abstract: Using an adapted Straussian Grounded Theory approach, and as a participant observer, data from members of a Facebook group made up of parents and caretakers of infants or children with Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) were collected and analyzed. During the first exploratory phase, 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 theoretically sampled members of the group. During the second phase, 604 postings (original and comments) created by members of the online social media group, for one week, were analyzed. The study explored various dimensions of informal learning in this space. These included what learning strategies members used, what types of knowledge were encouraged and shared, how community within the group was characterized and its role in the learning space, what factors led members to join and share knowledge, and what patterns of participation existed in the group. The findings revealed a core concept of a disconnect between group members and their medical community that drove participation in the online health-related social media group, as well as a substantive theory of learning to survive. A new framework for understanding online informal learning spaces in social media was developed and proposed. It was adapted from Wenger’s Community of Practice and Gee’s Affinity Spaces. Its key components include a disconnect; inherent learning processes; community and space characteristics; and types of knowledge that are encouraged and available. Findings also contributed to a better understanding of online information-seeking behaviors by introducing a new model of information-seeking within online social media groups. This model includes the stages of initiating, lurking, and browsing; requesting information; being guided by a highly knowledgeable member; reconciling; applying; and appraising. The model is a continuous cycle with entry and exit permitted at each stage based on the learner’s needs. In addition, this study’s findings demonstrate that social media spaces are a viable avenue for the transferring of experience-based knowledge. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Technology 2018

abstract: Factors of gender, marital status, and psychological distress are known to be related to help-seeking attitudes. This study sought to explore and understand the relations between gender, marital status, religiosity, psychological distress, and help-seeking attitudes among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). The moderating effect of religious commitment on psychological distress and attitudes towards seeking professional help was explored through an online survey of 1,201 Latter-day Saint individuals. It was predicted that gender and marital status would predict distress and helping seeking attitudes and that religiosity would moderate the relation between distress and help-seeking attitudes among religious individuals, with individuals who experience high distress and low religiosity being more likely to seek help than individuals with high distress and high religiosity. Participants completed the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Religious Commitment Inventory-10, and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form online. Multiple hierarchical regressions were used to test the study hypotheses. Although the accounted for variances were small, gender was the most significant variable associated with both distress and help seeking. Females reported higher distress and being more willing to seek psychological help than did males. Religiosity did not moderate the relation between distress and help-seeking attitudes. These findings are discussed in light of previous research and gender role schemas as relevant to Mormon culture. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Counseling 2018

Introdução: Estima-se que os comportamentos de risco no trânsito, como erros e violações, sejam responsáveis por aproximadamente 90% dos acidentes automobilísticos. Dentre as principais variáveis preditoras de comportamento de risco no trânsito estão os traços de personalidade do condutor. A associação positiva entre impulsividade, busca de sensações e comportamentos de risco no trânsito já é bem documentada na literatura. No entanto, estudos que explorem essas associações entre condutores infratores versus não infratores são escassos, principalmente no Brasil. Objetivo: Explorar as associações entre impulsividade, busca de sensações e comportamentos de risco no trânsito em uma amostra de condutores infratores versus não infratores da cidade de Porto Alegre. Método: A amostra foi composta por 158 condutores infratores que tiveram o direito de dirigir suspenso nos últimos 12 meses por acúmulo de pontos (68,4%) ou tipo de infração específica (31,6%), selecionados no Departamento Estadual de Trânsito do Rio Grande do Sul (79,7% homens) e 181 não infratores (76,2% homens) captados em três Centros de Formação de Condutores e em dois parques públicos locais. As medidas utilizadas foram: a Escala de Impulsividade de Barrat (BIS-11), o Inventário de Busca de Sensações de Arnett (AISS) e um questionário padronizado para coleta de informações demográficas e de comportamentos de risco no trânsito. As variáveis foram analisadas através de regressão logística de acordo com um modelo hierarquizado. O nível de significância adotado foi 5%. Resultados: Maior impulsividade (OR = 4,8, IC 95%: 2,68-8,6), anos de estudo (OR=0,91, IC 95%: 0,85-0,97); dirigir com maior frequência (OR = 4,01, IC 95%: 2,05-7,83), assumir infrações de outro condutor (OR = 2,91, IC 95%: 1,63-5,19), solicitar que outro condutor assumisse suas infrações (OR = 6,74, IC 95%: 2,39-19,25), envolvimento em acidentes de trânsito com vítima (OR = 2,73, IC 95%: 1,24-6,01) e consumir bebida alcoólica nos últimos 12 meses (beber não binge = OR 0,77, IC 95%: 0,38-1,55; binge drinking = OR 1,97, IC 95%: 0,87-4,47) foram significativa e independentemente associados à suspensão do direito de dirigir. Não foi constatada associação entre busca de sensações e ter o direito de dirigir suspenso. Conclusão: Os achados sugerem que a impulsividade, alguns comportamentos associados a risco – tais como envolvimento em acidentes graves, beber bebida alcoólica nos últimos 12 meses, assumir infrações de outro condutor, solicitar que outro condutor assumisse suas infrações - e a frequência com que o condutor dirige foram preditores para o cometimento de mais infrações; também se evidenciou que possuir mais anos de estudo representou um fator de proteção à direção segura. Nesse sentido, nossos resultados demonstram a natureza complexa e multideterminada do fenômeno. Espera-se que este trabalho, pioneiro no Brasil, contribua para a identificação de potenciais fatores de risco e associados ao cometimento de infrações, bem como contribua na discussão de medidas de avaliação, reabilitação e fiscalização para o trânsito. / Introduction: It is estimated that risk behaviors in traffic, such as errors and violations, are responsible for approximately 90% of all automobile accidents. Among the leading predictors of risk behavior in traffic are driver personality traits. The positive association between impulsivity, sensation seeking and risk behaviors in traffic is already well documented in literature. However, studies that explore these associations among offender drivers and non-offender drivers are scarce, especially in Brazil. Objective: To explore the association between impulsivity, sensation seeking and risk behavior in traffic in a sample of offender drivers versus non-offender drivers in the city of Porto Alegre. Method: The sample comprised 158 offender drivers whose right to drive had been suspended over the past 12 months due to an accumulation of points (68.4%) or a specific violation (31.6%), selected at the Rio Grande do Sul State Traffic Department (79.7% men) and 181 non-offender drivers (76.2% men) from three Driving Schools and in two local parks. Measures used were: the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS) and a standardized questionnaire for the collection of information of demographics and risk behavior in traffic. The variables were analyzed through logistic regression according to a hierarchical model. The adopted level of significance was 5%. Results: More impulsiveness (OR = 4.8, IC 95%: 2.68-8.6), years in school (OR=0.91, IC 95%: 0.85-0.97); frequent driving (OR = 4.01, IC 95%: 2.05-7.83), take on other driver’s violations (OR = 2.91, IC 95%: 1.63-5.19), request that other driver’s take on one’s violations (OR = 6.74, IC 95%: 2.39-19.25), involvement in traffic accidents with a victim (OR = 2.73, IC 95%: 1.24-6.01) and drinking alcoholic beverages during the last 12 months (non-binge drinking = OR 0.77, IC 95%: 0.38-1.55; binge drinking = OR 1.97, IC 95%: 0.87-4.47) were significantly and independently associated with the suspension of driving privileges. We verified no association between sensation seeking and the suspension of driving privileges. Conclusion: The findings suggest that impulsivity and behaviors associated with risk – such as involvement in serious accidents, drinking alcoholic beverages within the last 12 months, taking on violations of other drivers, requesting that other drivers take on his/her violations - and the frequency of driving were indicative of committing additional violations; it was also shown that more years of study represented a factor favoring safe driving. In this sense, our results show the complex and multidetermined nature of the phenomenon. It is hoped that this pioneering study in Brazil contributes to the identification of potential risk factors and those associated with committing violations, as well as contributing to the discussion of measures for evaluation, rehabilitation and monitoring of traffic.

abstract: Levels of heavy episodic drinking peak during emerging adulthood and contribute to the experience of negative consequences. Previous research has identified a number of trait-like personality characteristics that are associated with drinking. Studies of the Acquired Preparedness Model have supported positive expectancies, and to a lesser extent negative expectancies, as mediators of the relation between trait-like characteristics and alcohol outcomes. However, expectancies measured via self-report may reflect differences in learned expectancies in spite of similar alcohol-related responses, or they may reflect true individual differences in subjective responses to alcohol. The current study addressed this gap in the literature by assessing the relative roles of expectancies and subjective response as mediators within the APM in a sample of 236 emerging adults (74.7% male) participating in a placebo-controlled alcohol challenge study. The study tested four mediation models collapsed across beverage condition as well as eight separate mediation models with four models (2 beverage by 2 expectancy/subjective response) for each outcome (alcohol use and alcohol-related problems). Consistent with previous studies, SS was positively associated with alcohol outcomes in models collapsed across beverage condition. SS was also associated with positive subjective response in collapsed models and in the alcohol models. The hypothesized negative relation between SS and sedation was not significant. In contrast to previous studies, neither stimulation nor sedation predicted either weekly drinking or alcohol-related problems. While stimulation and alcohol use appeared to have a positive and significant association, this relation did not hold when controlling for SS, suggesting that SS and stimulation account for shared variability in drinking behavior. Failure to find this association in the placebo group suggests that, while explicit positive expectancies are related to alcohol use after controlling for levels of sensation seeking, implicit expectancies (at least as assessed by a placebo manipulation) are not. That the relation between SS and stimulation held only in the alcohol condition in analyses separate by beverage condition indicates that sensation seeking is a significant predictor of positive subjective response to alcohol (stimulation), potentially above and beyond expectancies. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. Psychology 2012

abstract: Approximately one-third of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans develop mental health problems, yet only 35-40% of those with mental disorders are seeking mental healthcare (Hoge, et al., 2004; Vogt, 2011). Military spouses may be an important resource for facilitating treatment seeking (Warner, et al., 2008), especially if service member mental health issues are impacting the marriage. Military spouses might be hesitant to encourage service member help-seeking, however, due to perceived threat of adverse military career consequences. For this study, 62 military wives completed an online survey. As part of the survey, participants were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes containing a description of a hypothetical military husband with mental health symptoms. Each vignette presented different combinations of marital conflict (high versus low) and service member concerns about adverse career consequences (high versus low). Wives rated on a five-point scale how likely they were to encourage the hypothetical military husband to seek help. It was hypothesized that spouses would be more willing to encourage help-seeking when concerns about adverse military career consequences were low and marital distress was high. No main effects or interaction effect were found for marriage and career. Perceived stigma about seeking mental health treatment in the military, psychological identification as a military spouse, and experience and familiarity with military mental healthcare policies failed to moderate the relationship between marital conflict, career concerns, and encouragement of help-seeking. Correlational analyses revealed that (1) greater experience with military mental healthcare (first- or secondhand), and (2) greater perceptions of stigma regarding seeking mental healthcare in the military each were associated with decreased perceptions of military supportiveness of mental healthcare. Therefore, although the experimental manipulation in this study did not lead to differences in military spouses' encouragement of a hypothetical military service member to seek mental health services, other findings based on participants' actual experiences suggest that experiences with military mental healthcare may generate or reinforce negative perceptions of military mental healthcare. Altering actual experiences with military mental healthcare, in addition to perceptions of stigma, may be a useful area of intervention for military service members and spouses. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Psychology 2013

Introdução: Estima-se que os comportamentos de risco no trânsito, como erros e violações, sejam responsáveis por aproximadamente 90% dos acidentes automobilísticos. Dentre as principais variáveis preditoras de comportamento de risco no trânsito estão os traços de personalidade do condutor. A associação positiva entre impulsividade, busca de sensações e comportamentos de risco no trânsito já é bem documentada na literatura. No entanto, estudos que explorem essas associações entre condutores infratores versus não infratores são escassos, principalmente no Brasil. Objetivo: Explorar as associações entre impulsividade, busca de sensações e comportamentos de risco no trânsito em uma amostra de condutores infratores versus não infratores da cidade de Porto Alegre. Método: A amostra foi composta por 158 condutores infratores que tiveram o direito de dirigir suspenso nos últimos 12 meses por acúmulo de pontos (68,4%) ou tipo de infração específica (31,6%), selecionados no Departamento Estadual de Trânsito do Rio Grande do Sul (79,7% homens) e 181 não infratores (76,2% homens) captados em três Centros de Formação de Condutores e em dois parques públicos locais. As medidas utilizadas foram: a Escala de Impulsividade de Barrat (BIS-11), o Inventário de Busca de Sensações de Arnett (AISS) e um questionário padronizado para coleta de informações demográficas e de comportamentos de risco no trânsito. As variáveis foram analisadas através de regressão logística de acordo com um modelo hierarquizado. O nível de significância adotado foi 5%. Resultados: Maior impulsividade (OR = 4,8, IC 95%: 2,68-8,6), anos de estudo (OR=0,91, IC 95%: 0,85-0,97); dirigir com maior frequência (OR = 4,01, IC 95%: 2,05-7,83), assumir infrações de outro condutor (OR = 2,91, IC 95%: 1,63-5,19), solicitar que outro condutor assumisse suas infrações (OR = 6,74, IC 95%: 2,39-19,25), envolvimento em acidentes de trânsito com vítima (OR = 2,73, IC 95%: 1,24-6,01) e consumir bebida alcoólica nos últimos 12 meses (beber não binge = OR 0,77, IC 95%: 0,38-1,55; binge drinking = OR 1,97, IC 95%: 0,87-4,47) foram significativa e independentemente associados à suspensão do direito de dirigir. Não foi constatada associação entre busca de sensações e ter o direito de dirigir suspenso. Conclusão: Os achados sugerem que a impulsividade, alguns comportamentos associados a risco – tais como envolvimento em acidentes graves, beber bebida alcoólica nos últimos 12 meses, assumir infrações de outro condutor, solicitar que outro condutor assumisse suas infrações - e a frequência com que o condutor dirige foram preditores para o cometimento de mais infrações; também se evidenciou que possuir mais anos de estudo representou um fator de proteção à direção segura. Nesse sentido, nossos resultados demonstram a natureza complexa e multideterminada do fenômeno. Espera-se que este trabalho, pioneiro no Brasil, contribua para a identificação de potenciais fatores de risco e associados ao cometimento de infrações, bem como contribua na discussão de medidas de avaliação, reabilitação e fiscalização para o trânsito. / Introduction: It is estimated that risk behaviors in traffic, such as errors and violations, are responsible for approximately 90% of all automobile accidents. Among the leading predictors of risk behavior in traffic are driver personality traits. The positive association between impulsivity, sensation seeking and risk behaviors in traffic is already well documented in literature. However, studies that explore these associations among offender drivers and non-offender drivers are scarce, especially in Brazil. Objective: To explore the association between impulsivity, sensation seeking and risk behavior in traffic in a sample of offender drivers versus non-offender drivers in the city of Porto Alegre. Method: The sample comprised 158 offender drivers whose right to drive had been suspended over the past 12 months due to an accumulation of points (68.4%) or a specific violation (31.6%), selected at the Rio Grande do Sul State Traffic Department (79.7% men) and 181 non-offender drivers (76.2% men) from three Driving Schools and in two local parks. Measures used were: the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS) and a standardized questionnaire for the collection of information of demographics and risk behavior in traffic. The variables were analyzed through logistic regression according to a hierarchical model. The adopted level of significance was 5%. Results: More impulsiveness (OR = 4.8, IC 95%: 2.68-8.6), years in school (OR=0.91, IC 95%: 0.85-0.97); frequent driving (OR = 4.01, IC 95%: 2.05-7.83), take on other driver’s violations (OR = 2.91, IC 95%: 1.63-5.19), request that other driver’s take on one’s violations (OR = 6.74, IC 95%: 2.39-19.25), involvement in traffic accidents with a victim (OR = 2.73, IC 95%: 1.24-6.01) and drinking alcoholic beverages during the last 12 months (non-binge drinking = OR 0.77, IC 95%: 0.38-1.55; binge drinking = OR 1.97, IC 95%: 0.87-4.47) were significantly and independently associated with the suspension of driving privileges. We verified no association between sensation seeking and the suspension of driving privileges. Conclusion: The findings suggest that impulsivity and behaviors associated with risk – such as involvement in serious accidents, drinking alcoholic beverages within the last 12 months, taking on violations of other drivers, requesting that other drivers take on his/her violations - and the frequency of driving were indicative of committing additional violations; it was also shown that more years of study represented a factor favoring safe driving. In this sense, our results show the complex and multidetermined nature of the phenomenon. It is hoped that this pioneering study in Brazil contributes to the identification of potential risk factors and those associated with committing violations, as well as contributing to the discussion of measures for evaluation, rehabilitation and monitoring of traffic.

Experimentos têm mostrado que ratos criados isolados consumem mais álcool durante a idade adulta que ratos criados em condições de interação social; no entanto, poucos experimentos têm explorado os efeitos do isolamento sobre a persistência na procura de álcool. A presente serie de estudos avaliou os efeitos do isolamento em etapas iniciais do desenvolvimento sobre a persistência na procura de álcool em contextos associados à sua entrega. Nos estudos, ratos foram distribuídos imediatamente depois do desmame em duas condições alojamento: isolamento (ISO) e interação (INT). Na idade adulta, os ratos foram treinados em esquemas múltiplos nos quais diferentes contextos de estímulos foram associados a diferentes taxas de entrega de álcool -magnitudes ou a reforçadores diferentes-. A persistência na procura de álcool foi avaliada como resistência à mudança em sessões de extinção. No Capítulo I foi avaliada a persistência em contextos associados a diferentes frequências de entrega de álcool. Foi achado que ratos ISO mostraram maior persistência que ratos INT em contextos associado a frequências altas e baixas de entrega de álcool. No Capítulo II foi estudado o efeito da concentração (5% ou 15%) de álcool sobre a persistência do comportamento de procura. Os resultados mostraram que concentrações altas de álcool geram maior persistência do comportamento de procura, embora gerem taxas baixas de resposta na linha de base. No capítulo III foram realizados dois estudos nos quais foi achado que ratos criados em isolamento persistem mais em contextos associados a concentrações altas de álcool (Experimento 3) e que o isolamento afeta particularmente a procura em contextos associados ao álcool quando comparados com contextos associados a outros reforçadores (Experimento 4). Os achados gerais demonstram que o isolamento em etapas inicias do desenvolvimento incrementa tanto o consumo quanto a persistência na procura por álcool, o que sugere que o estresse social em etapas iniciais do desenvolvimento é um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de dependência ao álcool / Several experiments have shown increased alcohol consumption in rats reared in social isolation compared to rats reared in group conditions; however, few experiments had explored the effects of social isolation on persistence of alcohol seeking. The studies presented here assessed the effects of social isolation on persistence of seeking in alcoholrelated contexts. For the studies, rats were assigned to on of two conditions after weaning: Social Isolation (ISO) or social Interaction (INT). During adulthood, rats were trained within a multiple schedule of reinforcement, in which different contextual stimuli were related to differential frequencies, magnitudes or qualities of alcohol. Persistence was assessed as resistance to extinction in extinction sessions. Chapter I measured persistence by ISO and INT rats in contexts related to high and low rates of alcohol reinforcement. It was found that ISO rats persisted more than INT rats regardless of the frequency of reinforcement. In Chapter II was studied the effect of alcohol concentration (5% and 15%) on persistence of alcohol seeking. Results showed that high alcohol concentrations are related to higher persistence during extinction. Chapter III presented two studies that found that ISO rats are more persistent in contexts related to high alcohol concentrations (Experiment 3), also that isolation differentially increased persistence in contexts related to alcohol compared to contexts related to other reinforcers (Experiment 4). General findings show that social isolation increase both consumption and persistence in alcohol related contexts, suggesting that social stress early in the development could be a considered a risk factor for alcohol use disorders

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2018-06-06T12:29:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 673198 bytes, checksum: dc0a09a25f9f65997f5201844fcf6c48 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-06T12:29:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 673198 bytes, checksum: dc0a09a25f9f65997f5201844fcf6c48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-01-16 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido tendo por princípio analítico a conciliação da modelagem matemática com a teoria da Nova Economia Institucional e da Economia da Corrupção, visando avaliar os efeitos econômicos da corrupção. Desenvolveu-se um bloco de equações com a finalidade de representar a dinâmica das principais variáveis institucionais e, utilizando como base o modelo de Alesina e Rodrik (1991), modelou-se a relação institucional-econômica, o que possibilitou a análise dos efeitos da corrupção e de diferentes contextos institucionais iniciais sobre o crescimento econômico e a governança em uma economia hipotética calibrada com dados brasileiros, para o período entre 1995 e 2015. Os resultados evidenciaram que cenários com menor nível de corrupção inicial apresentaram trajetórias de crescimento mais elevadas, maiores níveis de tributação, e maiores níveis de redistribuição de capital ao longo do tempo. O perfil do governo também apresentou efeito considerável sobre o comportamento econômico, com o governo pró-trabalhadores apresentando maiores níveis de crescimento econômico, maiores níveis de tributação, e menores níveis de redistribuição de capital. Conclui-se, por fim, que o modelo econômico desenvolvido na presente pesquisa apresentou comportamento consistente com as evidências empíricas de relativa estagnação do nível de corrupção e de eficiência institucional das nações, da relação negativa entre amabas as variáveis, e do efeito negativo da corrupção sobre o acúmulo de capital, possibilitando a identificação de como a corrupção e o ambiente institucional afetam os padrões de comportamento das demais variáveis. / The present thesis was developed having as an analytical principle the reconciliation of mathematical modeling with the New Institutional Economics and Corruption Economics theory, in order to evaluate the economic effects of corruption. A block of equations was developed to represent the dynamics of the main institutional variables. Using the Alesina and Rodrik (1991) model, the institutional-economic relationship was modeled, which made it possible to analyze the effects of corruption and of different initial institutional contexts on economic growth and governance in a hypothetical economy calibrated with Brazilian data for the period between 1995 and 2015. The results showed that scenarios with lower levels of initial corruption showed higher growth trajectories levels of taxation, and higher levels of redistribution of capital over time. The government profile also had a considerable effect on economic behavior, with the pro-worker government showing higher levels of economic growth, higher levels of taxation, and lower levels of capital redistribution. Finally, it is concluded that the economic model developed in the present research was consistent with the empirical evidence of relative stagnation of the level of corruption and institutional efficiency of nations, the negative relationship between the variables, and the negative effect of corruption on the accumulation of capital, allowing the identification of how corruption and the institutional environment affect the patterns of behavior of the other variables.

D.Litt. et Phil. / The study reports on an investigation of information needs and information-seeking patterns of Africans living in selected rural villages in the Northern Province. A total of 302 respondents from six rural villages were randomly chosen for the study. The extent to which rural villagers are aware of their information needs, and their ability to express these needs was assessed and evaluated. The study also identified the nature of information sources and information providers used by rural villagers in their pursuit for information, as well as their level of satisfaction with the information sources and information providers used. Barriers to information-seeking and information provision in rural areas such as language, are also identified. The structured interview was used to gather data from the respondents. This incorporated the critical incident technique, which requires respondents to think back to a time when they needed information or knowledge, in order to solve a problem or make a decision. This technique has been proven to elicit more useful responses as the respondents are not directly asked about their information needs in an abstract, theoretical situation which they may not be able to practically relate to or recall. The study revealed inter alia, the existence of a communication gap between the libraries and community information centres in the villages and the people they are intended to serve. The study also reports on the general lack of awareness of rural villagers' information needs and their inability to articulate these needs. Preference for informal, interpersonal and largely oral methods of information transfer have also been identified by the study, and implications for the respondents' informationseeking behaviour in relation to rural information service provision are also discussed. The nature of information needs identified amongst respondents and their information-seeking behaviour call for the adoption of an appropriate model to cater for the unique needs of rural villagers. It is against this backdrop that current models of rural information provision are critically reviewed. The study argues for the need to adapt library and information services to the rural environment and proposes an alternative model of information provision in rural areas. This model represents a departure from the traditional model of library and information services, which is based on print-media and therefore largely unsuitable to the rural African environment. The proposed model is intended to reorientate and re-focus government departments charged with the responsibility for rural information provision, not only in the Northern Province, but in rural South Africa in broader terms. The model is also intended to enable the government and Library and Information Service(LIS) stakeholders to rethink the entire process of information provision and access to information in rural villages. Finally, the study makes recommendations regarding the improvement of rural information provision and acceleration of the establishment of community information centres in rural villages. A call is made for a more integrated approach to rural information provision, using all stake-holders such as chiefs, headmen, Transitional Local Councils, private sector companies and local businesspeople, amongst others.

Background: A range of factors contribute to men with cancer having worse mortality and morbidity rates than women. The research specifically focused on psychosocial issues and health behaviours in men with cancer, and factors affecting help seeking behaviour. Methods: A mixed-methods study recruited adult men with cancer in the East of Scotland. The quantitative cross-sectional study explored psychosocial issues, health behaviours, and desire for support. Data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study were accessed to check sample representativeness. The qualitative study built on the preliminary findings of the quantitative study and used semi-structured interviews to explore factors affecting men's access to support. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: 127 men with cancer completed the questionnaire. Being separated or divorced, younger and living in a high deprivation area was associated with poor psychosocial outcomes and some lifestyle behaviours. Social support was also influential. Twenty participants were interviewed. Appraisal of, and coping with, cancer in addition to biopsychosocial antecedents, the role of masculinity, and service contexts impacted on help seeking. The findings support a modified model of the transactional model of stress and coping relevant to men with cancer, which is new and original since it specifically incorporates the role of masculinity, highlights feedback from coping to appraisal, and recognises important service context factors that impact men's service access choices. Discussion: Legitimisation of help seeking and the use of emotion-focused coping styles were needed by some men, particularly where ideas about masculinity played a strong role in men's appraisal of, and coping with cancer. Implications for practice and policy relate to the survivorship agenda given the ongoing support men with cancer may need. Related to this, there is a need to carefully tailor and advertise services to men, and for health professionals to help legitimise the use of certain coping strategies and services.