The primary aim of this research was to find predictors of psycho-social adjustment of Polish immigrants to Sydney, Australia. There were two sets of independent variables considered: i) personal characteristics, including: intelligence, extraversion, neuroticism, style of attribution and self-acceptance and ii) demographic information, consisted of: age, gender, length of residence, marital status, number of children, educational level, yearly income, immigration status (dependent vs. independent immigration) and residential status. The dependent variables were social (adaptation and assimilation) and psychological adjustment. The hypotheses tested in the study were that each of these personal and demographic characteristics would be associated with adaptation and/or assimilation, and psychological well-being. The two samples (both studies) were composed of more than 200 first generation Polish immigrants who arrived in Australia after 1980. No significant gender differences were found. The internal consistency and principal components structure of Adaptation and Assimilation were examined, and the measures were refined. There were employed standard measurements (i.e. GHQ, BDI, BAI, EPI, ASQ, Raven Matrices and WAIS-Vocabulary) and newly developed measures (i.e. the Social Adjustment Scale and the Self-Acceptance Questionnaire). The general results suggested that psycho-social adjustment was best predicted by three pre-arrival characteristics (extraversion, education and self-acceptance), and post-arrival employment status and length of residence. There were, however, some differences in regard to the particular aspects of psycho-social adjustment. Better adaptation was meaningfully related to employment (income) and education in Study 1, and self-acceptance, employment and extraversion in Study 2; better assimilation seemed to be significantly predicted by education, age of arrival and length of residence (Study 1), and self-acceptance, extraversion, education and age of arrival (Study 2). Psychological [mal]adjustment was best indicated by globality and stability in attributing negative events (Study 1), lower self-acceptance and lack of employment status (Study 2).

The objective was to describe the association between fruit and vegetable consumption in mothers and children. 572 girls and 528 boys in grades 4-6 were recruited from 24 elementary schools in low-income, multiethnic neighbourhoods in Montreal, Canada. Dietary data were collected in food frequency questionnaires completed by both mothers and children and were analyzed using the proportional odds model. Ten percent of girls and 20% of boys had not eaten any vegetables in the week prior to questionnaire administration ; 54% of girls and 63% of boys did not consume fruit daily. Both fruit and vegetable consumption in children were associated with consumption in their mothers (OR: 1.12 CI: 1.04, 1.20 and OR: 1.13 CI: 1.05, 1.22 for fruit and vegetable consumption respectively). Because of the association between consumption in children and mothers, interventions to improve fruit and vegetable consumption should be improving awareness among parents of the importance of fruit and vegetables, as well as the potential role modeling impact of their own behaviour on that of their children.

The primary aim of this research was to find predictors of psycho-social adjustment of Polish immigrants to Sydney, Australia. There were two sets of independent variables considered: i) personal characteristics, including: intelligence, extraversion, neuroticism, style of attribution and self-acceptance and ii) demographic information, consisted of: age, gender, length of residence, marital status, number of children, educational level, yearly income, immigration status (dependent vs. independent immigration) and residential status. The dependent variables were social (adaptation and assimilation) and psychological adjustment. The hypotheses tested in the study were that each of these personal and demographic characteristics would be associated with adaptation and/or assimilation, and psychological well-being. The two samples (both studies) were composed of more than 200 first generation Polish immigrants who arrived in Australia after 1980. No significant gender differences were found. The internal consistency and principal components structure of Adaptation and Assimilation were examined, and the measures were refined. There were employed standard measurements (i.e. GHQ, BDI, BAI, EPI, ASQ, Raven Matrices and WAIS-Vocabulary) and newly developed measures (i.e. the Social Adjustment Scale and the Self-Acceptance Questionnaire). The general results suggested that psycho-social adjustment was best predicted by three pre-arrival characteristics (extraversion, education and self-acceptance), and post-arrival employment status and length of residence. There were, however, some differences in regard to the particular aspects of psycho-social adjustment. Better adaptation was meaningfully related to employment (income) and education in Study 1, and self-acceptance, employment and extraversion in Study 2; better assimilation seemed to be significantly predicted by education, age of arrival and length of residence (Study 1), and self-acceptance, extraversion, education and age of arrival (Study 2). Psychological [mal]adjustment was best indicated by globality and stability in attributing negative events (Study 1), lower self-acceptance and lack of employment status (Study 2).

Texte remanié de: Doct. diss.

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There is emerging evidence of the significance of paternal mental health problems as well as its influence on spouses and children. However, current research attention mainly focuses on paternal postpartum depression. The present study aims at determining the prevalence of paternal mental health problems, identifying risk factors and the relationship among various risk factors across different stages of pregnancy and the postpartum period. In particular, it attempts to examine the significance of gender role and traditionalism-modernity as personality traits for paternal mental health problems in the perinatal period as well as fill the current gap in knowledge on the impact of paternal mental health problems on paternal-fetal attachment. Given the relative lack of data in the existing literature, the present study involved two phases of investigation combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a more systematic understanding on the nature of paternal mental health problems. In phase 1, a qualitative study was conducted on 31 expectant fathers as the hypothesis-generating ground work. Subsequently, a total of 622 expectant couples were recruited and followed up in a large-scale survey in Phase 2. Expectant couples were recruited from regional antenatal clinics in Tsan Yuk Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital. In the quantitative component, the expectant couples were assessed using standardized and validated psychological instruments on 3 time points including early pregnancy, late pregnancy and six week postpartum. The results showed that a significant proportion of expectant fathers manifested anxiety, and depressive symptoms, high level of perceived stress, psychosomatic symptoms, fatigue and tobacco consumption during the perinatal period. Different demographic risk factors for the outcome variables varied across different time points. Psychosocial risk factors were consistently associated with outcome variables in different time points. Maternal depression and anxiety were not only predictors of paternal psychological distress but also the predictor of higher level of paternal psychosomatic symptoms and fatigue severity. Gender role and Traditionalism-modernity were found to be significant moderators for paternal mental health problems. Undifferentiated, masculine fathers and fathers who adhere to traditional values were at higher risk of mental health problems during the transition of fatherhood. A mixed effect model analysis showed that paternal anxiety, depression and psychosomatic symptoms changes over time and was higher during the antenatal period. The relationships between paternal and maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms were significant across different time points even after controlling for confounding factors and the correlations were found to be strongest at six weeks postpartum. Findings also showed that paternal mental health problems had a detrimental effect on paternal-fetal bonding from antenatal to postpartum period. The present study points to the need for greater research and clinical attention to paternal mental health problems given that paternal mental health problems is a highly prevalent problem with changing course and is related to maternal well-being and paternal-fetal attachment. The present findings contributes to theoretical basis of the relationships of personality traits, risk factors and mental health problems and have implications for the design of effective identification, prevention, and interventions of these clinical problems. / published_or_final_version / Psychiatry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

<p>This research aimed to investigate the factors related to the functioning of Community Health Committees in Nelston MandelaBay Municipality. It intended to elicit information on factors which promote and inhibit their effective functioning. It used the qualitative research methods of focus group discussions, concluded with a sample of Community Health Committee members, and in depth, individual interviews with key informants. The contents of the transcriptions of all focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews were analysed so as to identify the recurring themes and key suggestions.The findings indicated that Community Health Committees are not functioning as per their original intention and that relevant policies have not been accurately translated into practice.</p>

Incident reporting systems offer rich opportunities for learning from errors in health care. However, little attention has been given to understanding how the implementation of reporting system characteristics impact analysis and communication activities. This research explored the characteristics of reporting systems that promote analysis and communication activities. Ten characteristics were identified through a comprehensive literature review. Two reporting systems were then compared to assess how differences in the implementation of the characteristics impact the contents of the database. The results demonstrated that differences in the characteristics’ implementation have an effect on the ability to extract information essential to analysis activities. Next, the reporting processes of the two systems were mapped onto a hierarchical framework to highlight how the characteristics influence the communication of incident information across the health care system. The presented work furthers the understanding of characteristics needed to design reporting systems more effective at promoting learning.

Incident reporting systems offer rich opportunities for learning from errors in health care. However, little attention has been given to understanding how the implementation of reporting system characteristics impact analysis and communication activities. This research explored the characteristics of reporting systems that promote analysis and communication activities. Ten characteristics were identified through a comprehensive literature review. Two reporting systems were then compared to assess how differences in the implementation of the characteristics impact the contents of the database. The results demonstrated that differences in the characteristics’ implementation have an effect on the ability to extract information essential to analysis activities. Next, the reporting processes of the two systems were mapped onto a hierarchical framework to highlight how the characteristics influence the communication of incident information across the health care system. The presented work furthers the understanding of characteristics needed to design reporting systems more effective at promoting learning.

<p>This research aimed to investigate the factors related to the functioning of Community Health Committees in Nelston MandelaBay Municipality. It intended to elicit information on factors which promote and inhibit their effective functioning. It used the qualitative research methods of focus group discussions, concluded with a sample of Community Health Committee members, and in depth, individual interviews with key informants. The contents of the transcriptions of all focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews were analysed so as to identify the recurring themes and key suggestions.The findings indicated that Community Health Committees are not functioning as per their original intention and that relevant policies have not been accurately translated into practice.</p>