Browsing by Author "Garcia, Jeanette M."

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    Adolescent weight and health behaviors and their associations with individual, social, and parental factors
    (Human Kinetics, 2018) Baker, Kayla M.; Healy, Sean; Rice, David J.; Garcia, Jeanette M.
    Background: To examine the associations and differences between gender and weight classification for physical activity (PA) and individual, social, and parental factors. Methods: Data from wave 2 of the "Growing up in Ireland" national study were used, resulting in a sample of 7525 13-year-old adolescents. Information on factors affecting adolescents' social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development was collected. Results: Overweight (OW) adolescents were more likely to exercise and restrict food for weight loss and less likely to perform moderate to vigorous PA than normal weight adolescents. Parent body mass index was associated with adolescent body mass index for OW and normal weight adolescents, with the strongest association seen with OW females. Parents of OW adolescents considered themselves to be more OW and less physically active than parents of normal weight adolescents. Furthermore, for all groups, a greater amount of moderate to vigorous PA was associated with less television viewing, greater PA of parents, and a greater number of friends. Conclusion: Parental health behaviors play a significant role in adolescents' bodyweight, representing the necessity for more constructive health behaviors and PA among parents. Future interventions may be strengthened by focusing specifically on gender and body mass index, while taking into consideration the importance of parental behaviors on adolescents. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
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    The impact of health education on physical activity correlates in college students.
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021-01-24) Maldari, Monica M.; Garcia, Jeanette M.; Rice, David J.
    Abstract Objective To examine the effects of a 15-week, conceptually based university health/wellness course on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels, psychosocial factors, and health-related fitness knowledge (HRFK). Participants: 125 undergraduates enrolled during spring 2016 semester. Methods: Participants completed pre- and post-course surveys with questions on MVPA levels, exercise self-efficacy (SE), exercise motivation, and HRFK. Wilcoxon rank sum tests examined changes in SE, motivation, and HFRK. A multiple regression analysis examined associations among HRFK, psychosocial factors, and MVPA. Results: HRFK and MVPA increased from baseline to post-course assessment (p<.01). An increase in SE was associated with an increase in MVPA (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Enrollment in a conceptually based health/wellness course may increase MVPA and HRFK in college students. Although the increase in SE post-course was not significant, it was associated with an increase in MVPA. These results support adoption of health/wellness programming to attenuate decreases in MVPA typically observed in college students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
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    Implementation Fidelity of a Mindfulness-Based Yoga Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Families: a Pilot Study
    (Springer International Publishing, 2019) Garcia, Jeanette M.; Baker, Kayla; Diaz, Morgan R.; Tucker, Jennifer E.; Kelchner, Viki P.; Rice, David J. (Florida Southern College Student)
    Families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may benefit from mindfulness-based interventions; however, few studies have examined such programs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate the implementation fidelity of a mindfulness-based yoga program for children with ASD and their families. Eight children and their families participated in separate, concurrent yoga sessions of identical curriculum. Implementation fidelity was assessed through observations and participant/instructor interviews. The study showed a high degree of implementation fidelity with standardized curriculum instruction, positive responsiveness from participants, and unique aspects of program differentiation. Results indicate that a mindfulness-based yoga program, providing separate sessions for both children and their families, may be especially beneficial to the entire family and enhance family relationships.
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    Psychosocial and friend influences on objective sedentary behavior and screen time: A mixed methods analysis
    (Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc., 2017-03) Garcia, Jeanette M.; Agaronov, Alen; Sirard, John R.; Whaley, Diane; Rice, David J. (Florida Southern College Student); Weltman, Arthur
    Sedentary behavior (SB) increases throughout adolescence, and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Purpose: Examine psychosocial and friend influences on SB and screen time in adolescents using a mixed-methods design. Methods: 108 middle and high school students wore accelerometers to measure objective SB, completed screen time and psychosocial questionnaires, and nominated friends to complete activity questionnaires. Focus groups centered around influences on SB behavior. Regression analyses and NVivo software analyzed quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Screen time was associated with greater screen time enjoyment, lower self-efficacy, and friends' screen time (r² = .21, P < .0001). Friends influenced whether adolescents engaged in screen time behaviors, with active friends encouraging less screen time. Conclusion: Active friends influenced adolescents to engage in less SB. Interventions should place an emphasis on encouraging less screen time, and providing opportunities for adolescents and their friends to engage in activities that promote physical activity rather than SB. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
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    The association among demographic factors, health behaviors and sleep quality in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder
    (Elsevier Inc., 2020-07) Garcia, Jeanette M.; Leahy, Nicholas; Rivera, Paola; Brazendale, Keith; Rice, David J.
    Background A majority of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have disrupted sleep patterns, but there has been limited research examining factors associated with sleep in this population. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare demographic and lifestyle behaviors with sleep quality in youth with ASD. Methods: A total of 49 children (12.44 years; 78% male) with ASD wore the Actigraph GT9X accelerometer over seven days and nights to assess moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), total sleep duration, and sleep efficiency. Parents reported their child’s weekly amount of screen time and demographic information. Participants were classified according to whether they met sleep criteria for duration and efficiency (8–9 h of sleep duration and ≥85% sleep efficiency). T-tests and ANOVA were used to compare demographic and lifestyle factors between the groups. Results: Participants who meet both sleep duration and efficiency criteria had greater minutes of MVPA per day (113.65 min/day) than participants who only met sleep efficiency criteria (40.27 min/day) and participants who did not meet either sleep criteria (67.5 min/day; p < 0.0001). Additionally, participants who met both sleep criteria had fewer minutes of SB compared to those who only met sleep efficiency criteria (384.79 vs 526.05 min/day; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Youth who had indicators of good sleep quality had greater amounts of MVPA and lower amounts of SB. Studies should further examine the relationship between sleep and health behaviors in youth with ASD to determine causal mechanisms, leading to more effective sleep interventions.
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    The individual, social, and environmental correlates of physical activity and screen time in irish children: Growing up in ireland study
    (Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc., 2016-12) Garcia, Jeanette M.; Healy, Sean; Rice, David J.
    The aim of this study was to use a social-ecological approach to examine the influence of individual, social, and environmental factors on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen-time in a sample of 9-year-old children in Ireland. Methods: The sample was 1509 boys and girls from the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) national study. MVPA, screen time, and individual, social, and environmental variables were assessed via questionnaires completed by children, their parents, and their teachers. Multiple regression was used to identify factors that correlated with children's MVPA and screen-time levels. Results: For boys, factors such as activity with friends (P < .0001) and popularity (P < .01) were associated with MVPA, while factors such as BMI (P < .01) and MVPA (P < .01) were associated with screen time. Similarly for girls, factors such as activity with friends (P < .0001) and sociability were associated with MVPA, however factors such as BMI (P < .05), and access to play space (P < .05) were more closely associated with screen time. Conclusion: Social factors were more closely associated with MVPA, while individual factors were significantly correlated with screen time for both boys and girls. Correlates differed for boys and girls, suggesting that interventions should consider both the target population as well as the activity behavior. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR