Date of Award

8-1987

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Gilbert Mazer

Second Advisor

Dr. Robert Oswald

Third Advisor

Dr. Lewis Walker

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if a low glycemic diet contributes to a reduction in the incidence of antisocial behavior among male juvenile offenders.

One hundred forty juvenile offenders at a residential treatment center were randomly divided into treatment and nontreatment groups. The treatment group ate from a diet which contained foods low in glycemic characteristics. There was no dietary alteration for the control group.

Three instruments were used to measure differences between groups in antisocial behavior following a 5-week experimental period. These instruments include: (1) the Unusual Incident Report--a systematic and objective observer report form, (2) the Profile of Mood States--a validated mood survey, and (3) the Adaptive Behavior Scale-School Edition--a classroom behavior recording form.

Data yielded by these instruments were used to generate 19 null hypotheses related to the general purpose of the study. Analysis of variance, t test for mean differences, and a chi-square test of independence were applied to the data in order to evaluate the differences in antisocial behavior between the treatment and nontreatment groups.

Eighteen of the 19 null hypotheses were retained. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that a low glycemic diet does not lead to a reduction in the occurrence of antisocial behavior of subjects having these demographic characteristics.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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