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Leisure Activities (leisure + activity)
Kinds of Leisure Activities Selected AbstractsParticipation of Children with and without Disabilities in Social, Recreational and Leisure ActivitiesJOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2010Abbie Solish Background, One method of promoting children's friendship development is through activity participation with peers. However, children with disabilities seem to engage in fewer of these activities, and when they do participate often do so primarily with adults. Materials and Methods, This study compared activity participation and friendship in typically developing (TD) children (n = 90), children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 65), and children with an intellectual disability (n = 30) between the ages of 5 and 17 years. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child's participation in social, recreational and leisure activities. Results, The TD children participated in significantly more social and recreational activities and had more friends than the children with disabilities. Notable differences emerged among groups in the percentage of activities the children participated in with peers, parents and/or other adults. Some significant differences were noted between the ASD and intellectual disability groups. Conclusions, Research concerning activity participation should continue to take into account not only whether children are engaging in activities, but explore more precisely ,with whom' these activities are occurring. [source] Work Hard, Play Hard?: A Comparison of Male and Female Lawyers' Time in Paid and Unpaid Work and Participation in Leisure ActivitiesCANADIAN REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY/REVUE CANADIENNE DE SOCIOLOGIE, Issue 1 2010JEAN E. WALLACE Les auteures tentent de déterminer le temps que les professionnels, hommes et femmes, passent à effectuer du travail rémunéré ou non, et la façon dont cela influe sur leur participation à différentes activités de loisirs. Elles se fondent sur des données provenant d'avocats professant dans différents milieux juridiques. Elles constatent que les hommes rapportent consacrer plus de temps au travail rémunéré et aux loisirs, alors que les femmes accordent plus de temps aux travaux ménagers ainsi qu'aux soins des enfants. Les résultats semblent démontrer que les occasions dans l'ensemble plus importantes de loisirs chez les hommes comparées à celles des femmes seraient attribuables à des relations inattendues entre la participation des hommes aux travaux domestiques et aux soins des enfants, et leurs activités de loisirs. Les auteures présentent différentes explications à ces résultats. There has been a considerable amount of research that documents how women and men spend their time in different work and home tasks. We examine how much time professional women and men spend in paid and unpaid work and how this relates to their participation in different leisure activities. We also explore whether time in paid and unpaid work has gender-specific effects on leisure participation. In examining these issues, we rely on data from lawyers working in different legal settings. Our results show that, as hypothesized, men report more time in paid work and leisure whereas women devote more time to housework and childcare. An unexpected finding is that the time men spend in housework or childcare is either unrelated or positively related to their leisure participation. These results suggest that men's greater overall opportunities for leisure compared with women's appear to stem from the unanticipated relationships between men's involvement in housework and childcare and their leisure activities. We raise several possible explanations for these findings. [source] Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Elementary Schools: Analysis of Contextual ConditionsJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 10 2010Thomas L. McKenzie PHD BACKGROUND: Little is known about children's leisure-time physical activity (PA) at school and how it is associated with contextual variables. The purpose of this study was to objectively assess children's voluntary PA during 3 daily periods and examine modifiable contextual factors. METHODS: We conducted SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth) observations before school, during recess, and at lunchtime in 137 targeted activity areas in 13 elementary schools over 18 months. During observations, each child was coded as Sedentary, Walking, or Vigorous, and simultaneous entries were made for area characteristics (accessibility, usability, presence of supervision, loose equipment, and organized activities). Logistic regression analysis was used to test associations between PA and area characteristics. RESULTS: Assessors made 2349 area visits and observed 36,995 children. Boys had more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; 66.2 vs 60.0%, p < .001) and more vigorous PA (29.8 vs 24.6%; p < .001) than girls. Areas were typically accessible and usable, but provided organized activities infrequently (16.5%). Odds of engaging in MVPA were greater during lunch and recess than before school and in areas with play equipment (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Children accrued a substantial amount of voluntary PA during leisure time at school. Their PA would likely be increased if school playground equipment was more readily available and if supervisors were taught to provide active games and promote PA rather than suppress it. [source] The family impact of skin diseases: the Greater Patient conceptBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2007M.K.A. Basra Summary Background, Although the impact of skin disease on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is well known, little work has been carried out to determine the secondary impact of a patient's skin disease on the patient's family or partner. Objectives, The aim of this study was to identify the different aspects of a family member's QoL that may be affected by having a family member with skin disease. Methods, Qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 family members/partners of patients attending the outpatient clinic of a university hospital, with a wide range of dermatological conditions (n = 21). Subjects were invited to discuss in detail all the ways that their lives were affected by living with a patient with skin disease. Results, The mean age of subjects (M = 19; F = 31) was 48·1 years (SD = 15·7) most were either parents (44%) or spouses/partners (44%) of the patients. Patients' ages (M = 16; F = 34) ranged from 5 months to 84 years. Fifty-nine aspects of QoL of family members were identified that were adversely affected by the patients' skin disease. These were categorized into 18 main topic areas: Emotional distress (98%), Burden of care (54%), Effect on housework (42%), Social life (48%), Holidays (46%), Financial aspect (30%), Physical well-being (22%), Job/study (40%), Leisure activities (26%), Sleep (20%), Food/drink (12%), Restriction of liked activities (14%), Need for support (12%), People's attitude (10%), Dissatisfaction with medical care (14%), Effect on sex life (8%), Role of religious faith (8%) and Miscellaneous (16%). There was no significant difference between male and female subjects regarding main QoL areas affected. The median number of main topic areas reported per family member was five (mean = 5·2, range = 1,10, SD = 2·64). Conclusions, This study has demonstrated that skin diseases can significantly impair the HRQoL of the patient's family in very diverse ways. Asking family members about this impact is greatly appreciated by them. We propose the ,Greater Patient' concept to describe the immediate close social group affected by a person having skin disease. [source] Use of the Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire in Children and Adolescents With Headache: An Italian Pilot StudyHEADACHE, Issue 7 2003D. D'Amico MD Objectives.,To determine the suitability of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) Questionnaire for assessing disability in children and adolescents with headache and to obtain preliminary information about disability in different primary headaches. Background.,During the last decade, researchers have begun to employ standardized methodologies to investigate the global impact of primary headaches. Disease-specific instruments have been developed to measure headache-related disability. The MIDAS Questionnaire, which is the most extensively studied of these instruments, was designed to assess the overall impact of headaches over the 3 months before compilation. The MIDAS Questionnaire is an optimal tool to assess headache-related disability in adults. Methods.,Ninety-five patients aged 7 to 17 years with tension-type headache, migraine, or both completed the validated Italian form of the MIDAS questionnaire on 2 occasions. Test-retest reliability was assessed by the Spearman rank correlation test. The Cronbach , assessed internal consistency. The patients answered questions about the adequacy of the questionnaire. Results.,The Cronbach , was .8. Correlation coefficients were generally high for the overall MIDAS score and for the items investigating disability in school and in family/leisure activities; they were lower for the items about housework. Most patients thought that the MIDAS Questionnaire was useful (98.9%) and that it captured the impact of their headaches (58.9%); 41% thought that questions about disability in housework were useless, 44.2% suggested adding questions regarding inability to do homework. All primary headaches had a considerable impact on daily activities, but patients with migraine tended to have lower headache frequencies and lower total disability time; those with tension-type headache suffered more days in which activities, although performed, were substantially impaired. Conclusions.,The MIDAS Questionnaire is useful for assessing disability in children and adolescents with different primary headaches. Minimal changes in the phrasing and content of the items would be sufficient to render the MIDAS specific for the younger population with headache. [source] WAL-MART, LEISURE, AND CULTURECONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 4 2009ART CARDEN This essay contributes to the debate about the alleged spillover effects associated with Wal-Mart's growth. Combining county-level data on Wal-Mart entry and location from 1985 through 1998 with individual-level data on leisure activities, we estimate a positive relationship between Wal-Mart penetration and participation in activities involving inputs that can be bought at Wal-Mart. The relationship between Wal-Mart penetration and activities that do not involve inputs that can be bought at Wal-Mart is negative in most cases but may be positive or zero for "cultural" activities such as attending classical music concerts and visiting art galleries. The evidence is consistent with the thesis that deeper Wal-Mart penetration expands consumption possibilities.(JELA13, D00, C12, Z11, Z13) [source] Traumatic dental injuries in an urban adolescent population in Tirana, AlbaniaDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Dorina Sula Thelen Material & methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out to acquire epidemiological data about TDI in the permanent incisors of Albanian adolescents. Participants (n = 2789) were adolescents of both genders, aged 16,18 years, attending public high schools in Tirana. Results: The occurrence of TDI in the incisors ranged from 8.9% of 16-year-olds to 10.5% of 18-year-olds. A greater proportion of boys (12.4%) had TDI compared with girls (7.7). The most commonly reported causes were collisions (27.5%) followed by physical leisure activities and sports (mainly cycling and swimming/diving) (14.1%) and falls (13.4%). Of the adolescents affected by TDI, 32% had unmet treatment need because of no or inadequate treatment. Adolescents living in districts with low socio-economic level had significantly more TDI with unmet treatment need than those living in districts with high socio-economic level. Conclusion: The occurrence of TDI among Albanian adolescents was moderate. Adolescents who came from low socio-economic districts had a greater probability of having TDI with unmet treatment need. [source] Multidisciplinary treatment approach for crown fracture and crown-root fracture , a case reportDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Wilson Roberto Poi Abstract,,, The increased incidence of traumatic injuries to anterior teeth is a consequence of leisure activities, where the most common injuries are crown fractures. Treatment of the dental trauma is complex and requires a comprehensive and accurate diagnostic and treatment plan. It is also important to consider the biological, functional, esthetic and economic aspects, as well as the patient's desire. The purpose of this article is to report a case that shows the multidisciplinary approach required to successfully manage the rehabilitation of a maxillary central incisor with a complex crown fracture and a maxillary lateral incisor, that at first presented an oblique crown-root fracture, and after the orthodontic extrusion, suffered a more apical new crown-root fracture. [source] Participation and enjoyment of leisure activities in school-aged children with cerebral palsyDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2008Annette Majnemer PhD OT The objective of this study was to characterize participation in leisure activities in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and identify determinants of greater involvement. Ninety-five children of school age (9y 7mo [SD 2y 1mo]) with CP were recruited, and participation was evaluated with the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment in a subset (67/95; 42 males, 25 females) who could actively participate in completion of the assessment. Most had mild motor dysfunction (Gross Motor Function Classification System: 59% level I, 23% level II, 18% levels III,V) and had a spastic subtype of CP (23 hemiplegia, 17 diplegia, 16 quadriplegia, 11 other). Biomedical, child, family and environmental predictor variables were considered in the analysis. Results demonstrated that these children were actively involved in a wide range of leisure activities and experienced a high level of enjoyment. However, involvement was lower in skill-based and active physical activities as well as community-based activities. Mastery motivation and involvement in rehabilitation services enhanced involvement (intensity and diversity) in particular leisure activities, whereas cognitive and behavioral difficulties, activity limitations, and parental stress were obstacles to participation. [source] Immune thrombocytopenic purpura: epidemiology and implications for patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 2009Marc Michel Abstract The age-adjusted prevalence of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is estimated to be 9.5 per 100 000 persons in the USA while its annual incidence is estimated to be 2.68 per 100 000 in Northern Europe (at a cut-off platelet count of <100 × 109/L). The mean age of adults at diagnosis in Europe is 50 yrs and the incidence of ITP increases with age. Both the treatments used to treat patients with ITP and the disease itself can impact on patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL). As the incidence of ITP in Europe rises, especially in the elderly, the number of patients with a decreased HRQoL is increasing. Literature searches and focus groups have aided the development of a conceptual model to assess HRQoL. In this model, low platelet counts and the associated symptoms of ITP in addition to the side effects of treatment are proposed as the main determinants of a negatively impacted HRQoL. Primary conceptual domains of HRQoL, affected in patients with ITP, include emotional health, functional health, work, social and leisure activities and reproductive health. As treatment benefits are likely to improve these domains, the conceptual model could be used for better management of patients, taking into account HRQoL. The short-form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36) and the ITP Patient Assessment Questionnaire (ITP-PAQ) are validated measures of HRQoL which can provide a comprehensive assessment of numerous factors to help evaluate decisions about patient management. Future clinical trials investigating treatment options for ITP should assess HRQoL using these validated questionnaires. [source] Leisure Time: Do Married and Single Individuals Spend It Differently?FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004Yoon G. Lee Using data from the 1998,1999 Family Interaction, Social Capital, and Trends in Time Use Study, the authors estimated the time use of 1,151 respondents on various leisure activities (e.g., active leisure, passive leisure, and social entertainment). Onaverage, the most time was spent on active sports (12 minutes) in the active leisure category, TVuse (119 minutes) in the passive leisure category, and socializing with people (27 minutes) in the social entertainment category. Single individuals spent more time playing musical instruments, singing, acting, and dancing than married individuals. Single individuals also spent more time listening to the radio, watching TV, socializing with people, going to bars/lounges, and traveling for social activities than married individuals. Married individuals spent significantly less time for leisure activities than did single individuals. Among the sociodemographic factors, income, employment status, age, gender, and race of respondents were significant determinants of their time use for leisure. [source] ,I'm Home for the Kids': Contradictory Implications for Work,Life Balance of Teleworking MothersGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 5 2008Margo Hilbrecht This study explores the experience of time flexibility and its relationship to work,life balance among married female teleworkers with school-aged children. Drawing from a larger study of teleworkers from a Canadian financial corporation, 18 mothers employed in professional positions discussed work, leisure and their perceptions of work,life balance in in-depth interviews. Telework was viewed positively because flexible scheduling facilitated optimal time management. A key factor was the pervasiveness of caregiving, which could result in ongoing tensions and contradictions between the ethic of care and their employment responsibilities. The ideology of ,intensive mothering' meant that work schedules were closely tied to the rhythms of children's school and leisure activities. The different temporal demands of motherhood and employment resulted in little opportunity for personal leisure. Time ,saved' from not having to commute to an office was reallocated to caregiving, housework or paid employment rather than to time for their self. The women also experienced a traditional gendered division of household labour and viewed telework as a helpful tool for combining their dual roles. Time flexibility enhanced their sense of balancing work and life and their perceived quality of life. At the same time, they did not question whether having the primary responsibility for caregiving while engaged in paid employment at home was fair or whether it was a form of exploitation. [source] Infliximab improves quality of life in patients with Crohn's diseaseINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 4 2002Dr. Gary R. Lichtenstein Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of infliximab on quality of life in patients with active Crohn's disease (CD) inadequately responsive to concomitant therapies. Methods We examined responses to the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) from patients enrolled in a previously reported, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients with active CD received a single intravenous infusion of either placebo or infliximab 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg. Most patients received stable doses of mesalamine, corticosteroids, azathioprine, or 6-mercaptopurine throughout the study. Changes from baseline in overall IBDQ score and individual dimensions at 4 weeks postinfusion were compared. Results Patients treated with infliximab had a significantly larger improvement in overall IBDQ score than those treated with placebo at 4 weeks (p < 0.001). Infliximab-treated patients also had larger improvements in all IBDQ dimensions: bowel (p = 0.007), social (p = 0.002), emotional (p < 0.001), and systemic (p < 0.001). A significantly larger proportion of infliximab-treated patients reported having normal or near-normal frequency of bowel movements in the past week (p < 0.001), full or a lot of energy (p = 0.019), and no or hardly any difficulty doing leisure or sports activities (p = 0.011), and being extremely or very satisfied with their personal life (p = 0.046). They also significantly differed in responses regarding fatigue, frustration, ability to work, general well-being, depression, anxiety, and anger resulting from bowel problems. Conclusions These results indicate that infliximab significantly improved quality of life in patients with active CD, increasing their ability to work and participate in leisure activities, and decreasing feelings of fatigue, depression, and anger. [source] Debt as a source of financial stress in Australian householdsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 1 2006Andrew C. Worthington Abstract This paper examines the role of demographic, socio-economic and debt portfolio characteristics as contributors to financial stress in Australian households. The data are drawn from the most recent Household Expenditure Survey and relate to 3268 probability-weighted households. Financial stress is defined, among other things, in terms of financial reasons for being unable to have a holiday, to have meals with family and friends, to engage in hobbies and other leisure activities, and general money management. Characteristics examined include family structure and composition, source and level of household income, age, gender and marital status, ethnic background, housing value, debt repayment of various types and credit card usage. Binary logit models are used to identify the source and magnitude of factors associated with financial stress. The evidence provided suggests that financial stress is higher in families with more children and those from ethnic minorities, especially when reliant on government pensions and benefits, and lower in families with higher disposable incomes and housing values. There is weak evidence that Australia's historically high levels of household debt cause financial stress. [source] The patient's view on quality of life and eating disordersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 1 2007Simone de la Rie MA Abstract Objective: This study investigated the personal views of eating disorder (ED) patients on their quality of life (QOL). Method: The views of 146 current ED patients and 146 former ED patients on their QOL were studied using a self-report questionnaire. Patients were requested to name the most important aspects of their life and they subsequently rated themselves on these aspects. Qualitative analysis clustered items into meaningful categories. Results: A sense of belonging was mentioned most often (93.0%) by the participants. Work or education, health and well-being were also mentioned frequently. Furthermore, participants stated a sense of self, disease-specific psychopathology, life skills, leisure activities, a sense of purpose, financial situation, living condition, and pets. Current ED patients more frequently mentioned disease-specific psychopathology than former ED patients. Current ED patients reported poor QOL on most domains, particularly on self-image and well-being. Former ED patients reported better QOL than current ED patients, but ratings were just above average. Conclusion: The views on QOL of ED patients broadens the scope of relevant domains of QOL. The assessment of these views may be a useful adjunct to the use of standardized QOL measures. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006 [source] Cognitive leisure activities and their role in preventing dementia: a systematic reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 1 2010Cindy Stern BHSc(Hons) Abstract Background, Dementia inflicts a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Identifying protective factors or effective prevention strategies may lead to considerable benefits. One possible strategy mentioned in the literature relates to participation in cognitive leisure activities. Aim, To determine the effectiveness of cognitive leisure activities in preventing Alzheimer's and other dementias among older adults. Inclusion criteria Types of participants.,Adults aged at least 60 years of age with or without a clinical diagnosis of dementia that resided in the community or care setting. Types of interventions.,Cognitive leisure activities, defined as activities that required a mental response from the individual taking part in the activity (e.g. reading). Types of outcomes.,The presence or absence of dementia was the outcome of interest. Types of studies.,Any randomised controlled trials, other experimental studies, as well as cohort, case,control and cross-sectional studies were considered for inclusion. Search strategy.,A search for published and unpublished studies in the English language was undertaken with no publication date restriction. Methodological quality, Each study was appraised independently by two reviewers using the standard Joanna Briggs Institute instruments. Data collection and analysis, Information was extracted from studies meeting quality criteria using the standard Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Because of the heterogeneity of populations and interventions, meta-analyses were not possible and results are presented in narrative form. Results, There were no randomised controlled trials located that met inclusion criteria. Thirteen observational studies were included in the review; the majority were cohort design. Because of the heterogeneity of interventions, the study design, the way in which they were grouped and the different stages of life they were measured at, statistical pooling was not appropriate. Studies were grouped by stage of adult life participation when interventions were undertaken, that is, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late life. Five out of six studies showed a positive association between participating in activities and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias when interventions were undertaken in middle adulthood and six out of seven studies produced a positive association for late life participation. Results indicated that some activities might be more beneficial than others; however, results should be interpreted with caution because of the subjective nature of activity inclusion. Conclusion ,,Actively participating in cognitive leisure activities during mid- or late life may be beneficial in preventing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in the elderly; however, the evidence is currently not strong enough to infer a direct causal relationship. ,,Participating in selected cognitive leisure activities may be more favourable than others but currently there is no strong evidence to recommend one over the other. [source] Cognitive and Mobility Profile of Older Social DancersJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2006Joe Verghese MD OBJECTIVES: To define the cognitive and physical attributes of regular social dancing so as to help establish its health benefits and help plan future dance interventions to prevent adverse outcomes in older adults such as falls, slow gait, and dementia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey with two-group comparison. SETTING: Bronx County, New York. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four cognitively normal older social dancers (OSDs) were compared with 84 age-, sex-, and education-matched older nondancers (ONDs) participating in a community-based study. MEASUREMENTS: Motor and cognitive performance was assessed using validated clinical and quantitative methods. RESULTS: There were no differences in the frequency of participation in other cognitive and physical leisure activities, chronic illnesses, or falls between OSDs and ONDs. Cognitive test performance was not different between OSDs and ONDs. OSDs had better balance but not strength than ONDs. OSDs had a longer mean stride±standard deviation than ONDs (117.8±10.5 cm vs 103.4±20.2 cm, P=.008) on quantitative gait assessment, with a more stable pattern during walking with reduced stance time (63.9% vs 65.9%, P=.01), longer swing time (36.1% vs 34.1%, P=.01), and shorter double support time (27.9% vs 30.9%, P=.03). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that long-term social dancing may be associated with better balance and gait in older adults. [source] Participation of Children with and without Disabilities in Social, Recreational and Leisure ActivitiesJOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2010Abbie Solish Background, One method of promoting children's friendship development is through activity participation with peers. However, children with disabilities seem to engage in fewer of these activities, and when they do participate often do so primarily with adults. Materials and Methods, This study compared activity participation and friendship in typically developing (TD) children (n = 90), children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 65), and children with an intellectual disability (n = 30) between the ages of 5 and 17 years. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child's participation in social, recreational and leisure activities. Results, The TD children participated in significantly more social and recreational activities and had more friends than the children with disabilities. Notable differences emerged among groups in the percentage of activities the children participated in with peers, parents and/or other adults. Some significant differences were noted between the ASD and intellectual disability groups. Conclusions, Research concerning activity participation should continue to take into account not only whether children are engaging in activities, but explore more precisely ,with whom' these activities are occurring. [source] Reconsidering off-task: a comparative study of PDA-mediated activities in four classroomsJOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 3 2010L. Mifsud Abstract Mobile technology is ubiquitous and diverse and permeates many aspects of daily life at home, during leisure activities, and in public spaces. The study presented here is of two sixth grade classes in Michigan, USA and two seventh grade classes in Norway. The students and the teachers in these four classrooms were equipped with mobile technologies (PDAs). We found that the students' PDA-mediated actions in the classroom were not exclusively used for the tasks and activities set by the teacher, but that the students also used the PDAs on their own initiative , so-called ,off-task' activities. We analyze the findings by reconsidering off-task activities from a sociocultural perspective. [source] Diffusion, Use and Impact of the Internet in Hong Kong: A Chain Process ModelJOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION, Issue 2 2002Jonathan J. H. Zhu Hong Kong appears to be a dream venue for the Internet as a mass medium: There are a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, a population with both financial resources and bilingual (Chinese and English) abilities, and a legal environment in which there is virtually no government regulation of content. However, recent experience with the slow adoption of other new media in Hong Kong, including cable TV and interactive TV, has sounded a cautionary note about the potential use and impact of the Internet in this technologically sophisticated city. Based on a telephone survey of 1,000 adult residents, this paper examines the adoption, use, and social impact of the Internet in Hong Kong using a chain process model that was initially developed by Dutton, Rogers, and Jun (1987) for research on home computing. The results show that Internet adoption is affected by a full range of factors, including one's personal characteristics, socioeconomic status, socio-cultural settings, and perceived compatibility of the Internet. On the other hand, Internet use is primarily affected by socioeconomic status and perceived compatibility. The study also found that both adoption and use of the Internet have observable impact on leisure activities and concerns for privacy and other Internet-related negative consequences. However, these effects are not overarching but rather confined to specific attitudes and behavior. [source] Compatibility, Leisure, and Satisfaction in Marital RelationshipsJOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, Issue 2 2002Duane W. Crawford This study challenges the prevailing view that marital companionship promotes marital satisfaction. By following a cohort of married couples for over a decade and by incorporating several methodological improvements,such as refining the measurement of marital satisfaction, determining how much spouses enjoy doing the leisure activities they pursue together and apart, and using diary data to portray marital leisure patterns,we found that the association between companionship and satisfaction is less robust than previously believed, and that it depends on how often spouses pursue activities that reflect their own and their partner's leisure preferences. Over time, involvement in leisure liked by husbands but disliked by wives, whether as a couple or by husbands alone, is both a cause and a consequence of wives' dissatisfaction. [source] Individual quality of life of people with severe mental disordersJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2009A. PITKÄNEN mnsc People with mental disorders have been found to suffer from impaired quality of life (QoL). Therefore, the assessment of QoL has become important in psychiatric research. This explorative study was carried out in acute psychiatric wards. Thirty-five patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and related psychosis were interviewed. QoL was rated by the Schedule for Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life which is a respondent-generated QoL measure using semi-structured interview technique. Patients named five areas of life important to them and then rated their current status and placed relative weight on each QoL area. The data were analysed with qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics. The most frequently named areas for QoL were health, family, leisure activities, work/study and social relationships, which represented 72% of all QoL areas named. Patients' average satisfaction with these QoL areas ranged 49.0,69.1 (scale 0,100). The mean global QoL score was 61.5 (standard deviation 17.4; range 24.6,89.6; scale 0,100). Awareness of patients' perceptions of their QoL areas can enhance our understanding of an individual patient's QoL and reveal unsatisfactory areas where QoL could be improved with individually tailored needs-based interventions. [source] Sports Medicine and School Nurses: A Growing Need for Further Education and Appropriate ResourcesJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 1 2006Cynthia S. Knight The use of exercise as a prerequisite for conditioning and proper treatment of injuries was first documented in early Greek civilization with the establishment of the Olympics. Today, sports by their very nature invite injury. In 2000, 2.5 million students participated in varsity sports with 750,000 injuries recorded. These numbers do not account for sports activities outside school or leisure activities. Another area of potential injury is physical education class. These classes are large with limited supervision and encompass students of varying age and abilities. Nurses do not have an extensive knowledge of injury prevention or assessment in their basic nursing education. School nurses, as a subspecialty within nursing, are expected to keep up with the requirements of the adolescent and pediatric populations as well basic nursing skills. Due to work schedules and limited resources for continuing education, school nurses are not afforded much time or benefits to attend classes that would teach them skills needed to assess athletic-type injuries. School nurses need printed resources specific to their setting to help fill this void. Recognizing this need, Sports Medicine Techniques for the School-Based Nurse is a manual in process that will help fill this void. Being developed specifically for school nurses, the manual will provide information on prevention, evaluation, and management of athletic-type injuries commonly seen in the school nurse's office. (J Sch Health. 2006;76(1):8-11) [source] Sexist talk: Gender categories, participants' orientations and ironyJOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 3 2002Susan A. Speer This paper uses a discursive social psychological approach to develop and extend what we know about the constitution of sexist talk. Using data from a variety of sources where the topic under discussion is gender and leisure, I examine actual instances of sexism in action. Specifically, I examine the ways in which participants use arguments about possible injury to justify women's non,participation in certain sport and leisure activities. I identify three resources that participants use to sustain sexist accounts, and bolster their arguments against attack. A fourth resource problematises just what counts as sexist talk, and provides evidence for the ways in which participants themselves can exploit sexist arguments in an ironic fashion to expose and challenge sexist assumptions. I end by considering the implications of this approach for future work on sexist talk, and discursive work on the relationship between gender and language more generally. [source] Effect of grass pollen immunotherapy with Alutard SQ® on quality of life in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitisALLERGY, Issue 11 2007R. J. Powell Background:, Treatment of allergic rhinitis with subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is effective in terms of reductions in symptoms and seasonal use of reliever medication. Its effect on quality of life (QoL), reflecting the impact of symptoms on work/school performance and leisure activities is, however, important and often overlooked. Aims of the study:, To assess effect on QoL of specific immunotherapy with two doses of Alutard SQ®Phleum pratense in patients with moderately to severe seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis inadequately controlled by standard drug therapy. Methods:, Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 410 patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Participants were randomized (2 : 1 : 1) to receive Alutard SQ®P. pratense (ALK-Abelló) at maintenance doses of 100 000 SQ-U (203 subjects), 10 000 SQ-U (104 subjects) or placebo (103 subjects) given by subcutaneous injections. The groups were well matched for demographics and baseline symptoms. Quality of life was assessed using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire which covers seven domains of health before and in the peak of the pollen season. Results:, While all domain scores were significantly improved when comparing 100 000 SQ-U with placebo, two domain scores were significantly improved when comparing 10 000 SQ-U with placebo. When comparing 100 000 SQ-U with 10 000 SQ-U, four domain scores were significantly improved. Conclusion:, Treatment with Alutard SQ® significantly improved the seasonal QoL of patients suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The improvement was more pronounced and wider ranging in patients who received the higher 100 000 SQ-U maintenance dose. [source] Reliability, validity and responsiveness of a new leisure index: The Patient-Specific Leisure Scale (PSLS)MUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 3 2009Ingegerd Wikström Abstract Objectives:,To investigate the reliability, validity and responsiveness of a new Patient-Specific Leisure Scale (PSLS), constructed to identify goals and outcomes for individual patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods:,Forty-nine patients with RA were used to evaluate test,retest reliability, and 100 consecutive RA patients were used for construct validity. Twenty-five RA patients, commencing with treatment on tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, were evaluated before the start and after three months of therapy, to test responsiveness. The most important leisure activity (as judged by the patients) was used when evaluating reliability and validity. The perceived difficulty with each activity was scored from 0 to 10 (0 = able to perform activity without difficulty, 10 = unable to perform activity). Results:,Test,retest reliability indicated a good agreement (0.62,0.87) using weighted kappa. Construct validity was demonstrated by modest positive correlation between leisure activity and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) (rs = 0.27, p = 0.005) visual analogue scale (VAS) pain (rs = 0.28, p = 0.004) VAS global (rs = 0.22, p = 0.027), VAS fatigue (rs = 0.24, p = 0.013), joint index of 28 swollen joints (rs = 0.22, p = 0.027) and negative correlations with short-form-36 (SF-36) physical functioning (rs = ,0.18, p = 0.008), bodily pain (rs = ,0.31, p < 0.001), general health (rs = ,0.23, p = 0.019), vitality (rs = ,0.31, p < 0.001), social function (rs = ,0.24, p = 0.016) and role-emotional (rs = ,0.28, p = 0.005). Mean improvement for the most important leisure activity was 1.36, (p = 0.036, 95% confidence interval 0.10,2.62). Standardized response mean and effect size for the most important activity in PSLS was 1.05 and 0.72, respectively, and for HAQ 0.34 and 0.28, respectively. Conclusions:,PSLS appears to be feasible, reliable, valid and responsive for measuring leisure activities in RA. It provides both an individual result which is useful in clinical work, and results at a group level. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Everyday activities and social contacts among older deaf sign language users: Relationships to health and well-beingOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2006Monica Werngren-Elgström Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe the everyday activities and social contacts among older deaf sign language users, and to investigate relationships between these phenomena and the health and well-being within this group. The study population comprised deaf sign language users, 65 years or older, in Sweden. Data collection was based on interviews in sign language, including open-ended questions covering everyday activities and social contacts as well as self-rated instruments measuring aspects of health and subjective well-being. The results demonstrated that the group of participants was homogeneous in their productive and leisure activities, regardless of gender and age. The number of productive activities was related to all aspects of health, while the number of leisure activities was related to perceived health and subjective well-being. No significant relationship was found between aspects of health and subjective well-being and the frequency of social contacts with family/relatives or visiting the deaf club and meeting friends. It is concluded that the variety of activities at the deaf clubs are important for the subjective well-being of older deaf sign language users. Further research should investigate the importance and perceived value of the various activities at the deaf clubs. When evaluating the results of this study, the fact that the total number of participants was small, and the dropout rate was high, has to be borne in mind. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Parents' leisure: the impact of raising a child with down syndromeOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2005Deborah O'Mullan Wayne MS Abstract A healthy and productive life depends upon the balance between work, leisure, and activities of daily living. Gaining or regaining that balance is a core concept within occupational therapy. Raising a child with special needs is one factor that challenges parents in achieving a balance. The purpose of this research was to describe factors that affect the leisure occupations of these parents. A qualitative approach was used in which in-depth interviews and the adapted Barth Time Construction were administered to four married couples that were raising children with Down syndrome who were between seven and nine years of age. Data was examined through content analysis. Results indicated that the parents of children with Down syndrome had limitations in time available for leisure, changes in types of leisure engaged in, and an increase in planning for leisure activities. Despite overall satisfaction with the manner in which they allocated their time, parents frequently noted the potential benefits of incorporating more leisure into their daily lives. Limitations of the study include type and size of sample. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reliability and validity of the Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS , short form) and the Adolescent Leisure Interest Profile (ALIP)OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2002Angela N. Trottier MClSc, OT Reg (Ont) Occupational Therapist Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS , short form) and the Adolescent Leisure Interest Profile (ALIP). The LSS and the ALIP are instruments that occupational therapists can use to evaluate the leisure activities that clients enjoy. Evaluation of leisure interest and participation will assist in creating goals for therapy to maximize a client's ability to participate in leisure activities. This study examined the test,retest reliability and concurrent validity of the LSS and the ALIP using a sample of 37 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 with no known impairments. The assessments were administered individually or in small groups 7 to 17 days apart. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the internal consistency. Pearson product moment correlations were calculated to examine the test,retest reliability of the 60 subscales and the six question totals of the ALIP, as well as for the 6 subscales and total score of the LSS. Concurrent validity was evaluated between the ,How often?' question of the ALIP and the LSS (short form). Based on the study results, the ALIP and the LSS seem to have good test,retest reliability levels when used with adolescents with no known physical or mental impairments. The concurrent validity between the two instruments was not supported, with many of the scores indicating only weak or no association to each of the subscales, suggesting that the assessments differ in some fundamental way. However, the evidence of some relationships between subscales may indicate some areas where the ALIP and the LSS are similar. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Labor Market Duality and Leisure Industries in Spain: Quality of Life Versus Standard of LivingAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Juan L. Paramio We discuss the effects that the emergence of the new postindustrial form of flexible capitalist organization has on the Spanish labor market and, by extension, on the working life of two representative groups of employees characterized by their casual and stable working conditions. This brings a growing duality in the labor market, where individuals who cannot escape casual employment coexist with those enjoying long-term contracts. This concern includes how these changes affect the nature and the ways in which these particular groups understand quality of life and standard of living, which in turn serves to call into question the "end of work" and the expected "leisure society." In addition, we highlight several circumstances that illustrate a decay in job quality and working conditions, particularly the increase in working hours. Parallel to this process we identify a work-and-spend behavior, resulting in overspent families that exhibit financial fragility and give up quality of life, associated with more free time, for higher living standards, which demand an increasing job commitment. Free time from work has become a scarce resource in Spain, and for those individuals belonging to what is known as the "new leisure class," it is associated with high-spending leisure activities, which has increased the economic importance of leisure industries. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||