Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 292-306).

Health risk behaviors are responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality among adolescents. Researchers have identified three sources of risk-taking in adolescents – dispositional, ecological and biological. The Bioecological Model incorporates these three sources of risk-taking, however it lacks explanatory power. For this reason, this thesis focused on explaining risk perception of health risk behaviors (smoking cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use), and health risk behaviors by integrating the Bioecological Model with a more specific Health Belief Model. The relationship between risk perception and health risk behavior was also investigated as a first step in understanding adolescent decision-making using the Health Belief Model. Adolescents from a suburban Indiana area were asked to complete the Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey which assessed egocentrism, self-esteem, social norms, risk perceptions, and the incidence and prevalence of health endangering behaviors. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the ability of the systems in the Bioecological Model and their specific variables to explain risk perception of health risk behaviors. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to determine the ability of the systems in the Bioecological Model and their specific variables to explain health risk behaviors and to moderate the relationships between risk perception and health risk behaviors. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the Bioecological Model is important in understanding adolescent’s risk perception of health risk behaviors, and their self-reported health risk behaviors. It is also important in understanding the relationship between risk perception and health risk behaviors. Adolescent Variables, Microsystem, and Mesosystem were significant in predicting adolescent risk perception of all health risk behaviors examined, and self-reported smoking cigarette behavior and marijuana use. Adolescent variables and Microsystem were the only systems to predict adolescent self-reported alcohol use. The relationship between risk perception and reported smoking cigarette behavior was moderated by Adolescent Variables, Microsystem and Mesosystem, however for alcohol use the path was moderated by Adolescent Variables and for marijuana use the path was moderated by the Mesosytem. Results of this thesis imply the importance of considering the contribution of Bioecological Model variables when implementing prevention intervention programs specific to adolescent health risk behaviors.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-226). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR46020

The results of this study indicate that two groups of mothers share a relatively similar socioeconomic status, knowledge of health and hygiene, and have similar health-seeking behaviors. The mothers' lack of knowledge and their local view of illnesses seemed to embody questionable newborn care related to breastfeeding practices and oil applications to newborns. Three psychosocial factors that appeared to contribute to the mother's health-seeking behaviors were attitudinal factors (this consisted of favorable or unfavorable perceptions toward services based on the mother's prior experiences or familiarity with service), social pressures (opinions from others and the mother's competing responsibilities), and self-efficacies accessibility, availability, and affordability). In addition, the external factor of poverty in the slum settlements was also a significant factor which determined the mother's health seeking behaviors. The implications of these findings are discussed in further detail, which are then followed by a set of recommendations for future health interventions designed to reduce the risk of sepsis neonatorum in urban communities. This study underscores the benefits of integrating the perspectives of anthropology and public health to further the understanding of the neonatal health problem. Finally, the need for future studies is addressed as it is necessary to further understand the existing local practices and beliefs in relation to the risks of sepsis neonatorum.

Insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes in Mexican American adolescents living along the United States (US)-Mexico border are linked to genetics, poverty, developmental characteristics, and psychological attributes. Understanding relationships among psychological attributes, health promoting behaviors (HPB) and IR markers addresses gaps in health promotion science that test relationships between lifestyle and biological outcomes.Hendricks' Perceptual Health Promotion Determinants Model provided theoretical underpinnings. The aims were to test the predictive ability of HPB and IR using psychological attributes (self-esteem, self-efficacy, and hope). Biological markers for IR included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and Homeostasis Mathematical Assessment Model for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR).Forty five Mexican American adolescents (62% female; 16.4 [&plusmn;1.27] mean years) participated. The majority (60%) were obese (BMI &ge; 95th percentile) with 40% overweight (BMI &ge; 85th percentile), 45% with WC &ge; 95th percentile, and 76% with HOMA-IR &ge; 3.16.With self-efficacy for physical activity, 38% (R<super>2<super> = 0.3771; F = 8.27, df = 3; p < 0.002) of variance in HPB was explained by hope. With self-efficacy for nutrition fats/sodium, 44% (R<super>2<super> = 0.4382; F = 10.66; df = 3; p < .0001) of variance in HPB was explained by self-efficacy for nutrition fats/sodium and hope. With self-efficacy for nutrition fruits/vegetables, 49% (R<super>2<super> = 0.4894; F = 13.10; df = 3; p <.0001) of variance in HPB was explained by self-efficacy for nutrition fruits/vegetables and hope.Additionally, with IR reflected as WC, 21% (R<super>2<super> = 0.2129; F = 2.71; df = 4; p = 0.0437) of variance was explained by self-esteem and self-efficacy for physical activity. With IR reflected as HOMA-IR, 22% (R<super>2<super> = 0.2214; F = 2.84; df = 4; p = 0.0364) of variance was explained by self-efficacy for physical activity and 23% (R<super>2<super> = 0.2254; F = 2.91; df = 4; p = 0.0333) of variance was explained by self-efficacy for nutrition fruits/vegetables. Evidence supports using hope and self-efficacy to test interventions to increase HPB and decrease IR in adolescents residing along the US-Mexico border region.

Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti palankaus sveikatai elgesio sąsajas su dvasingumu ir vidine darna suaugusiame amžiuje. Tyrime dalyvavo 213 respondentų, 131 (61,5 %) moterų ir 82 (38,5%) vyrai. Jauniausiam tyrimo dalyviui 19 metų, vyriausiam – 58. Amžiaus vidurkis 28,9 metų. Tyrime buvo naudojama kasdieninės dvasinės patirties skalė (DSES), gyvenimo orientacijos klausimynas, palankaus sveikatai elgesio klausimynas. Išanalizavus gautus tyrimo rezultatus nustatyta, kad didesniu dvasingumu pasižymi žmonės, kurie taip pat pasižymi labiau sveikatai palankiu elgesiu ir atvirkščiai – mažesnio dvasingumo tiriamieji pasižymi mažiau sveikatai palankiu elgesiu. Žmonės, kurių vidinės darnos lygis yra aukštesnis pasižymi labiau sveikatai palankiu elgesiu, negu žmonių, kurių vidinės darnos lygis žemesnis. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad palankų sveikatai elgesį paaiškina didesnis dvasingumas, aukštesnis vidinės darnos lygis ir vyriška lytis. / The aim of research – to establish relation of health related behavior with spirituality and the sense of coherence in grown up age. The research involved 213 respondents, out of who 131 (61.5%) were women and 82 (38.5%) – men. The youngest participant of the research was 19 years old, the oldest – 58. The average age – 28.9 years. The research instruments used were daily spiritual experience scale (DSES), life orientation questionnaire, health related behavior questionnaire. Analysis of the research results suggests that the people characterized as spiritual are also more lean towards the health related behavior and vice verse – people with less noted spirituality are less tend to health related behavior. Behavior of the people with higher level of sense of coherence is more health related than of the people with lower sense of coherence. The results of the research revealed that higher level of spirituality, greater sense of coherence and male gender account for the health related behavior.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Flinders University, School of Psychology. / Typescript (bound). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199 - 234). Also available online.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.P.H.M. (Primary Health Care Management))--Mahidol University, 2007.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.