Despite the relatively consistent finding that Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and low Neuroticism are associated with the practice of health-promoting behaviors, the reasons for these linkages are not well understood. This prospective study addressed this gap by taking a self-regulation resource perspective on why these traits relate to health-promoting behaviors by examining the role of higher positive relative to negative state affect. Students completed baseline (N = 330), and two week follow-up (N = 195) surveys. Bootstrapping analyses of the indirect effects of each of the three traits on Time 2 health behaviors were significant in the expected directions, with Kappa squares ranging from .11 to .13. In the full longitudinal analyses controlling for Time 1 health behaviors, the indirect effects of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness through affect balance on Time 2 health behaviors were positive and significant, whereas the indirect effects through Neuroticism were negative and significant after accounting for the Time 1 practice of health behaviors. These findings provide a process-oriented understanding of how Big Five traits are linked to health-promoting behaviors and extend previous research supporting a self-regulation resource perspective on personality and health behaviors.

Current ACS guidelines recommend routine screening for cancer (ACS, 2002). Motivation to adhere to guidelines may be different for individuals with and without a family history of melanoma (Jonna, et al., 1998). Prior research examining the relationship between family history and skin cancer detection behaviors (Berwick et al., 1996; Friedman et al., 1993; Oliveria et al., 1999) have failed to utilize a theoretical framework to derive hypotheses. The purpose of the present study was to examine the utility of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) in explaining intentions to engage in skin cancer screening (SCS) and skin self-examination (SSE). In addition, the present study explored whether PMT variables explained the relationship between having a family history of melanoma and SCS/SSE intentions. The research design was cross-sectional with 101 participants in the positive family history group and 80 participants in the negative family history group. Using a standardized, self-report measure, participants were assessed on demographic characteristics, melanoma risk factors, PMT variables, family history, and SCS/SSE behaviors and intentions. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi square for categorical variables, t-tests for continuous variables, correlational analyses, and multiple regression analyses. The majority of participants (N = 181) were Caucasian (97%) and female (59%). As expected, findings indicated that greater perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, and response efficacy were associated with greater SCS intentions (p greater or less than .0001). Additionally, greater self-efficacy and response efficacy were associated with greater SSE intention (p greater or less than .01). Additionally, positive family history individuals reported greater perceived vulnerability, greater self-efficacy, and less perceived severity than negative family history individuals (p greater or less than .01). Individuals with a family history of melanoma also had greater SCS intentions and were more likely to have a healthcare provider who recommended SCS. Finally, perceived vulnerability and self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between group status and SCS intentions. The present study confirms and extends prior research on psychological factors associated with SCS/SSE intentions and on individuals with a family history of melanoma. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Urban sprawl often has a negative connotation, used as a derogatory label for certain forms and consequences of land development that are seen as environmentally and socially unpleasant. Although sprawl may be seen as offensive, there may be other, far greater and more harmful consequences of sprawl. The literature indicates that rates of negative health outcomes, such as obesity, tend to be higher in more developed areas. However, aside from a few studies, little empirical research looks specifically at the influence of sprawl when it comes to individual health. This research project focuses on sprawl and examines the relationships it has with health behaviors and health outcomes. By analyzing data from the CDC’s 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual telephone survey of adults that include more than two-hundred self- reported and calculated variables, I investigate the associations between sprawl, physical activity, body weight, and health outcomes using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). By employing SEM, my research differs from previous research in this field by adding not only additional layers to the evaluation of sprawl and health outcomes, but also allows for the evaluation of associations through various “paths” instead of looking at variables within simpler hierarchical regression models. In addition to direct effects, it also allows for the determination of indirect, or mediated, effects between variables within a path model. Even though no direct relationship between sprawl and health outcomes was revealed, sprawl did show to have a statistically significant indirect effect on health outcomes mediated by physical activity and body weight. Physical activity is also shown to mediate the relationship between sprawl and body weight. Additionally, physical activity reveals both a direct and indirect effect on health outcomes, with its indirect effect being mediated by body weight. Finally, physical activity and body weight are both shown to have statistically significant direct effects on health outcomes. In the concluding chapter I propose a new path model in light of the results of the analyses of data in order to represent the associations between sprawl, physical activity, body weight, and health outcomes more accurately.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 117 pages. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT Current ACS guidelines recommend routine screening for cancer (ACS, 2002). Motivation to adhere to guidelines may be different for individuals with and without a family history of melanoma (Jonna, et al., 1998). Prior research examining the relationship between family history and skin cancer detection behaviors (Berwick et al., 1996; Friedman et al., 1993; Oliveria et al., 1999) have failed to utilize a theoretical framework to derive hypotheses. The purpose of the present study was to examine the utility of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) in explaining intentions to engage in skin cancer screening (SCS) and skin self-examination (SSE). In addition, the present study explored whether PMT variables explained the relationship between having a family history of melanoma and SCS/SSE intentions. / ABSTRACT: The research design was cross-sectional with 101 participants in the positive family history group and 80 participants in the negative family history group. Using a standardized, self-report measure, participants were assessed on demographic characteristics, melanoma risk factors, PMT variables, family history, and SCS/SSE behaviors and intentions. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi square for categorical variables, t-tests for continuous variables, correlational analyses, and multiple regression analyses. The majority of participants (N = 181) were Caucasian (97%) and female (59%). As expected, findings indicated that greater perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, and response efficacy were associated with greater SCS intentions (p greater or less than .0001). Additionally, greater self-efficacy and response efficacy were associated with greater SSE intention (p greater or less than .01). / ABSTRACT: Additionally, positive family history individuals reported greater perceived vulnerability, greater self-efficacy, and less perceived severity than negative family history individuals (p greater or less than .01). Individuals with a family history of melanoma also had greater SCS intentions and were more likely to have a healthcare provider who recommended SCS. Finally, perceived vulnerability and self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between group status and SCS intentions. The present study confirms and extends prior research on psychological factors associated with SCS/SSE intentions and on individuals with a family history of melanoma. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Statement of Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of preconception health on adverse pregnancy outcomes through the theoretical lens of reciprocal determinism. Thus, this study aims to develop a preconception health conceptual framework that accounts for the interactive relationships among behavior, the environment, and the person. Rationale for the Study Women may not recognize a pregnancy until the first or second missed menstrual cycle, a full four to eight weeks or more after conception. Once a woman realizes the possibility of a pregnancy, it takes further time to confirm the pregnancy with a home pregnancy kit or a visit to the health care provider. In that time period, the woman may have unknowingly exposed her embryo to nutritional deficiencies, over-the-counter drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or other toxins. Because nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, yielding about three million unintended pregnancies in the U.S. annually, there is a need to shift care to an earlier period in a woman's life cycle with greater potential to prevent birth defects and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, also known as preconception care. The preconception health movement began with the rationale that many adverse pregnancy outcomes are determined prior to prenatal care initiation. Thus, in addition to prenatal care, the need for preconception health arose. The empirical literature makes a strong case for the benefit of individual preconception health components and their effects on adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the actual effectiveness of collective preconception health in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes has not yet been demonstrated. In an effort to evaluate the impact of preconception health on maternal morbidity, infant morbidity, and infant mortality, this study examined the reciprocal relationships between environmental, personal, and preconception behavioral factors and their associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 2005-2008 to test a preconception framework. Project 1 examined all variables in the preconception framework among the following states: Maine, New Jersey, Ohio, and Utah. Project 2 examined all variables except of two among all PRAMS-participating states. All of the variables in the proposed framework were derived from questions in the PRAMS survey or from PRAMS-linked birth certificate data. The research questions posed in this study were resolved through the path analyses of reduced and full iterations of the preconception framework in Projects 1 and 2. Results In Project 1, list-wise deletion of missing data resulted in a decrease from the original 27,933 participants to 12,239 participants. In Project 2, this action resulted in a decrease from the original 200,008 participants to 128,551 participants. The analysis of the reduced frameworks for both projects revealed extremely low R-squared values (1.1% or less). Subsequent analyses examining the full framework in Projects 1 and 2, as well as an additional post hoc analysis with supplementary PRAMS variables, resulted in R-squared values of 13.1%, 11.4%, and 30.5%, respectively. Implications This study examined the impact of preconception health behaviors on adverse pregnancy outcomes through the theoretical lens of reciprocal determinism. Preconception health behaviors alone accounted for a negligible portion of the variance associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. As hypothesized, preconception health behaviors work in concert with environmental factors, personal influences, prenatal and natal factors. Significant predictors supported in the literature included lower socioeconomic status, pregnancy intention, pregnancy history, older maternal age, black maternal race, Hispanic ethnicity, overweight maternal BMI, tobacco use prior to pregnancy, maternal complications, hospitalization during pregnancy, later prenatal care initiation, fewer prenatal care visits, plurality, and cesarean section. Even so, there is a large portion of the variance in adverse pregnancy outcomes that is not accounted for, and further examination is required.

This study examined the knowledge, sources of information, reasons for and against Gardasil® uptake, and possible relationships between unhealthy behaviors and vaccination for undergraduate college females at a public university. Utilizing an online survey, 2400 random students were emailed as well as recruited through online classes. The final sample size was 516 females. The study determined how many participants had been vaccinated and their rationale for or against vaccination. The majority of study participants were knowledgeable about HPV and Gardasil®. The primary sources of information about HPV and Gardasil® were doctors and television; however parents and friends were also common sources of information. Predictors for HPV inoculation included race, the belief that the vaccine would protect against HPV, alcohol use, and engagement in anal intercourse. Over 50% of participants had received at least one dose of Gardasil®, and 82% had completed the series. The most common rationale for not getting the vaccine, or not completing the vaccination series, was concern about side effects. The most common rationale for completing the vaccination or intending to complete the series was protection from cervical cancer. In conclusion, there is a continued need provide health education about HPV and HPV vaccination for college females.

Physical activity guidelines encouraging activity among healthy pregnant women have been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yet Latina women remain more sedentary than non-Latina white women. Latina women are also at higher risk for gestational diabetes mellitus and, among Latina women, Puerto Rican women have the highest rates of low birth weight and preterm-related infant death. This dissertation utilized data from the Latina GDM study, a prospective cohort study of 1,231 Latina women recruited early in pregnancy and followed through delivery. Participants were interviewed in early and mid pregnancy for assessment of sociodemographics, acculturation, medical, and behavioral factors, in addition to administration of the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey for assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Birth outcomes were abstracted from medical records following delivery. In the first chapter, we assessed the prevalence of three health behaviors (meeting physical activity guidelines, meeting fruit/vegetable consumption guidelines, and cigarette smoking) in early and mid pregnancy and identified multiple factors associated with meeting health behavior guidelines in pregnancy. In the second chapter, we examined participation in sedentary behaviors, such as time spent TV watching, sitting at work, and low levels of sports and exercise, in pre, early and mid pregnancy in relation to maternal glucose intolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus. In the final chapter, we analyzed four types of physical activity (sports/exercise, household/caregiving, occupational, and active transportation) as well as total activity in relation to risk of preterm birth and small-for-gestational age. Findings represent the first study of physical activity and maternal/fetal outcomes conducted exclusively among Latina women, a group largely understudied in epidemiologic research. Results will guide culturally specific intervention programs in this high risk population.

Les études portant sur les effets de l'environnement sur la santé ont essentiellement examiné les effets de l'environnement résidentiel. Cette approche a été critiquée pour son absence de prise en compte des environnements géographiques de vie non-résidentiels. L'objectif général de cette thèse est d'évaluer si la prise en compte des lieux d'activité dans lesquels les individus se déplacent et sont régulièrement exposés permet de mieux estimer l'impact de l'environnement sur la pratique de la marche récréative. Trois études transversales ont été conduites sur la seconde vague de la Cohorte RECORD. La première étude a permis d'identifier une typologie des comportements de mobilité individuels et les déterminants sociodémographiques de ces mobilités. Les résultats de la deuxième étude montrent que l'exposition à des caractéristiques environnementales facilitant la marche diffère entre le quartier de résidence, le quartier résidentiel perçu, et l'espace d'activité. L'erreur de mesure liée à la seule prise en compte de mesures d'exposition résidentielle varie en fonction des groupes socio-économiques et des degrés d'urbanisation de la résidence dans la région Île-de-France. Dans la troisième étude, une densité de destinations élevée, la présence de lacs ou de voies d'eau et un niveau d'éducation élevé du quartier sont associés à une augmentation de la pratique de la marche récréative. Cette thèse souligne l'importance de prendre en compte les environnements géographiques de vie résidentiels et non-résidentiels pour mieux approximer l'exposition environnementale réelle, et évaluer les effets de l'environnement sur les comportements de santé. / Previous studies on place effect on health focused on the residential neighborhood. This approach was criticized for not considering non-residential geographic life environments. The overarching aim of this dissertation is to estimate whether accounting for people’s network of activity places and their resulting exposure allows improving the understanding of environmental influences on recreational walking behavior. Three cross sectional studies were conducted on the second wave of the RECORD Cohort Study. In the first study, I identified a typology of individuals’ patterns of mobility and related socio-demographic correlates. Results from the second study provide evidence that exposure to environmental characteristics supportive to walking highly differs between the residential neighborhood, the perceived residential neighborhood and the activity space. The measurement error resulting from the sole use of residential measures of exposure varies among SES groups and among categories of the degree of urbanicity of the residence. In the third empirical study a high density of destinations, the presence of a lake or waterway, and a high neighborhood education are associated with recreational walking. This dissertation strengthen the conceptual grounds and empirical evidence that accounting for both residential and non-residential geographical environments individual get exposed is required to better proxy the true environmental exposure, and to estimate environmental influences on health behaviors.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer à la littérature en économie en analysant trois déterminants psychologiques dans la manière dont les individus prennent des décisions dans le temps en utilisant des approches et des méthodologies issues de l’économie et de la psychologie. Ainsi, le premier chapitre de cette thèse analyse théoriquement la demande des individus pour des dispositifs d’engagement pour lutter contre leur propre préférence pour le présent. Cette étude théorique est illustrée par une expérience en laboratoire sur la perte de poids. Le deuxième chapitre étudie empiriquement l’impact des conditions de travail sur les comportements de santé des individus à la lumière de la littérature en psychologie sur l’autorégulation. Le troisième chapitre propose une traduction et une validation de l’échelle des aspects de l’identité et montre que l’analyse économique des préférences individuelles peut bénéficier de la ré-introduction de la subjectivité de l’identité personnelle. Enfin, le dernier chapitre de cette thèse explore dans quelle mesure cette subjectivité de l’identité personnelle peut être importante pour comprendre les choix intertemporels. / The objective of this thesis is to contribute to economic literature by analysing three psychological determinants in the way individuals make decisions over time, using approaches and methodologies from economics and psychology. Thus, the first chapter of this thesis theoretically analyses the demand for commitment devices to overcome their own present-bias. This theoretical study is illustrated by a laboratory experiment on weight loss. The second chapter empirically examines the impact of working conditions on individuals’ health behaviours in the light of the psychological literature on self-control. The third chapter proposes a translation and validation of the Aspects of Identity Questionnaire and shows that the economic analysis of individual preferences can benefit from the reintroduction of the subjectivity of personal identity. Finally, the last chapter of this thesis explores the extent to which this subjectivity of personal identity can be important in understanding intertemporal choices.

En 2015, les pathologies cardiovasculaires étaient responsables de 18 millions de décès par an dans le monde, ce qui en fait la principale cause de mortalité liée aux maladies non-transmissibles. Il a été mis en évidence que des changements de comportements multiples en termes d’activité physique, d’alimentation, de consommation de tabac, et d’observance médicamenteuse, représentaient des moyens efficaces de prévenir l’émergence de cardiopathies chez des populations générales, et des rechutes après un accident cardiaque. En psychologie sociale et de la santé, la compréhension des déterminants des comportements de santé s’est principalement appuyée sur deux approches : l’approche socio-cognitive et l’approche duale. Bien que ces modèles aient identifié plusieurs prédicteurs du comportement, ils sont porteurs de limites qui les rendent difficilement applicables au cadre du changement de comportements multiples. D’une part, ces approches proposent des déterminants spécifiques à un comportement, ce qui ne permet pas de comprendre ce qui détermine l’adoption de plusieurs comportements simultanément. D’autre part, ils ne prennent pas en compte la nature des comportements de santé. Or, les comportements diffèrent sur un certain nombre de caractéristiques, et les comportements pathogènes peuvent s’opposer aux comportements salutogènes, générant alors un conflit chez l’individu. Dans le cadre des changements de comportements multiples, une mauvaise gestion de ce conflit pourrait expliquer la prévalence des comportements pathogènes. Ce travail doctoral a investigué le rôle de deux processus de réduction du conflit pertinent dans le cadre du changement de comportements multiples : les cognitions compensatrices et le contrôle de soi. Plus précisément, ils ont cherché à évaluer (1) dans quelle mesure le mécanisme inter-comportemental des cognitions compensatrices pouvait perturber la formation d’intention envers des comportements de santé ; et (2) si le contrôle de soi était un déterminant aspécifique permettant l’émergence de plusieurs comportements de santé. Nous avons répondu à ces questionnements à travers quatre études empiriques décrites dans trois manuscrtis. Le premier a évalué le rôle délétère des cognitions compensatrices (en dissociant celles-ci selon la nature des comportements) sur la formation d’intentions envers différents comportements de santé, chez des individus atteints de cardiopathies. Les résultats ont montré que ces croyances peuvent avoir des effets négatifs sur les intentions à certains niveaux d’auto-efficacité et de risques perçus. Le deuxième manuscrit présente une étude qui a évalué dans quelle mesure le modèle du contrôle de soi, auquel nous avons intégré une mesure de l’état de la capacité de contrôle de soi, prédisait les comportements de santé. Nos résultats montrent des processus globalement différenciés selon le type de comportement : activité physique/sédentarité, alimentation équilibrée/déséquilibrée, et consommation de tabac. Plus précisément, ils suggèrent que l’effort de contrôle de soi prédirait les comportements pathogènes, et que l’état de la capacité de contrôle de soi prédirait les comportements salutogènes. Le troisième manuscrit a cherché à confirmer ces résultats chez deux populations, l’une d’étudiants, l’autre d’individus atteints de cardiopathies, en testant le modèle du contrôle de soi en contexte naturel et dans un devis longitudinal. Bien que des différences dans les patterns de résultats soient observés selon la population, les résultats semblent confirmer le rôle de l’effort de contrôle de soi sur les comportements pathogènes (sédentarité et alimentation déséquilibrée), et de la capacité de contrôle de soi sur les comportements salutogènes (activité physique). L’ensemble de ces résultats ouvrent la voie vers la construction d’interventions ciblant ces deux composants du modèle du contrôle de soi, afin d’améliorer l’adhérence aux comportements de santé chez des populations cardiaques. / In 2015, cardiovascular diseases caused 18 million deaths per year worldwide, which makes it the leading cause of death attributed to non-communicable diseases. Multiple health behaviors change in terms of physical activity, diet, tobacco consumption, and medication adherence represent one of the best ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases emergence on global population, and to prevent relapses on individual with cardiovascular diseases. To understand behaviors determinants, social and health psychology relies on two conceptual frameworks: socio-cognitive models and dual-process theories. These models identified several behavioral determinants, but two reasons could make their application difficult in the multiple health behavior change framework. First, these approaches proposed behavior-specific determinants that do not permit to understand what determines the simultaneous adoption of several behaviors. On the other hand, they do not consider behaviors characteristics. However, behavior characteristics could be different and unhealthy behaviors could confront healthy behaviors, and thus generate conflicts on an individual. Within the multiple health behavior change process, poor conflict-coping strategies could explain unhealthy behavior prevalence. This doctoral work has investigated role of two processes of conflict reduction within multiple health behavior change: compensatory health beliefs, and self-control. Specifically, they evaluated (1) to what extent compensatory health beliefs, a between-behavior belief, could harm intentions toward healthy behaviors; and (2) if self-control could be an unspecific determinant of multiple health behavior change. We conducted four empirical studies merged in three manuscripts to answer these questions. The first manuscript evaluated compensatory health beliefs harmful influences (by dissociating them according with behaviors nature) on intentions formation process toward several health behaviors, within individual with cardiovascular diseases. Results showed that these beliefs could harm intentions depending on certain self-efficacies and risks perception levels. The second manuscript presented a study that investigated to what extent the self-control model, with a measure of state self-control capacity, predicted health behaviors. Results highlighted different prediction patterns depending on behaviors domain: physical/sedentary activity, healthy/unhealthy diet, tobacco consumption. More precisely, results suggest that self-control effort predicted unhealthy behaviors, and state of self-control capacity predicted healthy ones. The third manuscript attempted to confirm these results on two populations. The first one was composed of students, and the second one was composed of individual with cardiovascular diseases, by testing self-control model on ecological context and with a longitudinal design. Despite differences within predictions patterns, depending on the population observed, results confirmed the role of self-control effort on unhealthy behaviors (sedentary time and unhealthy diet), and of state self-control capacity on healthy behavior (physical activity). Taking together, all these results pave the way to the development of interventions on these two self-control model components, in order to improve health behaviors adherence of individual with cardiovascular diseases.