The purpose of this research was to develop, validate, and test an instrument to evaluate motivations to eat in low-income women during the early postpartum period. The instrument was also used in a sample of young college women to further validate the measure and explore determinants of eating in this population. In study 1, the Eating Stimulus Index was validated in 179 low-income women in early postpartum. Validity and reliability were determined via principal components analysis, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability using a subgroup of 31 low-income new mothers. The factor analysis produced an eight factor structure with reliability coefficients ranging from 0.54-0.89. Convenience eating (r=-0.25, P<0.01), emotional eating (r=-0.17, P<0.05), and dietary restraint (r=-0.21, P<0.01) were significantly related to weight status. In study 2, the relationship between eating motivations and diet quality, determined via the Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index, was established in 115 low-income women in early postpartum. High diet quality was related to fruit and vegetable availability (r=0.25, P<0.01), convenience eating resistance (r=-0.36, P<0.001), and vegetable taste preference (r=0.23, P<0.05). Motivations to eat differed between overweight and obese women with the primary motivation being convenience eating and taste, respectively. In study 3, determinants of weight loss were examined in 58 low-income women in early postpartum participating in an 8-week weight loss intervention. Participants were evaluated at pre- and post-study for all measures. Factors related to weight loss included increases in dietary restraint, weight management skills, and weight loss self-efficacy and decreases in fruit juice servings, total energy, and discretionary energy intakes. After hierarchical regression analysis, improvement in weight loss self-efficacy was the most significant determinant (β=0.263, P<0.05) followed by decreases in discretionary energy intake (β=-0.241, P<0.05). In study 4, determinants of diet quality were assessed in a sample of 88 young college women using the Eating Stimulus Index. Low diet quality was associated with poor fruit and vegetable availability, convenience eating resistance, vegetable taste preference, and weight management self-efficacy, while high diet quality was related to increased frequency of meals prepared at home and decreased frequency of meals consumed at fast food restaurants. / text

Ding Lai-Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-167). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter One: --- Introduction / Chapter 1 --- The Miao History of Guizhou in China --- p.P.4-8 / Chapter 1.1 --- The socio-economic background of the Miao rural community --- p.P.8-11 / Chapter 1.2 --- Femininity of the ' feminized other' ´ؤ the Portray of the Miao women / Chapter 2 --- The concept of agency --Literature Review --- p.P.13-20 / Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.P.20-22 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- The Miao women's agency over the traditional drinking custom / Chapter 1 --- The traditional drinking custom in the Miao community Of Guizhou in China --- p.P.23-47 / Chapter 2 --- The acquisition of drinking habit by the Miao men And the Miao women / Chapter 2.1 --- The Perception of drinking among the Miao men of different ages --- p.P.48-50 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Miao women's agency over the traditional drinking custom / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Among the unmarried girls --- p.P.50-53 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Among the married women --- p.P.53-58 / Chapter 3 --- Traditional drinking custom and wife battering / killing --- p.P.58-60 / Chapter 4 --- Concluding remark --- p.P.60-64 / Chapter Chapter Three : --- The Miao women's agency over the contraceptive technology / Chapter 1 --- The concepts of reproduction and body --- p.P.65-72 / Chapter 2 --- The Birth Planning Policy in the national minority regions --- p.P.72-74 / Chapter 2.1 --- Among the national minority groups in Guizhou --- p.P.74-75 / Chapter 2.2 --- Within the villages --- p.P.75-76 / Chapter 3 --- Norplant ´ؤ The contraceptive devise assigned to the Miao women --- p.P.77-81 / Chapter 4 --- The coercive use of Norplant ´ؤ a devastating challenge to the Miao women's agency --- p.P.81-86 / Chapter 4.1 --- As the economic burden levied on the Miao women --- p.P.86-90 / Chapter 4.2 --- As the health burden levied on the Miao women --- p.P.90-94 / Chapter 5 --- Concluding remark --- p.P.94-96 / Chapter Chapter Four - --- The Miao women's agency over the family violence / Chapter 1 --- Theoretical orientation of family violence-wife abuse --- p.P.97-102 / Chapter 2 --- Major dominant script of family violence and wife abuse by the Women Federation in China --- p.P.102-106 / Chapter 3 --- The gender relation within the Miao rural community of Guizhou in China --- p.P.106-113 / Chapter 3.1 --- The unequal sexual division of labor within the family --- p.P.113-121 / Chapter 3.2 --- Drinking and wife abuse in the Miao community --- p.P.121-124 / Chapter 3.3 --- Wife abuse in the Miao community - From scolding to killing --- p.P.124-130 / Chapter 3.4 --- Fro Passive to active - a coping strategies continuum --- p.P.131-139 / Chapter 4 --- Concluding remark --- p.P.139-140 / Conclusion --- p.P.141-149 / Interviewee's profile / Reference / Appendix

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2002. / Bibliography : leaves 247-276.

Many women experience sexual violence, but bisexual women are at particularly high risk for such victimization. Theories attempting to explain women’s risk for sexual violence have focused on numerous risk factors (e.g., childhood abuse, substance use, sexual risk behavior, among others); however, many of these factors have not been explored with sexual minority survivors. The current study used multiple groups path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework in order to test a theory-driven model of victimization risk, first among a general sample of women, and then among subsamples of heterosexual, lesbian, and bisexual women. The prospective model included childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse as three separate exogenous variables; sexual risk behavior, alcohol use, and drug use as separate mediators; and a count-based adult sexual victimization score as the outcome. The prospective model was trimmed until it best represented the observed data for the full sample, which saw the inclusion of childhood sexual and physical abuse as the only exogenous variables, sexual risk behavior as the only mediating variable, and adult sexual victimization as the outcome. Sexual risk behavior mediated the relationship between both childhood abuse variables and adult sexual victimization for the general sample of women. However, within the multiple groups model, sexual risk behavior mediated the relationship between childhood physical abuse and adult sexual victimization among bisexual women only. A mediational relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual victimization via sexual risk behavior approached significance among bisexual women only. A second-stage moderating effect approached significance whereby the relationship between sexual risk behavior and adult victimization was stronger for heterosexual women than for bisexual women. Additionally, the direct effect of childhood sexual abuse on adult sexual victimization was stronger for lesbian women than for bisexual women. Relationships among variables and the novel and unique findings pertaining to bisexual women’s victimization risk are framed as the compounding effect of childhood trauma and social stigmatization of bisexuality. Implications and future directions are described.

Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2017 / This study drew attention to the influential role the transformational leadership constructs can play in increasing women representation in decision making structures of the Department of Social Development (DSD). The DSD’s Sekhukhune District in Limpopo Province was used as an area of study. The aim of the study was to investigate the significance of transformational leadership in pursuing gender parity in the DSD’s Sekhukhune District. The study followed an exploratory research design and implemented a qualitative methodology. A total of 10 DSD managers were targeted. Furthermore, a purposive sampling was used and interviews were conducted as the method of data collection. The data collected had been analysed thematically. The results revealed that although there have been improvements of more appointed women managers within the organisation. There were still more women managers than men managers within the organisation. However, most men occupy senior management positions while most women occupy the lower managerial positions. Most managers were not inspired to perform more than they were expected giving the reason that, they lack resources and their efforts often go unrecognised. Most managers found political appointment discouraging towards fair promotions. Nevertheless, there were enough women who possess required leadership skills. Conversely, there were no programmes that support women participation and empowerment in issues relating to gender parity. Leadership training, transformational leadership, provision of resources and salary acceleration were common suggestions to pursue gender parity. The study recommends that the DSD Sekhukhune District leadership should adopt and implement transformational leadership, change political appointment, appoint leaders with relevant qualifications, establishing a functional gender mainstreaming office within the DSD Sekhukhune District, adequate budgetary support and specialised training of staff shall assist in closing the gender parity gap.

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / This study is an investigation into the significance of transformational leadership and its effect in pursuing gender parity in organisations. The study looked into the processes that are in place and which are aimed at pursuing gender parity at Capricorn District Municipality. It further contended that issues pertaining to gender parity cannot be studied outside the confines of transformation in the organisations. Tyson (2015) argues that transformation in relation to gender parity will take several decades before its fruits are evident in organisations. Therefore, this implies that processes and practices related to transformation, have to be carefully monitored so as to achieve the desired gender parity results. Gender parity and transformational processes will have to be incorporated into policies of various organisations. Transformation has to be owned by the leadership of the organisations; it should not be perceived as a compliance mechanisms. Gender parity in many organisations continues to be one of the issues that everyone knows about, but does little to implement. Key findings in this research suggest that Capricorn District Municipality is faced with some challenges that stems from inadequate communication, mentorship programme as well as training and development with regard to processes and policies pertaining to gender parity. Majority of respondent cited no knowledge of such processes and policies within the organization. The following recommendations were drawn from the study: Strategies that will alleviate the challenges includes, change management, HR management, communication plan and leadership commitment, will have to be put in place to address some of the challenges Key words; gender parity, equality, equity, leadership, transformation, empowerment.

Acculturation process has been associated with various mental health outcomes among Taiwanese/Chinese international students (Wang & Mallinckrodt, 2006; Zhang & Goodson, 2011), and those who also identify as sexual orientation minority may have unique acculturation processes compared to their heterosexual counterparts (Oba & Pope, 2013; Quach, Todd, Hepp, & Mancini, 2013). Limited understanding has been established on the impact of dual cultural exposures and the multiple marginalized identities may have on international sexual orientation minority’s sexual orientation identity development, particularly for women from countries with Chinese cultural heritages. Using Consensual Qualitative Research method, this dissertation focuses on gaining understanding of the experiences of Taiwanese sexual orientation minority women (nǚ tongzhi) developing sexual orientation identity during their residence in the U.S. Results indicate the overall accepting social and political atmosphere in the U.S. was an important factor in the acculturation and enculturation processes for Taiwanese nǚ tongzhi. Yet, these women experienced acculturative stress and multiple minority stress against their multifaceted identity. They also reported acculturative stress upon re-entry to Taiwan regarding managing their identity disclosure, and experiences of pressure to conform to cultural norms related to gender and heteronormative family structure. The manuscript concludes with strengths and limitations of the present study, suggestions for future research, and clinical implications for counseling psychologists.

This study seeks to attain understanding of attempted suicide in young women from non-English speaking backgrounds, constructing meaning(s) of attempted suicide and eliciting information about sociocultural influences and guided by philosophical hermeneutics and narrative inquiry using life story methods. Thematic analysis was used to explicate from the text 30 sub-themes, five themes (being in a gap between cultures and creating space for themselves, being traumatised and diminished by abuse, surviving dangerous relationships, suffering psychic pain, expressing the self by attempting suicide), and a meta-theme (paradoxically asserting the indefinite self). Interpretation was predicated on the belief that life stories are statements about self-identity, and represent coming into being through the interaction of coherence (the ability to establish connections between events, unifying themes, frames of reference and goal states), continuity (a longitudinal and sequential perspective on life) and connectedness (intrapersonal, interpersonal and transpersonal relationships). The paradox is that being unable to overcome the uncertainties of incoherence, discontinuity and problematic connectedness, participants were predisposed to act against self as a means of asserting agency. This understanding of attempted suicide represents a hermeneutic narrative reconceptualisation of the phenomenon, which places it outside discourses that sanction the language of psychopathology and provides a basis for developing alternative nursing theory and informing education and practice / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The purpose of this research was to discern associations of nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and diet with postpartum weight retention 1 year following childbirth. Subjects for this research were low-income, Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic white women recruited in a hospital 0 -- 1 day postpartum. In study 1, a nutrition attitudes scale was developed and validated in 134 low-income women at 1.5 months post-delivery. The final scale was administered to a second group of 206 women at 1.5, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Attitudes at each time were compared to demographics and weight status. Obese women at 1 year had higher barriers to healthful eating subscale averages than normal and overweight subjects at 1.5 and 6 months, and overweight participants at 12 months. Obese individuals also had greater emotional eating subscale scores than both normal and overweight subjects at 12 months. In study 2, a test of general nutrition knowledge was developed and validated in a sample of 151 women at 1 day post-delivery. The validated instrument was then administered to a test sample of 140 women at 0 and 12 months postpartum. Body weights were measured at 1.5, 6, and 12 months and height 1.5 months. Women with < 5% weight retention at 1 year had greater knowledge at 0 (53% vs.49%, p<0.05) and 12 months (55% vs. 51%, p <0.05) than those with >̲5%. Women who lactated >̲ 6 months had more knowledge than those who lactated < 6 months. In study 3, 182 women visited the research site at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum where dietary data were collected via one 24-hour recall and 2 days of diet records. Weight status was measured during each clinic visit; height was measured at 1.5 months. At 1 year postpartum, obese women had a greater percentage of energy from carbohydrates than their normal weight counterparts (52.5 % vs. 49.6%, p<0.05). Less than half of the population met the recommendations for folate, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins B6, D, E and C at all time points, regardless of ethnicity, BMI and lactation status. / text

Fall prevention is a serious issue in the health and aging fields, and much attention and research is now being focused on examining why older adults fall and ways to prevent them from falling. Although it has been well-documented that older adults benefit from programs designed to decrease falling by promoting exercise participation, balance training, and fall education; little research has focused on specifically examining how older minority women view preventive exercise programs. This qualitative study explores the experiences of older minority women participating in a fall prevention program. The specific aims of the study are to: 1) gain an understanding of older minority women’s experiences and perceptions about falling and fall prevention; 2) establish what factors influence older minority women to participate in fall prevention programs; and 3) explore participants’ perceived outcomes of program participation. Post-test interviews with 21 participants were analyzed using the method of grounded theory to identify common themes and outcomes associated with participation in a fall prevention program. Findings from this study provide an in-depth look into the factors motivating older minority women to participate in exercise and explore their beliefs regarding falling and fall prevention.