Legalized gambling in Canada has increased dramatically over the last two decades. The existing literature suggests that a subgroup of individuals with gambling problems might be characterized by an emotional vulnerability to depression, although psychological factors related to such vulnerability have rarely been examined. This thesis utilized a representative community sample to examine the relationship between self-criticism, a psychological factor reflecting vulnerability to depression, distress and gambling problems and to provide data on the prevalence and correlates of gambling problems in Winnipeg. Results indicated that self-criticism is significantly related to gambling problems and this relationship was stronger among women. The prevalence of gambling problems was 11%, double the most recently reported Canada-wide estimates. Correlates of gambling problems revealed in the current study were consistent with previous research. These results have important implications for treatment and prevention efforts as well as public policy regarding gambling and gambling advertising in Canada.

Historically, the primary belief has been that asthma is an atopic disease with the strongest risk factor for developing asthma being exposure to an allergen. However, researchers have begun to question that long held belief and are beginning to study other postnatal environmental factors such as stress. Research delving into maternal postnatal distress and the subsequent effects seen upon the developing neonatal immune system as it pertains to asthma has gained momentum. With that in mind, the focus of this research was 1) to determine if skin infections are more likely to be seen in young children who have been exposed to maternal distress, 2) to determine if skin infections in children from infancy to age 2 are associated with asthma, independent of atopic dermatitis, and 3) to determine if the association between early life skin infection and asthma was independent of recent stress biomarkers such as cortisol and dehydroepiandrostrone (DHEA). To meet the objectives listed above, the 1995 SAGE (Study of Asthma, Genes and the Environment) Manitoba birth cohort of 13980 children was used. Maternal postnatal distress, skin infection and atopic dermatitis in the infant, asthma at age 11 and other risk factors for asthma were derived from Manitoba’s health care databases. For objective 3, data on stress biomarkers (Cortisol/DHEA ratio) were obtained from the SAGE nested case-control study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed the first objective that skin infections (adj. OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.39) and or atopic dermatitis (adj. OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.26-1.70) seen in children from birth to age 2 could be used as indirect markers of stress. The second objective determined that children who exhibited an early skin infection, from birth to age two, were at an increased risk for developing asthma by age 11 independent of atopic dermatitis. However, this finding was dependent upon frequency of health care use. Those children that exhibited an early skin infection and had less than 24 health care visits over 7 years were 1.33 times (95% CI 1.01-1.75) more likely to acquire asthma by age 11 than those who did not have an early skin infection. Children with fewer health care visits were 1.44 times more likely to have asthma. The third objective was not met because the association between early skin infection and asthma was not independent of the Cortisol/DHEA ratio. However, the univariate results for skin infection in the nested case-control study were not significant. The findings of this thesis may be used by family physicians or paediatricians when looking for tangible markers that may indicate infants at risk for developing asthma by school age.

Legalized gambling in Canada has increased dramatically over the last two decades. The existing literature suggests that a subgroup of individuals with gambling problems might be characterized by an emotional vulnerability to depression, although psychological factors related to such vulnerability have rarely been examined. This thesis utilized a representative community sample to examine the relationship between self-criticism, a psychological factor reflecting vulnerability to depression, distress and gambling problems and to provide data on the prevalence and correlates of gambling problems in Winnipeg. Results indicated that self-criticism is significantly related to gambling problems and this relationship was stronger among women. The prevalence of gambling problems was 11%, double the most recently reported Canada-wide estimates. Correlates of gambling problems revealed in the current study were consistent with previous research. These results have important implications for treatment and prevention efforts as well as public policy regarding gambling and gambling advertising in Canada.

Historically, the primary belief has been that asthma is an atopic disease with the strongest risk factor for developing asthma being exposure to an allergen. However, researchers have begun to question that long held belief and are beginning to study other postnatal environmental factors such as stress. Research delving into maternal postnatal distress and the subsequent effects seen upon the developing neonatal immune system as it pertains to asthma has gained momentum. With that in mind, the focus of this research was 1) to determine if skin infections are more likely to be seen in young children who have been exposed to maternal distress, 2) to determine if skin infections in children from infancy to age 2 are associated with asthma, independent of atopic dermatitis, and 3) to determine if the association between early life skin infection and asthma was independent of recent stress biomarkers such as cortisol and dehydroepiandrostrone (DHEA). To meet the objectives listed above, the 1995 SAGE (Study of Asthma, Genes and the Environment) Manitoba birth cohort of 13980 children was used. Maternal postnatal distress, skin infection and atopic dermatitis in the infant, asthma at age 11 and other risk factors for asthma were derived from Manitoba’s health care databases. For objective 3, data on stress biomarkers (Cortisol/DHEA ratio) were obtained from the SAGE nested case-control study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed the first objective that skin infections (adj. OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.39) and or atopic dermatitis (adj. OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.26-1.70) seen in children from birth to age 2 could be used as indirect markers of stress. The second objective determined that children who exhibited an early skin infection, from birth to age two, were at an increased risk for developing asthma by age 11 independent of atopic dermatitis. However, this finding was dependent upon frequency of health care use. Those children that exhibited an early skin infection and had less than 24 health care visits over 7 years were 1.33 times (95% CI 1.01-1.75) more likely to acquire asthma by age 11 than those who did not have an early skin infection. Children with fewer health care visits were 1.44 times more likely to have asthma. The third objective was not met because the association between early skin infection and asthma was not independent of the Cortisol/DHEA ratio. However, the univariate results for skin infection in the nested case-control study were not significant. The findings of this thesis may be used by family physicians or paediatricians when looking for tangible markers that may indicate infants at risk for developing asthma by school age.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-72). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-72). Also available on the Internet.

This study had a two-fold purpose. Firstly, to establish whether a model utilising a number of non-financial variables in conjunction with a model based on financial variables is able to provide a more accurate company financial distress model than a model based on financial variables only. Secondly, to reinforce the theoretical foundation of company financial distress and failure through an examination of existing studies in order to enhance insight into the financial distress and failure phenomenon. A phased approach was applied to identify a sample of 95 companies listed on the JSE. A questionnaire comprising 14 questions, divided into five broad categories based on the strategic capability of a subject company was employed. The published Director’s Report was used to evaluate the questions on a zero to five-point scale over a 10-year observation period. The relationship between the questionnaire test results and the De la Rey K-Score for the subject companies was tested utilising the Cramer’s V statistical test. The Cramer’s V test is a chi-square based measure of nominal association yielding a value between zero and one. A movement towards one indicates a strengthening relationship, in this instance, between the non-financial test result and the De la Rey K-Score. A movement towards zero is an indication of a weakening relationship. A limited test result in favour of a strengthening relationship was insufficient to prove that the primary objective of this study has been achieved. The secondary objective was achieved in view that this was an exploratory study. It is, against this background, that empirical research is recommended in order to prove that a model combining financial variables with true non-financial variables should provide a more accurate company distress prediction model. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Financial Management / unrestricted

No description available.

Background: This systematic review aimed to identify factors related to psychological distress in family members of pediatric cancer patients on active treatment. Methods: Search strategies were entered into six academic databases. Randomized, nonrandomized, quantitative descriptive and mixed method studies, examining factors related to psychological distress in the population of study were included. Identified factors were coded as per the 4P’s of case formulation. Results: 59 studies were included. Parental factors identified: 24 predisposing factors; 12 precipitating factors; 35 perpetuating factors; and six protective factors. Sibling factors identified: five predisposing factors; one precipitating factor; 14 perpetuating factors; and two protective factors. A text-based, narrative synthesis and tabular summaries are presented. Discussion: Findings can support the: (1) recognition of distress exhibited in family members; and (2) the timing of interventions specific to the chronological manifestations of distress. Assessment of risk of bias was not done. Other: International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration number CRD42018109802. No sources of funding to declare.