Opting In and Out: A Qualitative Study Exploring Career Break Experiences of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

BACKGROUND

Since 2002, an average of 17.5% of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) have reported being out of the paid dietetics workforce, and approximately half of those report intention to return. With the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' focus on expanding workforce demand and capacity, understanding why and how dietitians opt in and out of the dietetics workforce may provide insights into how to potentially reduce the number of career breaks or expedite and enhance the reentry process.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the lived experiences and perspectives of dietitians who were taking (with intention to return) or had taken a career break and returned to the paid dietetics' workforce.

DESIGN

A qualitative study with semistructured interviews was conducted.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Participants (n = 22) were recruited through purposive sampling over social media. They were required to be credentialed as RDNs, reside in the United States, and have either previously or currently (with intent to return) taken a break from the dietetics workforce. Interviews were conducted using Zoom videoconferencing technology during September 2021.

DATA ANALYSIS

Data were analyzed using a Coding Reliability Thematic Analysis approach.

RESULTS

The data are summarized in four themes: (1) motivations to leave and return, (2) staying connected with dietetics, (3) preparing to return and returning to the dietetics workforce, and (4) desired resources for career breaks and reentry.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the experiences of dietitians who take career breaks may help inform career reentry and help the profession meet the current and future workforce demand.

Parents' Part C Experiences in Rural Areas: Alignment With Recommended Practices

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) clearly outlined recommended practices for the provision of Part C services. However, there may be challenges in rural areas associated with services aligning with these recommended practices. Therefore, this study focuses on how families experience Part C services and the extent to which services align with specific areas the DEC recommended practices in the large, rural state of Montana. We interviewed parents (N = 30) about their children's Part C services. Deductive qualitative content analysis was used. Parents' reports suggest that while some aspects of their Part C services align with specific recommended practices, others do not. There were some meaningful differences regarding alignment with these recommended practices depending on type of provider being described. The environments in which services take place are discussed, as these may influence aspects of collaboration and building family capacity.

Disaster Management and School Nutrition: A Qualitative Study of Emergency Feeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

School nutrition programs mitigate child food insecurity across the United States. With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, kindergarten through grade 12 physical school campuses closed, which led to those programs transitioning to emergency feeding. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has 4 action priorities that guided the assessment of school nutrition employees' emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to explore the experience of school nutrition employees as they provided emergency feeding services during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate their actions based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction .

DESIGN

A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews (n = 34) was conducted via videoconferencing software. A purposive sample of school nutrition employees across all 7 US Department of Agriculture regions who were involved in the COVID-19 emergency feeding response participated during April and May 2020.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

School nutrition employees were selected randomly for participation from those indicating willingness to be interviewed during their participation in a related survey. Recruitment continued until all 7 US Department of Agriculture regions were represented. Participants held various roles, ranging from state agency leaders to front-line supervisors, although most were district-level directors or assistant directors.

ANALYSIS

Data were analyzed using a phenomenological qualitative analytic approach.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged. First, participants described the progression of the initial shock associated with the pandemic and service disruption, the flexibility they practiced, and the development of new routines. Second, keeping people (children, coworkers, and the community) safe was highlighted. The next theme captured participants' feeling that they came "out of the shadows" as communities and stakeholders recognized their important contribution to children's food security. Finally, they shared insight on communication and accountability during the emergency feeding response.

CONCLUSIONS

These programs demonstrated flexibility, resilience, and commitment to children during this crisis. As the pandemic continues and future disasters are considered, school nutrition programs and leaders can use the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's "build back better" concept to refine disaster preparedness plans and advocate for changes that will continue to combat child food insecurity in the United States.

Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Undergraduate Dietetics Students

OBJECTIVE

To understand the mental health and stressors of current nutrition and dietetics students.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 611 current Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) students in the US were recruited through DPD program directors.

METHODS

Electronic survey included measures of anxiety, stress, depression, and specific stressors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Most students experienced normal levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared with the general population. A subset experienced some level of depression (30%), anxiety (40%), and stress (27%). Significant sources of stress were postgraduation plans (including internships), managing time, dietetics courses, finances, and self-imposed expectations.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The identification of a subset of DPD students experiencing symptoms of mental health challenges and recognition that there are common stressors among DPD students may increase awareness among educators, guide development of course policies, and highlight the importance of mitigating major sources of stress for students.

How early intervention practitioners describe family-centred practice: A collective broadening of the definition

BACKGROUND

Given the importance of families in supporting the health and developmental outcomes of young children, current recommended practices for early intervention services advocate for a family-centred practice (FCP) approach that recognizes the importance of children's family systems. Though there is consensus in the field on the importance of this approach, there often remains a disconnection between these values and the everyday practice of early intervention practitioners. This study focuses on understanding the ways in which practitioners define FCP as this can provide valuable insight into why these belief-practice disconnections may exist.

METHODS

Early intervention practitioners (n = 203; e.g., special education or child development teachers, therapists, audiologists, etc) were surveyed at a statewide early intervention conference. Qualitative content analyses procedures were used to analyse participants' open-ended responses.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged in the analysis, including the following: (a) FCP is a distinct approach to providing early intervention services; (b) there are specific practices for best implementing FCP; and (b) there are provider qualities that are essential in order to use FCP.

CONCLUSIONS

Practitioners' definitions of FCP were primarily in line with recommended practices; however, they extend beyond the current definition of FCP in the early intervention literature, suggesting that the way this approach is conceptualized may be collectively broadening within the field. Opportunities, difficulties, and practical implications of this broadening definition are discussed.

A mixed methods examination of adolescents' reasons for pretending to text

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine reasons adolescents give for pretending to text in various social situations. Pretending to text was conceptualized as when a person uses a cellphone to make it look like they are texting, but they are not actually sending messages. Little research is available from the adolescent perspective regarding self-presentation and avoidance when using digital devices in social contexts.

METHODS

A convergent mixed methods approach was used to understand the experience of high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (n = 216) in the United States. Chi-square analyses and t-tests were used to examine differences between those who pretended to text and those who did not. Qualitative data were analyzed using van Manen's line-by-line approach.

RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS

Participants indicated they pretended to text for reasons of avoidance, to maintain a positive appearance, and sometimes to provide a sense of security if they felt unsafe in a situation. This study uses self-presentation to further understand adolescent perceptions of pretending to text.

Marital Expectations in Strong African American Marriages

The current exploratory study utilized a family strengths framework to identify marital expectations in 39 strong African American heterosexual marriages. Couples reflected on their marital expectations over their 10 or more years of marriage. Three themes emerged through qualitative analysis and the participants' own words were used in the presentation of the themes. African Americans indicated that there was growth in marital expectations over time, with marital expectations often beginning with unrealistic expectations that grew into more realistic expectations as their marriages progressed. Participants also indicated that core expectations in strong African American marriages included open communication, congruent values, and positive treatment of spouse. Finally, participants explained there is an "I" in marriage as they discussed the importance of autonomy within their marital relationships. Results are discussed in association with existing research and theory.

The Perceived Influence of Media and Technology on Adolescent Romantic Relationships

Contemporary adolescents rely heavily on technology and media to navigate romantic relationships. In this mixed-methods study, adolescents and young adults ( N = 204) detailed their perceptions of how entertainment media and interactive technology influence adolescent romantic relationships. The majority of adolescents and young adults perceived that entertainment media (95%) and interactive technology (97%) did influence adolescent romantic relationships. Using a qualitative analysis approach, we found six major themes. Although entertainment media provided media role models for expected behavior in romantic relationships, it was also associated with the development of unrealistic relational expectations and perceived pressure to be in a romantic relationship. Participants perceived that interactive technology has changed the way adolescents communicate with romantic partners, become integrated into the entire relationship life cycle, and led to a decline in face-to-face communication in adolescent romantic relationships.

Early adolescent Body Mass Index and the constructed environment

Previous research has shown that macro-level environmental features such as access to walking trails and recreational facilities are correlated with adolescent weight. Additionally, a handful of studies have documented relationships between micro-level environmental features, such as the presence (or absence) of a television in the bedroom, and adolescent weight. In this exploratory study we focus exclusively on features of the micro-level environment by examining objects that are found within adolescent personal bedrooms in relation to the adolescent occupant's Body Mass Index score (BMI). Participants were 234 early adolescents (eighth graders and ninth graders) who lived with both biological parents and who had their own private bedroom. Discriminant analyses were used to identify the bedrooms belonging to adolescents with below and above average BMI using objects contained within the micro-level environment as discriminating variables. Bedrooms belonging to adolescents with above average BMI were more likely to contain objects associated with sedentary behavior (e.g., magazines, electronic games, dolls), whereas the bedrooms belonging to the average and below average BMI adolescents were more likely to contain objects that reflect past physical activity (e.g., trophies, souvenirs, pictures of places that they had visited). If causal connections between micro-environmental variables and adolescent BMI can be established in future longitudinal research, environmental manipulations may affect adolescent BMI.