Showing papers by "Minsoo Kang published in 2011"

The Association between Bullying and Psychological Health among Senior High School Students in Ghana, West Africa.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: School-based bullying, a global challenge, negatively impacts the health and development of both victims and perpetrators. This study examined the relationship between bullying victimization and selected psychological variables among senior high school (SHS) students in Ghana, West Africa. METHODS: This study utilized data from the 2008 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Prevalence rates of being bullied (95% confidence intervals [CI]) were calculated by each demographic group, as well as each psychological variable. Multiple logistic regression was used to model the relationship of being bullied (physical/nonphysical) on the linear combination of demographic variables. RESULTS: A total of 7137 students participated in the 2008 GSHS with 40.1% reporting being bullied. Senior high school-level 1 (lowest grade) students were 3 (95% CI: 2.45-3.68) times more likely to be bullied compared with SHS level 3 (highest grade) students. Victims of bullying were significantly more likely to report negative psychological health compared with those who reported not being bullied. Odds ratios were as follows: signs of depression, 1.97 (95% CI: 1.75-2.21); suicide ideation, 1.72 (95% CI: 1.45-2.05); being so worried that it affects sleep, 2.10 (95% CI: 1.77-2.49); and loneliness, 1.82 (95% CI: 1.49-2.22). There was no significant difference in self-reports of negative psychological health when comparing students who experienced physical forms with those who were bullied in nonphysical ways. CONCLUSION: Bullying victimization is a major problem among SHS students. We recommend strengthening of existing proactive anti-bullying programs by taking into account the association between bullying and the psychological health of students. Language: en

Reliability of daily step activity monitoring in adults with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Abstract: We determined the number of days of step activity monitoring required to establish stable measures of walking activity in adults with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Eleven individuals with iSCI (mean age 49 +/- 14 years) wore a StepWatch Activity Monitor during waking hours for 7 con- secutive days. We used generalizability theory to identify sources of variance in daily step counts and determine the min- imum number of days necessary to obtain a reliability coeffi- cient (G-coefficient) greater than or equal to 0.80. Average daily step activity (DSA) was 1,281 +/- 1,594 steps. Partici- pants and days accounted for 70.9% and 1.3% of total variance in DSA, respectively, while unidentifiable error accounted for 27.8% of the total variance in DSA. A minimum of 2 days was required to achieve a G-coefficient greater than or equal to 0.80. An acceptably stable measure of walking activity in adults with iSCI can be obtained by averaging step count val- ues from any 2-day period in a week. Results from this investi- gation should be useful in evaluating the effect of activity- based programs designed to enhance locomotor function in persons with iSCI.

Validation of a talking pedometer for adults with visual impairment.

Abstract: HOLBROOK, E. A., S. L. STEVENS, M. KANG, and D. W. MORGAN. Validation of a Talking Pedometer for Adults with Visual Impairment. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 43, No. 6, pp. 1094-1099, 2011. Alterations in gait mechanics and mobility aid (MA) use have been observed in persons with visual impairment (VI) in response to environmental changes, yet the influence of these modifications on the accuracy of an adaptive pedometer has not been documented. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish validity evidence for the Centrios talking pedometer relative to environmental familiarity and MA use in adults with VI. Methods: Thirteen adults with VI (age = 38 ± 14 yr) completed two walking trials over an unfamiliar, quarter-mile course while wearing a Centrios talking pedometer at the right and left sides of the hip. Walking speed, pedometer-determined steps, and actual steps were recorded during the first session, reflecting walking in an "unfamiliar environment." After a series of additional walks over the same course, outcome measures were reassessed during a second trial, reflecting walking in a "familiar environment." Absolute percent error (APE) scores were calculated between actual and pedometer-determined steps. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences in APE relative to mounting position across environmental settings. Results: During unfamiliar trials, the pedometer accurately reported steps when mounted at the hip opposite the user's MA (APE = 2.1 %) but was significantly less accurate when mounted at the hip on the user's MA side (APE = 11.1%). In the familiar setting, the pedometer accurately reported steps when mounted at the left hip and the hip opposite the user's MA (APE 0.05). Conclusions: In unfamiliar and familiar walking conditions, the Centrios pedometer accurately monitors step-based activity in adults with VI when mounted at the hip opposite the user's MA.