This study investigates how heterosexual young people understand and manage risks related to meeting sexual partners online in the United States. The purpose of this study is to help inform the development of culturally-appropriate sexual risk communication and health promotion messages for young people by linking public health knowledge of adolescent sexual health and eHealth with anthropological theories of risk. With qualitative data from two rounds of semi-structured interviews and two group interviews with university students in central Florida, this study shows how young people experience and prioritize more social-emotional risks in meeting online-to-offline sexual partners compared to physical risks. The prominence of these social-emotional risks implies the need for more health promotion messages that incorporate both physical and social-emotional health risk communication.

Litteraturen visar på ett paradigmskifte i relation till barns säkerhet, från att barnen skall vara så säkra som möjligt till att de skall vara så säkra som de behöver. Detta kan vara ett sätt att tillgodose både barnens behov av utmaningar för att utvecklas och må bra samt deras behov av säkerhet. I relation till en sådan pågående förändring är det viktigt att undersöka hur föräldrar, som förmyndare för barnen, ser på barns säkerhet i relation till hemmet och barnomsorgen, såsom de två arenor där barnen spenderar större delen av sin vardag. Syftet med studien är att undersöka föräldrars syn på barns säkerhet i hemmet och inom barnomsorgen. Syftet omfattar även att undersöka föräldrars upplevelse av inflytande över de risker barnen utsätts för och de risker barnen tillåts eller inte tillåts att ta i dessa miljöer. Semistrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med föräldrar till barn i förskola. Materialet bearbetades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys vilken visade att säkerhet i stor utsträckning handlar om att skydda barnen från risker. Fysiska risker lyfts fram i relation till hemmet och förskolan samt psykiska och sociala risker i relation till förskolan, kompisrelationer och samhället i stort. Föräldrarna anser sig ha ett stort inflytande över risker i hemmet emedan graden av inflytande över de risker barnen möter i förskolan eller hemma hos kamrater definieras av andra. Konstanta avvägningar görs mellan säkerhet, risker och andra värden såsom t.ex. utveckling, ökad självständighet och social tillhörighet. Vuxna gör ständigt riskbedömningar och tar beslut kring gränser, varvid uppsikt lyfts fram som avgörande för att kunna förebygga risker och öka barns säkerhet. Avslutningsvis tyder resultaten på ett behov av en ökad kommunikation mellan föräldrar och förskolan där avvägningar mellan säkerhet och andra värden såsom utveckling och utmaningar för en god hälsa förs upp på agendan. Rekommendationer för vidare forskning ges. / A paradigm shift is proposed in the literature regarding child safety, from keeping the children as safe as possible to keeping the children as safe as necessary. This could be a way to satisfy children’s need of challenges in order to thrive and their need for safety. In relation to such an ongoing change it is of value to investigate how parents, as guardians, perceive child safety at home and in preschool. The purpose of this study is to research parental perception of child safety in the home environment and childcare. The study is also concerned with how parents perceive their influence over the risks and risk assessments surrounding the children at home and in preschool. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with parents of preschool children and a qualitative content analysis was used. The results show that safety to a big extent is sees as protective measures to safeguard children from risk. Risks in the physical environment were discussed in relation to the home environment and preschool and psychological and social risks were discussed in relation to preschool, relationships amongst peers and the society. The parents see themselves as having a significant influence over risks in the home environment and to a lesser degree in relation to peers and preschool. Parents voice a constant need for balancing between safety, risks and other factors such as development, independence, and social acceptance. Adults constantly analyze risk to make appropriate decisions to safeguard the children. The informants describe supervision as crucial to keep children safe. To conclude, the results indicate a need for improved communication between parents and preschool staff regarding evaluations between safety and other factors, like development and positive challenges that help children to thrive. Suggestions for future research are given.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / HIV poses considerable social and health challenges in South Africa, particularly among young people aged 15-24. Research indicates a strong link between risky sexual behaviour and alcohol and illicit drugs. In the Western Cape drug-related behaviours is a growing concern among young people because of relatively high prevalence rates of drug abuse, particularly methamphetamine. Previous South African studies have tended to focused on the link between substance use and risky sexual behaviour among commercial sex workers. The theoretical approach of this study is the information motivation behavioural skills model. Participants were selected using non-probability sampling of 279 first year students registered for Psychology I at the University of the Western Cape. This study employed a quantitative research approach using a survey design. Results: Forty-six percent of students do not believe that the use of illicit drugs has an impact on a person's sexual behavior. However, the findings also showed that only 45% of students believed that there was a difference between illicit drug users correctly using condoms when compared to non-users. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Conclusion: Prevention is our best and most effective means of decreasing risk-taking behaviours associated with HIV infection. Information is the first line of intervention that is necessary to reduce risk-taking behaviours; however prevention strategies and interventions of risk-taking behaviours should aim to increase motivation and help young people integrate information in a way that it is personally relatable. This is vital to address the inconsistencies between perceptions of risk and the realities of risk-taking behaviour. / South Africa

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic continue to endanger the lives of many people in the world, particularly in developing countries like South Africa (UNAIDS, 2010). South Africa has the largest percentage of people living with HIV & AIDS in the world, with AIDS continuing to be the leading cause of death(UNAIDS, 2010). Yet, as Svenson et al., (1997), Cain, (2005), Shisana et al., (2009) and Kalichman et al., (2005) argue, in spite of the HIV epidemic, risky sexual behaviour has increased among young people. Problematically, youth in university environments are reported to be uninterested in hearing about HIV, claiming to be tired and bored with the subject (HEAIDS,2010). They think they have sufficient knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention. Regardless of this claim, a high rate of new infections of HIV among youth continues (The South African Department of Basic Education Report, 2010). The main purpose of this study was to assess UWC students’ knowledge about HIV and their attitudes towards it, while investigating the impact of the MTV-produced Shuga film on the students' self-perception of risk and their attitudes toward HIV.The study assesses the value of a follow-up conversation on the film after it is viewed by students. In order to identify respondents' perceptions, the study used a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions as main instruments and a quantitative approach using questionnaires as a main instrument. The study used a gender-balanced convenience sample of 40 undergraduate and post-graduate students selected from University of Western Cape campus. These respondents were later divided into four focus group discussions guided by semi-structured interviews. The study findings established that although students' knowledge levels were very high for modes of transmission and prevention of HIV, they still had a poor perception of their own risk – a factor noted as a key need in HIV prevention by Douglas Kirby (2011). This study found that, prior to watching the MTV Shuga film, the level of students' awareness of HIV issues as related to their own risk and health was at best inconsistent. While some held accurate knowledge of HIV and understood their own vulnerability, others saw it as someone else's problem and had yet to personalise the disease in a manner that would increase their own awareness of risk. After viewing the MTV Shuga film, study data indicated a reasonable level of positive change in attitudes and risk perception among the 40 students. However, the data clearly indicated that the follow-up discussion sessions provoked more change in the students' attitudes and perceptions of risk than the film on its own. The study therefore suggests the importance of discussion sessions that follow up on edutainment media pieces attempting to promote positive behavioural change vis-à-vis HIV. While the study did not focus in depth on why the follow-up discussion sessions had a higher impact than film-viewing alone, the discussion sessions allowed students to personalise the content of the Shuga film, sharing with each other how they identified with various characters, situations and behaviours. Shuga became 'real' through the personal discussions between students, and the film's intent to prompt positive change was further supported.

Aquatic pharmaceutical pollution poses ecotoxicological risks to the environment and human health. Consumer attitudes and behavior represent a significant source of pharmaceutical compounds found in water. Thus, understanding public perceptions of aquatic pharmaceutical pollution and developing effective risk communication techniques are critical to engaging society in the type of widespread change necessary for addressing the presence of pharmaceuticals in water. This mixed-methods study applies conceptual metaphor theory in conjunction with construal level theory of psychological distance to assess how metaphoric framing affects perceptions of aquatic pharmaceutical contamination across four principal dimensions of psychological distance (geographic, social and temporal distance and uncertainty). Additionally, this study assesses the direct impact of metaphor use on concern and willingness to act, which are positively associated with perceived psychological distance. Data were collected from a convenience sample (n = 20) of university students in Burlington, Vermont using cognitive interviewing. Results indicate that pharmaceutical pollution was initially perceived as geographically distant, socially distant, temporally both proximate and distant and certain (versus uncertain). Our findings suggest people perceive distances in various ways, suggesting a need for validated questions to consistently measure psychological distance. Participants preferred the metaphorically-framed visual intervention to the non-metaphor visual intervention. Further, participants’ perception of pharmaceutical pollution changed to being more geographically and socially close after viewing the metaphoric visual only. Previous research indicates perceived psychological closeness leads to increased motivation and preparedness to act. Theoretical and practical implications of metaphor use in risk communications are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how school principals understand HIV/AIDS and how their knowledge, attitude and interpretation filter in the implementation of the HIV policy in schools. The study comprises a literature review and empirical investigation. The results of this study can be used in planning and implementing HIV policy in schools. The data were collected by administering semi-structured interviews. Ten school principals from the Dennilton circuit in Southern Region of the Limpopo Province were interviewed. The results show that the majority of the principals involved in the study confirm that HIV/AIDS is an incurable disease caused by a virus and is mainly sexually transmitted. Some principals regard their school safe from HIV infection. Their assumption is based on the absence of HIV positive learners and educators in their schools. The principals are aware of the rights of HIV positive learners and educators. Significantly, the research findings indicate that the majority of schools lack educators with HIV/AIDS training, rules on safety precautions and first aid kits. It is recommended that ongoing HIV/AIDS training programmes be provided for educators to enable them to educate the youth on HIV/AIDS. Additionally, schools should focus on strategies to implement universal safety precautions against HIV transmission and to obtain first aid kits. Lastly, school principals should involve parents and other stakeholders in creating a positive school environment for HIV positive learners and educators. / Dissertation (MEd (Education Management))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

The thesis focuses on estimation of household total risk exposure and factors affecting this estimation. The risk is represented with a financial loss of 20k CZK in the next month and with a financial loss of 50k CZK in the next 12 months. Nearly a half of participants in the survey (n=55) estimates the likelihood of this financial shock as being low, however the number of participants with high estimate increases for the next 12 months. The estimate of total risk exposure increases with age, for self-employed and single parents, next with income and assets, however overall wealth decreases the estimate. Significant factors are education, financial behaviour and cognitive abilities which all have a decreasing effect on the estimate. Availability is considered as significant having a positive effect while biased evaluation of risks has a negative effect. Time preferences can play an important role in the estimation of a long-term risk.

Traveling around the world is a highly appreciated phenomenon globally. In recent years, backpacking has grown in popularity. Characterised by simplicity and adventurousness, it is especially frequent within a young demographic. However, these types of trips produce certain risks to consider, with women being subject to greater risks in the society in large. This study aims to examine risk perception amongst young female backpackers. It was performed using a qualitative method based on 15 semi-structured interviews. Results showed that risk perception has a large impact on women’s chosen destination, with certain destinations subsequently being deselected. Moreover, variable risk perception can be observed over time, in response to the decision process. At commencement, high perception of risk was exhibited, yet later shown to gradually decrease as the trip progressed. Finally, an increased perception of risk was noted post returning from the journey. / Intresset för resor har ökat i stor omfattning. En växande trend under den senaste tiden är backpackerresor. Dessa resor karaktäriseras av en enklare reseform där äventyr står i fokus. Backpackerresor är förekommande speciellt hos unga resenärer. Dessa resor medför olika typer av risker för resenären att ta i beaktande, dessutom kan det uppmärksammas att kvinnor generellt sett utsätts för många risker. Målet med denna studie var därför att undersöka riskuppfattningen hos unga kvinnliga backpackers. Denna studie genomfördes med en kvalitativ metod baserad på 15 semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultaten antyder att riskuppfattning har en stor påverkan på valet av destination hos kvinnliga resenärer. Till följd av detta tenderar vissa destinationer att väljas bort på grund av de höga uppfattade riskerna. Dessutom kan en variation inom riskuppfattningen noteras över tid i samband med beslutsprocessen. Inför resan uppfattades en hög riskuppfattning som sedan minskade under resan. Följaktligen uppmärksammades återigen en ökad riskuppfattning efter resan.

Climate change will gradually change the current risk picture in the forestry, the forest is also expected to play a key role in Sweden's transition to a circular bio-based bio-economy as the area of ​​use of the forest raw material is large. The forest also has the benefit of being able to bind and store carbon dioxide. Since 1993, the production target has been equated with the environmental goals and this means that production in the forest must increase, at the same time as an increased environmental consideration is sought from the decision makers to achieve the environmental goals. The forest owners see several opportunities in the future of the forest industry but at the same time, they are concerned about a short-term view from politics. About 50% of the Swedish forest is owned by private owners and the Swedish model of freedom under responsibility gives the forest owner a great opportunity to manage the forest to a large extent. Which also means that the group of private forest owners are important players to achieve both production goals and environmental goals. The changed picture of risk also makes it relevant to investigate the forest owners risk perception and the result shows that forest owners experience risk different due to different factors. The result also shows that there is an awareness among forest owners of risk mitigation measures. / Klimatförändringarna kommer succesivt att förändra den nuvarande riskbilden inom skogsbruket. Skogen förväntas få en nyckelroll i Sveriges omställning till en cirkulär biobaserad bioekonomi då användningsområdet för skogsråvaran är stor. Skogen har dessutom nyttan av att kunna binda och lagra koldioxid. Sedan 1993 är produktionsmålet jämställt med miljömålen och det innebär att produktionen i skogen ska öka, samtidigt som en ökad miljöhänsyn eftersträvas från beslutsfattarnas sida för att uppnå miljömålen. Skogsägarna ser flera möjligheter inför framtiden inom skogsbruket men oroar sig samtidigt för kortsiktighet från politikens sida. Eftersom Sveriges skogsmark ägs till 50% av privata enskilda skogsägare och den svenska modellen med frihet under ansvar ger skogsägaren möjlighet till att i stor uträckning förvalta skogen. Det innebär också att gruppen av privata skogsägare är viktiga aktörer för att både produktionsmål och miljömål ska uppnås. Den förändrade riskbilden gör det också aktuellt att undersöka skogsägares riskperception och resultatet visar att skogsägare upplever risker olika, beroende på vilka faktorer som påverkar. Resultatet visar också att det finns en medvetenhet hos skogsägare om riskminskande åtgärder.

Reclaimed water has increased in popularity as a means to recycle water and thus decrease the amount of wasteful water use. This process is widely used in Tampa Bay for watering of lawns. This increase in popularity and use has raised questions as to what contaminants are in the reclaimed water. The purpose of this study was to analyze reclaimed water for contaminants believed to be detrimental to health and conduct interviews to ascertain perceptions of risk in the local population. As water reuse grows in popularity further research will need to be conducted to address potential human health concerns. This research shows that there are potential health concerns related to reclaimed water when we use dioxin as a surrogate compound. Additionally, the research shows that local governments aren't doing enough to communicate information to local communities. Any policy that moves forward in regards to supplementing drinking water with reclaimed water must incorporate local communities in the decision making process. Decisions made in the absence of information can be misguiding and the first feedback of these decisions is felt by local communities. With their input in the beginning, throughout the decision making process, and during the evaluation period, new information will be generated. The incorporation of the community in the decision making process will make the reclaimed for drinking water initiative, more successful.