Singleton Jr., R. A. & Wolfson, A. R. (2009). Alcohol Consumption, Sleep, and Academic Performance Among College Students. Journal On Alcohol & Drugs, 70(3), 355-363. http://www.systems.wsu.edu/scripts/wsuall.pl?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=39147854&site=ehost-live

Singleton and Wolfson argue the possibility that alcohol influences sleep patterns and academic performance. From research, it is observed that the correlation between alcohol use and academic performance of college students is quite inconsistent. The results that do suggest a relationship between the two shows that those who drink a lot miss class more, get behind on classwork, and do poorly on exams. In addition, heavy drinkers reported a lower GPA than those who do not drink much or at all. Some studies they found, on the other hand, show no correlation between low GPAs and alcohol usage. It seems as though a poor sleep schedule has more of an effect on grades than alcohol alone. The article says that alcohol causes an individual to sleep less – not enough sleep is the cause of less-than-satisfactory marks on exams and assignments. So, in a way, alcohol use and sleep coincide with each other in their efforts to bash academic performance. These factors affect daily awareness as well. Going to sleep late at night and sleeping in on the weekends compared to going to sleep relatively early and waking up early during the week will mess up any person’s sleep schedule and alertness in class. I have to agree with the article’s argument. I, personally, have experienced the sleep-wake schedule and it’s very hard to get a good night’s sleep when you never have a set schedule to begin with. Alcohol just magnifies the struggle of getting to sleep! 

 

Singleton, R. A. (2007). Collegiate Alcohol Consumption and Academic Performance. Journal of Studies On Alcohol & Drugs, 69(4), 548-555. http://www.systems.wsu.edu/scripts/wsuall.pl?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=25918430&site=ehost-live

Singleton examines many studies that prove the negative correlation between alcohol consumption and academic performance. In a large sample of college students who admitted to be “binge drinkers,” 62.5% of them said they had missed a class as a result of drinking; and 46.3% said they fell behind on schoolwork. Among those who didn’t drink as much to be considered a “binge drinker,” these bad-doings occurred less than 10% of the time. There was an interesting quote in the article that I think is worth mentioning: “It is possible that poor academic performance is a cause rather than a consequence of heavy drinking.” I agree and disagree with this statement. It seems to make sense that a student would start to drink if they have poor grades, maybe they want to forget about it and relieve some stress. Everyone deals with their problems differently. But, on the other hand, heavy drinking does influence academic performance! Whether it be through lack of sleep, or no motivation to go to class, alcohol will falter one’s GPA. The quote mentioned before represents the vicious circle college students go through.

 

Pascarella, E. T., Goodman, K. M., Seifert, T. A., Tagliapietra-Nicoli, G., Park, S., & Whitt, E. J. (2007). College student binge drinking and academic achievement: A longitudinal replication and extension. Journal of College Student Development,48(6), 715-727. http://search.proquest.com/docview/195182844?accountid=14902

The authors of this article illustrate how consistently negative the results of drinking alcohol are on students’ academic performances. The NCASA says that 41% of academic problems stem from alcohol, and 28% of dropouts are due to alcohol abuse. Males that binge-drink are more likely to have academic/non-academic problems than females, whom are more likely to miss class due to hangovers. Grade point averages progressively decrease as the number of drinks a student has goes up. The reason alcohol really influences grades is not really the effect of alcohol itself – it’s the time that the activity takes away from productivity and studying. The article also says that alcohol consumption doesn’t have a significant effect on academics. This is true only when other factors such as high school GPA, class rank, and engagement in school are observed. I can see how studies on this topic can have such mixed results. It’s hard to get real evidence in this field since it is illegal to give minors alcohol to conduct a real-life study. 

Davis, K. C., Evans, W., & Kamyab, K. (2013). Effectiveness of a National Media Campaign to Promote Parent–Child Communication About Sex. Health Education & Behavior, 40(1), 97-106. doi:10.1177/1090198112440009

This article talked about the Parents Speak Up National Campaign (PSUNC). It talked abut data proving hoe effective the campaign was. It showed that the campaign wasn’t as effective as planned but was a god starting point to bring awareness to parents. It also mentioned that parents that are more willing to talk to their children about sex often can influence their children’s’ decisions about sexual behavior. They also found that mothers are more aware of PSUNC and are more active in talking about sex with their children. They hope to find a way to increase father involvement through additional research.

This article can benefit my research extensively because it provides actual research that supports the idea of involved parents leads to better sexual behavior choices. Parents’ involvement can make a big difference and can potentially reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy. Although the campaign in not nationally known, it could potentially spread awareness to many.

Phipps, M., & Nunes, A. (2012). Assessing Pregnancy Intention and Associated Risks in Pregnant Adolescents. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 16(9), 1820-1827. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0928-0

Phipps and Nunes talked about risks that teenage pregnancy can cause. They questioned 300 pregnant adolescent women if they intended to get pregnant, on emotional response, and readiness. Results showed that adolescents who were not emotionally ready had increased odds of inadequate prenatal care, delayed prenatal care, and self-reported depression at the time of the first prenatal doctor visit. They suggested that emotional readiness rather than pregnancy planning had more factors as to the maturity of pregnant adolescents.

Teen pregnancy is not just a result of the lack of sexual awareness; it also has short and long term consequences. Adolescent girls are not ready to have children at their young age. They are not independent and, most of the times not mature enough to start a family. Depression is a risk with unplanned pregnancies, as well as inadequate prenatal care, both of which can affect the fetus’s health.

McKay, Hollie. “Tabloids Glamorizing Teen Pregnancy By Putting Teen Moms on Covers?.” FOX News 10 September 2010, n. pag. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. <http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/09/10/tabloids-promoting-teen-pregnancy-constantly-putting-teen-moms-cover/&gt;.

McKay emphasizes on the unwanted attention that is put on teen moms from the MTV channel shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Instead of the show spreading awareness it’s if as though the show has glamorized teen pregnancies. It is showing young girls that having a baby on camera can bring you fame and fortune. McKay stated that putting teen moms on magazine cover send the wrong message to young teen girls. Seeing teen moms on covers where big time celebrities, like Angelina Jolie, are usually in place lets teen moms seem like celebrities.

This article can be very beneficial to my research because it discusses how the lack of awareness is not just from lack of communication between teenagers and their parent’s, but also from the social media. The social media impacts everyone’s lives on way or another. Young teenagers are far more susceptible to “brain wash” compared to educated adults. Teenage girls seeing teen moms on the cover of major entertainment magazines only portrays teenage pregnancy as glamorous.

Rath, Mandy. “Energy Drinks: What Is All The Hype? The Dangers Of Energy Drink Consumption.” Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners 24.2 (2012): 70-76. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 4 Mar. 2013.

 In this article, Mandy Rath argues the fact that many people are unaware of the dangerous risks that energy drinks have on people and that we need to recognize the potentially harmful health effects that can occur with excessive energy drink consumption. She also discusses the facts about energy drinks, the major ingredients, the perceived benefits and the associated adverse health effects. Since so many adolescents and young adults drink energy drinks, it has become a great concern in regards to overall health and well being. About $2.3 million dollars are spent on energy drinks from consumers such as teens and young adults. The real question is, why are adolescents and young adults so attracted to energy drinks? This article will be useful to my research because I am investigating energy drinks and health. Since this article discusses topics similar to mine, I will be able to find a lot of information about my topic. If people knew about all the dangers of energy drinks, I think they would change their mind about picking up and drinking another energy drink.

 

McIndoo, Heidi. “Liquid Fuel: Measuring Up Sports And Energy Drinks.” Environmental Nutrition 33.7 (2010): 5. Health Source – Consumer Edition. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

 The author of this article, Heidi McIndoo, talks about hydration basics, contents in sports drinks, and energy drinks. A lot of athletes want that “energy boost” when working out. Heidi McIndoo explains that if you’re only working out for about 20 minutes that water is probably the best thing your could drink. If you workout for more than an hour, or for less than an hour but very intensely than you can hydrate yourself wisely with a sports drink. A sports drink includes drinks like Gatorade and Powerade, not energy drinks. According to this article, sport drinks contain a few ingredients that aren’t necessary for a low intensity workout. Along with sport drinks, energy drinks are another type of drink that is popular among athletes. Heidi explains that energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull and Rockstar are popular as an everyday drink. She argues that these drinks should not be taken on a regular basis, but if we feel like having an occasional boost than we should drink a two ounce 5 hour Energy decaf, a two ounce 5 Hour Energy Original, an eight ounce Amp Energy Sugar Free or a sugar free Red Bull.  

 

Roy-Bornstein, Carolyn. “Just Say No To Energy Drinks.” Pediatrics For Parents 27.7/8 (2011): 11-12. Health Source – Consumer Edition. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

 In this article, Carolyn Roy-Bornstein, agrees with the fact that energy drinks are bad for you. She starts off by talking about the popular energy drinks and the caffeine content in them. Caffeine content in some energy drinks can be three to five times more than what is in an eight ounce Coca Cola soda. Because of all the people that drink energy drinks, mainly high school and college students, energy drinks are the fastest growing U.S. beverage in the market. The reason why Carolyn wants people to say no to energy drinks is because of the effects they can have on you. Many people are unaware of the contents inside their drink. Since caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, drinking an energy drink causes your heart race to increase and can give you anxiety and the jitters. The drinks may even contain even more caffeine than what is listed on the label. The main argument in this article is that Carolyn wants people to know what they are drinking and to be careful of how much caffeine you take in everyday. I can agree on what she has to say, because I also think people shouldn’t be drinking energy drinks that often. 

Sandler, Todd. “INTERGENERATIONAL PUBLIC GOODS: TRANSNATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.” Scottish Journal of Political Econoy 56 (2009): 353-370.

TIPGs are transnational intergenerational public goods, and they generate benefits for following generations. Rich countries like the US, UK, and Germany take the burden of poor developing nations and try to lessen the wealth gap between poor and rich countries. In INTERGENERATIONAL PUBLIC GOODS: TRANSNATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS focuses on TIPGs and how they benefit countries.

Clarkson, Gavin. “Information asymmetry and information sharing.” Government Information Quarterly 24 (2007): 827-839.

Information asymmetry and information sharing is an article that focuses the access to technology and whether or not countries are sharing technological advances with others. When technological advances are not shared then the gap between rich and poor steepens. The article also focuses or vertical and horizontal information and how they each mean something different.

Negrini, Angelo. “Globalization and Interculture.” Studi Emigrazione/Etudes Migrations 38 (2001): 910-913.

Mid-September of 2001 the  Niccolo Rezzaro Foundation in Rome was held to initially discuses globalization. As globalization continues so does the gap between rich and poor; one link between globalization and the widening wealth gap is technology. Richer countries seem to have a higher understanding of technology while the opposite goes for poor countries.

Sutton, Jon, Smith, Peter K., Swettenham, John. “Bullying and ‘Theory of Mind’: A Critique of the ‘Social Skills Deficit’ View of Anti-Social Behaviour.” Social Development; March 1999, Vol. 8 Issue 1, p117-127, 11p

In this article, Sutton, Smith, and Swettenham argue that bullying is a stereotype based upon a theory on social skills deficit model. They look into the psychological factors associated with bullying and victimization as well as the social skill involved which may have been underestimated.  People’s perspective’s towards bullying is biased in regards to the fact that bullies lack the ability to see a social situation from a different perspective. Sutton, Smith, Swettenham challenge this bias view by saying that bullies do in fact recognize how others view the situation, but misuse this skill and lack the empathy to take the other person’s view into account. In order for people to change their current views of bullying it is going to take a lot of research that makes this very theory of the mind a more concrete idea instead of an opinion. I feel that if there was enough research done to prove that bullying does help children to obtain better cognitive and social skills I just might have to begin to have an open mind to the idea. This article will be very useful in my research because it is taking a different stance on how we view bullying that gives me a better argument to support my thesis statement. Specifically, these authors address the challenge of viewing bullying as a means of manipulation and understanding of the minds of other people.

Sourander, Andre, Phia, Jorma, Helenius, Hans, Helstela, Leila,. “Persistence of Bullying from Childhood to Adolescence – A Longitudinal 8 – Year Follow-Up Study.” Scholarly Journal. (2000): 873-81. Child Abuse and Neglect.

In this article, Helenius, Helstela, Piha, and Sourander argue that bullying and victimization are associated with psychological problems at age sixteen with a referral to child mental health services at ages eight and sixteen. They look into how bullying has been associated with severe emotional and behavioral problems. This was an eight yearlong study that examined bullying and victimization of children in Finland which was first evaluated in 1989 at the age of eight and followed up at the age of sixteen. The results of this study indicated that 15% of boys and 7% of girls were bullies, 12% of girls and 13% of boys were victimized at age sixteen. While reading over this study I came across the result which really surprised me because it really opened my eyes up to the fact that both sexes are bullies as well as victims. These authors begin to specify that preventative measures need to be taken in regards to the bullying of children who are characterized by psychological disturbances and bullying. I feel as those bullying has now become a part of our social culture when in elementary, middle, and high school that we have slowly gravitated towards over the years without really ever realizing it. This study just goes to show that bullying does affect a person from youth up into adulthood.

Bender, Doris; Losel, Friedrich. “Bullying at School as a Predictor of Delinquency, Violence and Other Anti-social Behavior in Adulthood.” Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 21.2 (April 2011): 99-106

In this article, Bender and Losel argue that bullying is linked to delinquency, violence, and other anti-social behavior in adulthood. They did a study that involved 63 males at age 15 and 25. The outcomes of the study showed that delinquency, violence, aggressiveness, drug use, impulsivity, and psychopathy were all reported in self-reports that each individual filled out. The results were then conclusive to the fact that bullying was a strong indicator of almost all anti-social outcomes. Bender and Losel came to the conclusion that bullying was a high risk factor for anti-social development in individuals. While doing my research on this article I was able to see that bullying really has become a matter of great importance because it is an issue that obviously leads to anti-social behavior up into adulthood. Programs that are child oriented or even family oriented strategies of crime prevention need to really be highly stressed and integrated with one another. Specifically, Bender and Losel focused on the fact that not enough attention is given to the relationship between school bullying and long-term criminal or anti-social behavior in to adulthood. This article leans towards the fact that school bullying should become more assimilated with criminological research. Reading this article has helped me in my investigative research of why people bully and the effects that bullying has in adulthood.

Mahon, Emily M., and Suzanne M. Mahon. “Music Therapy: A Valuable Adjunct in The Oncology Setting.” Clinical Journal Of Oncology Nursing 15.4 (2011): 353-356. Print.

In this article, Emily M. Mahon and Suzanne M. Mahon talk about how music therapy is beneficial for cancer patients. They argue that music therapy can be a safe and useful form of complementary medicine for cancer patients to decrease stress, anxiety, relieve pain, and provide a distraction. Music therapy does not have the ability to cure someone of an illness, but it helps ease the symptoms. Cancer patients are usually overwhelmed, anxious, and / or stressed. With the use of music therapy, patients can overcome those feelings. There are many music therapy techniques that can be used in an oncology setting including song writing or lyric analysis, a chime circle, a drum circle, singing along, listening to music, etc. Each of the techniques fulfills a certain goal. For example, being a part of a drum circle allows patients to interact with others in the circle, move around, and reduce stress. One cancer patient was studied throughout her time in music therapy. She learned that singing, moving, or playing an instrument reduced the amount of pain she felt, anxiety, and nausea. In my research paper, I will be talking about how music therapy will be beneficial to certain types of people and the techniques that are utilized in a session. This article will be helpful with my research paper because it talks about the effects music therapy has on cancer patients and the most effective techniques that will help them.

Austin, Donna. “The Psychophysiological Effects of Music Therapy in Intensive Care Units. (Cover Story).” Pediatric Nursing 22.3 (2010): 14-20. Print.

In this article, Donna Austin, talks about some of the studies that have been done on music therapy in intensive care units. The studies discovered that blood pressure dropped during a music therapy session and rose after the session. Researchers also found that heart rate and respiratory rate decreased overtime for those who participated in music therapy. They also found that patients on mechanical ventilation who listened to music for thirty minutes showed greater relaxation than those who didn’t. Respiratory rate, anxiety levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and pain were all positively affected by music. Just like, Emily M. Mahon and Suzanne M. Mahon, Austin says that music therapy is not seen as lifesaving, but can beneficial for the patient. This article will be helpful in my research because I will be talking about the effects music has on the body.

Foster, Bev. “Music for Life’s Journey: The Capacity of Music in Dementia Care.” Alzheimer’s Care Today (2009): 42-49. Print.

This article claims that music can calm us, excite us, and inspire us. Bev Foster focuses her journal article on how music is able to improve the memory in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) patients. Music can be used as a way for these types of patients to recall memories in their lives. ADRD patients have a hard time remembering things, but when they listen to music they recognize, they are able to connect that music with a memory from the past. Some of these patients are unable to speak, so playing an instrument is a way for them to express how they feel. Hitting a drum can express their happiness or anger. This article will be very useful because my research paper will target Alzheimer’s patients and how memory is restored in them just by listening to music. My research paper will also talk about how music is able to bring up old memories for anyone.

1.Xiaoyan Tang, et al. “Acute Respiratory Inflammation In Children And Black Carbon In Ambient Air Before And During The 2008 Beijing Olympics.” Environmental Health Perspectives 119.10 (2011): 1507-1512. GreenFILE. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

 

This article is discussing the effects that the air quality had during the time leading up to the Olympic Games in Beijing. The main thins that were looked at was the amount of black carbon that was found in children and other people as well.

 

2.Delistraty, Damon. “Ecotoxicity And Risk To Human Fish Consumers Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls In Fish Near The Hanford Site (USA).” Science Of The Total Environment 445-446.(2013): 14-21. GreenFILE. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

 

This article discusses the relationship between possible fish toxins and them being consumed by people and the health hazards. It also discusses what effects it could have on other fish and the future of fishing for food. As well as finding if the type of fish made a difference

 

3.M.A. Arshad, et al. “Critical Loads And H+ Budgets Of Forest Soils Affected By Air Pollution From Oil Sands Mining In Alberta, Canada.” Atmospheric Environment 69.(2013): 56-64. GreenFILE. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

 

In this abstract the topic of soil pollution arose and showed how it was related to human mining. It talks about how in this situation the soil had much higher amounts of sulfur and thus changed the soil chemistry. Also because of this it had raised the ph of the soil which could in turn make it difficult for plants to thrive.

 

Cobb, M. “Companion animals and human health: the view from four paws..” Animals and human health. (2009): pp (1-7). http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20123352961.html?resultNumber=5&q=companion animals AND human health (accessed March 5, 2013).
Cobb goes into detail about how companion animals are also used for therapy. She feels like most of these animals are over looked. She said that there are many articles about how human’s health is affected by companion animals but not too many study are done about how it affects the animals. Cobb makes a great point; some animals are not always guaranteed a good quality of life just because they play meaningful roles in the lives of people. I will uses this when I talk about the need for more people to adopt and give the animals the lives they deserve.

O’Haire, M. “Companion animals and human health: benefits, challenges, and the road ahead..” Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 5. no. 5 (2010): pp. (226-234). http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20103358161.html?resultNumber=4&q=companion animals AND human health (accessed March 5, 2013).
In this article, O’Haire examines the relationship between humans and animals. There is fossil evidence dating back to one million and a half years ago. She read a review of the literature indicates that human-animal interactions can remarkably enhance human physical health and psychological well-being. She also states that in the future every household should own a pet because it is a benefit to our health. I plan on using this in my paper, because O’Haire shows how important animals are to human health. Also how animals have been by humans sides for a long time.

Wensley, S. “Animal welfare and the human-animal bond: considerations for veterinary faculty, students, and practitioners. .” Journal of Veterinary Medical Education. 34. no. 4 (2008): pp. 532-539. http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20093117833.html?resultNumber=1&q=The benefits of companion animals for human mental AND physical health (accessed March 7, 2013).
Wensley claims that is a link between animals and humans. He says that positive emotional relationships with animals are likely to increase recognition of animal sentience and so help create positive attitudes toward animals at the societal level, but, at the individual level, the animals to which humans are bonded should also benefit from the human-animal relationship. Wensley is going to make my paper stronger by having great support on how animals need humans just as much as humans need companion animals.

I had the idea of doing my TED talk on the effects of video games and television on the behavior and attitudes of developing children (ie. elementary to middle school ages). Initially I was unsure of how to narrow down my topic enough to make it specific enough to draw interest, yet broad enough so that I might find a broad field of studies done on the topic previously. Thankfully after visiting the library and getting some instruction on how to find scholarly articles inside and out of the library, I feel that I will be able to carry out my TED talk on this topic. In light of recent debates of gun laws due to school shootings, I would like to do my TED talk on examining the effects of violent video games and television programs on young children.

How many of you love to listen to music? We use music as a way to express our emotions. Take Taylor Swift for example. She loves to write her songs about her ex-boyfriends. It’s how she likes to express herself and show others how she is feeling. Musicians are able to express themselves in a similar way, but instead of using lyrics, they use their instruments to show how they feel. They can choose the speed at which they play. If they play a fast paced beat, it may indicate that they are excited, happy, or even angry. If they play a slow paced beat, it may mean that they are sad, upset, or depressed. Music can be used in different ways other than to express our feelings.

Music can be used to improve our overall well-being in the form of music therapy. Music therapy is commonly used in child and adolescent psychiatry, with patients who have cancer, brain injuries, or are disabled or elderly.  Music therapy is considered an alternative treatment, but when paired with conventional medicine, it can improve health conditions by utilizing different techniques and treatments. Music therapy isn’t well know, so you might not know what it is or even heard of it and what is done in these therapy sessions. Most of you kind of experienced it without even seeing a music therapist. Have you ever come home from a stressful day and just listened to music to help your body relax? Well, that’s part of what music therapy does. There are different types of music that can be used in music therapy sessions, but music cannot be prescribed because the effects of music can vary from person to person. Classical music is especially helpful in relaxing the body. Your heart rate can synchronize to the beat of the song, slow the heart rate, and ease the body in this way.

When you think of music therapy, you might think that the clients only listen to music, but listening to music is just one activity that is done in a music therapy session. There are more activities involved in improving a client’s health. Singing can help improve an individual’s speech and improve breathing. Playing instruments can help people who can’t really move their arms. Getting movement in their body parts can improve their range of motion. Another activity that benefits individuals who have Alzheimer’s is listening to music. By listening to music, they can connect the song to a time in their past like a song that was played at their wedding reception. Clients can also write their own lyrics to help express what they are feeling like Taylor Swift. Every time Taylor goes through a break up, she writes a song about it. It helps her get her negative feelings out there and helps her cope with the situation better.

The speed of music can also affect the body. Some effects of upbeat music can include increased brain waves, better concentration, alertness, and better coordination. This type of music can help elders because most of them are usually tired or sleepy. Some effects of low tempo music are slowing the heart beat and relaxing the body. This is helpful with clients who get agitated, restless, or irritated.