Aims: The objective was to investigate if gender differences exist in the associations between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes. Disproportionate disparities by gender were found to exist in rates of both periodontitis and diabetes with respect to demographics and behavioural predictors that cannot be explained solely by the well-established association between these two diseases. Materials and methods: Multiple datasets were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2014, which used a stratified multistage probability sampling to obtain samples from all civilian non-institutionalised people in the USA. Bivariate relationships between each explanatory variable and periodontitis level were assessed with odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). A set of weighted logistic regression models was used to investigate the association differentiations between periodontitis and diabetes by gender. C-statistics measured the goodness-of-fit of weighted logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of moderate–severe periodontitis was 36.39% and 22.71% among participants with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes, respectively. Type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with moderate–severe periodontitis OR (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18–1.82) among males even after adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status and oral health behaviours. The aforementioned relationship was not found in females. Furthermore, different relationships of moderate–severe periodontitis with body mass index and the use of mouthwash were found between the males and females. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that important improvements in the development of gender-specific strategies in prevention, such as oral home-care, to reduce the high prevalence of periodontal disease and maintain good oral health are vital, and are especially important for male diabetic patients and those who are at high risk of developing diabetes, such as those who are obese.

Past research has focused extensively on the influence of temperament and mother-child interactions for the development of psychopathology. However, there is a paucity of research that has examined the role of natural variations in temperament and mother-child interactions on socioemotional outcome in samples of low-risk typically developing children. Furthermore, most research has investigated temperament and mother-child interactions in separate studies. Accordingly, the present work addressed three issues: 1) the short-term and long-term continuity of temperament and joint attention in typically developing children; 2) the predictive value of temperament and joint attention for socioemotional outcome in typically developing children; and 3) joint attention behaviours in a clinical sample of children. Temperament was assessed through maternal report on the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ) beginning when children were between 18 and 3 7 months of age while joint attention was assessed through direct observation. All the IBQ subscales showed 9-month continuity and 4 of the 6 IBQ subscales showed moderate to high stability. Although there was 9-month continuity for all the joint attention measures, only 4 out of the 7 joint attention behaviors showed low to moderate levels of stability. There was little 4-year continuity or stability of temperament. Cross-sectional relations were found between temperament and socioemotional outcome at both 18 and 37 months of age as well as 69 and 88 months of age. Established joint attention, measured when children were between 18 and 37 months of age, significantly predicted internalizing behaviours in typically developing children between the ages of 69 and 88 months. Significant differences in joint attention were also found in a clinical sample of children with internalizing disorders between the ages of 5 and 8 years. The present results suggest that some ofthe same temperament and joint attention behaviours that are associated with atypical development are also associated with typical variations in socioemotional development. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Non-communicable disease (NCD) rates, like diabetes, in Fiji are among the highest globally. Given that poor nutrition behaviours increase one’s risk for developing NCDs later in life, it is critical to address this early on.  However, there is limited evidence on drivers of nutrition behaviours among indigenous iTaukei university students in Fiji nor how to best engage them in nutrition programming.  The study, informed by the Behavioural Drivers Model and Human Centered Design, uses a qualitative approach to identify behavioural drivers relevant to nutrition among iTaukei university students attending two universities in Suva, Fiji’s capital city. The research also engages student participants to identify ideas for interventions that they would be interested in taking forward.   Findings of the study uncover the complexity of behaviour and highlight the psychological, sociological and environmental drivers that are critical behavioural determinants of students’ diets. Research participants propose innovative ideas to shape nutrition programming and ensure they are active participants in the process.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / Substantial literature connects religiousness to physical health; however, few studies have explored the influence of religiousness on risk-taking factors among Black first-entering university students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of religiousness on health risk behaviours among a sample of university students (N = 333) from a predominantly Black university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The risk behaviours of interest were alcohol consumption, risky sexual behaviours, cigarette smoking, drug use, rates of engagement in physical activity, and patterns of consuming healthy foods daily. The study used a cross-sectional design. Results indicated that intrinsic religiosity was negatively associated with alcohol consumption; risky sexual behaviours, cigarette smoking and drug use, and the effects of gender were present in both relationships. Intrinsic religiosity’s association with alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviours had no gender effect. Nevertheless, there was no direct relationship between diet and physical engagement, although intrinsic religiosity influenced the students’ engagement in physical activity only in the context of gender. It is recommended that a three-way design may be more effective in uncovering some of the associations between intrinsic religiosity and risk behaviours such as eating a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity.

Mental health problems are the leading causes of disability in Canada. Nearly 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence. Thus, identifying modifiable determinants of mental health problems in children and adolescents can inform future interventions intended to prevent them in this age group. Until recently, research has examined relationships of movement behaviours, including sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity mainly with physical health indicators (e.g., adiposity, cardiovascular disease risk factors, etc.). The few studies that have examined the relationships between movement behaviours and mental health indicators have considered the former individually and in isolation of each other, ignoring the intrinsic and empirical interactions between these behaviours. Adjusting for all these behaviours in a traditional regression model that assumes independence between variables has been shown to produce flawed and inconsistent findings. The purpose of this doctoral dissertation is to examine how the combinations of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep duration are associated with depression and other mental health outcomes in children and adolescents, through a series of five research studies (one systematic review, 3 cross-sectional studies, and one longitudinal study). Empirical studies used data from 3 large and diverse samples of children and adolescents from Canada and the United States. Conventional regression models and structural equation modelling, and novel analytical techniques, including compositional data analysis were used to analyze the data. The systematic review confirmed the paucity of existing research in this area and identified important research gaps to be filled. Collectively, the results from cross-sectional studies showed that meeting all three recommendations was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms and other mental health outcomes. However, this association appeared to be mainly driven by meeting the sleep duration recommendation, and to a lesser extent the screen time + sleep duration recommendations. There was a dose-response gradient from meeting none of the recommendations up to meeting two recommendations. Results from the longitudinal study using compositional data analysis provided further evidence suggesting that increasing sleep duration relative to the remaining behaviours (i.e. screen time and physical activity) was associated with lower depressive symptoms among all age/sex subgroups. Results further indicated that predicted changes in depressive symptoms were strongest and most beneficial when removing screen time while adding sleep duration. Finally, results from both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses suggest that age and sex moderate the association between movement behaviour recommendations (individual or combined) and mental health indicators, depending on the type of movement behaviour and the type of mental health indicators. The findings from this body of work have shed new light on the association between movement behaviours and mental health indicators in children and adolescents by demonstrating that meeting all three movement behaviour recommendations is associated with better mental health, and that sleep duration and screen time were more strongly associated with mental health compared with physical activity in our studies.

This thesis investigates the knowledge sharing process between individuals working at companies located in business centres. Through literature review and user-centred approaches taken from interaction design methodologies, I find clear patterns indicating that knowledge sharing can create individual, organizational, communal and in the long- term also societal growth. Throughout this thesis project I examine knowledge sharing in the specific context of business centres and highlight motivations and barriers in this process. In doing so I find that motivations for inter-organizational knowledge sharing exists amongst the intended users, but that these motivations are seldom realised into action. This is shown to be greatly related to the lack of a digital presence that considers the barriers in knowledge sharing, which opens up for possible design solutions. The project concludes in a high fidelity prototype of a CSCW-platform with the goal of increasing the knowledge sharing culture by giving users a greater awareness over individuals in their near surroundings and new ways to connect with these individuals.

This paper focuses on how to design a childrens game to help them realize that they can have a positive influence on the environment. We present a detailed description and analysis of our work process from brainstorming to the discussions after playtesting our prototype. Playing while learning has been the motivation of our work which is divided into three specific topics: How to involve the users in the design process, what type of social aspects exist in our game, and the importance of a feedback and reward system in the game. We look upon earlier research and examples within these three areas. We designed our game from a user centered perspective to make the users influence and encourage a discussion and awareness about environmental questions in a way that isnʼt negative. While designing our game we wanted to shed a positive light upon a serious issue and bring the environment into the topics of play and fun. In our research we discoverd that focusing on small subjects and tasks the children started to discuss the complex theme of the environment. We focus on the interaction with the children and using their influence to make decisions in our design process. Involving them helped us to see that there is not only one way of learning. In this game, the users learned from engagement and discussion, which ended up being the most important part of the game play.

<p>Body image is an important component of physical and psychological health. Cash's (2002) cognitive-behavioural model of body image is useful for understanding factors related to body image, such as body composition and leisure time physical activity (LTPA). Changes in body composition and LTPA following spinal cord injury (SCI) may increase the risk of developing an unhealthy body image and may jeopardize the overall health and well-being of people with SCI. Unfortunately, little research had been conducted to explore factors related to body image in the SCI population.</p><p>The object of the current thesis was to examine body image in people with SCI, within the framework of Cash's (2002) model. Specifically, we examined the relationships between appearance and functional satisfaction, LTPA, and body composition in 61 men and women with SCI. Pearson's correlations were calculated to examine the relationship between body composition and body satisfaction. In order to compare body satisfaction between men and women who engaged in some LTPA versus no LTPA, separate 2 (sex) x 2 (LTPA) ANOVAs were calculated for appearance satisfaction and functional satisfaction.</p><p>We hypothesized that body composition would be negatively related to appearance satisfaction and functional satisfaction such that higher body weight, percentage body fat and waist circumference would be associated with lower levels of satisfaction. Further, we hypothesized that after controlling for body composition, participants who engaged in LTPA would have more appearance and functional satisfaction than those who did not.Finally, we hypothesized that body satisfaction would be more strongly related to moderate-intensity LTPA versus mild-intensity LTPA, and resistance-LTPA versus aerobic-LTP A.</p><p>In partial support of our hypothesis, body composition was significantly related to appearance satisfaction for women only. Body composition was not significantly related to functional satisfaction for men or women. The results of the ANOVAs indicate that women were more dissatisfied with their appearance than men. However, contrary to hypothesis, appearance satisfaction did not differ between men or women who engaged in . LTPA versus those who did not. For men and women, those who engaged in mild or moderate intensity LTPA were less satisfied with their physical function than those who did not. Further, participants who engaged in resistance-LTPA were less satisfied with their physical function that those who did not.</p><p>Results are discussed within the framework of Cash's model. Findings suggest that people who engage in LTPA are less satisfied with their bodies than people who do not. This finding was surprising because LTPA has been shown to improve body image in the SCI population (Hicks et al., 2003). However, dissatisfaction with physical appearance or physical function may motivate individuals to engage in LTPA. The theoretical and practical implications of the current thesis are discussed. Prospective research is necessary to further understand the directionality of the relationship between the constructs of Cash's (2002) model, and to test SCI-specific variables as potential mediators and moderators of the relationship between LTPA and body image.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Background: Overweight and obesity affect approximately one-third of Canadian children and these children are at an increased risk of developing life-long obesity-related health consequences. Treatment efforts in the pediatric setting focus on behavioural modification – including modification of dietary intake. Eating behaviours encompass a modifiable aspect of dietary intake and could be a useful approach for weight reduction in the context of pediatric weight management (PWM) programs. Objectives: 1) To describe changes in family, child and parent eating behaviours over a 12-month period after enrolment in a PWM program. 2) To examine if changes in family eating behaviours over the first 6 months in a PWM program can predict child BMI z-score at 12 months, even when controlling for other factors related to changes in BMI z-score. Methods: Children ages 2-17 with a BMI >85th percentile were included in this analysis. Data was collected at baseline, 6 month and 12-month timepoints as part of the CANadian Pediatric Weight management Registry. BMI z-score was derived from height (cm) and weight (kg). Eating behaviours (eating related to hunger (ERH) and eating style (ES)) were measured in children, parents and families using the Family Eating and Activity Habits Questionnaire. Child and parental scores were summed to generate a family score. Decrease in scores over time indicated improvements in eating behaviours. Results: 807 children were included in the analysis (48.3% male, 51.7% female, mean age 12.08, mean baseline BMI z-score 3.55). Family ERH scores decreased significantly from baseline to 6 months by 1.63% (-0.16 points, SD=0.09, p<0.05) but by 12 months scores were the same as at baseline. Child ERH scores decreased significantly by 2.06% at 6 months (-0.14 points, SD=0.02, p<0.05), but at 12 months scores were the same as at baseline. Parent ERH scores did not change significantly. Family ES scores decreased from baseline to 6 months by 1.88% (-1.99 points, SD=0.21, p<0.05) and stayed approximately the same at 12 months. Child ES scores were similar, decreasing 2.86% (-1.68 points, SD=0.03, p<0.05) from baseline to 12 months. Parents ES score decreased significantly by 6 months, but after 12 months, scores were the same as at baseline. Change in either family eating behaviours from baseline to 6 months did not predict child BMI z-score at 12 months when adjusting for age, sex and BMI z-score at baseline. In subsequent exploratory analysis, increases in child eating behaviour scores at 6 months was a significant predictor of increases in child BMI z-score at 12 months (p=0.02) when adjusting for age, sex and BMI z-score at baseline. Conclusion: In the context of PWM programs, eating style and eating for hunger improved over the first 6 months after enrolment. Improvements in child eating behaviour after 6 months could predict improvements in child BMI z-score after 12 months. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Yes / Objective: To examine score validity and reliability of a Child version of the 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (CTFEQ-R21) in a sample of Canadian children and adolescents and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) z-scores and food/taste preferences. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: School-based. Subjects: 158 children, 63 boys (11.5±1.6 years) and 95 girls (11.9±1.9 years). Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the CTFEQ-R21 was best represented by four factors with item 17 removed (CFFEQ-R20) representing Cognitive Restraint (CR), Cognitive Uncontrolled Eating (UE 1), External Uncontrolled Eating (UE 2), and Emotional Eating (EE) and accounted for 41.2% of the total common variance, with good scale reliability. ANOVAs revealed that younger children reported higher UE 1 scores and CR scores compared to older children, and boys who reported high UE 1 scores had significantly higher BMI Z-scores. Children with high UE 1 scores reported a greater preference for high protein and fat foods, and high-fat savoury (HFSA) and high-fat sweet (HFSW) foods. Higher preference for high protein, fat, and carbohydrate foods, and HFSA, HFSW, and low-fat savoury foods was found in children with high UE 2 scores. Conclusions: This study suggests that the CFFEQ-R20 can be used to measure eating behaviour traits and associations with BMI z-scores and food/taste preferences in Canadian children and adolescents. Future research is needed to examine the validity of the questionnaire in larger samples and in other geographical locations, as well as the inclusion of extraneous variables such as parental eating or socio-economic status.