published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

There are estimated to be 840,000 people living with HIV in China (1) of whom 65% are estimated to be in the 16-29 year age group. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution and the opening of China to Western influence, traditional cultural norms have rapidly eroded and China is described as being in the middle of a sexual revolution (2). People are increasingly engaging in behaviours exposing them to the risk of contracting HIV which is spreading from the traditionally high risk populations to the general population via the heterosexual route (3). Comprehensive prevention strategies are necessary to prevent further spread (4). There is evidence that the observed increase in sexual activity is not accompanied by adequate knowledge of HIV transmission. 79% of 18-25 year olds know that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by sexual intercourse, but a mere 30% know that correct and consistent condom use can protect against HIV transmission (5).<br /> <br /> This exploratory study investigated the factors that influence safe sexual practices amongst female Chinese university students, enabling or preventing them from taking responsibility for their reproductive health. The literature search revealed this to be a largely unexplored area. The study was undertaken amongst third year male and female students, recruited from the Department of Comparative Literature and Media Studies at the Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, China. Data was predominantly collected using two male and two female focus group discussions. Three key informant interviews supported and contextualised the findings. The study revealed that the factors influencing female students&rsquo / ability to adopt safe sexual practices are complex. The recognised shortcomings of sex education in China (6) are compounded by the taboo of sex and the pressure placed on students for the achievement of good grades.<br /> <br /> The university environment exerts a powerful influence. The ease with which mutually beneficial same sex friendships develop in the dormitory can be contrasted with the difficulties faced by couples attempting to conduct relationships. The restrictive university environment has the effect of driving relationships underground. Gender roles are deeply entrenched. The need to conform to the ideal pure, na&iuml / ve, and non-inquiring female stereotype affects a female student&rsquo / s ability to source sexual health information, negotiate safe sex, and to adopt safe sexual practices. Two distinct male stereotypes emerged: the traditional more gender equal male, and the liberal male who believes in an earlier age of sexual initiation and condones multiple sexual partners. All students are aware of HIV but have misconceptions about the specifics of HIV transmission, believing that HIV can be transmitted by kissing, from unclean baths and from doctors. Some students were of the belief that poor personal hygiene is an indicator of possible HIV positive status. Students were confused by condom quality issues. As they had received no formal condom training students relied on reading the package instructions or working it out for themselves.<br /> This small exploratory study resulted in the production of rich and surprising findings. These are incorporated into recommendations for future research and a comprehensive sex education programme at the university. Abstinence and mutual monogamy should be emphasised. Gender stereotypes that influence behaviour and choice of sex education materials should be acknowledged. Negotiation skills training should be incorporated together with condom and contraceptive advice. A sexual health page on the student website and a training programme for students to become peer-to-peer sex educators should be introduced.

In this study, the relationship between the risk factors of perfectionism and depression and eating disorder symptomatology was examined. A sample of female undergraduates completed the following three measures: the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), and the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses (Q-EDD). Results indicated that perfectionism is significantly positively correlated with depression. Higher levels of perfectionism were also associated with the presence of eating disorder symptoms, whereas lower levels of perfectionism were associated with the absence of eating disorder symptoms. Finally, an increase in perfectionism levels was predictive of eating disorder symptoms. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The problem with which this study was concerned was that of developing a valid and reliable physical fitness test for college women which could be readily administered to large groups in a short period of time.

The Health Belief Model was used to study HIV/AIDS beliefs of 419, 18 to 24 year old, never married, sexually active, heterosexual college students and predict their AIDS preventive behaviors from a larger sample of 662 college students. The structural properties of the scales used were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Recent preventive behaviors were predicted in a LISREL Structural Equation Modeling analysis.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences. / Department of Communication

Thesis (MCur.) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The purpose of this study was to determine the experiences of students in disclosing their HIV-positive status at the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus. A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological design was used to explore, describe, and understand the experiences of the students with regard to the disclosure of their HIV-positive status. A group of 20 students who belonged to the support group were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection until saturation was reached. Data analysis was conducted according to Techs open-coding method. The study highlights the potential factors that might hinder access to HIV prevention, management, care, and support programmes. The findings reveal that there is a marked societal shift in the perception and understanding of HIV, resulting in disclosure being a less difficult responsibility. However, rejection by sexual partners has also been revealed. This rejection is one of the negative consequences that might hamper future disclosure. It is recommended that counsellors should be highly skilled in counselling HIV-positive people, especially about issues of disclosure. An HIV disclosure model will greatly support the work of these counsellors.

This study was divided into three stages. The first phase of the study aimed to examine factors influencing the students' participation in physical activity. Eight female and male university students participated in the focus group. It was found that the participants' perceived benefits of physical activity were physical, psychological and social. Their perceived barriers to physical activity included both internal and external factors. Peer groups and family were found to be influential factors in the participants' decision to engage in physical activity. The second phase was designed to investigate 1,464 Thai university students' stages of change based on the Transtheoretical model (TTM) in relation to physical activity behavior. Regarding the stages of change, 19.6% of the participants were in the Precontemplation stage, 21.8% in the Contemplation stage, 44.2% in the Preparation stage, 8.9% in the Action stage, and 5.5% in the Maintenance stage. The majority of participants' BMI statuses were normal. There were significant differences in response according to gender and BMI status, gender and stages of change, and BMI status and stages of change. The third study used a pre-post randomized control group design to determine the effectiveness of the TTM-based intervention in improving physical activity behavior among university students. 210 freshman students, who classified in Precontemplation, Contemplation and Preparation stages, were randomly assigned to either experiment or control groups in each stage. The students in the experimental group received an eight-week stage-matched intervention, while the students in the control group participated in physical education activity classes. At the follow-up stage, the students in the experiment group significantly improved their scores compared to the baseline in all of the study variables (Stages of Change, Self-Efficacy, Pros, Cons, and Experiential and Behavioral Processes of Change). It was also found that students in the experimental group had higher improvement in Stages of Change, Self- Efficacy, Pros, Experiential and Behavioral Processes of Change, and perceived fewer Cons to physical activity. There were significant differences found in Processes of Change and Physical Activity Levels across Stages of Change, but not in other variables. The results of this study indicated that stage-matched intervention can be an effective means of increasing participation in physical activity among university students. / Graduation date: 2006

AbstractThis thesis has compared the difference in percentage body fat between high school girls and college women and the physical activity and dietary patterns of high school girls and college women.The high school girls were selected from three high schools in Muncie, Indiana who intended to further their education. The college coeds were those women completing their first year of college at Ball State University. Skin-fold measurements were taken with a caliper at the iliac crest and triceps along with answering two questionnaires concerning physical activity and general dietary patterns.Statistical analysis of the data revealed: (1) no significant difference between percentage body fat of high school girls and college women (p >.05); (2) no relationship between dietary patterns and physical activity of high school girls and college women.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

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