Application of a social cognitive model in explaining physical activity in Iranian female adolescents Essay Example

Application of a social cognitive model in explaining physical activity in Iranian female adolescents Essay Example Application of a social cognitive model in explaining physical activity in Iranian female adolescents Paper Application of a social cognitive model in explaining physical activity in Iranian female adolescents Paper This study looked at the level of physical activity (PA) in Iranian girls and the link that this has to the high rate of obesity in teenagers.   Iranian girls have a higher rate of physical inactivity because they face cultural barriers that prohibit them from exercising in public. The purpose of this study was to use social cognitive theory to test the fit and strength of barriers self-efficacy, outcome expectations, self-regulation and social support in explaining PA in female Iranian adolescents. The study found that there was a 52% chance that girls were going to be more physically active if they had a good support system. The girls that reported that they were more likely to be physically active reported that they had social support from their parents and friends. The researchers felt that the results from this study will allow for future research and interventions not only for Iranian adolescents but also for girls in similar cultural backgrounds (Taymoori et al, 2008). This article offers some very interesting findings on the link between physical inactivity and the rate of obesity among adolescents. The group that the researchers chose to look at was interesting because very little research has probed this slice of society. Iranian culture and customs do not welcome as much probing into their customs and social norms as do some sectors of society.   As interesting as the study was, it was lacking in some important aspects.   First, the study mainly focused on just Iranian adolescents girls. The study did use a screening measure that was given to both Iranian male and female students, but it would have been nice to see the researchers take the study one step further and had a second test group of a different cultural background in order to show that the results are valid across cultural boundaries. Secondly, one of the measurements that the researchers used were based solely on the log that each girl kept about her physical activity.   Unfortunately, humans are incredibly prone to sometimes exaggerate the outcome on something like a personal log or a personal diary. The researchers really had no way of knowing if the girls accurately reported the minutes that they spent in physical activity or if the girls maybe fudged a minute or two in order to make their log look good when it was turned into the researchers. This article has a wealth of information that can be used and applied to American adolescent girls.   In America, many adolescent girls do report that they have a hard time getting more physically active. Girls have a hard time with being physically fit because as a society we still hold onto some of the antiquated ideas that girls should be demure and petite.   In school, girls that like to get out and run are more often then not labeled as the â€Å"tom-boy† and can in many cases be teased by their classmates. In looking at the results of this study, programs that help girls to become more active could be designed.   Peer exercise programs where girls work with a buddy on different types of exercises would be one way to encourage more physical activity.   A second idea would be to get families more involved. Mothers and fathers could both serve as valued role models in providing both their sons and their daughters with examples of good physical fitness.   As the study results showed, girls that have the social support of both their peers and their family are more likely to be more physically active. Self-Regulation, Self-Efficacy, Outcome Expectations, and Social Support: Social Cognitive Theory and Nutrition Behavior In the United States there has been a rapid decline in the rate of nutrition in the last ten years.   The researchers in this study took a look at this trend and used social cognitive theory to explain how other variables, like self-regulation and self-efficacy, may be the key to integrating healthier nutrition into the U.S. lifestyle.   The study looked at 712 church goers (18% African American, 66% female, and 79% overweight or obese) from 14 churches in southwestern Virginia. The study used data from food-shopping receipts and food frequency questionnaires.   The data that was collected was on nutrition that related to social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-regulation components of social cognitive theory as well as on the fat, fiber, fruit, and vegetable content of the food that the subjects bought. The results of the study showed that participants’ age, gender, socioeconomic status, social support, self-efficacy, negative outcome expectations and self-regulation made important contributions to their nutrition behavior (Anderson et al, 2007, p. 34). The findings of this article were very interesting.   As a society, people are often affected by how the people around them eat.   Eating is a social activity; we go out to eat, we eat at celebrations, and eating has been linked to many of the rituals of our society, such as the Catholic Communion. As a social activity, the ways that people in our social group eat are often the way that we will eat.   The findings of this study pointed this out very clearly.   As interesting as this article was it did have one area in which it could be improved on. The subject pool was very narrow.   The researchers used church members from one geographical area of the U.S.   Food preferences are different in different areas of the country and so to take those findings and suggest they would work across all areas of the country is a little hard to say.   If the researchers had used the same techniques on Californian beach goers, they might have gotten a much different result. The choice of church members also was a problematic factor.   People who attend church often have a set pattern of eating. They eat chicken on Sunday after church and certain things on the other days of the week.   It would have been interesting if other sectors of the same society would have been polled and to compare those findings with the church members. The researchers also only targeted Methodist and Baptist churches.   They did not look at Catholic or any other kind of church and it would have been interesting to see if the same results would have been achieved given a different church going demographic.

Reasons for the Civil War essays

Reasons for the Civil War essays Thomas Jefferson once said, Maintaining slavery was like holding a wolf by its ears. You didnt like it, but you didnt dare let it go. (Civil War) Slavery was apart of this nations birth. It would be the deciding factor in the separation from North and South. The separation of the two would cause fear and hatred, which would eventually lead to war. Future president, Abraham Lincoln said it best, As a nation we began by declaring that all men are created equal, we now practically read it: all men are created equal, except Negroes. (Civil War) Slavery was introduced to the lands of North America from the very beginning of English, later American, colonization. Throughout the American Revolution, this idea that all men are created equal was the driving force for change, blood was spilled, but after years of warfare, it was all over; a new nation had been born. Finally, there was a chance to start over, but with this idea of equality came hesitance and there was no change. The question of morality was surpassed by greed and profitability. At the Constitutional Convention, the topic of the Black slave was discussed and after much deliberation, it was proposed that the slave would be treated as three-fifths of that of a White for the purposes of representation and taxation. The only reason why the slave was worth that much was because the Government needed the tax money. If slaves didnt count at all, there wouldnt be two bits to collect in his/her name. Also, at the Convention, the slave trade itself was discussed, but no compromise could be made. In other words, the institution of slavery was protected in the Constitution, the very fabric of this nation. Something that was fought so hard for (equality) was hypocritically passed aside and left alone for the next generation to deal with. Slavery never was commonly practiced in the North. As being a free territory, the Nor...

Tourism in Switzerland and Kenya. Advantages and disadvantages Essay

Tourism in Switzerland and Kenya. Advantages and disadvantages - Essay Example Kenya and Switzerland have registered an impressive record in tourists’ attendance, especially international tourists. Both countries have diverse tourist attractions sites and locations, receiving recognition across the globe. In Kenya, tourism is an industry that has sustained thousands of people in their daily living. It remains the second great foreign exchange earner, after the leading agriculture. Wildlife remains the core tourist attraction. Kenya is also rich in cultural heritage especially along its coastal region (Akama, pg. 8). This too acts as a source of tourist attraction. The coastal beaches are a superb place to visit especially during winter in the West. Switzerland also remains a famous tourist destination location. It does possess an abundance of natural resources and beautiful landscape. The Alps peaks creates a fascinating site. Their rich culture attracts tourists from various locations across the world (Banfi, Filippini, and Hunt, pg. 690). Both countries do acknowledge that tourism does fetch immense income. A major exchange earner has steered the growth of the various locations in both countries. There has been a steady rise in the number of revenues collected from tourism activities. Such revenue goes a great way in improvement of Gross Domestic Product. Essentially, it is the business and the fastest growing service industry in the mentioned countries. It does hold immense potential in it. The growth of t tourism sector has led to the upsurge and development of other sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, retailing, and hotel industry. Tourism contributes directly or indirectly to the macro-economic growth of the countries. Dues to the stimulation of development ion technology, investments, industries and infrastructures, there is creation of an environment that favours economic growth. The foreign currencies stimulate growth. Taxes emanating from

Strategic management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic management - Research Paper Example IKEA has been forced to develop a supply chain model that is very scrutinizing of supplier labour policies, putting considerable strain on in-house procurement to ensure compliance to IKEA’s no child labour processes. These can represent significant costs and restructuring of the supply chain to ensure that no products are being subcontracted from regions that use child labour in production. At a time when IKEA is concerned with cost-cutting measures, this can complicate distribution and operations, making political issues in child labour a budgetary problem. In Russia, IKEA global has been hindered by ongoing corruption that is occurring at the governmental and cultural levels. IKEA actually froze its investments in Russia in 2009 due to its anti-corruption stand and a recent scenario that involved bribes paid to subcontractors related to the procurement of electricity suppliers in St. Petersburg (Betts 2010). This puts pressure on strategic expansion plans as the company must cut through bureaucracy red-tape and attempt to gain governmental support for anti-corruption. In many ways, IKEA is at the mercy of regional governments who seem, in some territories, to turn a blind eye to these business practices. Campaigning against corruption represents a similar strain to operating budget and proper, efficient utilization of executive personnel. Betts (2010) identifies that IKEA has also dealt with corruption in France that was occurring from political groups that suggested IKEA was involved in the exploitation of French workers at its stores. IKEA received cultural backlash from French citizens on picket lines that disrupted trading with 26 French retail stores. IKEA must continuously deal with political angst in certain countries where it operates and, since the company’s supply chain is global, becomes a target of political objectives. The economic environment differs in

Demutualisation of Insurance Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Demutualisation of Insurance Companies - Essay Example It is advantageous to the members as shares can be traded in the equity or stock markets while the membership rights in the mutual companies can not be traded. Thus demutualisation increases the possibility for the involved parties to make profits and at the same time benefit the economy as a whole. Demutualisation was originally used to signify this specific conversion process of the insurance companies. However this term is being used more broadly to describe the process of conversion of any member-owned organisation to become shareholder owned. Conversion of London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange are some of the classic examples in the direction of demutualisation of companies other than insurance companies. The demutualisation of insurance companies is undertaken pursuant a plan of conversion approved by the policyholders and the state legislators Demutualization Claims Clearing House). In the case of mutual life policyholders a time of conversion they may receive stock, cash and/or policy credits in lieu of their ownership rights in the old mutual insurance company. In some cases the compensation is limited only to the subscription rights to acquire shares in the newly formed company. In some other cases the membership rights are transferred to a Mutual Holding Company (MHC) which owns a newly formed subsidiary stock insurance company. In the context of th... These changes include: (1) The traditional life insurance products of life coverage and risk transfers were not favourably looked into by the consumers over the period of time. The consumers showed considerable preference in the wealth management/annuity business which showed good potential for new growth opportunities. (2) The large scale deregulation of the financial services industry with the passing of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in the year 1999 eliminated the barriers between the commercial banking, insurance business and the investment banking which paved the way for combining all the business in one entity (3) The modifications brought about in the Internal Revenue Codes abolished the tax advantages which were hitherto available to a mutual insurer and (4) There were a number of foreign insurance companies that showed interest in the insurance market of the United States which changed the structure of the insurance companies Similar circumstances prevailed in the European economies augmented the need for conversion of the insurance companies to stock companies from their original form of mutual companies with the membership of policyholders. Mutual Companies and Stock Companies In a mutual life insurance company the company is owned by the policyholders that make them both insureds and insurers. The policyholders are vested with the right to vote to elect the members of the Board of Directors and also to receive the policy dividends. In the event of insolvency and dissolution, they are also entitled to receive the sale proceeds of the assets of the company. The policyholders as members of the mutual company can have their insurance at the lowest possible cost. They do not have to share the profits of the company

Victorian society and life style Essay Example for Free

Victorian society and life style Essay This essay uses A Conan Doyle interpretation of three cases in the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, to demonstrate how language, setting, characterisation and the role of the women reflects different aspects of Victorian society and life style.  A Conan Doyle uses typical language that is relevant for the Victorian period. In each of the cases, we expect to find a wide range of techniques used to emphasise and create an image of Victorian society and lifestyle in the readers mind. A Conan Doyle applies figurative language, repetition, grotesque and satirical caricatures and long complex sentences with detailed description. These techniques that A Conan Doyle uses helps the reader to understand the setting and characterisation more distinctly and clearly.  A Conan Doyle uses figurative language to make the reader create an image in their heads of the character or setting. Figurative language is a range of metaphors and similes that are being compared to a person or thing. Here is an example that A Conan Doyle has used in the speckled band (description of Dr. Roylott), high thin fleshless nose gave him some what resemblance to a fierce old bird of prey. In this quote the author is comparing Dr. Roylotts facial features to a fierce old bird of prey, this a metaphor used to help visualise the characters appearance. A Conan Doyle uses grotesque and satirical caricature in some cases. He uses this technique to describe the villain. In the description of Dr. Roylott in the speckled band, A Conan Doyle makes the readers imagine how nasty Dr. Roylott looks by putting in, bile shot eyes. This makes the villain more imaginative and easier for the readers to picture as unpleasant and mean.  A Conan Doyle uses long complex sentences to make a character or setting bold and clear, so the readers can easily relate and become more involved in the adventures. In long complex sentences A Conan Doyle uses Victorian words. These words are not often used today, so readers can really understand the distinct differences between today and back then the Victorians used very old English, however by using these words the reader is given a bolder, clearer and much more of a characteristic image. A Conan Doyle uses very long complex sentences to describe the king of bohemia in the scandal in bohemia, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance. This gives the readers a clearer and detailed description of the event. In the quote it says he came with an uncultural but rich appearance focusing on detail. The sentence is considered complex as it uses more than one clause and unusual and uncommon words and metaphors where not familiar the words and terms i.e. opulence. In Victorian history women were be considered weaker than men. The readers can see this through some of A Conan Doyles cases. The man with the twisted lip women were really clumsy and weak. The readers can see this from the way Mrs. St Clair always kept fainting at the sight of blood, Mrs. St Clair had fainted at the sight of blood., however there were some woman that were really sly and cunning, like Irene Adler from scandal in bohemia, when she tricked Sherlock Holmes and eloped with her fianc, how best plans of Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a womans wit. In Victorian times women were really weaker than men. The second stain describes a clumsy woman, where a man blackmails a woman for a letter that could start war with another country. The weakness shows as she gives in to the man, in return for my secret not to be let out, he told me to get the blue envelope in the box. So I did A Conan Doyles thee adventure of Sherlock Holmes, gives readers an image of how Victorian London appeared. Readers are given the impression that Victorian London was a very dull, dirty and contaminated place. In most cases Victorian London was very nasty, dirty and a scary place, especially the way it is described in the man with the twisted lip. The setting in the man with the twisted lip is realistic, as at the same time jack the ripper was known, upper swandom lane is vile alley. This quote gives the reader an impression that Victorian London was very unclean and dirty. Steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave. This quote gives the reader a frightening and dull suspense like of the setting and atmosphere. Dr. Watson is at the top of the flight of stairs and he is looking down them, when he looks down them he sees that the stairs lead to total darkness. The reader imagines a never-ending staircase or something gruesome waits at the bottom. In the adventures of Sherlock Holmes readers are able to understand Victorian lifestyle. This can be identified through the character Sherlock Holmes. In each case Sherlock Holmes is considered to be the hero as he is described as a, professional investigator. Dr Watson describes positive factors regarding Holmes, he admires, the rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a logical basis, with which he unravelled the problems, which were submitted to him. This quote shows how Sherlock Holmes was dedicated to his work. Another example of the values of the period is seen through the character Dr.Watson. In the story the man with the twisted lip we see Dr.Watson helping a woman in distress, because her husband is missing, so he investigates by himself, I could manage it better if I were alone. This was considered very heroic at the time. As he is protecting the innocent woman. The character of Dr Roylott from the speckled band shows the readers the values, which were despised of at the time. In the speckled band Dr Roylott is described as a furious and violent person, Holmes the Scotland yard jack-in-office and, we heard the hoarse roar of the doctors voice, and saw the fury with which he shook his clenched fists at him. From these quotes the readers can tell that Victorian people despised this sort of attitude, because he turns violent and furious easily. By reading Sherlock Holmes the readers find many lifestyles, it just depends on which character is described. If it is a poor person then there lifestyle is at the opium den where it is a, low room, with thick and heavy brown opium smoke, and back in the Victorian times there were a lot of poor people, so the opium dens wouldve been packed, forecastle of an emigrant ship. If it is a heroic person like Sherlock Holmes or Dr Watson than their lifestyle is rich and cosy lifestyle for example a house with a maid, big cosy armchair, in front of a big chimney fire in a, cheery sitting room, with a nice friendly atmosphere. But if it is a villainous and hated person like Dr Roylott then their lifestyle will be dark, very gloomy and unpleasant, for example an old wrecked house that nobody has cared for, the few acres of bramble covered land.

Essay on Millays poem, I, being born a woman and distressed and Yellow Wallpaper :: Yellow Wallpaper essays

Millay's poem, I, being born a woman and distressed and Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper Two Works Cited In the early nineteenth century, the issue of whether women should be granted certain privileges, such as voting, arose in America. Two female writers during this time are Edna St. Vincent Millay and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Both women were living in a period of history where women's writings created an impact on literature. Most women were supposed to stay at home and take care of the children and many women were not highly educated; therefore, there were few women writers. Therefore, these writers caught people's attention and made them think about women's issues. Millay's poem, "I, being born a woman and distressed" and Gilman's short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" share more than their time in history. Both pieces of literature have the common theme of closeness and distance. Women during this time were pushed out by society. They could not have a part in the rest of societal roles and became distant. The women wanted to be close with the rest of society, in ord er to feel equal, and spoke out for their needs. The poem, "I, being born a woman and distressed" was written in 1923 by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This was only three years after the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women's voting rights, was adopted. Millay was best known for her lyrical poetry. In this poem she speaks of her feelings toward her lover and how they make her feel. She characterizes herself for her audience as ". . .being born a woman and distressed By all the needs and notions of my kind. . ." By using the words "woman" and "my kind" the reader gets the feeling as if she needed to express her gender. This time in history may have influenced Millay to explain this. Today men and women are more equal, whereas in the 1920s they were discriminated against. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, another twentieth century American writer, lived during this period of radical reform for women. She was a very independent woman of their time who supported herself until she married at the age of twenty-four. After she had her first child, she became clinically depressed and this experience inspired "The Yellow Wallpaper" ,written in 1913. This story describes a woman who is forced to remain in bed without thinking or writing. Essay on Millay's poem, I, being born a woman and distressed and Yellow Wallpaper :: Yellow Wallpaper essays Millay's poem, I, being born a woman and distressed and Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper Two Works Cited In the early nineteenth century, the issue of whether women should be granted certain privileges, such as voting, arose in America. Two female writers during this time are Edna St. Vincent Millay and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Both women were living in a period of history where women's writings created an impact on literature. Most women were supposed to stay at home and take care of the children and many women were not highly educated; therefore, there were few women writers. Therefore, these writers caught people's attention and made them think about women's issues. Millay's poem, "I, being born a woman and distressed" and Gilman's short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" share more than their time in history. Both pieces of literature have the common theme of closeness and distance. Women during this time were pushed out by society. They could not have a part in the rest of societal roles and became distant. The women wanted to be close with the rest of society, in ord er to feel equal, and spoke out for their needs. The poem, "I, being born a woman and distressed" was written in 1923 by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This was only three years after the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women's voting rights, was adopted. Millay was best known for her lyrical poetry. In this poem she speaks of her feelings toward her lover and how they make her feel. She characterizes herself for her audience as ". . .being born a woman and distressed By all the needs and notions of my kind. . ." By using the words "woman" and "my kind" the reader gets the feeling as if she needed to express her gender. This time in history may have influenced Millay to explain this. Today men and women are more equal, whereas in the 1920s they were discriminated against. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, another twentieth century American writer, lived during this period of radical reform for women. She was a very independent woman of their time who supported herself until she married at the age of twenty-four. After she had her first child, she became clinically depressed and this experience inspired "The Yellow Wallpaper" ,written in 1913. This story describes a woman who is forced to remain in bed without thinking or writing.