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Biomedical subjects

L A Tucker

Publications and source records attributed to L A Tucker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Television viewing and obesity in adult males.

We estimated the extent to which time spent watching television is associated with obesity and super-obesity among 6,138 employed adult males. After adjustment for age, smoking status, length of work week, measured physical fitness, and reported weekly hours of exercise, people who viewed TV more than three hours/day were twice as likely to be obese as those who viewed less than 1 hour/day. Those who viewed for 1 to 2 hours daily had a relative risk of 1.60 (1.21, 2.11). Physical fitness consistently confounded the associations between TV viewing and obesity/super-obesity, but the other control variables did not do so.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Use of smokeless tobacco, cigarette smoking, and hypercholesterolemia.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which regular use of smokeless tobacco is associated with hypercholesterolemia (greater than or equal to 6.2 mmol/L) among 2,840 adult males. The confounding effects of age, education, physical fitness, body fatness, and other tobacco use were also examined. After adjustment, smokeless tobacco users were 2.5 times, heavy smokers were 2 times and mild/moderate smokers were 1.5 times more likely to have hypercholesterolemia than non-users of tobacco. Cigarette smokers did not differ significantly from users of smokeless tobacco regarding hypercholesterolemia. Users of smokeless tobacco were younger and less educated compared to non-users of tobacco, while smokers were less educated and less physically fit.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effects of selected physical activities on health-related fitness and psychological well-being.

To determine the effects of participation in selected physical activities on scores of self-concept, body-cathexis and four items of health-related fitness, 88 women in university physical education service classes participated 3 hr. per week for 8 wk. in one of five activities (aerobic dance, jogging for fitness, swimming for fitness, life saving, and weight training). A total of 108 subjects participated in the study, with 20 students in health science classes serving as the controls. Few differences were noted between the activity groups and the controls on the posttest with pretest scores controlled. Specifically, joggers and aerobic dancers performed significantly more situps than did the controls, and joggers, aerobic dancers, weight trainers, and those in the lifesaving group displayed significantly greater flexibility on the sit and reach test than did the controls, on the posttest. None of the activity groups differed from the controls regarding self-esteem, body cathexis, body fat, or the step test scores at posttest.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1987

Alcohol and adolescents: who drinks and who doesn't?

The primary purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which adolescents who drink alcohol differ from those who do not. Multiple instruments were employed including Cattell's 16PF Questionnaire, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Tucker's Perceived Somatotype Scale, the Physical Performance Test for California, and a written questionnaire to generate multidimensional profiles of 394 high school males. Results indicated that 66% of the subjects drank alcohol at least monthly. Drinkers differed from nondrinkers psychologically, physically, socially, and on several measures of life-style.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Physical fitness: a buffer against stress.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which physically fit and unfit persons differ regarding levels of stress in their lives. The six Kraus-Weber tests were employed to assess minimal muscular function and fitness among 4,628 adult males, and a 10-item Likert-type inventory was administered to measure perceived stress. Analysis of covariance was utilized with age statistically controlled, and the results indicated that the unfit subjects perceived significantly more distress in their lives than did the adequately fit subjects. It was concluded that physical fitness may fortify the body against the demands of life and provide increased strength and hardiness. Physical fitness may act as a buffer against stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The relationship of television viewing to physical fitness and obesity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which light, moderate, and heavy television viewing relates to multiple measures of obesity and physical fitness among 379 high school males. The Body Mass Index and Tucker's Perceived Somatotype Scale were employed to assess obesity; physical fitness was measured by six tests: pushups, pullups, sidestep, long jump, situps, and jog-walk. Results showed that light television viewers scored significantly better than heavy viewers on a composite fitness index and on pushups, pullups, sidestep, situps, and jog-walk considered individually. Similarly, light viewers performed better than moderate viewers on the composite fitness measure and on pushups, pullups, and jog-walk. Light viewers displayed a strong tendency toward better fitness than moderate viewers on the long jump, situps, and sidestep tests, although statistical significance was not attained. Light viewers were not significantly less obese than moderate or heavy viewers. Statistical control of the demographic variables, applied simultaneously, had little influence on the associations found in this study. The findings indicate that for purposes of good physical fitness, television viewing should be limited to one hour or less per day.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Physical, psychological, social, and lifestyle differences among adolescents classified according to cigarette smoking intention status.

This study was conducted to determine the extent to which multiple physical, psychological, social, and lifestyle measures differ among high school males classified according to cigarette smoking intention status including nonintenders, mild intenders, and strong intenders. The Physical Performance Test for California, to measure six traits of physical fitness and Cattell's 16PF Questionnaire to assess manifold dimensions of personality were administered to 386 high school males. Self-concept was measured by Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale and body build was assessed using Tucker's Perceived Somatotype Scale and the Body Mass Index. Data relative to marital status of parents, exercise experience, church attendance, participation in athletics, alcohol drinking habits, television viewing behavior, intention to attend college, dating behavior, as well as general demographic information and intention to smoke cigarettes were assessed by a written questionnaire. Results indicated that nonintenders were significantly more self-confident, intelligent, emotionally stable, moralistic, conservative, group oriented, self-controlled, relaxed, and more likely to respond in a socially desirable manner than were strong intenders. Nonintenders reported less dating, less television viewing, less alcohol consumption, and perceived themselves as and were determined to be less obese than strong intenders. Nonintenders also reported greater intentions to attend college, greater varsity athletic participation, were more likely to be residing with their natural mothers, and were more physically fit than were strong intenders. Possible health education and youth smoking prevention strategies are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Television's role regarding alcohol use among teenagers.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which adolescents classified as light, moderate, or heavy television viewers differ regarding alcohol use. The extent to which demographic variables mediate the television-alcohol association also was investigated. A total of 394 high school males completed a written questionnaire to assess television and drinking practices. As hypothesized, heavy viewers consumed alcohol significantly more often than did light and moderate viewers, especially the former, particularly when demographic variables were controlled simultaneously. Television as a powerful and pervasive influence on youth, containing many undesirable health messages, is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Psychological differences between adolescent smoking intenders and nonintenders.

The present study was conducted to determine the extent to which multiple measures of personality discriminate and differentiate between adolescents who report intention to smoke cigarettes as adults and those who indicate no such intent. Subjects (N = 335) were limited to American males because of the numerous gender differences related to cigarette smoking. The 16PF Questionnaire, Form C (Cattell, Eber, & Patsuoka, 1970), was employed to assess manifold dimensions of personality, and Rosenberg's (1965) Self-Esteem Scale was administered to assess global self-concept. Cigarette smoking intention was measured by a strategy similar to that suggested by Fishbein and Ajzen (1975). MANOVA revealed that the two groups were significantly different on the psychological indices treated compositely. Multiple discriminant analysis disclosed seven personality variables capable of discriminating between the smoking intenders and the nonintenders; nonintenders were significantly more self-confident, moralistic, intelligent, conservative, tender-minded, group-oriented, and reserved than were intenders. ANOVA indicated that intenders were significantly less stable, intelligent, moralistic, self-confident, and controlled and significantly more apprehensive, liberal, self-sufficient, and tense than were nonintenders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Cigarette smoking intentions and physical fitness: a multivariate study of high school males.

This study was conducted to determine the extent to which several measures of physical fitness, treated compositely and individually, vary among adolescent males differentiated according to cigarette smoking status (i.e., strong intenders, mild intenders, and nonintenders). A total of 381 high school males were administered The Physical Performance Test for California to measure six traits of physical fitness, and a written questionnaire to assess smoking intentions and demographic data. As hypothesized, the teenage males who reported no intentions of smoking cigarettes were significantly more physically fit than were mild intenders and strong intenders, especially the latter. Etiological factors mediating the association are discussed within an underlying theme of prevention and cessation of the habit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Self-concept: a function of self-perceived somatotype.

The Tennessee Self-concept Scale was employed to assess multiple dimensions of self-concept in 284 college males; the Perceived Somatotype Scale was used to assess three indices of somatotype. MANOVA revealed significant differences in global self-concept among the self-perceived somatotype (PSS), the perceived-ideal somatotype (PSI), and the self-ideal discrepancy (PSD) groups. Univariate analyses indicated that the PSS groups differed significantly in all but the Moral-Ethical dimension of self-concept, while no univariate self-concept differences were found among the PSI groups. The PSD groups differed markedly on all but the Moral-Ethical and Family Self subscales. The assertion that somatotype affords little psychological predictive utility needs amendment in light of the findings of the present study.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Strength training and hypercholesterolemia: an epidemiologic study of 8499 employed men.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the relation between the quantity of strength training and hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl) in men. A secondary objective was to ascertain the effects of age, smoking, alcohol use, body mass, and participation in physical activities other than strength training on the association between strength training and hypercholesterolemia. DESIGN: A cross-sectional research design was used. SETTING: Data were collected at the worksites of subjects throughout the United States. SUBJECTS: The participants were 8499 male employees of more than 50 companies. MEASURES: Blood was drawn while the subjects were in a fasting state, and a questionnaire was used to collect the demographic and lifestyle information, including the data about strength training. The subjects were divided into five groups according to their self-reported duration and frequency (i.e., quantity) of participation in strength training. RESULTS: Subjects who reported regular involvement in strength training had a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia. However, after controlling for all the potential confounders, only the high-quantity lifters, those who completed 4 to 7 hours of strength training each week, maintained a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia. CONCLUSIONS: High-quality strength training is strongly associated with a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia, even after controlling for numerous, potentially confounding factors (odds ratio = .46; 95% confidence interval = .23 to .91).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Obesity and absenteeism: an epidemiologic study of 10,825 employed adults.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the extent of the relationship between obesity and absenteeism due to illness. A secondary objective was to ascertain the extent to which age, gender, family income, length of workweek, and cigarette smoking influenced the obesity-absenteeism association. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. Data regarding obesity, absenteeism, and the potential confounding factors were collected during the same time period. SETTING: Data were collected within workplaces throughout the U.S., and at the headquarters of Health Advancement Services, Inc. (HAS). SUBJECTS: Subjects were 10,825 employed men and women who participated in an ongoing wellness screening program administered by HAS. MEASURES: The three-site skinfold technique was used to estimate body fat percentage. Absenteeism due to illness and the potential confounding variables were assessed using a structured paper-pencil questionnaire. RESULTS: Without controlling for any potential confounders, obese employees were more than twice as likely to experience high-level absenteeism (seven or more absences due to illness during the past 6 months), and 1.49 times more likely to suffer from moderate absenteeism (three to six absences due to illness during the last 6 months) than were lean employees. With all of the potential confounders controlled simultaneously, obese employees were 1.74 and 1.61 times more likely to experience high and moderate levels of absenteeism, respectively, than were lean individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Obese employees tend to be absent from work due to illness substantially more than their counterparts.

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A prediction equation for estimating body fat percentage using readily accessible measures: a multivariate study of 200 adult women.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a regression equation that accurately estimates body fat percentage using relatively easy and inexpensive methods that do not require women to remove clothing. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was employed. SETTING: All data were collected at the University. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 200 white women ages 20 to 65 years. The sample was equally distributed across four age groups, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-65, and within each age group, one-third of the women were lean, one-third were of average weight, and one-third were obese. MEASURES: Subjects were hydrostatically weighed and participated in a variety of anthropometric and lifestyle assessments, including skinfolds, circumferences, and questionnaire responses. RESULTS: The full regression model included six measures: hip circumference, triceps skinfold (observed and quadratic), age (quadratic), self-reported physical activity, and calf skinfold (quadratic). This equation accounted for 81% of the variance in body weight measured by hydrostatic weighing (SEE = 3.5%). A simpler, five-variable equation was also formed that did not include the calf skinfold assessment (R2 = .800, SEE = 3.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The prediction equations in this study afford accurate and relatively easy and inexpensive means of estimating body fat percentage in a wide range of white women without having them remove their clothing.

Adipose Tissue↗