Empirical research on parents’ decision making process and parents’ actual criteria when considering preschool is critical when considering its relationship to early educational experiences and subsequent outcomes for children. Research has consistently demonstrated that the type and quality of preschool program children attend has implications for future academic success. A review of past research suggests parents often have difficulty assessing quality and include a wide range of considerations that include both practical and educational features of care. The current study utilized a transactional ecological framework to examine parent considerations and related family, child and cultural factors. A series of focus groups and interviews were conducted with parents to identify parent considerations and inform creation of a survey measure designed to assess these considerations. Surveys were then completed by 203 parents from varying socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds who had a child that qualified for state-funded preschool the following year. Parents were recruited from 20 centers including Head Start programs, private-for profit programs, religiously affiliated programs and one YMCA center. Exploratory factor analysis identified two highly correlated categories of considerations: 1) characteristics that designate several types of quality indicators and 2) characteristics that designate a program’s practical features. A series of hierarchical regressions indicated a combination of cultural, family and child factors are important when assessing parents’ considerations for pre-kindergarten. In particular, socioeconomic status, parents’ beliefs about childrearing and involvement and children’s prosocial skills and family structure were uniquely related to parental endorsement of quality and practical considerations. These findings have important implications for policymakers and practitioners.

Bakgrund: Långvarig muskuloskeletal smärta är ett vanligt problem i Europa och patienter upplever att deras liv påverkas negativt av smärtan. Det finns en korrelation mellan långvarig smärta och psykisk ohälsa som till exempel nedstämdhet, oro och ångest. Med ett biopsykosocialt synsätt ser man helheten av personen och en biopsykosocial multiprofessionell rehabilitering är fördelaktig. Syfte: Undersöka vilka tankar och förväntningar patienter med långvarig smärta har inför och under rehabilitering. Metod: Examensarbetet är en systematisk litteraturstudie med kvalitativ ansats. 6 kvalitativa studier har kvalitetsgranskats, analyserats och sammanställts för att beskriva patienters tankar och förväntningar inför och under rehabilitering. Resultat: Studiernas deltagare upplevde psykosociala faktorer som oro och rädsla. Vikten av stöd och uppföljning och av att bli trodd och tagen på allvar upplevs också som viktiga faktorer. Studiernas deltagare förväntar sig en diagnos och att få rätt information och råd om sin smärta. Slutsats: Utifrån resultatet dras slutsatsen att det finns patienter med långvarig smärta som påvisar ett behov av en diagnos eller orsak till smärtan men också ett stöd för de psykosociala faktorerna som påverkar patientens upplevelse av smärtan. Detta examensarbete kan ge fysioterapeuter en inblick i patientens tankar och förväntningar inför och under rehabilitering.

Samtidigt som traditionella religioner är på tillbakagång vänder sig allt fler människor till den magi och mysticism som kännetecknar new age. Forskningen har hittills närmat sig detta fenomen genom korrelationsstudier, demografiska kartläggningar och analyser av vad new age-anhängare tror på. I denna explorativa, induktiva studie berättade i stället fem kvinnor i halvstrukturerade intervjuer om vad deras new age-tro betytt för dem. Koncentrering av bärande utsagor i dimensionerna betydelse, tro relaterad till icke-tro, kunskapskällor och ontologi genererade fyra faktorer: existentiell trygghet som skyddar mot osäkerhet under livets gång och hämmar ångest inför livets oundvikliga slut; upphöjdhet genom insikter och medvetenhet som icke-troende saknar; antiintellektualism som betonar känslor och intuition på bekostnad av förnuft och logik; relativism som stipulerar att var och en har sin egen sanning. En funktionell modell som tydliggör hur faktorerna relaterar till varandra diskuteras, liksom resultatets integrering i ett teoretiskt ramverk och riktlinjer för framtida forskning. / In a time when traditional religions are declining, contemporary man increasingly turns to New Age magic and mysticism. So far, research has approached this phenomenon in correlational studies, demographic surveys, and analyses of experience narratives. In this explorative, inductive study, five women described the gains of their New Age faith. Concentrating leading statements in the dimensions value, belief related to non-belief, sources of knowledge, and ontology generated four factors: existential safety that protects against uncertainty through life and inhibits anxiety regarding life’s inevitable end; loftiness through insights and awareness that non-believers lack; anti-intellectualism emphasizing emotion and intuition at the expense of reason and logic; relativism that stipulates that truth is a matter of individual choice. A functional model illustrating how the factors relate to each other is discussed, as well as theoretical integration and suggestions for future research.

Background: The number of Foreign Born (FB) individuals in the United States (US) is growing and their health behaviors and beliefs are important to know. In the US, cancer is the second leading cause of death, and there is need to explore factors that are associated with the use of cancer prevention strategies among FB individuals. Objective: The study aimed to compare cancer screening rates, assess factors associated with use of cancer screening tests across FB and Non-Foreign Born (NFB) individuals and association between length of stay and use of selected cancer screening tests among FB people. Methodology: Using the 2012 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 4, cycle 2 data, which comprised of 3,630 participants of which 513 were FB, logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of selected cancer screening tests. Independent variables included demographic and selected healthcare, beliefs, and information seeking factors. Results: There were no significant differences in screening rates for cervical, breast, and colon cancers among the FB and NFB individuals. For breast cancer screening, having had a routine checkup in the last year was found to be associated with increased likelihood of having a mammography exam. For cervical cancer screening, none of the selected healthcare, beliefs and information seeking factors was found to be significant among the FB individuals. For colon cancer screening, only the information seeking factor “it took a lot of effort to get cancer information” was found to be significant among FB individuals. Length of stay in the US for FB individuals was found be associated with increased likelihood of colon cancer test only. Conclusion: Inventive and ethnically appropriate strategies are essential to increase awareness for cancer prevention strategies. Well-designed information strategies that take into account the diversity of the US population can lead to benefits such as increased cancer screening.

Motivation Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in South Africa. The major risk factors are prevalent in both the developed and developing areas of the world, among all social classes, and are of similar public health significance in all countries regardless of their level of development. This indicates that much scope remains for further reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates in developed countries and for preventing the emerging CHD epidemic in poorer nations. This study aims at identifying the beliefs of the South African adult population regarding food and cardiovascular health and to therefore identify target groups for education programs. Objectives To investigate the beliefs of South African adults towards the importance of the link between food and cardiovascular health, especially between the different races, living standards, age and gender groups. Also to determine whether this population looks for the Heart Foundation symbol on food products, as well as where the link between food and heart disease ranks in terms of importance compared to other highly prevalent diseases. Method The design of the study was a randomized cross-sectional study. Trained field workers administrated questionnaires by conducting face-to-face interviews with consumers in the language of their choice. Two thousand South African individuals (1 6 years and older) were randomly selected from metropolitan areas in South Africa. The data was weighted to be representative of the total South African metropolitan consumer population, based on gender, age and race distribution (n=10 695 000). The total population was representative of both genders (5 423 000 men and 5 272 000 women) and major race groups (2 615 000 whites, 6 252 000 blacks, 1 255 000 coloureds and 573 000 Indians), from different age and living standards groups. The market research group, MARKINOR, was contracted to collect the data. Quantitive data was statistically analysed in order to generate the relevant descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and statistical tests. Results The majority of the population found the link between food and cardiovascular risk related health issues to be important, especially the higher LSM groups within the different race groups. The link between food and weight loss was considered the least important compared to other cardiovascular risk factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, healthy blood vessels). Only 35% of the study population agreed with the statement that they look for the Heart Foundation symbol, while 46% disagreed with the statement. There was a greater tendency for the higher LSM groups to look for the Heart Foundation symbol than the lower LSM groups. Heart disease was considered just as important and in some cases more important when compared with HIVIAIDS and cancer. Conclusions This study shows that the metropolitan South African adult population is aware of the importance of food on CVD. Nutritional education needs to be aimed at both genders and all ages of the lower socio-economic groups of South Africa. The reasons why such a large percentage of the South African metropolitan adults do not look for the Heart Foundation symbol, or are undecided about it, needs to be investigated and addressed. Prevention programs promoting a healthy lifestyle, which would address the risk factors associated with CVD, should be received with a positive attitude. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Motivation: Diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course. Their role as determinants of chronic noncommunicable diseases is well established. Alterations in diet, both positive and negative have strong effects on health throughout life. Consumers' awareness of a diet-disease relationship may stimulate interest in learning more about nutrition thus acquiring necessary knowledge for dietary improvement and disease prevention. Objectives: • To investigate South African metropolitan consumers beliefs and attitudes about the link between food and health. • To explore the demographic characteristics and beliefs of South African consumers regarding the link between food and health; and to investigate whether differences exist in this belief between gender, race, age group and Living Standard Measures (LSM). Methodology: One thousand nine hundred and ninety seven South African adults (≥16 years), representing the four major race groups of South Africa, were selected by stratified random sampling from metropolitan areas in South Africa. The sample was weighted based on the South African 2000 National census data, to be representative of the adult metropolitan population based on gender, age and race distribution. Trained field workers administered the questionnaire by conducting face-to-face interviews with South African consumers. The questionnaire was designed by a multidisciplinary team and contained a number of statements on eating habits, food and health. Results: There were no practically significant differences in consumers' responses in terms of gender or age. Practically significant differences were found between different race and LSM groups for some variables. A small practically significant difference was observed among the races in statement 1, and between LSM 2 to 3 and LSM 7 to 10; and between LSM 4 to 6 and LSM 7 to 10 in statement 1 and statement 6. In statement 2, a small practically significant difference was observed between Whites and Coloureds. Statement 4 indicated a small practically significant difference between Blacks and Indians. A medium practically significant difference was found between LSM 2 to 3 and LSM 7 to 10 for statement 4. A small practically significant difference was evident between Whites and Blacks; and between Blacks and Coloureds in statement 6. A medium practically significant difference was found between Blacks and lndians in statement 6. The overall response of South African consumers towards the belief that food has an effect on health, that food can influence health and the development of some diseases, and that healthy food is only for people that have a disease, was very positive. However 56% of South African consumers do not want to have to think about disease when choosing food. Conclusion: Results from this study reveal that South African consumers have some understanding of the dietdisease relationship and believe that there is some link between food and health. This belief however differs between age, gender, race and LSM group. However, more research with regards what influences people's eating behaviour, attitudes towards healthy food and beliefs about the dietdisease relationship needs to be done in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005

This study investigates how the Biblical teaching on death and the resurrection can provide the appropriate doctrinal challenge to the problem of the pervasive and persistent fear of death amongst the Luo people of Kenya. It therefore examines the Luo traditional beliefs and customs surrounding death in order to establish its contribution to the fear of death, even amongst some Luo Christians. A Biblical-theological study of death and the afterlife provides the doctrinal antidote necessary to rescue and transform a people under bondage to fear, thus outlining the basis for hope in a life beyond physical death through the doctrine of the resurrection. The research commences with a description of Luo traditional beliefs concerning death and dying, and outlines the related Luo customs in relation to their belief in the spirit-world. The contention is that these beliefs result in the fear of death, while the lack of Biblical understanding even amongst some Luo Christians has led to their ignorance of the Biblical teaching on death, and thus a loss of the assurance found in the resurrection of Christ. Death and the afterlife is carefully examined from a Biblical-theological perspective in order to demonstrate how the doctrine of the resurrection can function as a 'rescue doctrine' for those affected by the pervasive and persistent fear of death. The study also explores the assurance of triumph over death as an eschatological reality in keeping with Christ's work of redemption. Similarly, it is argued that triumph over evil and malevolent spirits is guaranteed. In closing, the study explores the power of the Gospel of the resurrected Christ to change lives and transform unbiblical practices and worldviews to conform to his will. It is the resurrected Christ alone who has the power to transform the moral and ethical values ingrained in any culture. / Thesis (M.A. (Dogmatics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

This study reviews the burgeoning literature on followership and tests propositions from a recently developed theoretical framework to explore the relationship between follower behaviours, leaders’ perceptions of follower trustworthiness (trusting beliefs), and leaders’ subsequent willingness to be vulnerable to the actions of their followers (trusting intentions). Leaders’ implicit followership theories (IFTs) were examined as a potential moderator of both relationships. Results revealed that passive followership influenced leaders’ trusting beliefs negatively, whereas collaborative followership had a positive influence on leaders’ trusting beliefs as well as leaders’ trusting intentions. The most extreme form of proactive followership, challenging followership, had nonsignificant relationships with leaders’ trusting beliefs and intentions. In addition, leaders’ IFTs did not interact with followership behaviour to produce any change in leaders’ trusting beliefs. However, IFTs were found to moderate the relationship between leaders’ trusting beliefs and trusting intentions. Implications for research and practice are discussed in light of the results.

The purpose of this study is to provide a theoretical overview of how Latina gender-role beliefs are developed through cultural transmission and to review the components of the construct of Marianismo and its impact on gender-role beliefs. Marianismo is used to illustrate the influence of traditional Latino cultural beliefs on the gender-role identity of women and helps shape how they behave in private and social settings. Latinas (a term used throughout this manuscript to refer specifically to females of Hispanic or Latin American origin), who have stronger traditional values, potentially disregard their health, safety, and educational needs, which can have a serious impact on mental health and service use. To measure this phenomenon, a scale measuring Marianismo beliefs was created to assess how traditional Latina women behave in terms of their gender-role beliefs. This author aimed to revalidate that scale on an international sample in Mexico. The sample for this study included 454 women from different parts of Mexico. Confirmatory factor analysis of the MBS items supported the original five-factor loading. Consistent with the initial validation study, the MBS-I demonstrated high levels of reliability and validity. All five Marianismo dimensions exhibited convergent validity with the traditional gender role dimension of the Mexican American Cultural Values Scale (MACVS). The scale also demonstrated convergence with the overall score for enculturation as measured with the Latino/a Values Scale (LVS) instrument. Implications and recommendations for embracing cultural competence, improving help-seeking behaviors, and treatment suggestions are provided.

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