Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2002. Graduate Programme in Sociology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 339-352). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ71566.

The growth of height and weight of 275 Japanese girls was followed longitudinally over a period of three years, which included the time of menarche. The association between height and weight at menarche was examined, using path analysis to describe the relationship. Two hypotheses (I and II) were evaluated: Hypothesis I. Menarche in an individual girl is triggered by attainment of a particular weight. Hypothesis II. Menarche in an individual girl is triggered after attainment of a particular threshold body size or weight. As the result of this analysis, no particular weight and/or height was observed which discriminates between girls who have attained menarche and those who have not attained menarche. Although the results did not disprove the importance of weight as a factor which influences the onset of menarche, it did not support the existence of a particular critical weight or threshold body size or weight. Instead, a more random pattern of growth before menarche was evident, i.e. there was no correlation between weight at one year before menarche and increment in weight during the year before menarche. To describe the observed relationship, an alternative hypothesis (hypothesis III) concerning the existence of a threshold phase between two years and one year before menarche is suggested. According to this hypothesis, menarche in an individual girl is triggered by attainment of a threshold phase of growth between two years and one year before menarche, although this phase is not defined by a particular invariant weight for each girl in a given population. There is a central tendency of weight in this sample of Japanese girls which lies between 31 and 36 kg of weight. After completing this phase, further weight increment before menarche in each girl occurs independent of the weight already attained during the threshold phase. At present, the biological meaning of the suggested threshold phase is not clear. In further studies, the growth curve of each girl between two years and one year before menarche must be followed carefully. / text

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

As obesity and related diseases become increasingly prevalent, there is a great need for programs for at-risk female adolescents that will encourage physical activity and other healthy behaviors. Enjoyment is one factor that has been associated with exercise participation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a physical activity program on at-risk female adolescents' enjoyment of physical activity. Participants (n= 50) from a residential treatment facility participated in a non-competitive, non-threatening physical activity program for ten weeks. Fifteen of the participants comprised a control group and did not participate in the structured program. Participants completed the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) at the beginning and end of the program. In addition, their exercise heart rates were obtained at each session. A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the PACES scores. Results indicated a significant group by time interaction between the three cottages (p= .002). Further analysis revealed PACES scores increased for one treatment cottage, but decreased for the other treatment cottage and the control group. The mean percent of time participants spent in their target heart rate zone (>140 bpm) was 53.5%. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

This study investigated the effects of self-instruction and alternate response training on oppositional behavior. Four oppositional adolescent females in a community-based residential treatment facility were taught to self-instruct alternate responses to their oppositional behaviors by participating in a series of Behavior Skills Training (BST) sessions. Subjects were required to role-play situations which subjects indicated evoke the targeted behaviors, that is, swearing/namecalling, noncompliance with rules, and noncompliance with requests. These self-reported situations were a major component in developing the BST. A multiple baseline design across behaviors was used. As an additional experimental control, two nontreatment subjects were included in the data analysis. Although trend analyses were conducted, variability in the data precluded the possibility of drawing conclusions based on statistical correlation. However, functional analyses of the treatment effects indicated that the BST was effective in reducing the oppositional behaviors of the subjects in the treatment group. Thus these results support the efficacy of using self-instruction and alternate response training procedures to reduce the occurrence of oppositional behavior in adolescent females. / Department of Educational Psychology

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Mar. 11, 2008). Directed by Marilyn Friend; submitted to the School of Education. Embargoed until Dec. 20, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-300).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-133).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-186).