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The purpose of this project is to explore potential social cognitive and psychosocial predictors of lifestyle changes, including diet and physical activity behaviors, in a sample of colorectal cancer survivors who are at high risk of developing a second colorectal cancer. Participants, recruited from Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, are colorectal cancer survivors from families at high or confirmed risk of having a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Results indicate that, at the bivariate level, many of the psychosocial and social cognitive variables of interest are significantly associated with one another as well as with various health behaviors and health behavior changes. Correlational data indicate that lower distress is associated with higher psychosocial functioning, self-efficacy, and self-regulatory ability. In addition, the data also suggest that individuals with higher self-efficacy display higher self-regulation and more positive outcome expectations related to health behaviors. Overall, participants were more likely to increase healthy behaviors or remain consistent with moderately healthy lifestyles practiced prior to their colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment, and decrease unhealthy behaviors. Implications and directions for future research are discussed within the paper. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Candice A. Shoemaker / Professionals in health promotion are starting to look at gardening as a strategy for health behavior change. This popular leisure time activity provides access to physical activity and fresh fruits and vegetables for consumption, two behaviors consistently recommended for optimum physical health. Coupled with a lifestyle low in sedentary behavior these behaviors can offset the health risks of the prevailing trends of overweight and obesity. Spending time outdoors is associated with higher levels of physical activity, while screen based behaviors are associated with unhealthy eating. No studies to date have looked at the health behaviors of gardeners, or the effects it may have on their family’s health behaviors. The purpose of this report is to examine, through descriptive research, the health behaviors of gardening and non-gardening parents and their fourth or fifth grade child. Surveys were administered to a convenience sample of 366 fourth and fifth grade students and their guardians within a school district in Riley County, Kansas. The survey assessed the physical health behaviors mentioned above; comparisons were made according to parental classification of gardener (n=189) or non-gardener (n=177). Significant association was found with gardening classification and adult self-reports of the number of days and amount of time respondents participated in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The median days per week parents reported participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity was 3 for non-gardeners, and 4 for gardeners and was influenced by gender. Eighty-seven percent of gardeners compared to 59.3% of non-gardeners reported meeting the current physical activity recommendation of 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Psychology / Gary L. Brase / This research tested a general mediation model which proposes that individual differences (e.g., impulsivity, delay discounting, and time orientation) mediate the relationship between time perception (one’s subjective experience of the passage of time relative to actual time) and intertemporal behavior (decision-making involving tradeoffs between costs and rewards in both the present and the future). Study I did not find evidence to support the general mediation model and found that time perception was only weakly correlated with individual differences and intertemporal behavior (average r = .06) . Study II found tentative support for the proposed mediation model: individual differences in impulsivity fully mediated the relationship between time perception and intertemporal behavior in 4 separate mediation models. Three additional mediation models met the assumptions of mediation, demonstrating indirect effects significantly different from zero, but did not fully mediate the relationship between time perception and intertemporal behavior. In general, the mediation models explored in Study II (both fully and partially mediated) suggest that self-report impulsivity mediates the relationship between time perception and intertemporal health behaviors, like hours of sleep slept per night, sociosexual orientation, and frequency of eating breakfast. The findings from Study II suggest that how time is perceived influences intertemporal behavior indirectly by influencing impulsivity. Guidelines to aid future research linking time perception to individual differences and intertemporal behavior are provided.

Master of Public Health / Department of Human Nutrition / Tandalayo Kidd / Parenthood is a major life event that requires considerable lifestyle changes. As young adults become married they start a change in lifestyle that influences their health and their future children. Some couples understand that they need to change their behavior, but do not know how to do so healthfully. The poor lifestyle behaviors that produce excessive weight gain place an increased risk for premature death, heart disease, diabetes, other health problems as well as threatens their quality of life. These transitional experiences present a unique challenge that warrants exploration in the context of the young adult life stage and perceptions about health and quality of life. Currently, there is limited research of the concerns or perceptions young adults have regarding quality of life and diet related health behaviors. The purpose of this study is to identify behaviors that impact life satisfaction and health of young adult families. Two-90 minute focus groups were conducted, with pre-recruited community members 18-24 years of age. All participants were recruited from community service organizations, day care facilities and university educational classes. Participants were parents and/or married. Nutrition and Exercise majors were excluded. Both focus groups were asked seven key questions along with probing questions. All focus groups were audio taped and then transcribed verbatim. The transcriptions were coded manually by assigning a label in the margins of the transcripts for each quality of life issue that appeared. Coding allowed the data to be assembled into categories that can be used to develop quality of life and health interventions for young adults. Several issues impacting satisfaction with life and barriers to a healthy lifestyle were identified. However, money, time, family, stress, and children were primary concerns. This study identified the need to completed additional assessments to quantify the needs of young adult parents and families, so community-based partnerships can effectively develop programming and interventions.

In this study, equity theory and relationship maintenance were employed as the framework through which couples' perceptions of and use of diet- and exercise- related social influence strategies were examined. Additionally, this research investigated whether people's perceptions of social influence were associated with their health maintenance behaviors and relationship quality, as well as whether their perceived diet- and exercise-related support from the partner moderated these associations. Finally, individuals' motivation to use influence strategies to encourage their partners to be healthier was also be evaluated. This study included a sample of 192 cohabiting or married couples. The results of the Actor Partner Interdependence Models indicated that actors' perceived relationship maintenance and control mutuality were positively associated with their perceptions of positive influence strategies from the partner. Additionally, actors' perceived positive influence strategies from their partners were associated with greater health maintenance and relationship satisfaction, with the inverse being true for actors' perceived negative influence strategies from their partners. Individuals' reports of using social influence strategies varied depending on their various motivations for using social influence strategies (i.e., perceived partner ability and willingness to change, reasons for using social influence, and reasons for not using social influence). Finally, individuals reported engaging in more health maintenance behaviors when they also perceived more positive social influence and more diet- and exercise-related support from their partners. These results suggest that relationship functioning is related to individuals' perceptions of influence strategies from the partner, which are also associated with individuals' health maintenance behaviors and relationship quality. Consequently, romantic relationships appear to be an important context in which to examine diet- and exercise- related social influence strategies.

Abstract Background: Networks with closed structures may lead to a scarcity of diversified norms which may leave an individual with only negative norms to be influenced by. Trust, relationship quality and social support are also examples of characteristics which may affect the adoption of health behaviors.                                                                                           Aims: To study whether there are any associations between network closure as well as relationship content (trust, relationship quality, social support) and the use of cannabis as well as the frequency of binge drinking, and how these associations are interacted by other factors.  Method: Logistic regression analyses were carried out to calculate the crude and adjusted odds ratios for 19-years old young adults in Sweden (n=2,942). Interaction analyses were also performed.                                                                                                                          Results: Individuals in high closure networks had a higher tendency to binge drink frequently. Individuals that in general are unhealthy, have many smoking friends and who are males had a higher propensity to both use cannabis and to binge drink when included in high closure networks.                                                                                                                      Conclusion: Individuals may be affected negatively by being included in networks with closed structures – some more than other − which is possibly mediated by the types of norms that are available.

Thesis advisor: Maureen E. Kenny / Childhood obesity is one of the most significant threats to the health development of children in the United States. A relationship has been found between mental health conditions, such as depression, and obesity development. Obesity prevention initiatives frequently target children's health behaviors due to their important role in the development of childhood obesity. Yet despite their importance, relatively little is known about the association between mental health factors and children's health behaviors. In addition, self-efficacy and self-regulation, cognitive factors which have been found to have a prominent role in behavior change, may also be correlated with children's health behaviors. These cognitive factors may also interact with mental health factors to predict children's health behaviors. The current study sought to investigate whether or not internalizing behaviors, self-efficacy, and self-regulation significantly predicted healthy eating behavior, unhealthy eating behavior, and physical activity behavior in preadolescent children. The study was a secondary data analysis of the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) Phase II-III data. Internalizing behaviors were found to have a significant relationship with unhealthy eating behaviors for both boys and girls, however, the relationship was positive for girls and negative for boys. Among the cognitive factors, sports self-efficacy and self-regulation, sports self-efficacy was found to be a significant predictor of physical activity behavior for both boys and girls. In addition, the moderating relationship between internalizing behaviors and self-regulation as a predictor of physical activity behavior was supported for boys. Findings from the study indicate individual psychological factors, such as mental health and self-efficacy may have a significant influence on children's health behaviors. Results also suggest factors at the psychological level may be interacting with one another, along with factors at the biological and social levels of development, to influence health behaviors. The current study highlights that investigating the psychological factors influencing health behaviors may yield an important contribution towards understanding obesity development. These findings have implications both for identifying children at risk for developing obesity, as well as, the design and implementation of obesity prevention initiatives. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

Estudos recentes descrevem o aumento da adoção de condutas de saúde negativas, apontando na população jovem a maior tendência em seguir um estilo de vida \"pouco saudável\". Dentre estas condutas de saúde negativas, temos o consumo excessivo de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas considerado como um hábito não saudável de vida. Neste cenário, temos a população universitária exposta a situações de risco e vulnerabilidades, bem como uma maior exposição, ou muitas vezes busca, a substâncias psicoativas. Diante disto, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o perfil e a inter-relação de condutas de saúde em estudantes universitários de graduação, da área da saúde da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), descrever o perfil de condutas de saúde destes e avaliar a associação entre condutas de saúde e uso de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas, e suas possíveis diferenças de gênero. Participaram do estudo 508 estudantes universitários dos sete cursos de graduação da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Os estudantes preencheram um conjunto de questionários estruturados e autoaplicáveis. Os resultados das escalas foram cotados de acordo com suas proposições técnicas e, em seguida, procedeu-se ao tratamento estatístico dos dados. Como resultados, verificou-se uma distribuição amostral de 179 homens e 329 mulheres, com média etária dos participantes de 21,9 anos (dp = 1,99; 18- 30). Houve predominância de estudantes da cor branca (91,8%), solteiros (97,5%), com renda entre 1500,00 a 5000,00 reais (48%). A maioria dos participantes relatou apresentar boa saúde (91,3%), com prática regular de atividade física (39,7%). Quanto ao consumo de álcool, 43,7% dos participantes responderam terem consumido álcool, sendo que o padrão de binge drinking foi praticado por mais da metade dos estudantes da amostra (59,2%). Quanto ao consumo de tabaco pelos universitários, a maioria dos estudantes apontou não fumarem atualmente, diante de uma parcela de 9,4% da amostra que apresentam esta conduta. Em relação ao consumo de outras substâncias psicoativas, apesar do baixo padrão geral, uma parcela dos estudantes da amostra apresentaram consumo de outras substâncias, com destaque para os inalantes e a maconha. Neste estudo, não se encontram valores de correlação indicativos de correlação forte ou moderada, mas foram encontrados valores de correlação fraca, com significância estatística para as seguintes variáveis: consumo de álcool e a prática de atividade física (rho = 0,137; p = 0,003); consumo de álcool e autocuidado (rho = 0,093; p = 0,044); consumo de álcool e o comportamento de controle alimentar (rho = 0,128; p = 0,005); consumo de álcool e o consumo de tabaco (rho = 0,125; p = 0,007); comportamento de binge drinking e o consumo de tabaco (rho = 0,141; p = 0,002); consumo de tabaco e condutas de controle alimentar (rho = 0,146; p = 0,001); e o consumo de tabaco e a insatisfação com o corpo (rho = 0,122; p = 0,007). Os resultados obtidos por este estudo poderão subsidiar a elaboração de medidas de prevenção e promoção de saúde na população universitária, através da implantação de, por exemplo, programas como treinos de habilidades sociais e de intervenções breves específicos a esta população, visando uma possibilidade de proporcionar maior compreensão, reflexão e sensibilização das próprias condutas de saúde e futura atuação, no caso, como profissionais promotores de saúde / Recent studies describe the increased adoption of negative health behaviors, pointing the young population as more likely to follow a \"less healthy\" lifestyle. Among these negative health behaviors, the excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs is considered an unhealthy habit. In this scenario, the college population is exposed to risky situations and vulnerabilities, as well as a greater exposure, or often the search, to psychoactive substances. Thus, the objective of this research is to characterize the profile and the interrelation of health behaviors among undergraduate college students of the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), describe their health behavior profile, and evaluate the association between health behaviors and the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, including possible gender differences. The study included 508 college students of the seven undergraduate courses from the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. The students completed a set of structured and self-administered questionnaires. The results of the scales were quoted according to their technical proposals, and then the statistical data treatment was performed. As a result, there was a sample distribution of 179 men and 329 women, with an average of 21,9 years old (sd = 1,99; 18-30). There was a predominance of Caucasian students (91,8%), single (97,5%), with monthly income from 1.500 to 5.000 reais (48%). The majority of the participants reported that they are healthy (91,3%) and do regular physical activity (39,7%). Regarding alcohol consumption, 43,7% of the respondents reported having consumed alcohol, given that the pattern of binge drinking has been practiced by more than half of the students\' sample (59,2%). As for the consumption of tobacco by college students, most of the interviewees pointed that they do not currently smoke, facing a parcel of 9,4% of the sample who presents this habit. Regarding the consumption of other psychoactive substances, despite the low overall pattern, a portion of the students\' sample admitted to make use of other substances, especially inhalants and marijuana. In the current research, indicative correlation values of strong or moderated correlation were not found. However, values of weak correlation were found, with statistical significance for the following variables: alcohol consumption and physical activity (rho = 0,137; p = 0,003); alcohol consumption and selfcare (rho = 0,093; p = 0,044); alcohol consumption and eating control behavior (rho = 0,128; p = 0,005); alcohol consumption and tobacco consumption (rho = 0,125; p = 0,007); binge drinking behavior and tobacco consumption (rho = 0,141; p = 0,002); tobacco consumption and eating control behavior (rho = 0,146; p = 0,001); and tobacco consumption and body dissatisfaction (rho = 0,122; p = 0,007). The results of this study can support the development of prevention and health promotion strategies in the college students\' population through the implementation of programs, such as social skills trainings of brief intervention to this population, aiming at the possibility of providing greater understanding, reflection and awareness for their own health behaviors and future activity as health promotion professionals

Estudos recentes descrevem o aumento da adoção de condutas de saúde negativas, apontando na população jovem a maior tendência em seguir um estilo de vida \"pouco saudável\". Dentre estas condutas de saúde negativas, temos o consumo excessivo de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas considerado como um hábito não saudável de vida. Neste cenário, temos a população universitária exposta a situações de risco e vulnerabilidades, bem como uma maior exposição, ou muitas vezes busca, a substâncias psicoativas. Diante disto, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar o perfil e a inter-relação de condutas de saúde em estudantes universitários de graduação, da área da saúde da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), descrever o perfil de condutas de saúde destes e avaliar a associação entre condutas de saúde e uso de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas, e suas possíveis diferenças de gênero. Participaram do estudo 508 estudantes universitários dos sete cursos de graduação da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Os estudantes preencheram um conjunto de questionários estruturados e autoaplicáveis. Os resultados das escalas foram cotados de acordo com suas proposições técnicas e, em seguida, procedeu-se ao tratamento estatístico dos dados. Como resultados, verificou-se uma distribuição amostral de 179 homens e 329 mulheres, com média etária dos participantes de 21,9 anos (dp = 1,99; 18- 30). Houve predominância de estudantes da cor branca (91,8%), solteiros (97,5%), com renda entre 1500,00 a 5000,00 reais (48%). A maioria dos participantes relatou apresentar boa saúde (91,3%), com prática regular de atividade física (39,7%). Quanto ao consumo de álcool, 43,7% dos participantes responderam terem consumido álcool, sendo que o padrão de binge drinking foi praticado por mais da metade dos estudantes da amostra (59,2%). Quanto ao consumo de tabaco pelos universitários, a maioria dos estudantes apontou não fumarem atualmente, diante de uma parcela de 9,4% da amostra que apresentam esta conduta. Em relação ao consumo de outras substâncias psicoativas, apesar do baixo padrão geral, uma parcela dos estudantes da amostra apresentaram consumo de outras substâncias, com destaque para os inalantes e a maconha. Neste estudo, não se encontram valores de correlação indicativos de correlação forte ou moderada, mas foram encontrados valores de correlação fraca, com significância estatística para as seguintes variáveis: consumo de álcool e a prática de atividade física (rho = 0,137; p = 0,003); consumo de álcool e autocuidado (rho = 0,093; p = 0,044); consumo de álcool e o comportamento de controle alimentar (rho = 0,128; p = 0,005); consumo de álcool e o consumo de tabaco (rho = 0,125; p = 0,007); comportamento de binge drinking e o consumo de tabaco (rho = 0,141; p = 0,002); consumo de tabaco e condutas de controle alimentar (rho = 0,146; p = 0,001); e o consumo de tabaco e a insatisfação com o corpo (rho = 0,122; p = 0,007). Os resultados obtidos por este estudo poderão subsidiar a elaboração de medidas de prevenção e promoção de saúde na população universitária, através da implantação de, por exemplo, programas como treinos de habilidades sociais e de intervenções breves específicos a esta população, visando uma possibilidade de proporcionar maior compreensão, reflexão e sensibilização das próprias condutas de saúde e futura atuação, no caso, como profissionais promotores de saúde / Recent studies describe the increased adoption of negative health behaviors, pointing the young population as more likely to follow a \"less healthy\" lifestyle. Among these negative health behaviors, the excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs is considered an unhealthy habit. In this scenario, the college population is exposed to risky situations and vulnerabilities, as well as a greater exposure, or often the search, to psychoactive substances. Thus, the objective of this research is to characterize the profile and the interrelation of health behaviors among undergraduate college students of the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), describe their health behavior profile, and evaluate the association between health behaviors and the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, including possible gender differences. The study included 508 college students of the seven undergraduate courses from the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. The students completed a set of structured and self-administered questionnaires. The results of the scales were quoted according to their technical proposals, and then the statistical data treatment was performed. As a result, there was a sample distribution of 179 men and 329 women, with an average of 21,9 years old (sd = 1,99; 18-30). There was a predominance of Caucasian students (91,8%), single (97,5%), with monthly income from 1.500 to 5.000 reais (48%). The majority of the participants reported that they are healthy (91,3%) and do regular physical activity (39,7%). Regarding alcohol consumption, 43,7% of the respondents reported having consumed alcohol, given that the pattern of binge drinking has been practiced by more than half of the students\' sample (59,2%). As for the consumption of tobacco by college students, most of the interviewees pointed that they do not currently smoke, facing a parcel of 9,4% of the sample who presents this habit. Regarding the consumption of other psychoactive substances, despite the low overall pattern, a portion of the students\' sample admitted to make use of other substances, especially inhalants and marijuana. In the current research, indicative correlation values of strong or moderated correlation were not found. However, values of weak correlation were found, with statistical significance for the following variables: alcohol consumption and physical activity (rho = 0,137; p = 0,003); alcohol consumption and selfcare (rho = 0,093; p = 0,044); alcohol consumption and eating control behavior (rho = 0,128; p = 0,005); alcohol consumption and tobacco consumption (rho = 0,125; p = 0,007); binge drinking behavior and tobacco consumption (rho = 0,141; p = 0,002); tobacco consumption and eating control behavior (rho = 0,146; p = 0,001); and tobacco consumption and body dissatisfaction (rho = 0,122; p = 0,007). The results of this study can support the development of prevention and health promotion strategies in the college students\' population through the implementation of programs, such as social skills trainings of brief intervention to this population, aiming at the possibility of providing greater understanding, reflection and awareness for their own health behaviors and future activity as health promotion professionals