Most of the research on the relationship between family structure and childhood obesity and distress is limited in its conceptualization of family structure, either ignoring single-father families or bunching them in the same category as single-mother families. Although single-mother families are the most common type of one-parent families, the number of single-father families has increased dramatically over the past three decades and thus warrant study. In this study, I use data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class (ECLS-K) to answer three related questions: (1) Do children living in single-father families have different rates of obesity and externalizing and internalizing behaviors compared to children living in single-mother and two-parent families? (2) Are these differences, if they exist, explained by the type of environments parents create for their children through: (a) differences in time and financial resources between single-father, single-mother, and two-parent families? and/or (b) differences in levels of distress between single-father, single-mother, and two-parent families? (3) Do the health risks associated with living in a single-father family, compared to living in a single-mother or two-parent family, differ as children age? I add to the current literature by integrating the concepts of family structure, family resources, role stress, gender expectations, and parent-child relational dynamics. I focus on these dynamics within single-father families, and compare them to single-mother and two-parent families. Finally, I use semi-structured, in-depth interviews of single-fathers to supplement the survey results. Results from this study demonstrate that, children living in single-parent families, compared to two-parent, married families have higher rates of obesity and a greater number of externalizing and internalizing behavior. In general, single parents have fewer family resources (i.e., time and money) and greater levels of stress and distress. Single fathers provide similar family environments for their children, overall, compared to two-parent families, but single mothers in general, provide "poorer" family environments, compared to two-parent families. Children living with a single father, compared to those living with a single mother, have similar rates of obesity and experience similar numbers of externalizing and internalizing behavior. Single fathers earn more than single mothers, but they are less likely to be in the home part- or full-time, and in general, single fathers and single mothers experience similar levels of stress and distress. Finally, single fathers and single mothers provide similar family environments for their children, except in regards to the number of physical activities they let their children participate in. Path analysis results demonstrate that parents' resources, stress and distress, and family environment do not appear to have a mediating effect on the relationship between family structure and children's obesity, once controlling for other family characteristics (i.e., parents' education and health, race, number of siblings, and region). Parents' resources, stress and distress, and family environment, however, all have a direct effect on children's rates of obesity and externalizing/internalizing behavior. The path analyses show that parents' resources, distress, and parent/child closeness directly impact children's externalizing and internalizing behavior and act as significant mediators between family structure and children's emotional wellbeing, controlling for other family characteristics. However, these variables do not fully mediate the relationship between family structure and children's externalizing/internalizing behavior, and therefore, family structure still has a significant direct effect on children's emotional health. Furthermore, gender of the residential parent matters. For example, the magnitude of the direct effect of living with a single father is larger than the magnitude of the direct effect of living with a single mother for children's internalizing behavior at kindergarten and internalizing and externalizing behavior at third grade. Further analysis demonstrates that children's physical and emotional wellbeing changes as they get older. Children's obesity rate increases from kindergarten to third grade for all family types. However, for children in single-father families, obesity rates then dramatically decrease from third to eighth grade. Children living with a single mother and married parents have stable obesity rates from third to eighth grade. Changes in children's emotional wellbeing from kindergarten to eighth grade vary by family type. For example, children living with a single father, experience an increase in externalizing behavior from kindergarten to third grade, but then a decrease from third to eighth grade. Conversely, children living with a single mother or married parents experience an decrease in their externalizing behavior from kindergarten to third grade, but then an increase from third to eighth grade. The mediating effects of parents' resources, stress and distress, and family environment are fairly similar across waves. Several themes emerged from the qualitative interviews of fathers' experiences as single parents. Five major themes are found: (1) Interactions and relationships with their children, (2) Process of gaining custody, (3) Obstacles faced as a single parent, (4) Nutrition and meals, and (5) Defining success as a parent. Overall, the single fathers interviewed for this study take their "father role" very seriously and are highly engaged with their children. They recognize that there are certain areas where they struggle, but overall they feel that they are very successful as single parents. Several policy implications emerge from my study. First, the qualitative results can be useful to further educate family lawyers and judges handling custody cases. While the essence of the law regarding custody is what is "in the best interest of the child", bias still exists. The interviews included in this study demonstrate that single fathers worry about, and in some instances, experience discrimination in regards to custody decisions. Second, this study highlights the need for a greater focus on single-father families. Both the survey data and the interviews find that, while fathers tend to have greater family resources, compared to single mothers, they do not necessarily provide healthier family environments for their children. The role of organizations, and the health field in general, to educate "at risk" parents with information and provide/support programs to protect their children from increased risk for obesity and emotional distress is just one implication from this study.

No abstract available. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Magister Artium (Child and Family Studies) - MA(CFS) / Parents become the first teachers of the child and therefore the parent-child relationship is important for the development of a child. Parents who have a child with a disability are often more challenged than parents who do not. In South Africa, there are programmes and policies which are implemented to support parents or primary caregivers who have children with disabilities; however, there is no data or reviews available that provide information regarding the capability of parental strategies to ensure the health and well-being of their children with disabilities.

Barn med funktionsnedsättningar upplever mer problem med hälsan och lägre livskvalitet än barn utan funktionsnedsättning. En integrativ litteraturstudie användes för att beskriva och belysa barns upplevelser av att leva med synnedsättning. En analys av 13 artiklar utfördes. Barn med synnedsättning beskrev bland annat hur de undvek sociala situationer där problem relaterat till synnedsättningen kunde uppstå.Många barn deltog tillsammans med sina familjer i fritidsaktiviteter anordnade för barn med synnedsättning arrangerade av olika organisationer. Barnen beskrev både positiva och negativa upplevelser av sina möten med vården. Några av barnen beskrev en frustration över att behöva förklara sitt tillstånd för vårdpersonal som inte var insatta i deras hälsohistorik. Fysisk aktivitet och skola var ett återkommande ämne i flera studier och barnens självkänsla och självförtroende påverkades av möjligheterna till att delta inom dessa områden. Barnen upplevde besvikelse och frustration över den stigmatisering som en synnedsättning innebar. Studien belyser ett relativt outforskat ämne där forskning inriktad på att mäta välbefinnande hos barn och ungdom som lever med synnedsättning är sparsam både utomlands och i Sverige. Genom att samla den befintliga forskningen kan kunskapen öka och leda till en mer individanpassad vård och omvårdnad. / Children with disabilities experience more problems and difficulties with their health and decreased quality-of-life conditions than other children. An integrative litteraturestudy was used to describe the experiences of children with visual impairment and their everyday-life. This study includes an anlysis of 13 articles. The children described scenarios in which social settings were avoided due to problems or concerns that may arise involving the visual impairment. Many of the children with visual impairment and their families attended leisure services that were arranged by different childrens organisations. The children described both positive and negative experiences when meeting with their caregivers. Some of the children described a frustration of having to explain their medcial and health condition to caregivers who were not familiarwith their medical and personal history. A recurring theme in several studies was physical activity and school and how self-esteem and confidence of the children often depended on opportunities to participate in these subjects. Children experienced disappointments and frustrations over the stigmatisation that visual impairment involved. The study encompasses a topic that is relatively unexplored and in need of further research to provide greater understanding. Research that focuses on evaluating the well being of children and youth living with vision loss is sparingly both in Sweden and abroad. By summarizing the existing research, increased knowledge could lead to a more individualized nursing care for these children.

Trait mindfulness refers to the tendency of being mindful in everyday life. Individuals characterized with high trait mindfulness have reported high subjective wellbeing and are less prone to depression and stress. The aim with this systematic review was to investigate the neural correlates of trait mindfulness. Also, to compare the neural correlates underlying trait mindfulness with those related to mindfulness practices. A systematic search, screening and selection was conducted, resulting in twelve articles included for data extraction and discussion. All studies investigated resting state brain activity or brain structure, measured by fMRI or MRI, in relation to individual scores in trait mindfulness measures. Trait mindfulness was characterized by reduced connectivity within the DMN (between the PCC, the medial PFC, the STG and the thalamus e.g.) and increased functional connectivity between the insula and the ACC within the SN. Further, decreased functional connectivity between the DMN and the SN was observed. No consistent structural correlates characterizing trait mindfulness were reported. Reduced connectivity within the DMN is thought to associate with reduced vulnerability to rumination and depression. Increased connectivity within the SN has been linked to enhanced body awareness and interoception. Decreased functional connectivity between the DMN and the SN has been suggested to facilitate enhanced attention. Trait mindfulness appears to share some neural characteristics with those linked to mindfulness practices: weaker functional connectivity within the DMN, increased involvement of the insula and the ACC within the SN, and weaker connectivity between the DMN and the SN.

Thesis advisor: Betty Leask / Race plays a significant role in shaping the experiences of Black students who study abroad. Unlike their White peers, Black students are likely to encounter racism abroad, which a small body of research has documented. However, these studies say little about the short- and long- term effects of these experiences. This study is located in this gap in the research and examines how racism experienced while studying abroad can affect the wellbeing of Black students. In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 participants. Results revealed that the racism Black students encounter abroad can cause significant stress. When Black students lack adequate resources to cope with this stress, their wellbeing is threatened. Recommendations for study abroad offices and administrators for reducing and limiting the incidences and impact of racism experienced by Black students studying abroad are made. / Thesis (MA) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

Drawing on developments in the public health field, this exploratory study applies the ideas of Health Promotion (HP) to the University of Cape Town (UCT). It defines UCT as a setting within which HP can and should take place. Following the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is seen as encompassing physical, mental, social, and other environmental factors (WHO, 1978). Sociological perspectives that acknowledge the relationship between social action/behaviour and the social context, hence the relationship between students' wellbeing and the UCT environment are employed. Data and information for this study were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, participant observation, and a sample of information gathered by first year sociology students. The fear of failure, housing problems, limited social integration, and availability of cigarettes and junk food on campus were found to be some of the factors that influence and constrain students' weIIbeing. It was also found wellbeing is not an explicit consideration in the university plans and policies, even though implicitly these are meant to enhance wellbeing. Strategies to promote health in UCT need to be guided by a commitment to wellbeing in the university's policies. This thesis recommends that the university be required to pass a 'wellbeing test'.

Role expectations and stressful work environments place nurses at high risk for burnout. Nurses at an urban hospital were experiencing unhealthy work environments and not engaging in self-care to promote health and wellbeing. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an existing quality improvement (QI) initiative developed to encourage nurses to engage in self-care. Pender'€™s health promotion model supported the premise that despite barriers, nurses will engage in self-care. A survey elicited responses from 1,248 participating registered nurses on the extent of their engagement with self-care and perceived effect on their health, health knowledge, stress level, and resilience. A chi-square test of independence was used to determine the relationship between participation in unit activities and the participants'€™ health, health knowledge, stress level, and resilience. Thirty-one percent (n = 387) participated and 69% (n = 861) did not participate. No relationship existed between overall participation and the nurses'€™ health, health knowledge, stress level, and resilience. A positive relationship existed between the number of activities and the nurses'€™ health, health knowledge, and stress level. No relationship existed between the number of activities and resilience. Reasons for participation were to improve or maintain health. Barriers included activities not available on all shifts and heavy workload. Recommendations include offering lunch-and-learn educational health programs, offering educational programs to foster resiliency, and offering activities on different shifts. Nurses who engage in self-care have the potential to serve as role models for positive social change for patients, families, and colleagues.

No description available.

Based on colour psychology research from Rikard Küller, stating that colour and light biologically activate human senses (Küller, 1981), the studio thesis design project ”Paletten” explores how colour can provide spatial experience in architecture. As a study it investigates the raw example of a white sterile health care center and suggests an alternative designed health care center in Grubbe, Umeå implemented with colour reflection strategies. Within the subtopic of wellbeing the project further explores the possibilities of flow, transparency and light which challenge the spatial boundaries between public and private areas. The project critically reflects on how nordic contemporary architecture operates within an idea of colour being treated as an ornament rather than a spatial part of a project. In regards of creating future healthy architecture within the topic of well-being, colour has through its impact on our emotions, the power of providing a perception of mental well-being. Colour may then not only be used as a spatial experience, but as a tool to create meaningful future architecture, providing space that heals. By wisely introducing the usage of colour in architecture, our future spaces may provide an increased experience for its users and further present architecture made in consideration of what and whom it is built for. / Baserat på forskning inom färgpsykologi av Rikard Küller, som hävdar att färg och ljus biologiskt aktiverar mänskliga sinnen (Küller, 1981), utforskar designprojektet "Paletten" hur färg i rumsligt sammanhang kan skapa emotionella upplevelser. Som en studie undersöks en vit och steril vårdcentral och vidare föreslås en alternativ designad vårdcentral i Grubbe, Umeå implementerad med färgreflektion. Inom ämnet välmående utforskar projektet vidare mänskliga flöden, materiell transparens och ljusinsläpp som tillsammans utmanar gränsen mellan offentliga och privata ytor. Projektet reflekterar kritiskt över hur nordisk samtida arkitektur behandlar färg som utsmyckning snarare än en rumslig del av ett projekt. När det gäller att skapa framtida hälsosam arkitektur inom ämnet välmående, har färg genom sin inverkan på våra känslor förmågan att ge en uppfattning om mentalt välmående. Färg kan därpå användas som ett verktyg för att skapa hälsosam arkitektur. Genom att eftertänksamt introducera användning av färg i arkitektur kan våra framtida utrymmen ge en förstärkt upplevelse och ytterligare presentera arkitektur designad med hänsyn till vad och vem den faktiskt är byggd för.