Abstract not on disk

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in the department of school of Public Health Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, 2003 / Smoking is a preventable cause of death. Young people start smoking at an early age due to certain external influences such as peer pressure, advertising etc. Once they start smoking, they often remain smokers forever because of the addictive effects of nicotine. The international studies show that the high morbidity and mortality rates caused by cigarette smoking can be reduced if health promotion strategies target school going children. The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of students in matric as regards smoking in the Greater Tshwane Metropolitan area (Pretoria). This will inform the health promotion programmes, in particular health education, dealing with tobacco smoking prevention and control in schools / IT2018

Adolescent substance use is associated with a number of pressing problems on the public health agenda, including an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, violence-related injuries, depression, homicide, sexual assault, and accidental death. Teenage substance use remains high in South Africa, with a prevalence of smoking and alcohol binge-drinking estimated at 18.5% and 23% respectively. A previous quantitative cross-sectional analysis of data from a study cohort from which this study’s sample was drawn, demonstrated an association between adolescents’ sense of coherence (SOC) – a measure of coping ability – and smoking. The current study, using a qualitative approach, thus sought to gain more insight into adolescent substance use, particularly smoking, and to better understand how it may relate to coping. A mixed method sampling strategy was used in selecting 22 research participants between the ages of 16 and 19 in two high schools in Pretoria. They were then interviewed individually by an interviewer blinded to their SOC level and substance use status as documented in the quantitative survey in which this study builds on. The interviews were transcribed in full and a content analysis strategy was used in the analysis of the data. The results obtained were then merged with participants’ substance use status and SOC levels. Of the 22 participants, 6 had strong SOC and had never used substances; 8 had weak SOC and were current substance users. The other 8 also had weak SOC but were not current substance users. Further analysis of the results showed that adolescents’ substance use is associated with stress and coping as they (substance users) reported using substances in attempting to manage stressful life events. Of the 8 current substance users, 7 reported avoidance-oriented (disengagement) coping styles. Five of the 7 reported load imbalance such as academic and social pressures and distress (e.g. schoolwork overload, peer demands, and family problems) as a reason for using substances. The non-substance using adolescents with weak SOC reported strong social support, especially family and peer support in coping with life stressors. Hence, substances were more likely to make up for compromised coping where contextuallevel risk factors (demands/stressors) exceeded coping resources such as social support. Also, of the 8 substance users- in addition to stress related reasons for using substances- 4 reported sensation seeking, whilst 2 reported curiosity/experimentation- which are all non-stress related. Furthermore, although family and peer support were observed to be complementary in most cases, the reliance on peers for support was stronger amongst those whom family support was considered weak, which presented the context for social/peer pressure and vulnerability to substance use. The study findings suggest family support as a moderator of the influence of the adolescents’ inability to cope with stress (or have low SOC) on smoking behaviour. On the other hand, a close relationship was observed between strong SOC and using engagement coping responses and reporting family and school support as sources of support. Notably, all the participants with strong SOC reported that they had never used substances despite being equally affected by life stressors. The implications of the findings are also discussed, especially as related to enhancing SOC. More practically, in addition to providing life skills training to educate adolescents about substance use, school-based programmes could incorporate the notion of stress and coping in helping adolescents to develop desirable and effective coping strategies to deal with social demands as well as adopting advantageous lifestyles to meet their needs for stimulation and adventure (sensation seeking and experimentation). On the whole, the enhancement of social support and adolescents’ connectedness to various social systems may be the key to substance use prevention among South African adolescents.

MSc (Med), Biokinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Introduction: Performance enhancing substance (PES) use is a major concern currently facing adolescent sport. The youth have become more competitive in sport, with some using substances and supplements to improve their performance. Unfortunately, some of these adolescent athletes are using substances that are both harmful to their health and prohibited. Aim of study: To establish the attitudes and perceptions towards and the use of PES, including prohibited substances and food supplements, by adolescent male athletes, in selected Johannesburg boys’ high schools. Method: The study design was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. Male adolescent high school learners involved in 1st and 2nd team competitive high school sport in seven Johannesburg boys’ high schools were invited to volunteer to participate in the study. Questionnaires were completed under conditions similar to an examination, where participants were not allowed to communicate with each other. Demographic data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The sample size was 100. Results indicated that the prevalence of PES use amongst the participants was 30%. The use of prohibited substances was found, including growth hormone (5%), anabolic androgenic steroids (4%), and adrenaline (4%). Food supplement use was also found in this sample, including creatine (32%), protein (61%), carbohydrate (54%), caffeine (57%) and vitamin (61%) supplementation. Most of the participants (83%) that used PES started using them when they were over 15 years old. The majority of the participants (42%) played rugby as their main high school sport. Conclusion: The findings indicate that there was generally a low prevalence of ergogenic substance use in Johannesburg boys’ high school sport for performance enhancement. Substances such as anabolic androgenic steroids (4%) and growth hormone (5%) were found to be used by the learners. The anti-doping attitude of the learners may be improved by education programmes, which aim to decrease the prevalence of prohibited PES use in adolescent sport.

Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal com comparações entre grupos, desenvolvido em duas etapas. Na primeira etapa buscou-se identificar: padrão de consumo de tabaco, características da família, escola e pares. Na segunda etapa, com apoio de conceitos da teoria da identidade social, buscou-se identificar as representações que adolescentes têm de pessoas fumantes e não fumantes e suas identificações com as qualificações atribuídas a esses dois conjuntos de indivíduos. Foram participantes 494 adolescentes, com idades entre 15 e 18 anos, estudantes de ensino médio de duas escolas da cidade de Hermosillo, Sonora, México (62,5% do sexo feminino). Na primeira etapa foram empregados os seguintes instrumentos para coleta de dados: Questionário Mundial sobre Tabagismo em Jovens \", Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), e Questionário de Tolerância de Fageström (QTF).Na segunda etapa, 26 adolescentes foram entrevistados individualmente com apoio de um roteiro previamene elaborado. Os principais resultados da primeira etapa mostram que 45,7% (n=226) experimentaram cigarros uma vez na vida; 88,7% não são fumantes atualmente e 11,3% são fumantes. A idade de início do tabagismo compreende o período de 13 a 15 anos; 89,3% apresentam muito baixo nível de dependência de nicotina. Os lugares preferidos para fumar são as reuniões sociais e a escola. Não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos de fumantes e não fumantes quanto ao uso de cigarros por seus pais. Com relação ao uso de cigarros por amigos identificaram-se diferenças entre os grupos (X² = 62,75; p< 0,001); 49,1% dos adolescentes fumantes disseram que seus melhores amigos são também fumantes e 11% dos não fumantes assim responderam. Encontrou-se diferença também quanto a aceitar a oferta de cigarro dos melhores amigos (X² = 251,81; p< 0,001), 71.2% dos não fumantes responderam que não aceitariam enquanto que 71,4% dos fumantes responderam que provavelmente aceitariam. Quanto à crença que deixar de fumar é difícil, as diferenças entre os grupos foi também significante (X² = 22,44; p< 0,001), 42,6% dos não fumantes respondeu que é difícil deixar de fumar e 41,8% fumantes responderam que não é difícil deixar de fumar. As representações que os adolescentes têm de mulheres e de homens que fumam são também diferentes (X² = 37, 13, p< 0,001; X² = 39, 84, p< 0,001 respectivamente). Em geral são atribuídas características negativas sendo que as mulheres são rotuladas negativamente em maior proporção. Quanto aos resultados da segunda etapa do estudo, obteve-se que quando adolescentes fumantes e não fumantes qualificam indivíduos não fumantes eles tendem a atribuir-lhes características positivas. O contrário ocorre quando se trata de qualificar indivíduos que fumam. Há, ainda, uma porcentagem de entrevistados para os quais não há características distintivas de indivíduos fumantes e não fumantes. Ao avaliarem a si mesmos quanto a apresentarem as características que atribuíram a indivíduos fumantes e não fumantes verifica-se que os fumantes tenderam a não se ver naquelas representações. Por seu turno, os não fumantes tenderam a ver-se com as características de indivíduos não fumantes. Tais resultados são relevantes para a compreensão do que pensam adolescentes sobre o comportamento de fumar. E de fatores relacionados a esse comportamento. / A descriptive, cross-sectional study, with comparisons between groups, was performed in two steps. The first one approached the pattern of tobacco consumption, the characteristics of family, school and peers. In the second one, based on concepts of the social identity theory, was looked for identify the representations that the adolescents have about smokers and nonsmokers and their identifications with the qualifications attributed to those two groups of individuals. In this study participated, 494 students aged 15-18 studying at two high schools of the city of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico (62,5% females). In the first step the following instruments were used: Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) and the Questionnaire of Tolerance of Fagerstrom (QTF). In the second, 26 teenagers were interviewed individually with support of a guide previously made. The main results of the first stage show that 45, 7% (n = 226) smoke cigarettes once in life; 88.7% are nonsmokers at the moment and 11, 3% are smokers. The age of beginning of the tobacco consumption is between 13 and 15 years old; 89.3% show a very low level of nicotine dependency. The preferred places to smoke are social meetings and school. Differences between groups of smokers and nonsmokers were not found regarding parents\' smoking. About the use of cigarettes by friends, differences between groups were identified (X² = 62, 75; p< 0,001); 49.1% of teenager smokers mentioned that their best friends are smokers too and 11% of the non smokers gave the same answer. We found a difference about accepting the supply of cigarettes provided by their best friends (X² = 251, 81; p< 0,001), 71.2% of the nonsmokers answered that they would not accept it and 71, 4% of the smokers answered that probably they would accept. Regarding the belief that quit smoking is difficult, the difference between the groups was significant (X² = 22, 44; p< 0,001), 42, 6% of the nonsmokers answered that it is difficult to quit smoking and 41, 8% of smokers mentioned that is not difficult. The representations that adolescents have of women and men who smoke, are also different (X² = 37, 13, p< 0,001; X² = 39, 84, p< 0,001 each). In general, negative characteristics are attributed more to the women, they are labeled negatively in greater proportion. The results of the second step of the study show that smoker and nonsmoker teenagers tend to attribute to the nonsmokers positive characteristics. The opposite occurs when they qualify smokers. A percentage of adolescents consider that there are not differences between smokers and non smokers. When evaluating themselves, regarding the characteristics that they attributed to smokers and nonsmokers, we verify that the smokers tend not to see themselves in those representations. Nonsmokers tend to see themselves with the characteristics of nonsmokers. Findings from this study have important implications for the understanding of what the adolescents think about smoking and factors related to that behavior.

Thesis advisor: C. Patrick Proctor / During adolescence, students engage in identity-formation processes that impact motivation to learn, as well as education and career choices moving forward. Adolescents with learning disabilities (LD) face particular challenges in developing a positive identity as a learner: feelings of decreased academic competence (Gans, Kenny, & Ghany, 2003; Terras, Thompson, & Minnis, 2009), increased school dropout rates (Deshler, 2005), and decreased feelings of global self-worth (Boetsch, Green, & Pennington, 1996) as compared to non-LD peers. Literacy is an area of particular concern. Given the importance placed on literacy skills in our society, it is unsurprising that difficulties in literacy learning impact the beliefs that students with LD develop about themselves (Burden, 2008). This study presents the results of an investigation into a group of students’ identity beliefs with regard to motivation, literacy and LD; how those beliefs were related to one another; and how those beliefs both shaped, and were shaped by, literacy experiences, using data collected during the 2014-2015 school year at one of the seven schools participating in the National Center on the Use of Emerging Technologies to Improve Literacy Achievement for Students with Disabilities in Middle School (CET; CAST, Inc, 2015; PIs: David Rose and Ted Hasselbring). Data gathered for the 11 participants included a literacy motivation battery; classroom observations; student interviews; and teacher interviews, informed by the Reading Engagement Index (REI; Wigfield et al., 2008). Both directed content analysis (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005) and thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) were used to analyze the data. Developing a greater awareness of the role of motivation in the literacy practices of adolescents with LD will enable educators to better understand the conditions under which these students read and write most willingly. This knowledge can be incorporated into school-based curricula, interventions, and professional development, such that these students have reason both to value the learning challenges placed before them, and to expect to succeed at meeting those challenges.

Thesis advisor: Rebekah L. Coley / This study asked low-income adolescents from rural communities directly how they define success, resilience, and progress. More specifically, it assessed the ways in which rural youth and their families are resilient and identifies the main obstacles they face. This study used the participatory method of Interpretive Focus Groups (IFGs). Together with the researcher, participants examined photographs taken in a previous study (Pratt-Ronco & Coley, 2006), along with transcripts of previous interviews. The data analysis was directed at gaining a better understanding of what resilience and social mobility mean to the adolescents in the sample and identifying the barriers that beset adolescents living in rural poverty. This methodology is a good fit for these questions because the answers lie in the adolescents' perspectives of their worlds. All too often, adults (academics, teachers, families, and the government) decide what it means to be successful, socially mobile, or resilient. This study asked adolescents to define these terms and thereby gives insight to the complexity of working with these youth. In addition to the Interpretive Focus Groups, thirteen educators were interviewed. The purpose of the educator interviews was to gain a better understanding of how school personnel perceived the problem of rural poverty. This information allowed for triangulation of the data, as well as a way to look for disconnects between teachers and students. The findings of this study shed light on an understudied population. There are two overarching themes which categorize the data collected: pervasive poverty and hope and resilience. The adolescents at the center of this research were surrounded by want and deprivation. They were isolated from resources, opportunities, and wealth. The reality of just how much adversity rural poor youth face on a daily basis is disconcerting. However, they showed great resilience, hope, and a "grittiness" that came from their rural poor existence. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling and Developmental Psychology.

Este estudo teve como proposta desvelar o fenômeno da convivência dos pais com a internação de um filho adolescente, considerando ser esta uma das minhas inquietações no cotidiano da minha prática docente assistencial. Utilizando-me do referencial fenomenológico e à luz da analítica existencial de Martin Heidegger, entrevistei quinze pais de adolescentes que no período de agosto a outubro de 2002, habitavam as Unidades de Internação do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. A análise dos depoimentos, minhas vivências e as leituras realizadas, desvelaram quatro grandes categorias temáticas: o impacto da doença na família, os sentimentos vividos pela família, a adaptação no mundo hospitalar e a religiosidade e a fé no enfrentamento da hospitalização. Ao refletir sobre a experiência dos pais considero a necessidade de pensar o adolescente e sua família, como um ser-aí-no-mundo e sendo-no-mundo-com-os-outros. / The objective of this study was understand the experience of parents of living with a hospitalized adolescent since this was an identified problem in my everyday practice. Fifteen parents of adolescents hospitalized at the University Hosptital were interviewed from August to October of 2002. The phenomenological approach of Martin Heidegger was used to analyse the data. Four themes werw identified: the immpact of the illness on the familiy, the feelings of family members, the adaptation in the hospital world and the religion and faith in the process of coping with hospitalization. The results showed the inportance of thinking the adolescent and his/her family as a being-in-the-world and being-in-the-world-with-others.

Adverse parenting practices have adverse effects on child outcomes, ranging from lower academic success (Dornbusch, Ritter, Leiderman, Roberts, & Fraleigh, 1987) to delinquency behavior (Steinberg, Fletcher & Darling, 1994) to adjustment difficulties (Shumow & Lomax, 2009). There is considerable evidence linking poor parenting practices to increases in adolescent adjustment symptoms (e.g. Barnes, Reifman, Farrell, & Dintcheff, 2000). It is likely that there is an explanatory mechanism driving this relationship. The current study tests the hypotheses that associations between adverse parenting behaviors are both directly associated with adjustment problems, and indirectly associated with maladjustment via changes in self-views. A staggered cohort longitudinal design was employed that included a total of 453 (215 boys, 238 girls) 9th graders and 464 (231 boys, 233 girls) 10th graders at the first assessment in spring, 2013. At the onset of the study, adolescents completed scales describing parental monitoring (Small & Kerns, 1993), parental psychological control (Barber, 1996), and parental connectedness (Arnold, Nott, & Meinhold, 2012). Adolescents also described indices of self-esteem (Rosenberg, 1965), self-efficacy (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995), and adjustment behaviors (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). Results from the direct effects models revealed parenting practices have a direct effect on adolescent adjustment. Mediation models revealed indirect links between parenting practices and adolescent adjustment via self-esteem. Greater parental psychological control and less parental connectedness was linked to decreases in selfesteem one year later, and lower levels of self-esteem were in turn, associated with increases in adolescent adjustment problems. This study provides insight on the impact that parenting practices have on adolescents both directly and indirectly. Parents should understand that even though adolescents are seeking autonomy and separation, practicing attentive and meaningful parenting is just as important during adolescence as it is during any other periods of development. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

RESUMO Introdução. O tabaco é, mundialmente, uma relevante causa prevenível de morte. O hábito de fumar, na maioria das vezes, estabelece-se na adolescência. Considerando-se a prevalência de tabagismo e o potencial de seu crescimento, entre os jovens brasileiros, justifica-se o presente estudo que visa a embasar programas abrangentes de controle do tabagismo. Objetivo. Identificar fatores associados ao tabagismo em estudantes de 13 a 15 anos de idade, nas capitais dos três estados da Região Sul do Brasil. Métodos. Foram utilizados dados secundários provenientes do Inquérito de Tabagismo em Escolares, relativos a Curitiba, Florianópolis e Porto Alegre, em 2002 e 2004. A população compreendeu adolescentes de 13 a 15 anos, cursando as 7a. e 8a. séries, do ensino fundamental, e primeira, do ensino médio, de escolas públicas e privadas. Coletou-se a informação por meio de um questionário auto-aplicável e anônimo. Consideraram-se tabagistas os que informaram ter fumado em um ou mais dias, nos últimos trinta dias. Para análise, foram estimados proporções ponderadas e os respectivos intervalos com 95% de confiança e aplicadas técnicas de regressão logística múltipla por meio do programa computacional SPSS?, para detectar os principais fatores associados ao vício de fumar. O nível de significância adotado foi de 10% (? <= 0,10). Resultados. A prevalência de fumantes entre esses escolares variou de 10,7% em Florianópolis a 17,7% em Porto Alegre e foi sempre mais elevada, entre as meninas. Observou-se, nas três capitais, que as proporções entre estudantes fumantes foram maiores na presença de pai fumante, mãe fumante ou ambos fumantes, amigo fumante, exposição à fumaça ambiental em casa e fora de casa, de possuidores de objetos com o logotipo de marca de cigarros e que receberam mais freqüentemente oferta gratuita de cigarros, comparativamente às dos não fumantes. Conclusões. Entre escolares residentes nas capitais do Sul do Brasil, a prevalência de tabagismo é elevada, e os fatores comuns associados ao tabagismo, estatisticamente significantes, foram possuir indivíduos fumantes como melhores amigos e estar exposto à fumaça ambiental, fora de casa. / ABSTRACT Introduction. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide and adolescents are at a great risk to initiate the smoking habit. The prevalence of tobacco use and its potential growth among Brazilian school youth justify this work, which intends to subside a comprehensive tobacco control program. Objective. To identify relevant factors associated with the tobacco use among students aged 13 to 15 years, in the capital cities of the three States of the Brazilian South Region. Methods. Sample data was obtained in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, related to Curitiba, PR, Florianópolis, SC, and Porto Alegre, RS, in 2002 and 2004. Adolescents 13 to 15 years, attending the 7th, the 8th grades and the 1st grade of highschool of private and public schools, have composed the study population. Data was collected through an anonymous and self-administered questionnaire. Those who smoked at least one day within the last 30 days were considered smokers. For the statistical analysis of the results, weighted proportions and their respective confidence intervals of 95%, as well as multinomial logistic regression model were applied through the SPSS?, a computer statistical program. The level of significance adopted was 10% (? <= 0.10). The smoking prevalence among the students varied from 10.7% in Florianópolis, SC, to 17.7% in Porto Alegre, RS, and was higher among girls. In the three capitals, the proportion of smokers was higher among those whose mother, father, both parents or best friends had the smoking habit; also, the occurrence of smokers was higher among students exposed to tobacco smoke environment (at home or outside); the same situation was detected among the students who owned objects with a cigarette brand logo, or if more often were offered free cigarettes. Conclusions. Among school youths living in the three capitals of the states of the South of Brazil, it was estimated high prevalence of smokers and the factors statistically associated with the tobacco use were presence of best peer friends addicted to the smoking habit and environmental exposition to the smoke outside home.