The purpose of this thesis was to determine relationships among dieting behaviors, stress, weight status, and weight perceptions in college undergraduate females. Individuals who were overweight/obese reported significantly higher eating in response to emotions and stress as well as reduced ability to change a situation, manage one’s emotional reaction, or cope effectively than their underweight/normal weight peers. Also, those who were overweight/obese used significantly more total methods for weight loss. Individuals who were more likely to use food to cope also used a higher number of restraint methods of dieting as well as non-diet methods than those who were less likely to use food to cope. Perceived healthy and perceived attractive weight, as percents of current weight, were significantly lower for overweight/obese individuals than for those who were underweight/normal weight. Results from this study illustrate that weight status is associated with dieting behaviors, emotional eating, and weight perceptions. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The purpose of the study was to gather empirical data on the relationship of stress provoking aspects of the administrative role and the presence of selected risk factors in coronary heart disease.The population of the study consisted of 181 administrative persons working in the areas serviced by the East Central Indiana School Study Council and the Northeast Indiana School Study Council. The testing was done at educational workshops, away from the place of employment. The testing period extended through January, February, and March of 1976.)Four instruments were used in the study. The first, instrument, Biographical Information, was used to gather data about medical conditions for which the respondents were currently receiving treatment. The second instrument, the Stressful Situation Scale, was used to collect data about the number of stressful situations the respondents recently had experienced. The third instrument, the Perceived Occupational Stress Scale, was designed by Dr. Robert L. Kahn and his associates at the University of Michigan. The scale was used with the permission of Dr. Kahn and measured the amount of stress the administrative personnel felt. The fourth instrument, the Behavioral Risk Factor Analysis, was used to obtain data about the daily activities of the respondents that may have caused a predisposition to coronary heart disease.The analysis of variance was utilized to test the first null hypothesis that no statistically significant relationship existed between the number of stressful situations experienced and the presence of selected physiological coronary heart disease risk factors. The chi square statistic attempted to test the second null hypothesis that no statistically significant relationship existed between the number of stressful situations experienced and the presence of selected behavioral risk factors of coronary heart disease. The chi square statistic was not operational due to an insufficient spread in the cells.The following findings and conclusions were based on a review of the literature as presented in the study and the results of the analysis of data:1. The number of stressful situations experienced were statistically significant when compared with pulse rate.2. The number of stressful situations experienced were statistically significant when compared with systolic blood pressure. 3. The number of stressful situations experienced were statistically significant when compared with diastolic blood pressure.4. The number of stressful situations experienced were statistically significant when compared with perceived occupational stress. 5. The assistant superintendent group had the highest mean value for pulse rate.6. The assistant superintendent group had the highest mean value for systolic blood pressure. 7.The assistant superintendent group had the highest mean value for diastolic blood pressure.8.The assistant superintendent group had the highest mean value for perceived occupational stress.9.Principals had the greatest mean number of years in the employment category.10. Assistant superintendents had the fewest mean number of years in the employment category.11. Assistant principals had the lowest mean age of administrative personnel.12. Superintendents had the highest mean age of administrative personnel.13. Hypertension was a significant medical problem for administrative personnel in schools.14.Problems with athletic teams presented a significant problem for school administrators.15. Conflict with subordinates and superordinates presented a major problem for school administrators.16. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration had not presented major problems for school administrators.17. Few administrators in the public schools reported feeling unqualified.18. Few administrators in the public schools reported feeling hesitant or upset about having to make decisions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that there would be significant differences in selected personality traits between volunteers and nonvolunteers for a crisis intervention center, a 24-hour emergency telephone service. Volunteers for the center were required to complete a 32-hour training program to qualify for service in the center; a portion of the original volunteer population, however, did not complete the program. The final comparison, therefore, was made between the following three groups: (1) a group of volunteers who completed the required training program for a crisis intervention center, (2) a group of volunteers who did not complete the required training program for the center, and (3) a comparable group of non-volunteers.The five personality variables that were selected for measurement were ascendancy, responsibility, emotional stability, sociability, and dogmatism as measured by Gordon Personal Profile and Rokeach Dogmatism Scale. The selection of the traits was prompted by a review of literature which indicated that the traits were associated with the characteristics of effective counselors, with the intent of implementing the inevitable comparison that will be made between talents of volunteers and the requirements for effective service.A total of 179 subjects participated in the study. In order to validate comparisons that were made between volunteers and non-volunteers, the volunteer sample, the total group of persons attending the initial session of the training, was stratified into male:female and student: non-student groups before the non-volunteer population was selected. Established groups were then met by the examiner, tested, and invited to volunteer for the crisis center; data from those declining the invitation to serve were used to form the non-volunteers.Three statistical procedures were used to test the hypotheses: a one way analysis of variance, an analysis of covariance, and Scheffe's method of comparing means following a significant F test. Of the four null hypotheses, all were rejected. Review of the data led to the following conclusions:(1) Volunteers for a crisis center were more ascendant, more responsible, more emotionally stable and less dogmatic than those who chose not to volunteer.(2) Volunteers who completed the training program and volunteers who did not complete were alike on every trait except emotional stability. Completing volunteers were most stable.(3) A large part of the observed variances were accounted for by the female population. Female volunteers differed significantly from female non-volunteers on ascendancy, responsibility, emotional stability and dogmatism. Male volunteers differed from male non-volunteers only on the trait of dogmatism.(4) Volunteers for a crisis center exhibited the characteristics associated with effective counselors to a more significant degree than did the non-volunteers. These characteristics included open-mindedness, responsibility, stability, and flexibility.Implications were drawn concerning the use of volunteers in mental health programs on the basis of self-selection in conjunction with a short, intense training program. Recommendations were made for further research to determine similarities in other volunteer groups for other mental health projects, to investigate further the wide variances observed in the female population, and to more clearly define effectiveness for mental health roles.

Passive and active heat loading causes cardiovascular strain, which can have diverse and substantial effects. Thus, cardiovascular function is integral to work and heat stress tolerance, but recent hyperthermia and exercise literature has not emphasised this relationship, instead focusing on the roles of upper �critical� core temperature or rate of heat storage as primary mechanisms of fatigue. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to examine some potential causes and effects of cardiovascular strain under heat stress, including potential strategies for attenuating that strain. Body precooling before exercise increases heat storage capacity; the primary mechanism by which attenuations in thermal and cardiovascular strain, and improved work capacity is thought to occur. However, no precooling study has utilised realistic airflow in the laboratory, possibly inflating its purported benefits. Therefore, Study One examined the cardiovascular, thermal, psychophysical and ergogenic effects of precooling with and without airflow in the heat (30�C, 50% rh). Ten males completed four trials in balanced order, comprising 60- min immersion in thermoneutral (35�C) or cool (24�C) water before cycling at 95% ventilatory threshold with airflow (~4.8 m�s⁻�) or no airflow, until exhaustion. Heart rate and mean core, body, and skin temperatures were attenuated for 15 min into cycling after precooling. Endurance time was extended by 30 � 23 min with airflow, and 16 � 15 min with precooling relative to control (28 � 12 min) but not further extended with strategies combined (29 � 21 min). Precooling removed 784 � 223 kJ�m⁻� (calorimetrically); less than the effect of airflow alone (1323 � 1128 kJ�m⁻�). Competition for blood between tissues is pronounced during exercise in the heat: skin and gut have marked increases and decreases, respectively. Gut ischemia affects epithelial tight junction integrity, allowing lippopolysaccharide ingress and immune responses. Bovine colostrum may attenuate gut permeability. Study Two (double-blind, placebo controlled) investigated the effects of aerobic fitness (7 highly fit, 8 moderately fit) and bovine colostrum on physiological and perceived strain, and performance during mixed-mode exercise; cycle 15 min at 50% maximal heart rate range (HRR), run 30 min at 80% HRR then 30 min self-selected paced before another 15 min cycle at the same work-rate. Airflow was graded to running speed. During the last cycle, blood pressure, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance were lower, heart rate and skin blood flow increased, and skin temperature was unchanged compared to the first cycle. Indices of fever response (IL-1β, TNF-α) were not evident during exercise, nor were those of blood-brain barrier permeability (S100β) or cognitive impairment (Stroop test). Neither bovine colostrum, nor higher fitness modified these measures. Moving to upright posture is orthostatically stressful and can initially decrease cerebral perfusion. Compression garments are used to assist venous return; while their effectiveness is unknown, they could reduce heat or orthostatic-induced hypoperfusion. Study Three investigated the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to orthostatic stress with and without passive heating (+0.5�C). Fifteen participants completed two trials (compression v placebo garments) in balanced order. Cerebral autoregulation was assessed via 3-min stand, and via thigh cuff inflation. All participants experienced initial orthostatic hypotension upon standing in one or more trials, with 4/15 individuals experiencing presyncopal symptoms, aborting the standing protocol. In those who "fainted", reductions in blood pressure and partial pressure of end-tidal CO₂ reduced middle cerebral artery velocity. Neither training status nor compression trousers modified the responses. Collectively, cardiovascular strain to heat stress is attenuated when realistic airflow is provided. Increased cardiovascular strain does not inevitably result in clinical outcomes to heat stress. Higher fitness does not necessarily attenuate cardiovascular responses or higher tolerance to heat stress.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-97). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Sciences, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-207).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, Macarthur, Faculty of Business, 1999. / Bibliography: p. 230-312.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2006. / Supervisors: K. Behdinan, A.D. Spence. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 225-238).

Thesis (M.Sc.(Hons.))--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-230) Also available in print.