Exploring the relationships among performance-based functional ability, self-rated disability, perceived instrumental support, and depression: a structural equation model analysis.

Data from the Women's Health and Aging Study were used to test a model of factors explaining depressive symptomology. The primary purpose of the study was to explore the association between performance-based measures of functional ability and depression and to examine the role of self-rated physical difficulties and perceived instrumental support in mediating the relationship between performance-based functioning and depression. The inclusion of performance-based measures allows for the testing of functional ability as a clinical precursor to disability and depression: a critical, but rarely examined, association in the disablement process. Structural equation modeling supported the overall fit of the model and found an indirect relationship between performance-based functioning and depression, with perceived physical difficulties serving as a significant mediator. Our results highlight the complementary nature of performance-based and self-rated measures and the importance of including perception of self-rated physical difficulties when examining depression in older persons.

Associations between physical activity and health-related factors in a national sample of college students.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between meeting the current moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendation and health-related factors in a national sample of college students. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N = 67,861) completed the National College Health Assessment II during the Fall 2008/Spring 2009 academic year. METHODS: Hierarchical binary logistic regression was used to examine the contribution of 19 variables in explaining whether or not participants met the MVPA recommendation. RESULTS: Meeting the MVPA recommendation was associated with several protective factors among college students, including adequate daily fruit and vegetable consumption, positive perception of general health, healthy body mass index, consistent seatbelt use, not smoking cigarettes, less perceived depression, and adequate sleep. In addition, meeting the MVPA recommendation was also significantly associated with a few risky behaviors including binge drinking, physical fighting, and multiple sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: College student PA interventions should consider also addressing fruit/vegetable consumption and binge drinking.

Sociodemographic and lesbian-specific factors associated with physical activity among adult lesbians.

BACKGROUND: Although participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) results in health benefits, the majority of adult lesbians are not sufficiently active. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between sociodemographic factors (age, education level, body mass index [BMI], race, partner status, employment status, annual household income, general health status, diagnosis of chronic conditions, children under 18 years living at home) and lesbian-specific factors (connection with the lesbian community, public identification as a lesbian) to participation in MVPA. METHODS: Participants included 847 self-identified lesbians 18 to 74 years old (M(age) = 40.5; SD = 11.6) who completed a 20-minute, web-based survey. FINDINGS: The binary logistic regression model that included the 10 demographic factors was significantly associated with MVPA, χ(2) (15, N = 847) = 105.62, p < .001. However, when the two lesbian-specific factors were added, the model did not improve significantly, χ(2) (2, N = 847) = 5.20, p = .07. BMI and general health status were significantly associated with MVPA (Wald χ(2) (2) = 19.5, p < .001) and (Wald χ(2) (4) = 41.2, p < .001). Obese participants had 54.5% lower odds than healthy weight participants to engage in sufficient amounts of MVPA. Participants who reported general health status as excellent compared with those who reported poor had 12.7 times greater odds of engaging in sufficient amounts of MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should extend on this study by utilizing sampling methods that target the recruitment of lesbian women not actively involved in lesbian-related activities.

Communicating with patients who have advanced dementia: training nurse aide students.

The increase of dementia in older adults is changing how medical care is delivered. Recognizing symptoms of pain, managing behaviors, and providing quality of life for people who have advanced dementia requires a new skill set for caregivers. Researchers in this study targeted nurse aide students to test an educational module's effect on students' perceptions of dementia and their ability to care for patients with dementia. The results indicated the training was effective regarding nurse aides' understanding of residual cognitive abilities and need for meaningful contact among patients with advanced dementia; however, the training was not successful in terms of nurse aides' comfort level or perceived skills in working with this population of patients. The findings suggest a need to transform how caregivers are trained in communication techniques. Incorporating this training into nurse aide education has the potential to increase quality of life for people with dementia.

Secondary special educators' transition involvement.

BACKGROUND: Different roles and responsibilities are required of school professionals to facilitate students' successful transition from school to post-school lives. Special educators' involvement in transition services is essential for better post-school outcomes for students with disability. METHOD: The Transition Involvement Survey with five domains was developed for the study and a total of 343 secondary special educators in the United States participated. MANOVA and post hoc discriminant analysis were used to examine group differences across the five domains. RESULTS: Special educators rated highly in their involvement in transition planning but less so in other domains. Receiving in-service training was significantly related to educators' transition involvement but receiving pre-service training was found to be only partly related. CONCLUSION: The gap between special educators' knowledge and involvement in extending transition services affects the provision of services. Recommendations from this study support stronger personnel preparation to improve this situation.