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Behavioural Factors (behavioural + factor)
Selected AbstractsExperience-dependent plasticity in hypocretin/orexin neurones: re-setting arousal thresholdACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2010X.-B. Gao Abstract The neuropeptide hypocretin is synthesized exclusively in the lateral hypothalamus and participates in many brain functions critical for animal survival, particularly in the promotion and maintenance of arousal in animals , a core process in animal behaviours. Consistent with its arousal-promoting role in animals, the neurones synthesizing hypocretin receive extensive innervations encoding physiological, psychological and environmental cues and send final outputs to key arousal-promoting brain areas. The activity in hypocretin neurones fluctuates and correlates with the behavioural state of animals and intensive activity has been detected in hypocretin neurones during wakefulness, foraging for food and craving for addictive drugs. Therefore, it is likely that hypocretin neurones undergo experience-dependent changes resulting from intensive activations by stimuli encoding changes in the internal and external environments. This review summarizes the most recent evidence supporting experience-dependent plasticity in hypocretin neurones. Current data suggest that nutritional and behavioural factors lead to synaptic plasticity and re-organization of synaptic architecture in hypocretin neurones. This may be the substrate of enhanced levels of arousal resulting from behavioural changes in animals and may help to explain the mechanisms underlying the changes in arousal levels induced by physiological, psychological and environmental factors. [source] The creation and consequences of the social world: an interactional analysis of extraversionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2003Leslie G. Eaton Seventy-six previously unacquainted, opposite-sex pairs of undergraduate participants engaged in a 5,min videotaped interaction, then provided their mutual impressions. Research assistants coded 64 behaviours from the videotapes; these ratings were combined into behavioural factors. Participants provided self-descriptions of personality and were described by two acquaintances. Path analyses indicated that targets extraversion was associated with their behavioural involvement, which in turn was associated with partners subsequent ratings of their personality. Targets interpersonal positive affectivity was associated with their partners extraversion. Similar patterns of behavioural associations were found in relation to self-reported, partner-reported, and acquaintance-reported extraversion. These results demonstrate how extraverts may create a positive social environment through their own positivity and by creating a social press for positivity in return. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effectiveness monitoring of fish passage facilities: historical trends, geographic patterns and future directionsFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 1 2010David W Roscoe Abstract Fishways and other passage facilities frequently prevent or delay the passage of fishes, highlighting the need for effectiveness monitoring. We reviewed the scientific literature from 1960 to 2008 reporting on effectiveness monitoring of fish passage facilities to assess what taxa and life-stages have been studied, the questions that are asked during evaluation, and how these varied over time or by geographic region. We identified 96 peer-reviewed articles of which 68% focused on passage by adult fishes. Salmoniformes was the most studied order (58% of studies). The focus of fishway evaluations did not change over the years, but varied significantly by geographic region. Studies from the tropics had a broader taxonomic scope than studies from temperate locations. Exogenous mechanisms of passage failure, such as environmental, structural and behavioural factors, were studied in 90% of studies from North America but only ,50% of studies from Europe, South America and Australia. Endogenous (i.e. physiological) mechanisms affecting passage success were not often assessed anywhere, though they were a powerful means of evaluating mechanisms of failure. Few studies monitored migration after fish had left a facility. To improve effectiveness monitoring of passage facilities, we suggest that both endogenous and exogenous mechanisms need to be studied in an integrated fashion to understand passage failure and to inform design or operational changes that could improve passage efficiency. In addition post-departure monitoring is required to more completely assess the fitness consequences of passage. [source] Gender Differences in Perceived Disciplinary FairnessGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 3 2004Nina D. Cole This exploratory study coded and analysed 120 behaviours on videotaped data of 111 male and 30 female managers engaged in disciplinary discussions with one of their unionized employees. Four categories of behaviour were coded: non-verbal communication, speech characteristics, leadership and interactional justice. A factor analysis of the results generated 14 factors, ten of which were correlated with experts' ratings of disciplinary fairness. Female managers exhibited significantly higher levels of seven of the ten behavioural factors. Female managers also made more supportive interruptions than male managers and took more time for the disciplinary discussion, both of which were positively correlated with disciplinary fairness. The results suggest that leadership and communication styles commonly found in females may lead them to be better equipped than male managers to manage employee discipline situations. [source] Correlates of smoking among adolescents with asthmaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 5-6 2010Su-Er Guo Aims and objective., This study examined the correlates of smoking among asthmatic adolescents to gain a better understanding of who is at particular risk. Background., Smoking is especially harmful to individuals with asthma. However, smoking is surprisingly prevalent among asthmatic individuals, with prevalence rates similar to or higher than those of the general adult or adolescent populations. Despite this notable finding, there has been little research about factors (i.e. biophysical, psychosocial and behavioural) influencing asthmatic adolescents' tobacco use patterns. Design., A Canadian provincial cross-sectional survey. Method., The study about adolescents' tobacco use and health status was conducted in secondary schools in 2004, 608 asthmatic adolescents participated. Demographic factors, biophysical (body mass index and physical health), psychosocial factors (parents' and peers' smoking, environmental tobacco smoke exposure and depression) and behavioural factors (marijuana use, alcohol use and exercise frequency) were explored. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors associated with tobacco use. Results and conclusions., Of the 608 asthmatic adolescents, 17·4% currently smoked and 12·0% formerly smoked. Girls, compared with boys, were more likely to smoke (OR: 3·34, 95% CI: 1·62,6·96) after adjusting for differences in the other demographic, biophysical, psychosocial and behavioural factors. Asthmatic girls who had relatively higher body mass index, were in the higher school grades, used marijuana or alcohol, had minor to severe depressive symptoms, had environmental tobacco smoke exposure in their homes and had friends who smoked or were currently more likely to smoke. The former smokers had similar risk factors including higher body mass index, environmental tobacco smoke exposure at home, friends who smoked and marijuana use. Relevance to clinical practice., Despite their health condition, asthmatic adolescents continue currently or formerly to smoke. Gender appropriate prevention and cessation interventions for asthmatic adolescents may need to address important psychosocial and environmental factors that increase the risk of these adolescents initiating and maintaining tobacco use. [source] A study of environmental and behavioural factors that may be associated with feline idiopathic cystitisJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2004M. E. Cameron The cause of cystitis in many cats remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not any environmental or behavioural factors, particularly those that could be considered potentially stressful, were associated with feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). The questionnaire-based study involved comparing 31 cats with FIC to 24 cats in the same households that did not have cystitis. They were also compared with a control population of 125 clinically healthy cats. Compared with the live-in controls and the control population, the cats with FIC were significantly more likely to be male, overweight and pedigree. Several stress factors were found to be associated with FIC. The factor that stood out most prominently was living with another cat with which there was conflict. The findings support the hypothesis that stress may be implicated in some cases of FIC. [source] Macronutrient intakes and their role in obesityNUTRITION BULLETIN, Issue 2007P. Skidmore Summary, Obesity is the leading public health problem in the 21st century, both in its own right and as a risk factor for many chronic diseases, and it occurs when there is an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. This review will focus on the role of energy density, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fruit and vegetables, and alcohol in weight loss and weight management, and the biochemical, social and behavioural factors that influence dietary intake. [source] Maternal use of folic acid supplements during pregnancy and four-year-old neurodevelopment in a population-based birth cohortPAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Jordi Julvez Summary The use of folic acid supplements during very early pregnancy is recommended in order to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Little is known about the possible benefits of folic acid on child neurodevelopment. A total of 420 children (87% of those eligible) from a birth cohort had complete data for final analyses at age 4 years. Information about folic acid and other over-the-counter dietary supplements was obtained prospectively using interviewer-administered questionnaires at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. Psychological outcomes were assessed by two psychologists and teachers 4 years later. Low maternal socio-economic status, smoking, high parity and short duration of breast feeding were associated with lower prevalence of folic acid supplement use. Verbal (b = 3.98, SE = 1.69), motor (b = 4.54, SE = 1.66) and verbal-executive function (b = 3.97, SE = 1.68) scores, social competence (b = 3.97, SE = 1.61) and inattention symptom [OR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.22, 0.95] scores were associated with reported folic acid use. Reported folic acid supplement use during pregnancy was associated with improved neurodevelopment in children after adjusting for a number of sociodemographic and behavioural factors. [source] Infertility, medical advice and treatment with fertility hormones and/or in vitro fertilisation: a population perspective from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's HealthAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009Danielle L. Herbert Abstract Objective: To identify the factors associated with infertility, seeking advice and treatment with fertility hormones and/or in vitro fertilisation (IVF) among a general population of women. Methods: Participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health aged 28-33 years in 2006 had completed up to four mailed surveys over 10 years (n=9,145). Parsimonious multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the socio-demographic, biological (including reproductive histories), and behavioural factors associated with infertility, advice and hormonal/IVF treatment. Results: For women who had tried to conceive or had been pregnant (n=5,936), 17% reported infertility. Among women with infertility (n=1031), 72% (n=728) sought advice but only 50% (n=356) used hormonal/IVF treatment. Women had higher odds of infertility when: they had never been pregnant (OR=7.2, 95% CI 5.6-9.1) or had a history of miscarriage (OR range=1.5-4.0) than those who had given birth (and never had a miscarriage or termination). Conclusion: Only one-third of women with infertility used hormonal and/or IVF treatment. Women with PCOS or endometriosis were the most proactive in having sought advice and used hormonal/IVF treatment. Implications: Raised awareness of age-related declining fertility is important for partnered women aged ,30 years to encourage pregnancy during their prime reproductive years and reduce the risk of infertility. [source] Regional variation in the survival and health of older Australian women: a prospective cohort studyAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Dimitrios Vagenas Abstract Objective: Older people may act as sensitive indicators of the effectiveness of health systems. Our objective is to distinguish between the effects of socio-economic and behavioural factors and use of health services on urban-rural differences in mortality and health of elderly women. Methods: Baseline and longitudinal analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. Participants were a community-based random sample of women (n=12778) aged 70-75 years when recruited in 1996 to the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Measures used were: urban or rural residence in Australian States and Territories, socio-demographic characteristics, health related behaviour, survival up to 1 October 2006, physical and mental health scores and use of medical services. Results: Mortality was higher in rural than in urban women (hazard ratio, HR 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03,-1.26) but there were no differences between States and Territories. There were no consistent baseline or longitudinal differences between women for physical or mental health, with or without adjustment for socio-demographic and behavioural factors. Rural women had fewer visits to general practitioners (odds ratio, OR=0.54; 95% CI, 0.48-0.61) and medical specialists (OR=0.60; 95% CI, 0.55-0.65). Conclusions: Differences in use of health services are a more plausible explanation for higher mortality in rural than urban areas than differences in other factors. Implications: Older people may be the ,grey canaries' of the health system and may thus provide an ,early warning system' to policy makers and governments. [source] Self-reported violence amongst adolescents in Denmark: is alcohol a serious risk factor?ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2008Marie Louise Frederiksen Abstract Aim: To describe the prevalence of adolescents' exposure to different types of violence (at home and outside the home) and associations between severe violence and alcohol consumption, taking account of gender and the influence of other factors. Methods: A multimedia computer-based survey amongst a nationally representative sample of 9th grade pupils included comprehensive data on exposure to physical violence, use of alcohol and additional socio-demographic and behavioural factors. Analyses included gender disaggregated cross tabulations and logistic regressions. Results: Around 9.3% of girls and 12.3% of boys reported being victims of physical violence within the last 12 months. Also, 2.7% of girls and 3.5% of boys reported severe violence. Gender differences existed in place of occurrence; girls were more frequently assaulted at home, boys outside the home. Alcohol was only associated with violence exposure outside the home for boys, not girls. Conclusions: About one-tenth of adolescents in Denmark reported exposure to any physical violence and 3% to severe violence during the last year. Alcohol consumption was not a risk factor for girls and only a risk factor for boys regarding violence occurring outside the home. [source] Applying Andersen's behavioural model to oral health: what are the contextual factors shaping perceived oral health outcomes?COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009S. R. Baker Abstract,,, Objectives:, Andersen's revised behavioural model provides a framework for understanding the factors which influence utilization of health services and key health outcomes. To date, there have been few studies that have explicitly tested the model in relation to oral health. The aim of this study was to test the model and to examine the direct and mediated pathways between social, attitudinal and behavioural factors and perceived oral health outcomes. Methods:, The model was tested in a general population sample with data from the UK adult dental health survey (N = 3815) using the two-stage process of structural equation modelling. Results:, Structural equation modelling indicated support in line with the hypotheses within the model; enabling resources (oral health education advice, type of dental service, finding NHS treatment expensive, dental anxiety) predicted need (number of decayed or unsound teeth and perceived treatment need); enabling resources and need predicted personal health practices and use of services (frequency of toothbrushing, recent dental attendance, attendance orientation) which, in turn, predicted perceived oral health outcomes (oral health quality of life). Both enabling resources and need also predicted perceived oral health outcomes. The impact of predisposing factors (social class, qualifications, income) on need, personal health practices and use of services, and oral health outcomes was indirect; that is, mediated by intervening factors. In the final model, 26%, 37%, 49% and 21% of the variance was accounted for in enabling resources, treatment need, personal health practices and use of services and perceived oral health outcomes respectively. Conclusion:, The results provide support for Andersen's behavioural model as applied to perceived oral health. Further conceptual development of the model is discussed. [source] | ||||||||||