abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine if certain child demographics and risk modifiers of the child (i.e., anxiety sensitivity, depressive symptoms, anxiety control, and social competence) predict program response to a Child Anxiety Indicated Prevention and Early Intervention protocol (Pina, Zerr, Villalta, & Gonzales, 2012). This anxiety protocol focused on cognitive behavioral techniques (e.g., systematic and gradual exposure) that used culturally responsive implementation strategies (Pina, Villalta, & Zerr, 2009). The current study aims to investigate specific predictors of program response to this anxiety protocol. First, it was of interest to determine if child demographics and risk modifiers of the child at baseline would predict program response to the early anxiety intervention protocol. Second, it was of interest to see if an interaction with one of the four risk modifiers at baseline and sex or protocol condition would predict program response to the early anxiety intervention protocol. This study included 88 youth (59.14% Hispanic/Latino and 40.9% Caucasian) who were recruited through referrals from public schools and randomized to one of two protocol conditions (i.e., child-only or the child-plus-parent protocol), which had varying levels of mothers’ participation within the Child Anxiety Indicated Prevention and Early Intervention protocol (Pina et al., 2012). Participants ranged from 6 to 17 years of age (M = 10.36, SD = 2.73), and 48.9% were boys. The four risk modifiers were assessed using the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI; Silverman, Fleisig, Rabian, & Peterson, 1991), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; Kovacs, 1981), Anxiety Control Questionnaire for Children-Short Form (ACQ-C-S; Weems, 2005), and Social Competence scale from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach & Resorla, 2001). Program response was measured by pre-to-posttest changes in anxiety outcomes. Regarding the first aim, each of the four risk modifiers was related to pre-to-posttest changes in program response outcomes. Regarding the second aim for interactions between each of the four focal predictors, sex and protocol condition emerged as moderators. These results have potential implications for clinicians and researchers interested in understanding why some children might experience more or less change when participating in an early intervention protocol for anxiety. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2017

Durante décadas, a visão prevalente em ecologia de microrganismos era de que os fatores ambientais locais seriam os únicos agentes estruturantes das comunidades e dos padrões de coexistência das espécies. Entretando, estudos recentes têm fornecido evidência de que processos ligados a dispersão possam ser tão importantes quanto o ambiente local na estruturação das comunidades, reacendendo o debate em torno da hipótese clássica sobre a ubiquidade dos microrganismos. Neste estudo, nós examinamos os padrões de coexistência do fitoplâncton e os possíveis determinantes da variação espacial na composição das comunidades em 9 lagoas do sul do Brasil. Nós testamos se as espécies fitoplanctônicas apresentam um padrão não aleatório de coexistência através de um modelo nulo e se distância espacial ou a distância ambiental possuem relação com a similaridade na composição das comunidades. Nós também investigamos se as variáveis ambientais locais são bons preditores da abundância das espécies. Na análise de coexistência, nós não observamos um padrão significativo de estruturação dentro das lagoas, mas encontramos um padrão não-aleatório e segregado das espécies ao longo das lagoas, indicando que as espécies coexistem menos do que o esperado ao acaso nesta escala. A similaridade na composição das comunidades mostrou correlação significativa com a distância ambiental, mas não foi correlacionada com a distância geográfica entre os sítios. Além disso, a variação na abundância das espécies apresentou correlação significativa com as variáveis ambientais locais (transparência da água, condutividade, nitrato e ortofosfato). Em conclusão, nossos resultados apoiam a visão de que a variação espacial do fitoplâncton é melhor explicada pelo ambiente local. Nós não testamos a influência de variáveis históricas e filogenéticas sobre esses padrões, que podem ser temas de estudos futuros, a fim de elucidar ainda mais essas questões. / For decades, the main hypothesis in microbial ecology was that local environment would be the only mechanism structuring communities and patterns of species coexistence. However, recent studies have provided evidence that processes related to dispersion can be as important as the local environment for shaping biological communities, stimulating new debates on the classical hypothesis about the ubiquity of microorganisms. In this study, we examined the phytoplankton coexistence patterns and possible determinants of spatial variation in community composition in 9 lakes of southern Brazil. First, we use a null model analysis for tested whether the phytoplankton species show a nonrandom pattern of coexistence. We also tested whether spatial distance or environmental distance act as potential factors controlling community composition. Finally, we investigated whether local environmental variables are good predictors of species abundance. We did not observe a significant pattern of coexistence species in the within-lakes analysis, but we found a nonrandom pattern of coexistence and segregation of species across-lakes analysis, indicating that the species coexist less than expected by chance on this scale. Phytoplankton community composition showed a strong positive correlation with the environmental distance but was not correlated with the geographical distance between sites. Moreover, the variation in the abundance of species showed significant correlation with local environmental variables (water transparency, conductivity, nitrate and orthophosphate). In conclusion, our results support the view that the spatial variation of phytoplankton is best explained by the local environmental conditions. We suggest that the influences of historical and phylogenetic variables on these patterns, here not measured, be analyzed in future studies, to further elucidate these questions.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os fatores de personalidade, de motivação e dados sociodemográficos que interferem na adesão e permanência dos estudantes em cursos na modalidade de Educação a Distância. A investigação destes temas teve o propósito de preencher as lacunas existentes entre a EaD e suas interfaces com a Psicologia. No transcorrer da pesquisa foram percorridas algumas etapas diretamente relacionadas aos objetivos específicos, para tanto, a pesquisa foi didaticamente dividida em dois estudos. Estudo 1 para tradução, adaptação transcultural e validação da escala EMITICE no Brasil que realizou-se em duas fases: (1) tradução, adaptação e teste piloto (N=91), (2) teste de campo e validação (N=466) em alunos de cursos a distância, idades entre 18 a 61 anos (M=34,48; DP=9,56), 171 homens (36,7%) e 295 mulheres (63,3%), de todo o Brasil. Análise fatorial confirmatória dos 5 fatores apresentou boa adequação ao modelo e boa consistência interna para a amostra ( = 0,84). Os resultados são apresentados no artigo 2. O estudo 2 foi dividido em três fases: (1) estudo de cunho bibliográfico sobre a temática adesão, permanência, persistência e evasão na EaD, que está apresentado no artigo 1, (2) estudo exploratório com abordagem dos dados numa perspectiva mista (quali-quantitativa) sobre os motivos da adesão e permanência nessa modalidade. A amostra constituiu-se por 600 sujeitos, com idades entre 18 a 61 anos (M = 32,39; DP = 9,25), 216 homens (36,0%) e 384 mulheres (64%). Os resultados permitiram a categorização de 13 itens para os motivos de adesão e 13 itens para permanência, que, por sua vez, foram organizados em 3 dimensões: questões pessoais ou endógenas ao aluno; questões acadêmicas ou exógenas ao aluno e questões contextuais relacionadas ao que envolve tanto o aluno quanto o curso, apresentados no artigo 3, (3) estudo quantitativo correlacional que objetivou analisar as relações entre motivação, personalidade, variáveis psicossociais e desempenho na EaD, com a mesma amostra da fase 1. Utilizaram-se os instrumentos: BFP, EMITICE e questionário sóciodemográfico. Realizaram-se análises multivariadas e a partir das análises estatísticas os resultados apontam alguns fatores preditores que aumentam a chance de ter um bom desempenho na EaD. Destaca-se que a renda familiar e o empenho, uma faceta do fator Realização contribuem, sendo a habilidade com tecnologia a variável que mais interfere, aumentando em 97% o desempenho na EaD como pode ser lido no artigo 4. / The purpose of this study was to explore factors of personality, motivation and social demographic data that interfere with the student adherence and retention in the Distance Education Courses. The investigation of these topics was focused on filling the gaps which exist between the DE and their interfaces using Psychology. During the research, some stages were passed directly related to specific objectives, therefore the research was didactically divided into two studies. Study 1 for translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the scale EMITICE in Brazil that took place in two phases: (1) translation, adaptation and pilot testing (N = 91), (2) field test and validation (N = 466) in the distance education students, ranging in ages from 18 to 61 years (M = 34.48, SD = 9.56), 171 men (36.7%) and 295 women (63.3%), throughout Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis of the five factors showed a good model adequacy and good internal consistency for the sample ( = .84). The results are presented in article 2. The study 2 was divided into three phases: (1) a bibliographical study on adherence, retention, persistence and dropout in DE, which is presented in article 1 (2) an exploratory study that approaches the data in a mixed outlook (qualitative and quantitative) concerning the matters of adherence and permanence in this modality. The sample was composed by 600 people, aged between 18 and 61 years (M = 32.39, SD = 9.25), 216 men (36.0%) and 384 women (64%). The results allowed the categorization of 13 items for reasons of adherence and 13 items of permanence, which were organized into three dimensions: personal or endogenous issues in students; academic issues or exogenous in students and contextual issues related to involving both the student and the course presented in Article 3, (3) correlational quantitative study aimed to analyze the relationship between motivation, personality, psychosocial variables and performance in DE, with the same sample of phase 1. BFP, EMITICE and demographic questionnaire were the used instruments. Multivariate analyzes were performed, and from the multivariate statistical analysis, the results show some predictor factors that increase the chance of having a good performance in distance education. It is noteworthy that the family income and its commitment, a facet of the Achievement factor contribute, being the ability with technology the variable that most affects, increasing performance of students by 97% in DE as can be read in Article 4.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os fatores de personalidade, de motivação e dados sociodemográficos que interferem na adesão e permanência dos estudantes em cursos na modalidade de Educação a Distância. A investigação destes temas teve o propósito de preencher as lacunas existentes entre a EaD e suas interfaces com a Psicologia. No transcorrer da pesquisa foram percorridas algumas etapas diretamente relacionadas aos objetivos específicos, para tanto, a pesquisa foi didaticamente dividida em dois estudos. Estudo 1 para tradução, adaptação transcultural e validação da escala EMITICE no Brasil que realizou-se em duas fases: (1) tradução, adaptação e teste piloto (N=91), (2) teste de campo e validação (N=466) em alunos de cursos a distância, idades entre 18 a 61 anos (M=34,48; DP=9,56), 171 homens (36,7%) e 295 mulheres (63,3%), de todo o Brasil. Análise fatorial confirmatória dos 5 fatores apresentou boa adequação ao modelo e boa consistência interna para a amostra ( = 0,84). Os resultados são apresentados no artigo 2. O estudo 2 foi dividido em três fases: (1) estudo de cunho bibliográfico sobre a temática adesão, permanência, persistência e evasão na EaD, que está apresentado no artigo 1, (2) estudo exploratório com abordagem dos dados numa perspectiva mista (quali-quantitativa) sobre os motivos da adesão e permanência nessa modalidade. A amostra constituiu-se por 600 sujeitos, com idades entre 18 a 61 anos (M = 32,39; DP = 9,25), 216 homens (36,0%) e 384 mulheres (64%). Os resultados permitiram a categorização de 13 itens para os motivos de adesão e 13 itens para permanência, que, por sua vez, foram organizados em 3 dimensões: questões pessoais ou endógenas ao aluno; questões acadêmicas ou exógenas ao aluno e questões contextuais relacionadas ao que envolve tanto o aluno quanto o curso, apresentados no artigo 3, (3) estudo quantitativo correlacional que objetivou analisar as relações entre motivação, personalidade, variáveis psicossociais e desempenho na EaD, com a mesma amostra da fase 1. Utilizaram-se os instrumentos: BFP, EMITICE e questionário sóciodemográfico. Realizaram-se análises multivariadas e a partir das análises estatísticas os resultados apontam alguns fatores preditores que aumentam a chance de ter um bom desempenho na EaD. Destaca-se que a renda familiar e o empenho, uma faceta do fator Realização contribuem, sendo a habilidade com tecnologia a variável que mais interfere, aumentando em 97% o desempenho na EaD como pode ser lido no artigo 4. / The purpose of this study was to explore factors of personality, motivation and social demographic data that interfere with the student adherence and retention in the Distance Education Courses. The investigation of these topics was focused on filling the gaps which exist between the DE and their interfaces using Psychology. During the research, some stages were passed directly related to specific objectives, therefore the research was didactically divided into two studies. Study 1 for translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the scale EMITICE in Brazil that took place in two phases: (1) translation, adaptation and pilot testing (N = 91), (2) field test and validation (N = 466) in the distance education students, ranging in ages from 18 to 61 years (M = 34.48, SD = 9.56), 171 men (36.7%) and 295 women (63.3%), throughout Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis of the five factors showed a good model adequacy and good internal consistency for the sample ( = .84). The results are presented in article 2. The study 2 was divided into three phases: (1) a bibliographical study on adherence, retention, persistence and dropout in DE, which is presented in article 1 (2) an exploratory study that approaches the data in a mixed outlook (qualitative and quantitative) concerning the matters of adherence and permanence in this modality. The sample was composed by 600 people, aged between 18 and 61 years (M = 32.39, SD = 9.25), 216 men (36.0%) and 384 women (64%). The results allowed the categorization of 13 items for reasons of adherence and 13 items of permanence, which were organized into three dimensions: personal or endogenous issues in students; academic issues or exogenous in students and contextual issues related to involving both the student and the course presented in Article 3, (3) correlational quantitative study aimed to analyze the relationship between motivation, personality, psychosocial variables and performance in DE, with the same sample of phase 1. BFP, EMITICE and demographic questionnaire were the used instruments. Multivariate analyzes were performed, and from the multivariate statistical analysis, the results show some predictor factors that increase the chance of having a good performance in distance education. It is noteworthy that the family income and its commitment, a facet of the Achievement factor contribute, being the ability with technology the variable that most affects, increasing performance of students by 97% in DE as can be read in Article 4.

Postsecondary student performance has been studied in great detail by higher education systems and their stakeholders in attempts to identify what may contribute to increased rates of retention and degree completion. Research on predictors of postsecondary performance has focused significantly on the relationship between performance and traditional cognitive measures, yet a growing body of literature examines other factors that may play a role, including that of grit, a non-cognitive trait described as a disposition toward perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Moreover, for graduates who enter the workforce in a profession as demanding as teaching, characteristics such as grit have proven significant in terms of their linkage with success in the profession. This quantitative study was an examination of the relationship between grit and academic performance in order to more accurately identify what may contribute to students’ postsecondary academic performance. Specifically, this study compared the predictive value of grit scores to that of high school GPA and SAT scores, two cognitive variables which have long been considered the best predictors of student academic performance. This study also investigated the role of grit in predicting student GPA in postsecondary study. The study sample was comprised of 130 native first- or second-year students majoring in education. Data for this quantitative study come from the online administration of the Grit-S survey in conjunction with institutional data on student performance. The overall findings of this study contribute to the increased understanding of the complexities related to predictors of postsecondary student performance, specifically in regard to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in education. The findings illustrate a positive, statistically significant relationship between grit and academic performance. Consistent with previous studies, HSGPA was identified as a significant predictor of success at the postsecondary level. Additional key findings and their implications for practice in higher education are presented along with offerings for further research opportunities.

Parent involvement in Thailand was indicated as one critical dimension of effective schooling. This research describes the need to redefine the concept of parent involvement to create collaborative models including the home, the school, and the community. To explore this point, this research drew its sample of 1,811 parents from four schools of the Nontaburi Municipal School System in Thailand. An adaptation of Epstein, Coners, and Salinas's (Revised 1993) parent survey was used. Fifty three percent of the parents returned the surveys. Multiple regression analyses were conducted both across the school system and within each school setting. The findings suggest that student's GPA, grade level, and parent's expectations are predictors of parent involvement, whereas student's gender, parent's education, parent's age, parent's marital status, family income, and family composition do not necessarily predict the level of parent involvement. Also, it appears that the findings on how much the parents were involved across the school system and within each school setting indicate that neither the schools nor the teachers gave them sufficient opportunity for involvement. The program in which parents were most interested was how to discipline their children, whereas the programs on school and community development drew least interest. Concerning pattern of parent involvement, "involvement of parent at home" found the most common occurrence. These findings echo the assumption about traditional perceptions of the passive and distant relationship among family, school, and community that must be remedied.

No description available.

BACKGROUND: There are limited studies that have explored smoking predictors among Ugandan adolescents over time. This study investigated factors influencing smoking among Ugandan adolescents between 2007 and 2011. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from 2007 and 2011 Ugandan Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (n=7,505). Data analysis included chi-square and multivariate logistic regression. The level of statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. RESULTS: Of the participants, 49.9% (n=3,746) were smokers. Over time, there was a reduction in the prevalence of smoking among boys (10.8% vs. 6.1%; p=0.01), but not among girls (5.0% vs. 4.8%; p=0.48). After controlling for potential confounders, having both parents smoking (OR=7.52; 95%CI: 1.23-45.91), close friends smoking (OR= 6.59, 95%CI: 3.70-11.74) and exposure to second-hand smoke at home (OR= 3.69, 95%CI: 2.0-6.74) were associated with increased odds of smoking among all Ugandan adolescents. CONCLUSION: Given the observed gender differences in smoking trends, it is recommended that more attention be given to motivating adolescent girls not to take up smoking or, for those who have already started smoking, to quit. Furthermore, in addition to greater enforcement of the ban in public smoking, there is a need for public education to promote the voluntary adoption of smoke-free homes. / Dissertation (MPH)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) / MPH / Unrestricted

Prenatal and postpartum care are important for reducing maternal and infant morbidity. Racial and ethnic disparities are prevalent in maternal peripartum health and infant birth outcomes as well as peripartum care access and utilization. They highlight the need to identify and better understand correlates of poor prenatal and postpartum care compliance. While risk factors for low adherence to peripartum care have been identified, no studies have looked specifically at predictors of prenatal and postpartum care attendance in an at-risk sample of African American pregnant women. Using existing data from an RCT targeting maternal and infant health disparities and comparing a patient navigation/behavioral incentive intervention to treatment as usual, the present study sought to identify predictors of prenatal and postpartum care attendance. Participants were African American women at risk for poor prenatal care compliance, who participated in the RCT and had a documented live birth (n=123). Using hierarchical linear and logistic regression, the study identified predictors of prenatal and postpartum care attendance, respectively. The study found high-risk pregnancy (p < .001) and fewer barriers to care (p = .013) significantly predicted better prenatal care attendance. Less than adequate prenatal care attendance significantly predicted postpartum visit nonattendance (p < .001). In addition, given that study participants were limited to women who provided informed consent to RCT participation, the present study also examined representativeness of the clinical trial sample. Specifically, women who consented to the RCT (consenters; n=149) were compared to those who did not (non-consenters; n=122) on a variety of demographic and psychosocial variables using chi-square for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Consenters and non-consenters differed only on education level, with consenters more likely to have at least a high school education than non-consenters. The present study provides benchmark data on sample representativeness and predictors of peripartum care in a clinical trial of strategies to improve prenatal care compliance. These findings could have important implications for healthcare system changes and treatment interventions among this population.

Anemia is known to worsen treatment outcomes in malaria, but there are not many studies to identify the predictors of anemia in Nigerian children with malaria. The objective of this study is to identify some of those predictors. Socio-demographic variables are predictors of anemia among under five children in Nigeria was the hypothesis tested. This is a cross-sectional study that used the 2018 demographic health survey (DHS) data from Nigeria to explore some of the factors that determine the presence of malaria-anemia co-morbidity in Nigerian children less than five years (N= 265). The outcome variable was anemia status in children under five with malaria and the explored predictors include age, sex, residential type, region of residence, mother’s education status and family’s wealth index. The study analyzed unweighted and weighted frequencies of the variables and conducted comparison of the outcome groups based on the predictor variables using Chi-square. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the strength of relationship between the outcome variable and the significant predictor variables in bivariate analysis. SAS 9.4 was used for the statistical analysis. Analysis of weighted frequencies showed that 55% of the children were less than 2 years of age while the sex was almost equally distributed between males and females (50.9% vs 49.1%). Just over two-thirds lived in a rural area, 63.2% resided in the Northern part of the country, 59.1% had a rich family and majority (69.1%) had anemia. When cross-tabulated with the outcome variable of anemia status, there was a significant difference in the categories of age (P=0.0048), residential type (P=0.0031), mother’s education status (P=0.0210) and family’s wealth index (P=0.0010). Univariable logistic regression showed that children less than 2 years had over two times higher odds of developing anemia when infected with malaria compared to older children aged 3-4 years (OR:2.17, 95% CI:1.26-3.74, P=0.0052). Urban-dwelling children had 57% reduced odds of developing anemia compared to rural-dwelling children (OR:0.43, 95% CI:0.25-0.76, P=0.0034). Children of educated mothers had 50% reduced odds of developing anemia compared to children of uneducated mothers (OR:0.50, 95% CI:0.28-0.91, P=0.0222), while children in poor families had 165% increased odds of developing anemia compared to those born into rich families (OR:2.65, 95% CI 1.47-4.78, P=0.0012). Once adjusted for all significant variables in the bivariate analysis, only age remained significant as a predictor of anemia in children under five years with malaria (OR:2.29, 95% CI:1.31-4.02, P=0.0039). Younger age seems to be an important predictor of anemia in Nigerian children with malaria in real life settings given its significance on the multivariable model. This finding should inform clinicians on the need to pre-empt and treat anemia in Nigeria’s younger children with malaria for better treatment outcome.