Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Health and Physical Education syllabus'

I och med den nya läroplanen för det obligatoriska skolväsendet, Lpo 94, breddades idrottsämnet och ämnet bytte namn från idrott till idrott och hälsa. Då hälsa är ett komplext och svårdefinierat begrepp var syftet med studien att undersöka tolkningsutrymmet vad gäller hälsa i kursplanen för idrott och hälsa. Studien inkluderade två olika undersökningar varav den ena avsåg en textanalys av samtliga läroplaner för grundskolan med inkluderande kursplaner för idrottsämnet. Detta för att belysa hur hälsosynen och tolkningsutrymmet har utvecklats över tid. Textanalysen kompletterades sedan med intervjuer av fyra behöriga idrottslärare för grundskolan i en kommun för att få inblick i hur yrkesverksamma tolkar hälsa utifrån kursplanen. Resultatet av båda undersökningarna visade att tolkningsutrymmet är stort och intervjuerna visade även att idrottslärarna önskade bättre metodiska anvisningar för kursmålen. Samtliga idrottslärare uppgav att hälsa är att må bra, men åsikterna om hur detta välmående skulle uppnås skilde sig.

Public health institutions and popular media frequently frame weight loss and weight control as primary benefits of physical activity. This exploratory, descriptive study examined how respondents rated statements exemplifying three physical activity frames: a weight control frame, a medical frame, and an active embodiment frame. An anonymous, online survey was conducted in March 2018; respondents rated frame statements in terms of inspiring motivation to engage in physical activity, and in terms of perceived credibility. They also provided anthropometric data and physical activity data. Data were analyzed for the entire sample as well as stratified by multiple variables, including body mass index, waist circumference, age, and physical activity levels.

Overall, the weight control frame was rated the lowest in terms of motivation, and rated moderately in terms of credibility. The active embodiment frame was highly rated in terms of motivation, but did not rate highly in terms of credibility. The medical frame was rated most credible overall, while achieving moderate motivation ratings. A “credibility/motivation gap” was identified when frames were rated highly on one scale (credibility or motivation), but not the other. These findings have implications for how physical activity is framed in public health messaging, and suggest that, as no single frame dominated both the motivation and credibility ratings, a multi-frame approach may have greater success in motivating people to engage physical activity than does the current, weight-control dominant approach.

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the effects of teaching a mindfulness curriculum to graduate physical therapy (PT) students in the classroom. The researcher investigated two research questions. How does training PT graduate students in mindfulness strategies affect self-regulation, stress management, and trait mindfulness in personal and professional life immediately following training and 8 weeks posttraining?, and What is the experience of PT students being trained in mindfulness in personal and professional life related to self-regulation, stress and trait mindfulness? This was a mixed methods, comparison and intervention study design conducted with N=32 graduate PT students, who were divided into intervention and comparison groups. The intervention group received a mindfulness curriculum over a 6 week period. Pre and posttests (immediately and 8 weeks after) were given to both groups with Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Motivational Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Qualitative interviews were done immediately after experiment. Statistical analysis using two-way MANOVA revealed statistically significant findings across time for the PSS and FFMQ, an interaction between time and group for the MSLQ, PSS, and FFMQ, and group across time for the PSS. Qualitative analysis showed Prior Experience, Perception, Mindfulness Tools, Challenges, Stress Management, Self-Regulation, Continued Application, and Feedback on Course as categories, each containing subcategories and themes. Incorporating mindfulness into PT education was shown to increase self-regulation, decrease student stress, and increase trait mindfulness.

Childhood obesity is a worldwide problem that can lead to adverse health conditions. In several rural Pennsylvania communities, over one third of elementary students are characterized as overweight, having a body mass index above the 85^th percentile. The purpose of the study was to investigate educational stakeholders' perspectives about school-based obesity-prevention programs. The conceptual framework focused on cognitive theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the trans-theoretical model of health behavior change, which postulates that an individual's readiness to change is the most important factor of intervention programs. Qualitative interview data were gathered from 18 educational stakeholders. Inductive code-based analysis led to categories and themes. Key findings revealed a variety of barriers that limited and prevented effective student-wellness initiatives: students' physical activity; family dynamics, schedules, and socioeconomic factors; lack of transportation limiting children's participation in physical activities; parental engagement and input on obesity-prevention initiatives; and cafeteria environment and meal offerings. Findings informed the development of a policy recommendation for a research-based nutrition education program for schools and a strategy to communicate students' cafeteria habits to parents. Recommendations include a heightened awareness on factors contributing to obesity, as well as better educator-led planning to make improvements to school-based programs. Implications for positive social change may be the potential to increase awareness of healthy behaviors and improved student health through obesity-prevention methods, exercise patterns, and dietary habits of youth. These healthy habits may reduce adverse health effects in adulthood, which could hold the potential to improve the health of the next generation.

The purpose of this study was to determine if any relationship exists between low socioeconomic status (SES) and poor physical health. Thirty (n = 30) participants ages 11 and 12 were chosen for this study. Fifteen participants (n = 15) were from the high SES group and fifteen participants (n = 15) were from the low SES group. Each student underwent a battery of tests that were conducted using TriFit 700. TriFit 700 is an interactive software that allows students to perform different physical tests for which they were assigned a score. The 4 different tests were the bicep curl test (strength), sit-and-reach test (flexibility), body composition assessment (body fat percent), and 1 mile walk/run test (cardiovascular assessment). After completion of these tests, each student was also assigned an overall health score. A MANOVA test was run to determine how the participants in the low SES category and the high SES category compared in each of the areas tested. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the strength category, the flexibility category, percentage of body fat category or the overall health score. This study did find, however, that a statistical significance exists between the two groups in the VO2 max category. The higher SES group outperformed the low SES group at p < .0083.

Inclusion of students with diverse identities and addressing all forms of discrimination are critical for institutes of higher education. While progress has been made to create welcoming environments for many social groups, one has been largely ignored. Fat* students are at risk for facing weight-based discrimination with possibly detrimental effects to their physical health, mental health, and academic success. Given that there are no legal protections against weight-based discrimination, and a general acceptability of weight bias, fat students are possibly marginalized and left to cope on their own.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore gender and racial differences in experiencing weight-based discrimination, and examine the relationships between weight-based discrimination, self-esteem, internalized weight bias, physical health, mental health, and academic achievement. An online survey was completed by 502 students from a large public university in Southern California. The findings revealed that female college students reported experiencing significantly more weight-based discrimination than male college students. Weight-based discrimination significantly predicted lower levels of physical health and mental health. Furthermore, internalized weight bias and self-esteem were found to be significant mediators of the effect of weight-based discrimination on physical health and mental health. The results of this study provide a better understanding of the physical and psychosocial effects of weight-based discrimination of college students. Recommendations are made for the development of size inclusive policies and practices, inclusion of fat pedagogy, and a weight-neutral approach to college health so that students of all sizes may persist and successfully complete their higher educational journeys. *The term “fat” is used in a neutral, non-judgmental sense.

In order to practice physical therapy, physical therapist assistants (PTAs) must graduate from an accredited academic program and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA-NPTE). The primary objective of academic programs is to prepare students to successfully complete these two milestones to become competent, entry-level practitioners. The ability of an academic program to achieve this goal begins with the admission of students most likely to complete the academic training and pass the PTA-NPTE. Although previous research has examined the relationships between certain programmatic and PTA student characteristics and the PTA-NPTE, research had yet to explore the relationships between admission processes and criteria and student achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the existence of a relationship between the admission processes and criteria used by PTA programs and student achievement. An online survey was used to gather data from a convenience sample of 85 PTA program directors across the United States. Data collected included the process and criteria used to admit students into the technical phase of training from 2008 through 2010 and the corresponding student achievement outcomes. Statistically significant differences were identified between selective admission and open enrollment programs for both completion rates and PTA-NPTE pass rates. With regard to completion rates, statistically significant differences were identified between schools that considered completion of prior college credit and experience in the field of physical therapy during the admission process and those programs that did not. No statistically significant differences were revealed in PTA-NPTE pass rates based on the admission criteria examined. The study concluded that PTA programs that use a selective admission process would have higher completion and PTA-NPTE pass rates than those that use an open enrollment process. Within the selective admission process, consideration should be given to completion of prior college credits as well as experience in the field of physical therapy. Despite these findings, further research is needed to clearly identify the specific admission criteria correlated to both student achievement outcomes.