This project began with a series of in-depth journalistic audio and written stories comparing how young adults in North Texas, USA, and the Greater Stockholm, Sweden region live and work in today's globalized world. Once the journalistic work was created, the author provided an evaluation of how this work was researched and implemented, as well as how the project relates to theories on global journalism.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2012 / The aim of the study is to determine factors contributing to HIV and AIDS stigma among young adults at Polokwane municipality in the Capricorn district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total number of 325 participants were involved in the survey and five focus groups were involved in the qualitative study. The participants’ ages were between 18 and 25 years. Biographical information entailing 14 items was used. Ten questions were used in five focus groups. For the survey, a nine-item stigma questionnaire was used as an independent variable. Dependent variables were the following scales: HIV knowledge, knowing a person with HIV and AIDS, family communication and perceived HIV and AIDS risk. The quantitative analysis shows that knowledge of HIV and AIDS, acquaintance with People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), gender and socio-economic status, as well as stigmatisation of people living with HIV and AIDS, significantly influence stigmatisation of PLWHA. On the other hand, knowledge of one’s own status, affiliation to religion, family communication, perceived risk and cultural attachment played a limited role in the stigmatisation of people living with HIV and AIDS. In view of the above findings, efforts need to be made to review programmes that are undertaken to create awareness about HIV and AIDS to improve HIV transmission knowledge. Constant interaction among PLWHA should be encouraged since this serves as a buffer to combat stigmatisation of PLWHA. There is a need for further research on gender, to explore in-depth reasons for stigmatisation of PLWHA, especially from females. Research also needs to be done in future to determine the factors that influence people from a high socio-economic level to stigmatise of PLWHA.

Obesity is a major public health problem and is a risk factor for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. In addition, the prevalence of obesity appears to be increasing worldwide, making it important to determine the nature and extent of obesity in populations at risk. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of body mass index (BMI) in Taiwanese adults 19 through 44 years old. Independent variables from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) included biological factors (age and sex), dietary factors (energy intake and fat intake), environmental factors (educational level, residence area, and nutrition knowledge), and lifestyle factors (leisure time physical activity, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption). Results indicated that nearly 40% of the 1,182 adult survey participants were obese or overweight, by Taiwanese standards. Regression analysis found that significant predictors of BMI were residence area, educational level, and age. Taiwanese adults more likely to have higher BMIs were from the mountainous area, had less education. An increase in ten years of age was related to an average increase in BMI of 1.13 kg/m�� (p<0.0001), controlling for other variables. These three factors accounted for 21% of the variance in all adults (15% of the variance in men, and 28% of the variance in women). In addition, smoking was a predictor of higher BMI in males, and alcohol intake was a predictor for higher BMI in females. Energy intake, fat intake, leisure time physical activity, and nutrition knowledge were not significant predictors for either males or females. The findings from this study will help public health professionals identify target areas and program needs to reduce obesity in Taiwan, particularly in the mountainous areas where the prevalence of obesity/overweight was seventy percent. / Graduation date: 2004

Syftet var att undersöka hur chefer och medarbetare upplever att stödet är anpassat för att hjälpa unga vuxna med lindrig intellektuell funktionsnedsättning, samt om det behöver förbättras för framtiden. Det genomfördes med kvalitativ ansats där två chefer och två omsorgsassistenter intervjuades med stöd av en intervjuguide. Intervjuguiden täckte de fyra teman normalisering, identitet, utanförskap och socialt tillhörighet. Resultatet analyserades via en induktiv tematiserings metod och via teorierna KASAM och empowerment. Det mest framträdande resultatet var att informanterna är ense om att stödet har brister och inte är anpassat till den valda målgruppen, speciellt när det kommer till självbestämmande, familjebildning och arbetsmarknaden. / The purpose of this study was to examine how managers and employees experience the care for young adults with mild intellectual disabilities and if something needs to be done to make the support more adjusted to the these individuals. This was conducted with a qualitative study where two managers and two employees, who meets the target group of the study thought their profession, was interviewed. The interview guide covered the four main themes; normalization, individuality, alienation and social belonging. The results were analyzed through an inductive thematic analysis method through the theories SOC and empowerment. The most striking result was that the informants all agree that the support they have to offer isn’t adapted for the target group, especially when it comes to self-determination, building a family and labor market.

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-161).

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-161).

Facebook is among the top used websites in the world, and research has shown that Facebook use is related to individual personality characteristics such as well-being and self-esteem. This study builds on previous research, expanding to investigate attachment-related anxiety and avoidance and relational certainty. The current study examined relationships between Facebook use (both general and for surveillance) and relational certainty, attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and self-esteem in undergraduate students (N = 261). Online methods were used for data collection, and individuals with their relationship displayed on Facebook reported more relational certainty; however, the more time they spent on the site, the less certain they were with their relationship. Individuals with high attachment-related anxiety were more likely to use Facebook for surveillance, and both attachment anxiety and Facebook use for surveillance were linked to lower self-esteem. These findings indicate that individuals with their relationship status displayed on Facebook have more relational certainty and exhibit less attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Individuals with high attachment anxiety use Facebook for surveillance. These results add to the expanding literature on Facebook and social networking sites, showing that different people use Facebook in varying ways. As social networking continues to be a staple in the lives of nearly one billion users, it is important to keep researching how people use it and what the potential implications of this use are.

It is no secret that the North American church has seen a decline over the last twenty years. This is especially pronounced in the younger generations. Significantly fewer people walk through the doors of a church each week. There are a myriad of factors that are driving this decline. One area that needs to be explored is the disengagement of young adults in church leadership. Engaging young adults in leadership is a proven way to engage them in the church. By listening to the voices of Canadian young adults, this dissertation offers a starting point for leaders. Making space for young adults to serve in leadership will both strengthen the church and reengage a lost generation.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Health information-seeking is a complex and dynamic construct. This study attempted to quantify and explain the use of interpersonal communication, media and related technologies as health information sources among first year university students on the campus of Stellenbosch University (SU), using a cross-sectional survey design. The questionnaire and web-based survey intended to measure and document important research constructs at a single point in time. Data from this survey provide exploratory information on patterns of health information-seeking practices and preferences encountered among the research target group. Measures of the reasons for health information-seeking on specific topics; health information sources/channels and frequency of source/channel use; information source credibility and quality as well as the outcomes of the health information-seeking process were used as secondary research aims in this study. Health communication and health management needs of the research population were also important research variables to establish. Results from this research indicate that the health status of the study cohort was good. The mean of the BMI kg/m² for the current study cohort lies at the higher end of the BMI kg/m² continuum for this age group, which indicates that the lifestyle of the study cohort is at risk. The use of health information sources among the research cohort was diverse. This research confirms that interpersonal communication is an important information medium through which young adults receive health information. The concept of an ecological context to health communication and its effects are therefore supported by these results. Use of media sources and related technology was common and diverse among the study cohort, mirroring patterns of media use for other young adult groups. Results further support the theory of effect-studies in communication (the media), where the provision of certain types of information through the media, indicate to have an impact on people’s thinking and behaviour. A behaviour change as result of the health information-seeking process was reported among the research cohort. Health communication literature refers to small numbers of studies conducted on health information-seeking among young adults (student populations). The current research has attempted to add to the body of knowledge on health information-seeking and its outcomes among a student population group in a South African university setting. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die soektog na gesondheidsinligting is 'n dinamiese en komplekse proses. Hierdie navorsing het gepoog om die gebruik van interpersoonlike kommunikasie, media en verwante tegnologieë as inligtingsbronne oor gesondheid onder eerstejaar-studente op die kampus van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US) te kwantifiseer en te verklaar. 'n Dwarsdeursnitopname is as studieontwerp gebruik. Die web-gebaseerde vraelys het gepoog om belangrike navorsingskonstrukte tydens 'n enkele tydgleuf te probeer meet. Data van hierdie opname verskaf verkennende inligting oor die patrone van die soeke na gesondheidsinligting en gesondheidsinligtingvoorkeure van studente. Redes vir die soek na gesondheidsinligting; mediums/metodes waardeur inligting verkry word; frekwensie van soektogte; geloofwaardigheid van mediums en die kwaliteit daarvan; onderwerpe waarna gesoek word en die uitkomste van hierdie gesondheidsinligtingsoektog, is as sekondêre navorsingsuitkomste van belang geag. Gesondheidskommunikasiebehoeftes onder die navorsingsteikengroep was belangrik om vas te stel. Resultate van die navorsing dui aan dat die gesondheidstatus van die navorsingsgroep goed was. Die gemiddelde BMI kg/m² vir die groep was egter aan die bokant van die BMI kg/m² kontinuum vir die ouderdomsgroep en dui op moontlike leefstylrisiko’s vir die groep. Die gebruik van gesondheidsinligtingsbronne was baie divers. Hierdie navorsing ondersteun die feit dat interpersoonlike kommunikasie, as gesondheidsinligtingsbron, nog 'n belangrike rol speel onder jong volwassenes. Die konsep van 'n ekologiese konteks vir gesondheidskommunikasie en die uitwerking daarvan, word ondersteun deur die huidige navorsingsresultate. Die gebruik van media en verwante tegnologieë, as inligtingsbronne vir gesondheid, is as baie divers gerapporteer. Dit bevestig patrone van mediagebruik wat onder ander jong volwassenes gevind is. Resultate van hierdie navorsing ondersteun ook die teorie van effek-studies in kommunikasie (die media), waar die verskaffing van inligting deur die media 'n impak op mense se denke en gedrag aandui. 'n Gedragsverandering is wel deur die navorsingsgroep aangedui as resultaat van die soeke na gesondheidsinligting. Gesondheidskommunikasieliteratuur verwys na enkele studies wat oor gesondheidsinligtingsoektogte onder jong volwassenes (studente-populasies) gedoen is. Die huidige navorsing het gepoog om 'n bydrae te maak tot hierdie kennis en die uitkomste daarvan onder studente op 'n Suid-Afrikaanse universiteitskampus.

This study investigated the impact that a number of variables within the short-term mission experience had on the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours of Anabaptist young adult mission participants in 24 concepts related to their relationship with God, the Church and world around them. Study participants were drawn from five different Anabaptist denominationally connected short-term mission programs ranging in length from one month to one year. This study used a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test, follow-up design with non-equivalent groups as well as a non-randomized control group. The 116 study participants filled out a quantitative questionnaire prior to their short-term mission experience, after they returned from their mission experience and again one year after they returned. This longitudinal aspect of the research design measured the relative impact of variables within the short-term mission experience on participants over time. Methodological triangulation was employed that allowed for a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools to be used in better understanding the comparative impact of the short-term mission experience. The questionnaire, short essay response and interviews all incorporated concepts related to the international and cross-cultural impact of the short-term mission experience that have not been systematically analysed in this kind of study before. Response rates remained very high throughout the three stages of data collection and produced a number of significant findings. These findings included the positive impact during the mission experience of: an extensive pre-trip training experience, longer assignments, cross-cultural assignment location, relationally focused assignments, supportive families and churches, and correlation between repeat assignments and strong interest in future full-time mission work. While the positive impact of the short-term mission experience was significant, the post-trip regression in participants' beliefs, attitudes and behaviours one year after returning from the mission experience was also significant. This regression indicates that inadequate attention is being paid to participant re-entry, debrief and follow-up. Short-term mission agencies, participants and local churches need to view the discipleship impact of the short-term mission experience as ongoing. It is counter-intuitive to invest discipleship resources on returning short-term mission participants; however, the data indicates that is where the most significant discipleship challenges are found. / Theology / D.Th.