The purpose of these studies was to explore the roles of dietary strategies and bariatric surgery in obesity treatment. The breakfast study was a randomized, crossover trial used to evaluate the role of egg proteins, and a retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain comparative information about two different bariatric surgeries. The breakfast study included 20 subjects who were randomized to receive an egg breakfast (EB) or a cereal breakfast (CB) matched for energy density and macronutrient composition but different protein quality for one week. Following a washout period, each subject was crossed over to receive the opposite breakfast for one week. The EB resulted in lower cumulative lunchtime food intake (p=0.05), reduced hunger on day 1 (p=0.001), greater feelings of fullness on days 1 and 7 (p=0.02), and decreased desire to eat on day 1 (p=0.03). Acylated ghrelin was lower on day 1 of the EB compared to the CB (p=0.005) but not on day 7. PYY was greater at 120 minutes (p=0.006) and 180 minutes (p=0.001) on day 1 and at 180 minutes on day 7 (p=0.03) after the EB. The bariatric surgery studies examined 835 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients and 766 vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) patients. Study one focused on patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The acute effect bariatric surgery had on resolving T2D was measured by calculating the number of patients who discontinued their hypoglycemic medication use post-operatively. Upon discharge, 95 of the 123 (77.2%) RYGB patients and 107 of the 139 (77.0%) VSG patients had been taken off their medication. Eight weeks post-operatively, 30 of the 38 (~79%) RYGB patients and 59 of the 71 (83%) VSG patients with follow-up data remained off medication. Study two examined differences in weight loss, early post-operative surgical complications, and insurance coverage between RYGB and VSG patients. RYGB patients lost more weight at one and two years (p<0.001 for both). There was no significant difference in the percentage of weight loss or complications in insured versus self-pay patients. RYGB patients experienced a higher incidence of major complications than VSG patients (p<0.001).

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if there was a relationship between dietary/supplemental intake and competitive activity (swimming and gymnastics), on the bone mineral density of 18-21 year old females. Five swimmers, 4 gymnasts, and 12 control subjects were recruited from the university student body. All subjects completed a 3-day diet/supplement record, 3-day activity record, past calcium intake form, and a medical history form. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured for the whole body, L1-L4, the proximal femur and body composition by DEXA. Results indicated the control subjects reported a significantly greater percent of the RDA for energy, protein, and carbohydrate than the athletic groups. There were no differences found for bone building nutrients among the three groups. No correlations could be made between diet/supplement intake and BMD. Gymnasts initiated training at an earlier age than swimmers, and were found to be shorter and experience delayed menarche than other groups. Gymnasts had significantly greater whole body BMD than the control subjects, but not significantly greater than the swimmers. Gymnasts also had greater BMD at all sites measured, and significantly greater than the control subjects at the spine L1-L4, and femoral neck. Gymnasts had significantly greater BMD at the femoral neck and total hip than the swimmers. Though not significant, the swimmers had greater BMD at whole body, and spine L1-L4 than the control subjects. As in similar studies, the greater BMD found in the gymnasts can be attributed to their weight bearing exercise. Due to small sample size, conclusions concerning the benefit of swimming on BMD cannot be made from this study.

This study was part of a larger, longitudinal project investigating the relationships between family stress processes and children's development. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative parenting styles and children's classroom motivation as measured by child interviews and teacher perceptions. The population of this study included 281 first and third grade students and their parents in a mid-sized Southern city. Parenting styles data for this study were collected via mailed questionnaires consisting of the Primary Caregivers Practices Report (Robinson et al., 1995) and questions used to obtain demographic information. Motivation data were collected via child interviews using the Self-Report Scale of Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation in the Classroom (Harter, 1981) and the Teacher-Report Scale of Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation in the Classroom (Harter, 1981), which was given to teachers to complete. Correlation analyses were performed to determine which demographic characteristics should be used as control variables. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between parenting styles and children's classroom motivation. In general, the results of the current study did not support the researcher's expectations that the authoritative parenting style would be positively related to children's intrinsic motivation, and authoritarian and permissive parenting styles would be negatively related to children's intrinsic motivation. The results were inconclusive. As expected by the researcher, mothers' authoritative parenting was found to be positively related to first graders' mastery motivation, fathers' authoritarian parenting was found to be negatively related to first graders' mastery motivation, and mothers' permissive parenting was negatively related to teachers' perceptions of children's classroom motivation. Contrary to the researcher's expectations, fathers' authoritarian parenting was found to be positively related to third graders' mastery motivation and teachers' perceptions of children's classroom motivation.

Food security, nutritional adequacy, and anthropometrics were assessed in 30 low-income women living in rural Louisiana. For food stamp recipients, a 24-hour-diet recall was collected at the beginning (Day 1) and another at the end (Day 2) of their monthly resource cycle; for non-food stamp recipients, the first 24-hour diet recall was collected at a time that was specified by participants (Day 1) and the second was collected approximately 31/2 weeks later. Twenty-one of the 30 participants received food stamps. Ten of the 30 participants were food insecure. Of the 10 food insecure participants, seven received foods stamps. As a whole, participants were overweight. Irrespective of grouping, participants diets were similar and poor. Many participants did not consume at least 67% of the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) or Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for energy; calcium; iron; zinc; folate; and vitamins A, D, E, and C. Participants were more likely to meet at least 67% of the RDA or DRI for protein; vitamins B6 and B12; niacin; thiamin; and riboflavin. With the exception of the fats/sweets group, participants also failed in meeting the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. Between 30% and 50% of the entire population exceeded the National Cholesterol Education Program recommendations for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. The number of eating episodes and number of different foods consumed was also low. Food insecure participants had a significantly higher weight (p=0.0079), body mass index (p=0.0135), and percent body fat (p=0.0298) than food secure participants. A significant difference was found between Day 1 and Day 2 for mean differences in energy (p=0.0367), saturated fat (p=0.0178), and monounsaturated fat (p=0.0324) for food stamp recipients and non food stamp recipients. There was a significant difference between Day 1 and Day 2 in the mean number of servings of fats and sweets consumed for the entire population (p=0.0183). Participants were unable to define a balanced meal. Inadequate nutrient intake increases the risk of developing a nutrition-related disease. Nutrition education programs could benefit participants in making better food choices

This research was Wave II of a longitudinal, qualitative study designed to describe the outcomes of welfare reform legislation on rural families in Louisiana as they tried to comply with provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This particular study looked at a subset of women (n=12) from Wave II and explored two questions: (a) Whether the decline in Louisiana welfare caseloads translated into rural women finding and keeping jobs; and (b) What is the likelihood that the women employed at the time of this study will be able to sustain their work efforts and realize self-sufficiency. Human ecology, rational choice, and behavioral change theories guided this research. Whether women adapt to changed societal expectations and successfully transition from welfare dependence to self-sufficiency is dependent upon the women's micro and macro-environments and whether they can make a second-order behavioral change regarding work. Sustained second-order change requires that the women's environments must also change. One-on-one interviews were conducted with the women in their homes using a semi-structured interview approach. The data were analyzed using predictor-outcome matrices. The simple answer to whether the women had found jobs was "no," as only two (17%) of the twelve women were employed for pay. The women not employed, however, represented three distinct sets: volunteers, students, and women not engaged in any work-related activities. The volunteers and students were engaged in activities that allowed them to maintain their benefits. The second research question addressed whether the employed women would be likely to maintain their work effort and achieve self-sufficiency. This research provided evidence that these women may be likely to sustain work, but will probably not attain self-sufficiency without either altering the definition of self-sufficiency, or fundamentally restructuring the supports available to them in the socio-cultural environment. Implications for future research, policy, and programming include additional longitudinal studies on child outcomes, and policy and programming that considers the environmental factors that may assist or hinder women's transition from welfare reliance to self-sufficiency.

While positive fathers appear to be a myth in African American communities among current research, this study looks at the common factors among involved fathers in inner city neighborhoods. In a secondary analysis of interviews from happily married Black couples in inner city neighborhoods, overlapping themes emerge exploring the reasons behind positive involvement among fathers. In twenty-two interviews, both husbands and wives explain reasons for continuous father involvement in the lives of their children. Findings include a heavy reliance on faith, marital support and commitment to matrimony and value of responsibility to ones family. Future research and implications should address standards set by highly involved fathers and establish programs to help other fathers become more involved.

The present research study seeks to improve upon prior research on child social supports by using an already existing eco-map protocol to inform two interviews on child social supports. This study will help further develop an assessment for understanding child social supports and social networks. This project examines the similarities and differences between child reports of social support using: a) child interview-only protocol and b) interview-with-pictures protocol. The two main research questions include: 1) Do children report the same number of social supports using the child interview-only protocol as the interview-with-pictures protocol? and 2) Do children report the same kind of social supports (same names, same types, and same aspects of development) using the child interview-only protocol vs. the interview-with-pictures protocol? Five randomly selected 4-5 year old children participated in both interviews. The number of social supports reported using the child interview-only protocol and the interview-with-pictures protocol were counted and compared to determine if a different number of social supports were reported between interview measures. The kinds of social supports reported using the child interview-only protocol and the interview-with-pictures protocol were compared in order to determine if children reported different social supports, types of social supports, and aspects of development supported by social supports. Results indicated that childrens responses in the interview-with-pictures protocol were richer than responses in the interview-only protocol. An implication for future research includes further development of the eco-map protocol used with young children.

The content analysis of eighteenth and nineteenth century slave petitions identified slave dress terms and descriptors by type and frequency and a descriptive analysis of slave dress petitions revealed the following themes: the expense and burden attributed to clothing slaves, slave dress neglect, hiring contracts that included slave dress, the use of slave dress as a reflection of the slaveholders character, compensation for slave dress provided by an individual other than the slaveholder, the quality of slave dress, the distribution of slave dress, and slave dress terminology descriptors. The most frequent specific provision request for slave dress items consisted of two sets of clothes, a single pair of shoes and a single blanket. Descriptive terms used to modify slave dress terminology attributed positive, negative or common or usual qualities to slave dress. The slave dress petitions described the slaveholders role in dictating the type, quality and amount of clothing provided to slaves, ensuring the slaves received clothing and seeking redress for inadequate or neglected clothing provisions. The petitions revealed a very functional and property based approach held by slaveholders in regard to slave dress as a use for protecting the slave from the elements in order to preserve the value of the slave. At the societal level, the descriptions of inferior types and minimal amounts of slave dress provisions served to reinforce the slaves low social and economic status, hinder the creation of an individual slave identity through dress and undermined the humanity of slaves. The sample of slave dress petitions testified to the inadequate or neglected slave dress provisions described in slave narratives. Dress research studies describing dress in totalitarian and oppressive environments were used to draw comparisons with the slave dress experience across time and place. Use of the slave petitions in dress research drew attention to the need for modifications to existing dress theories or the development of new dress theories in order to understand the creation of identity and meanings associated with dress to individuals in oppressive environments.

The current study examined middle childhood aged Romanian childrens representations of parenting behaviors, basic negative emotions, and negative self-conscious emotions in the Narrative Story Stem Technique (NSST; Bretherton, Ridgeway, & Cassidy, 1990). More specifically, the research objectives of the study were a) to identify the frequency of the representations that were reflected in childrens narratives, b) to identify the specific stories that elicited the greatest number of representations, c) to identify possible relationships among childrens representations, their age, and amount of time that parents spend with their children, d) to identify gender differences in representations, and e) to evaluate the usefulness of the NSST to assess children's representations. Data were collected from 52 Romanian children aged between 6 and 11-years old. Assessments were made using the NSST, a parent consent form,and a general questionnaire. The findings showed that the frequency of representations was identified. The stories varied widely in their power to elicit childrens representations. Correlations among the variables of interest showed some statistically significant relationships in the expected directions. Gender differences in representations of parenting behaviors and narrative coherence were identified. At last, the findings showed that the NSST could be a useful instrument to identify and assess childrens representations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of a social psychological theoretical framework to the study of creativity in apparel design, with a focus on technological engagement and motivational factors. A sample of 32 apparel design students from two major southeastern universities were selected to complete a self-report instruments regarding motivation and technological engagement. Students completed the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (ATTA) as well as a design brief. Design illustrations were evaluated by a panel of expert judges in the field of apparel design using a consensual assessment technique (CAT). Results indicate levels of technology and internet usage and enjoyment do not relate to product output. Additionally, non-significant results indicate that previously theorized relationships between motivation and product output specific to apparel designers do not support earlier studies of literary and visual artists. Internet and technology engagement is largely based in information collection and redistribution as opposed to idea creation. This theory may explain the limited effect of internet and technology engagement on product output. While motivations across visual arts fields are key components of product output, apparel design is independent of visual arts due to its largely commercial-based enterprise. Our results support this idea and also highlight the need to create an apparel design specific theory of creativity.