Dina Izenstark
Biographic Data
| ID | 4466943 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Dina Izenstark |
| GIVEN NAMES | Dina |
| FAMILY NAME | Izenstark |
| SIGNATURE | IZENSTARK D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0821-2035 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 44 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Growing Minds: The Role of Family Residence Green Spaces and Household Chaos on Children's Executive Function
This study examines the relations between access to family residence green spaces, household chaos, and children's executive function, a critical component of cognitive development. The study analyzed data (N = 468) from families participating in a larger U.S. longitudinal birth cohort study when children were 24, 48, and 60 months. Findings suggest that some early access to green space and outdoor items can influence children's cognitive capacit…
Fathering outdoors: Past, present, and future influences
An Exploration of the Environmental Setting Mothers and Early Adolescent Youth Prefer to Have Conversations About Daily Stressors
Parent-child conversations are impacted by environmental setting. Yet, few studies have considered where mothers and early adolescent youth prefer to have conversations about daily stressors. This study examines where mothers and youth prefer to have conversations about daily stressors, differences in preference based on demographic variables, and why certain environmental settings are preferred. One hundred youth ( M = 11.04, 53% boys) and their…
Associations between childhood family‐based nature activities and family relationship quality in emerging adulthood
Changes in Outdoor Recreation among Rural and Urban Children during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Fathers' Perspectives
Using the Family-Based Nature Activities Framework, we examined fathers' perceptions of how their children's outdoor recreation changed during COVID-19, and differences between rural and urban participants' outdoor experiences. Fathers of children ages 5-12 (n = 26) participated in semi-structured interviews. Results showed that due to sweeping lifestyle changes, fathers reported increased time spent outdoors and the development of new outdoor fa…
Why Families Go Outside: An Exploration of Mothers’ and Daughters’ Family-Based Nature Activities
Family-based nature activities (FBNA) are associated with improved health and family functioning, yet little research has explored how and why families spend time together outside. This study used a routine and rituals framework to explore engagement in FBNA, individual health and familial benefits, and situational and developmental constraints that influence participation. Twenty-six mothers and daughters (ages 10–12) participated in semi-struct…
Examining family-based nature activities among Latinx students: Contexts for reinforcing family relationships and cultural heritage
There is a strong need to conduct research and inform practice related to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the leisure field (Floyd and Stodolska [2019]. “Scholarship on Race and Ethnicity: Assessing Contributions to Leisure Theory and Practice.” Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 37 (1): 80–94). Using a routines and rituals framework, we explored how and why Latinx families spend time together outside. We collected qualitativ…
How to bargain successfully with adolescents: What can be learned from youth development professionals
This study examines risks and potential benefits that youth professionals experience in bargaining with adolescents. We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 50 experienced adult leaders of 27 high‐quality arts, technology, and leadership youth programs (serving ethnically‐diverse teens). Half worked with younger teens (ages 11–14), half with older (ages 14–18). Leaders reported bargaining in ways responsive to youth's wants and ne…
Patterns of family-based nature activities across the early life course and their association with adulthood outdoor participation and preference
This study explored how family-based nature activities (FBNA) change in frequency and activity type over time across five developmental periods (early childhood [EC], middle childhood [MC], early adolescence [E-ADOL], middle adolescence [M-ADOL], and emerging adulthood [EA]) and whether these early experiences are associated with adulthood outdoor participation and preferences. Retrospective online questionnaires were collected from 349 undergrad…
Minority Stress in the Context of Rural Economic Hardship: One Lesbian Mother's Story
In this article, we use case study methodology to provide a detailed description of the life of Lucy, a single, lesbian mother living in a rural community on a low income. Using the lens of stigma and minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003 Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697.[Crossref], [PubMed], [W…
Theorizing Family‐Based Nature Activities and Family Functioning: The Integration of Attention Restoration Theory With a Family Routines and Rituals Perspective
Time spent in nature has been recognized as beneficial for individuals, but the benefits of nature engagement for families remain significantly underresearched and lack theoretical underpinnings. We draw from the family studies, family leisure, and environmental psychology literature to suggest a new theoretical approach—integrating attention restoration theory and a routines and rituals perspective to study family‐based nature activities. Attent…
Rural, Low-Income Mothers' Use of Family-Based Nature Activities to Promote Family Health
This study explores how rural, low-income mothers use family-based nature activities to promote the health of themselves and their families. Data were collected through in-person interviews with a sub-sample of mothers (n = 85) who participated in a larger multistate, mixed-methods longitudinal project. Grounded theory analysis techniques were used to depict the social process of how mothers engage in family-based nature activities to promote phy…
The Art of Restraint: How Experienced Program Leaders Use Their Authority to Support Youth Agency
The staff of youth development programs perform a delicate balancing act between supporting youth agency and exercising necessary authority. To understand this balancing in daily practice, we interviewed 25 experienced (M = 14 years) leaders of arts, leadership, and technology programs for high-school-aged youth. We obtained accounts of when, how, and why they gave advice, set limits, and "supported youth when disagreeing." Qualitative analysis f…
Perceptions of Urban Parks as Havens and Contested Terrains by Mexican-Americans in Chicago Neighborhoods
The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the benefits of parks for Mexican-American urban residents and the roles they play in the dynamics of their communities and (2) explore issues related to their existence and utilization in Latino communities. Bedimo-Rung, Mowen, and Cohen's (2005) model of the Role of Parks in Public Health was employed as a conceptual framework in this study. Data were collected in the summer of 2007 with two foc…
Perceptions of Urban Parks as Havens and Contested Terrains by Mexican-Americans in Chicago Neighborhoods
The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the benefits of parks for Mexican-American urban residents and the roles they play in the dynamics of their communities and (2) explore issues related to their existence and utilization in Latino communities. Bedimo-Rung, Mowen, and Cohen's (2005) model of the Role of Parks in Public Health was employed as a conceptual framework in this study. Data were collected in the summer of 2007 with two foc…
Rural, Low-Income Mothers' Use of Family-Based Nature Activities to Promote Family Health
This study explores how rural, low-income mothers use family-based nature activities to promote the health of themselves and their families. Data were collected through in-person interviews with a sub-sample of mothers (n = 85) who participated in a larger multistate, mixed-methods longitudinal project. Grounded theory analysis techniques were used to depict the social process of how mothers engage in family-based nature activities to promote phy…
The Art of Restraint: How Experienced Program Leaders Use Their Authority to Support Youth Agency
The staff of youth development programs perform a delicate balancing act between supporting youth agency and exercising necessary authority. To understand this balancing in daily practice, we interviewed 25 experienced (M = 14 years) leaders of arts, leadership, and technology programs for high-school-aged youth. We obtained accounts of when, how, and why they gave advice, set limits, and "supported youth when disagreeing." Qualitative analysis f…
Patterns of family-based nature activities across the early life course and their association with adulthood outdoor participation and preference
This study explored how family-based nature activities (FBNA) change in frequency and activity type over time across five developmental periods (early childhood [EC], middle childhood [MC], early adolescence [E-ADOL], middle adolescence [M-ADOL], and emerging adulthood [EA]) and whether these early experiences are associated with adulthood outdoor participation and preferences. Retrospective online questionnaires were collected from 349 undergrad…
Theorizing Family‐Based Nature Activities and Family Functioning: The Integration of Attention Restoration Theory With a Family Routines and Rituals Perspective
Time spent in nature has been recognized as beneficial for individuals, but the benefits of nature engagement for families remain significantly underresearched and lack theoretical underpinnings. We draw from the family studies, family leisure, and environmental psychology literature to suggest a new theoretical approach—integrating attention restoration theory and a routines and rituals perspective to study family‐based nature activities. Attent…
Why Families Go Outside: An Exploration of Mothers’ and Daughters’ Family-Based Nature Activities
Family-based nature activities (FBNA) are associated with improved health and family functioning, yet little research has explored how and why families spend time together outside. This study used a routine and rituals framework to explore engagement in FBNA, individual health and familial benefits, and situational and developmental constraints that influence participation. Twenty-six mothers and daughters (ages 10–12) participated in semi-struct…
Examining family-based nature activities among Latinx students: Contexts for reinforcing family relationships and cultural heritage
There is a strong need to conduct research and inform practice related to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the leisure field (Floyd and Stodolska [2019]. “Scholarship on Race and Ethnicity: Assessing Contributions to Leisure Theory and Practice.” Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 37 (1): 80–94). Using a routines and rituals framework, we explored how and why Latinx families spend time together outside. We collected qualitativ…
An Exploration of the Environmental Setting Mothers and Early Adolescent Youth Prefer to Have Conversations About Daily Stressors
Parent-child conversations are impacted by environmental setting. Yet, few studies have considered where mothers and early adolescent youth prefer to have conversations about daily stressors. This study examines where mothers and youth prefer to have conversations about daily stressors, differences in preference based on demographic variables, and why certain environmental settings are preferred. One hundred youth ( M = 11.04, 53% boys) and their…
Perceptions of Urban Parks as Havens and Contested Terrains by Mexican-Americans in Chicago Neighborhoods
The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the benefits of parks for Mexican-American urban residents and the roles they play in the dynamics of their communities and (2) explore issues related to their existence and utilization in Latino communities. Bedimo-Rung, Mowen, and Cohen's (2005) model of the Role of Parks in Public Health was employed as a conceptual framework in this study. Data were collected in the summer of 2007 with two foc…
The Art of Restraint: How Experienced Program Leaders Use Their Authority to Support Youth Agency
The staff of youth development programs perform a delicate balancing act between supporting youth agency and exercising necessary authority. To understand this balancing in daily practice, we interviewed 25 experienced (M = 14 years) leaders of arts, leadership, and technology programs for high-school-aged youth. We obtained accounts of when, how, and why they gave advice, set limits, and "supported youth when disagreeing." Qualitative analysis f…
Minority Stress in the Context of Rural Economic Hardship: One Lesbian Mother's Story
In this article, we use case study methodology to provide a detailed description of the life of Lucy, a single, lesbian mother living in a rural community on a low income. Using the lens of stigma and minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003 Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697.[Crossref], [PubMed], [W…
Theorizing Family‐Based Nature Activities and Family Functioning: The Integration of Attention Restoration Theory With a Family Routines and Rituals Perspective
Time spent in nature has been recognized as beneficial for individuals, but the benefits of nature engagement for families remain significantly underresearched and lack theoretical underpinnings. We draw from the family studies, family leisure, and environmental psychology literature to suggest a new theoretical approach—integrating attention restoration theory and a routines and rituals perspective to study family‐based nature activities. Attent…
Rural, Low-Income Mothers' Use of Family-Based Nature Activities to Promote Family Health
This study explores how rural, low-income mothers use family-based nature activities to promote the health of themselves and their families. Data were collected through in-person interviews with a sub-sample of mothers (n = 85) who participated in a larger multistate, mixed-methods longitudinal project. Grounded theory analysis techniques were used to depict the social process of how mothers engage in family-based nature activities to promote phy…
Examining family-based nature activities among Latinx students: Contexts for reinforcing family relationships and cultural heritage
There is a strong need to conduct research and inform practice related to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the leisure field (Floyd and Stodolska [2019]. “Scholarship on Race and Ethnicity: Assessing Contributions to Leisure Theory and Practice.” Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 37 (1): 80–94). Using a routines and rituals framework, we explored how and why Latinx families spend time together outside. We collected qualitativ…
How to bargain successfully with adolescents: What can be learned from youth development professionals
This study examines risks and potential benefits that youth professionals experience in bargaining with adolescents. We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 50 experienced adult leaders of 27 high‐quality arts, technology, and leadership youth programs (serving ethnically‐diverse teens). Half worked with younger teens (ages 11–14), half with older (ages 14–18). Leaders reported bargaining in ways responsive to youth's wants and ne…
Patterns of family-based nature activities across the early life course and their association with adulthood outdoor participation and preference
This study explored how family-based nature activities (FBNA) change in frequency and activity type over time across five developmental periods (early childhood [EC], middle childhood [MC], early adolescence [E-ADOL], middle adolescence [M-ADOL], and emerging adulthood [EA]) and whether these early experiences are associated with adulthood outdoor participation and preferences. Retrospective online questionnaires were collected from 349 undergrad…
Changes in Outdoor Recreation among Rural and Urban Children during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Fathers' Perspectives
Using the Family-Based Nature Activities Framework, we examined fathers' perceptions of how their children's outdoor recreation changed during COVID-19, and differences between rural and urban participants' outdoor experiences. Fathers of children ages 5-12 (n = 26) participated in semi-structured interviews. Results showed that due to sweeping lifestyle changes, fathers reported increased time spent outdoors and the development of new outdoor fa…
Why Families Go Outside: An Exploration of Mothers’ and Daughters’ Family-Based Nature Activities
Family-based nature activities (FBNA) are associated with improved health and family functioning, yet little research has explored how and why families spend time together outside. This study used a routine and rituals framework to explore engagement in FBNA, individual health and familial benefits, and situational and developmental constraints that influence participation. Twenty-six mothers and daughters (ages 10–12) participated in semi-struct…
Associations between childhood family‐based nature activities and family relationship quality in emerging adulthood
An Exploration of the Environmental Setting Mothers and Early Adolescent Youth Prefer to Have Conversations About Daily Stressors
Parent-child conversations are impacted by environmental setting. Yet, few studies have considered where mothers and early adolescent youth prefer to have conversations about daily stressors. This study examines where mothers and youth prefer to have conversations about daily stressors, differences in preference based on demographic variables, and why certain environmental settings are preferred. One hundred youth ( M = 11.04, 53% boys) and their…
Growing Minds: The Role of Family Residence Green Spaces and Household Chaos on Children's Executive Function
This study examines the relations between access to family residence green spaces, household chaos, and children's executive function, a critical component of cognitive development. The study analyzed data (N = 468) from families participating in a larger U.S. longitudinal birth cohort study when children were 24, 48, and 60 months. Findings suggest that some early access to green space and outdoor items can influence children's cognitive capacit…
Fathering outdoors: Past, present, and future influences
Psychology (12 works) · Urban Green Space and Health (10 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Developmental psychology (7 works) · Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management (7 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Geography (5 works) · Medicine (5 works) · Social Psychology (5 works) · Place Attachment and Urban Studies (4 works)