Habitual physical activity and fitness are well-established as independent predictors of health in both children and adults. Chronic inflammatory conditions in children have been shown to negatively impact participation and maintenance of physical activity in childhood which can lead to a reduction in fitness. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two of the most common childhood chronic conditions, both of which are characterized by inflammation. Alarmingly, even during remission, physical activity and fitness levels are reduced and sickness behaviours persist in these children. As such, it is thought that psychosocial measures, such as self-perceived health and well-being, may have a stronger association with decreased physical activity and fitness levels in this population as compared to healthy controls. The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between self-perceived health and well-being and physical activity and fitness in children with JIA or IBD. In total, 58 children (32 girls, 26 boys) between the ages of 7 and 17 years with a single diagnosis of either JIA or IBD, and healthy controls were recruited. They completed measures of anthropometry, body composition, physical activity, as well as fitness (aerobic and muscle strength). Questionnaires regarding perceived health and well-being were also completed, and blood samples were obtained to measure specific markers of inflammation. Children with JIA or IBD were found to engage in significantly less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) relative to healthy controls (t = -1.977, p = 0.040). A linear regression established that MVPA, when expressed as an average of minutes per day, could statistically significantly predict self-perceived health, F(1,50) = 6.516, p = 0.014, where MVPA accounted for 11.5% of the explained variability in self-perceived health. This was no longer significant with the controls age, sex, and body fat percentage added into the model. Linear regression models showed that fitness was more predictive of self-perceived well-being, as seen with relative VO2 peak, F(1,38) = 6.683, p = 0.014, where relative VO2 peak accounted for 15% of the variability with self-perceived well-being. Furthermore, composite isometric strength expressed relative to body mass was able to significantly predict a composite blood inflammatory marker score, F(1,49) = 4.447, p = 0.040, where a relative composite isometric strength score accounted for 8.3% of the variability in a composite inflammatory blood marker score. Our findings indicate weak but significant predictive power for physical activity and fitness variables with regards to self-perceived health and well-being. Therefore, it may be important to explore ways to increase self-perceived health and well-being in children with JIA or IBD in order to improve physical activity participation and fitness. / Thesis / Master of Health Sciences (MSc)

My dissertation focuses on self-perceived status as a driver for newcomers to initiate change in the organizations they join, either by trying to modify the tasks they are assigned to do (job crafting), implementing changes that affect how others do their work (taking charge), or making broader suggestions for improvement to the organization (voice). Although research has noted the actions that organizations take to socialize and to assimilate newcomers into the way things are conventionally done, my research centers the focus on the agency that newcomers display. I find that self-perceived status, how much prestige, respect, or admiration a newcomer thinks he/she enjoys in a group, plays an important role in determining newcomer change oriented behaviors. I also examine if newcomer self-perceived status influences the target of change oriented behaviors towards coworkers or supervisors. I find some support for the moderating influences of both individual level differences (e.g., self-monitoring) and organizational contextual factors (e.g., socialization tactics that aim to affirm newcomers' unique values and skills in the new organization) on the relationship between self-perceived status and the propensity to engage in change oriented behaviors. I test my hypotheses with a variety of methods including a field study and two laboratory experiments. / text

This thesis aims to explore the concept of self-perceived integration by testing assumptions and by introducing new aspect of integration and examining the relations between them. Through interviews with eight persons of different backgrounds, born outside of Europe, who have immigrated to Sweden, it is shown that employment, previously assumed to be of the highest importance for integration, will only lead to further integration if it also provides certain variables. These variables are skills in Swedish, providing a sense of belonging and understanding of the Swedish culture. However, these individuals attest to that unless the individual is motivated enough, and there is mutual respect between the immigrated culture and the Swedish culture, no integration will be possible at all.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in self-perceived abilities of supported employment specialists to perform supported employment processes in relation to their educational backgrounds in South Korea. In order to identify this subject, a research performed survey to 100 supported employment specialist. All supported employment specialists identified were surveyed regarding their self-perceived abilities to perform supported employment processes, along with their demographic characteristics. Two independent variables, education level and academic major, were used in this study. The dependent variable was self-perceived abilities of supported employment specialists to perform seven supported employment processes, such as Job development, Job analysis, Vocational evaluation, Client to job matching, On the job training, Ongoing assessment, and Follow up. The results of this study indicated supported employment specialists who had completed undergraduate degrees perceived their abilities to be significantly higher than supported employment specialists who had completed graduate degree in performing the competencies of each supported employment process, except vocational assessment. However, the significant results in this research hypothesis indicated the opposite outcome to the proposed research hypothesis 2. Next, there is no differences of self-perceived ability relation to performing supported employment between supported employment specialists who had majored (vocational) rehabilitation and supported employment specialists who had majored social work, psychology, and others. Finally, there are no differences of self-perceived ability relation to performing supported employment processes, except job analysis and on-going assessment according to the interaction effect between the education level and major. The findings of this study are discussed in implication for rehabilitation practice and education, and future research.

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / The employability of graduates has been a global point of concern. Within a South African context, this issue is proliferated not only by a reported gap between employers’ expectations and those of students, but also by an exponential rise in graduate unemployment. Examining undergraduates’ perspectives regarding competencies necessary to enhance their employability as well as their efficacy beliefs regarding their perceived competence in certain competencies, is one means of gaining insights and working towards narrowing between student and industry expectations and perceptions. The primary objective of this study was to examine Industrial Psychology (IPS) undergraduate students’ perceptions of critical competencies needed for employability, their efficacy beliefs regarding their level of perceived competence in these competencies and to determine the discrepancies between these viewpoints based on certain demographic variables. This research sought to gain an understanding of IPS undergraduates’ perspectives, a perspective that previous literature has not yet addressed. Quantitative data was obtained from 151 IPS undergraduate students during the course of their respective lectures, by means of a questionnaire instrument, which comprised of two sections. The first section sought to elicit demographical information and the second section consisted of questions related to their perceptions of the importance of certain competencies, as well as their self-perceived competence in relation to these. Descriptive analyses demonstrated that IPS undergraduates regarded all of the twenty-four listed competencies as quite important for employability, some being rated as critically important and others of lesser importance by comparison. Additionally, in terms of their efficacy beliefs in their competence in these competencies, the sampled undergraduates felt they possessed a slightly above average level of competence overall, indicating a fair amount of self-efficacy. Furthermore, inferential statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the respective perceptions based on gender, age, work experience and year level of study. These results indicated several statistically significant findings between the various categories. It was evident that gender, age, work experience and year level of study played a role in the perceptions by the sampled group of IPS undergraduates, in respect to a few of the competencies highlighted. In conclusion, these perceptions may be able to add to the body of knowledge and aid in the development of IPS undergraduates from an academic and professional point of view.

The purpose of this article is to critically analyze the concept of self-perceived burden. The Rodgers Evolutionary Model is augmented with concept critique, a dialogic process grounded in critical hermeneutics. Self-perceived burden is a relatively mature concept with psychological, relational, and dimensional attributes that are shaped by culture and sociopolitical structures. The antecedents are demographics, circumstances, diagnoses, symptoms, prognosis, comorbidities, and knowledge and beliefs. The consequences are psychological, decisional, relational, and existential. Sociocultural factors such as universal health coverage, Confucian ethics, Buddhist/Taoist ethics, karma, and individualist- versus communitarian-based relationships are brought to light. Psychological and relational antecedents and consequences of self-perceived burden were found to be salient.

The purpose of this article is to critically analyze the concept of self-perceived burden. The Rodgers Evolutionary Model is augmented with concept critique, a dialogic process grounded in critical hermeneutics. Self-perceived burden is a relatively mature concept with psychological, relational, and dimensional attributes that are shaped by culture and sociopolitical structures. The antecedents are demographics, circumstances, diagnoses, symptoms, prognosis, comorbidities, and knowledge and beliefs. The consequences are psychological, decisional, relational, and existential. Sociocultural factors such as universal health coverage, Confucian ethics, Buddhist/Taoist ethics, karma, and individualist- versus communitarian-based relationships are brought to light. Psychological and relational antecedents and consequences of self-perceived burden were found to be salient.

No description available.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O Brasil é um dos maiores consumidores per capita de açúcar e estudos têm mostrado um papel específico do consumo excessivo de açúcar no ganho de peso. Com o aumento do ganho de peso observado em vários países, e também no Brasil, é importante testar quais mensagens, estratégias e propostas de intervenção seriam eficazes na prevenção dessa epidemia. Os dados reportados são referentes a um ensaio randomizado por conglomerado, controlado, conduzido em 20 escolas municipais na cidade metropolitana de Niterói no Estado de Rio de Janeiro, de março a dezembro de 2007, que testou a eficácia de orientações para merendeiras objetivando reduzir a disponibilidade de açúcar e de alimentos fontes de açúcar na alimentação escolar e no consumo delas. A intervenção consistiu em um programa de educação nutricional nas escolas usando mensagens, atividades e material educativo que encorajassem a redução da adição de açúcar na alimentação escolar pelas merendeiras e no consumo delas. A redução da disponibilidade per capita de açúcar pelas escolas foi analisada através de planilhas com dados da utilização dos itens do estoque. O consumo individual das merendeiras foi avaliado através de questionário de freqüência de consumo alimentar. As medidas antropométricas e bioquímicas foram realizadas de acordo com técnicas padronizadas. As escolas de intervenção apresentaram maior redução da disponibilidade per capita de açúcar quando comparadas às escolas controle (-6,0 kg vs. 3,4 kg), mas sem diferença estatisticamente significante. Houve redução no consumo de doces e bebidas açucaradas nas merendeiras dos dois grupos, mas o consumo de açúcar não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre eles. Houve redução do consumo de energia total nos dois grupos, mas sem diferença entre eles, e sem modificação dos percentuais de adequação dos macronutrientes em relação ao consumo de energia. Ao final do estudo somente as merendeiras do grupo de intervenção conseguiram manter a perda de peso, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significante. A estratégia de redução da disponibilidade e do consumo de açúcar por merendeiras de escolas públicas não atingiu o principal objetivo de redução de adição de açúcar. Uma análise secundária dos dados avaliou a associação entre a auto-percepção da saúde e da qualidade da alimentação com o excesso de peso e concentração elevada de colesterol sérico das merendeiras na linha de base. As perguntas de auto-percepção foram coletadas por entrevista. Dentre as que consideraram a sua alimentação como saudável, 40% apresentavam colesterol elevado e 61% apresentavam excesso de peso vs. 68% e 74%, respectivamente, para as que consideraram a sua alimentação como não-saudável. Dentre as que consideraram a sua saúde como boa, 41% apresentavam colesterol elevado e 59% apresentavam excesso de peso vs. 71% e 81%, respectivamente, para as que consideraram a sua saúde como ruim. A maioria das mulheres que relatou ter alimentação saudável apresentou maior frequência de consumo de frutas, verduras e legumes, feijão, leite e derivados e menor freqüência de consumo de refrigerante. Conclui-se que perguntas únicas e simples como as utilizadas para a auto-avaliação da saúde podem também ter importância na avaliação da alimentação. / Brazil is one of the largest per capita consumers of sugar and several studies have shown a specific role of excessive consumption of sugar on weight gain. With the increased weight gain observed in several countries, including Brazil, it is important to test which messages, strategies and proposals for intervention would be effective in preventing this epidemic. The data reported are for an intervention study that tested the efficacy of guidelines for school lunch cooks aiming to reduce the added sugar in schools meals and their sugar intake. A cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out in twenty public schools in the metropolitan city of Niterói in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from March to December 2007, to assess the change in the availability and consumption of sugar. The intervention consisted of a nutrition educational program in schools using messages, activities and printed educational materials that encouraged the reduction of added sugar in the schools meals by the school lunch cooks and in their consumption. The reduction in per capita sugar availability by the schools was examined through spreadsheets with data from the use of inventory items. Individual food intake of the school lunch cooks was evaluated by a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed according to standard techniques and the variation in weight change was measured throughout the study. Per capita sugar availability reduced most markedly in the intervention schools compared to the control schools (-6,0 kg vs. 3,4 kg), however this difference was not statistically significant. Both groups of school lunch cooks showed a reduction in the consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages, but the difference in sugar intake was not statistically significant. A reduction in total energy consumption was observed in both groups, but there was no difference between them. Also, there was no difference in the percentage of adequacy of nutrients in relation to energy consumption. Sweetened beverages presented the most important consumption reduction. At the end of the study, only school lunch cooks in the intervention group were able to maintain weight loss, but not statistically significant. The strategy of reducing the availability and consumption of sugar by the school lunch cooks from public schools did not achieve the main goal of reducing added sugar. A secondary analysis examined the association between self-perceived health status and diet quality with overweight and high serum cholesterol concentration of the school lunch cooks at baseline. The self-perception questions were collected by interview. Among women who reported healthy diet, 40% presented high serum cholesterol and 61% were overweight. Among women who reported unhealthy diet, 68% presented high serum cholesterol and 74% presented overweight. Most women who reported healthy diet showed a higher frequency of consumption of sweets, fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy products and lower frequency of consumption of soft drink. In conclusion, single and simple questions, such as those used for self-perceived health status may also be important in assessing the diet.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O Brasil é um dos maiores consumidores per capita de açúcar e estudos têm mostrado um papel específico do consumo excessivo de açúcar no ganho de peso. Com o aumento do ganho de peso observado em vários países, e também no Brasil, é importante testar quais mensagens, estratégias e propostas de intervenção seriam eficazes na prevenção dessa epidemia. Os dados reportados são referentes a um ensaio randomizado por conglomerado, controlado, conduzido em 20 escolas municipais na cidade metropolitana de Niterói no Estado de Rio de Janeiro, de março a dezembro de 2007, que testou a eficácia de orientações para merendeiras objetivando reduzir a disponibilidade de açúcar e de alimentos fontes de açúcar na alimentação escolar e no consumo delas. A intervenção consistiu em um programa de educação nutricional nas escolas usando mensagens, atividades e material educativo que encorajassem a redução da adição de açúcar na alimentação escolar pelas merendeiras e no consumo delas. A redução da disponibilidade per capita de açúcar pelas escolas foi analisada através de planilhas com dados da utilização dos itens do estoque. O consumo individual das merendeiras foi avaliado através de questionário de freqüência de consumo alimentar. As medidas antropométricas e bioquímicas foram realizadas de acordo com técnicas padronizadas. As escolas de intervenção apresentaram maior redução da disponibilidade per capita de açúcar quando comparadas às escolas controle (-6,0 kg vs. 3,4 kg), mas sem diferença estatisticamente significante. Houve redução no consumo de doces e bebidas açucaradas nas merendeiras dos dois grupos, mas o consumo de açúcar não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre eles. Houve redução do consumo de energia total nos dois grupos, mas sem diferença entre eles, e sem modificação dos percentuais de adequação dos macronutrientes em relação ao consumo de energia. Ao final do estudo somente as merendeiras do grupo de intervenção conseguiram manter a perda de peso, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significante. A estratégia de redução da disponibilidade e do consumo de açúcar por merendeiras de escolas públicas não atingiu o principal objetivo de redução de adição de açúcar. Uma análise secundária dos dados avaliou a associação entre a auto-percepção da saúde e da qualidade da alimentação com o excesso de peso e concentração elevada de colesterol sérico das merendeiras na linha de base. As perguntas de auto-percepção foram coletadas por entrevista. Dentre as que consideraram a sua alimentação como saudável, 40% apresentavam colesterol elevado e 61% apresentavam excesso de peso vs. 68% e 74%, respectivamente, para as que consideraram a sua alimentação como não-saudável. Dentre as que consideraram a sua saúde como boa, 41% apresentavam colesterol elevado e 59% apresentavam excesso de peso vs. 71% e 81%, respectivamente, para as que consideraram a sua saúde como ruim. A maioria das mulheres que relatou ter alimentação saudável apresentou maior frequência de consumo de frutas, verduras e legumes, feijão, leite e derivados e menor freqüência de consumo de refrigerante. Conclui-se que perguntas únicas e simples como as utilizadas para a auto-avaliação da saúde podem também ter importância na avaliação da alimentação. / Brazil is one of the largest per capita consumers of sugar and several studies have shown a specific role of excessive consumption of sugar on weight gain. With the increased weight gain observed in several countries, including Brazil, it is important to test which messages, strategies and proposals for intervention would be effective in preventing this epidemic. The data reported are for an intervention study that tested the efficacy of guidelines for school lunch cooks aiming to reduce the added sugar in schools meals and their sugar intake. A cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out in twenty public schools in the metropolitan city of Niterói in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from March to December 2007, to assess the change in the availability and consumption of sugar. The intervention consisted of a nutrition educational program in schools using messages, activities and printed educational materials that encouraged the reduction of added sugar in the schools meals by the school lunch cooks and in their consumption. The reduction in per capita sugar availability by the schools was examined through spreadsheets with data from the use of inventory items. Individual food intake of the school lunch cooks was evaluated by a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed according to standard techniques and the variation in weight change was measured throughout the study. Per capita sugar availability reduced most markedly in the intervention schools compared to the control schools (-6,0 kg vs. 3,4 kg), however this difference was not statistically significant. Both groups of school lunch cooks showed a reduction in the consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages, but the difference in sugar intake was not statistically significant. A reduction in total energy consumption was observed in both groups, but there was no difference between them. Also, there was no difference in the percentage of adequacy of nutrients in relation to energy consumption. Sweetened beverages presented the most important consumption reduction. At the end of the study, only school lunch cooks in the intervention group were able to maintain weight loss, but not statistically significant. The strategy of reducing the availability and consumption of sugar by the school lunch cooks from public schools did not achieve the main goal of reducing added sugar. A secondary analysis examined the association between self-perceived health status and diet quality with overweight and high serum cholesterol concentration of the school lunch cooks at baseline. The self-perception questions were collected by interview. Among women who reported healthy diet, 40% presented high serum cholesterol and 61% were overweight. Among women who reported unhealthy diet, 68% presented high serum cholesterol and 74% presented overweight. Most women who reported healthy diet showed a higher frequency of consumption of sweets, fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy products and lower frequency of consumption of soft drink. In conclusion, single and simple questions, such as those used for self-perceived health status may also be important in assessing the diet.