Compulsive exercise has been observed as a significant feature of the eating disorders throughout their history. It has variously been conceptualised as primarily an analogue of purgation, an emotion regulation strategy, an addiction, or an obsessivecompulsive behaviour, with evidence supporting each to varying degrees. The importance of compulsive exercise is underlined by the finding that it often precedes the onset of an eating disorder and is one of the last symptoms to subside. In addition, it is associated with a longer length of hospitalisation and higher rates of relapse. As a result, compulsive exercise is now recognised as a significant factor in the aetiology, development and maintenance of the eating disorders across diagnoses. Yet despite the importance of compulsive exercise and previous recommendations to target it, no clear conceptual model of compulsive exercise exists upon which an intervention could be based. This thesis has three broad aims: (1) critically review the evidence for and against factors implicated in the maintenance of compulsive exercise and propose a new theoretically coherent and empirically derived model of compulsive exercise that could be used to inform future cognitive-behavioural interventions; (2) develop and provide preliminary validation for a new measure of compulsive exercise; and (3) present six studies utilising the new measure of compulsive exercise to empirically test some of the relationships suggested by the proposed model. Main findings: The resulting Compulsive Exercise Test (CET) is a new multidimensional measure of compulsive exercise, consistent with the proposed cognitive-behavioural conceptualisation, and demonstrating good psychometric properties. Utilising the CET, the empirical chapters demonstrate that compulsive exercise was associated with (a) elevated levels of eating-disordered cognitions and increased frequency of eating-disordered behaviours, (b) avoidanceoriented coping and a range of difficulties in regulating emotions, and (c) perfectionism (particularly the self-critical dimension). Implications: The current findings provide preliminary support for the proposed cognitive-behavioural maintenance model of compulsive exercise. This may inform clinical interventions and prevention programs designed to address compulsive exercise, as well as enhancing current treatment efficacy by providing specific targets for intervention. In addition, the new measure of compulsive exercise is potentially a useful screening tool in formulating the maintenance of an individual's exercise behaviour, and is further a potentially useful research and outcome tool.

People´s access to safe health care is not as common as one might think. Today with new and different health insurances and improved health policies people should in theory have safe health care. Although numerous of health insurances exist, targeting large parts of populations, there are still many issues with them. The Behavioural Model of Health Services Use and Separate Spheres are the two theories that are used in this study. Where Separate Spheres describes men´s and women´s separate worlds, their responsibilities in them and how it effects them and the Behavioural Model of Health Services Use, which describes factors that either impede or enable people’s access to health care utilization. This study´s purpose is to see what different perceptions men and women have about the insurance and how these perceptions can affect families’ choice to enroll to the insurance. The study uses a qualitative approach and is based on semi-structured interviews. Results in this study showed that men and women have very different perceptions about the insurance. Men want the insurance because they want to save money and decrease health expenses. While women wants the insurance for their children to always have access to health care. The roles between men and women in households are significant and their different responsibilities affect their priorities and perceptions.

Australian wool traders and researchers have little knowledge of the incomplete adoption of the price risk management strategies that are available to stabilise wool producers’ incomes. Auction is by far the most popular method of selling wool in Australia with an adoption rate of about 85%. However this system exposes users (wool producers and buyers alike) to highly volatile prices and non-specific knowledge of supply and demand. Furthermore, it places differentiated wool types in the same commodity market as mass produced, homogeneous wool types. In order to address these issues, a mixed-method research design was used to develop and test a behavioural model of wool producers’ intentions to adopt the use of forward contracts; a selling method alternative to auction. In the simplest terms, a forward contract is a binding agreement between a buyer and a seller that stipulates price, quality, quantity and delivery date of a product. The behavioural model developed for this research was based on the Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behaviour and Diffusion of Innovations as well as some farm-level constructs that were raised in focus groups with Western Australian wool producers. The focus groups were pivotal in adding a unique, farm-level decision-making dimension to the behavioural model by the inclusion of various factors external and internal to the farm business. Based on the behavioural model, 28 hypotheses were developed and tested. Data was collected via a telephone survey of 305 Western Australian wool producers and analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach to Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). / A key finding of this analysis, contrary to the initial indications of focus group discussions, is that the current selling and marketing structure of the Australian wool industry, including the dominance of the auction system, is an important but not a limiting factor associated with the adoption of forward contracts for the sale of raw wool. Similarly, some other factors internal to the farm business, such as past experiences with selling wool, level of dependence on wool to earn a living and commitment to producing wool, were also found not to limit the adoption of forward contracts. The main factor limiting the adoption of forward contracts was identified as the wool producers’ perceptions of risk and uncertainty. Farmers’ perceptions of risk and uncertainty and their perceptions and attitudes in general are known to be important influences on farmers’ adoption decisions. While the majority of the hypotheses tested within the model were explained by the data, further data were collected to solve the issues associated with why farmers perceive forward contracting as being subject to risk and uncertainty. Additional research was conducted in the form of four case studies with Western Australian wool producers who had varying commitments to using forward contacts. Results showed that profit-raising, the whole farm system as a basis for decision making, the mass media and social pressures are important behavioural factors that are limiting the adoption of forward contracts by Western Australian wool producers. Overall, the results of the study indicate that the current structure of the Australian wool industry and various factors internal to the farm business account for farmers’ attitudes towards the use of forward contracts to sell their wool. / More importantly, from an agribusiness point of view, it is the perceived risk associated with price that principally accounts for the incomplete adoption of forward contracts in the wool industry. The conclusions of this study resulted in the development of new research questions that focus on the study’s theoretical framework, the impact of supply chain dynamics on the adoption of forward contracts and the empirical testing of additional behavioural determinants such as trust, habit and social cohesion. Based on the results of this study, several contributions have been made to the literature and agribusiness. The study showed that variables from the Diffusion of Innovations model played a significant part in this research. However, the more substantial finding was that the Theory of Reasoned Action is likely to be a superior theoretical framework for modelling wool producers’ adoption behaviours related to forward contracts than the Theory of Planned Behaviour. This claim is based on the finding that perceived behavioural controls are not a significant factor in the intention of wool producers to adopt the use of forward contracts. In terms of the contributions to agribusiness, information and extension initiatives that explain and demonstrate the benefits of forward contracts may be necessary if farmers’ perceptions of the riskiness and uncertainty surrounding these contracts are to be altered.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Increased rates of alcohol abuse and childhood trauma have been reported in previous studies of anxiety disorders, and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in particular. Yet the exact nature of this relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether SAD is a risk factor for later development of alcohol use disorders (AUD) and to investigate the association of childhood trauma with the prospective SAD-AUD comorbidity in adults with SAD. Data from fifty seven adult participants (N=57) with a primary diagnosis of SAD (mean age 36.7; 60% male) completed the self-rated Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) as well as the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), a measure of SAD symptom severity. Alcohol abuse and dependence information were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders-Patient Version (SCID-I/P). Data from sixty two adult age and gender match controls were used as a comparison group. A Cognitive Behavioural Model and the Social Learning Model are the theoretical frameworks utilised in the conceptualisation of this research. The data is quantitative in nature and will be statistically analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression and ANOVA using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Informed consent was obtained in writing from all participants. The findings of the study were that 73.7% of the SAD sample met severity criteria for at least one type of childhood abuse or neglect as measured by the CTQ subscales using previously established thresholds. Physical neglect was found to be significantly associated with increased SAD symptom severity.17.5% of the SAD sample had a comorbid lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD) and of those 80% reported experiencing childhood trauma. In conclusion there was a high rate of childhood trauma in individuals with SAD and there is a strong association between childhood trauma and comorbid AUDs in those with SAD.Thus screening for childhood trauma in SAD individuals is clinically prudent.

Cette thèse a pour objectif de modéliser, par approches biométriques, l’évolution dans le temps du visage humain, en partant de l’âge enfant, jusqu’à un âge adulte. Ces travaux sur le vieillissement rentrent dans le cadre des activités de recherche du groupe biométrie du laboratoire LiSSi (UPEC).Comme il est connu, l’évolution des traits dues au vieillissement dépend deplusieurs facteurs intrinsèques ou extrinsèques, dont : la génétique, l’origine ethnique, le mode de vie, etc. En considérons les modèles paramétriques proposés dans cette thèse, nous exploitons entre autres, les similitudes des caractéristiques extraites chez des individus d’une même catégorie d’âge. Ces similitudes sont intégrées dans nos modèles afin de pouvoir estimer l’apparence faciale à un âge spécifique. Contrairement aux nombreuses études traitant les modèles prédictifs de vieillissement facial, cette thèse propose pour la première fois un modèle réversible permettant également le rajeunissement numérique de l’apparence du visage que nous appellerons, modèle de prédiction arrière d’apparence. Quant à la prédiction avant, notre contribution s’est orientée vers la proposition d’un modèle non-linaire paramétrique de vieillissement permettant de prendre en considération les facteurs accélérateurs de vieillissements liés au mode de vie des individus. De manière générale, nous nous sommes intéressés aux conséquences de certaines addictions de type (drogues, alcool,exposition au soleil, etc.), sur le vieillissement prématuré du visage. Par conséquent,nous avons proposé des modèles sensibles à certains de ces facteurs en se basant sur des analyses statistiques. Comme retombés socio-économiques, cette étude a pour objectif de sensibiliser les jeunes personnes par rapport aux dangers liés à la consommation excessives de certaines substances, voire à l’addiction à certaines pratiques.Les études que nous avons menées durant cette thèse, ont nécessité la constitution d’une base de données contenant plus de 1600 images faciales. Cette base de données a permis le développement 30 modèles de visages «Face Templates». Suite à cela, nous avons créé une base de données d’évaluation, appelée «Face Time-Machine (FaceTiM)». Constituée à partir de 120 sujets, cette base de données est mise à disposition des chercheurs afin qu’ils puissent reproduire les résultats que nous avons obtenus, évaluer les performances, et enfin contribuer à l’amélioration des modèles proposés / The main focus of this thesis is to model the evolution trajectory of human face from infancy to senility using the biometrics facial features.The manifestation of facial changes caused by ageing depends on different factors such as genetic, ethnicity and lifestyle. Nevertheless, individuals in the same age group share some facial similarities. These resemblances can be employed to approximate the facial appearance of an individual in the bygone or the forthcoming years.Unlike numerous studies dealing with predictive face ageing models, for the first time, this thesis proposes the first Backward Facial Ageing Model aiming at digitally rejuvenate an adult face appearance down to its early childhood. We also present the Forward Facial Ageing Model to predict the adult face appearance in its future by taking into account the naturalageing trajectory. The main purpose of Forward Facial Ageing Model is to have a base model for the supplementary ageing models such as behavioural models.In this thesis for the first time in face ageing studies, the effects of different lifestyle behaviours are integrated into the facial ageing models. The Behavioural Facial Ageing Models predict the feature of a young face in case of having the high-risk lifestyle habits. The main attempt of these models is to illustrate the adverse effects of unsafe lifestyle behaviourson the senility of the face, aiming to prevent the youth from becoming involved in these habits. The Facial Ageing Modeling Database, contains over 1600 facial images, is collected to construct the models and 30 Face Templates for the purpose of the face ageing studies.Besides, the Face Time-Machine Database from 120 subjects is created and published to testand evaluate the results. For the proposed approach face contour and different components are modified non-linearly based on an estimated geometrical model related to the trajectory of growth or ageing. Moreover, the face texture is adapted by mapping a Face Template to the estimated geometrical model. Then, the effects of each lifestyle habit are set up to the primal predictive model.The evaluations of the results indicate that the proposed models are remarkably accurate to estimate the correct face appearance of an individual in the target age. While the simulated facial images are realistic and have the appearance, geometrical and textural characteristics of the target age, the personal identity and details of the input face images are preserved

International companies face many challenges when operating in foreign country markets, as a new environment could be absolutely opposite to the one of the home market, which the companies are used to. One of the biggest issues for a company in the foreign market is to understand how to market its product and make it more appealing to the audience. This research is aimed at studying content marketing strategy as a new trend and a part of marketing strategy of an organization. Particularly, the main focus of this research is to investigate the process of building content marketing strategy of Western firms in the Russian environment. During the study, a few questions are illuminated, such as what steps are undertaken in order to manage a sound content marketing strategy and how the characteristics of Russian consumers influence the decision making and to what extent. The paper studies all these issues by the qualitative approach, presenting data and insights acquired through interviews with four Western companies, operating in Russia: Burger King, Johnson & Johnson, The Coca-Cola Company and Visa Inc. The analysis of the findings is done, comparing the experience of the companies with each other, which enables the authors to extract general patterns for content marketing strategy in Russia in terms of strategy building and consumer orientation and comparing empirical data with theoretical knowledge gained after the examination of the theory. The paper concludes giving answers to the research question and generalizing the analysis, as well as presenting the revised conceptual model. Later on, the main limitations of this study are mentioned and the suggestions for future research are stated to develop the understanding of content marketing strategy.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Alcohol remains the most commonly abused substance in South Africa and several studies have shown associations between alcohol use and risky sexual behaviours, which pose a risk of HIV infection. Research indicates that the age group of 15-24 years is a high risk group for HIV infection. This study aimed at examining the perceptions of alcohol as a risk factor to HIV infection amoungst a sample of university students.Specifically, this study tested the hypotheses that most students perceive that those who consume alcohol were more likely to engage in unprotected sex, sex with multiple partners, casual sex and transactional sex. The Information Motivation Behavioural(IMB) skills model provided the theoretical framework for the study. Using a quantitative research design, a survey questionnaire was used to collect the data. The sample consisted of 240 first year psychology students (192 females, 48 males). Data analyses indicated support for the hypotheses that alcohol consumption was perceived as high risk for unprotected sex, casual sex and sex with multiple partners. However, the data showed no support for the hypothesis of alcohol increasing the risk of transactional sex. The data also indicated that non-drinkers were more likely to perceive alcohol as a risk factor than drinkers. The recognition by students of alcohol as a risk factor for HIV infection provides an opportunity for raising awareness about safer sex practices at institutions of higher learning in South Africa.

The study sought to explore the influence of gastrointestinal symptoms in female respondents with emetophobia disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia and obsessive compulsive disorder. The research assessed a sample of sixty respondents which formed part of three groups which were recruited from clinical and online support groups. The age ranged from twenty to forty-five years. Non-probability quota sampling was employed. A non-experimental research design was implemented in order to make comparisons between these groups’ association of gastrointestinal symptoms and the occurrence of possible vomiting. The differential research strategy determined whether a statistically significant difference existed. The groups were assessed on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Score (2005) and the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (2004). The research aimed to determine whether empirical support exists for the Cognitive Behavioural Model of Emetophobia by Boschen (2007). / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The study sought to explore the influence of gastrointestinal symptoms in female respondents with emetophobia disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia and obsessive compulsive disorder. The research assessed a sample of sixty respondents which formed part of three groups which were recruited from clinical and online support groups. The age ranged from twenty to forty-five years. Non-probability quota sampling was employed. A non-experimental research design was implemented in order to make comparisons between these groups’ association of gastrointestinal symptoms and the occurrence of possible vomiting. The differential research strategy determined whether a statistically significant difference existed. The groups were assessed on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Score (2005) and the Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (2004). The research aimed to determine whether empirical support exists for the Cognitive Behavioural Model of Emetophobia by Boschen (2007). / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le domaine de la modélisation des circuits analogiques et mixtes.Le travail part d’une problématique industrielle concernant les circuits électroniques utilisés dansles systèmes de forage pétrolier pour des besoins d’instrumentation et mesures. Ce travail de recherche concerne les circuits du front-end analogique que nous trouvons dans cette application industrielle. Nous examinons et nous essayons de trouver des modèles pour décrire l’effet des hautes températures sur les circuits électroniques dans un forage pétrolier. Ces circuits font partie des circuits industriels conventionnels. Ils ont généralement une température maximale de fonctionnement qui ne dépasse pas 125°C. Même si la température modifie le comportement de ces circuits, il existe des techniques d’adaptation qui permettent de compenser l’effet de la température sur ces circuits. Cependant, pour bien réussir la phase de la conception, il faut d’abord bien caractériser le comportement des différents circuits industriels utilisés en haute température. Il faut également trouver des modèles exacts qui décrivent le comportement de ces circuits en haute température. Or nous savons que la majorité des circuits industriels analogiques et mixtes sont décrits par des modèles de type SPICE. Par un choix de l’entreprise Schlumberger, notre partenaire industriel qui a financé ce travail, nous nous sommes intéressés dans notre étude à un composantspécifique présent dans la majorité des circuits analogiques et mixtes d’instrumentation :l’amplificateur opérationnel (l’AOP).Le travail commence par une étude des spécifications du circuit ainsi que le modèle SPICE.Une étude de la structure de ce modèle et sa simulation ont montré la non-précision du modèle audelàde 125°C. L’étude de validité du modèle a concerné le paramètre de la tension de décalage etle paramètre taux de rejection du mode commun. Nous avons interprété la différence des résultatsentre les mesures et la simulation de la tension de décalage. Nous avons constaté la limitation quereprésente l’approche structurelle par modélisation SPICE. Pour cette raison, nous avonssélectionné l’approche de modélisation comportementale pour les différents avantages qu’elleprésente. Ces avantages répondent à nos besoins et conviennent les mesures qui ont été effectuées.Nous avons sélectionné le langage VHDL-AMS et l’environnement Cadence ADVanceMS. Pourdéveloppé les modèles, nous avons alors énuméré les différents paramètres de performance d’unAOP. Nous avons validé la représentation de chaque paramètre par un circuit de test approprié.Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons approximé la variation de ces paramètres en température pardes équations polynomiales et exponentielles pour développer le modèle précis en HT. Le modèlea été validé par un circuit de test similaire au circuit expérimental. De bons résultats ont ététrouvés. L’erreur moyenne entre simulation VHDL-AMS et mesures n’a pas dépassé 3,11%. Dansle denier chapitre, nous avons simulé des circuits d’une chaine d’instrumentation. Nous avonssimulé l’effet de la température sur un capteur piézo-résistif (pont de Wheatstone). Trois architectures d’un amplificateur d’instrumentation ont été également modélisées e en se basant surle modèle VHD-AMS de l’AOP. / This work is dealing with the modelling of analogue and mixed signal circuits. Moreprecisely, we focus on modelling the circuits of an analogue front-end which is used in down-holedrilling industry for instrumentation and measurement purposes. This research had as a goal tomodel the temperature increasing effect in the behaviour of each circuit of the considered frontend.The studied circuits belong to the family of “conventional” circuits. Most of these circuitsoperate in a temperature which does not exceed 125°C. Even if the behaviour of the circuit changesdue to an increasing of the temperature, there are some well-know techniques that enable thecompensation of such effects. However, in order to obtain a precise simulation in the design phase,it is very important to have accurate models that describe the temperature increasing effect. Asmost of the commercial circuits models are written in SPICE, it is necessary first to review theaccuracy of SPICE models in high temperature (HT). This work focus on a specific circuit: theoperational amplifier (opamp). This device is present in many instrumentation circuits. Obtainingan accurate op-amp model in HT will help us develop accurate models of these circuits byconsidering their architectural description which is based on the opamp model.The work starts with the study of the structure of the SPICE model of the considered opamp.This study enables us to confirm the non-validity of the SPICE model in HT. The validity studyconsists in comparing the SPCE simulation results of two parameters (the voltage offset and thecommon mode rejection ratio) to measurement results. Moreover, we present an interpretation tothe difference that was observed in this comparison. After comparing different modellingapproaches, we select the behavioural modelling one. The VHDL-AMS was used to develop thenew precise opamp model in HT. The simulation is performance in Cadence/ADVanceMSenvironment. The representation of each opamp parameter is validated by a specific circuit. Thismodel is developed in two steps. In the first step, we develop an opamp model in which there is noconsideration of the temperature effect. In the second step, dependence of each parameter to thetemperature is described by a polynomial or exponential function. This function is the result of thefitting process of the measurement results. These equations are inserted in the VHDL-AMS model.All parameters are again validated in each temperature. The test-circuit is the same circuit used inthe experimental test of the opamp parameters. The average error between measurement andsimulation does not exceed 3.11%. In the last chapter, we simulate some circuits of the theanalogue front-end of an acquisition system. We simulate for example the effect of the temperatureeffect on the accuracy of a Wheatstone bridge. Three architecture of an instrumentation amplifierwere also modelled and simulated in different temperature of [20°C, 220°C] in the basis of thedeveloped opamp model.