No description available.

Adolescence is a time of great exploration and change. During this time, youth are transitioning both biologically and sexually into adults. Adolescents are also testing the boundaries of self-reliance and making choices about their personal relationships. Not surprisingly, aggressive urges are often driven by peers in pursuit of some form of identity (Masten 2004). Peers can have both positive and negative effects on the wellbeing on youth. Peer groups can provide emotional, physical, and social support to youth during a time of immense change (Parker and Asher 1987; Gest, Graham-Berman, and Hartup 2001). Peers can also model delinquent and risk-taking behaviors that have lasting health, social, and economic consequences throughout the life course. In an effort to understand the role of friendships in adolescent health, social scientists have increasingly focused on adolescent network structures within schools and the role various positions and peer group formations influence behaviors such as alcohol and cigarette use, violent and serious delinquency, and sexual risk-taking. While informative, peer networks studies have yet to adequately address how peer network structures based on immigrant generation and types of marginalized social positions influence health risk behavior engagement among adolescents. In three studies, I address the dearth of research in these areas, using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The first study investigates the influence of generational peers on alcohol misuse among immigrant youth. Testing hypotheses derived from sociological theories of generations regarding race/ethnicity, gender, and immigrant generation, findings from this study demonstrate generational ties are inversely related to alcohol misuse for immigrants and these effects depend partly on race/ethnicity and gender. The second study investigates the effects of specific network forms of social isolation on heavy episodic drinking and cigarette use among adolescents. The central finding from this study is that different network-based forms of social isolation had varying effects on alcohol and cigarette use when compared to sociable youth. The final study examines the relationship between types of social isolation and violent delinquency when compared to sociable youth. Deriving hypotheses from general strain theory, I test whether the isolation-violence relationship varies across isolation types when compared to sociable youth. I also test whether other negative experiences and circumstances (strains) tied to adolescence moderate the relationship between isolation types and violent delinquency. Finally, studies indicate a consistent gender gap in criminality. Therefore, I test whether the isolation-violence relationship differs by gender. Findings demonstrate that socially disinterested youth show a greater capacity for violent behavior, but other types of marginalized youth showed no difference in violence when compared to sociable youth. Results also suggest that some types of strain moderate the isolation-violence relationship and that these patterns are gendered.

School plays critical roles in facilitating and inhibiting the safety, development, and well-being of adolescents with T1DM. However, their school-based lived experiences have been under-investigated. This study aimed to explore those experiences for adolescents with T1DM in Taiwan. In conducting the study, Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. Fourteen Taiwanese adolescents with T1DM were enrolled between June 2009 and July 2010 through purposive snowball sampling. Data were collected using audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the hermeneutic circle and West’s (1998) structural analysis steps, supported by qualitative analysis software NVivo 9.0. Reflective journaling, peer debriefing, memo writing, and member checking were performed to enhance the trustworthiness of the findings. Six interrelated themes were identified in the adolescents’ school-based lived experiences. They are (a) the same and different, (b) covert and overt, (c) hyper- and hypoglycemia, (d) independent and dependent, (e) derailing and being on track, and (f) dark clouds and silver lining. In the stressful context of school, the adolescents’ diabetes self-management is challenged. Multiple factors, including unaccepted disease identity; social anxiety and pressure; intrusive, ignorant school personnel and classmates; and transition to independent self-management threaten the adolescents’ health and well-being at school. To optimize diabetes self-management effectiveness, interventions should include the adolescents and their parents, classmates, and school personnel to ease burdens that the adolescents bear. Future interventions should also facilitate the adolescents’ autonomy, self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge and self-management, and capacity to alleviate social pressure. / text

Accompanying materials housed with archival copy. / The purpose of this research was to describe and critically interpret girls' experiences with respect to body image, physical activity and health. The qualitative inquiry included focus group and individual interviews, document analysis and field observations. These methods were used to explore the perceptions of sixty-three girls (grades eight and eleven) and staff from an inner-city high school. Through interpretive data analysis (and constant comparison), the inter-related themes of body image, physical activity and health branched into the sub-themes of societal influences and personal attitudes including: friends, boys, family, school and media. Girls' body images ranged from minor preoccupations to major dissatisfaction with their bodies, while a few girls were happy being themselves. Weak or negative family influences gave way to influences by media, boys and friends. A few girls were very active, whereas others' low levels of participation were attributed to: disinterest in physical activity, intimidation by boys, or perceived lack of opportunity. The girls' perceptions of health incorporated fitness, weight, and eating habits. Girls often used negative qualifiers when describing their weight or body shape. Generally, girls perceived overweight individuals as not taking care of themselves. This research supports the development of gender sensitive physical education programs promoting healthier lifestyles for females.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: p. 331-353.

Thesis (D. Ed.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 184-203). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Secondary analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health is used to examine possible explanatory variables for sexual health outcomes. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between sexual health outcomes and topical content in sexuality education, controlling for race, biological sex, low socioeconomic status, and religiosity. Results indicated increasing topical content in sexuality education had a positive effect on knowledge acquisition and confidence, but no statistically significant effect on engagement in sexual risk behavior or likelihood of reporting sexual coercion. Control variables were significant predictors and overall model fit was low, indicating topical content in sexuality education is minimally important in creating adolescent sexual behavior. Further exploration of differing aspects of sexuality education is suggested.

The AIM of the study from which the empirical data were obtained for this thesis, was the collection of basic demographic information and selected health related data from a group of adolescents at high-school in Cape Town. 1.2 The OBJECTIVES were Description of the demographic features of the pupils in Standards 8, 9 and 10 at a specific co-educational high school in Cape Town; Determination of the prevalence of smoking, and the attitudes to, and knowledge of the health risks of smoking; Determination of the prevalence of alcohol use, and the attitudes to, and knowledge of the health risks of consuming alcohol; Determination of the prevalence of habit-forming drug use, and the attitudes to, and knowledge of the health risks of using drugs; Determination of the sexual experience of the pupils, attitudes to and knowledge of the health risks of sexual activity, and knowledge of contraception and venereal disease; Examination of whether the above habits correlated within individuals i.e. whether those who smoked were more likely to use drugs or be sexually active, and vice versa.

Accompanying materials housed with archival copy.

Keung Mei Wan. / Thesis submitted in: October 2003. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-117). / Abstract and questionnaire in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgments --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter one: --- Introduction and reviews of literature --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Nutrition and Health --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Eating behaviours of Hong Kong adolescents --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- School-based Nutrition Education --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- Nutrition education in Hong Kong --- p.6 / Chapter 1.6 --- Health behaviour theories/ models --- p.9 / Chapter 1.7 --- Lessons learned from other interventions --- p.11 / Chapter 1.8 --- Brainstorming the idea of a school-based model to promote healthy eating in secondary school --- p.16 / Chapter 1.9 --- Objectives and hypothesis of the study --- p.17 / Chapter Chapter two: --- Methodology --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Study design --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Target participants --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Sample selection and recruitment --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Matched control --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Study Framework and variables --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Independent variable --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Demographic variables --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Dependent variables --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3 --- "Intervention 226}0ؤ""Health Concerning Club"" programme" --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Design --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Implementation --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Other characteristics of the intervention --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Management of the Control Group --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- Impact evaluation --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Development of the questionnaire item pool --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Pilot testing of the preliminary questionnaire --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Item difficulty of the knowledge section --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Item discrimination of the knowledge and attitude section --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.2.3 --- Internal consistency --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.2.4 --- Face validity --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Evaluation of reliability of the final questionnaire --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.3.1 --- Subjects and methods --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.3.2 --- Demographic result --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4.3.3 --- Internal reliability --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4.3.4 --- Test-retest reliability --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Data Analysis --- p.36 / Chapter 2.5 --- Process Evaluation --- p.37 / Chapter 2.6 --- Survey Ethics Approval --- p.39 / Chapter Chapter three: --- Results --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- Demographic data of the participants --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2 --- Baseline status and group comparisons --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Nutrition Knowledge at baseline --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Attitude score and group at baseline --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Dietary behaviours at baseline --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3 --- Changes from baseline to follow-up --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Nutrition knowledge changes --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Overall attitude changes towards healthy eating --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Sub-attitude changes --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Dietary behavioural changes --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.4.1 --- "Having breakfast, buying food from street food vendor and fast-food shop" --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.4.2 --- Snacking habits --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.4.3 --- Consumption of fruits and vegetables --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.4.4 --- """Healthy"" beverage choices" --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.4.5 --- Carbohydrate-rich food's consumption --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.4.6 --- Meat and protein consumption --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4 --- Follow-up status and group comparisons --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Nutrition Knowledge at follow-up --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Attitude score between groups at follow-up --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Dietary behaviours at follow-up --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5 --- Results of Process Evaluation --- p.69 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Design Level: What actually occurred at the design level of the intervention? --- p.69 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Design Level: What was the opinion of the members about the intervention? --- p.70 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- "Output level: Which health activities were organised, how often, how many people participated?" --- p.71 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- "Output level: What was the level of satisfaction of the members with the activities, and what were the effects of the activities?" --- p.73 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Output level: What else happened after the intervention? --- p.75 / Chapter Chapter four: --- Discussion --- p.77 / Chapter 4.1 --- Interpretation of results --- p.77 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Nutrition knowledge --- p.77 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Attitude towards healthy eating --- p.79 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Dietary behaviours --- p.83 / Chapter 4.2 --- Review on the process and management of the Health Concerning Club --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Content design --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Appropriate venue and facilities utilisation --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Proper instruction and leading --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Utilising students' talents --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Attendance and interest of participation --- p.92 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Source of expense --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Harmonious relationship of members --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Sense of belonging to the club --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Rules and activity records keeping --- p.95 / Chapter 4.3 --- Further implication of the study: from the Health Concerning Club to a whole-school approach --- p.96 / Chapter 4.4 --- Limitations of the study --- p.99 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Volunteer bias --- p.99 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Unable to match same case --- p.100 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Dietary assessment tool --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Attitude and Knowledge sections of the questionnaire --- p.102 / Chapter 4.5 --- Further research --- p.103 / Chapter Chapter five: --- Conclusions --- p.105 / References --- p.108 / Appendix A: Preliminary report on the survey on Promotion of Healthy Eating in Hong Kong --- p.118 / Appendix B: Workshop plan --- p.120 / "Appendix C: Sample of newsletter ""Town of Health"" (black and white in A4size)" --- p.133 / Appendix D: The Questionnaire used in the study at baseline and follow-up --- p.137 / Appendix E: Translation of the questionnaire used in the study at baseline and follow-up --- p.145 / Appendix F: Results of pilot test 1 and 2 of the questionnaire --- p.153 / Appendix G: Letter of survey ethics approval --- p.157 / Appendix H: Qualitative progress report sample --- p.158 / Appendix J: Knowledge and Attitude scores and Dietary behaviours of Intervention Group and Control Group at baseline --- p.160