motion in photograph. Findings show that females are still under and misrepresented in SIK. Even so, findings of this study suggest representation of women in team neutral sport such as soccer and basketball is on the rise. Findings could have implications for SIK’s young readership as well highlight a need for more education about advertising and editorial practices being implemented.

The Disney Princess Brand includes 11 Disney Princess films from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to Brave (2012). The goal of this campaign is for audiences to be entertained by the narratives while encouraging identification with the princesses in the films (Do Rozario, 2004; Orenstein, 2006). Scholars have suggested possible media effects of representations and messages depicted related to gender roles (England, Descartes, and Collier-Meek, 2011) and romantic relationships (Segrin and Nabi, 2002). No studies to date have examined the potential correlation between media effects of all 11 Disney Princess films and viewers' expectations regarding romantic relationships with a theoretical background in cultivation theory, social cognitive theory, wishful identification, and uses and gratification theory. The purpose of this thesis was to explore the relationship between potential media effects due to watching Disney Princess films and expectations of romantic relationships. An online cross-sectional survey was administered to female undergraduate students enrolled at Virginia Tech (N = 110). Bivariate correlation analyses were computed to measure the data. Results did not support hypotheses related to motivations for watching Disney Princess films, cultivated ideologies due to exposure of all films, and perceived similarity to princesses in relation to idealistic beliefs of romantic relationships. Wishful identification with the princesses was significantly correlated with participants' idealistic beliefs of romantic relationships. Possible implications are that participants in late adolescence (18 - 23 years of age) wish to be like the Disney princesses and to have similar romantic relationships that are represented in the films. / Master of Arts