Pau King-man. / Thesis submitted in: October 2001. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-181). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Abstract (Chinese version) --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.xii / List of Tables --- p.xiii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xxiv / Chapter CHAPTER ONE: --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Women's Overweight and Obesity Prevalence and Trends --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Etiology of Overweight and Obesity --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Health Consequences of Obesity in Women --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Dietary and Physical Activity Recommendations for Good Health for Adults --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5 --- Health Behavior Change Theories --- p.8 / Chapter 1.6 --- Weight Control/Loss Interventions for Women --- p.10 / Chapter 1.7 --- Weight Loss Risks --- p.11 / Chapter 1.8 --- Health Promotion Programs for Women --- p.12 / Chapter 1.9 --- General Situation and Population Trends Among Hong Kong Middle- aged Women --- p.15 / Chapter 1.10 --- Nutrition-related Morbidity and Mortality Among Hong Kong Women --- p.16 / Chapter 1.11 --- Diet Composition of Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.20 / Chapter 1.12 --- Physical Activity Patterns of Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.21 / Chapter 1.13 --- Education and Health in Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.23 / Chapter 1.14 --- Attitudes Toward and Beliefs About Diet and Health of Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.24 / Chapter 1.15 --- Common Weight Loss Methods Among Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.25 / Chapter 1.16 --- Sources of Health Information Among Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.25 / Chapter 1.17 --- Summary --- p.26 / Chapter 1.18 --- Study Purpose and Objectives --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO: --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 2.1 --- Recruitment of Participants --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2 --- Focus Groups --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3 --- Survey Instrument --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Questionnaire --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Three-day Dietary Record --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Anthropometric and Cholesterol Measurements --- p.35 / Chapter 2.4 --- Intervention --- p.37 / Chapter 2.5 --- Evaluation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Process Evaluation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Outcome Evaluation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.6 --- Data Management --- p.40 / Chapter 2.7 --- Statistics --- p.40 / Chapter 2.8 --- Data Analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 2.8.1 --- Physical Activity Patterns --- p.41 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Dietary Patterns --- p.44 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- Nutrition Knowledge Score --- p.45 / Chapter 2.8.4 --- Physical Activity Knowledge Score --- p.46 / Chapter 2.8.5 --- Blood Total Cholesterol --- p.46 / Chapter 2.8.6 --- Body Mass Index --- p.47 / Chapter 2.8.7 --- Percent Body Fat --- p.47 / Chapter 2.9 --- Ethics --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE: --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- Focus Group Results --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- General Description of Participants --- p.48 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Perceived Values and Views on 'Health' --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Perceived Values and Views on 'Healthy Lifestyle' --- p.51 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Perceived Values and Views on 'Healthy Eating' --- p.52 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Perceived Values and Views on 'Physical Activity' --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- The Factors Motivating the Women to Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle --- p.53 / Chapter 3.1.7 --- Sources of Information About Healthy Eating and Physical Activity --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1.8 --- Suggestions for the Type and Content of Activities in a Health Promotion Program --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Participation Rate in the Study --- p.56 / Chapter 3.3 --- Pretest --- p.57 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- General Participant Sociodemographic Description --- p.57 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Anthropometry --- p.59 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Health Conditions Reported --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Meal Patterns --- p.61 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Nutrient Supplements Practices --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Cooking Practices --- p.63 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Food Removal Behavior --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Food Label Reading --- p.65 / Chapter 3.3.9 --- Dietary Intake --- p.66 / Chapter a. --- From the Three-day Dietary Records --- p.66 / Chapter b. --- From the Food Frequency Questionnaire --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.10 --- Nutrition Knowledge --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3.11 --- Physical Activity Habits --- p.72 / Chapter 3.3.12 --- Physical Activity Knowledge --- p.73 / Chapter 3.3.13 --- Intention and Confidence in Changing Behavior --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3.14 --- Perceived Difficulties in Changing Behavior --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3.15 --- Perceived Methods Facilitating Behavior Change --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.16 --- Health Information Desired --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.17 --- Areas of Health the Women Would Like to Improve --- p.81 / Chapter 3.3.18 --- Summary Profile of the Women at Pretest --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4 --- Outcome Evaluation --- p.85 / Chapter 3.5 --- Posttest --- p.85 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- General Participant Sociodemographic Description --- p.85 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Anthropometry --- p.86 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Health Conditions Reported --- p.87 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Meal Patterns --- p.88 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Nutrient Supplements Practices --- p.89 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Cooking Practices --- p.90 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Food Removal Behavior --- p.91 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- Food Label Reading --- p.91 / Chapter 3.5.9 --- Dietary Intake --- p.93 / Chapter a. --- From the Three-day Dietary Records --- p.93 / Chapter b. --- From the Food Frequency Questionnaire --- p.94 / Chapter 3.5.10 --- Nutrition Knowledge --- p.95 / Chapter 3.5.11 --- Physical Activity Habits --- p.98 / Chapter 3.5.12 --- Physical Activity Knowledge --- p.99 / Chapter 3.5.13 --- Analysis the Changes by Education Level --- p.102 / Chapter 3.5.14 --- Analysis the Changes by Age Group --- p.104 / Chapter 3.5.15 --- Intention and Confidence in Changing Behavior --- p.105 / Chapter 3.5.16 --- Perceived Difficulties in Changing Behavior --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5.17 --- Perceived Methods Facilitating Behavior Change --- p.109 / Chapter 3.5.18 --- Health Information Desired --- p.110 / Chapter 3.5.19 --- Areas of Health the Women Would Like to Improve --- p.111 / Chapter 3.5.20 --- Summary Profile of the Women at Posttest --- p.112 / Chapter 3.6 --- Participants' Evaluation of the Intervention Program --- p.113 / Chapter 3.7 --- Follow-up --- p.118 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- General Participant Sociodemographic Description --- p.118 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Anthropometry --- p.118 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Health Conditions Reported --- p.121 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Meal Patterns --- p.121 / Chapter 3.7.5 --- Nutrient Supplements Practices --- p.122 / Chapter 3.7.6 --- Cooking Practices --- p.123 / Chapter 3.7.7 --- Food Removal Behavior --- p.125 / Chapter 3.7.8 --- Food Label Reading --- p.126 / Chapter 3.7.9 --- Dietary Intake --- p.127 / Chapter a. --- From the Three-day Dietary Records --- p.127 / Chapter b. --- From the Food Frequency Questionnaire --- p.129 / Chapter 3.7.10 --- Nutrition Knowledge --- p.131 / Chapter 3.7.11 --- Physical Activity Habits --- p.135 / Chapter 3.7.12 --- Physical Activity Knowledge --- p.136 / Chapter 3.7.13 --- Intention and Confidence in Changing Behavior --- p.140 / Chapter 3.7.14 --- Analysis the Changes by Education Level --- p.142 / Chapter 3.7.15 --- Analysis the Changes by Age Group --- p.143 / Chapter 3.7.16 --- Perceived Difficulties in Changing Behavior --- p.144 / Chapter 3.7.17 --- Perceived Methods Facilitating Behavior Change --- p.145 / Chapter 3.7.18 --- Health Information Desired --- p.148 / Chapter 3.7.19 --- Areas of Health the Women Would Like to Improve --- p.149 / Chapter 3.7.20 --- Summary Profile of the Women at Follow-up --- p.150 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR: --- DISCUSSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Implications of Findings --- p.154 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Current Situations in Diet and Physical Activity of Hong Kong Middle-aged Women --- p.154 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Overall Effects of the Program --- p.161 / Chapter a. --- Changes in Knowledge --- p.161 / Chapter b. --- Changes in Awareness and Intention --- p.163 / Chapter c. --- Changes in Behavior --- p.164 / Chapter d. --- Changes in Anthropometery --- p.166 / Chapter 4.2 --- Strengths and Limitations of the Study --- p.167 / Chapter 4.3 --- Implications and Recommendations for Meeting the Challenges of Improving Hong Kong Middle-aged Women's Nutrition and Physical Activity Habits --- p.169 / Chapter 4.4 --- Suggestions for Future Research --- p.170 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE: --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.172 / References --- p.173 / Appendices / Chapter A --- Consent form (Chinese version) --- p.182 / Chapter B --- Consent form (English version) --- p.183 / Chapter C --- Questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.184 / Chapter D --- Questionnaire (English version) --- p.196 / Chapter E --- Photos for food amount quantities and household measures (Chinese version) --- p.210 / Chapter F --- Photos for food amount quantities and household measures (English version) --- p.213 / Chapter G --- Sample of dietary record (Chinese version) --- p.216 / Chapter H --- Sample of dietary record (English version) --- p.217 / Chapter I --- Three-day dietary record (Chinese version) --- p.218 / Chapter J --- Three-day dietary record (English version) --- p.221 / Chapter K --- Pamphlets for health talks (Chinese version) --- p.224 / Chapter L --- Pamphlets for health talks (English version) --- p.236 / Chapter M --- Pamphlets for physical activity demonstration (Chinese version) --- p.248 / Chapter N --- Pamphlets for physical activity demonstration (English version) --- p.253 / Chapter O --- Process evaluation questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.258 / Chapter P --- Process evaluation questionnaire (English version) --- p.260 / Chapter Q --- Overall evaluation questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.262 / Chapter R --- Overall evaluation questionnaire (English version) --- p.263 / Chapter S --- Focus group questionnaire (Chinese version) --- p.264 / Chapter T --- Focus group questionnaire (English version) --- p.265 / Chapter U --- Focus group question guides (Chinese version) --- p.266 / Chapter V --- Focus group question guides (English version) --- p.268 / Chapter W --- The food consumption patterns of women in the Education and Control Groups --- p.270

Abstract not available

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2006. / "May, 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-217). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-109). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-109). Also available on the Internet.

The primary goal of this dissertation is to provide a better understanding of how midlife adult women’s psychological well-being is shaped by parental status. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, this research addresses three specific research aims. The first aim is to explore the relationship between motherhood and psychological well-being by family life stages and the timing of transition to motherhood. The second aim is to examine the role of marriage in the association between parental status and psychological well-being. Finally, the third aim is to account for psychological well-being by parental status, focusing on experiences in labor force participation. To address these aims, this dissertation tests several hypotheses based on the multiple role theory and its modifications and the theories and empirical research centered on the effects of marriage and employment on well-being. The results indicate that mothers are more likely to have lower levels of psychological well-being compared to childless women at earlier family life stages. However, this disadvantage decreases as mothers and their children age. The mother’s age at the birth of her first child also plays a role in the trajectories of the level of psychological well-being. Although the negative association between psychological wellbeing and motherhood appears to decline over time, those who became a mother at earlier ages experience much slower declines compared to those who did not have a first child until their early thirties. It also appears that marital status is an important moderator between parental status and psychological well-being. Motherhood is associated with psychological benefits for the married, but the opposite pattern is found for the never married. Moreover, entering a first marriage is associated with greater improvements in psychological well-being for women with a child compared to childless women. The association between motherhood and psychological well-being also varies depending on the types of marital disruption. Compared to those who remain married, divorce is harmful for women with a child; however, being a widow is detrimental for childless women. Additionally, for both married and never married women, employment is not associated with increases in psychological well-being when it is also combined with motherhood. This research suggests that the association between motherhood and psychological well-being is contingent upon the family life stages, the age at transition to motherhood, and other roles that women hold while being mothers. / text

published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

In Hong Kong, the population of older adults aged 65 and above is expected to nearly double by the beginning of the 2030s, which will then represent just over a quarter of the population. A local study found that many people in Hong Kong had given very little thought to plans for retirement and old age, including aspects of financial, health, social, and living arrangements (Lee & Law, 2004). Many similar retirement studies can be found in the West, primarily using a quantitative inquiry framework. The number of qualitative inquiries on aging issues has steadily increased over the last decade. Results from previous studies showed similar patterns, i.e. low levels of planning activities for retirement and old age across all social classes. However, none of the studies explored beyond the correlations and associations among variables. This study aims to add to the body of knowledge in the field of aging by employing life course perspectives with a qualitative approach through examining whether situational and contextual factors do in fact affect individuals’ old age readiness. There are two core objectives of this study. The first objective is to investigate whether and how life experiences from significant events or transitions influence important decisions in life, in this case, the planning for retirement and old age among the target population of mid-aged women from middle and working class backgrounds in Hong Kong. The second objective is to explore relationships and the degree of significance between Chinese traditional belief systems and the level of retirement preparedness amidst high volatility in global financial markets and the development of old age friendly welfare and policies in Hong Kong. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 34 women between the ages of 45 and 59. Results connote that most of these women witnessed the growth of economic development in Hong Kong; unfortunately they have not accumulated enough physical resources to prepare for retirement or old age after its growth plateaued and has been stumbling since the late 1990s. Their social network system is very limited and in many cases also fragile. Minimal preventive health measures are being taken except for addressing pre-existing physical and mental health issues. Living arrangements is the area least planned for, including those women who are public rental housing tenants. The interviewed women hold the same Chinese traditional value that they are hoping to receive family support during old age. Nonetheless, they also feel vulnerable because their adult children are struggling to make ends meet as well. Public cash assistances are these women’s last resort if their children cannot afford to provide support due to economic difficulties or after depletion of their own funds from MPF, personal savings and investments. This group of women is likely to actively utilize the public healthcare system, community programs, and long-term care facilities in the near future. Implications of the study include social work practices and public policies that will support the potential needs of the forthcoming wave of the old age population. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Numerous cross-sectional studies have reported an inverse relationship between VO2,,,ax and age. However, few longitudinal investigations have compared the rate of decline in VO2,,.x between women who did or did not report exercise habits consistent with the 1990 ACSM position stand for quantity and quality of exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine if changes in exercise habits and body composition affected age-related changes in VO2.x. Subjects were 91 women (age 40.9 ± 8.8 years at baseline) tested twice between 1973 and 1996 (range of 3.1 - 21.9 years, mean interval of 9.3 ± 4.2 years). The subjects were divided into four physical activity groups based on their reported exercise habits at baseline and follow-up as: non-exercise - exercise (NE-EX; n = 21), NE-NE (n=36), EX-EX (n=19), and EX-NE (n=15). Baseline VOz,,,ax (ml-kg-1-min-1) was significantly higher for the EX vs. NE ( 38.4 ± 8.4 vs.28.8 ± 5.7; f42.2; P<.0001). ANOVA revealed significant differences between the physical activity change groups and mean percent changes in VO2. (% A ml•kg'.min'-yr') (F =10.887; P<.0001) which are listed in the following:NE-NENE-EXEX-EXEX-NE-1.081.58*-1.25-2.21* NE-EX vs. EX-NE; NE-EX vs. EX-EX; and NE-EX vs. NE-NE (P<0.05)There were differences between the following groups: NE-EX vs. EX-NE; NE-EX vs. EX-EX; and NE-EX vs. NE-NE for percent change in VO2max (nl•kg'-min 1•yr 1) with the EX-NE group having the largest decline in VO2max during the follow-up period.Using a multiple regression model after adjusting for the exercise habit groups, the exercise group scheme accounted for 27.3 percent of the variance in percent change in VO2max at step 1 of the analysis (f = 1.09; P < 0.001). Change in percent body fat and change in maximal ventilation accounted for an additional 7.2 percent and 6.5 percent of the variance at steps 2 and 3, respectively. The change in maximal heart rate accounted for an additional 2.5 percent of the variance at step 4, although the statistical significance of the contribution was low (P = 0.057). Increases in body fat and decreases in pulmonary ventilation were found associated with declines in aerobic power while a decline in maximal heart rate between the tests was associated with a decline in percent change in aerobic power.In conclusion, these data demonstrate that: 1) adoption or maintenance of a regular exercise program is associated with less decline in VO2,,. during long-term follow-up compared to women who did not exercisers, and 2) changes in exercise habits, body composition, maximal ventilation, and maximal heart rate accounted for nearly half (43 %) percent of the percent decline per year. / School of Physical Education

A semester-long study examined the problems and needs of non-traditional women students. The subjects were a non-traditional undergraduate student enrolled in a beginning composition class and a non-traditional graduate student enrolled in an advanced composition class. The study argues that since universities and colleges are actively recruiting older students, these institutions should be more responsive to the unique problems posed by non-traditional women students, which are different from traditional-aged students. The study addresses non-traditional women students' reasons for returning to school and the personal and academic barriers they run into. The two case studies discuss their expectations relating to their composition classes in particular and fitting into the university system generally. In conclusion, recommendations are made in the specific areas of university systems, pedagogy, and future research. / Department of English