Suchergebnisse

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic on a worldwide scale. This article gives an overview of the progress made in childhood and adolescent obesity research in the last decade, with a particular emphasis on the transdisciplinary and complex nature of the problem. The following topics are addressed: (1) current definitions of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity; (2) demography of childhood and adolescent obesity both in the United States and globally; (3) current topics in the physiology of fat and obesity; (4) psychosocial correlates of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity; (5) the three major obesity‐related behaviors, that is, dietary intake, physical activity, and sleep; (6) genetic components of childhood and adolescent obesity; (7) environmental influences on childhood and adolescent obesity; and (8) progress in interventions to prevent and treat childhood and adolescent obesity. The article concludes with recommendations for future research, including the need for large‐scale, high‐dose, and long‐term interventions that take into account the complex nature of the problem.

In response to a recent call for research on the effectiveness of faith-based organizations, this article synthesizes how effectiveness has been defined and measured in evaluation research of faith-based programs. Although evidence indicates that religion can have a positive impact on individuals' well-being, no prior comprehensive review exists of the literature on the effectiveness of faith-based social service programs. Adopting the systematic review method, the authors explore how researchers have conceptualized and operationalized effectiveness and faith. The authors identify trends and limitations across studies and conclude with implications for researchers and practitioners interested in examining and delivering faith-based social services.

Purpose. To examine whether residing in a community designed to promote physical activity moderates the relationship between parent perceptions of the neighborhood and general physical activity or active commuting to school in their children. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. San Bernardino County, California. Subjects. Three hundred sixty-five families (one parent and one child in grades four through eight). Eighty-five reside in a smart growth community designed to be more conducive to physical activity. Measures. Parent perceptions assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). General child physical activity was measured using accelerometers, and active commuting was self-reported by children. Analysis. Two sets of regressions were performed: one for general physical activity, and one for active commuting. Separate models were run in the two sets for each of the 14 NEWS factors, while controlling for demographics. Results. For general physical activity, walking infrastructure, lack of cul-de-sacs, and social interaction had significant main effect associations (p ≤ .05). No factors were moderated by community. The relationships between active commuting to school and perceived crime, traffic hazards, hilliness, physical barriers, cul-de-sac connectivity, aesthetics, and walking infrastructure were significant for those in the smart growth community only (p ≤ .05). Conclusions. Living in an activity-friendly environment is associated with positive relationships between parent perceptions and active commuting behaviors in children. Future interventions should account for both the perceived neighborhood environment and available physical activity infrastructure.

English This study explores programs and outcomes for homeless street youth in faith-based organizations in Los Angeles, Mumbai and Nairobi. Findings reveal differences in conceptions of street youth and services provided. Similarities are manifested in client outcomes. Recommendations are offered to improve social welfare policies and service provision for street youth. French Cette étude examine les programmes innovants pour les jeunes de la rue émanant des organisations basées sur la foi et la vie communautaire à Los Angeles, Bombay et Nairobi. Les résultats révèlent des différences de conceptions sur les jeunes de la rue et en matière de services proposés. Des similarités sont observées dans les résultats relatifs aux usagers. Des recommandations politiques sont proposées dans le but d'améliorer la formulation des politiques sociale à l'égard des jeunes des rues. Spanish Este estudio examina programas innovadores creados por organizaciones comunitarias y religiosas destinados a los jóvenes que viven en las calles de Los Ángeles, Bombay y Nairobi. Los descubrimientos de este estudio revelan diferencias en las concepciones que se tienen acerca de los jóvenes que viven en las calles y los servicios proporcionados. Las semejanzas se manifiestan en las respuestas de los clientes. Recomendaciones de políticas a utilizar son ofrecidas para mejorar la formulación de políticas sociales para los jóvenes que viven en la calle.

Purpose. This study utilized the Meanings of Behavior theory to examine whether meanings of smoking differ among adolescents in China who were never smokers, ever smokers, and past-30-day smokers. The Meanings of Behavior theory argues that affect takes precedence over cognitive constructs in motivating behavior. This study also examined whether the associations among meanings of smoking and smoking behavior vary by age and gender. Design. This study was a cross-sectional study using survey data. Setting. Middle and high schools in seven cities in China. Subjects. A random sample of 4724 students comprised this study. Measure. A self-administered questionnaire asked about smoking behavior and incorporated the meanings of smoking scale. Results. Overall prevalence rates of ever smokers and past-30-day smokers in this sample were 24.3% and 9.0%. Smoking was much more prevalent in boys than in girls. Students in the 11th grade were more likely than those in the 7th grade to have tried smoking at some time and to have smoked within the past 30 days. Odds ratios confirmed that meanings of smoking were significantly associated with smoking behaviors. Conclusions. Meanings of smoking are associated with smoking behavior among Chinese adolescents in that smoking may connote autonomy, control, or social relatedness. Prevention programs in China require new strategies to incorporate meanings of smoking in order to meet adolescent psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and social connections.

Purpose. To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Research on Urban Trail Environments (ROUTES) Trail Use Questionnaire. Design. Test-retest reliability was assessed by repeated measures (study 1); validity was assessed by comparing reported trail use to self-reported and objectively measured physical activity (PA) levels (study 2). Setting. Study 1: a religious institution situated near a Los Angeles trail. Study 2: 1-mile buffer zones surrounding three urban trails (Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles). Subjects. Thirty-four adults between 40 and 60 years of age (10 men and 24 women) completed the ROUTES questionnaire twice (study 1). Study 2 participants were 490 adults (48% female and 73% white), mean age 48 years. Measures. Trail use for recreation and transportation purposes, time and distance spent on trails, and characteristics of the trail and other trail users. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and accelerometry. Analyses. Pearson correlation coefficients and κ statistics were used for test-retest reliability for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate hypotheses on PA comparing trail users and nonusers. Results. Test-retest statistics were acceptable (κ = .57, r 5 .66). Validity was supported by correlations between indices of trail use with self-reported PA and accelerometry, and significant group differences between trail users and nonusers in PA levels. Conclusions. The ROUTES Trail Use Questionnaire demonstrated good reliability and validity.