Brockport Health Science Master's Theses

 

Recent Submissions

  • A Comparison of Student Health Knowledge in Michigan and Selected New York State Schools
    Wojtowicz, G. Greg; The College at Brockport (1986-01-01)
    The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to determine the Health knowledge levels of a selected sample of New York State students in grades four, seven and ten. Second, to compare these knowledge levels, represented by student test scores on the standardized HEAP test for Health education, with scores of Michigan students in similar grades levels on the same test. Six hundred twelve students (156 fourth graders, 152 seventh graders and 304 tenth graders) from three selected New York State school districts responded to multiple choice questions (99 questions in fourth grade, 102 questions in seventh and tenth grades) related to ten health topic areas. A Health Topic Attainment Rate (HTAR) of 75 percent is considered to be a satisfactory level of mastery in each of the ten topic areas. New York State students achieved a satisfactory HTAR in seven topic areas out of a possible thirty at the fourth, seventh and tenth grade levels in comparison to only two for Michigan students at the same grade levels. Selected New York State students showed significantly higher knowledge levels (Grade 4 F = 1339.0645; P < .01, Grade 7 F = 944.594; P < .01, Grade 10 F = 394.512; P < .01) than did students from the state of Michigan. The results of this investigation lend support to the conclusion that knowledge based health education programs can result in high student test scores.

  • The Relationship of Social Context and Sensation Seeking to Indices to College Student Alcohol Abuse
    Woodhams, Thomas D.; The College at Brockport (1994-08-01)
    One hundred fifty three undergraduate male students at the State University of New York College at Brockport completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing the social context of college drinking and the personality trait known as sensation seeking. These measures were used to explain alcohol use intensity, frequency of alcohol impaired driving, and the frequency of riding with an impaired driver. It was found that during the twelve month period prior to the survey, eighty seven percent of the respondents had used alcohol on at least one occasion, sixty eight percent had driven a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and forty four percent had ridden with an alcohol impaired driver. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that social context factors account for most of the variance in alcohol use intensity, frequency of driving while impaired, and frequency of riding with an impaired driver. The variable of Social Facilitation was significantly related to alcohol use intensity. The variable significantly related to driving under the influence of alcohol and riding with an impaired driver was that of Motor Vehicle. Sensation seeking was of lesser importance in accounting for variance in these three dependent variables. The implications of these findings for campus alcohol abuse intervention programs are discussed.

  • A Survey of Student Coaches' Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, and Behaviors Regarding the Female Athlete Triad
    Lassiter, Jill W.; The College at Brockport (2002-05-18)
    The female athlete triad (disordered eating, amenorrhea, osteoporosis) is a severe and potentially fatal syndrome that affects many female athletes. This research described the preparedness of coaches to participate in primary prevention and intervention of the triad; specifically, senior Physical Education and Sport majors' (N=61) current state of knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors related to the triad were examined. Results indicated that the majority of student coaches lacked knowledge of the triad, appropriate attitudes and skills, and were not likely to participate in indicated behaviors. Comparisons found that female students had significantly more knowledge, appropriate attitudes and skills, and were more likely to participate in indicated behaviors than male students. Also, subjects who reported receiving training about the triad did not significantly differ in their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors from those without training. These findings indicate the need for initial and continuing education of coaches.

  • Social Context and Perceived Norms: Their Relationship to Alcohol Use in an Adolescent Population
    Wolcott, Bette Jean; The College at Brockport (1994-08-01)
    Over 1400 public school students in grade 7-12 were surveyed with an anonymous questionnaire to determine the relative ability of the social context scales and the perceived norm scales to explain adolescent alcohol use intensity, frequency of alcohol-impaired driving, and frequency of riding with an alcohol-impaired driver. It was found that during the twelve month period prior to the survey, 54.2% of all students had used alcohol on at least one occasion, 13.8% had driven a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and 41.8% had ridden with an alcohol-impaired driver. A multiple regression analysis showed that the drinking context of Social Facilitation was most closely related to alcohol use intensity. However, Close Friends' Drinking Intensity, Stress Control, and Peer Acceptance, School/Defiance, and Family also had independent relationships with alcohol use intensity. In two separate discriminant analyses, Social Facilitation was the best discriminator of the two driver groups (impaired versus non-impaired), whereas Close Friends' RWID Frequency was the best discriminator of the two passenger groups (riders of impaired drivers versus riders of non-impaired drivers). These findings indicate that effective alcohol abuse prevention programs will have to address the needs adolescents have for socializing and fun, and that a key to reducing alcohol abuse is altering perceptions of normative drinking practices.

  • The Reasons for Consumption and Non-Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages by Residence Hall Students at State University College at Brockport
    Golden, Gary J.; The College at Brockport (1977-12-01)
    Alcoholic consumption is an expected social norm on college campuses across the nation. In 1971, a report by the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare stated that alcohol consumption was the number one drug problem in America. According to student survey data gathered at the time, between 71-96% of college students reported drinking. This thesis project studies the reasons for student drinking and abstinence in the late 1970’s on a New York State college campus. Research study statistics, based on data current to the study era, were considered by means of resident director and student surveys and observation. Survey questions on the reasons for drinking ranged from social customs and peer pressure to dealing with crisis or disappointments. Survey questions on the reasons for abstaining from drinking included health concerns, religious beliefs, bad past experiences, and school sport expectations. Quantity and frequency of drinking was also measured based on age, gender, and college level. Conclusions drawn suggest further study of the entire student body beyond the residence hall students would allow greater understanding of the scope of the issue, as well as the formation of an alcohol education committee to help raise awareness of the potential concerns for this type of student behavior.