Objective Recent research has found conflicting interactions between health and different domains of physical activity (PA). Occupational physical activity (OPA) seems to negatively impact health,...Show moreObjective Recent research has found conflicting interactions between health and different domains of physical activity (PA). Occupational physical activity (OPA) seems to negatively impact health, whereas leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) positively impacts health, a phenomenon known as the physical activity paradox. What remains unclear is how these different domains of PA interact with each other and how their interaction influences health. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the main and interactive effects of OPA and LTPA on physical and mental health. A better understanding of these relations can contribute to more accurate PA advice, indirectly contributing to the closure of socioeconomic health inequalities. Based on previous studies, it was expected that higher OPA would relate to higher physical and mental health problems, while higher LTPA would relate to lower physical and mental health problems. Additionally, this study aimed to answer the research question whether LTPA functions as a buffer for the negative effects of high OPA on health or as an accelerator. Methods To investigate the hypotheses and research question, data from a longitudinal panel study were used. Two data measurement points were used with a one-year time lag. The sample was heterogeneous and consisted of Dutch employees working ≥ 24-hours a week (N = 1578). Results It was found that OPA and LTPA independently did not affect physical or mental health outcomes differently. Additionally, different combinations of OPA and LTPA did not lead to an increase or decrease in both physical mobility or mental health problems one year later. However, the results did show that individuals who had high levels of both OPA and LTPA had the highest chance on developing physical health problems one year later (b = 0.393, p = <0.001). Conclusion This study shows that OPA and LTPA may have different effects on the development of physical health problems, like headache and sleeping problems. The findings suggest that the health benefits of LTPA are affected by the extent of OPA and that a combination of both high OPA and LTPA is the most unfavourable combination. This combination is associated with an increase in physical health problems. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.Show less
In deze studie is onderzoek gedaan naar de effecten van afgeleid eten op de gezondheid. Hierbij is gekeken naar twee vormen van afleiding, digitale en analoge afleiding gedurende vier de...Show moreIn deze studie is onderzoek gedaan naar de effecten van afgeleid eten op de gezondheid. Hierbij is gekeken naar twee vormen van afleiding, digitale en analoge afleiding gedurende vier de eetmomenten: ontbijt, lunch, snack en avondeten, en of deze invloed hebben op de gezondheidsindicator BMI (Body Mass Index). Daarnaast is het type afleiding, digitaal of analoog, bij deze vier eetmomenten getoetst om te kijken welke als meer afleidend wordt ervaren. Uit de studie, die uitgevoerd is met 134 deelnemers, blijkt dat digitale en analoge afleiding geen effect hadden op de BMI. Bij het kijken naar welk type afleiding het meeste afleidt kwam digitale afleiding naar voren. Digitale afleiding wordt als meer afleidend ervaren.Show less
This paper researches Burkina Faso, an African country that is known for its performance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a form of violence against women and girls. Does a higher level of...Show moreThis paper researches Burkina Faso, an African country that is known for its performance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a form of violence against women and girls. Does a higher level of education for women decrease the performance of FGM in developing countries? The research is about FGM in Burkina Faso which eventually allows us to say more about the influence of educational levels on the performance of FGM in general. In Burkina Faso, we have seen a decrease in the prevalence of FGM over the last 10 years. Even though FGM has been banned since 1996 the practice is still very common. Even now more than 70% of girls and women underwent this operation (Equality Now, 2021). We will do a statistical analysis to show the relationship between education and the prevalence of FGM. We also highlight the social norms and convention theory that lay behind this causation. The findings indicate that a higher level of education increases the chance that a woman is uncircumcised, controlling for Type of Place of Residence, Religion, Worked in the Last 12 Months, Ever Heard of Female Cutting, Wealth, and Husbands/Partner’s Education. We also found that the odds of being uncircumcised rise when women have educated partners. When educated men become more willing to marry an uncircumcised woman it suggests a break, caused by education, from the social norms and beliefs that form the traditional practice of FGM within Burkina Faso.Show less
Cities have grown rapidly in recent decades. Several studies have related multiple mental and physical health issues with urban density and perceived safety, related to the increasing urbanization....Show moreCities have grown rapidly in recent decades. Several studies have related multiple mental and physical health issues with urban density and perceived safety, related to the increasing urbanization. Studies have established a relationship with urban density and perceived safety with light physical activity as well. However, few researchers to date have specifically focused on the potential association between both factors and regular physical exercise. The current study examined the association of urban density and perceived safety with the quantity and quality of exercise. A population-representative sample (N=124) was surveyed on their quantity of exercise, quality of exercise, experiences regarding urban density, and perceived safety. All four factors were compared to assess relations between the measures. Furthermore, various demographic and density-related subgroups (gender, residency type, and square living space) were selected to assess differences and alternative explanations. Results found associations between all measures, apart from the relation between the quantity of exercise and urban density. Regarding the subgroups, a difference was found between genders and their perceived safety; men felt safer than women. The difference in perceived safety suggested that gender could be a factor related to the quantity and quality of exercise. No differences in urban density, exercise quantity, or quality were found among both residency types and square living spaces; suggesting that both subgroups are not likely to be relevant for the associations of urban density and safety with exercise. More focus should be put on specific measures of the urban environment instead of the home environment. Given the increasing urbanization, more specific research is necessary to better understand the relation between urban density, perceived safety, and regular exercise.Show less
In 2015, all UN member states adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. In this agenda, a blueprint was created which outlined a pathway for planetary peace and prosperity consisting of...Show moreIn 2015, all UN member states adopted the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. In this agenda, a blueprint was created which outlined a pathway for planetary peace and prosperity consisting of 17 goals named the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG three (3), Good Health and Wellbeing, seeks to “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages”. The SDGs are of global relevance, however nowhere more so than the emerging markets where they are used by countless international organizations, development finance institutes, NGO’s, and more, to justify and measure the success of investments, programs, and projects, at the human level. One widely discussed and key barrier between SDGs being achieved and the current position, is the availability of the capital and technical skills required to fund and build hospitals, solar farms, water treatment plants, and the myriad of other large-scale infrastructure upon which the health and wellbeing of a nation rests. This issue has been dubbed the infrastructure deficit, and according to the UN, reducing both the technical shortfalls and the USD 67.9 billion per annum financial shortfall which underly it is key to securing Africa’s long term sustainable growth. Using a case study approach focussed on two counties in Kenya, this paper evaluates a potential solution to Africa's infrastructure problem in the form of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).Show less
The debate on state interference to promote citizen’s health is broad and controversial. In this thesis, my aim is to provide a philosophical argument in favour of nudging for health, which is an...Show moreThe debate on state interference to promote citizen’s health is broad and controversial. In this thesis, my aim is to provide a philosophical argument in favour of nudging for health, which is an effective tool to create more health. Liberals in general are afraid that nudging for health is too paternalistic and coercive and hence deprive our freedom. I will argue that some liberals and specifically “Humean liberals” can accept this far-reaching and invasive interference in the personal sphere. This argument is based on the idea that we should follow our ‘higher’ desire to be healthy.Show less
The main focus of this thesis will lie on answering the question of how illness and health are linguistically expressed in the language of the Wayana, in order to acquire a more culturally...Show moreThe main focus of this thesis will lie on answering the question of how illness and health are linguistically expressed in the language of the Wayana, in order to acquire a more culturally appropriate understanding of the Wayana conceptualization of illness and health, which might result into an improvement of the health care system for the Wayana communities.Show less
Much is still unknown about the relationship between the environment and childhood health during the Maya classical period. In this study two archaeological sites located in different environments,...Show moreMuch is still unknown about the relationship between the environment and childhood health during the Maya classical period. In this study two archaeological sites located in different environments, will be compared in terms of childhood health. The sites are Xcambo, which is located on the coast and the Petexbatun area, which is located on the Maya lowlands. Three skeletal lesions that only form during childhood are used and compared from adult skeletons. This includes dental hypoplasia, porotic hyperostosis, and cribra orbitalia. First the dental hypoplasia data is compared between the sites. The prevalence in the Xcambo sample was very high, 99%, only one individual did not have dental hypoplasia. Also the mean number of hypoplasias per individual per tooth was quite high; more than three for most teeth. The individuals of the Petexbatun area had a 59% prevalence of dental hypoplasia and a mean number of hypoplasias per individual per tooth less than one. This is a significant difference; the individuals of Xcambo possibly suffered from more and more severe stressful periods. The prevalence of porotic hyperostosis is also very different between the sites. From the Xcambo individuals about 19% had porotic hyperostosis, against 63 % prevalence in the Petexbatun area. The prevalence of cribra orbitalia was remarkably similar between both sites; around 16%, but preservations issues mean that the Petexbatun might not be representative, and could have been higher. There were a lot of differences between the sites in terms of childhood health. The difference in the amount and type of animal protein consumed, could be a good explanation for the difference in porotic hyperostosis. The high number of physical stresses the population of Xcambo endured during childhood, could be caused by infections, which were very common in the environment.Show less
This thesis will discuss the differences between professional and non-professional Dutch and English texts informing the readers of the dangers of sugar and tobacco consumption. While the hazards...Show moreThis thesis will discuss the differences between professional and non-professional Dutch and English texts informing the readers of the dangers of sugar and tobacco consumption. While the hazards of smoking are widely known, the anti-sugar lobby is a fairly recent phenomenon. The thesis demonstrates how this has affected the articles written about either subject. The analyses in the first chapter reveal several differences between professional and non-professional texts as well as Dutch and English texts, especially where the use deixis and modal verbs are concerned. It pays special attention to the various persuasion strategies used by the authors, which are not only influenced by the manner in which the author is involved in the issue, but also by the audience’s culture. The second chapter indentifies and attempts to solve the various translation problems which occur on pragmatic, cultural, linguistic and text-specific levels when translating articles into the Target Language. Chapter three contains a critical analysis of the translation tool used to identify the articles’ text type: the Text Type Triangle by Dr. Chesterman, which is based on the nowadays outdated text typology developed by Katharina Reiss. Reiss’s text typology, and in extension the Triangle, was developed long before the Internet, which has a profound effect on the manner in which people communicate, became available to the average person. This chapter introduces an updated version of the Triangle, which does take the Internet as a means of communication into account. Finally the conclusion will summarise the questions answered and the data presented in the thesis and will also ask several questions which were raised by the analyses, but which could not be answered.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2019-08-29T00:00:00Z
The current study investigated and compared the development of Chinese girls adopted from institutional care, foster care, or from a mixture of both types of care to the Netherlands. The sample...Show moreThe current study investigated and compared the development of Chinese girls adopted from institutional care, foster care, or from a mixture of both types of care to the Netherlands. The sample consisted of 1106 girls who were between 4 and 18 years of age (mean age 7 years). Parents completed several questionnaires addressing all kinds of subjects related to the health and development of the adopted children. Results revealed that most girls adopted from China were healthy and experienced few developmental delays. Most girls scored high on individual strengths and competencies as well and they had satisfying relationships with their adoptive parents. Part of the adoptees showed some indiscriminate friendliness. A comparison of the care groups revealed that girls adopted from foster care were in an advantage with regard to their general health and developmental status. Mean differences between the groups, however, were small. Neither a mediating effect of children’s self-regulatory abilities, nor a moderating role of either age at adoption or the parent-child relationship could be established. Some direct effects, however, were found. Children adopted before their first birthday and children who had a very good relationship with their parents showed most developmental gains. Overall, this study provides information regarding the adjustment and development of female children adopted from various types of care in China that might be useful to adoptive parents and a range of professionals and organizations working with international adoptees.Show less
