The relevance of motivation has saturated many physical literacy definitions (Mandigo et al., 2006); however, the study of motivation in this context has generated minimal attention. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore motivation with respect to physical literacy related to self-reported variety of physical activity engagement and predilection towards physical activity. Participants included 218 male and female students in grades 4-6. Deci and Ryan’s (1985) basic needs theory guided a thematic analysis of open-ended questions from the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy. Results indicated participants’ engagement in a variety of physical activities, and predilection towards physical activity was influenced by self-reported need satisfaction. Competence related more to engagement in a wide variety of physical activities while relatedness was found to relate more to predilection towards physical activity. Children who engaged in their physical activities for fun, and health benefits on average participated in a greater variety of physical activities.

The relevance of motivation has saturated many physical literacy definitions (Mandigo et al., 2006); however, the study of motivation in this context has generated minimal attention. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore motivation with respect to physical literacy related to self-reported variety of physical activity engagement and predilection towards physical activity. Participants included 218 male and female students in grades 4-6. Deci and Ryan’s (1985) basic needs theory guided a thematic analysis of open-ended questions from the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy. Results indicated participants’ engagement in a variety of physical activities, and predilection towards physical activity was influenced by self-reported need satisfaction. Competence related more to engagement in a wide variety of physical activities while relatedness was found to relate more to predilection towards physical activity. Children who engaged in their physical activities for fun, and health benefits on average participated in a greater variety of physical activities.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of a hip (Evenson algorithm) and wrist-worn (Crouter algorithm) accelerometer in assessing time spent in different intensity categories in pre-adolescent girls during semi-structured dance classes using direct observation (D.O.) as the criterion measure. The secondary aim of this study was to examine the validity of a wrist-worn accelerometer for dichotomizing pre-adolescent girls as meeting or not meeting different preselected doses of moderate-to-vigorous PA compared to the hip-worn accelerometer. METHODS: Data were collected and analyzed on a total of 6 participants (age = 10.22 ± 2.38) for the primary aim. Additionally, data was collected and analyzed on a total of 20 participants (age = 8.6 ± 1.6) for the secondary aim. RESULTS: Compared to D.O., the wrist-worn accelerometer was inaccurate in measuring time spent in light PA, vigorous PA and MVPA. Additionally, the hip-worn accelerometer was inaccurate in measuring time spent in sedentary time, light PA, vigorous PA and total PA. Further, for the secondary aim, there was a significant difference between device location and meeting PA dosage for three days and five days. CONCLUSION: Traditional accelerometer algorithms rely on the activity count cut-point method which provides mixed to poor results of activity intensity classification regardless of wear location. Future research should move away from the activity count cut-point method and aim to develop algorithms that use more of the rich data available from the accelerometers’ acceleration signal.

The Indian population is at high risk for obesity and its related diseases. Paradoxically, there is also a high prevalence of low birth weight in this population. Throughout life, factors associated with these abnormalities reflect genetic, environmental and lifestyle patterns.World-wide, the Indian population is largely non-meat-eating which could compromise the quantity and quality of the diet in macronutrients (proteins) and micronutrients (vitamin B12). Vitamin B12 has been suggested to increase the risk for the metabolic syndrome (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and central adiposity). Factors measured in this pilot study designed to examine the differences between meat-eating and non-meat-eating Indian preadolescent girls were body composition, dietary food and nutrient analysis, physical activity patterns and biomarkers of diet and metabolic syndrome.Six non-meat-eating (9.8±0.9 y) and six meat-eating (10.0±0.6 y) Indian preadolescent girls participated in the two weeks study. Mothers and their daughters in each group had followed the same dietary pattern from birth. Anthropometry, hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance and resting energy expenditure were measured. Biomarkers associated with one carbon metabolism; serum B12, methylmalonic acid (MMA) and folate were measured. Inflammatory markers; high sensitivity C-reactive protein and ferritin were measured. Serum lipids, fasting glucose and haematological parameters were measured. Time spent in sedentary activities and dietary information was extracted from seven day physical activity and food diaries respectively.There was an overall trend towards higher values for the non-meat-eaters as compared to the meat-eaters in body fat percent (29.7±6.6 vs. 29.0±6.2%, p = 0.85), and waist to hip ratio (0.89±0.12 vs. 0.84±0.07, p = 0.37) but the meat-eaters weighed more (31.2±5.5 vs. 33.3±9.6kg, p = 0.65). Compared to British reference ranges, girls in both groups had a higher BF% of 29±6% which was 34 percentile points above the British median (McCarthy et al., 2006) adjusted for age.Both groups spent 21 hours each day in non-moving/sedentary activities. Dietary consumption of vitamin B12 was higher in meat-eaters compared to non-meat-eaters (2.5±0.8 vs 1.8±0.6μg.day-1, p = 0.11). Serum vitamin B12 was substantially higher in the meat-eaters (543±212 vs. 232±95 pmol/L, p = 0.01) with lower serum concentrations of MMA (0.2 ± 0.1 vs 0.3 ± 0.2 μmol/L, p=0.3). Serum folate was adequate in all girls ranging from 16.5-45.0 pmol/L, which was within the normal reference values. Two non-meat-eating girls were vitamin B12 deficient (<170pmol/L). These differences were associated with high fibre and less protein intake in the nonmeat-eaters (30±8 vs. 20±7 g day-1; 64±12 vs. 66±11 g.day-1).The initial findings in this pilot study provide early evidence that risk factors for metabolic disease associated with body composition, diet and activity are accumulating in preadolescent Indian girls. Imbalance in one carbon metabolism is clearly a factor to be considered. In those with a low consumption of meat and/or animal products, B12 monitoring, dietary recommendations and if necessary supplementation should be considered and where possible intervention before pregnancy (as for folate) be a priority. New Zealand Indian people would be a priority group.It is time for serious action in this area of health so that the risk accumulated through an imbalance in nutrition and physical activity is reduced and the health of those as yet unborn is improved.

The Indian population is at high risk for obesity and its related diseases. Paradoxically, there is also a high prevalence of low birth weight in this population. Throughout life, factors associated with these abnormalities reflect genetic, environmental and lifestyle patterns.World-wide, the Indian population is largely non-meat-eating which could compromise the quantity and quality of the diet in macronutrients (proteins) and micronutrients (vitamin B12). Vitamin B12 has been suggested to increase the risk for the metabolic syndrome (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and central adiposity). Factors measured in this pilot study designed to examine the differences between meat-eating and non-meat-eating Indian preadolescent girls were body composition, dietary food and nutrient analysis, physical activity patterns and biomarkers of diet and metabolic syndrome.Six non-meat-eating (9.8±0.9 y) and six meat-eating (10.0±0.6 y) Indian preadolescent girls participated in the two weeks study. Mothers and their daughters in each group had followed the same dietary pattern from birth. Anthropometry, hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance and resting energy expenditure were measured. Biomarkers associated with one carbon metabolism; serum B12, methylmalonic acid (MMA) and folate were measured. Inflammatory markers; high sensitivity C-reactive protein and ferritin were measured. Serum lipids, fasting glucose and haematological parameters were measured. Time spent in sedentary activities and dietary information was extracted from seven day physical activity and food diaries respectively.There was an overall trend towards higher values for the non-meat-eaters as compared to the meat-eaters in body fat percent (29.7±6.6 vs. 29.0±6.2%, p = 0.85), and waist to hip ratio (0.89±0.12 vs. 0.84±0.07, p = 0.37) but the meat-eaters weighed more (31.2±5.5 vs. 33.3±9.6kg, p = 0.65). Compared to British reference ranges, girls in both groups had a higher BF% of 29±6% which was 34 percentile points above the British median (McCarthy et al., 2006) adjusted for age.Both groups spent 21 hours each day in non-moving/sedentary activities. Dietary consumption of vitamin B12 was higher in meat-eaters compared to non-meat-eaters (2.5±0.8 vs 1.8±0.6μg.day-1, p = 0.11). Serum vitamin B12 was substantially higher in the meat-eaters (543±212 vs. 232±95 pmol/L, p = 0.01) with lower serum concentrations of MMA (0.2 ± 0.1 vs 0.3 ± 0.2 μmol/L, p=0.3). Serum folate was adequate in all girls ranging from 16.5-45.0 pmol/L, which was within the normal reference values. Two non-meat-eating girls were vitamin B12 deficient (<170pmol/L). These differences were associated with high fibre and less protein intake in the nonmeat-eaters (30±8 vs. 20±7 g day-1; 64±12 vs. 66±11 g.day-1).The initial findings in this pilot study provide early evidence that risk factors for metabolic disease associated with body composition, diet and activity are accumulating in preadolescent Indian girls. Imbalance in one carbon metabolism is clearly a factor to be considered. In those with a low consumption of meat and/or animal products, B12 monitoring, dietary recommendations and if necessary supplementation should be considered and where possible intervention before pregnancy (as for folate) be a priority. New Zealand Indian people would be a priority group.It is time for serious action in this area of health so that the risk accumulated through an imbalance in nutrition and physical activity is reduced and the health of those as yet unborn is improved.

The topic of body image has become widely researched in the past thirty years, but preadolescents have been neglected in this area of research. This dissertation explores the body and dieting concerns of pre-adolescent girls in South Africa in order to address this paucity. A qualitative study was conducted, with data collected via a vignette technique and a semi-structured interview which were analysed thematically. A contradiction was noted between what girls expressed to be true in terms of the importance of appearance and how they perceive those that do not adhere to cultural norms of appearance. Weight and appearance were described as unimportant when evaluating a person, but negative attributes were given to the heavier girl in the vignette, opposed to none to the thinner girl. Appearance-control beliefs also emerged as a salient theme, with participants believing that the heavier girl in the vignette could not help that she was overweight. The latter was interpreted as pity, and masked as empathy, as participants suggested ways in which she could lose weight, and it was expressed that she would be a happier person if she did lose weight. Dieting was a well-known concept among participants, with some stating that they had previously engaged in dieting behaviours. / MA / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie handel oor die effek van tuisskoling op tuisleerders, met die fokus op hul sosiale ontwikkeling en akademiese prestasie. Deur middel van 'n literatuurstudie word bevestig dat ouers tuisskoling onderneem, onder andere op grond van ontevredenheid met die verlaging van akademiese standaarde en negatiewe sosialiseringspatrone wat in die staatskole voorkom. Daarteenoor is die kritiek teen tuisskoling gewoonlik ten opsigte van die moontlike benadeling van die tuisleerders wat betref hul akademiese standaard en verminderde en ontoereikende sosialiseringsmoontlikhede. 'n Empiriese studie is onderneem deur fokusgroeponderhoude met tuisskolers te voer en vergelykbare statistiese gegewens in te win deurdat die graad 4-tuisleerders 'n akademiese prestasietoets aflê en die graad 7-tuisleerders 'n verhoudingevraelys invul. Hierdie studie bevestig dat: • tuisleerders, in vergelyking met leerders in staatskole, beter in 'n prestasietoets presteer en dus nie akademies benadeel word nie • tuisleerders se stand van sosialisering goed met dle gestandaardiseerde norm vergelyk. This study deals with the effect of home schooling on the home leamer, focussing on social development and academic achievement. It is validated through a literature study indicating that home schooling is undertaken by parents mostly because of discontent with lowering academic standards and the prevalence of negative socialising patterns in government schools. Criticism levelled against home schooling, normally focuses on the possible disadvantages hereof, with regards to academic achievement and fewer opportunities to socialise. An empirical study is undertaken, by interviewing home schoolers, and gathering comparable statistical data through conducting academic achievement tests with Grade 4 home learners, whilst Grade 7 home learners completed a relationship questionnaire. This study confirms that: • home learners attain better results than learners in government schools in the achievement test and that they are therefore not academically disadvantaged; • the level of socialisation of home learners compares favourably with the standardised norm / This study deals with the effect of home schooling on the home Ieamer, focussing on social development and academic achievement. It is validated through a literature study indicating that home schooling is undertaken by parents mostly because of discontent with lowering academic standards and the prevalence of negative socialising patterns in government schools. Criticism levelled against home schooling, normally focuses on the possible disadvantages hereof, with regards to academic achievement and fewer opportunities to socialise. An empirical study is undertaken, by interviewing home schoolers, and gathering comparable statisticaldata through conducting academic achievement tests with Grade 4 home learners, whilst Grade 7 home learners completed a relationship questionnaire. This study confirms that: • home learners attain better results than learners in government schools in the achievement test and that they are therefore not academically disadvantaged; • the level of socialisation of home learners compares favourably with the standardised norm. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

The present study investigated the social adjustment (deviance), peer acceptance and academically related ability of pre-adolescent creative boys in a unique homogeneous school setting. More specifically, the study attempted to deal with the following questions: 1. What types of social deviance are characteristic of children at varying levels of creativity? 2. Is creativity more evident in children demonstrating certain socially deviant characteristics? 3. How much social acceptance is there of children demonstrating varying levels of social deviance and varying levels of creative ability? 4. What relationships exist "between creativity and intellectual ability, academic achievement and social behavior?

No description available.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie handel oor die effek van tuisskoling op tuisleerders, met die fokus op hul sosiale ontwikkeling en akademiese prestasie. Deur middel van 'n literatuurstudie word bevestig dat ouers tuisskoling onderneem, onder andere op grond van ontevredenheid met die verlaging van akademiese standaarde en negatiewe sosialiseringspatrone wat in die staatskole voorkom. Daarteenoor is die kritiek teen tuisskoling gewoonlik ten opsigte van die moontlike benadeling van die tuisleerders wat betref hul akademiese standaard en verminderde en ontoereikende sosialiseringsmoontlikhede. 'n Empiriese studie is onderneem deur fokusgroeponderhoude met tuisskolers te voer en vergelykbare statistiese gegewens in te win deurdat die graad 4-tuisleerders 'n akademiese prestasietoets aflê en die graad 7-tuisleerders 'n verhoudingevraelys invul. Hierdie studie bevestig dat: • tuisleerders, in vergelyking met leerders in staatskole, beter in 'n prestasietoets presteer en dus nie akademies benadeel word nie • tuisleerders se stand van sosialisering goed met dle gestandaardiseerde norm vergelyk. This study deals with the effect of home schooling on the home leamer, focussing on social development and academic achievement. It is validated through a literature study indicating that home schooling is undertaken by parents mostly because of discontent with lowering academic standards and the prevalence of negative socialising patterns in government schools. Criticism levelled against home schooling, normally focuses on the possible disadvantages hereof, with regards to academic achievement and fewer opportunities to socialise. An empirical study is undertaken, by interviewing home schoolers, and gathering comparable statistical data through conducting academic achievement tests with Grade 4 home learners, whilst Grade 7 home learners completed a relationship questionnaire. This study confirms that: • home learners attain better results than learners in government schools in the achievement test and that they are therefore not academically disadvantaged; • the level of socialisation of home learners compares favourably with the standardised norm / This study deals with the effect of home schooling on the home Ieamer, focussing on social development and academic achievement. It is validated through a literature study indicating that home schooling is undertaken by parents mostly because of discontent with lowering academic standards and the prevalence of negative socialising patterns in government schools. Criticism levelled against home schooling, normally focuses on the possible disadvantages hereof, with regards to academic achievement and fewer opportunities to socialise. An empirical study is undertaken, by interviewing home schoolers, and gathering comparable statisticaldata through conducting academic achievement tests with Grade 4 home learners, whilst Grade 7 home learners completed a relationship questionnaire. This study confirms that: • home learners attain better results than learners in government schools in the achievement test and that they are therefore not academically disadvantaged; • the level of socialisation of home learners compares favourably with the standardised norm. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)