Follow

• 

  A Comprehensive Literature Review of Sugar Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Latin America

  Katherine Bardine

  Over many decades Latin America has been experiencing a shift in dietary habits, due in part to an overconsumption of sugary, processed foods- as well as an increase in sugar sweetened beverage consumption. Many sugar sweetened beverage companies have extensive marketing campaigns in this region therefore promoting increases in intake. This increase in intake is contributing to negative health outcomes including type 2 diabetes and decaying oral health. A comprehensive literature review was completed to examine the various marketing strategies used by sugar sweetened beverage companies to promote intake as well as the political tactics used to deter consumption. The purpose of the review was to provide a foundation for future research related to determining interventions to deter sugar sweetened beverage intake in Latin America.

• 

  A Part of Me: The Value Division I Student-Athletes Place on Their Student-Athlete Identities and its Implications for Transition Out of Sport

  Alyson McAdams

  Division I collegiate student-athletes often struggle with transitioning out of sport due to the value and salience placed on their student-athlete identities. This study was approached using a constructivist worldview and narrative methodology in which the data relied on the student-athlete participants sharing their views and experiences. Four male and four female Division I collegiate student-athletes within their final year of athletic participation at the University of Dayton partook in a qualitative focus group about their student-athlete identities. The findings reflect that anticipating the end of a collegiate athletic career allows student-athletes to begin to understand who they are outside of their sport despite their current priorities and responsibilities revolving around their sport. While the thought of transitioning out of sport is overall very sad, scary, and uncertain, the findings reflected that the transferable skills and lessons gained from a Division I collegiate student-athlete experience will benefit their future careers and ability to positively impact others. Implications for practice involves intentionally encouraging student-athletes to discover their interests and sense of self outside of their sport in order to make the transition out of being a student-athlete easier and more manageable.

• 

  Can College Dining Halls meet Students Nutritional Needs Compared to Student Housing Cooking?

  Amelia Sivore, Allison Muntz, Molly Klimo, Jacqueline Roberts, Brett Heininger, Madeline Reyes

  Nutrition for college students is an extremely important topic and this particular population is notoriously known for their poor diet and high stress. During this time, many college students will develop poor eating habits as a result of poor time management and continue to utilize these poor habits throughout all of college and even after. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional level of students living on the University of Dayton campus. Researchers worked to see whether or not participants nutritional intake while eating food provided on campus or made in their home on campus met their nutritional needs. Using a cross-sectional research model, students from the University of Dayton were recruited via text and email. The participants were provided a survey to better understand their undergraduate grade level, what they ate the past 2 days, and how they got their food (home cooked, dining hall, eating out, etc.).

• 

  College Recreation: Club Sport Develops Skills in Leadership

  Mia Parise

  Leadership is something which appears in every aspect of our lives whether we realize it or not. Everyone has been part of a team in some way. The way we elect or see leaders is often assumed or a controversial topic. The program proposed will analyze existing leadership training programs focused on club sports that already exist and further discuss how they can be improved and implemented in the future. It will allow young adults to learn how to formally define a leader in order to set their organization up for success. This program needs to be included at this event to inform club sports participants and professionals on how to properly train the leaders of tomorrow.

• 

  Community Health- The North Dayton Area

  India Richardson, Ashton Hanna, Katerina Von Fahnestock

  In a conducted windshield survey for the north downtown Dayton area, many safety issues have been identified. Our defined problem is “Safety Hazards for Children as evidenced by a lack of safety measures to the north downtown Dayton area such as glass and trash on the streets and sidewalks, lack of protection barriers (for example fencing around schools), and ineffective zoning for those who attend or are near the middle school.” There are a lack of safety measures and resources available to the community that reside in the north downtown Dayton area as we surveyed this area and took note that it is unsanitary and unsafe for residents to walk, and not safe for children at all. There is also a lack of protection barriers and ineffective zoning for children who attend nearby middle school as there is minimal outdoor space including only a parking lot, and no green space for children to run and play, as well as no fencing around the school perimeter. The school is surrounded by north downtown Dayton streets which are very close to the sidewalks that surround the school. Children walking near the school are at risk for being hit by cars, falling off the uneven pavement, or tripping into the street from the trash that is on the sidewalks. A care plan to reduce the amount of safety concerns surrounding our community was created. Some of the interventions created include the creation of fencing around school areas for an additional safety barrier for the children who attend the school, fixing pavements, volunteer trash collection, properly marked construction zones, and the creation of fences and green spaces in the North Dayton area.

• 

  Community nutrition assessment, intervention and evaluation: Engaging with various community partners in Harrison Township

  Amelia Deerwester, Emma Klinger, Anna Madachy, Madeline Dodenhoff, Khala Powell, Maria Vilsack, Nicole Palmieri, Meghan McCabe, Erin Prendergast, Lori Rakes, Anna White, Sarah McDonnell, Anna Carragher, Ian McDonald, Travis Manring, Jenna Brus, Katherine Borst, Matthew Stubenfoll, Kassidy McGlone, Caitlin Sheehan, Brooklynn Kaylor-Owens, Benjamin Russell Ronald Jones

  Five group of students in the community nutrition course engaged with three community partners within or near Harrison Township: Northridge Schools, the Wesley Center and New City Church. Each group completed a community nutrition needs assessment to identify a nutrition problem within the target population and assets within the community. Secondly, they developed and implemented a nutrition intervention to address the identified problem. Lastly, they evaluated the intervention using process, impact and outcome-based measures. For this presentation, each group will present their findings and discuss the development and implementation of the nutrition intervention.

• 

  Comparing Amount of Mechanical Work and Metabolic Cost between Two Kettlebell Swing Protocols

  Daniel Vencel

  The kettlebell swing has been touted as having both cardiovascular-driven metabolic and strength benefits which several studies have investigated. However, to the authors’ knowledge, none have researched the work economy of the exercise by capturing both mechanical work and metabolic cost. Here, we implement a commonly studied kettlebell swing protocol consisting of short intervals of 20 reps and 30 seconds of rest and compare it to longer intervals of 60 reps followed by 90 seconds of rest. Work-rest ratio was 1:1 for both protocols based on a consistent cadence (short: 36.75 ± 2.12 vs. long: 37.08 ± 1.66 reps/min). Total volume was the same. A group of 6 young adults, familiar with the kettlebell swing, performed both protocols separated by 20 minutes of rest. To calculate total mechanical work performed (J/kg), we used the Noraxon motion capture system. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and other metabolic variables were captured using a metabolic cart (Parvo). We hypothesized that longer intervals might challenge form due to muscle fatigue, thereby changing economy despite matched work-rest ratios and total volume. Contrary to our hypothesis, there is no statistical significance in total mechanical work (short: 1043 ± 261 J/kg vs long: 1159 ± 334 J/kg, paired t-test: p = 0.49) between the two protocols. Similarly, total VO2 (short: 121 ± 14 vs long: 126 ± 15 vs long: mL/kg; paired t-test: p = 0.62) was not significantly different and the total work economy, total VO2 divided by total work, was also not significantly different (short: 0.122 ± 0.031 ml/J vs long: 0.118 ± 0.043 ml/J; paired t-test: p = 0.34). These findings suggest protocols of the same work-rest ratios for the kettlebell swing elicit similar work even with different duration intervals.

• 

  Creative Care: The Impact of Art Education on Elementary Students

  Reagan Finley

  Art exists in all corners of the world and takes many forms including music, drawing, painting, dancing, and singing. This literature review focuses on the impacts of art integration in elementary classrooms. Analysis of this topic is informed by a selection of studies, responses, and opinions from elementary classrooms across The United States.

• 

  Critical Race Theory in the Classroom

  Joseph Husting

  Critical Race Theory (CRT) can be broadly defined as a sociocultural framework most often utilized in higher educational institutions that strive to recognize societal structures that promote and reinforce systemic racism in the United States with the goal of reworking said structures. In recent years, there has been a large amount of misinformation spread on CRT, primarily that CRT is harmful to a school child’s development and self-esteem. This project aims to examine what CRT actually looks like in the classroom, why it is important for learning, and how/why interest groups are looking to ban it.

• 

  Dietary Patterns and Cardiac Risk in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

  Jamie Anne Mortimer, Margaret Scott, Katelyn McCann, Matthew Gehl, Erin Kunselman

  There is a multitude of research within the middle age and older adult population and their increased risk of cardiovascular disease that tends to increase with age. The purpose of this study is to find out how diet can affect the risk of developing cardiac disease in young adults specifically ages 18-25. This study was designed to compare the diets of young adults in the United States, specifically here on the University of Dayton's campus, to see how it affects risk factors for developing cardiac disease in the present as well as in the future.

• 

  Does being a College Athlete have an Increased Effect on Mental Health Compared to Non-College Athletes?

  Spencer Valentine, Nicolette Papavasiliou, Emily Jeffers, Hannah Steinbrunner, Olivia Witman, Christian Joya

  The goal of our research project was to determine if there is a difference between the mental health status of college athletes compared to non-athletes here at the University of Dayton. There are certain stressors that come with being an athlete that may not affect non-athlete college-aged students. This research was conducted to find out what those stressors are and if they negatively impact the mental health of athletes.

• 

  Eating Disorders in Schools: Risk Factors, Performance and Teacher Influence

  Ava Franke

  Disordered eating and the impacts of these behaviors are experienced in every environment for adolescents. School environments and teachers are two factors in how students experience disordered eating, body-based mistreatment, and support. Strong student-teacher relationships are associated with better adolescent mental health and academic performance. This project looks at how teachers prevent weight based victimization, identify unhealthy eating behaviors, and make their classroom feel safe and inclusive to students.

• 

  Effect of Arch Height on Dynamic Balance and Neuromuscular Control in Young Adults

  Kaela Offstein

  The foot, functioning as a lever to support our body weight during movement, can present with structural differences like a smaller arch height resulting in pes planus or flat feet, or a higher arch height which is called pes cavus. Commonly, arch height develops with age, as infants are born with flat feet and, as they grow, their arches develop until the ages of 10-13 years. Dysfunction in the foot from abnormal arches has been shown to impact foot function and ankle stabilization, which can influence sports performance and injury risk. Dynamic balance is an important aspect of many different types of sports, and can be an indicator of good performance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of different arch heights on dynamic balance and muscle activation, so that informed interventions can be implemented to improve performance. This study looked at 15 healthy young adults between the ages 23-25 years. We evaluated arch height index (AHI) by scanning the volume of their foot in a single leg stance of their dominant leg. Participants then performed three trials of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) to evaluate dynamic balance. A motion capture system was used to obtain reach distance, center of pressure sway on a force plate and muscle activation of muscles of the thigh and shank. This study aims to conclude how dynamic balance is impacted by arch height looking at correlations between arch height and each of the variables. Our results will demonstrate how different muscles might activate across different arch heights. Practitioners might then implement exercises to target specific muscles that are under or over utilized.

• 

  Evaluating Premenstrual Hedonic Eating Patterns in College-Aged Females

  Nicole Palmieri

  Women in college are more susceptible to weight gain, due to a myriad of factors. Specifically women in college, who experience a menstrual cycle, encounter hedonic eating patterns, or an urge for hyperpalatable foods. Hormones associated with the menstrual cycle, in the digestive system, and neurohormones are known to influence food-seeking behaviors. Both homeostatic mechanisms and the endocannabinoid system have a role in hunger and satiety. There is a known correlation between the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle with hedonic eating patterns. However, there is a lack of nutrition education interventions that seek to strategize ways to mitigate these cravings. Mindfulness is a known strategy to help cope with hedonic eating behaviors, but the association and application to a woman’s menstrual cycle is not well researched. This study seeks to affirm the correlation between women in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle with higher frequency and intensity of food cravings, as well as the presence, or lack thereof, with mindful eating skills. This is a part of a larger study to be completed next year, which will take this study’s protocol and results to make necessary adjustments. This will then be followed with an educational intervention of mindfulness to help mitigate hedonic eating behavior, with the same structured post-survey to assess improvements in mindfulness surrounding the eating experience throughout one’s menstrual cycle.

• 

  Evaluation of Potential Risk Factors for Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease

  Gabriel Janus

  Osgood Schlatter’s Disease (OSD) is a condition of inflammation of the patellar tendon and tibial tuberosity that can lead to pain and discomfort. It is most common in adolescents aged 8-15 years who are physically active or participate in sports. Adolescents participating in sports and going through puberty struggle to handle the load put on their lower body. The few studies that have determined OSD risk factors have performed retrospective studies that consist of subjects who have already been diagnosed with OSD. Some of the commonly accepted risk factors are overuse, performing movements such as jumping or cutting, and an improper balance of strength and flexibility of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles. The quadriceps and hamstring muscles work in tandem to flex and extend the knee, which places stress on the patellar tendon. This study aims to evaluate the stress that certain soccer related movements place on the patellar tendon of children between ages 7 and 12 years old and if flexibility and muscle strength impacts that stress. Investigating how patellar tendon load is affected by certain soccer related movements and the flexibility and strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings will help to determine risk factors. Determining certain risk factors will inform pre-adolescents and adolescents of specific physical activity related precautions.

• 

  Examining University of Dayton Students' Lifestyle Choices to Assess Risk for Potential Type Two Diabetes Diagnoses

  Lily Taggart, Ethan Trumbull, Elijah Richter, Maria Wellmann, Elizabeth Lantz

  Type 2 diabetes has become a more widespread topic of discussion as a major public health risk; it has become increasingly prevalent across the United States and the average onset of this disease has lowered dramatically in the past decade. Type 2 diabetes is preventable, but chronic, and often a precursor for problems later in life such as Cardiovascular disease. College students are notorious for unhealthy lifestyle habits, specifically poor diet, exercise regime, and substance use. This study aims to determine risk factors of Type 2 diabetes in college students by examining the population of undergraduate students that attend the University of Dayton. In determining the potential risk factors in this young-adult population (age 18-21), the goal is to discover major risk factors early in life and make the information accessible for personal lifestyle changes to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

• 

  Exploring Engaging Opportunities for Professional Development with First-Generation College Students

  Seth Jones

  Professional development opportunities are important for college students to help them advance personally and professionally. It is often difficult for first-generation college students to be aware of these opportunities due to the additional pressures and expectations for this demographic of students. The purpose of this study is to explore the professional development that first-generation college students receive. Using interviews with current first-generation undergraduate students, results showed that first-generation college students were not as aware of professional development opportunities as their non-first-generation peers. Implications from this study can inform practices to assist first-generation college students with intentional professional development opportunities aimed at building their cultural capital and helping prepare them for their post-collegiate experience.

• 

  Exploring the Mental Health Crisis among Division I College Athletes

  Nicholas Deluca, Stephanie Joseph, Audrey Scanlon, Andrew Okon, Amanda Gurskis, Olivia Newmark

  The goal of this research project was to explore the mental health crisis among Division I college athletes. We looked to better understand how college athletes try to manage anxiety and depression while also balancing academics and athletics here at the University of Dayton.

• 

  Faith Identity: Exploring the Lives of Non-Christian Students at a Private, Religiously-Based University

  Daniel Wilson

  High sense of belonging in college is linked with higher academic and social success for students. Defined as social support and connectedness, belonging is seen to be lower in the minority groups on campus, such as those that do not identify as White, heterosexual, and Christian. The purpose of this study is to investigate the lived experiences of non-Christian students at a private, Catholic university to find how they develop a sense of belonging at an institution that does not align with their own identities. This study includes qualitative data from 10 interviews with undergraduate, non-Christian identifying students at the University of Dayton. Findings suggest that a need for greater representation of alternate faiths, some mental or emotional strain on students as a result of non-conformity, and a reliance on other identities to build connections. Insights from this study can help inform religious diversity professionals at private, Catholic universities to build better, more creative ways to include the non-dominant student group into the community of the institution.

• 

  Going Global in Grade School: Benefits of Foreign Language Learning for Elementary-Aged Youth

  Savannah Smith

  In this linguistically rich society, the average person’s knowledge of other languages is no longer a merely helpful skill, but a necessity for interpersonal interaction. Foreign language programs are common in U.S. high schools, but their benefits can be reaped at a much earlier age. As a result, this project highlights the advantages of learning foreign languages in elementary school, investigating bilingualism in the context of a culturally and communicatively diverse world.

• 

  Group One Now Boarding: The Layered Impact Study Abroad Has On Students

  Mia Rosa Cappuccitti Gutierrez

  International travel and learning in contexts abroad, have benefits that have been captured in research across time. The positive effects are identified by researchers as (1) increase in ability to speak a foreign language (2) increased overall confidence and (3) a broadened worldview and personal growth. This literature review focuses on these many impacts provided by travel experience in the lives of students.

• 

  How can Injury Prevention Programming Impact the Mental Health of College Students?

  John Distel, Remy Zandier, Dominic Solano, John Racik, Hope Anthony

  This study will be examining mental health in all college students at the University of Dayton who were affected by injuries during their time at school. Injuries can affect a students every day life and cause adverse mental health affects. The study will be looking to determine if regular intervention of injury prevention methods may have an affect on injury severity and how that in turn affects mental health. A survey will be sent out that prompts participants to answer questions regarding depression and anxiety symptoms during the time of their injury. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are validated surveys and will be used to gauge mental health symptoms for participants. Following the survey, analysis of the results will allow us to determine what symptoms students most commonly experience following an injury. Measuring previous knowledge, mental health effects, and various types of injuries we will be able to create a holistic review of the effects of injuries on college students.

• 

  How Does Screen Time Affect Sleep Duration in College Students?

  Sarah Yaroma, Elizabeth Niemiec, Olivia Fowler, Aubrey Wilcox, Megan Dickinson

  College students spend an exorbitant amount of their time doing homework on laptops, watching T.V., scrolling through social media, and more. As the amount of screen time continues to increase, the amount of time students spend sleeping each night decreases and becomes limited. Sleep is a crucial part of a person’s daily routine that has an effect on the proper functioning of every physiological process in the body. The purpose of this study was to identify a potential relationship between sleep duration and the total amount of time spent watching or using a technological device in college students. Previous research has implied that properties of technology have an impact on essential functions, such as psychological well-being and academic performance in college students. We used data from our survey and the “Screen Time” app on the iPhone / Apple products to analyze the relationship between screen time and sleep duration during the 2023 spring semester for students at the University of Dayton. Researchers predict that large amounts of screen time was shown to have an effect on sleep duration.

• 

  How Does Sleep Affect Symptoms of Anxiety in Undergraduate College Students?

  Audrey Cruz, Shelsy Martinez, Lucas McFee, Jillian Beer, Joseph Boateng

  There is a close relationship between mental health and sleep. Anxiety has been frequently connected to sleep problems which can hinder learning. Given the environment of college, a decrease in the quality of sleep can lead to implications of declining mental health in undergraduate students. The study aims to look at the associations between the amount of sleep undergraduate college students at the University of Dayton get and the symptoms of anxiety that these students may experience. A survey was used to collect the data and associations were analyzed. The researchers expected that those who get inadequate amounts of sleep experience more symptoms of anxiety.

• 

  How do Nutrition, Environmental Factors, and Sleep Patterns Impact the Frequency and Severity of Tics in Individuals with Tourette's and other Tic Disorders?

  Lauren Simons, Matthew Signa, Gaia Le Donne, Christian Dale, Timothy Lynch

  Tourette's disorder and other tic disorders are neurodevelopment conditions characterized by involuntary motor and vocal tics. While the etiology of these disorders is not fully understood, there is growing evidence to suggest that modifiable factors such as nutrition, environmental factors, and sleep patterns may influence the severity of tic symptoms. This study aims to investigate the relationships between these modifiable factors and tic severity in individuals with Tourette's disorder and other tic disorders.