This study investigated the validity of the Physical Activity Interview (PAI) for assessing children's self-reported physical activity. Third and fifth graders wore an accelerometer and were interviewed using the PAI to determine 12-hour recall accuracy for activity expressed as energy expenditure (EE). Caltrac estimates of EE for the 12-hour day (12-HEE) and activity EE were the validation criteria. 12-HEE correlations were significant (p<.001) between Caltrac and PAI for third (r=.79) and fifth grade (r=.80). Caltrac and PAI Total Activity were significant for fifth grade (r=.82, p<.001) but not for third grade (r=.36, p<.021). Analysis of tertiles based on the Caltrac demonstrated that the PAI significantly (p<.002) discriminated between activity levels for fifth graders but not for third. The use of PAI may be age-dependent.

The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) To analyze the similarities and differences between parent responses to the birth and rearing of a child with Down syndrome and; 2) To document the characteristics of grieving described in Engel's 3-stage model of grieving. A questionnaire was used to assess responses from randomly chosen parent members of the Dallas Down Syndrome Guild. Qualitative data analysis was conducted, using the methodology of triangulation.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the United States. Because early prostate cancer is frequently without symptoms and data on how to prevent prostate cancer is lacking, early detection has the greatest potential for decreasing mortality. Studies have shown Hispanics/Latinos to be less likely than whites or African-Americans to utilize prostate cancer screening exams. The purpose of this descriptive study was to design a social marketing plan which could be used as a model to promote Hispanic/Latino participation at prostate cancer screenings. Information obtained through medical and marketing literature review, the author's experiences serving on the promotion committee of a community-sponsored prostate cancer screening project, and interviews with 51 Hispanic/Latino prostate cancer screening participants is described and incorporated into a guide with recommendations for future program planners.

Six male long-distance runners participated in this study to evaluate the responses to exercise at 90% and 100% vV02max. Subjects participated in five maximal exercise tests: one incremental, three tests at 90% vV02max, and one test at 100% vV02max. The results of this study demonstrate that V02max can be elicited in a constant-velocity test at 90% vV02max.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of training at a particular time of day on anaerobic capacity in the morning and in the afternoon.

Populations that utilize deep water running (DWR) are described in Chapter I. A review of the literature concerning studies comparing peak physiological variables of water exercises (swimming, DWR, & land based running) to land based exercises (cycle ergometer, walking, & running) are presented in Chapter II. The protocols utilized for obtaining peak values on land and in the water along with subject characteristics, statistical methods and description of the training regimen are discussed in Chapter HI. The results, presented in Chapter IV, indicate no interaction between any of the variables measured but a main effect for treadmill V02 peak for the pre- and post testing. Chapter V discusses factors which may limit physiological changes within each training group. Chapter VI contains suggestions for further research.

Mood state changes have been assessed in endurance sport athletes such as swimmers, distance runners and rowers. However, much less is known about the psychological changes that occur in team sport athletes. The purpose of this study was to assess mood state changes of intercollegiate female volleyball players across a competitive season.

The purpose was to investigate time of day on responses to two types of exhaustive cycle ergometer tests. Sixteen males performed six exercise tests: three - constant power protocol and three - incremental protocol. The first test was a learning trial; the other tests were performed one in the morning and one in the afternoon. ANOVA revealed that O2 deficit and lactate were higher in the afternoon than the morning. Regardless of test type, time to exhaustion tended to be higher in the afternoon. VO2max was unaffected by the time of day and test type. These results confirmprevious reports of a time of day effect on anaerobic capacity, and support the contention that V02max is stable about a day.