DISSERTATION (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Wellness refers to the optimal state of being. A review of literature indicated that leisure time physical activity (LTPA), academic stress, leisure satisfaction, and perceived problem solving ability (PPSA) are prominent factors contributing to an individual’s wellness. However, the underlying mechanism of how these factors affect wellness has not been explored. The purposes of this cross-sectional study were (1) to examine the relative contribution of LTPA, academic stress, leisure satisfaction, and PPSA to wellness of university students in Hong Kong; (2) to find out whether gender impacted the LTPA, academic stress, leisure satisfaction, PPSA, and wellness scores. A total of 712 participants took part in this study by completing a questionnaire on a voluntary basis. After data cleaning, 691 cases were used for further analyses using SPSS 17.0 and LISREL 8.7. Findings of this study indicated that university students in Hong Kong had moderate wellness perception (M = 4.09, possible range = 1 -6) and academic stress levels (M = 2.83, possible range = 1 -5). Male students reported higher level of wellness in physical domain while female students had higher level of wellness perception in social domain. Female students also reported higher academic stress in psychosocial aspect. Results from the study suggested that PPSA and leisure satisfaction were the most significant contributing factors to wellness among male and female students but in different order. This study also found that 62.5% of the students did not take part in enough LTPA to the level that could bring health benefit to them. Based on these findings, recommendations were made to promote wellness among university students in Hong Kong.

M. Tech. / The Census of 2001 (Statistics South Africa, 2001b) estimates that 80% of the South African population categorises themselves as Christian. Homoeopathy is part of the multibillion rand alternative and complementary health industry (Health Products Association of Southern Africa, 2008). However, there are concerns within the Christian community about whether or not Homoeopathy is an acceptable healing modality for Christians. This is in part due to negative perceptions of Homoeopathy often encouraged by Christian authors such as Brown (n.d.) Dick (n.d.) and Barrett (2004). The study sought to investigate the perceptions of South African Christians about Homoeopathy. Specifically it looked at the Presbyterian and Methodist Christians in Gauteng, which accounts for 9.8% of Christians in Gauteng (Statistics South Africa, 2001b). The particular areas of investigation were the perceived spirituality underlying Homoeopathy, Homoeopathy’s origins, the training of Homoeopaths and lastly the principles of Homoeopathy. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Gauteng. The information sheets and questionnaire were distributed at a variety of church meetings. The questionnaire was divided into three sections, Section A was background questions, Section B was questions related to personal perceptions and attitudes, and lastly, Section C was an optional free open-ended question. It was proposed that one hundred and eighty questionnaires be completed; one hundred and seventy seven were used for the analysis. The sample consisted of Ordained Ministers, Trainee Ministers and Congregants. The questionnaires were analysed by STATKON using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows (SPSS). The statistics were descriptive and comparisons between groups were made using multi-variant techniques. Section A was analysed by frequencies, Section B was divided into four factors each dealing with a specific aspect of Homoeopathy, namely; the perceived spirituality underlying Homoeopathy, the origins of Homoeopathy, the training of Homoeopaths and lastly the principles of Homoeopathy. Section C was an open-ended / optional question divided into negative comments, Neutral / I Do Not Know and positive comments made by the participants. The Presbyterian sample was compared to the Methodist sample. There was no personal identifying data on the questionnaires, this allowed for complete anonymity of all participants. The participants gave consent to participate in the study by filling in the questionnaire. The results showed that for Factors one, two and three in the Presbyterian and Methodist samples, the perception about the spirituality underlying Homoeopathy, the origins of Homoeopathy and the training of Homoeopaths were all positive. Factor four, the principles of Homoeopathy, showed a negative perception in all sample groups except, the Presbyterian Trainee Minister group that showed a perception of Neutral / I Do Not Know. There were no statistically significant differences between the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. However, there were statistically significant differences within the sample groups in the Methodist Church, even though their perceptions were all positive perceptions, the Trainee Minister group showed a greater inclination to a perception of Neutral / I Do Not Know. It would be helpful to continue this research into the wider Christian community and to extend it across all the provinces in South Africa. It was evident from the study that there is a great need for educating the Christian community about Homoeopathy and engaging in a comprehensive marketing programme.

Typescript, etc.

No description available.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects on eating behavior, lipids, lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation, and glycemic control in women with type 2 diabetes of a high-monounsaturated fat diet (HM) compared to a high-carbohydrate diet (HC). In an outpatient feeding study, ten hypertriglyceridemic postmenopausal type 2 diabetic women alternately for six weeks consumed the HM and HC diets. On the HM diet, 45% of total calories were consumed as carbohydrate and 40% as fat (27% monounsaturated) compared to 55% carbohydrate and 30% fat (10% monounsaturated) in the HC diet. At the beginning and end of each diet phase, total lipids, lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation, and glycemic variables were measured. For 8 days in each diet phase eating pattern frequency, palatability of foods, hunger and fullness were assessed. At the end of each diet phase, taste testing to determine preference for fat was conducted. Total cholesterol was significantly decreased on the HC diet. Serum triglyceride, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride and cholesterol, and apolipoproteins A-1 and B were not significantly different on the two diets. When comparing initial to final values, both diets lowered LDL-C; however, the change was greater on the HM diet. Lipid peroxidation variables improved when the HM diet was consumed. Glycemic variables improved on both diets. No significant differences between total number of eating episodes on the HM and HC diet phases were found. Both diets were rated as highly palatable. Hunger and fullness ratings varied within and between subjects. However, fullness was more commonly experienced than hunger on both HM and the HC diet. Preference for fat was not found at the end ofHM or HC diets. However, subjects differed significantly in ratings for liking of foods that were salty, sour, and bitter when compared to nondiabetic women. Consumption of the HM and HC diets did not result in deterioration of lipid status. The HM diet by virtue of less oxidation of the LDL particle and improvement of glycemic control provides an important advantage over the HC diet. A description of eating behavior of women with type 2 diabetes emerged. / Graduation date: 2000

The ultra-processing of food has become a much more important aspect of dietary patterns and dietary quality in terms of its impact on body weight, diet related diseases, health, and well-being in the past decades. NOVA is a set of guidelines developed that classifies diet quality by degree of food processing. The NOVA guidelines distinguish four categories: unprocessed /minimally processed foods; culinary ingredients; processed foods; and ultra-processed foods. Numerous studies have found an association of ultra-processed foods and health conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. This study analyzed the associations between maternal diet quality as measured by NOVA and maternal anthropometric and neonatal body composition outcomes. The optimal method of nutrition intervention and education for this special population remains unknown; using NOVA may provide researchers with a different lens to assess diet quality and health care professionals with additional vocabulary to convey more tailored messages regarding optimal nutrition strategies for mother and offspring. Using data collected from a large randomized controlled intervention trial at pre and post intervention, this study aimed to compare the NOVA guidelines assessment of maternal diet quality to the parent study assessment of diet quality, the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), using statistical correlations. Secondly, this study aimed to look at the relationship of ultra-processed food intake to the maternal gestational weight gain experience using a logistic regression. Thirdly, this dissertation aimed to explore the relationship between maternal ultra-processed food intake and neonatal lean mass as measured by quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) and fat free mass as measured by air displacement plethysmography (ADP: PEAPOD). In terms of maternal outcomes, the study found that NOVA and HEI were significantly correlated at pre intervention but not at post intervention. The odds of gaining excessive gestational weight decreased as maternal ultra-processed food intake increased - which was not in the hypothesized direction - when using study participant data. However, the odds of gaining excessive gestational weight increased as maternal ultra-processed food intake increased - which was in the hypothesized direction - when using the Institute of Medicine weight gain recommendations. Also, while obesity did not predict excessive gestational weight gain, those with obesity ultra-processed food intake did predict gestational weight gain. These various inconsistencies are likely due to the instability of the dietary intake data because only one 24 -hour dietary recall was obtained from mother. In addition, the mothers’ diets were very healthy to begin with, where ultra-processed food intake formed about 45% of calories both pre and post intervention, when the national average is 57%. Race was also significant predictors of gestational weight gain for the mothers. Being non-white significantly increased the odds of gaining excessively as did the interaction of having obesity and eating more ultra-processed foods. In terms of neonatal outcomes, findings from this study suggest that length and fat mass are significant predictors of lean mass in neonates. In terms of the impact of maternal ultra-processed food intake, the higher the consumption of ultra-processed food, the greater the neonatal lean mass, which this was not in the hypothesized direction. However, the association was minimal with very small beta weights and regression line, when plotted was quite flat, so that the finding is not clinically meaningful. It remains important to know whether maternal ultra-processed food intake influences gestational weight gain and the body composition of the neonate. Thus, future research should include using similar data analyses on a population with a more nationally representative diet, a larger sample size, and a more robust measure of dietary intake such as three 24-hour recalls. Given that a similar recent study found ultra-processed food to be highly predictive of maternal and neonatal outcomes, and many other studies have demonstrated that ultra-processed food is related to several health conditions in many countries that this study did not measure, it seems prudent for healthcare providers to take advantage of prenatal visits as a window of opportunity to encourage the consumption of unprocessed and minimally foods and help women make informed decisions regarding ultra-processed foods.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Not available / text