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The purpose of this thesis was to determine the perceived risk of falling and its relationship to balance and falls in older community-dwelling adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Study One was a systematic review of published literature on risk factors for falling in older adults with DM2. Study Two was a prospective cohort study for parameter estimation, the goal was to determine the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and factor structure of a falls Risk Perception Questionnaire in older community-dwelling adults with DM2. Study Three was also a prospective cohort study; the goals of this study were to determine the association between perceived of falling and balance in older adults with DM2 and to determine whether older adults alter their perceived risk of falling after receiving feedback about their balance. The information gained from these studies will be used to guide subsequent research as well as falls risk assessment and prevention in older adults with DM2. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The protection of proprietary information that users print from their information systems is a significant and relevant concern in the field of information security to both researchers and practitioners. Information security researchers have repeatedly indicated that human behaviors and perception are important factors influencing the information security of organizations and have called for more research. The aerospace and defense industry commonly deals with its own proprietary information as well its customers. Further, e-training is a growing practice in this industry, it frequently deals with proprietary information, and has unique information security challenge, thus, serves as additional context for this study. This study focused on the investigation of two constructs, user reading preference and user perceived risk of compromising printed proprietary information, as well as seven user demographics. These constructs reflect human behavior and risk perceptions associated with compromising printed proprietary information and, thus, provide valuable insights applicable into information security. This study developed a Reading Preference and Risk (RPR) Taxonomy, which allows users to be classified according to the aforementioned two constructs under investigation and provides insightful characterizations of information security risks. A survey based on existing literature, the primary constructs, and several demographics was implemented to assess two research questions and seven associated hypotheses. The survey was sent to 1,728 employees of an aerospace and defense organization. The response rate was 18% with 311 usable records. The results of the study showed that employees were dispersed across the RPR Taxonomy with 15.1% identified as potentially problematic to the protection of printed proprietary information. The overall results showed that the population had a reading preference for print materials and a high perceived risk for compromising printed proprietary information, as well as significantly higher print preference for e-training materials when it was necessary to retain the content in memory. Significant differences in the two constructs were also found across several demographics including age, gender, frequency of user exposure to proprietary information, the confidentiality level of the proprietary information a user is regularly exposed to, and previous user experience with the compromise of proprietary information. Recommendations for practice and research are provided. Moreover, several areas for future research are also presented.

Cette recherche a pour objectif de mieux comprendre le rôle du risque perçu dans la prise de décision d'adopter un comportement sanitaire recommandé. Particulièrement, basée sur (i) les études sur les jeux de hasard et d'argent, (ii) le concept de risque perçu à la fois dans le domaine de la psychologie du consommateur et de la santé publique, (iii) les travaux de Rothman et ses collègues sur le cadrage des messages sanitaires et (iv) les modèles de changement de comportement sanitaire, cette étude contribue à répondre à la problématique suivante : En quoi le risque perçu à adopter un comportement de jeu responsable influence-t-il l'évaluation et l'adoption de ce comportement sanitaire? Alors qu'il n'existe pas à notre connaissance de mesure du risque perçu à adopter un comportement de jeu responsable, cette recherche vise à développer un index mesurant le risque perçu à adopter un tel comportement sanitaire. En suivant les recommandations de Churchill, Rossiter, Jarvis et ses collègues et Mackenzie et ses collègues concernant le développement d’un instrument de mesure, nous avons conduit une étude qualitative (n = 22 joueurs) dans le but de conceptualiser précisément le concept de risque perçu à adopter un comportement de jeu responsable. Trois études quantitatives (n = 605 joueurs) ont permis d’évaluer la stabilité ainsi que la validité discriminante et prédictive de la mesure. Les résultats montrent que l’index du risque perçu à adopter un comportement de jeu responsable est une mesure valide et fiable formée de cinq dimensions : le risque perçu de (i) vivre moins d’excitation, (ii) moins se socialiser, (iii) gagner moins d’argent, (iv) vaincre moins et (v) moins se distraire du quotidien. Les résultats suggèrent que les joueurs perçoivent le comportement de jeu responsable comme une alternative risquée à la pratique des jeux de hasard et d’argent car il ne leur serait pas possible d’assouvir pleinement leurs motivations de jeu. De plus, les résultats montrent que le risque perçu à adopter un comportement de jeu responsable joue un rôle clé dans la décision d’adopter ou non un tel comportement sanitaire recommandé. / This research aims at better understanding the role of the perceived risk in decision-making process to adopt recommended health behavior. Particularly, built on (i) existing gambling studies, the concept of perceived risk both in consumer psychology and in health research, (iii) Rothman and colleagues’ works on health framed-messages and (iv) models of health behavior change, this study contributes to address a specific issue: In what extent does the perceived risk of adopting responsible gambling behavior influence the evaluation and the adoption of such a health behavior? Whereas, to the best of our knowledge, there is no measurement instrument of the perceived risks of adopting responsible gambling behavior, this research aims at developing a measurement index measuring the perceived risks of adopting such a health behavior. Following Churchill’s, Rossiter's, Jarvis and colleagues’ and Mackenzie and colleagues’ recommendations regarding the development of measurement instruments, we conducted a quantitative study (n = 22 gamblers) in order to thoroughly conceptualize the concept of perceived risks of adopting a responsible gambling behavior. Three quantitative studies (n = 605 gamblers) allowed assessing the stability, the predictive and discriminant validity of the measure. Results show that the perceived risks of adopting responsible gambling behavior index is a valid and reliable measure formed of five dimensions: perceived risk of (i) living less excitement, (ii) having less socialization, earning less money, (iv) winning less money and, finally, (v) having less distraction from daily life. Results suggest that gamblers perceive responsible gambling as a risky alternative to gambling because they would not be able to fully satisfy their gambling motivations. Moreover, the perceived risk of adopting responsible gambling behavior play a key role in gamblers' decision to adopt such recommended health behavior.

Given that not even 10% of clothing is sold online, apparel e-commerce faces major challenges as opposed to traditional apparel shopping or e-commerce of digital goods. Due to the constantly increasing online business, it is essential to optimize the online apparel purchase process, for it to become more competitive. Perceived product risk and return rates– for apparel– are exceptionally high. Fitting and size uncertainty is the key reason to both purchase hesitance as well as number of returns. In this study it is investigated whether fitting enabling technologies (FETs) can benefit apparel e-commerce by making the purchase process more efficient and solving the aforementioned complications. Focus here is put onto three main fitting technologies: Fits.Me, UPcload and Virtusize. In order to serve the study purpose, subjects of research included the classification of apparel goods, the theory of perceived risk as well as technology acceptance. The measures of the technological acceptance model (TAM) were used to examine and evaluate the applications. These were ‘skills’, ‘perceived ease of use’, ‘perceived enjoyment’, ‘perceived usefulness’ and ‘post-purchase evaluation’. The method was based on a deductive approach, first examining theory and then confirming results practically. A general online observation of diverse (fitting) enabling technologies paired with extensive literature research of accompanying topics, lead to the selection of three case technologies, which could be tested and evaluated based on the components of the literature review. Closing the gap between retailer and consumer in order to create purchase process efficiency could be achieved. Purchase hesitance due to the inability of physical examination of intangible apparel goods could be minimized through the integration of FETs. The measures of the TAM were tested overall positively in regard to the technologies in the e-tail context. The online apparel purchase process had been aligned with the conventional buying procedure and consequently generated the same benefits, allowing apparel e-commerce to finally achieve competitive advantage, to potentially substitute traditional apparel shopping and to eventually build upon a consistent and coherent international size infrastructure. / Program: Master programme in Applied Textile Management

Atualmente, observa-se que o ambiente virtual está cada vez mais povoado por pessoas com 60 anos ou mais e com os mais diversos interesses, todavia, verifica-se que há pouco conhecimento sobre como os consumidores idosos formam julgamentos e tomam decisões a respeito de produtos e serviços oferecidos na Internet, chegando a existir, inclusive, um pré-conceito de que estes indivíduos não são usuários da Internet e, portanto, não merecem que se façam investimentos para adequar produtos e serviços a eles. Sabe-se que diferentes fatores podem influenciar o comportamento do consumidor em sua tomada de decisão, principalmente quando se abordam produtos e serviços tecnológicos. Frente a esse contexto, é fundamental que se compreendam melhor os elementos que estão presentes nesse comportamento de consumo e as suas implicações futuras. Por essa razão, a presente pesquisa foi elaborada, pretendendo-se identificar os principais construtos que influenciam o comportamento do consumidor da terceira idade na Internet e analisar o seu impacto sobre a intenção de compra online. Objetivando responder a tal questionamento, projetou-se este estudo, para o qual foi elaborado um modelo teórico (testado empiricamente) contendo diversas variáveis e moderadores. Após 5 pré-testes e 8 entrevistas em profundidade, um questionário foi aplicado em 430 respondentes com 60 anos ou mais que tivessem utilizado a Internet pelo menos uma vez nos últimos 3 meses. O processamento de dados incluiu uma análise fatorial exploratória e uma confirmatória e a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais. Ao final deste estudo, obteve-se aceitação plena de cinco hipóteses, parcial de três e rejeição de duas, além de um bom ajuste do modelo proposto (a partir dos índices pré-definidos). Confirmou-se a hipótese de que o risco percebido pelos consumidores da terceira idade ao utilizar a Internet é um moderador no modelo estrutural proposto, uma vez que se comprovou diferença estatística significante entre as respostas dadas por um grupo mais avesso ao risco (Grupo 1) e outro menos avesso ao risco (Grupo 2) no que concerne às características demográficas e comportamentais (relacionadas ao uso da Internet). Já a escala de Tipo de Uso não se mostrou adequada para analisar a utilização da Internet pelo público da terceira idade. Constatou-se, da mesma forma, que a idade cognitiva influencia, de maneira inversa, no tempo de uso da Internet e que a satisfação com o uso da mesma tem impacto positivo no boca-a-boca positivo realizado, na intenção de (re)compra online e, também, no tempo de uso da rede. Acredita-se que os resultados obtidos a partir do teste do modelo apresentado possam fornecer importantes implicações acadêmicas e gerenciais, as quais possibilitarão uma maior compreensão sobre o uso da Internet por indivíduos da terceira idade, seus impactos futuros e a existência de moderadores importantes nesta relação. / Virtual environment has been increasingly used by people aged 60 and over who have a variety of interests. However, there is little knowledge concerning how elderly consumers form judgment and make decisions regarding products and services offered on the internet. Additionally, there is a preconception that these individuals do not use the internet; therefore, there would be no need for investment in redesigning products and services to suit them. It is known that there is a range of factors that may influence consumer behavior, especially in online environments involving technological products and services. In this context, understanding the elements involved in consumer behavior as well as its future implications is of paramount importance. Thus, this study reviewed the main constructs that influence the consumer behavior of the elderly on the internet and analyzed its impact on the online purchase intention. A theoretical model containing several variables and moderators was created and empirically tested. After 5 pretests and 8 in-depth interviews, a questionnaire was applied to 430 respondents aged 60 and over who had used the internet within the last 3 months. Data processing included an exploratory and a confirmatory factor analysis, as well as the Structural Equation Modeling. As a result, five hypotheses were fully supported, three were partially confirmed and two were rejected. Moreover, the proposed model proved to be well adjusted according to the pre-defined indexes. The hypothesis which states that the perceived risk by the elderly regarding the use of internet is a moderator on the proposed structural model was confirmed, since there was a statistically significant difference between the answers given by a more risk-averse group (Group 1) and the answers provided by a less risk-averse group (Group 2) concerning demographic and behavioral characteristics related to internet use. On the other hand, the Type of Internet Use scale was shown to be inadequate to analyze the internet usage by the aforementioned age group. Likewise, it was observed that cognitive age has an inversely proportional influence on time of Internet usage, and that satisfaction with its usage has a positive impact on positive word of mouth, online (re)purchase intention and time of web usage. It is believed that the results obtained from the testing of the presented model may provide important academic and managerial implications which will bring a greater understanding of internet usage by the elderly as well as its future impacts and the existence of important moderators within this relationship.

The management of obesity before a woman conceives is one of the most effective efforts a woman can take in decreasing her risk of obesity-related complications during pregnancy. Evidence supports the idea that maternal obesity influences maternal and fetal outcomes, leading to maternal and fetal morbidities. Physicians acknowledge the importance of screening women for obesity, but many do not refer patients for weight-loss therapy. In this study, the health belief model was used to explore the associations between participants' obesity risk of complications during pregnancy, the number of weight-loss interventions they attempted to implement prior to pregnancy, and how they viewed the success of their interventions. Participants were a random sample of 95 obese pregnant women older than 19 years participating in the supplemental WIC program in an urban community in Newark, New Jersey. A quantitative nonexperimental correlational study using descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze the data. The results of this study indicated that obese pregnant women did not perceive the risks associated with obesity as a problem, nor was there an association among the types of weight-loss methods attempted, the overall success of their weight-loss interventions, and ethnicity. Women who tried exercise and dietary restrictions or exercise only were more likely to experience success than those who tried other methods or combinations of methods (p = 0.012). The data provided can lead to better informed strategies by health care professionals to develop standards in healthcare, particularly obstetrics and gynecology offices and clinics, to help obese women be more compliant with treatment recommendations for reducing the risks of obesity-related health problems.

Maintaining due diligence on safety practices at the workplace of battery technicians is the most cost-effective intervention against lead-related hazards. The safety practice on lead poisoning in Nigeria is below average, and the compliance level is far from the expected target of 90%. Using Dejoy's workplace self-protective behavior theory, this study investigated multilevel factors that influence safety practices on lead poisoning and compared the rate of utilization of personal protective equipment by battery technicians in the organized and roadside settings. The study was a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, and a multistage and systematic sampling technique was used to select 293 adult battery technicians aged 18 years and above. Hypotheses were tested with chi-square and multivariate logistic regressions at the significant level of p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. The outcome of the safety practice status of battery technicians is 20%, and the rate of utilization of personal protective equipment is 18% in Lagos, Nigeria. Findings revealed that workplace conditions, blood lead levels, knowledge, education, and the rate of utilization of personal protective equipment are predictors of the safety practice status of battery technicians. There was no significant difference between battery technicians in the organized and roadside setting considering the perceived risk of lead poisoning and utilization of personal protective equipment. The positive social change implications of this study include recommendations for battery technicians to use the evolved alternative safety approaches to reduce lead-related hazards. Public health professional and policymakers should invest resources towards reducing the impact of lead poisoning on battery technicians at the workplace.

Breast cancer is a widespread public health issue in the United States which affects all women. Although mammography is a proven screening tool, screening rates vary widely. Self-reported health status may play a role in how women perceive their risks for developing breast cancer, which may affect mammography use. The purpose of this cross-sectional survey study was to assess the association between self-reported health status and perceived risk for developing breast cancer, as well as perceived barriers towards mammography screening and use. Social action theory, which holds that social and the psychological factors influence health behaviors, served as the theoretical foundation of the study. A convenience sample of 309 African American, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic women, aged 30+, was recruited to participate in the study. Linear and logistic regression analyses revealed the model including all variables were significance between self-reported health status, demographic characteristics, and the dependent variables perceived risk of breast cancer, receipt of a mammogram in the last 2 years, and barriers (personal, economic, and health). However, self-reported health status was not a significant individual predictor in any of the analyses, and the null hypotheses for the research questions were not rejected. This study may promote positive social change by providing information on the necessity of interdisciplinary and interrelated educational and intervention approaches to address the challenges of women from diverse populations receiving regular mammograms.

To date much of the literature on consumers’ concerns about business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce has described findings from quantitative research. As a result, much of that literature has focused on specific previously-identified concerns (e.g., privacy of personal information, use of credit cards for on-line payment). Also, there has been little research into the concerns of New Zealand consumers, and all of it has been quantitative. In order to gain a broader understanding, this study took a qualitative approach. Three focus groups were conducted, in order to identify consumers’ concerns. The concerns that were thus identified were combined with those that a review of the literature had previously identified, and were used to draw up a set of guidelines to be used in semi-structured interviews. Fifteen interviews were then conducted, in order to gain consumers’ views about each concern. It seems that at a higher level, consumer’s concerns have shifted. The literature suggests that in the past consumers’ concerns about Internet shopping have focused on the fact that Internet shopping is conducted via the Internet – as a result of which consumers have, for example, been concerned about the privacy of their personal information ('if I give them my e-mail address, will I get spam?') This study suggests that now consumers’ concerns focus on the fact that Internet shopping is a form of shopping – as a result of which they are now only prepared to use the Web sites of 'reputable companies', and they now require to be able to evaluate an item adequately before buying it. And it seems that another result of this is that consumers now expect that the 'reputable companies' whose Web sites they visit will – as a matter of course - address to their satisfaction issues such as the privacy of their personal information. While there are some types of products that consumers are prepared to buy on-line (e.g., air travel), there are many about which they are reluctant. Concerns were expressed about a wide range of potential purchases, and for a variety of reasons; also, some data was inconsistent (for example, some consumers were not prepared to buy clothes on-line, but others were). This appears to be an area in which consumer attitudes are still evolving. It is suggested that it may be helpful for further research on this matter to consider both demographic factors and the degree of consumer involvement in particular types of purchases.