Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-182). Also available on microfiche.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Despite recognition in the literature that adolescence represents a relatively high-risk developmental period for health-risk behaviors, only limited attention has been given to the subjective meanings adolescents assign to such behaviors. One potentially fruitful avenue to explore in understanding the adolescent perspective on health-risk behaviors is the use of word association techniques. Word association techniques are an efficient way of determining the content and representational systems of human minds without requiring their expression in the full discursive structure of human language. A free-association technique was used to provide insight into the meanings adolescents give to a variety of behaviors. Using this technique, 411 high-school students (age range 14-20 years) provided up to five associations for each of nine behaviors. Six of these behaviors (drinking beer, drinking liquor, smoking cigarettes, smoking marijuana, using cocaine, and having sexual intercourse) were conceptualized as health-risk behaviors. The remaining three behaviors (exercising, using a seatbelt when riding in a car, and using a condom) were conceptualized as health-protective behaviors. Based upon a five-point scale (from 1=very negative to 5=very positive), respondents also indicated whether their associations meant something negative or something positive to them. In addition to exploring the subjective meanings adolescents assigned to a variety of behaviors, the study examined whether assigned meanings differed by degree of participation in the behaviors, by gender, and by age. Results indicated that images associated with adolescent health-risk and health-protective behaviors were linked to the anticipation of specific outcomes. The specific goals of adolescent health-risk behaviors that emerged from this study included: social facilitation, having fun, physiological arousal, relaxation and tension reduction, sexual facilitation, and positive affective change. Given that health-risk behaviors were found to be associated with specific outcomes for adolescents, the present study supported a possible shift in prevention and intervention programs from a problem-focused approach to an approach that offers less destructive alternatives for meeting adolescent needs. / Graduation date: 1994

Introduction: Back pain is very prevalent among all sectors of the population. The prevalence varies according to age, sex, occupation, and so forth. Children are regarded as less vulnerable to suffering this kind of musculoskeletal conditions. However, some studies have shown relatively high prevalence among schoolchildren and adolescents. Previous studies failed to conclude any association between back pain and sedentary lifestyle, which has already been categorized as an important factor by the WHO. A new review is required to incorporate the most up-to-date studies in order to give a more comprehensive view of this topic. Method: Several databases were used to retrieve relevant epidemiological studies, including cross-sectional studies, cohort studies and case-control studies, by using predetermined key words and objective selection criteria. The quality of each study was assessed by using several criteria. Results: A total of 12 studies were included in this review, including 5 high-quality studies. Two out of the 5 high-quality studies provided significant evidence of association between back pain and sedentary lifestyle. In total, 8 studies showed some association. There was thus limited evidence to show the effect of sedentary lifestyle on the development of back pain. Discussion: Different study designs (recall duration, age distribution, data collection and so on) were used in each study included in this review. The conclusion of this new review was consistent with some previous ones. The dose-response relation in these studies was not found. There were still not enough local studies to help the policy modification of back health of local children. Conclusion: There is currently some evidence to illustrate the association between back pain and sedentary lifestyle in school children and adolescents, but it is not conclusive. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

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A cognitive-behavioural theory (CBT) has been put forth to explain hypochondriasis and less extreme forms of health anxiety (Warwick & Salkovskis, 1990). The extent to which less extreme forms of health anxiety are relevant for understanding illness behaviour remains unclear, however. Further, the independence of health anxiety from a more general construct of negative affectivity, as well as response styles is not known. The CBT of health anxiety predicts that in response to illness information health anxious individuals will show a characteristic cognitive (e.g., attend to and misinterpret information) and behavioural (e.g., avoidance and reassurance seeking) response. Although the predictions are supported by clinical observations, rigorous and systematic contrasts of health anxious and non-health anxious individuals to the same objective health related information have not yet been carried out. Further, there are a number of additional issues that need to be clarified with respect to the theory, including: (a) Are there additional cognitive and behavioural responses involved in health anxiety not predicted by the CBT?; (b) Are health anxious individuals deficient in there use of certain adaptive responses to illness information?; and (c) Are the cognitive and behavioural responses shown by health anxious individuals moderated under certain circumstances? In the present study, students scoring either within normal or nonclinically high ranges on a measure of health anxiety underwent a physiological test ostensibly examining risk for medical complications and were randomly assigned to receive positive, negative, or ambiguous test results. They then underwent a cold pressor task ostensibly to examine physiological activity and were asked questions tapping their responses to the diagnostic information and painful procedure. They were also judged for facial expressiveness. Unmistakable support was found for a dysfunctional cognitive (e.g., negative interpretational focus) and behavioural (e.g., reassurance seeking) response style among health anxious individuals. Little support was found for either cognitive or behavioural avoidance in health anxiety. Not anticipated by the CBT, as time went on health anxious individuals became more expressive of their pain; this may have important implications, since increased expressiveness could result in an increase in the felt emotional experience. Adding to the CBT, evidence was found to suggest that health anxious individuals may have a deficit or be deficient in their use of a positive concrete somatic monitoring strategy. Finally, the results suggested that there are statistically and clinically significant differences among nonclinically health anxious individuals and normals that can not be accounted for by differences in negative affectivity or response styles.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.