title: “She Watches Over Her Household”: Wellbeing of mothers and children in motherled households

authors: Hunter, Rachel Lamdin

subjects: Wellbeing

abstract: Wellbeing is a term used in everyday conversation, and by health professionals, policy writers and analysts, economists and others, to sum up one’s ability to flourish and live a rewarding, fruitful life. Family is deemed a significant source and determinant of wellbeing. Here, people may expect to receive the love, nurturance, and belonging all humans need to thrive, as well as the most basic needs for food, shelter and warmth. The many forms of family in societies such asNew Zealand are of interest to those who posit that the conduct and wellbeing of mothers in families, is central to the flourishing of all within.
Some families are believed to hold better promise of wellbeing than others. Families with mothers at the helm, motherled households, are constructed in research and public discourse, and enacted in policy, as sites of social and economic peril. Studies abound in which women and children in motherled households are depicted as suffering social isolation, lacking moral support, and experiencing material poverty.
In this study I explore wellbeing in motherled households. My lived experience as nurse specialising in maternal, child and family health, and as a single mother for some time, is pertinent. Using Judi Marshall’s (1999) notion of life lived as the basis for inquiry, I grounded my study in a subjective, storied frame in which I troubled notions of wellbeing in families – notions which I had read in research, enacted in policy and practice, and questioned.
Berger and Luckmann (1966) theorised that what is understood as true or real, is a result of socially-fabricated claims to truth; that is, they posit the social construction of reality. I explore the conditions under which truths about families and motherhood are constructed, bolstered by research, enacted in and enacting institutionalised policy.
Institutionalised constructions of wellbeing and families constitute narratives writ large in research, policy and everyday conversation. I posit these as an example of the petrified grand narratives brought to my attention in the work of Boje (2008a). I read them now as monolithic, simplified and ultimately limited (and limiting) accounts of our humanity. The generation of living stories and their attendant many-voiced ante-narratives are seen as “bets on the future” (Boje, 2001), stories along the way to narrative. Antenarratives may interrupt or endorse a grand narrative. My thesis is a quest to story a version of those in motherled households which is rich and hopeful.
My noticing of contradictions in these grand narratives led me to seek conversations with mothers, and to share their stories in a reconstructed conversation. These mothers understood wellbeing in their motherled household as a deeply entwined and connected process. Women storied wellbeing in unique, individual, and evolving ways. These women valued their families as sites of purpose, wellbeing and intentionality, a version of family and wellbeing not told elsewhere.
Storytelling contributes to versions of mothering in which women and children flourish, foregrounding activist hopes for research about families. Reflexive storytelling approaches challenge those concerned with making a difference through research and policy formation, through individual practices and everyday conversation.

text: “She Watches Over Her Household”: Wellbeing of mothers and children in motherled households Wellbeing is a term used in everyday conversation, and by health professionals, policy writers and analysts, economists and others, to sum up one’s ability to flourish and live a rewarding, fruitful life. Family is deemed a significant source and determinant of wellbeing. Here, people may expect to receive the love, nurturance, and belonging all humans need to thrive, as well as the most basic needs for food, shelter and warmth. The many forms of family in societies such asNew Zealand are of interest to those who posit that the conduct and wellbeing of mothers in families, is central to the flourishing of all within.
Some families are believed to hold better promise of wellbeing than others. Families with mothers at the helm, motherled households, are constructed in research and public discourse, and enacted in policy, as sites of social and economic peril. Studies abound in which women and children in motherled households are depicted as suffering social isolation, lacking moral support, and experiencing material poverty.
In this study I explore wellbeing in motherled households. My lived experience as nurse specialising in maternal, child and family health, and as a single mother for some time, is pertinent. Using Judi Marshall’s (1999) notion of life lived as the basis for inquiry, I grounded my study in a subjective, storied frame in which I troubled notions of wellbeing in families – notions which I had read in research, enacted in policy and practice, and questioned.
Berger and Luckmann (1966) theorised that what is understood as true or real, is a result of socially-fabricated claims to truth; that is, they posit the social construction of reality. I explore the conditions under which truths about families and motherhood are constructed, bolstered by research, enacted in and enacting institutionalised policy.
Institutionalised constructions of wellbeing and families constitute narratives writ large in research, policy and everyday conversation. I posit these as an example of the petrified grand narratives brought to my attention in the work of Boje (2008a). I read them now as monolithic, simplified and ultimately limited (and limiting) accounts of our humanity. The generation of living stories and their attendant many-voiced ante-narratives are seen as “bets on the future” (Boje, 2001), stories along the way to narrative. Antenarratives may interrupt or endorse a grand narrative. My thesis is a quest to story a version of those in motherled households which is rich and hopeful.
My noticing of contradictions in these grand narratives led me to seek conversations with mothers, and to share their stories in a reconstructed conversation. These mothers understood wellbeing in their motherled household as a deeply entwined and connected process. Women storied wellbeing in unique, individual, and evolving ways. These women valued their families as sites of purpose, wellbeing and intentionality, a version of family and wellbeing not told elsewhere.
Storytelling contributes to versions of mothering in which women and children flourish, foregrounding activist hopes for research about families. Reflexive storytelling approaches challenge those concerned with making a difference through research and policy formation, through individual practices and everyday conversation.

year: 2017

title: The effects of running a 12-km race on neuromuscular performance measures and the reliability of these measures

authors: Murray, Lauralee

subjects: intra-rater

abstract: There is an increasing number of individuals participating in organised races every year. Running involves repetitive movements and cyclical activation of lower extremity muscles, with foot-strike pattern and fatigue proposed to be contributing factors to running-related injuries. A variety of measures can be used to assess neuromuscular performance and gait of runners. The aims of this thesis were to: (1) systematically review and quality appraise articles addressing the reliability of plantar pressure (PP) distribution and centre of pressure (COP) measures in static stance, 2D video-based assessments of foot-strike pattern (FSP), and plantar-flexion isometric strength-endurance (PFisom) measures (Chapter One); (2) assess the test-retest reliability of these measures in a cohort of recreationally competitive runners (Chapter Two); (3) determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of 2D analyses of overground running in an outdoor environment (Chapter Three); and (4) investigate the effects of running a 12-km race on these measures (Chapter Four). 

As part of the systematic review in Chapter One, forty-three articles were assessed for their methodological quality, with only 21% obtaining a high quality score (≥ 75%) based on the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments. From the reviewed studies, the most reliable measures were: PP mean pressure, % body weight, and contact area; COP sway area and path length; FSP when using a two level classification system; and PFisom peak torque and peak force.

In Chapter Two, twenty-one (10 males, 11 females) recreational runners completed tests of PP distribution in a bilateral stance, a 30 second eyes-closed postural balance test, a self-selected running over task 15-m with video assessment, and a test to determine PFisom on two force plates in order to assess test-retest reliability. Measures of PP surface area, COP path length, FSP classification, foot-strike angle, and running speed were found to be the most reliable across intra-session and inter-session testing occasions. The reliability of PFisom measures could not be determined due to technical difficulties with the software and loss of data.

In Chapter Three, the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of 2D video analyses of overground running in an outdoor environment were assessed from 155 high-speed videos (240 Hz). These 2D video analyses were reliable for quantifying FSP, foot-strike angle, and running speed, although foot-strike angle errors of 2.5° were typical. The associated large CV (17.6%) is likely a reflection of the limited foot-strike angle range (42°) in our population.

In Chapter Four, twenty-four (15 males, 9 males) recreationally competitive runners completed PP distribution, postural balance, FSP, and PFisom tests before and after a 12-km organised race. Running a 12-km race influenced several neuromuscular measures, notably postural control (92.1% and 22.7% increase for area 95 ellipse and path length, respectively) and PFisom (10.8% decrease), confirming racing-induced fatigue. However, these alterations did not lead to observable changes in FSP, indicating that this measure might not be appropriate for quantifying fatigue in recreationally competitive runners.

Results from the systematic review highlight the need for higher quality methodological reliability studies to be undertaken to make stronger inferences about the reliability of measures of PP, COP, FSP and PFisom. The two reliability studies demonstrated measures of PP surface area, COP path length, FSP, foot-strike angle, and running speed to be the most reliable. Furthermore, quantifiable declines in COP and PFisom were observed post a 12-km race, confirming racing-induce fatigue.

text: The effects of running a 12-km race on neuromuscular performance measures and the reliability of these measures There is an increasing number of individuals participating in organised races every year. Running involves repetitive movements and cyclical activation of lower extremity muscles, with foot-strike pattern and fatigue proposed to be contributing factors to running-related injuries. A variety of measures can be used to assess neuromuscular performance and gait of runners. The aims of this thesis were to: (1) systematically review and quality appraise articles addressing the reliability of plantar pressure (PP) distribution and centre of pressure (COP) measures in static stance, 2D video-based assessments of foot-strike pattern (FSP), and plantar-flexion isometric strength-endurance (PFisom) measures (Chapter One); (2) assess the test-retest reliability of these measures in a cohort of recreationally competitive runners (Chapter Two); (3) determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of 2D analyses of overground running in an outdoor environment (Chapter Three); and (4) investigate the effects of running a 12-km race on these measures (Chapter Four). 

As part of the systematic review in Chapter One, forty-three articles were assessed for their methodological quality, with only 21% obtaining a high quality score (≥ 75%) based on the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments. From the reviewed studies, the most reliable measures were: PP mean pressure, % body weight, and contact area; COP sway area and path length; FSP when using a two level classification system; and PFisom peak torque and peak force.

In Chapter Two, twenty-one (10 males, 11 females) recreational runners completed tests of PP distribution in a bilateral stance, a 30 second eyes-closed postural balance test, a self-selected running over task 15-m with video assessment, and a test to determine PFisom on two force plates in order to assess test-retest reliability. Measures of PP surface area, COP path length, FSP classification, foot-strike angle, and running speed were found to be the most reliable across intra-session and inter-session testing occasions. The reliability of PFisom measures could not be determined due to technical difficulties with the software and loss of data.

In Chapter Three, the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of 2D video analyses of overground running in an outdoor environment were assessed from 155 high-speed videos (240 Hz). These 2D video analyses were reliable for quantifying FSP, foot-strike angle, and running speed, although foot-strike angle errors of 2.5° were typical. The associated large CV (17.6%) is likely a reflection of the limited foot-strike angle range (42°) in our population.

In Chapter Four, twenty-four (15 males, 9 males) recreationally competitive runners completed PP distribution, postural balance, FSP, and PFisom tests before and after a 12-km organised race. Running a 12-km race influenced several neuromuscular measures, notably postural control (92.1% and 22.7% increase for area 95 ellipse and path length, respectively) and PFisom (10.8% decrease), confirming racing-induced fatigue. However, these alterations did not lead to observable changes in FSP, indicating that this measure might not be appropriate for quantifying fatigue in recreationally competitive runners.

Results from the systematic review highlight the need for higher quality methodological reliability studies to be undertaken to make stronger inferences about the reliability of measures of PP, COP, FSP and PFisom. The two reliability studies demonstrated measures of PP surface area, COP path length, FSP, foot-strike angle, and running speed to be the most reliable. Furthermore, quantifiable declines in COP and PFisom were observed post a 12-km race, confirming racing-induce fatigue.

year: 2018

title: Raising Māori Student Achievement - Journeys of Success

authors: Kaumoana, Cadence

abstract: Educational success for Māori students is influenced by confidence in one’s identity, positive role models and support; and positive attitudes to learning and success.
This project asked Māori tertiary graduates about their educational experiences. Half of the participants in this study had successfully completed secondary school and the other half did not complete secondary school education. This selection of participants was selected to highlight that although some students don’t complete secondary school it is still possible to successfully pursue and complete tertiary level qualifications. The feedback given from the participants highlighted the positive factors that influenced their successful completion. From these factors recommendations have been developed to support Māori student success. The objective of this study is to encourage the development of increased self-confidence for Māori rangatahi and to promote the continuation of lifelong learning.
When Māori students are supported both at school and in the home they are more likely to achieve educational success, particularly at secondary school level. Similarly, at tertiary level study; students who graduate with a completed degree qualification are likely to have had positive support and successful role models, they are likely to be secure within their own identity and wh!nau network. Māori students that successfully complete tertiary study are more likely to have positive attitudes to learning and to achieving; knowing how to access support and feeling confident in their efforts.
The key to this study is the link between successful completion of secondary school and the follow-on to successful tertiary study. When Māori students are supported appropriately in the development of their identity their confidence soon follows. This support would ideally come from wh!nau in the home and the school. When Māori students are confident in their learning journeys through high levels of confidence in identity they are more likely to persevere under pressure and despite setbacks.
Influencing factors to developing self-confidence for Māori students include awareness of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori, responsibility at home, responsibility at school and the positive influence of role models. The study then concludes by providing recommendations for learners, educators and wh!nau to support the educational achievement of their tamariki.

text: Raising Māori Student Achievement - Journeys of Success Educational success for Māori students is influenced by confidence in one’s identity, positive role models and support; and positive attitudes to learning and success.
This project asked Māori tertiary graduates about their educational experiences. Half of the participants in this study had successfully completed secondary school and the other half did not complete secondary school education. This selection of participants was selected to highlight that although some students don’t complete secondary school it is still possible to successfully pursue and complete tertiary level qualifications. The feedback given from the participants highlighted the positive factors that influenced their successful completion. From these factors recommendations have been developed to support Māori student success. The objective of this study is to encourage the development of increased self-confidence for Māori rangatahi and to promote the continuation of lifelong learning.
When Māori students are supported both at school and in the home they are more likely to achieve educational success, particularly at secondary school level. Similarly, at tertiary level study; students who graduate with a completed degree qualification are likely to have had positive support and successful role models, they are likely to be secure within their own identity and wh!nau network. Māori students that successfully complete tertiary study are more likely to have positive attitudes to learning and to achieving; knowing how to access support and feeling confident in their efforts.
The key to this study is the link between successful completion of secondary school and the follow-on to successful tertiary study. When Māori students are supported appropriately in the development of their identity their confidence soon follows. This support would ideally come from wh!nau in the home and the school. When Māori students are confident in their learning journeys through high levels of confidence in identity they are more likely to persevere under pressure and despite setbacks.
Influencing factors to developing self-confidence for Māori students include awareness of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori, responsibility at home, responsibility at school and the positive influence of role models. The study then concludes by providing recommendations for learners, educators and wh!nau to support the educational achievement of their tamariki.

year: 2013