Community violence can have lasting impacts on populations that experience it, including but not limited to, financial damages, property damage, and psychological trauma. Therefore, exploring mechanisms of violence prevention is increasingly important, especially within the context of multicultural societies. This research does just that by approaching community violence prevention from an interdisciplinary perspective, including aspects of public health, political science, criminology, and sociology. This dissertation explores the interfaith organization InterFaith Leadership Council of Metro Detroit and those in the organization's network. It considers how interfaith leaders, through activism and dialogue, can contribute to community violence prevention. By applying the social ecological model and social disorganization theory, this research considers how to prevent community violence through building social capital, collective efficacy, and community capacity. This inquiry also utilized the social determinants of health to describe how violence and violence prevention is linked to community health. This dissertation uses qualitative data, including interviews, document analysis, and field notes to explore the mechanisms by which interfaith leadership can prevent community violence, specifically gang violence and violent extremism. / Doctor of Philosophy / Community violence can have lasting impacts on populations that experience it, including but not limited to, financial damages, property damage, and psychological trauma. Therefore, exploring methods of violence prevention is increasingly important. This dissertation uses qualitative data to explore community violence prevention in Metro Detroit as carried out by the InterFaith Leadership Council and its broader network. Included in this dissertation are insights from interviews, document analysis, and field notes. All this data informs the research and attempts to address how the question of how the interfaith community in Metro Detroit is working to prevent community violence. This research utilizes the social ecological model and social disorganization theory as its overarching framework for analysis. The analysis examines interfaith relationships, collective efficacy, and community capacity. This research also frames violence and violence prevention within the context of the social determinants of health in an attempt to identify the factors that affect violence and violence prevention.

Yes / Greenspace is important for physical and mental health. Low-income, multi-ethnic populations in deprived urban areas experience several barriers to using greenspace. This may exacerbate health inequalities. The current study explored structural and individual determinants of greenspace use amongst parents of young children in an urban, deprived, multi-cultural area situated in the North of England, UK. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 30 parents of children aged 0–3 between December 2016 and May 2017 from a range of ethnic groups. Thematic analyses were informed by the Human Health Habitat Map and the Theoretical Domains Framework. The results show that whilst all families recognised the benefits of greenspaces, use was bounded by a variety of structural, community, and individual determinants. Individual determinants preventing use included lack of knowledge about where to go, or how to get there and confidence in managing young children whilst outdoors. Fear of crime, antisocial behaviour and accidents were the overriding barriers to use, even in high quality spaces. Social and community influences both positively encouraged use (for example, positive social interactions, and practical support by others) and prevented use (antisocial or inappropriate behaviours experienced in greenspace). The built environment was a key barrier to use. Problems related to unsuitable or unsafe playgrounds, no gardens or safe areas for children's play, poor accessibility, and lack of toilets were identified. However, the value that parents and children placed on natural blue and green features was an enabler to use. Contextual influences included external time pressures, difficulties of transporting and caring for young children and poor weather. Multi-sectoral efforts are needed to tackle the uneven playing field experienced by multi-ethnic, urban, deprived communities. Initiatives to increase use should tackle structural quality issues, addressing fears about safety, whilst simultaneously encouraging communities to reclaim their local greenspaces. / received funding through a peer review process from the Big Lottery Fund as part of the A Better Start programme. RM is partly funded by the NIHR CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber.

The study of health disparities and the social determinants of health has resulted in the call for public health researchers to investigate the mid- and upstream factors that influence the incidence of chronic diseases (Adler & Rehkopf, 2008; Berkman, 2009; Braveman P. , 2006; Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014; Krieger, 2011; Rose, 1985). Social ecological models (SEMs) provide important conceptual tools to inform this research and practice (Krieger, 2011; Golden & Earp, 2012; Story, Kaphingst, Robinson O'Brien, & Glanz, 2008; Glanz, Rimer, & Lewis, 2002). These models can help us look at the social and physical environments in rural Arizona communities and consider how health policies and environmental interventions address mediating factors, such as disparities in access to fresh food, that contribute to ill health in marginalized, rural, populations. Rural residents are at greater risk for obesity than their urban counterparts (Jackson, Doescher, Jerant, & Hart, 2006; Story, Kaphingst, Robinson O'Brien, & Glanz, 2008). And while human life expectancy has steadily increased over the past thousand years, current projections indicate that the rise in obesity-related illnesses will soon result in its decline (Olshansky, et al., 2005). One reason for this decline, may be the reduced availability of healthy food – an important predictor of positive health outcomes including reduced obesity and chronic disease - in many parts of the United States (Brownson, Haire-Joshu, & Luke, 2006; Ahen, Brown, & Dukas, 2011; Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014; Braveman, Egerter, & Williams, 2011). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food deserts as geographic areas in which there is limited access to grocery stores and whose populations have a high rate of poverty. In Arizona, 24% of the rural census tracts are considered food deserts; compared to an average of eight percent of rural census tracts across the nation (United States Department of Agriculture, 2013). Food deserts are one example of the upstream factors influencing the health of rural populations. Local health departments have been encouraged through the National Association for City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) and through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) to conduct community health assessments (CHAs) in order to identify unique contexts and community resources, health disparities, and the social determinants of health as well as potential areas for advocacy, policy change, environmental interventions, and health promotion interventions. Public health challenges like chronic diseases, which have multiple causes, can be explored in-depth through CHAs. CHAs often contain recommendations for action and/or are followed by community health improvement plans (CHIPs) which help local health departments prioritize resources and set measurable goals. In Florence, AZ recommendations made in a CHA are being acted upon by a non-profit agency, the Future Forward Foundation (3F). This investigation explores two interrelated issues regarding the use of CHAs and CHIPs as practical tools to set public health priorities. First, what makes a CHA useful to rural public health practitioners? What methods of conducting a CHA and subsequently analyzing the data results in actionable policy recommendations and/or environmental level interventions? Second, to what extent can public health agencies engage nontraditional partners to work in partnership to address the social determinants of health? As an example, I will look at the impact of a volunteer-based non-profit agency, located in a rural food desert on improving the social and physical nutrition environment as recommended by a local CHA. This inquiry will provide insights to public health practitioners seeking to identify and implement policy and environmental change addressing complex, multi-causal, public health issues, and provide insights regarding engaging nontraditional partners who may not self-identify as public health agencies.

Master of Science / Department of Human Nutrition / Koushik Adhikari / Obesity in adolescence is associated with a complex web of ecological, psychosocial, and physiological factors, and many of these factors relate to nutrition and physical activity behaviors. Before interventions are developed, researchers need to know what factors specifically influence an adolescent’s food choices and physical activity within the community context. Cultural norms, school environment, and neighborhood attributes are examples of factors that may vary across different communities, and accounting for this variation can be quite challenging, unless community perspectives are acknowledged. The use of qualitative data from focus groups has shown to be an effective way of gathering community perspectives about the diversity of their views and experiences. The current study used focus groups to reveal facilitators and barriers to healthy eating behavior and physical activity engagement in 6th to 8th grade youth in a low-income community in South-Western Kansas. This methodology enabled community members (adolescents, parents, and teachers) to discuss and articulate their perceptions in relation to 6th to 8th grade youth’s eating habits and physical activity, and assessed available resources, needs, and opportunities for developing effective and sustainable intervention approaches in the community. Using the socio-ecological model, individual influences (e.g., taste preferences), social influences (e.g., parent and peer influences), and larger contextual influences (e.g., school) on early adolescent health were assessed. This information will be used to develop interventions addressing factors at these different levels of influence that are needed to improve eating habits and physical activity of youth in the community.

L’objectif de cette étude est d’analyser l’adaptation socio-affective et la satisfaction de vie des enfants âgés de 9 à 12 ans en lien avec les différents usages des Technologies Numériques de l’Information et de la Communication, tout en prenant en compte la qualité des relations amicales dans les contextes hors-ligne, en ligne et en mode mixte. À partir de l’approche écosystémique (Bronfenbrenner, 2005), le modèle opérationnel « P.P.C.T.» (Bronfenbrenner, 1996) a permis de procéder à l’analyse spécifique de l’impact des caractéristiques individuelles, contextuelles et temporelles sur le développement socio-affectif des enfants. Notre échantillon se compose de 508 enfants âgés de 9 à 12 ans, soit 248 garçons et 260 filles. Ils sont 87% à utiliser les TNIC à des fins communicationnelles. Le développement socio-affectif a été appréhendé à travers le Strenghts and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ ; Goodman, 1997) et la version française de la Multidimensional Student’s Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS ; Huebner, 1994 ; Fenouillet & al., 2015). Les enfants, tout comme les parents, ont répondu à divers questionnaires, tels que le Network of Relationships Social Provision Version (NRI-SPV ; Furman & al., 1985) et des échelles que nous avons adaptées. Nos principaux résultats indiquent que quelle que soit l’utilisation des TNIC, la majorité des enfants présente une adaptation socio-affective satisfaisante ainsi qu’une satisfaction de vie harmonieuse. Toutefois, à l’intérieur des différentes plateformes utilisées, sur les Réseaux SocioNuméiques, nous retrouvons un effet significatif du genre, les garçons présentant plus de troubles aussi bien intériorisés qu’extériorisés que les filles. Il en est de même sur les troubles extériorisés lorsque les garçons communiquent sur les jeux en réseau. Le support social au travers de l’ami hors-ligne et/ou mixte est un facteur de protection tout comme le fait de partager un lien d’amitié sur le RSN avec des membres de la famille. À l’inverse, le support social de l’ami en ligne et un lien d’amitié sur le RSN avec des inconnus ou des célébrités sera un facteur de risque. De plus, le bien-être des enfants sera impacté lorsqu’ils utilisent les TNIC dans une pièce isolée. Cette recherche, à caractère exploratoire, du fait des rares travaux francophones dans ce domaine est néanmoins prometteuse et encourage à proposer des pistes de recherche ainsi que des pistes d’intervention. Dans un souci de prévention, il est nécessaire d’accompagner les enfants à risque de développer des troubles psychologiques afin de pouvoir réduire ou, mieux, éviter les impacts négatifs qui sont associés à ces usages. / The purpose of this study is to analyze the social emotional adjustment and the life satisfaction level of children between 9 to 12 years old related to their use of Digital Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) taking into account the quality of their friendships in different contexts: online, offline and in a mixed mode. Following the ecological model (Bronfenbrenner, 1996), the PPCT operational model (Process, Person, Context, Time) allowed to specifically analyze the impact of individual, contextual and temporal characteristics on children's social emotional adjustment. Our sample consists of 508 children (248 boys and 260 girls). A vast majority of them (87%) use DICT for communication purposes. Social emotional adjustment is measured with the Strenghts and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997) and with the French version of the Multidimensional Student’s Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS; Huebner, 1994; Fenouillet & al., 2015). Children, as well as their parents responded to several other measures like the Network of Relationships Social Provision Version (NRI-SPV; Furman & al., 1985) and other adapted scales. Our main results show that, whatever the use of DICT, the majority of children show a satisfactory level of social and emotional adjustment as well a good life satisfaction. However, relating to the use of DICT, we found a significant difference between boys and girls. That is, compared to girls, boys show more externalized and internalized symptoms than girls. The situation is the same with online videogames: boys show more externalized symptoms than girls. Social support offered by offline friends or mixed friends (online and offline) represents a protecting factor. This is also true for online friendships with family members. Conversely, exclusively online friendships with strangers or with celebrities is a risk factor for social emotional adjustment. The well-being of children is negatively affected by connecting online in an isolated space. Lastly, because there are only a few francophone studies in this field, this exploratory study is promising in terms of research and intervention projects in the future. In a prevention perspective, it is necessary to support at risk children in order to prevent the psychological problems that can be related to the use of DICT.

O conhecimento de regiões costeiras é relevante para o manejo de recursos e segurança, portanto, é de interesse social, uma vez que grande parte da população mundial vive próximo às áreas costeiras. Uma forma de se estudar o ambiente marinho é através da modelagem numérica. Modelos ecológicos proporcionam a possibilidade de avaliar o estado de eutrofização do ambiente, prever consequências ambientais, estimar respostas a variações nas concentrações de nutrientes, quantificar os fluxos nos sistemas costeiros, dentre outros. A hipótese de trabalho é que condições meteorológicas determinam a hidrodinâmica, que por sua vez influencia as propriedades da água. Além disso, o crescimento populacional de zooplâncton depende da disponibilidade de fitoplâncton como alimento, e o crescimento populacional de fitoplâncton é influenciado por nutrientes, luz e temperatura da água. Com isso, o objetivo foi analisar a influência da hidrodinâmica, disponibilidade de luz e temperatura da água na distribuição de fito e zooplâncton, através da implementação de um modelo numérico hidrodinâmico tridimensional, acoplado a um modelo ecológico, no sistema estuarino de Santos - São Vicente. Ecossistemas estuarinos são dinâmicos, complexos, biodiversos e regidos principalmente por fenômenos físicos como maré, vento e chuva. A região de estudo está localizada na região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, abrangendo os municípios de Praia Grande, São Vicente, Cubatão, Santos e Guarujá. Para desenvolver este trabalho, foi utilizado o modelo Mohid, desenvolvido pela MARETEC no IST, que pertence à Universidade Técnica de Lisboa. Condições iniciais e de contorno foram especificadas para os processamentos do modelo; dados da literatura e trabalhos anteriores foram usados para sua implementação. Com os resultados da modelagem, distribuições de fitoplâncton foram analisadas em função das respectivas condições hidrodinâmicas, de modo a estabelecer suas interações. Os resultados do modelo para variação do nível do mar, corrente, temperatura da água, concentração de fitoplâncton e zooplâncton foram satisfatórios. Apesar disto, alguns resultados podem ser melhorados uma vez que nutrientes foram subestimados e a temperatura da água foi superestimada. / Knowledge on coastal regions are relevant for the management of resources and safety, therefore of social interest, because most of the world\'s population live near coastal regions. One way to study the marine environment is by the numerical modelling. Ecological models enable the possibility to measure the state of eutrophication of a given environment, foresee ambiental consequences, evaluate response from variation on nutrient concentration, quantify fluxes on coastal environments and more. The hypothesis of this work is that meteorological conditions define hydrodynamics, that in it\'s turn define water properties. Moreover, zooplankton populational growth is dependent on phytoplankton availability as a food source, and phytoplankton populational growth is affected by nutrients, light and water temperature. Thereby, the objective was to analyze the influence of hydrodynamics, light availability and water temperature on the phyto and zooplankton, using a tridimentional hydrodynamic model, coupled with a ecological model, at Santos-São Vicente estuarine complex system. Estuarine ecosystems are dynamic, complex, biodiverse and governed mostly by physical phenomena like tides, wind and rain. The study area is located at Baixada Santista metropolitan region, encompassing Praia Grande, São Vicente, Cubatão, Santos and Guarujá. To develop this work, the model MOHID was used, which is developed by MARETEC on IST, which belongs to the Technical University of Lisbon. Initial and boundary conditions were defined for the processing of the model; literature and previous work data were used to implement the model. With the results from the modelling, phytoplankton were analyzed in function to the respective hydrodynamical conditions, in a way to establish it\'s interactions. The modeling results for the water level, current, water temperature, zooplankton and phytoplankton concentration were satisfactory. Despite that, some results can be improved since nutrients were underestimated and water temperature was overestimated.

Physical inactivity is one of the major public health problems of the 21st Century. In England it is reported that two thirds of adults ( > 16 yr) and one third of children ( < 16 yr) do not do sufficient physical activity to gain the health benefits that leading a physically active lifestyle has to offer. The benefits of physical activity and dangers of a sedentary lifestyle to health outcomes are well documented and numerous studies have investigated physical activity participation. Indeed, many interventions have been trialled to increase engagement in physical activity; however results are weak and generally do not correlate to sustained physical activity participation. Furthermore, much debate exists on how best to encourage both children and adults alike to engage in sufficient physical activity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this research was to address this important research gap and to assess the physical activity levels and other factors for promoting engagement in physical activity of school aged children in Devon aged 7-15 years in order to assess the feasibility of using social marketing within the school setting to increase sustained physical activity participation. A mixed methods approach was adopted to gather data and consisted of both quantitative and qualitative methods, in two phases. The initial phase was quantitative in nature and utilised a self-report survey based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (Azjen, 1991) and social cognitive theory (SCT) (Bandura, 1977) to measure the participants’ physical activity levels; it also measured their beliefs and attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and self-efficacy pertaining to physical activity participation. The second phase utilised qualitative methods adopting the socio-ecological model (McLeroy et al., 1988) to identify opportunities to promote participation in physical activity in recognising the multiple factors (individual, social environment, physical environment and policy) that influence an individual’s behaviour. This phase consisted of a series of interviews with the students, teachers and head-teachers to enable the researcher to gain in depth information into physical activity patterns and beliefs. During phase two, ethnographic research was also conducted across a number of schools in Devon to complement and enhance the data collected in the survey. The results revealed that of the 1124 participants (‘students’) surveyed, 48% were not sufficiently active to meet the government guidelines. Males were 30% more active than females. Physical activity decreased with age (e.g. 15 yr olds on average taking part in 3 hours less activity than 7 yr olds). Lifestyle/recreational activities were the most regularly participated activities (e.g. walking – 52%, running – 31%, football – 29%, outdoor play – 28%). Moreover, attitudes, subjective norms and perceptions of behavioural control affected physical activity participation both in and out of the school setting. Self-efficacy also played a role in physical activity participation. The results of the thesis show that interview and ethnographic data produced a rich source of evidence. Physical activity provision within schools played a major role in students’ physical activity. Overwhelmingly the qualitative data revealed that students want greater choice in the physical activities they participate in and suggest that the focus of PE lessons should be on having fun and enjoyment rather than skills and rules. Transition from primary to secondary school affected physical activity participation and therefore experiences in schools, may affect children’s general views on physical activity which it is suggested may impact on physical activity participation beyond the school gates and also in adulthood. This thesis provides substantial evidence to support the link between the school environment and participation in physical activity in children and adolescents. More specifically it highlights a need to incorporate a ‘whole school approach’ to physical activity participation. This research has demonstrated that there is an urgent need to combine theory based physical activity research in schools with that of social marketing. Physical activity researchers and social marketers should combine their knowledge to bring together social marketing campaigns within schools to enhance the health and wellbeing of the whole school environment for both staff and students. An innovative school based social marketing campaign should encourage physical activity both within and outside the school environment and lead to sustained levels of physical activity participation across the life stages.

Mental illness affects more women than men in the United States. Poor mental health in reproductive-age women has negative implications on population health. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationship between household structure and frequency of mental distress, with consideration of the mediation social-emotional support provides for reproductive-age women. The social ecological model was the theoretical framework for this research, in which frequency of mental distress related to the individual-level of the human-environment interaction construct. Household structure and social-emotional support were examined at the relationship-level. Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data set with a total sample size of 65,269 women, 18-44 years old. The confounding variables, health care access, race, income, marital status, number of children in the household, and pregnancy status, were included in the analysis. Although social-emotional support significantly influenced both household structure and frequency of mental distress, significance was not found between household structure and frequency of mental distress indicating that mediation does not exist. This study provides researchers and practitioners information about household structure that should be considered when designing innovative, nonprofessional support programs at the community-level. Positive social change implications include an understanding of the relationship between complex variables associated with social-emotional support, which could improve community support programs focused on mental health wellness of reproductive-age women.

A lack of adequately built environments can negatively affect obesity rates among adolescents. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine if there is a relationship between the presence of built environments and childhood obesity among the immigrant population living in Cobb County Georgia. The social ecological model was used to explain how environmental factors may influence behavior. The research questions addressed whether walkability and elements of built environments such as to healthy foods and access to parks and recreational areas of census tracts affect childhood obesity when adjusting for race/ethnicity and immigrant population in Cobb County. Data was collected from government websites. Student enrollment, school ethnicity, and free/reduced lunch data were retrieved from the website, School Digger, which gathered their information from the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Georgia Department of Education data sources. Average BMI data were gathered from the Georgia Department of Education 2016-2017 Georgia fitness assessment report. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Pearson correlation and 1-way ANCOVA. Findings showed a statistical significance with the existence of farmer's markets and child obesity but no significance among the other built environment variables. The results from this study can help community leaders develop an inclusive plan to reduce the occurrence of obesity in adolescents within the target area.

Women with breast cancer commonly experience depression. However, this condition often goes unrecognized, undertreated, and understudied, especially in ethnic minorities. If left untreated, co-existing depression in women with cancer can complicate cancer treatment, lead to poor treatment adherence for both conditions, and decrease survival. These negative consequences are considerably higher among Latinas. With the growing number of Latinos and diversity within the Latino community, the literature has identified the need to disaggregate Latinos by region of origin. Unfortunately, few studies account for these differences and no study to date has examined risk factors of depression among Latinas diagnosed with breast cancer within 5 years or by region of origin. To begin exploring predictors of depression among Latina breast cancer survivors, a theory-driven mixed-methods approach was used to identify potential risk factors for depression as a group and by region of origin (e.g., South and Central America, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries). This study also sought to contextualize Latina breast cancer survivors' perceptions of risk factors of depression, necessary to shape culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions and programs. The guiding theoretical framework for this study was Lazarus and Folkman's Cognitive Stress Theory and McLeroy and colleagues' Ecological Model for Health Promotion. Sixty-eight Latinas meeting eligibility criteria were recruited from Latino cancer support groups and other community organizations in the West Central Florida area. Both purposive and snowball-sampling procedures were used to recruit participants. A researcher-administered closed-ended questionnaire, followed by a semi-structured interview addressed research aims and the primary outcome variable. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviations, frequency, percent), bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were completed using IBM SPSS V20. Thematic and content analyses were completed for qualitative data using Atlas.ti 6.2. Findings revealed the need for easily accessible, culturally and linguistically appropriate psychosocial services to help women adjust to cancer diagnosis and emphasized the need to disaggregate Latinos in future studies as findings may differ by Latino region of origin. Multivariate analyses showed appraisal variables (more perceived harm, more perceived threat, less perceived challenge - overcoming cancer), coping variables (less active coping and more self-blame), and poor body image to be significantly associated with an increased risk for the likelihood of depression. Appraisal variables accounted for greatest explained variance (36%). Risk factor differences by region of origin were observed in sub-group multivariate analyses, but this study was unable to conclude if risk factors play a different role by region of origin in a combined model. Twenty-two salient themes emerged from the thematic analyses of the qualitative data on all levels of the ecological model (e.g., acceptance of illness, lack of family and peer support, lack of access to care, language barriers). Content analyses demonstrated agreement on a majority of salient themes amongst groups (presence of depression symptoms and by region of origin) about the perceptions of risk factors for depression. "Helping oneself" and "discrimination" demonstrated significant difference in terms of the frequency these themes were discussed by presence of depression symptoms and "poor body-image" by region of origin. In conclusion, data from this study provided quantitative and qualitative data of potential risk factors of depression, which in turn can be used to conduct additional epidemiological studies to examine prognostic factors longitudinally. Study findings may also contribute to the existing literature of risk factors for depression to encourage future intervention and programs to reduce mental health disparities, to raise the awareness of the need for mental health services, and to inform mental health screening guidelines.