Thesis advisor: Thanh V. Tran / Research has established that dietary quality among Asian immigrants declined after immigrating to the United States, indicated by decreasing intake of healthy food and increasing intake of unhealthy food. There is a need for a broader investigation for the interactive influence of acculturation, sociodemographic and environmental factors on dietary intake among this population. Guided by the Operant Theory of Acculturation, and the Dietary Acculturation Theory, the present study examined the following research questions to address the gaps in the literature: (1) Are acculturation factors associated with dietary intake among Asian immigrants? (2) What sociodemographic factors are associated with dietary intake among Asian immigrants? (3) What environmental factors are associated with dietary intake among Asian immigrants? (4) What sociodemographic factors moderate the effect of acculturation on dietary intake among Asian immigrants? (5) What environmental factors moderate the effect of acculturation on dietary intake among Asian immigrants? The data in use come from the 2011 – 2012 Adult California Health Interview survey. The sample includes 2,122 non-Hispanic Asian adults born out of the United States. Results from negative binomial regression indicate that intake of fruits, vegetables, soda, fries and fast food was all negatively associated with living in the United States for at least 10 years, compared to living in the Unites States for less than 10 years. The present study also found sociodemographic (including ethnicity, age, gender, education, employment status, and income) and environmental factors (including family type, household size, household tenure, housing type, perceived availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, residential area category, and participation in food stamp and WIC) statistically significantly confounded and moderated the association between length of time lived in the United States and dietary intake. Findings from this study extend the understanding of the protective and risk factors for Asian immigrants to develop and maintain healthy diet, and demonstrated the complexity of dietary changes among Asian immigrants. Based on the findings, the importance that social work research and practice in addressing nutrition inequality among Asian immigrants was highlighted. The study also discovered potential issues and challenges of developing measurement for dietary intake among Asian immigrants, and provided empirical evidence of longitudinal research designs to further explain dietary changes, and guidelines for community-based interventions to address strategies of nutrition promotion among Asian immigrants. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Migration is one of life events that may change lifestyle, including new cultural norms, language and community systems as well as dietary patterns. Changing dietary patterns from traditional eating patterns to those typical of a western lifestyle has been associated with increased risk of disease. Furthermore, new food use patterns develop through the rejection of traditional and the acceptance of culturally new food habits. The purpose of this study is to identify the food habits and meal patterns of Koreans living in Australia, and any relationship between length of residence and change in eating habits. The method used for this research was a self reported questionnaire, administered in an interview and 3 day food records. One hundred adults living in the Korean community in Sydney were surveyed. The collected data were coded and analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 10. Descriptive analyses, for example mean and standard deviation, were carried out to determine the respondents’ attitudes toward food habits. The personal information data were also analysed by SPSS using frequency tables to describe the study sample. The results indicated that food habits had no significant differences dependent upon length of residence. Food habits were slightly affected by availability of income, occupation and religious beliefs. Food consumption frequency showed increased meat and dairy products. However, the consumption of rice and fish products decreased. / Master of Science (Hons)

This dissertation focuses on the changing food consumption patterns in Sweden and Belgium during the latter half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century and the implications as seen from a sustainability point of view, both from a qualitative and quantitative perspective. It is shown that changes in agriculture, food processing, distribution and consumption during the period under assessment were considerable and had a clear impact on the food consumption pattern in both countries. Statistical data on the consumption of different food groups such as meat, milk and dairy products, fish, fruits, vegetables, cereal, potatoes, sugar, margarine and chocolate were compared. Overall, an increase in the consumption of meat, cheese, yoghurt, cream, fruits and vegetables was observed in both countries, while the consumption of milk, butter and potatoes decreased. For the sustainability assessment three parameters were chosen: land requirement, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. The assessment was based on quantitative data about food consumption in 1960 and 2004. It was shown that the Swedish and Belgian diets in 2004 required more resources and emitted more greenhouse gas emissions than in 1960. The Belgian diet had higher values for all parameters than the Swedish, except when considering the values for the emissions of greenhouse gases in 1960 when the Swedish diet had higher values.

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Bakgrund: Diabetes typ två är en sjukdom som idag klassas som en folksjukdom, och är starkt betingat med dåliga levnadsvanor. En del i behandlingen av sjukdomen är livsstilsförändringar, såsom kostförändringar. Genom kosten kan många personer få kontroll över sina blodsockernivåer, och därmed sker en klinisk förbättring. Syfte: Att belysa erfarenheter av kostförändringar hos vuxna personer med diabetes typ två. Metod: En kvalitativ litteraturstudie.Genom strukturerade sökningar med en PEO-modell genom PubMed och Cinahl har tio artiklar identifierats och kvalitetsgranskats genom SBU:s granskningsmall, och slutligen analyserats för litteraturstudiens resultat. Resultat: Fyra huvudteman identifierades – behov av kunskap ,motivation, tillgänglighet, och sociala sammanhang. Slutsats: Kostförändringar vid diabetes ärav stor betydelse för behandlingen av diabetes typ två, och följsamheten till dessa beror mycket på personliga faktorer i individens liv. Därför är det nödvändigt för sjuksköterskan, för att kunna ge god personcentrerad omvårdnad, att ha ett holistiskt perspektiv i det stödjande och hälsofrämjande arbetet. / Background: Type 2 diabetes is a disease that is currently classified as an epidemic and is strongly linked to poor lifestyle habits. Treating the disease involves making lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications. Through diet, many individuals can gain control over their blood sugar levels, resulting in clinical improvement. Purpose: To highlight the experiences of dietary changes among adult individuals with type 2 diabetes. Method: A qualitative literature study. Ten articles were identified and subjected to quality assessment using the SBU review template through structured searches using a PEO model via Pubmed and Cinahl. The results were then analyzed for the findings of the literature study. Results: Four main themes were identified: the need for knowledge, motivation, availability, and social contexts. Conclusion: Dietary changes are crucial in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and adherence to these changes depends heavily on personal factors in an individual’s life. Therefore, it’s important for nurses to provide effective person-centered care and it is necessary to have a holistic perspective in their supportive and health-promoting work.

Bakgrund Diabetes mellitus typ 2 är en folkhälsosjukdom som ständigt växer både i Sverige och globalt. Egenvårdsåtgärder sätts in i tidigt skede av behandlingen där kostförändringar har en central del.Sjukdomen innebär ofta behov av förändringar gällande kost, motion och livsstil i resten av livet samt för många innebär det även regelbunden medicinering. Kunskap och förståelse kan vara viktiga faktorer för att anpassa sig till den nya livsstilen. I sjuksköterskans ansvar ingår att främja hälsa och att vägleda patienten till en hälsosam livsstil, detta genom att se till personens egenvårdsbehov och utifrån det bidra med stöd samt kunskap. Med kunskap och bättre förståelse om vad kostförändringar har för påverkan på individen kan sjuksköterskor bättre hjälpa, stödja samt förbättra personers upplevelser.  Syfte Att undersöka upplevelser av att genomföra förändringar av kostvanor hos personer med diabetes mellitus typ 2. Metod Självständigarbetet är skriven enligt en litteraturöversikt som metod. Sökning för litteratur söktes via de två databaserna PubMed och Cinahl Complete där tio kvalitativa vetenskapliga originalartiklar valdes ut. Dessa kvalitetsgranskades sedan enligt Friberg (2017) granskningsmodell och granskningsfrågor innan resultatet sammanställdes.  Resultat Resultatet delades upp och presenterades i tre huvudteman, dessa var: känslomässiga och fysiska aspekter av kostförändringar, faktorer som utmanar eller begränsar samt faktorer som underlättar eller stödjer. Slutsats Kostförändringar ses ofta som begränsande och utmanande att tillämpa. Bristande kunskap kring kostförändringar bidrog till osäkerhet och mer djupgående information från vårdpersonal önskades ofta. Utomstående stöd ansågs även hjälpsamt. / Background Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a public health disease that is constantly growing both in Sweden and globally. Self-care measures are introduced in the early stages of treatment, were dietary changes play a central role.The disease often involves a need for changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle for the rest of their life’s and for many it also involves regular medication. Knowledge and understanding can be important factors in adapting to the new lifestyle. The nurse’s responsibility is to promote health and guidance the patient to a healthy lifestyle by adressing their self-care needs and providing support and knowledge. With knowledge and a better understanding of the impact of dietary changes on the individual, can nurses better help, support and improve people's experiences. Aim Was to investigate experiences of implementing changes in dietary habits among people with diabetes mellitus type 2. Method The independent work is written according to a literature review as a method. Search for literature was searched via the two databases PubMed and Cinahl Complete where ten qualitative scientific original articles were selected. These were the quality reviewed according to Friberg’s (2017) review model and review questions before the results were complied. Results The results were divided and presented in three main themes, these were: emotional and physical aspects of dietary changes, factors that challenge or limit and factors that facilitate or support. Conclusions Dietary changes are often seen as limiting and challenging to apply. Lack of knowledge about dietary changes contributed to uncertainty and more in-depth information from health professionals was desired. External support was alsoconsidered helpful.

Historical evidence from contemporary documents established that Irish migrants to London during the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) were likely to come from low socio-economic groups in south-west Ireland, and has characterised mid-19th-century health status and living conditions in both locations. Using samples from 119 individuals from the Catholic cemetery at Lukin Street, London (1843-1854) and 20 from the Union Workhouse Famine cemetery, Kilkenny, Ireland (1847-51), mean bone collagen isotope values were established for the well-documented Irish pre-Famine potato-based diet (¿15N 10.6¿, ¿13C -19.1¿), and the diet of contemporaneous Londoners (¿15N 12.6¿, ¿13C -19.1¿). The introduction of maize as a short-term Famine relief food was identified in three Kilkenny juveniles with bone collagen ¿13C above -17¿, and incremental dentine collagen demonstrating temporal changes in ¿13C consistent with dietary change from C3 to C4 plants. Bone collagen values for two Lukin Street individuals were consistent with high marine protein consumption. Techniques developed in this study to sample increments of dentine representing nine months or less of life have improved temporal resolution not only for migration events but also short-term dietary changes and physiological status during childhood. Combining epigraphic, osteological and archaeological evidence, individual ¿lifeways¿ have been constructed using isotope data and provide insights into the connection between health, diet and skeletal manifestations of deprivation during childhood and adolescence. New models are investigated for examining maternal and infant health using dentine collagen increments formed in utero and combining dentine and bone collagen values to explore the effects of nutritional stress on bone turnover. / Arts and Humanities Council. The British Federation of Women Graduates (the Eila Campbell scholarship). The British Association for Biological, Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (the Jane Moore prize).

Iva Zvěřinová PhD Thesis Public Preferences for Environmental Policies and Behavioural Changes Abstract Environmental problems, such as climate change, are generally perceived as serious issues by the public in European countries. However, people tend to assign them a low policy priority and disagree with the introduction of some policy instruments, such as carbon tax. Few people also behave in an environmentally friendly way and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What are the preferences of the inhabitants of several European countries regarding climate mitigation policies and behavioural changes? What makes these policies more acceptable for the public? Would people from these countries be willing to accept climate mitigation policies or behaviour, and if so, under what conditions? This thesis aims to answer these questions by applying a theoretical framework that integrates attitudes and perceptions with preferences. In the empirical part of the thesis, we analyse data from several questionnaire surveys on public responses to climate policies and climate-related behaviours in several European countries. The thesis contains four empirical studies focusing on: i. public preferences for climate mitigation policies; ii. public preferences for policy instruments to reduce GHG emissions; iii. consumers'...

Hypertension is a major chronic health problem that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. African Americans disproportionately suffer from the morbidity and mortality of hypertension-related illnesses. The purpose of this comparative project was to determine the impact of peer support educational workshops as an avenue for lifestyle modification, using changes in blood pressure (BP) before and after participation. The target population consisted of 64 African Americans with hypertension in Brooklyn NY, aged 20 to 65 years old. BP measurements were taken within 1 month before and after participating in a weekly peer support educational workshop facilitated by designated healthcare providers. The health belief model, using the tenets of lifestyle modification, societal support and health education, was used to guide the study. Demographic data were collated and categorized, considering numeric values used to represent age, income level, and education. Normality testing of the study variables was performed to ensure that the data followed a normal distribution. The study variables included the pre- and post-test systolic and diastolic BP. A t test was used in order to compare the 2 groups, revealing a statistically lower significant score from African Americans who participated than those who did not. African Americans who adhered to peer support educational regimens in the workshops revealed a statistically significant lower diastolic BP than those who did not participate. This research contributes to social change by providing evidence-based recommendations that government and health care professionals may use to create strategic plans to promote the well-being of individuals and communities.