abstract / Human Performance / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Wong Pui-ying. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-62). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Income and Nutrition --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Determinants of Child Health --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Income --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Parental Education --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Other Determinants --- p.8 / Chapter 3 --- "Empirical Model, Data and Variables" --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1 --- Empirical Model --- p.11 / Chapter 3.2 --- Data --- p.13 / Chapter 3.3 --- Variables --- p.14 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Dependent Variables for Child Nutrition --- p.14 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Dependent Variables for Child Health --- p.15 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Independent Variables --- p.18 / Chapter 4 --- Empirical Results --- p.20 / Chapter 4.1 --- Determinants of Child Nutrition --- p.20 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- The Income Effect --- p.20 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Non-linear Effect of Income --- p.21 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Parental Education --- p.21 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Permanent Income --- p.22 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Difference between Rural and Urban Areas --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2 --- Determinants of Child Health --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- The Income Effect --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Non-linear Effect of Income --- p.25 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Parental Education --- p.25 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Permanent Income --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Difference between Rural and Urban Areas --- p.27 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Other Variables --- p.28 / Chapter A. --- "Parental Heights, Weights and Health Status" --- p.28 / Chapter B. --- Water and Sanitation --- p.29 / Chapter C. --- Insurance --- p.30 / Chapter D. --- Parental Health-Related Behaviors --- p.31 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.33 / Tables --- p.34 / References --- p.59

Woo Yan-yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.v / List of Appendices --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- The Determinants of Child Health --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Determinants of Child Educational Achievement --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Empirical Strategy / Chapter 3.1 --- Model of Child Health --- p.15 / Chapter 3.2 --- Model of Child Educational Achievement --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Data --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Empirical Results for the Determinants of Child Health / Chapter 5.1 --- OLS Regressions --- p.26 / Chapter 5.2 --- Conclusion --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Empirical Results for the Determinants of Child Educational Achievement / Chapter 6.1 --- OLS Regressions --- p.32 / Chapter 6.2 --- 2SLS Regressions --- p.35 / Chapter 6.3 --- Robustness Checks --- p.38 / Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusion --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.42 / Tables --- p.44 / Appendices --- p.58 / References --- p.61

Ma Man-yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-71). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Ma Man-yan. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / List of Table --- p.vii / List of Figure --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- Introduction --- p.1 / General introduction --- p.1 / Early participation in physical activity --- p.1 / The childhood years --- p.2 / Parental influence --- p.3 / Purpose of study --- p.4 / Theoretical framework --- p.5 / Operational definition --- p.6 / Delimitations --- p.7 / Limitations --- p.8 / Significance of the study --- p.9 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- Review of Literature --- p.11 / Physical activity and the public health --- p.11 / Sedentary life --- p.12 / Promoting active lifestyle --- p.12 / Parental influences in physical activity --- p.14 / The early childhood years --- p.15 / Overview of results --- p.16 / Beliefs --- p.18 / Parental beliefs and the influence on children --- p.19 / Achievement goal --- p.21 / The case in Hong Kong --- p.24 / Hong Kong children's lives --- p.24 / Parents in Hong Kong --- p.25 / Cultural values: The Confucian ethic --- p.26 / Instrumental society --- p.27 / Filial Piety --- p.29 / Definition of success --- p.31 / Summary --- p.32 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- Method --- p.34 / Participants --- p.34 / Instrumentation --- p.34 / Measures of children's physical activity levels --- p.34 / Measures of parental beliefs regarding their child's participation in physical activity --- p.35 / Goal orientations --- p.35 / Reasons for children's physical activity participation --- p.36 / Parents' exercise behavior --- p.36 / Family background information --- p.37 / Procedure --- p.37 / Statistical analysis --- p.38 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- Results --- p.40 / Descriptive statistics --- p.40 / Gender and parental beliefs --- p.41 / The relationship between parents' and children's level of physical activity --- p.43 / Parents' self-reported level of physical activity --- p.43 / Physical activity participation with children --- p.43 / Family characteristics --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- Discussion --- p.45 / Limitations --- p.52 / Conclusion --- p.53 / References --- p.54 / Appendix A --- p.72 / Appendix B --- p.73 / Appendix C --- p.74 / Appendix D --- p.75 / Appendix E --- p.76 / Appendix F --- p.77 / Appendix G --- p.83

Cai, Yue. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-107). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (English) --- p.I / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.IV / Acknowledgement --- p.VII / Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms --- p.VIII / List of Contents --- p.IX / List of Tables --- p.XIV / List of Figures --- p.XIX / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Definition of Migration in China --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Reasons for This Study --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research Questions and Hypotheses of the Study --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Research Questions --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Hypothesis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- Outlines of the Thesis --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1 --- Methodology and Search Results --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Overview of the Health Status of Migrant Children --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Access to Health Care --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Physical Health --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Mental and Social Health --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Other Aspects about Health --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Possible Explanations --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Acculturation-stress of Migrant Children --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Healthy Migrant Children --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Transitional Effect on Migrant Childreńةs Health --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Socio-demographic Effect on Migrant Childreńةs Health --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4 --- Potential Risk Factors for Health of Migrant Children except the Migration Status --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Gender --- p.15 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Age --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Duration of Residence in Host Society --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Reside with Both Parents --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Familýةs Social Economic Status --- p.17 / Chapter 2.5 --- Limitations of Previous Studies --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Study Design --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1 --- Study Method --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2 --- Definition of Migrant Children --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3 --- Study Population --- p.22 / Chapter 3.4 --- Study Tool --- p.23 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Core Scale: World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) --- p.23 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Questionnaire for Child --- p.26 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Questionnaire for Parent --- p.26 / Chapter 3.5 --- Sampling Strategy and Data Collection Process --- p.28 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Pilot study --- p.28 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Main study --- p.30 / Chapter 3.6 --- Data Management --- p.36 / Chapter 3.7 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 3.8 --- Ethical Consideration --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1 --- Reliability and Validity of WHOQOL-BREF --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- The Reliability and Validity of the Whole WHOQOL-BREF Scale --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- The Reliability and Validity of Each Health Domains: --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- Migrants vs Residents in All Schools --- p.47 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- The differences of demographic characteristics --- p.47 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Health related quality of life (HRQOL) and self-reported physical health outcomes --- p.49 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Access to health services and health resources --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Adoption of health promoting behaviors --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3 --- Migrants vs Residents in General primary Schools --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Socio-demographic characteristics among children in general primary school --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Health related quality of life (HRQOL) and self-reported physical health outcomes in general primary school --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Access to health care services and health related resources in general primary school --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Adoption of health promoting behaviors --- p.55 / Chapter 4.4 --- Comparisons of Migrant Children in Different School Settings --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Comparison of socio-demographic characteristics of migrant children in different school settings --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Health related quality of life (HRQOL) - Migrant children in different school settings --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Self-reported physical health outcomes of migrant children in different types of schools --- p.59 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Access to health services and health related resources --- p.60 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Adoption of health promoting behaviors --- p.61 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Effect of Migration Controlling for Potential Confounding Factors --- p.62 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Within all primary schools --- p.62 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Within general primary schools --- p.68 / Chapter 4.6 --- The Effect of Migration on Access to Health Care Services Controlling for Potential Confounding Factors --- p.69 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Within all primary schools --- p.69 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Within general primary Schools --- p.70 / Chapter 4.7 --- The Effect of Migration on Adoption of Health Promoting Behaviors Controlling for Potential Confounding Factors --- p.71 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Within all primary schools --- p.71 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Within general primary schools --- p.72 / Chapter 4.8 --- Summary of Results --- p.73 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.75 / Chapter 5.1 --- Interpretations of the Results --- p.75 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and Self-Reported physical Health Outcomes --- p.75 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Access to Health Services and Health resources --- p.80 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Adoption of Health Promoting Behaviors --- p.84 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Other Interesting Findings --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2 --- Implications --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3 --- Strengths of This Study --- p.91 / Chapter 5.4 --- Addressing Potential Sources of Bias and Other Study Limitations --- p.92 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Potential Sampling Bias --- p.92 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Potential Reporting Bias --- p.94 / Chapter 5.5 --- Study for The Future --- p.95 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions --- p.97 / Reference List --- p.98 / Appendix A: Summary of 74 Literature Review Papers --- p.108 / Appendix B: Questionnaires --- p.119 / Appendix C: Tables in Pilot Study --- p.127 / Appendix D: Reliability and Validity of WHOQOL-BREF --- p.129 / Appendix E: Tables in Main Study --- p.132

Kwok Man Ki. / Accompanying CD-ROM entitled: DRAGON program 2005. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-203). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendices also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.iii / Acknowledgement --- p.v / Table of contents --- p.vi / List of tables --- p.xi / List of figures --- p.xviii / Presentations --- p.xix / Chapter Chapter one: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Hong Kong preschoolers' nutritional health situation --- p.1 / Chapter (I) --- Breastfeeding & complementary feeding practices --- p.1 / Chapter (II) --- "Diet, mealtime and physical activity patterns" --- p.3 / Chapter (III) --- Weight status --- p.6 / Health risk factors accumulated up to preschool age --- p.8 / Childhood Obesity Prevention: School-based intervention --- p.12 / Chapter (I) --- Primary obesity prevention and health promoting schools --- p.12 / Chapter (II) --- Feasibility of health promotion initiatives in Hong Kong kindergartens --- p.14 / Chapter (III) --- Nutrition and physical activity intervention studies --- p.18 / Chapter (IV) --- Hong Kong kindergarten health initiative: DRAGON Program --- p.23 / Aim and scope of the DRAGON Program --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter two: --- Methodology --- p.30 / Kindergarten recruitment --- p.30 / Formative preparatory stage --- p.32 / Chapter (I) --- Teaching kit development --- p.32 / Chapter (II) --- Teaching kit pretesting --- p.33 / Chapter (III) --- Parents' focus group --- p.35 / Chapter (IV) --- Questionnaires development --- p.35 / Chapter (V) --- Ethics approval --- p.37 / Subject recruitment --- p.37 / Pre-intervention stage --- p.37 / Chapter (I) --- Anthropometric measurements --- p.37 / Chapter (II) --- Parental questionnaires --- p.38 / DRAGON Program implementation --- p.38 / Chapter (I) --- Preschoolers' health curriculum --- p.38 / Chapter (II) --- Pre-intervention data management and analysis --- p.39 / Chapter (III) --- Booster activities planning and implementation --- p.40 / Chapter (IV) --- Parents' newsletters --- p.42 / Post-intervention stage --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter three: --- Results --- p.46 / Enrollment and response rate --- p.46 / Between schools baseline comparison --- p.50 / Education vs. Control Schools baseline comparison --- p.53 / Chapter (I) --- Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics --- p.53 / Chapter (II) --- Children's dietary patterns --- p.60 / Chapter (III) --- "Regular meals, snack patterns and other mealtime behaviors" --- p.65 / Chapter (IV) --- Usual activity patterns --- p.67 / Chapter (V) --- Parents' health knowledge and preferred communication channels --- p.72 / Chapter (VI) --- Child's height and weight measurements --- p.77 / Chapter (VII) --- Factors associated with children's weight status --- p.79 / Chapter (VIII) --- "Associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and children's dietary, mealtime and activity patterns" --- p.81 / Process and outcome evaluations of the Dragon Program --- p.90 / Part a) 1st follow up after finishing all health curriculum --- p.90 / Chapter (I) --- Children's dietary patterns --- p.90 / Chapter (II) --- Mealtime behaviors --- p.95 / Chapter (III) --- Usual activity patterns --- p.99 / Chapter (IV) --- Health curriculum effectiveness evaluation by AM/PM sessions --- p.103 / Part b) 2nd follow up after finishing promotional activities --- p.107 / Chapter (I) --- Children's dietary patterns --- p.108 / Chapter (II) --- Mealtime behaviors --- p.116 / Chapter (III) --- Usual activity patterns --- p.122 / Between subgroups comparisons --- p.131 / Chapter (I) --- First follow up --- p.131 / Chapter (II) --- Second follow up --- p.132 / Parent Focus groups (baseline) --- p.136 / Chapter (I) --- Awareness of local adults' and preschoolers' health status --- p.136 / Chapter (II) --- Children's dietary habits and lifestyle --- p.137 / Chapter (III) --- Factors affecting their children's health behaviors --- p.139 / Parent Focus groups (booster activities) --- p.140 / Teachers´ةquestionnaires --- p.142 / Teachers after class assessment --- p.149 / Teachers´ة focus groups --- p.155 / Principals´ة Interviews --- p.157 / Chapter (I) --- Importance of creating healthy school environment --- p.157 / Chapter (II) --- Students' & teachers´ة performance in first half-year DRAGON Program --- p.158 / Chapter (III) --- Comments on implementing second half-year DRAGON Program --- p.160 / Chapter (IV) --- Recommendations for the development of the Program --- p.161 / Chapter Chapter four: --- Discussion --- p.163 / Implications of the findings --- p.164 / Chapter (I) --- Socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with preschoolers' diet and lifestyle at baseline --- p.164 / Chapter a) --- Association between SES and children´ةs dietary habits --- p.164 / Chapter b) --- Association between SES and children's weight status and their mealtime interactions with parents --- p.166 / Chapter c) --- "Association between children's weight status and their dietary mealtime, and activity patterns" --- p.167 / Chapter (II) --- Local preschool age children´ةs health situation --- p.170 / Chapter (III) --- Program Effectiveness assessment --- p.173 / Chapter a) --- After the implementation of the one-term health curriculum --- p.173 / Chapter b) --- After the implementation of health curriculum and promotional activities --- p.179 / Chapter (IV) --- Program acceptability and feasibility --- p.186 / Limitations --- p.189 / Recommendation for future preschool health program --- p.190 / Chapter Chapter five: --- Conclusion --- p.192 / References --- p.193 / Appendices --- p.204 / Chapter A1 --- School invitation letter with program briefing details (English version) --- p.204 / Chapter A2 --- School invitation letter with program briefing details (Chinese version) --- p.209 / Chapter B1 --- School background information (English version) --- p.213 / Chapter B2 --- School background information (Chinese version) --- p.217 / Chapter C1 --- DRAGON Program Teacher's Guide for nursery grade (Chinese version) --- p.221 / Chapter C2 --- DRAGON Program Teacher's Guide for lower level (Chinese version) --- p.244 / Chapter C3 --- DRAGON Program Teacher's Guide for upper level (Chinese version) --- p.269 / Chapter D1 --- Parents´ة focus group (Jan) (English version) --- p.297 / Chapter D2 --- Parents´ة focus group (Jan) (Chinese version) --- p.301 / Chapter E1 --- Teachers´ة self-administered questionnaires (English version) --- p.305 / Chapter E2 --- Teachers´ة self-administered questionnaires (Chinese version) --- p.324 / Chapter F1a --- Parents´ة self-administered questionnaires [baseline] (English version) --- p.344 / Chapter F1b --- Parents´ة self-administered questionnaires [1st follow up] (English version) --- p.349 / Chapter F1c --- Parents' self-administered questionnaires [2nd follow up] (English version) --- p.354 / Chapter F2a --- Parents´ة self-administered questionnaires [baseline] (Chinese version) --- p.359 / Chapter F2b --- Parents´ة'self-administered questionnaires [1st follow up] (Chinese version) --- p.364 / Chapter F2c --- Parents´ة self-administered questionnaires [2nd follow up] (Chinese version) --- p.369 / Chapter G1 --- Parents´ة consent form (English version) --- p.374 / Chapter G2 --- Parents´ة consent form (Chinese version) --- p.376 / Chapter H1a --- Sample health lesson worksheet for nursery grade (Chinese version) --- p.378 / Chapter H1b --- Sample health lesson worksheet for lower level (Chinese version) --- p.379 / Chapter H1c --- Sample health lesson worksheet for upper level (Chinese version) --- p.380 / Chapter 11 --- Sample parents´ة newsletter (English version) --- p.382 / Chapter 12 --- Sample parents´ة newsletter (Chinese version) --- p.387 / Chapter J1 --- Questions for pretest parents´ة newsletter (Chinese and English version) --- p.392 / Chapter K1 --- Principals´ة interview (English version) --- p.395 / Chapter K2 --- Principals´ة interview (Chinese version) --- p.397 / Table A_1 to A_17 --- p.399 / DiscAl DRAGON Program: teaching materials for health lessons --- p.414 / DiscA2 DRAGON Program: materials for three booster activities --- p.414 / DiscA3 DRAGON Program: health lesson worksheets --- p.414 / DiscA4 DRAGON Program: parents´ة newsletters --- p.414

Cheung Yuk Lin Porky. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 236-248). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendices also in Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / 論文摘要 --- p.iv / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.xii / List of Tables --- p.xiii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xix / Presentations --- p.xx / Chapter CHAPTER 1: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Overview on Childhood Obesity --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Worldwide Situation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Hong Kong Situation --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Consequences of Childhood Obesity --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Physiological Problems --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Psychosocial Problems --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Economic Problems --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Possible Causes and Associated Factors of Childhood Obesity --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Genetics --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Lifestyle Patterns --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Physical Activity --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Dietary Factors --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Environmental Influence --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3.1 --- Parental Influence and Home Environment --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3.2 --- Other External Environmental Factors --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Clinical Trials --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Family Based Interventions --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.3. --- School Based Interventions --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Other Possible Measures --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5 --- Local Intervention Implementation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6 --- "Study Rationale, Design，Aims and Objectives" --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Study Rationale --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Study Design --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Study Aims and Objectives --- p.21 / Chapter 1.7 --- Conceptual Framework and Hypothesis --- p.21 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Conceptual Framework --- p.22 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Hypothesis --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER 2: --- METHODOLOGY --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1 --- Sample --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- School Recruitment --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Subject Recruitment --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Parental Consent --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Focus Groups --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4 --- Assessment Tools --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Weight and Height measures --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Physical Fitness Tests --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Student Questionnaire --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Parental Questionnaire --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Questionnaires Pre-testing --- p.27 / Chapter 2.5 --- Intervention --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Intervention A: Mighty Heart Health Promotion Program --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Materials --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5.1.2 --- Procedures --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Intervention B: Health Club --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.2.1 --- Materials --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.2.2 --- Procedures --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6 --- Evaluation --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Qualitative Evaluation --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Quantitative Evaluation --- p.35 / Chapter 2.7 --- Data Manasement --- p.36 / Chapter 2.8 --- Statistics --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Health Knowledge and Food Preferences Scores of Students --- p.37 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- "Health Knowledge, Dietary Habits and Home Food Availability Scores of Parents" --- p.40 / Chapter 2.9 --- Ethical Approval --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3: --- RESULTS --- p.43 / Chapter PART A: --- Baseline Focus Groups Results / Chapter 3.1 --- Baseline Focus Groups Results --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- General Description of Participants --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- "Views of ""Health"" held by students" --- p.44 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- "Views of ""Health"" of parents" --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- "Views of ""Healthy Eating"" of students" --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- "Views of ""Healthy Eating"" held by parents" --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- "Perceived views on ""Physical Activity"" by students" --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- "Views on ""Physical Activity"" of parents" --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1.8 --- Preferred delivery mode of activities communication channels --- p.50 / Chapter PART B: --- Baseline Profile of Participants / Chapter 3.2 --- Response Rate --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3 --- Baseline Characteristics and Socio-dem ograph ic Profile of Participants --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Students --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Parents --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4 --- "Self-perceived Important Values, Health and Weight Status at baseline" --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Students --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Parents --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5 --- Baseline Physical Activity --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Students --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Parents --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6 --- Baseline Dietary Aspects --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Students --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Parents --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7 --- Summary of Baseline associations between students，and parents 'parameters --- p.94 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Factors associated with Students' weight status --- p.94 / Chapter 3.7.2. --- Factors associated with Studente´ة Dietary Habits --- p.97 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Factors associated with students´ة physical Activity Habits --- p.104 / Chapter 3.8 --- Summary of Baseline Profile of Participants --- p.108 / Chapter PART C: --- Outcome Evaluation / Chapter 3.9 --- The Final MH activities Conducted --- p.111 / Chapter 3.10 --- Comparisons of Weight Status --- p.112 / Chapter 3.11 --- Comparisons of Self-perceived Health Status and Important Values --- p.114 / Chapter 3.12 --- Comparisons of Physical Activity Parameters --- p.118 / Chapter 3.12.1 --- Students --- p.118 / Chapter 3.12.2 --- Parents --- p.126 / Chapter 3.13 --- Comparisons of Dietary and Health Related Aspects --- p.129 / Chapter 3.13.1 --- Students --- p.129 / Chapter 3.13.2 --- Parents --- p.148 / Chapter 3.13.3 --- Home Food and Meal Environments --- p.167 / Chapter PART D: --- Results of Health Club / Chapter 3.14 --- Baseline Profile of the Participants --- p.180 / Chapter 3.14.1 --- Characteristics and Health Status --- p.180 / Chapter 3.14.2 --- Baseline Physical Activity --- p.181 / Chapter 3.14.3 --- Baseline Dietary Related Parameters --- p.183 / Chapter 3.15 --- The Final HC Lessons Conducted --- p.187 / Chapter 3.16 --- Outcome Evaluation of HC program --- p.188 / Chapter 3.16.1 --- Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Parameters --- p.188 / Chapter 3.16.2 --- Self-perceived Health Status and Important Values --- p.192 / Chapter 3.16.3 --- Physical Activity Related Aspects --- p.193 / Chapter 3.16.4 --- Dietary Aspects --- p.196 / Chapter 3.17 --- Summary of results of the HC Program --- p.201 / Chapter PART E: --- Process Evaluation / Chapter 3.18 --- Process Evaluations of Mighty Heart --- p.203 / Chapter 3.18.1 --- Students --- p.203 / Chapter 3.18.1.1 --- Comments on Program Activities and Materials --- p.203 / Chapter 3.18.1.2 --- Comments on Program Effectiveness and Acceptability --- p.204 / Chapter 3.18.1.3 --- Overall Comments and Suggestions --- p.204 / Chapter 3.18.2 --- Teachers --- p.205 / Chapter 3.18.2.1 --- Comments on Program Activities and Materials --- p.205 / Chapter 3.18.2.2 --- Comments on Program Effectiveness and Acceptability --- p.205 / Chapter 3.18.2.3 --- Overall Comments and suggestions --- p.206 / Chapter 3.19 --- Process Evaluations of the Health Club --- p.207 / Chapter 3.19.1 --- Students --- p.207 / Chapter 3.19.1.1 --- Comments on Program Activities and Materials --- p.207 / Chapter 3.19.1.2 --- Comments on Program Effectiveness and Acceptability --- p.208 / Chapter 3.19.1.3 --- Overall Comments and Suggestions --- p.208 / Chapter 3.19.2 --- Teacher --- p.209 / Chapter 3.19.2.1 --- "Comments on Program Activities, Educational Materials/Resources" --- p.209 / Chapter 3.19.2.2 --- Comments on Program Effectiveness and Acceptability --- p.210 / Chapter 3.19.2.3 --- Overall Comments and Suggestions --- p.211 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion --- p.212 / Chapter 4.1 --- Overall Effects of the MH Program --- p.213 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Changes in PA-related Aspects --- p.213 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Changes in Dietary-related Aspects --- p.216 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Changes in Health Status related Aspects --- p.225 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Acceptability and Appropriateness of the MH --- p.225 / Chapter 4.2 --- Overall Effects of the HC Program --- p.226 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Changes in PA Related Aspects --- p.226 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Changes in Dietary-related Aspects --- p.227 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Changes in Health Status related Aspects --- p.228 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Acceptability and Appropriateness of the HC --- p.229 / Chapter 4.3 --- Strengths and Limitations of the Study --- p.231 / Chapter 4.4 --- Implications and Recommendations for Future Research --- p.233 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusions --- p.234 / References --- p.236 / Appendix A Principal/ teacher Questionnaire --- p.249 / Appendix B Consent form for parents --- p.252 / Appendix C Focus group questionnaire - Students --- p.258 / Appendix D Focus group questionnaire - Parents --- p.262 / Appendix E Survey questionnaire -Students --- p.266 / Appendix F Survey Questionnaire - Parents --- p.274 / Appendix G Powerpoint material for teachers´ة monthly sharing --- p.282 / Appendix H Working sheets --- p.283 / Appendix I Newsletters for parents --- p.287 / Appendix J Teachers´ة guide for the “Mighty Heart´حprogram --- p.302 / Appendix K Teachers' guide for Health Club --- p.307 / Appendix L The student workbook --- p.311 / "Appendix M Discussion guide for students participating in the ""Mighty Heart ""program" --- p.312 / Appendix N Discussion guide for students participating in the Health Club --- p.313 / Appendix O Discussion guide for teachers conducting the Mighty Heart program --- p.314 / Appendix P Discussion guide for the teachers conducting the Health Club --- p.316

Chan, Yun Kwan. / Accompanying CD-ROM contains appendix H, I, J, and K. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-170). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; three appendixes in Chinese only. / Library's copy: lacks accompanying CD-ROM. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.iv / List of publications --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.xvi / List of Tables --- p.xvii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xxv / Chapter CHAPTER ONE: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Global prevalence of childhood overweight --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Preschool health situation in HK --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Breastfeeding --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Diet and physical activity patterns --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Prevalence of childhood overweight --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Definition of childhood overweight --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Local prevalence of childhood overweight --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Consequences of childhood overweight --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Health consequences of childhood overweight --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Economic consequences of childhood overweight --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4 --- Risk factors of childhood overweight and obesity --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Family Socioeconomic status --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Parental overweight --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Breastfeeding --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Birth order --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Breakfast consumption --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.6 --- Beverage consumption --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.7 --- High calcium intake --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.8 --- Fruit and vegetable consumption --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.9 --- Physical inactivity --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.9.1 --- Physical activity recommendations for preschoolers --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.9.2 --- Screentime recommendations for preschoolers --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5 --- Child development --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Onset of overweight --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Early establishment of lifelong habits at preschool age --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Interaction with parents --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6 --- Justification of preschool multi-component health intervention in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Local health promotion initiative at preschool --- p.22 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Justification for DRAGON2006 modifications --- p.23 / Chapter 1.6.2.1 --- Inclusion of family-home component in school- based health intervention --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6.2.2 --- Child BMI monitoring and health report to parents --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7 --- Present school-based preschool health intervention --- p.25 / Chapter 1.8 --- Summary --- p.27 / Chapter 1.9 --- Aims and objectives --- p.27 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO: --- METHODOLOGY --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1 --- Recruitment of preschools and preschoolers --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2 --- Development of DRAGON2006 --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Ethics approval --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Focus groups with parents --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Amendment and pretest of the questionnaires --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Health lessons --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.4.1 --- Development and adaptation of the health lessons --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.4.2 --- Improvement of the teaching materials --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.4.3 --- Lyrics reproduction and CD production --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.4.4 --- Worksheets --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.4.5 --- Process evaluation --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Teachers´ة training --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3 --- Intervention Activities and Components --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Opening ceremony --- p.39 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Health Talks --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Health report --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Parental newsletters --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4 --- Outcome evaluation --- p.42 / Chapter 2.5 --- Data collection --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Recruitment of subjects --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Anthropometric measurements --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Parental baseline and evaluation questionnaire administration --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Teachers´ة pre- and post-intervention evaluation and process evaluation --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6 --- Data management --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Verification of data from the questionnaires --- p.44 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Data coding --- p.45 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Data entry and verification --- p.45 / Chapter 2.6.4 --- Data analysis --- p.45 / Chapter 2.5.4.1 --- Descriptive and association analysis --- p.45 / Chapter 2.5.4.2 --- Construction of BMI-for-age percentile and z- score curves --- p.46 / Chapter 2.5.4.3 --- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the program --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE: --- RESULTS --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1 --- Organization of the results --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2 --- Baseline comparability between the EG and CG --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- General sociodemographic characteristics --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Preschoolers' diet and meal behaviors --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Preschoolers´ة dental health --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Parental child feeding behaviors --- p.62 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Preschoolers´ة physical activity and sedentary behaviors --- p.66 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Summary --- p.67 / Chapter 3.3 --- Baseline comparability between the completes and dropouts --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Participant flow in the EG and CG --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- General sociodemographic characteristics --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- "Preschoolers´ة diet, meal and physical and sedentary activity behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.74 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Summary --- p.75 / Chapter 3.4. --- Evaluation of the effectiveness of the DRAGON2006 --- p.76 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- General demographic characteristics --- p.76 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Effects on preschoolers´ة anthropometry and weight status --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Effects on preschoolers' diet and meal behaviors --- p.79 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Effects on parental child feeding behaviors --- p.89 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Effects on preschoolers´ة physical and sedentary activities --- p.92 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Summary --- p.94 / Chapter 3.5 --- "Teaching staff members´ة attitudes, perceptions and practices with respect to addressing childhood overweight" --- p.95 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- General demographic characteristics --- p.95 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Teachers' attitude toward addressing childhood overweight --- p.98 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Teachers' behaviors toward addressing childhood overweight --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Teachers' perceived abilities to deal with some childhood overweight topics --- p.100 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Teachers´ة reported helpful factors to implementing a new preschool health program --- p.101 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Teachers´ة reported helpful factors for and barriers to parents´ة participation --- p.102 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Comparisons between staff with and without self-reported weight and height --- p.103 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- Summary --- p.105 / Chapter 3.6 --- EG teachers´ة evaluation of the program --- p.106 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Teachers' perception of DRAGON2006 program before the intervention --- p.106 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- DRAGON teachers´ة process evaluation of the DRAGON2006 curriculum --- p.113 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- DRAGON teachers´ة evaluation of DRAGON2006 program after the intervention --- p.118 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR: --- DISCUSSION --- p.127 / Chapter 4.1 --- "Baseline findings about the preschoolers' weight status, diet, meal and physical and sedentary activity situation" --- p.127 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Preschooler and parental overweight and obesity --- p.127 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Preschoolers´ة diet and meal behaviors --- p.128 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Preschoolers´ة physical and sedentary activity behaviors --- p.130 / Chapter 4.2 --- "Gender associations with preschoolers´ة diet, meal and physical and sedentary activity behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.131 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Gender associations with preschoolers´ة diet and meal behaviors --- p.132 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Gender associations with parental child feeding behaviors --- p.134 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Gender associations with preschoolers´ة physical and sedentary activity behaviors --- p.135 / Chapter 4.3 --- "Age associations with preschooler diet, meal and physical and sedentary activity behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.136 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Preschoolers' age associations with their anthropometry --- p.137 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Preschoolers´ة age associations with their diet and meal behaviors --- p.137 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Preschoolers' age associations with their dental health --- p.139 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Preschoolers´ة age associations with parental child feeding behaviors --- p.139 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Preschoolers´ة age associations with their physical and sedentary activity behaviors --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4 --- "Family income associations with preschooler diet, meal and physical and sedentary activity behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.141 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Family income associations with some general demographic characteristics of the sample --- p.143 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Family income associations with preschoolers´ة diet and meal behaviors --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Family income associations with parental child feeding behaviors --- p.147 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Family income associations with preschoolers' physical and sedentary activity behaviors --- p.148 / Chapter 4.5 --- Factors associated with preschool overweight and obesity --- p.148 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Preschooler overweight and obesity associations with some general demographic characteristics of the baseline participants --- p.149 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Preschooler overweight and obesity associations with parental overweight and obesity --- p.150 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Preschooler overweight and obesity associations with preschoolers' meal behaviors --- p.150 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Preschooler overweight and obesity associations with their physical and sedentary activity behaviors --- p.150 / Chapter 4.6 --- The evaluation of the effectiveness of DRAGON2006 --- p.151 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Baseline comparison between the education (EG) and control group (CG) --- p.151 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Baseline comparison between completers and dropouts --- p.151 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Follow up comparison between the education (EG) and control groups (CG) --- p.152 / Chapter 4.6.3.1 --- The changes in preschooler anthropometry --- p.153 / Chapter 4.6.3.2 --- The changes in preschooler diet and meal behaviors --- p.154 / Chapter 4.6.3.3 --- The changes in preschooler physical and sedentary activity behaviors --- p.155 / Chapter 4.6.3.4 --- Parental child feeding behaviors --- p.156 / Chapter 4.7 --- The teachers´ة evaluation results of DRAGON2006 and of Color Me Healthy --- p.156 / Chapter 4.7 --- Strengths and limitations of the study --- p.157 / Chapter 4.8 --- Suggestions for improvement of DRAGON --- p.159 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE: --- CONCLUSION --- p.160 / References --- p.161 / Appendices / Chapter AI --- Invitation letter for preschool (English) --- p.171 / Chapter AIII --- Invitation letter for preschool (Chinese) --- p.172 / Chapter AIII --- Invitation letter for CG preschool (Chinese only) --- p.173 / Chapter BI --- Research proposal (English) --- p.174 / Chapter BII --- Research proposal (Chinese) --- p.178 / Chapter CI --- Purpose and structure of DRAGON2006 health lessons (English) --- p.181 / Chapter CII --- Purpose and structure of DRAGON2006 health lessons (Chinese) --- p.185 / Chapter DI --- Teacher evaluation Part A (pre-intervention) (English) --- p.189 / Chapter DII --- Teacher evaluation Part A (pre-intervention) (Chinese) --- p.191 / Chapter EI --- Teacher evaluation Part B (process evaluation) (English) --- p.193 / Chapter EII --- Teacher evaluation Part B (process evaluation) (Chinese) --- p.205 / Chapter FI --- Teacher evaluation Part C (post-intervention) (English) --- p.218 / Chapter FII --- Teacher evaluation Part C (post-intervention) (Chinese) --- p.222 / Chapter GI --- Child health report (English) --- p.224 / Chapter GII --- Child health report (Chinese) --- p.226 / Chapter H --- Teaching kit --- p.228 / Chapter I --- Music sound track --- p.228 / Chapter J --- Curriculum worksheets (Chinese only) --- p.228 / Chapter K --- Parents´ة newsletters (Chinese only) --- p.228 / Chapter LI --- Focus group study questions (English) --- p.229 / Chapter LII --- Focus group study questions (Chinese) --- p.231 / Chapter MI --- Consent form for EG parents (English) --- p.233 / Chapter MII --- Consent form for EG parents (Chinese) --- p.235 / Chapter MII --- Consent form for CG parents (English) --- p.237 / Chapter MI --- Consent form for CG parents (Chinese) --- p.238 / Chapter NI --- Pre-internvetion parental questionnaire (English) --- p.239 / Chapter NII --- Pre-intervention parental questionnaire (Chinese) --- p.245 / Chapter OI --- Post-intervention parental questionnaire (English) --- p.250 / Chapter OII --- Post-internvetion parental questionnaire (Chinese) --- p.256 / Chapter PI --- Post-intervention staff survey (English) --- p.262 / Chapter PII --- Post-intervention staff survey (Chinese) --- p.264 / Chapter Q --- "Gender differences in preschoolers´ة diet, meal, physical and sedentary behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.266 / Chapter R --- "Age differences in preschoolers´ة diet, meal, physical and sedentary behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.296 / Chapter S --- "Income differences in preschoolers' diet, meal, physical and sedentary behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.313 / Chapter T --- Factors associated with preschooler weight status --- p.334 / Chapter U --- "Maternal education level differences in preschoolers´ة diet, meal, physical and sedentary behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.352 / Chapter V --- "Maternal birth place differences in preschoolers´ة diet, meal, physical and sedentary behaviors and parental child feeding behaviors" --- p.374 / Chapter W --- Test-retest reliability of DRAGON2006 questionnaire --- p.394

In conclusion, the current air pollution levels in Hong Kong had a risk for school children's respiratory and cardiovascular health. In comparison between the highly- and least-polluted districts, a rise of 8 mug/m 3 annual mean for PM10 concentration was significantly associated with increased risks for some respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, cough, and phlegm, with decreased lung function in FEF25-75% and FEF75%, and with decreased cardiopulmonary fitness in predicted VO2max, after adjustment for confounding factors. An increase of 13 mug/m3 annual mean for NO2 in the moderately-polluted district did not individually cause adverse effects on children's respiratory and cardiopulmonary health. Physical activity appears to have no positive health effects on the children's VO2max in moderately- and highly-polluted districts. / In the past year preceding the study (May 2003 to April 2004), the annual means for PM10, NO2, SO2 and O3 were respectively 55.1 mug/m3, 51.4 mug/m3, 15.4 mug/m3, and 42.5 mug/m3 in the least-polluted district (LPD); 56.3 mug/m3, 64.7 mug/m3, 15.2 mug/m3, and 35.2 mug/m3 in the moderately-polluted district (MPD); and 63.8 mug/m3, 64.1 mug/m3, 22.2 mug/m3, and 31.7 mug/m3 in the highly-polluted district (HPD). The 99th percentiles were 178 mug/m3, 158 mug/m 3, 104 mug/m3, and 140 mug/m3 in the LPD; 169 mug/m3, 181 mug/m3, 106 mug/m 3, and 113 mug/m3 in the MPD; and 226 mug/m 3, 177 mug/m3, 140 mug/m3, and 137 mug/m 3 in the HPD. The average daily 1-h maximum O3 (peak O 3) was 83.7 mug/m3 in the LPD, 73.6 mug/m 3 in the MPD, and 64.8 mug/m3 in the HPD. / Lung function indices included FVC, FEV1, FEV 1/FVC, FEF25-75%, FEF25%, and FEF75%. Children in the HPD had lower FEV 1/FVC, FEF25-75%, and FEF25% than those in both the LPD and MPD, after controlling for their corresponding confounders. In comparison between the LPD and HPD, the adjusted mean differences for FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, and FEF25% were respectively 1.39%, 85 ml, and 113 ml in boys, and 1.60%, 86 ml, and 225 ml in girls. In addition, the decreased FEF75% of HPD was found in boys (62 ml) but not in girls. When comparing the MPD with LPD, the increased FEF25% was observed in girls in the LPD (158 ml), whereas boys in the LPD had lower FEF75% than those in the MPD (81 ml). There were no significant differences in children's FVC and FEV1 between districts. / The multistage fitness test (MFT) with the Matsuzaka's function was employed to predict cardiopulmonary fitness (VO2max) of children. After adjustment for the factors, girls in the LPD had significantly higher VO 2max than those in the MPD and HPD by 0.19 and 0.75 ml·kg -1 ·min-1 respectively. The VO 2max among boys in the LPD was 0.48 ml·kg-1 ·min -1 higher than those in the HPD. When we compared the VO 2max between students in MPD and HPD, higher VO2max in both boys and girls in the MPD were observed---by 0.49 and 0.56 ml·kg -1 ·min-1 respectively. In LPD, significantly higher VO2max values were observed in both boys and girls who were physically active (children who took part in sports and/or vigorous free play at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes each time) compared with those who were not (0.71 and 0.65 ml·kg-1 ·min -1 respectively), but those differences in VO2max among students in MPD and HPD were small and insignificant. / There were totally 2,641 (82.9%) children who participated in the study, and 2,203 participants were involved in analyses. After adjustment for confounding factors, girls living in the HPD had significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) for wheezing without cold (4.75), cough at night (1.71), phlegm without cold (3.61), compared with those in the LPD. Boys in the HPD had increased OR only for phlegm without cold (1.88). When comparing the MPD with LPD, the adjusted OR for cough at night achieved significance in girls (1.74) and marginal significance in boys (1.40). Sneeze with itchy-watery eyes and current/ever allergic rhinitis had negative associations with district. In comparison with LPD, the decreased OR for sneeze with itchy-watery eye in girls in HPD (0.65) reached statistical significance. Both boys and girls in MPD had significantly decreased ORs for current allergic rhinitis (0.72 and 0.50 respectively) and for ever allergic rhinitis (0.74 and 0.55 respectively). There were no significant differences in the prevalence rates of asthma and bronchitis between districts. / To explore associations between air pollution and respiratory and cardiovascular health of school children, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,186 primary school children in P3 and P4 from three districts with different air pollution levels in Hong Kong during March to June in 2004. / Gao Yang. / "August 2005." / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6339. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 137-154). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.