Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the role that textbooks have within the subject of English in Swedish secondary school, years 7-9, and the psychological impact textbooks may or may not have on pupil language learning. Theories used in this study support the fact that pupils who are able to independently develop their language skills are more successful language learners, including the self-efficacy theory, theories about motivation, i.e. the Self-Determination Theory and the L2 Motivational Self System, and learning independence. Mixed methodology was applied to extract both quantitative and qualitative data. In this study, three Swedish EFL teachers from years 7-9 were interviewed to determine their attitudes towards textbook use during their everyday teaching and their views on how textbooks impact their pupils’ achievements of self-efficacy and independence. Additionally, 212 Swedish pupils in years 7-9 answered questions on their perception of their textbooks through a digital questionnaire. The interviewed teachers, as well as the pupils’ responses, showed reservations regarding textbook usage, especially regarding the ability for pupils to relate to textbook content, and the lack of support for pupils with learning disabilities (e.g.,dyslexia). Pupils also responded that they were not using their respective textbooks independently. Analysis of the results shows that textbooks, whether digital or printed, are not useful EFL learning tools on their own, as they do not fully support pupil self-learning. Most notably, the interviewed teachers and the pupils’ responses both signal a lack of relatedness in the contents of their textbooks. Future studies should focus on intrinsic motivation through pupil perceptions of relatedness in textbooks

Background: IBS is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders and affects approximately 10-20 % of the general population and is widespread in all societies and socio-economic groups. Although the disorder does not have a life-threatening course, it still seriously affects the patients in their everyday life. Aim: The general aims of this thesis were to estimate the occurrence of irritable bowel syndrome in the general population and to achieve a better understanding of present treatment of this disorder and impact on every-day life in those suffering from IBS. Material and methods: The LIPS study comprises two parts. Part I was a retrospective register study where the data collection was based on computerised medical records at three selected Primary Health Care centres in a defined region. Part II was a population based case-control study. The identified IBS cases from part I constitute the cases, while their control groups were randomly selected from the population census register in the same area as the cases. Data in part II were collected by means of a postal questionnaire to cases and controls. The study was conducted in Linköping, a city located in the south-east of Sweden with 135 000 inhabitants. Results: The female IBS patients reported lower influence on planning their work and working hours as well as fewer opportunities to learn new things at their work compared to their controls, even after adjustments in multiple logistic regressions for potential confounders like; mood, sleeping problems and perceived health. The female IBS patients had considerably lower HRQOL in all dimensions compared to their controls, even when compared to male patients. Younger female IBS cases (18-44 years) reported lower mental health on the SF-36 scale than the older IBS female cases (p=0.015). In the multivariate analysis these variables, lack of influence on planning the work, family history of IBS, anxiety and sleeping disturbance displayed an association with being diagnosed with IBS in women. In men, lack of influence on working pace, family history of IBS was associated with an IBS diagnosis.The consultation incidence of IBS in part I was 3.4 (95% CI 3.20-3.70) per 1000 person-years for all IBS cases, among females; the incidence rate was 4.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 4.16-4.97) and males; 2.3 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 2.01-2.59). The dominating pharmacological treatment prescribed for abdominal complaints were fibre and bulking laxatives agents as well as acid suppressive drugs. These variables had an independent impact on the probability of a follow-up consultation; diagnosed co-morbidity besides the IBS diagnosis, rectoscopy ordered and laboratory tests ordered. Conclusions: IBS patients identified in primary care are significantly affected in their working-life compared to individuals in the general population. Especially female IBS-patients report lower decision latitude at work and they also appear to have a particularly impaired psychosocial functioning in their every day life and impaired HRQOL. Factors associated with IBS diagnosis among females are anxiety as well as family history of IBS and lack of co-determination at work. The incidence rate of IBS was 3.4 per 1000 person-years which increased with age and with an overrepresentation of females. IBS patients did not appear to be heavy utilisers of primary care and those who attended were treated by their GP without further consultation. The strongest predictors for having a follow-up consultation were diagnosed co-morbidity, rectoscopy and laboratory tests ordered / Figure on page 8 reprinted from Lancet 360(9332), Nicholas, J Talley and Robin Spiller, "Irritable bowel syndrome: a little understood organic bowel disease?", pp. 555-564, Copyright 2006 with permission from Elsevier. On the day of the public defence of the doctoral thesis, the status of articles III and IV was Submitted.

La présente recherche porte sur « l’attribution de la responsabilité » auprès d’une population de 166 adolescents auteurs d’agression sexuelle âgés de 12 à 19 ans. Le but premier de cette investigation est de déterminer quels aspects psychologiques (âge, stress post-traumatique, distorsion cognitive, estime de soi, aliénation, immaturité) influencent trois types d’attributions de la responsabilité, soit la culpabilité, l’attribution externe et l’attribution interne, et ainsi sur quels niveaux focaliser le traitement. Les résultats des régressions multiples ont mis en avant deux modèles. Pour le modèle prédisant la culpabilité, une seule composante est retenue, le stress post-traumatique. Ce modèle explique 26% (ajusté) de la variance de la culpabilité (R2=0,29, F(6,120)=8,35, p<0,01). Le modèle prédisant l’attribution externe est composé de l’âge et des distorsions cognitives et permet d’expliquer 25% (ajusté) de la variance (R2=0,28, F(6,122)=8,03, p<0,01). L’attribution interne ne présente aucune corrélation avec les variables étudiées. Le deuxième objectif est d’estimer l’efficacité de la prise en charge du jeune pour modifier l’attribution de responsabilité, selon les différentes modalités qui sont le « milieu de prise en charge », la « durée du traitement » et « l’approche thérapeutique » afin de choisir le programme le plus adéquat. En utilisant l’analyse de la variance (ANOVA), il a été possible de déterminer qu’aucune de ces modalités n’influence l’attribution de la responsabilité. Cette étude présente des limites, notamment la puissance statistique. Comme piste pour de futures recherches, le lien entre l’attribution de la responsabilité et la récidive pourrait être examiné. / This research is about blame attribution of 166 juvenile sex offenders between the age of 12 and 19. The first goal is to determine which psychological aspects (age, post-traumatic stress, cognitive distortions, self-esteem, alienation, immaturity) influence the 3 types of blame attribution (culpability, external attribution and internal attribution) as well as to determine the focus level of treatment. The results of the multiple regressions show two models. The model predicting culpability is only composed by post-traumatic stress. This model explains 26% (adjusted) of the culpability variance (R2=0,29, F(6,120)=8,35, p<0,01). The model predicting external attribution is composed by age and cognitive distortions. It explains 25% (adjusted) of variance (R2=0,28, F(6,122)=8,03, p<0,01). Internal attribution hasn’t shown a correlation with the studied variables. The second goal is to estimate the efficiency provided by different services to modify blame attribution according to the care environments, length of treatment and therapeutic approach in order to come up with the best set up. Thanks to ANOVAs, it was possible to find out that none of the modalities have an impact on blame attribution. This research has some limits, especially statistical power. For consideration of future studies, links between blame attribution and recidivism could be investigated.

The thesis "Psychological and social aspects of coping with oncological gynecokogical illnesses (focused on breast cancer)" studies the demands and difficulties which women diagnosed with breast cancer are delaing with. In the theoretical part, attention is given to breast tumor and to the stages of the illness. It shows the needs and problems the women face and the possibilities of psychological help. This part of my thesis also describes different types of cure and its specifics and the changes it brings to the women's life. It is followed by coping strategies and defence mechanisms. In conclusion, the effects of the illness on personal relationships are outlined. In the empirical part, we map supporting psychological and other factors which helped with the treatment and with coping with it. The empirical part comprises 11 individual interviews with women who had breast cancer. The research methodology is supplemented with The Life Satisfaction Inventory. In the interviews we also focused on the factors of health care which were helping and the ones that could be improved. The results of the mapping qualitative study indicated two most important factors which helped the women to cope with this serious illness. It was social support and active coping strategies. In the sphere of health care, the...

Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) is characterized by paradoxical vocal cord movement during inspiration or expiration, and generally affects adolescents and predominantly women. Previous studies have shown a large inconsistency concerning terminology, definitions, etiology, assessment, differential diagnosis, co-morbidity and treatment. The purpose of this study was to map knowledge on and management of VCD in Sweden. The study was conducted as a written survey addressed to speech-language pathologists and physicians, and attained an answer percentage of 79 percent. The results showed that several professions were involved in the management of these patients, but no clear pattern of referral could be observed. The majority of the respondents considered intense physical exertion and psychological stress as triggering factors for VCD. Despite this, referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist seldom occurred. Asthma was the most frequent diagnosis regarding co-morbidity, and also the most frequent misdiagnosis. Respiratory exercises, relaxation and information about the diagnosis generally form the basis of VCD treatment. Physicians rated their knowledge on VCD greater compared to the speech-language pathologists. Several of the respondents stated that an increase in knowledge and awareness among nursing staff had contributed to an increase of patients with suspected or confirmed VCD. This study showed that there was no consensus regarding assessment, co-morbidity, misdiagnosis and treatment of VCD among speech-language pathologists and physicians in Sweden. / Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) karakteriseras av paradoxala stämbandsrörelser vid in- eller utandning och drabbar vanligtvis ungdomar och huvudsakligen kvinnor. I tidigare studier framkom ingen konsensus kring terminologi, definition, etiologi, utredning, differentialdiagnostik, komorbiditet eller behandling. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att kartlägga kännedom om och handhavande av VCD i Sverige. Studien genomfördes i form av en enkätundersökning bland logopeder och läkare och svarsfrekvensen var 79 %. Ur resultatet framkom att flera professioner hade träffat dessa patienter men ingen tydlig remitteringsgång observerades. Majoriteten av respondenterna ansåg att intensiv fysisk ansträngning och psykologisk stress var utlösande faktorer till VCD. Däremot förekom sällan remittering till psykolog eller psykiater. Astma var den mest frekventa diagnosen gällande komorbiditet och feldiagnostisering. Andningsövningar, avspänning/avslappning samt information kring diagnosen inkluderades i behandlingen i hög grad. Läkarna skattade sin kunskapsnivå om VCD högre än logopederna. Flera av respondenterna angav att ökad kunskap och medvetenhet bland vårdpersonal hade bidragit till en ökning av diagnostisering av patienter med misstänkt eller konstaterad VCD. Föreliggande studie visade att det inte fanns någon enighet gällande utredning, komorbiditet, feldiagnostisering och behandling av VCD bland logopeder och läkare i Sverige.

Der Einsatz von digitalen Menschmodellen erlaubt neben einer frühzeitigen ergonomischen Analyse die Gestaltung von Arbeitsprozessen und stellt ein hilfreiches Werkzeug in der Produkt- und Prozessgestaltung dar. Im Rahmen dieses Beitrages soll auf ausgewählte Schwerpunkte der Entwicklung des digitalen Menschmodells „The Smart Virtual Worker“ eingegangen werden. Das Forschungsprojekt soll einen Beitrag zur Lösung, der mit dem demografischen Wandel der Gesellschaft einhergehenden Herausforderungen leisten. Die daraus resultierenden Forschungsschwerpunkte liegen insbesondere in der Einbeziehung von Alterungs- und psychischen Faktoren in die Bewegungsgenerierung des Menschmodells und der Modellierung von Umweltbedingungen. In Umsetzung des Projektes wurde ein erstes Arbeitsszenario erarbeitet, auf dessen Basis die vorgenannten Forschungsaufgaben interdisziplinär gelöst werden sollen.

研究目的：失眠影響國人身心健康甚多，藥物取向治療為當代最廣泛的失眠治療方式。研究顯示許多失眠患者，可藉由短期服用助眠藥物改善失眠，避免個體失眠慢性化，且於停藥後未有任何藥物副作用困擾。然而，臨床上仍觀察到不少個案，對助眠藥物產生依賴，需長期服用助眠藥物，此舉不僅造成醫療資源之浪費，其安全性與有效性仍受爭議。而心理因素在藥物依賴扮演重要的角色，同樣是長期服用助眠藥物，不同的助眠藥物使用者卻可能存有相異的用藥心態，因此助眠藥物使用者的用藥行為以及用藥相關心態，可能會組合成不同的用藥型態，而探討助眠藥物之不同使用型態與其心理機轉，有助於進一步瞭解助眠藥物使用現象。故本研究旨在用量化方法探討助眠藥物使用型態之差異，試圖將不同的助眠藥物使用型態進行分群，並提出可能影響助眠藥物使用型態的相關因子。 研究方法與結果：本研究招募了272名曾經或目前正在服用助眠藥物的使用者填寫研究問卷，透過對兩個外顯用藥行為變項（用藥總時間、用藥頻率）與六個用藥相關心理變項（對助眠藥物的渴求程度、對助眠藥物的正、負向態度、主觀規範、以及促進、抑制之知覺控制）的集群分析，我們將助眠藥物使用型態分為「慣性使用」、「矛盾依賴」、「控制使用」以及「輔助使用」四種型態。在外顯用藥行為方面，「慣性使用」集群與「矛盾依賴」集群皆展現較長的用藥時間與高頻率的使用，「控制使用」群集與「輔助使用」群集則展現較短的用藥時間與低頻率的使用。然而，四組群集皆展現其獨特的心理特徵。「慣性使用」群集對助眠藥物的渴求程度最強，正向態度比負向態度高，主觀認為重要他人支持自己服用助眠藥物，傾向持續服用助眠藥物；「矛盾依賴」群集呈現對助眠藥物正向與負向態度皆高的矛盾狀態，且主觀認為自己無法控制藥物之使用；「控制使用」群集雖也對助眠藥物出現正向、負向態度皆高的表現，但其可對藥物使用進行控制；「輔助使用」群集的個案對於助眠藥物的負向態度高於正向態度，藥物渴求程度低，且傾向避免使用助眠藥物。多項式邏輯斯回歸的分析結果則進一步顯示年齡較大、失功能睡眠信念問卷分數較高的個案，較容易落入「慣性使用」組；被診斷過情緒疾患、失眠時間較長、睡前激發程度問卷分數較高的個案，較容易落入「矛盾依賴」組；受教育年限較高的個案，較傾向落入「控制使用」組；最後，年紀較輕、失功能睡眠信念問卷分數較低的個案，則容易落入「輔助使用」組。 結論：本研究結果顯示相似的用藥行為仍有相異的用藥相關心理狀態，且部分心理相關變項可能會影響助眠藥物之使用型態，故推測用藥心理與助眠藥物使用者的特質扮演影響用藥型態的重要因素。此結果可提供臨床工作者，初步了解助眠藥物使用之心理機轉，亦能將其運用於協助不同類型的安眠藥物使用者擬訂減藥處遇。 / Purpose：Insomnia has great impact on people's health in Taiwan. Pharmacological approaches are the most commonly used treatment for insomnia. Although short-term hypnotic use could improve sleep, however some patients use hypnotics for a prolonged period of time and have difficulty to discontinue using them. This would lead to great cost of the individuals and societies. Psychological factors have been found to play an essential role in the long-term use of other substances. Clinical observation also showed that there were individual differences in the psychological aspects of medication use in spite of similar medication use behaviors. Therefore, it is possible to use hypnotic-related behaviors and psychological factors to categorize hypnotic users in order to further the understanding the mechanism underlying chronic hypnotic use. The purpose of this research is to identify hypnotic use patterns by exploratory quantitative method and the characteristics associated with different hypnotic usage patterns. Methods and Results: 272 previous or current hypnotic users were recruited to complete a package of questionnaires. Through cluster analysis with two explicit medication behavior variables (total duration of hypnotic use, frequency of hypnotic use) and six hypnotic-related psychological variables (craving for hypnotic, positive and negative attitudes towards hypnotic, subjective norm, facilitating and inhibiting perceived behavioral control), four hypnotic usage patterns were identified, which were “habitual use”, “paradoxical dependence”, “controlling use”, and “supplementary use”. In terms of explicit medication behaviors, “habitual use” and “paradoxical dependence” clusters both show longer time and higher frequency of hypnotic use. On the other hand, “controlling use” and “supplementary use” clusters showed similar medication use behaviors with shorter duration and lower frequency of hypnotic use. In addition, the four clusters exhibited different psychological profiles. Users in “habitual use” cluster have strongest craving for hypnotic, higher positive than negative attitude toward hypnotic use, and believe that significant others support their medication behavior. Users in “paradoxical dependence” cluster showed paradoxical attitude toward hypnotics, and reported less control over their hypnotic use. Users in “controlling use” cluster also had paradoxical attitude toward hypnotic, but their craving level of hypnotic was lower than users in “paradoxical dependence” cluster. In addition, users in “controlling use” cluster feel they can control their hypnotic use. Users in “supplementary use” cluster had lowest craving level, higher negative attitude toward hypnotic, and tend to avoid taking hypnotic when possible. Multiple logistic regression further showed that (1) people with older age or higher score on the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep Scale (DBAS) tend to classified into “habitual use” cluster; (2) people with mental disorder diagnosis, long history of insomnia, or higher score in Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) tend to be classified into the "paradoxical dependence " cluster; (3) patient with more years of education more likely fall into “controlling use” cluster, finally, (4) the hypnotic users who are younger or lower score in DBAS are easier classified into the “supplementary use ” cluster. Conclusions：The results of the current study indicates that similar medication behavior could have different hypnotic-related psychological status. Therefore, psychological factors are needed to be assessed in order to understand the process of long-term hypnotic use. The results provides a further understanding of the psychological mechanisms of hypnotic use, and also help clinician in related-field to develop insomnia treatment plan or hypnotic discontinuation program based on insomniacs’ characteristics and their psychological variable toward hypnotic use.

Diss. (sammanfattning)--Lund : Lunds, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. Göteborg : University, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

L’objectif de ce travail est d'explorer et comprendre les principaux freins et leviers psychologiques à la démarche de dépistage du cancer colorectal (CCR) par Hemoccult-II®. Plus particulièrement, nous cherchons à préciser le rôle spécifique du concept d’anxiété envers la santé dans le processus qui conduit à prendre la décision de participer au dépistage du CCR.Une étude qualitative exploratoire basée sur la méthodologie des focus groups, suivie d’une étude quantitative ont été menées auprès d’individus âgés de 50 à 74 ans, ayant un risque moyen de développer un CCR. Les individus ayant déjà participé au dépistage ont de meilleures connaissances concernant le test Hemoccult-II®, surestiment davantage les leviers envers le test Hemoccult-II®, sont plus anxieux envers la santé, et mobilisent davantage de stratégies d’ajustement de type vigilant que les individus n’ayant jamais participé au dépistage. Les principaux prédicteurs de la participation au dépistage du CCR sont le degré de connaissances envers le dépistage du CCR, la surestimation des leviers au test Hemoccult-II®, la peur de la maladie et les stratégies d’ajustement de type vigilant.Ces résultats suggèrent que certains facteurs psychologiques, dont l’anxiété envers la santé, jouent un rôle essentiel dans la participation au dépistage du CCR par Hemoccult-II®. / The aim of this study is to investigate and to understand the main psychological barriers to and facilitators of colorectal cancer screening (CRC) by Hemoccult-II®. More specifically, we try to clarify the specific role of the concept of health anxiety in the decision making process which influences participation in CRC screening.An exploratory qualitative study, based on the methodology of focus groups, followed by a forward-looking quantitative study were led with people from 50 to 74 years old, with an average risk of developing a CRC. People having already participated to CRC screening have better knowledge about the Hemoccult-II® test, overestimate facilitators of the Hemoccult-II® test, are more anxious about health, and use more monitoring coping strategies than individuals having never participated to CRC screening. Main predictors of the participation to CRC screening are knowledge about CRC screening, overestimation of facilitators of Hemoccult-II® test, fear of disease and monitoring coping strategies.Results suggest that psychological factors, including health anxiety, play an important role in the participation in CRC screening by Hemoccult-II®.