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Relationship between peer status and health behaviors.

Over the past decade, univariate studies have identified peer-rated popularity/sociability as a correlate of individual health practices (e.g., alcohol and drug use, exercise habits). Yet, the relationship between multiple health habits and broader social competencies rarely has been systematically examined. Accordingly, using a multivariate approach, the present study investigated the relative influence of background characteristics (i.e., age, gender, race, family type, and socioeconomic status) and peer status on health-related behaviors (i.e., physical activity, eating habits, smoking, alcohol use, and stress-related behaviors) in 589 junior high school students (ages 11-13). In this sample, peer popularity provided no significant increment in the prediction of health habits over and above the effects explained by demographics. These results are consistent with current perspectives on health and interpersonal behaviors, and have important practical implications for the initiation and maintenance of healthful and risky practices in the natural environment.

Adolescent↗

Social network influences on reproductive health behaviors in urban northern Thailand.

Prevention approaches for reproductive health have evolved from an emphasis on individually focused models of behavior change to a recognition that risk reduction occurs within a context of social norms. Prevention programs can be improved by understanding how social structure influences sexual behavior and using that understanding to develop strategies for positive change. In a dynamic, urban context, communities are better conceptualized as informal networks of ties. These network structures may help to protect, or conversely, expose members to reproductive risk behaviors. Using data from a study of social and sexual networks conducted in northern Thailand, this article describes partner relations and social structure in the modern, urban context, and illustrates the links between individual, relational and structural properties and reproductive risk behaviors. Triangulation of ethnographic, survey and social network data collection and analytic tools provide an opportunity to interpret individual behaviors, meanings of relationships and structural properties of networks. Intervention approaches should build on existing networks, and address the complex meanings of romantic and sexual partnerships.

Community Networks↗

[Analysis of some pro-health behaviors of pregnant women after a childbirth education class].

Nowadays the school of childbirth is one of the most important forms of antenatal education. The aim of the study was to compare some pro-health behaviours of women after courses at school of childbirth with pro-health behaviours of women without such education. A group of 129 women after courses at schools of childbirth who were hospitalized in the Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin were introduced into the study. The control group contained 165 women who did not take part in any antenatal education. The questionnaire was a research tool; it was completed 2-5 days after childbirth and also patients' documentation was analyzed. The test results were statistically analyzed. Investigations showed that woman attending classes at school of childbirth were highly aware of pro-health behaviours during pregnancy; they often changed their lifestyle during pregnancy, they smoked less frequently, they had more appointments with their obstetricians and they earlier had their first medical visit. It seems necessary to intensify the classes of nourishing during pregnancy at schools of the childbirth, because no statistically significant differences in the increase of body mass were showed. Moreover, it is necessary to educate every pregnant woman of the hygiene, nourishing and stimulant abuse during pregnancy not only at schools of the childbirth, but also during obstetric consultation.

Adult↗

Social marketing as a tool to improve behavioral health services for underserved populations in transition countries.

Human development efforts continue to change the world and improve quality of life for humans. Without the struggle and drive to contemplate new ideas to improve society, the global community would be in a constant state of oppression. Although cultures and norms change as international boundaries are crossed, the universal goal is to improve standards of living to include behavioral health services for underserved populations. In recent times, pioneers and community groups have used social marketing as an instrument to change public perceptions and behaviors within societies. These efforts have transformed nations in the acceptance and understanding of community health and rehabilitation, education, service, and human rights. This article examines the justification for utilization of the concepts and tools of social marketing to bring about proactive behavior modification among segments of underserved populations. A section of this article provides an overview of the basics of social marketing for the benefit of makers of health policy in transition countries. Finally, the case of 2 underserved population segments in the Republic of Slovakia, a new member of the European Union (former socialist block member), is examined for possible implementation.

Developing Countries↗

Managed behavioral health care provider practice patterns: a new item for the public policy agenda.

Managed care is a dominating issue on the public policy agenda. Difficulties in defining and operationalizing it continue to have ramifications for the nation. It is often assumed that the care being reimbursed by managed care organizations is for clients whose psychiatric conditions have been appropriately diagnosed and treated. Based on the responses of a randomly-selected group from the major behavioral health care disciplines, not all care reimbursed is for care which has been appropriately diagnosed and treated. The cost implications of managed care and the ramifications for public health policy are discussed.

Behavioral Medicine↗

[Health behavior of smokers--results of the TACOS (Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking) Study].

The German TACOS Project (Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking) provided an opportunity to examine the patterns of health behaviours (nutrition, physical activity, alcohol consumption) of current smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers with special regard to different degrees of severity of nicotine dependence. Data were collected in the adult general population of Lübeck and 46 surrounding communities, resulting in a representative sample of 4075 individuals. In this sample, 37.3% were current smokers, 22.5% were ex-smokers, 25.0% of smokers were severely nicotine-dependent. As in other empirical investigations, current smokers had an unhealthy lifestyle in general. Smokers compared to ex-smokers and non-smokers consumed unhealthy foods more frequently, reported less physical activity and were more likely to consume hazardous levels of alcohol. Special attention was paid to comparing different degrees of severity of nicotine dependence. A high degree of nicotine dependence was associated with poor health behaviours. Data show that smoking, unhealthy nutrition, lack of physical activity, and hazardous levels of alcohol consumption occur in combination and that unhealthy behaviour patterns vary according to the severity of nicotine dependence. The presence of multiple unhealthy behaviours requires special secondary preventive interventions for smokers. The association of these combined health hazards must be controlled in determining the independent health risk due to one of these factors.

Adolescent↗

Practical outcome evaluation: patient behavioral health care demonstration project.

A cost-effective outcome evaluation project for inpatient psychiatric units was designed and implemented for use in a busy clinical setting. The project consisted of (a) a behavioral health care management team that was committed to developing program evaluation, (b) use of direct care clinical staff, (c) computerized data management, and (d) feedback to clinical staff and administrators. The outcome evaluation project demonstrated that clinical databases and direct care staff can be used to implement a continuous quality loop that has the potential to improve patient care and to increase available data for marketing and program planning decisions.

Database Management Systems↗

[Social support contribution to health and the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors].

Social support refers to the presence of individuals providing emotional or material resources. Its four components are: integration, structure, function, and quality. This article presents empirical and theoretical data, as well as criticism of studies which examine the relationship between social support, global health and cardiovascular health, also evaluating direct or moderating contributions to the adoption and maintenance of health behaviours in persons with cardiovascular disease. Concrete implications for nursing practice are reviewed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Medicaid behavioral health carve-outs: a new generation of privatization decisions.

This article addresses issues related to the privatization of various functions within the mental health system. It acknowledges the contributions of Robert Dorwart, who explored trends with regard to the privatization of inpatient psychiatric services. The authors then highlight changes in the division of labor between the public and private sectors regarding the financing and delivery of mental health services and the management of the system. Responsibility for funding the mental health system has remained largely a public responsibility while responsibility for production or delivery of services in the mental health system is typically held by private, for-profit, and not-for-profit organizations. The roles of managing the mental health system and setting policy are now shared between the private and public sectors in a number of states that have implemented Medicaid behavioral health carve-out programs. This article explores the impact of such privatization on cost, access, and quality of services by examining the experiences of three states with carve-outs. The authors suggest that while organizational form is an important issue, concerns about privatization should be tempered by attention to the contracting decisions made by purchasers, the level of resources devoted to services, and the adequacy of administration of the system.

Contract Services↗

[Routine life style and health behavior--approach to a contradictory relationship].

This study is still under way. Its purpose is to make use of the sociological structure of everyday living to arrive at a better understanding of everyday health behaviour. We introduce with the following report the theoretical framework and study design for introducing initial descriptive results in respect of selected questions. We proceed along this path by comparing a quantitative random sample with the basic overall pattern, after having described the pertaining social structure.

Adult↗