Bibliography: leaves 156-165. Electronic publication; full text available in PDF format; abstract in HTML format. Several researchers have indicated that the emphasis placed by young people on body shape and appearance has been greatly shaped by the media. The aim of this research was to investigate this notion specifically with regard to televised media. It was hypothesised that there would be a relationship between media images, eating attitudes and dietary behaviours, particularly for teenagers with body-image self-schemas who were conscious of their appearance. Nine hundred and sixty five senior secondary school students, from 33 country and metropolitan, state and independent, co-educational and single-sex South Australian high schools were surveyed. Electronic reproduction.[Australia] :Australian Digital Theses Program,2001.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

This research was conducted to investigate perceptions of self esteem and the behavior of female science students in mixed gender cooperative learning groups. The research methodology used was qualitative in nature, which included a variety of data collection methods, including participant observation, student journals, interviews, video tapes of group interactions, cooperating teachers' journals, individual surveys, group surveys, and daily field notes. The data was analyzed by means of the constant comparative method. The analysis resulted in the following two hypotheses: 1. When male science students are allowed to dominate group activities female self-esteem and group interactions are affected negatively. 2. Female science students tend to be less openly critical of other students in their groups than male science students to maintain group relationships. / Graduation date: 1996

Thesis (M.Ed.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-98). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-98). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-77). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between two external contingencies of self-worth (CSWs) in relation to Internet addiction among adolescents in Hong Kong. Based on past studies which indicated that external CSWs are vulnerable to threat, heighten perception of future interpersonal threat, and result in self-regulation problems, it was hypothesized that social competence and other approval CSW would be positively related to Internet addiction, and that this relationship would be mediated by perceived interpersonal threat. In addition, it was predicted that differences would be found in adolescents with high and low levels of perceived social competence. 804 local adolescents aged 11 to 19 participated in the study. Results of analyses supported the relationship between social competence and other approval CSWs and Internet addiction, which was mediated by perceived interpersonal threat. Perceived social competence was found to buffer the impact of perceived threat for individuals with social competence CSW. Findings are discussed within a cognitive-behavioral framework and potential clinical implications are suggested. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Adolescence is a stage full of possibility, in which adolescents start exploring what is possible for them. Possible selves represent people’s self-concept pointing to the future, what they hope to be, what they expect to be and what they fear to be. These future oriented selves are closely related with adolescents’ behaviors, channeling their effort toward positive behavioral outcomes. The possible selves in Chinese context are less examined and adolescents in Hong Kong are facing a lot of challenges and uncertainties in the fast changing society. What are the possible selves among Hong Kong adolescents? How are parental influences associated with possible selves in the Chinese context? How proximal psychological associates, such as planfulness and self-esteem, relate with possible selves among adolescents? The current study was designed to answer the above questions. There were two phases in the research. Phase one adapted Possible Selves Questionnaire into Chinese (PSQ_C) with a translation and back-translation procedure and two pilot tests. Phase two conducted a large sample survey with secondary school adolescents. 3,078 participants, aged 12-20, were from 99 classes in 11 middle schools. The findings were presented with three themed papers. Research findings were presented in three journal papers with different foci. Paper one investigated the profile of possible selves among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, including the content of possible selves, strategies of possible selves and perceived likelihood of possible selves. Gender and age differences were examined. Paper two examined the effect of parental support on possible selves. It was found that parental pragmatic support consistently predicted having at least one strategy and perceived likelihood of hoped-for and feared possible selves, while socio-emotional support was only associated with perceived likelihood of hoped-for possible selves. Paper three examined planfulness and self-esteem as proximal psychological antecedents of possible selves. It was found that both planfulness and self-esteem were positively associated with having at least one strategy and perceived likelihood of hoped-for and feared possible selves. Self-esteem was more related to perceived likelihood whereas planfulness was more related with having strategy. It was found that planfulness and self-esteem mediated the relationship between parental support and possible selves. The current doctoral study complemented the existing literature in terms of theory by exploring the external and proximal psychological antecedents of possible selves and establishing a mediation model to explain the interplay among parental support, planfulness, self-esteem and possible selves. It was the first possible selves study among Hong Kong adolescents. It not only contributed to the indigenous research on adolescents by providing a handy Chinese possible selves questionnaire, enriching the understanding about modern adolescents, but also by providing information for further setup of intervention using possible selves constructs. The limitations were discussed, along with directions for future studies, contributions and implications in terms of theory, research and intervention. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy