Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal current issue

Editorial Note

McFadden, J. R. — 2008-08-08

Child Weight Status and Young Adult Quality of Life: Is There a Reason for Concern?

Kihm, H. S. — 2008-08-08

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between child weight status and young adult quality of life. One hundred sixty-four college students participated in the study. Students completed four questionnaires that were used to assess physical and psychosocial variables. Several statistical analyses, including correlations and hierarchal regression models, were employed to test the study's hypotheses. Results from the study showed that child weight status was negatively associated with adult quality of life, and child self-concept was a mediating variable within the relationship. Recognizing the relationship between child weight status and young adult quality of life stresses the importance of addressing psychosocial concerns related to weight status during childhood in efforts to achieve a greater quality of life in adulthood.

The Use of the Theory of Planned Behavior to Assess Predictors of Intention to Eat Fruits Among 9th-Grade Students Attending Two Public High Schools in Eastern North Carolina

Pawlak, R., Malinauskas, B. — 2008-08-08

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify specific beliefs regarding eating two cups of fruits among ninth-grade youth attending public high schools in easternNorth Carolinautilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: A preliminary open-ended questionnaire was used to elicit beliefs about fruits. These beliefs along with statements adopted from the literature tailored toward fruit intake were used to develop a survey instrument. This survey was subsequently used to measure the variables of the TPB. There were 157 students (103 girls [65.6%], mean ±SD age =14.69 ±0.79 and 54 boys [34.4%], mean ±SD age =14.74 ±0.89) from two schools who completed the final copy of the survey. Results: Attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly predicted intention to eat fruits, accounting for 55% of variance. Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest that peer leaders may have a significant influence on intentions to eat fruits.

Effects of Stress on Eating Practices Among Adults

Kandiah, J., Yake, M., Willett, H. — 2008-08-08

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between comfort food preferences of adults when under normal (nonstressful) and stressful conditions. A total of 185 university faculty completed on InQsit, a 31-item Stress-Eating Survey. Sixty-seven percent experienced changes in appetite when stressed, with 69% having an increase in appetite and 31% a decrease. Under stressful conditions, participants chose a wider variety of sweet (p ≤ .001) and salty/crunchy foods (p = .004). High-restrained eaters chose significantly more types of sweet foods (p = .031) and beverages (p = .020) than low-restrained eaters. Variety of mixed dishes significantly decreased (p = .048) with increased age. This research suggests that majority of adults may experience an increased appetite with stress and may choose more types of sweet and salty/crunchy foods. Under normal and stressful conditions, it appears that gender, age, and restraint level may also influence comfort food choices.

The Price of Laughter: Differences Between Hispanic Groups' Responses to the Use of Humor in Financial Services Advertising

Villegas, J., Shah, A. — 2008-08-08

This study argues for a more precise study of U.S. Hispanics by investigating the different attitudes toward money retention of two Hispanic groups, Cuban Americans and Mexican Americans, and its impact on advertising processing. The hypothesized dissimilarity, Cuban American have a more positive attitude toward retention than Mexican Americans, was used as the basis for hypotheses that explored the effects of the use of humor in advertising for a financial product. The results of a 2 x 2 experiment in which type of appeal (humorous/non-humorous) was manipulated and Hispanic group affiliation was measured suggest that Cuban Americans prefer a nonhumorous appeal in an advertisement for a financial service whereas Mexican Americans preferred the humorous message. This finding suggests that Mexican Americans might use affective information, instead of cognitive strategies, to form attitudes toward financial products.

Religion and the Daily Lives of LDS Families: An Ecological Perspective

Loser, R. W., Klein, S. R., Hill, E. J., Dollahite, D. C. — 2008-08-08

The purpose of this article is to explore in detail how religion and family religious rituals affect the day-to-day activities of individual and family life. It includes qualitative analysis of interviews with highly religious parents and children in 67 families that belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Findings suggest that for this sample, religion was more than an external influence; it was viewed as an integral part of one's individual, familial, structural, and social systems. This finding warrants a closer look at traditional human ecological theory which suggests that religion is primarily an external influence. A conceptual model illustrates how this sample experienced religious integration into their everyday life. Limitations and implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Undergraduate Women Who Have Gambled in Casinos: Are They at Risk?

Blinn-Pike, L., Worthy, S. L. — 2008-08-08

The aim of this study is to describe female undergraduates who have gambled in casinos compared with their peers who have never participated in casino gambling or gambling in any form. Pathological gambling has been linked to financial problems, marital stress, lost time at work and school, depression, and even suicide. Female students (n = 179, mean age 21.64) from a southeastern university are questioned about their gambling behaviors, sensation-seeking traits, and alcohol consumption. Female college students who have participated in casino gambling have higher sensation-seeking scores, higher scores on a measure of gambling severity, consumed alcohol on more occasions over the past 30 days, and have binge drunk more frequently than their peers. Implications are presented for gambling prevention and research.