Biomedical subjects

Keith A King

Publications and source records attributed to Keith A King.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Increasing self-esteem and school connectedness through a multidimensional mentoring program.

High levels of self-esteem and positive school, peer, and family connections represent protective factors against youth involvement in risky behavior. This paper reports findings from year one of the Healthy Kids Mentoring Program, a multidisciplinary mentoring program for fourth-grade students in a Midwestern public school. In October 2000, 28 fourth-grade students were admitted into the program, based on findings from a 55-item survey distributed to all fourth-grade students (N = 283) regarding overall self-esteem, school, peer, and family connectedness and involvement in risky behavior. The program, which ran from January 2000 to May 2000, consisted of four components: 1) relationship building, 2) self-esteem enhancement, 3) goal setting, 4) academic assistance. Pretest-Posttest data showed significant improvements at posttest in mentored students' self-esteem levels and positive connections to school, peers, and family. Mentored students also were significantly less likely to be depressed or involved in bullying and fighting at posttest than at pretest. Compared to nonmentored students, mentored students reported significantly higher school and family connectedness scores at posttest. Recommendations for effective mentoring program design are offered.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Do perceived cues, benefits, and barriers to physical activity differ between male and female adolescents?

A four-page survey was administered to 535 adolescents at two single-sex (one male, one female) high schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, to examine whether perceptions of physical activity differed by gender. More specifically, the survey assessed perceived cues, benefits, and barriers to exercising. Results indicated that the most helpful cue to physical activity for both female and male students was "having a friend to exercise with." The most commonly reported benefit of exercising among females was "to stay in shape," whereas the most commonly reported benefit to exercising among males was "to become strong." Among females, the most common barrier to exercising was "having no time to exercise," whereas males were most likely to report "wanting to do other things with my time." Multivariate analyses of covariance revealed that perceived cues, benefits, and barriers to physical activity differed significantly based on gender. Recommendations on specific strategies to increasing male and female adolescent physical activity levels are offered.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preservice teachers' perceived confidence in teaching school violence prevention.

OBJECTIVE: To examine preservice teachers' perceived confidence in teaching violence prevention and the potential effect of violence-prevention training on preservice teachers' confidence in teaching violence prevention. METHODS: Six Ohio universities participated in the study. More than 800 undergraduate and graduate students completed surveys. RESULTS: Violence-prevention training, area of certification, and location of student- teaching placement significantly influenced preservice teachers' perceived confidence in teaching violence prevention. CONCLUSION: Violence-prevention training positively influences preservice teachers' confidence in teaching violence prevention. The results suggest that such training should be considered as a requirement for teacher preparation programs.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Smokers' willingness to protect children from secondhand smoke.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a secondhand smoke media campaign on adult smokers' willingness to protect children from secondhand smoke. METHODS: Following a series of community awareness ads, a random sample of 390 adult smokers was surveyed via telephone regarding their perceptions of secondhand smoke. RESULTS: Seeing or hearing the ads was significantly associated with intentions to personally smoke outside of the home and to ask visitors to smoke outside. Most smokers were committed to protecting children from secondhand smoke. CONCLUSION: Secondhand-smoke media campaigns can positively affect smokers' knowledge of the dangers of secondhand smoke and future intentions to protect others from secondhand smoke.

Adult↗