Syfte: Syftet med undersökningen var att beskriva vad som formar ungdomars attityd till rökning. Metod: Sex kvalitativa intervjuer genomförds med ungdomar i åldern 14-15 år. Kategorier utarbetades genom analys av intervjuutskrifterna. Resultat: Det framkom att ungdomarnas attityd formas dels av yttre faktorer som närståendes rökvanor och dels av inre faktorer som nyfikenhet. Ungdomarna ansåg även att om cigaretter varit så ohälsosamma som det påstås så hade de varken tillverkats eller sålts. Ungdomarna beskrev rökare med ord som tuffa och coola. Konklusion: Resultatet antyder att ungdomarnas attityd till rökning formas dels av vännernas uppfattningar och dels av föräldrarnas attityd. Ungdomar lever i nuet och väger därför inte in hälsoriskerna i sitt beslut att röka. Implikation: Informera föräldrarna att ha en hårdare attityd emot tobak. Skapa ett informationsmaterial som förklarar varför det är politiskt svårt att förbjuda tobaksprodukter. Ytterligare forskning behövs om hur föräldrars rökvanor påverkar ungdomars attityd till rökning. / Objective: The aim of our study was to describe how young people's attitudes towards smoking emerge. Method: Six qualitative interviews were conducted with adolescents aged 14-15. Categories were developed through an analysis of interview transcripts. Results: It was found that young people's attitude is shaped partly by external factors such as smoking habits by related parties and partly by internal factors such as curiosity. Young people also felt that if cigarettes were as unhealthy as it is claimed they had neither manufactured nor sold. Young people described the smokers with words like tough and cool. Conclusion: Young people's attitude to smoking is shaped partly by their friends’ views and partly by their parents' attitude. Young people are living in the moment and therefore they do not consider the health risks when deciding to start smoking. Implication: Inform the parents that they should have a tough stance against tobacco. Create information material which explains why it is politically difficult to ban tobacco products. Further research is needed on how parents' smoking habits affect young people's attitudes to smoking.

Asthma is a chronic condition affecting approximately 235 million people worldwide, yet international studies have identified that most adolescents with asthma have poor self-management skills. Asthma is common in adolescent males however only a few studies have specifically investigated the asthma experiences of this population group. The aim of this study was to explore how male adolescents understand and manage their asthma symptoms. A qualitative descriptive study design was selected to investigate the experiences of male adolescents, focusing on their perceptions of societal and masculine influences on their asthma management. Individual semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 male adolescents to capture data about their perceptions of masculinity, asthma management, interpersonal relationships, and their physical wellbeing. Findings support previous research illustrating that asthma restricts adolescent male’s lives, both at school and recreationally. This study established that these restrictions could unpredictably affect perceived masculine ideals and their ability to be independent, strong, muscular, and competitive. Consequently, the majority of participants felt their masculinity was challenged and described feeling different, isolated, and/or marginalised from their non-asthmatic peers. To counteract these feelings, maintain control, and seek normality in front of peers, most participants reported downplaying their asthma symptoms and/or did not adhere to their prescribed treatment regimes. In addition, hegemonic representations of males as ‘tough’ and ‘self-reliant’ influenced most participants to describe re-active, non-help seeking behaviours, and minimisation of their asthma symptoms. However not all participants described adverse outcomes, with a minority resisting hegemonic ideals by taking care of their health and asthma management. Findings illustrate how a variety of masculine ideals influenced young men’s health and asthma management. Further research is required to investigate the ways differential masculine ideals may be protective or detrimental to asthma medication.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: Julie A. Hubbard, Dept. of Psychology. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2003. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-168). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ99141

Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2003. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3108287. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-52).

No description available.

Thesis (MA. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015. / The present research investigated the relationship between peer friendships and alcohol drinking patterns, amongst second year students at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop campus). The use and abuse of alcohol amongst students in South African and globally is problematic and increases decade after decade. Students consider alcohol consumption a normal part of university life and often overlook the consequences of health and social problems associated with high levels of alcohol use. The study utilised a quantitative approach with a cross sectional survey design. A convenience sample of second year students was used. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results as they give a clear and concise picture of the data. The chi-square test was utilised to see if there were any significant differences between male and female participants in terms of the study propositions and questions. The results suggest that positive psychosocial and psychological needs are intrinsic and are more likely to occur if an individual has ongoing and positive peer friendships, particularly amongst female participants. Generally, significant results indicate that females are more likely to engage in positive peer friendships and behaviours than males. Responses from male participants suggest that they are more likely to engage in maladaptive behaviours and are more likely to be negatively influenced by their peers, in terms of alcohol consumption, than females. However, females may tend to underestimate how much they drink as they are less likely to go out to a bar and are more likely to drink in their rooms or homes with friends than males.

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In general, peers have a tendency to influence others positively and negatively. In the main, transition from school to higher education causes some students to experience stress; to respond negatively to new conditions; and to engage in risk behaviour, which hinders epistemological access, negatively affects performance, and often delays graduation. Nonetheless, participation in peer group activities has advantages and potentialities, which are often neglected in popular scholarly discourse. The main research question of the study was to investigate the experiences of peer pressure among first-year students? This study adopted a mixed-method research design and presents findings for both quantitative data which was collected through an electronic survey and qualitative findings from focus group interviews with three different groups: females, males, and, mixed gender. The population comprised first-year students living in two residences of a selected South African university. The qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis, while the quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as Spearman’s Rank correlation was used in the study. In consideration with the transition theory, social learning theory, and student involvement theory. Findings reveal that first-year students join different groups and they encounter both positive and negative experiences. Positive experiences were observed in relation to academic performance and sense of belonging. Negative experiences indicate that peers influence others to adopt anti-social behaviour, experience undue materialistic pressure, have poor class attendance, and depend on peers for decisions. Overall, it is found that academic success depends on students’ interconnectedness, sense of belonging, peer support, acceptance, and recognition. The findings can be utilized to inform practical strategies and policies to empower first-year students to deal productively and progressively with peer pressure within the higher education sector. The study recommends the implementation of a First-year Student orientation programme which is called University 101 that can assist first-year students with better transition to higher education and can increase retention output. The programme should address the crucial areas that will assists the first-year with better transitions such as diversity, well-being, self-esteem, academic excellence and peer pressure.