This paper examines the current body of literature on the topic of bullying and cyberbullying in schools around the world. Bullying and cyberbullying represent two of the most common forms of physical and psychological harm to children today, and the negative effects caused by bullying can be incredibly severe. Various aspects of these phenomena are examined to contextualize the current problem of cyberbullying. Due to the serious implications presented by bullying for the psychological wellbeing of modern youth, understanding this phenomenon is essential in order for school authorities to have effective means of preventing bullying and cyberbullying. The paper will conclude with an examination of some current intervention efforts and considerations for the development of improved intervention efforts for the future.

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abstract: Juvenile delinquency is a complex issue that effects youth, families, and society. Studies have found that parenting styles are a significant contributor to numerous behaviors that influence juvenile delinquency, specifically substance use and poor academic achievement. This literature has been used by to the juvenile justice system to develop family based interventions for delinquent youth in efforts to reduce recidivism. However, previous studies have primarily sampled from the general population, which has limited their usefulness in creating selective interventions for the delinquent population. This thesis offers Baumrind (1966) and Maccoby & Martin's (1983) theory of parenting style typologies as a framework for understanding the effects of parenting style on substance use and academic achievement among delinquent youth. Using juvenile court case files from Maricopa County collected from 2005-2010, (N = 181), logistic regression was performed to test the hypotheses that (1) delinquent youth with Authoritarian, Uninvolved, and Permissive parenting will be more likely to use substances than youth with Authoritative parenting and that (2) delinquent youth with Authoritarian, Uninvolved, and Permissive parenting will be more likely to have poor academic achievement than youth with Authoritative parenting. Using Authoritative parenting as the reference group, it was found that delinquent youth with Permissive and Uninvolved parenting had a higher likelihood of substance use than delinquent youth with Authoritative parenting, and that delinquent youth with Permissive parenting had a higher likelihood of poor academic achievement than youth with Authoritative parenting. These findings have important theoretical implications as well as practical implications for intervention strategies for delinquent youth, which are additionally discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2014

Recognising art’s crucial function for reproducing economic and sexual differences, feminist political interventions - alongside a range of ‘new’ critical perspectives including Marxism, psychoanalysis and poststructuralism - have wrought historic changes upon the production, circulation and consumption of art. This is widely acknowledged in art historical scholarship. However, understanding that ‘art history’ (as a historically conditioned discipline) is concurrently reproductive of these ideological and material inequalities, feminist scholars have significantly and continually sought to intervene at the point of production – the writing of art’s history – to expose its social role and remake the fundamental terms of the discipline. This is a truth less widely acknowledged or, at least, less well-understood within contemporary scholarship. This thesis, therefore, seeks to examine the discipline of art history in Anglo- American contexts to assess the impact that feminist models of scholarship have had upon its knowledges and practices. This is attained through extensive literature overviews, archival research and, to a lesser extent, email interviews with key contributors to the discourse. Ultimately, this examination endeavours to address the production and regulation of feminist knowledge across a number of expanded (and interconnected) institutional sites. Case studies track the impact of feminist strategies upon the authoring of art history in the classroom, within scholarly professional organisations, academic publishing, the museum sector, and upon art-making itself. The research evaluates the mutable power structures of the discipline, how feminist interventions have had success in rethinking the limits of institutional knowledge, and how it may be possible to articulate critique under twenty-first-century conditions of institutional complicity and the hegemonic recuperation (or indeed ‘disciplining’) of radical practices. To date – and despite its prominence within much feminist writing - the importance of art historiography for the feminist political project has not been properly examined; the aim of this thesis is therefore to redress this omission and provide a timely and comprehensive critical reading of feminist knowledge production since around 1970.

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Introduction: Childhood obesity is associated with increased physical and psychosocial co-morbidities, and with lower cognitive function and educational attainment. Clinical guidelines recommend lifestyle interventions (healthy diet, increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviour) for the treatment of childhood obesity. Lifestyle interventions are known to benefit cognitive function and educational attainment in normal weight children. However, it is not known whether the same benefits occur when lifestyle interventions are used to treat overweight and obese children. Aim & Objectives: The aim of this thesis was to assess the effect of lifestyle interventions on educational attainment in overweight and obese children in three studies: Objective 1: Assess the efficacy of lifestyle interventions for improving educational attainment. Objective 2: Establish the feasibility of assessing the effectiveness of a childhood primary care weight management programme on educational attainment. Objective 3: Investigate the potential mechanisms for how lifestyle interventions for weight management might benefit educational attainment of overweight children. Methods: Study 1: Systematic (Cochrane) review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of single or multicomponent lifestyle interventions in children aged 3-18 years. Study 2: Quasi-experimental study linking childhood weight management data of children 5-15 years with education data from local education authorities in Scotland. Study 3: Qualitative study designed to gain insight into overweight and obese children’s and their parents’ perceptions and experiences in school and weight management programme obtained from focus groups and interviews. Results: Study 1: The systematic review included six studies of 674 overweight and obese children and adolescents. Findings indicated that school-based healthy lifestyle education combined with nutrition interventions can produce small improvements in overall school attainment. Single component physical activity interventions produced small improvements in mathematics attainment and associated cognitive skills (executive function, and working memory). There was no evidence of an effect of any lifestyle intervention on reading, vocabulary and language attainment, attention, inhibitory control, and simultaneous processing. Study 2: Cross-sectorial administrative data-linkage was shown to be feasible. This pilot study showed no evidence of a beneficial effect of a primary care child weight management programme on reading, writing and mathematics attainment in overweight and obese children. However, a definitive study to properly assess the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions outside the research environment is clearly feasible in Scotland. Study 3: The themes emerging from focus groups and interviews were body weight related school experiences, attitudes towards school, obesity and school performance, and influence of weight management. Participants perceived that being overweight can benefit educational attainment because a lack of friends means they are less distracted from learning. Low psychosocial well-being experienced by the participants was improved after taking part in a weight management programme. Parents understood this benefit could potentially impact positively on school experiences and attainment in the long-term. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of childhood obesity, educational and cognitive outcomes could be improved, to some extent, in a very large number of school-aged children through increased physical activity and nutrition education intended for weight management. Health policy makers should be aware of these potential additional benefits when promoting physical activity and healthy eating in schools. Childhood weight management programmes exist widely and thus provide an opportunity to evaluate their impact on educational outcomes in the community. Implemented child weight management programmes may benefit from improved recording of routine data and from obtaining participants’ administrative education data to ensure adequate support and supervision of this vulnerable population. In addition, weight management programmes could consider promoting psychosocial well-being of participants to potentially benefit both health and educational outcome. Lifestyle interventions for obese children and adolescents are under-investigated particularly with regard to a) efficacy in clinical and community settings, b) short and long-term effectiveness for improving educational attainment and c) mechanisms of benefit on educational attainment and cognitive function.

Self-care is an essential component of secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) for rural women who have undergone invasive coronary interventions (ICI). The purpose of this study was to describe self-care behavior experiences of rural women with CAD post-invasive coronary interventions defined as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI -- balloon angioplasty with or without stent placement), and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Three specific aims were addressed: Specific Aim 1. To identify and describe self-care behaviors initiated by these women after the intervention. Specific Aim 2. To identify and describe barriers to and facilitators of self-care behavior change. Specific Aim 3. To compare and contrast self-care behaviors in subgroups of rural women based on type of procedure and age. Orem's self-care deficit nursing theory (SCDNT), rural health theory, and the social determinants of health framework were synthesized to guide this study. A qualitative descriptive design was used to elicit descriptions of self-care behavior experiences, barriers to and facilitators of 10 rural Arizona women with CAD post-ICI who lived in Cochise and Pinal counties. Purposeful sampling was used. Rural women were recruited at the cardiology clinics by the primary investigator, who distributed recruitment flyers among them. Data were collected using semi-structured, voice-recorded interviews, which lasted an average of 25 minutes. Atlas.ti Mac Version 1.5.2 (462) software was used for data analysis. Specific Aim 1: Self-care for this study was defined as the ability of rural women to independently and purposefully initiate and adopt the following behaviors to promote and maintain cardiovascular health: cease smoking; adhere to heart healthy diet; incorporate physical activity in their daily routines; monitor their blood pressure and blood glucose levels regularly; adhere to medical regimens; and follow up with their doctors as required or access health care in a timely manner if symptoms recur. Although participants in this study talked about these self-care behaviors, adhering to a heart healthy diet and physical activity were their main self-care behaviors. Participants did not mentioning performing self-care behaviors for their heart health, but for their overall health and happiness. They ate healthy, low-fat, low-salt diets. They walked and performed housework as their most common physical activities. Specific Aim 2: Barriers for participants in this study were residential environment, health and physical ailments, family conditions, and personal characteristics. Facilitators were relationships, available resources, and personal outcomes. Specific Aim 3: Participants who had PCI rested for few days before resuming their physical activities, whereas those who had CABG were restricted for a period of six weeks to three months. Most participants were above the age of 70 years and reported they returned home after their procedures and did what they have done to move on with their lives. The only participant who was below 60 years reported a life changing experience when she returned home after her procedure.

The effects of multiple interventions in organizational development change were studied in a comprehensive meta-analytic review. Thirteen organizational interventions were assessed on five outcome variables based upon previous research of six major meta-analytic reviews. Findings based on 138 studies indicated that there were no significant effects of multiple interventions on positive organizational change as opposed to individually implemented interventions. The findings are not congruent with previous findings of organizational development change, and possible issues surrounding these differences are discussed.

Résumé français :Problématique :les hommes qui ont des rapports sexuels avec des hommes (HSH) constituent les populations les plus à risque d’infection au VIH dans différents pays d’Afrique subsaharienne. A ce jour, très peu d’interventions sont menées pour réduire le risque d’infection en influant sur les facteurs de risque, en Afrique Centrale et particulièrement en République Centrafricaine. Les objectifs de cette thèse visent à démontrer que les HSH sont identifiables et sont à risque des IST/VIH, que leur simple suivi médical ne permet pas un changement de comportements sexuels et réduire la fréquence des IST/VIH, mais que la combinaison d’interventions comportementale, biomédicale et structurelle permet, même en période de crise humanitaire, le changement de comportement sexuel et la réduction de la fréquence des IST/VIH. Méthodologie :Les HSH ont été enrôlés progressivement depuis 2010 pour atteindre un nombre de 220 en 2014. L’étude préliminaire sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et pratiques sexuelles à risque a concerné les 103 premiers HSH enrôlés en 2010. En 2012, la cohorte atteint le nombre de 170 HSH parmi lesquels 99 qui avaient un dossier médical complet ont fait l’objet de la deuxième étude du suivi sur deux ans.En 2013, alors que la cohorte des HSH avait atteint 200, 20 HSH ont été interviewés dans le cadre de l’étude qualitative. En 2014, la cohorte des HSH a atteint le nombre de 220. L’étude d’intervention a concerné 40 HSH sélectionnés sur les 220 et s’est poursuivie jusqu’en 2016.Résultats :L’analyse des caractéristiques socio démographiques des 103 HSH relève la présence de HSH jeunes. L’âge varie entre 15 et 40 ans, avec une médiane à 23 ans. Les pratiques sexuelles à risque sont fréquentes, notamment les premiers rapports sexuels avant 16 ans et sans préservatifs (70%) ;7% n’ont jamais utilisé les préservatifs, 56 % sont bisexuels, 98% pratique la pénétration anale. 31 HSH soit 24 %, étaient séropositifs pour le VIH ;22 soit 17% étaient infectés par le virus de l'hépatite B (VHB), dont 6 cas étaient coinfectés par le VIH et le VHB (M.B. Simaleko, et al.- Médecine d'Afrique Noire 6010 - Octobre 2013 - 409-414).En 2012, après deux ans de suivi médical et de counseling, il n’y a pas eu de changement de comportement et de pratiques sexuelles à risque, notamment en ce qui concerne la fréquence des rapports non protégés et la moyenne du nombre de partenaires occasionnels. La fréquence des principales IST a augmenté. Les prévalences du VIH, de la syphilis et de l’hépatite ont augmenté de manière significative et respectivement de 29% à 41%, de 12% à 21% de 14% à 23%. (Mbeko Simaleko M. et al. Pan Afr Med J. 2018; 29: 132).L’entretien avec les HSH a révélé plusieurs obstacles à l’utilisation des préservatifs, notamment, les ruptures, leur disponibilité, les fausses croyances, les pressions de l’entourage. (Mbeko Simaleko M. et al. Médecine et Santé Tropicale 2018 ;28 :424-429). De 2014 à 2016, l’étude d’interventions sur 40 HSH choisis de manière aléatoire et basée sur la combinaison des interventions comportementale, biomédicale et structurelle a permis d’améliorer le comportement et pratiques sexuelles des HSH par la réduction significative du nombre de partenaires sexuels occasionnels et l’augmentation significative de la fréquence des rapports sexuels protégés. À cet effet, il a été noté un seul cas de nouvelle infection par le VIH parmi les séronégatifs des 40 HSH contre 9 cas dans le groupe témoin. Aucune nouvelle infection au virus de l’hépatite B dans le groupe intervention contre 18, dans le groupe témoin. Il y a une augmentation significative de séropositifs dans le groupe témoin comparativement au groupe intervention en ce qui concerne la sérologie de la syphilis. (Mbeko Simaleko M. et al. Health Sci. Dis. 2020; 21: 94-99). Conclusion :les HSH sont identifiables et à risque. Le simple suivi médical associé au counseling ne permet pas d’améliorer le comportement sexuel et réduire la fréquence des IST. Cependant la combinaison des interventions a permis d’améliorer le comportement et la prise de risques des HSH mais également de réduire la fréquence des IST, même en période de crise humanitaire. Au vu du faible nombre de HSH inclus dans l’étude, il serait nécessaire d’étendre celle-ci, afin de conforter les résultats obtenus.Abstract Issue: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most at risk populations of HIV infection in different countries of sub-Saharan Africa. To date, very few interventions have been carried out to reduce the risk of infection by influencing on risk factors in Central Africa and particularly in the Central African Republic. The objectives of this research are to demonstrate that MSM are identifiable and at risk of STI/HIV, that the medical follow-up does not cause a change in sexual behavior and a reduction in the frequency of STI/HIV but that the combination of behavioral, biomedical and structural interventions allows, even in times of humanitarian crisis, behavioral change and reduction in the frequency of STI/HIV. Methodology: MSM have been progressively enrolled since 2010 to reach a number of 220 in 2014. The preliminary study on sociodemographic characteristics and sexual risk practices involved the first 103 MSM recruited until 2011. In 2012, 99 MSM who had a complete medical record were the subject of the second study on a two-year follow-up. In 2013, when the MSM cohort reached 200, 20 MSM were interviewed in the context of the qualitative study. In 2014, the MSM cohort reached 220. The intervention study involved 40 selected MSM out of the 220 and was continued during 2016.Results: MSM are predominantly young Their age varied between 15 and 40 years, with a median of23 years. Risky sexual practices were frequent, including first sexual intercourse before the age of 16 and without condoms (70%); 7% never used condoms, 56% are bisexual, 98% practice anal penetration. 31 MSM, or 24%, were HIV-positive; 22, or 17%, were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), of which 6 cases were co-infected with HIV and HBV (M.B. Simaleko, Set al. - Médecine d'Afrique Noire 6010 - Octobre 2013 - 409-414). In 2012, after two years of medical follow-up and counselling, there was no change in risk behavior and sexual practices, including the frequency of unprotected sex and the average number of occasional partners.The incidence of major STIs increased. The prevalence of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis increased significantly and respectively from 29% to 41%, from 12% to 21%, from 14% to 23%, respectively (Mbeko Simaleko M. et al. Pan Afr Med J. 2018; 29: 132). Interviews with MSM revealed several barriers to condom use, including condom breaks, condom availability, false beliefs, and peer pressure (Mbeko Simaleko M. et al. Médecine et Santé Tropicale 2018; 28: 424-429). From 2014 to 2016, the intervention study of 40 randomly selected MSM based on a combination of behavioral, biomedical, and structural interventions improved the sexual behavior and practices of MSM by significantly reducing the number of occasional sexual partners and significantly increasing the frequency of safer sex. Only 1 case of new HIV infection was noted among the 40 HSH HIV-negative compared to 9 cases in the control group. There were no new hepatitis B virus infections in the intervention group versus 18 in the control group. There was a significant increase in seropositivity in the control group compared to the intervention group with respect to syphilis serology (Mbeko Simaleko M. et al. Health Sci. Dis: Vol 21 (7) July 2020 pp 94-99). Conclusion: MSM were identifiable and most of them were at HIV risk. Simple medical follow-up combined with counselling does not allow to improve sexual behavior or to reduce the frequency of STIs. However, the combination of interventions has made it possible to improve the behavior and risk-taking of MSM and also to reduce the frequency of STIs, even in times of humanitarian crisis. In view of the low number of MSM included in the sample study and in order to consolidate the results obtained, it would be necessary to carry out a more in-depth study with a larger sample of MSM. / Doctorat en Santé Publique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Homelessness is a serious national and international issue, with significant implications for societal health. It is such a complicated and multifaceted issue to address, and it needs much more attention than it has currently. Alongside discussions on how to house homeless individuals, it is important to discuss how to help increase this populations overall health. The homeless population is one of the most medically at-risk patient populations. Existing research has shown that homeless individuals are at a higher risk for developing ill health and disease. They face numerous barriers to obtaining health care, and have many competing priorities. As a result, they are more likely to present to hospitals and clinics with advanced stages of disease that could have been prevented, or treated more easily earlier. Overall, the homeless population is at such a high risk of developing disease due to a variety of factors. Some of which are, their chronic exposure to the elements and other ill people, a lack of access to hygiene facilities or healthy food, and certain advantageous preventative resources. Past research has focused on interventions such as housing first over healthcare, and mobile clinical services, but they take a great deal of time and money to be fully realized. It is important to expand resources to include smaller, more feasible, preventative provisions for conditions that homeless individuals are more susceptible to such as skin cancer, tooth decay and loss, and others. More research into practical interventions, which can help improve the health and hygiene of homeless population, will close a gap in the current medical literature. This thesis focuses on practical prevention efforts for the homeless in the form of, SPF 70 spray sunscreen, hard bristled toothbrushes, sugarless gum, body wipes, dry shampoo, hand sanitizer, and more. These scientifically backed interventions can be immediately incorporated into the resources that community healthcare centers, shelters, or any other related homeless care facilities, provide. These supplies should improve homeless individuals’ health and quality of life while waiting for larger interventions such as housing, or free clinics, to be implemented. Importantly, these resources can help to bring an end to this current period in time in which homeless individuals are left to wait for any form of preventative or curative health care. As Ben Carson recently said, “Leaving [the] homeless unsheltered, unhealthy, and unsafe is a human tragedy and unacceptable.”