Road trauma is recognized as a major public health problem worldwide (particularly for younger drivers), and risky driving has been identified as an important contributor to road crashes. It is often assumed that similar factors influence all risky driving behaviours, although direct and systematic examination of the differences between risky driving behaviours in terms of precipitating factors is lacking. The present thesis sought to undertake a systematic investigation of relevant factors in the prediction of four key risky driving behaviours (speeding, drink-driving, driving while fatigued, and not wearing seat belts). Four versions of a Risky Driving Questionnaire were developed to assess beliefs, personality factors and behavioural intentions, in relation to each of the four behaviours. Four versions of the Implicit Association Test were developed to assess attitudes toward each of the four behaviours, without reliance on self-report (in terms of the relative strength of pairs of associations). Data were collected from a student sample (N=215: Study 1), as well as urban (N=587) and rural (N=422) general population samples (Study 2), and regression models were examined for each of the four behaviours, with interaction terms to assess moderations involving perceived risk. Mediations involving gender were also assessed. Results indicate that different risky driving behaviours are predicted by different factors. For example, in the urban sample, speeding was predicted by driver anger and illusory invulnerability, drink driving was predicted by peer influence, driving while fatigued was predicted by the perceived benefits of not driving while fatigued, and not wearing seat belts was predicted by the (sensation seeking x illusory invulnerability) interaction. Results also suggest that different predictors of risky driving behaviours are relevant for different driver populations. For example, speeding was predicted by authority rebellion in the urban sample, and by sensation seeking in the rural sample. Observed moderations of perceived risk suggest that relationships between perceived risk and risky driving may differ for males versus females, and for low versus high sensation seekers. Findings suggest that future road safety interventions should be based on research of the determinants of individual risky driving behaviours, and in specific driver populations.

This qualitative study was designed to gain an insight into the ways in which adolescents and young adults managed ?self? in their day - to - day diabetes management. It also examined the effect that illness self representations had on that management. A grounded theory approach using a symbolic interactionist framework was adopted based on 27 in- depth semi structured interviews with adolescents and young adults with diabetes. Respondents described the effects of diabetes management on the physical, emotional, social and related selves. They also described their various illness self representations. It often took an inordinate amount of work for the respondents to manage their diabetes. This ?management? work could be related to problems with their physiological control, emotional stressors, the need to be socially interactive, differing priorities or relational issues. Certainly even the most resilient respondents experienced periods of vulnerability and needed to nurture the ?self? The study generates new knowledge which builds upon the existing body of knowledge relating to the management of self in adolescents and young adults in the context of T1DM. The study established that whilst some health professionals are sensitive and cognizant of the needs of adolescents and young adults with diabetes, there is room for improvement in the way in which health professionals understand the complexities involved in diabetes management for adolescents and young adults / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract: This thesis investigates the origins of contemporary fictional constructions of childhood by examining the extent to which current literary representations of children and childhood have departed from their Victorian origins. I set out to test my intuition that many contemporary young adult novels perpetuate Victorian ideals and values in their constructions of childhood, despite the overt circumstantial modernity of the childhoods they represent. The question this thesis hopes to answer therefore is, how Victorian is contemporary young adult fiction? To gauge the degree of change that has taken place since the Victorian period, differences and points of continuity between representations of nineteenth century childhood and twentieth century childhood will be sought and examined in texts from both eras. The five aspects of fictional representation that I focus on are: notions of innocence; sexuality; the child as saviour; the use of discipline and punishment to create the ideal child; and the depiction of childhood and adulthood as separate worlds. The primary theoretical framework used derives from Michel Foucault’s concepts of the construction of subjectivity through discourse, discipline and punishment, and his treatment of repression and power, drawn mainly from The History of Sexuality vol. 1 (1976) and Discipline and Punish; the Birth of the Prison (1977). I have chosen to use Foucault primarily because of the affinity between his work on the social construction of knowledge and the argument that childhood is a constructed rather than essential category; and because Foucault’s work on Victorian sexuality exposes links with current thinking rather than perpetuating assumptions about sexual repression in this period.

This research investigated how meanings associated with race, gender, and class relations in New Zealand mainstream schools are produced, reproduced, and challenged within the arenas of school sport, physical education, and physical activity. The study focused specifically on Maori girls� and young Maori women�s experiences in these arenas in order to determine how race, gender, and class identities interact, and also provided Maori girls and young women with an opportunity to be heard in research. The effects of historical and contemporary discourses, polices, and practices in New Zealand sport and school were reviewed. Theoretical perspectives and methodologies such as critical theory, kaupapa Maori research, feminism, postmodernism, and cultural studies informed the research. Qualitative methods of study such as critical ethnography, document analysis, participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and self-reflective diaries were used in order to observe, investigate, and empower the Maori girls and women, teachers, and the school involved. By utilising social reproduction concepts such as hegemony (Gramsci), discourse (Foucault), and cultural capital (Bourdieu), initiatives in schools that related to Maori girls and young women were investigated at three different levels; the fantasy discourse level, the implementation level, and the reality discourse level. The many identities and ideologies of those involved in the transformation from fantasy to reality had an effect on what was ultimately produced, reproduced, and challenged. These were also implicit and explicit ideologies operating in school sport, physical education, and physical activity arenas that worked to reproduce gendered dualisms, racial stereotypes, and class differentiation. By focusing on power relations at the structural and personal level, instances where Maori girls and young women practised �power over� others, or the �power to act� were discussed. Maori concepts such as whakaiti, whakamaa, whakahiihii, tautoko, aawhina, and manaaki, as well as more colloquial terms such as being hungus, hori, and hoha highlighted the attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours of participants involved in the study and were used to inform the different levels of analysis. Difficulties in closing the gap between what was hoped for and what actually happened were discussed, and political and practical implications were suggested.

Thesis (M.D.S.)--University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Psychology Department, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

<p>A qualitative study about the culture evolving around computer games and its users.</p>

<p>Children’s participation in their planning in health and social services is important. To make children’s needs more considered they need to be involved in the cision-making processes. Children have the ability to reflect. The aim has been to find ut which knowledge there is about participation of children and youth with disability in meetings with the society and elucidate factors that have an impact on the participation. This study focus on the children’s view on their own participation. The topic was examined with a selective systematic literature review. Forty studies showed that children want to be participating in their own habilitation contacts. The majority studies concern health care, very few social care. This study concerns children’s participation in the aspect how</p><p>• they are listened to</p><p>• they are supported in expressing their views</p><p>• their views are taken into account</p><p>• they are involved in decision-making processes and</p><p>• they participate and have power and responsibility for decision-making.</p><p>Children clearly desired participation in the three first levels and to some extent in the two latter. Time, flexibility, the staff ’s child competence and children’s participation competence, interaction competence (children, parents, staff) etc are important factors on individual and system level. Despite knowledge about children ’s competence the awareness still is low about the importance of children’s participation.</p>

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

With increasing rates of obesity, research has begun to focus of co-morbidities of obesity such as osteoarthritis. The majority of existing research has focused on older adults as the group most likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine if overweight and obese young adults exhibit biomechanical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, and to determine if young adults with biomechanical risk factors of osteoarthritis can modify these with instruction. This purpose was divided into two separate studies. Study 1: Thirty adults between 18-35 years old were recruited into three groups according to body mass index: normal, overweight, and obese. Participants walked through the lab while we collected 3-d kinematic and kinetic data. Overweight and obese young adults walked with similar gait compared to normal weight young adults. Study 2: Nine young adults between 18-35 years were recruited who walked with stiff-knee gait. Baseline measures of gait were collected in the form of 3-d kinematics and kinetics as participants walked through the laboratory. They then completed the gait instruction program which consisted of four blocks of training. Each block included ten single steps where the participant was provided feedback, followed by 100 practice steps around the laboratory. Participants were successful in increasing sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics of interest in the study. Conclusion: Identifying individuals who had biomechanical risk factors of osteoarthritis according to body mass index was not possible. According to the results of our study, obese and overweight young adults are not at increased risk of osteoarthritis compared to normal weight young adults. Individuals who may be at increased risk due to stiff-knee gait were able to improve their gait following instruction.