A single-item measure of self-rated mental health (SRMH) asks respondents to rate their mental health on a 5-point scale from ‘excellent’ to ‘poor’. SRMH is being used increasingly in research and on population health surveys. However, little is known about this item, as there are no literature reviews and few formal validation studies. The aim of this study is to understand what SRMH measures by conducting the first known systematic review of SRMH literature, followed by analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS 1.2). Results of the systematic review reveal SRMH has relationships with mental health scales, mental disorders, self-rated health, health problems, service utilization, and service satisfaction. Analysis of CCHS 1.2 data finds SRMH is associated with psychiatric diagnoses, distress, physical health, and sociodemographic characteristics. Both studies conclude SRMH is measuring mental health and more; however, there needs to be more research to understand the specifics of these relationships.

A single-item measure of self-rated mental health (SRMH) asks respondents to rate their mental health on a 5-point scale from ‘excellent’ to ‘poor’. SRMH is being used increasingly in research and on population health surveys. However, little is known about this item, as there are no literature reviews and few formal validation studies. The aim of this study is to understand what SRMH measures by conducting the first known systematic review of SRMH literature, followed by analysis of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS 1.2). Results of the systematic review reveal SRMH has relationships with mental health scales, mental disorders, self-rated health, health problems, service utilization, and service satisfaction. Analysis of CCHS 1.2 data finds SRMH is associated with psychiatric diagnoses, distress, physical health, and sociodemographic characteristics. Both studies conclude SRMH is measuring mental health and more; however, there needs to be more research to understand the specifics of these relationships.

Introduction: The benefits of leisure-time physical activity on mental and physical health among older adults are well documented, but few studies have explored the association between depression and leisure-time physical activity within a theoretical framework. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to identify the association between depression and leisure-time physical activity among community-dwelling, Canadian adults aged 65 and older, using a modified version of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Method: The present study included a weighted sample of 3,785,145 community- dwelling, seniors aged 65 years or older who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey (Cycle 2.1). Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the cross-sectional association between depression-related disorders and leisure-time physical activity in the context of chronic physical conditions and psychosocial factors. Results: Older adults reporting depression-related disorders were less likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity after adjusting for relevant psychosocial factors (odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 0.76 to 0.79, p < 0.001). This association was partially mediated by activity limitations associated with depression-related disorders. Similar results were observed between chronic physical conditions and participation in leisure-time physical activity. Conclusion: Although the present study was unable to identify the temporal relationships among study variables, the results provide clinicians who care for older adults with depression and/or chronic physical diseases with potentially useful information on the benefits of physical activity. They also provide evidence in support of community-based exercise or leisure-time physical activity program for seniors who are physically inactive to prevent chronic mental or physical illnesses and reduced quality of life

Background: Tobacco use either in the form of smoking or smokeless tobacco is typically initiated or established behaviorally for adult smokers before 18 years of age. Given that data from monitoring and surveillance systems drives every policy and program, accurate surveillance of tobacco consumption by adolescents is a major part of curbing tobacco addiction. Methodology: The consistency and reliability of youth smoking prevalence data was assessed by investigating discrepancies within versions of the Global Youth Tobacco (GYTS) as well as between GYTS and the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). Sources of errors and biases were examined in order to determine the cause for discrepancies in results. Results: Significant discrepancies were found within GYTS versions as well as between the survey results produced by GYTS and GSHS. Discrepancies within GYTS versions were determined to be due to quality control errors. Analyzed by gender, negligible variation was found between boys and girls. When comparing the total smoking prevalence estimates between GYTS and GSHS, four of the six WHO administrative regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern-Mediterranean, South-Eastern and Western- Pacific) were found to have significantly different estimates. The European region did not consist of any significantly different estimates. When comparing variance in total smoking prevalence estimates, GSHS results were found to be lower than GYTS estimates with the exception of the EMRO region. The EMRO region was further analyzed to explore gender variation within the region and boys were found to have 44.5% more significantly different estimates in comparison to girls. Conclusion: Up-to-date, reliable and consistent surveillance and monitoring efforts are part and parcel to solving this tobacco epidemic and fighting wealthy and powerful tobacco companies.

Tanzania, one of many nations in Africa with high infant mortality to preventable diseases, continues to experience relatively low vaccination rates for childhood diseases. In this paper, we examine the maternal barriers to obtaining vaccines for their children in Tanzania. The risk and protective factors we analyzed include age of the mother and children, education level of the mother, number of children, maternal decision-making practices, power dynamics and others. Lack of control, limited decision practices, and decreased maternal empowerment were identified as key barriers to obtaining vaccines for children. Overall, this data is consistent with previous studies regarding barriers to vaccinations in Tanzania and other African nations.

Introduction: The benefits of leisure-time physical activity on mental and physical health among older adults are well documented, but few studies have explored the association between depression and leisure-time physical activity within a theoretical framework. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to identify the association between depression and leisure-time physical activity among community-dwelling, Canadian adults aged 65 and older, using a modified version of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Method: The present study included a weighted sample of 3,785,145 community- dwelling, seniors aged 65 years or older who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey (Cycle 2.1). Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the cross-sectional association between depression-related disorders and leisure-time physical activity in the context of chronic physical conditions and psychosocial factors. Results: Older adults reporting depression-related disorders were less likely to participate in leisure-time physical activity after adjusting for relevant psychosocial factors (odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 0.76 to 0.79, p < 0.001). This association was partially mediated by activity limitations associated with depression-related disorders. Similar results were observed between chronic physical conditions and participation in leisure-time physical activity. Conclusion: Although the present study was unable to identify the temporal relationships among study variables, the results provide clinicians who care for older adults with depression and/or chronic physical diseases with potentially useful information on the benefits of physical activity. They also provide evidence in support of community-based exercise or leisure-time physical activity program for seniors who are physically inactive to prevent chronic mental or physical illnesses and reduced quality of life

Regelbunden fysisk aktivitet motverkar en rad fysiska och mentala sjukdomar. Hälsovinster av fysisk aktivitet är bland annat en högre funktionell muskulär- och kardiovaskulär kapacitet samt en högre livskvalitet. Stillasittande och inaktivitet kan leda till övervikt, kardiovaskulära sjukdomar, cancer, psykosociala problem och metaboliska sjukdomar. Mellan män och kvinnor finns fysiologiska skillnader som visar sig i kroppsstorlek och muskelmassa. Detta ger generellt sett kvinnor mer flexibel fysik medan män är fysiskt starkare. WHOs rekommendationer om daglig fysisk aktivitet är 150 min/vecka av moderat aerobisk träning eller 75 min mer ansträngande aerobisk träning. Styrketräning som involverar större muskelgrupper rekommenderas i åldrarna 18-64.   Till hjälp att undersöka hypotesen har två oberoende test används. En skriftlig enkät, SF-36v2 Health Survey, samt ett fysiskt test, Functional Movement Screen. I denna studie undersöks huruvida det finns ett samband mellan en ökad träningsmängd och ett högre FMS-resultat samt om en högre ålder ger lägre FMS-resultat, oavsett kön. Vi tror oss även se ett samband mellan högre FMS-poäng och ett högre uppskattat mentalt och fysiskt mående. Testpersonerna (N:30) som deltog i studien var arbetande eller studerande män (N:15) och kvinnor (N:15) i åldrarna 20-65år. FMS-resultaten visade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan kön eller stigande ålder. Däremot ser vi signifikanta skillnader mellan könen vid specifika styrke- eller rörlighetstester i FMS. Kvinnorna visar tydligt via resultaten att de generellt har en mer flexibel fysik medan männen är starkare. Som slutsats av denna studie kan vi konstatera att FMS som testmetod är könsneutralt och kan användas på blandade populationer. Detta ger testmetoden en bred användbarhet på just en blandad population. Fler studier krävs för att få fram normerande poängsättning om FMS skall användas på medelmotionären.

Background: CVD is a major cause of premature death in Nova Scotia, Canada. Objective: To determine the role of inflammation in the relationships between obesity, physical activity and IHD. Methods: Secondary analysis using exposure data from the 1995 Nova Scotia Health Survey, morbidity data from CIHI and mortality data from Statistics Canada. Results: A statistically significant association was found between abdominal obesity and IHD for women; the relationship between physical inactivity and IHD was of borderline statistical significance in men. Inflammatory markers were independently associated IHD for women. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity was a risk factor for IHD for women, whereas physical inactivity was the was the strongest predictor of IHD in men. Inflammation was found to be an independent risk factor for IHD in women but not men. There was no evidence that inflammation plays a mediating role in the obesity-IHD and physical activity-IHD relationships for women and men, respectively.

This thesis is an investigation of the self-reported health behaviour changes made by adults in the Canadian Community Health Survey 2007, categorized by BMI category. Descriptive analyses and forward stepwise regression were performed to determine variables associated with HBC. The final sample n = 111,449. Overall, 58% of individuals had made a HBC in the past year. Increased exercise was the most common HBC (29%), followed by improved eating habits (10%) and losing weight (7%). Only 51% experienced barriers to HBC; lack of will power was most commonly cited. Overweight and obese individuals were more likely to undertake HBC. In the regression model, opinion of own weight was the strongest predictor of HBC, followed by fruit and vegetable consumption, number of consultations with doctor, smoking status, and perceived health.

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