[Effect of educational intervention based on self-efficacy on preventive behaviors of overweight and obesity among secondary-school female students in Mashhad]

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are risk factors for development of chronic diseases. Self-efficacy beliefs are direct predictors of a wide range of health behaviors. This study aimed to determine the effects of an educational intervention based on self-efficacy on the preventive behaviors of overweight and obesity among secondary-school female students in Mashhad, Iran

Materials and Methods: For this research, a quasi-experimental study, with a before and after design was used for which 70 secondary school female students were selected by the step sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups [35 cases and 35 controls].The data was collected using the weight efficacy lifestyle questionnaire [WEL]. Educational programs were implemented for the experiment group and results were evaluated after the intervention by SPSS software

Results: Before the intervention, the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of average scores of self-efficacy structures for control of eating behaviors in situations, associated with positive or negative emotions, availability of food, social pressure and physical discomfort [P>0.05]. After the intervention, however average scores in all situations were significantly increased in the experimental group [P>0.001]. Average scores in all situations in the control group were not significant after the intervention [P>0.05]

Conclusion: An educational intervention training based on lifestyle self-efficacy models could efficiently improve adolescents' self-efficacy in situations related to positive or negative emotions, availability of food, social pressure and physical pain, emphasizing the benefitial effects of implementing a self-efficacy strategy in an educational intervention program to promote nutritional behavior in adolescents

effect of freire's educational model on attitude change and eating disorders in students

Background and Purpose: Eating disorders and abnormal attitudes towards eating in adolescents, especially girls, are among fundamental problems of societies. In order to make useful interventions for detecting eating disorders and attitude change at early stages, an appropriate and capable model is required. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of Freire's educational model on attitude change and eating disorders in students

Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 female first-grade overweight high school students in 2010. They were non-randomly sampled from two high school in Mashad, Iran and were assigned into experimental and control groups. A standard questionnaire [EAT-26] was used for collecting data on eating disorders and nutritional attitude; the participants completed the questionnaire before and one month after the educational intervention. For data analysis, central tendency and dispersion indexes and independent t-test and paired t-test were used in SPSS 11.5

Results: The mean abnormal attitude score of the experimental group reduced from 8.53 before intervention to 4.16 after intervention [p<0.001]. There was no change in the abnormal attitude of the control group [P=0.613]. Also, the experimental group BMI reduced from 27.49 before instruction to 26.09 after intervention [p<0.001]. Also, the eating disorder reduced from 6.4% before intervention to 3.2% after intervention [p<0.001]. However, There was no significant differences between groups after the intervention as for their eating disorders [P=0.810].

Conclusion: The educational intervention by Freire's educational model in school settings made favorable changes in students' attitudes and eating disorders

Self-efficacy: does it predict the effectiveness of contraceptive use in Iranian women?

This study explored the relative effects of self-efficacy on oral contraceptive use among a sample of 352 Iranian married women aged 18-49 years. In structured interviews 5 variables based on the Steps to Behaviour Change model [knowledge, approval, intention, practice and advocacy] were assessed and correlated with measures of family planning self-efficacy and general self-efficacy. The results indicated that the 2 independent measures, when taken together, were more effective in predicting behavioural intentions for effective use of oral contraceptives, with family planning self-efficacy making the strongest contribution. It is suggested that self-efficacy intervention techniques will benefit oral contraceptive users in preventing unintended pregnancies

Association of health locus control theory and self-esteem with physical activity in university students

Background and Purpose: Meeting the physical movement requirements of community members will remarkably increase its power. Studies on the effect of self-esteem and health locus of control [HLC] in inducing healthy behaviors have provided a scientific framework for these concepts in public health and health psychology. The present study investigates the relationship of physical activities and self-esteem with health locus of control in athletic and non-athletic university students

Methods and Materials: The research is a case-control study involving 74 athletic university students [cases] and 74 non-athletics [controls] from Gonabad University of Medical University. Data were collected by a demographic questionnaire Self-esteem scale and MHLC-Form B. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 11.5 using one-way ANOVA logistic regression chi-square Pearson correlation coefficient and independent t-test

Results: The findings showed that in athletic students mean internal beliefs were 28.51 +/- 3.7 influential persons 20.89 +/- 4.9 and chance 14.67 +/- 3.7 corresponding to 27.87 +/- 4.6 21.64 +/- 4.97 and 15.48 +/- 4.64 in non-athletics respectively; the differences were however not significant. But the self-esteem scores of athletics [31.2] were significantly higher than that of non-athletics

[Assessing family problems and the rate of their tendency to admitting and keeping mentally - ill patients at home after discharging from Mashhad hospital [1380-1382]]

The assessment of the remaining documents shows that phenomenon of mentally ill patients has existed since the beginning of the creation of mankind. The attitude and reaction of the society toward this fact has been under permanent change. The prevalence rate of mental problems and their hazardous effects on individuals, families and the society is increasing with growth of population and the urban life. No ethnic or nation has had an effective resistance against being attacked by these disorders. In regard to the importance of families' participation in care and rehabilitation of mentally ill patients as a key in successful treatment all over the world, more attention should be paid. The purpose of this study is to determine possible factors that could influence patients' acceptance by their families after discharging from Hospitals in Mashhad. The samples of this descriptive study [658patients] were randomly chosen and data were collected in 658 patients' families whose their patients discharged from hospital during 1380-1382. Their families interviewed by structured questionnaires. One-way ANOVA and Chi-square were used For information analysis. Findings showed that 23.9% of the families had "high" tendency for accepting the patient at home, 53.8% had "medium" tendency and the remaining 22.3% had no tendency for supporting and keeping patients and the type of family supporting, the patient relationship with his family members and family's supports, the signs of illness, the degree of his ability in doing house affairs, the type of family reactions to the patient's illness signs, level of education [family and patient] and patient's income and occupation, have significant relation with their tendency. There was a significant correlation between family's knowledge of appropriate behavior with patient and their tendency to accepting him/her [P=0.000] and also between the rate of family's satisfaction of state contributions and hospital aids and their tendency to that acceptance [P=0.02]. Experts should carefully evaluate families' psychopathology during treatment and rehabilitation of patients. In order to increase patients' security and acceptance in families, mental health facilities in the community and community mental health councils are essential