Identity Construct of Adult Immigrants Learning French in Montreal

This article presents the highlights of a study about the cultural identity of adult immigrants from various ethnic backgrounds learning French in Montreal. This empirical study uses quantitative and qualitative survey instruments in order to examine the different elements characterizing the redefinition of these newcomers’ cultural identity. Findings suggest that participants experience a me-them cultural duality referring to ahybrid identification. They feel as if they are in a cultural in-between within which they change and evolve while trying to alter their own identity when in contact with their host society and a new language. While newcomers are aware of being in such a cultural in-between, they don’t all express or perceive it the same way. Two main tendencies seem to stand out. Some immigrants maintain characteristics from their culture of origins and integrate characteristics from their host culture whereas others feel a cultural emptiness, not belonging anymore to their culture of origins but not belonging yet to their host culture. Distinctive components of both tendencies are presented, as well as data on these newcomers’ sense of belonging towards their own cultural group and towards French-speaking Quebecers. Ce texte présente les faits saillants d’une étude portant sur l’identité culturelle d’immigrants adultes de différentes origines culturelles apprenant le français à Montréal. Cette étude empirique fait usage d’instruments d’enquête quantitatifs et qualitatifs pour examiner les différents éléments qui caractérisent la redéfinition de l’identité culturelle des nouveaux arrivants. Les données suggèrent que les participants vivent une dualité culturelle «moi-eux» faisant référence à une configuration identitaire hybride. Ils se situent dans un entre-deux culturel au sein duquel ils changent et évoluent en tentant de remanier leur propre configuration identitaire au contact de leur société d’accueil et d’une nouvelle langue à apprendre. Si les nouveaux arrivants sont conscients de vivre dans un entredeux culturel, ils ne l’expriment ni ne le perçoivent pas tous de la même manière. À cet effet, deux tendances semblent se dessiner. Certains immigrants conservent des éléments de leur culture d’origine et intègrent des éléments de leur culture d’accueil, alors que d’autres se sentent plutôt dans un vide culturel, n’appartenant plus à leur culture d’origine mais n’appartenant pas encore à leur culture d’accueil. Nous discutons des éléments caractéristiques de ces deux tendances ainsi que du sentiment d’appartenance des nouveaux arrivants envers leur propre groupe culturel et envers les Québécois francophones

Couches minces dures de carbone amorphe pour des applications biomédicales

Historique -- Problématique -- Partenaires de recherche -- Objectif -- Structure du mémoire -- Articulation de la hanche -- Forces physiques du milieu humain -- Causes des problèmes de l'articulation de la hanche -- Revêtement DLC -- Formation de la couche de carbone -- Adhésion du DLC au substrat -- Propriétés tribologiques -- Tribocorrosion -- Biocompatibilité -- Matériels et méthodes -- Substrat -- Système de dépôt -- Test d'usure et de corrosion -- Dektak -- Micro Scratch Tester -- Nanoindenteur -- Microscope électronique à balayage (MEB) -- Substrat et couche DLC -- Échantillons avec interface -- Propriétés mécaniques initiales -- Mécanismes d'adhésion -- Mécanismes tribologiques -- Mécanismes de surface -- Mesures électrochimiques et d'usure -- Considérations -- Synthèse des principaux résultats -- Perspectives futures

Étude de la sérotonine et d'effecteurs spermatiques comme stimuli dans la signalisation des complexes ovocyte-cumulus de souris

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

L’alphabétisation des immigrants adultes faiblement scolarisés au Québec

L’immigration au Québec s’inscrit depuis plusieurs décennies dans une perspective d’enrichissement mutuel et d’ouverture à l’altérité, tout en prenant compte de la situation linguistique spécifique de la province. Le français constitue, par la Loi sur la langue officielle, la langue commune de tous les Québécois, ainsi qu’un véritable marqueur d’appartenance. Par le fait même, l’apprentissage du français est considéré comme un élément essentiel de l’intégration linguistique, culturelle et pro..

Effet d’une intervention visant à favoriser le maintien de la pratique de l’activité physique

L’objectif général de cette thèse était de tester l’efficacité d’une intervention brève et peu coûteuse à favoriser le maintien de la pratique de l’activité physique (MAP). Le premier volet de cette thèse traite de la définition du MAP et de la mesure valide de l’activité physique. Les résultats d’une première étude ont permis de valider l’interprétation des scores de fréquence de visite des participants à un centre sportif à l’aide d’un système informatique situé à l’entrée de ce centre afin de mesurer la fréquence de pratique de l’activité physique de loisir chez les adultes. Le deuxième volet de cette thèse traite des déterminants du MAP. Deux études ont été menées pour identifier les déterminants psychosociaux et sociodémographiques du MAP chez les adultes. Les résultats ont révélé que les déterminants appartenant au domaine théorique croyances sur les capacités et motivation et buts étaient associés au MAP. L'état de santé (réel ou perçu) était directement associé au MAP et était un modérateur de la relation entre les déterminants appartenant au domaine théorique croyances sur les conséquences et le MAP. Le dernier volet de cette thèse traite de l’efficacité de deux techniques d’intervention à favoriser le MPA : l'effet question-comportement (EQC; questions à la forme interrogative de l’intention) et l’EQC + l’activation des intentions (AI, plans «si-alors» de gestion des obstacles) sur la pratique de l’activité physique. Les résultats de cette dernière étude ont révélé qu'il n'y avait aucun effet significatif de ces deux interventions. Cependant, il y avait un effet Santé Perçue (SP) × Conditions (F (2,103) = 3,80; p = 0,03). Parmi les individus ayant une faible SP, la fréquence d’activité physique du groupe contrôle (1,88 jours / semaine) était plus élevée que celle des individus des conditions EQC et EQC+ AI (1,35 et 1,44 jours / semaine) au terme de la période de suivi de quatre mois (d [IC95%] = -0,78 [-1,28, -0,27]; p = 0.002). Compléter un questionnaire mesurant l’intention de MAP, seul ou combiné à la technique d’activation des intentions, n’a pas réussi à favoriser le MAP chez les adultes membres d’un centre sportif universitaire.The overall objective of this thesis was to test the efficacy of brief and inexpensive interventions to favour physical activity maintenance (PAM). The first part of this thesis deals with the conceptual definition of PAM and the validity of physical activity assessment. The results of a first study provided validity evidences for using fitness centre attendance electronic records to objectively assess the frequency of leisure-time physical activity among adults.The second part of this thesis is about the determinants of PAM. Two studies were conducted to identify demographic and psychosocial determinants of PAM among adults. The results revealed that the constructs of beliefs about capabilities and motivation and goals were associated with PAM. In addition, health status (real or perceived) was directly associated with PAM and was a moderator of beliefs about the consequences - PAM relationships. The last part of this thesis deals with the effectiveness of two behaviour change techniques to favour PAM: the question-behavior effect (QBE; interrogative intention questions) and implementation intentions (II; “if-then” plans to manage barriers. The results showed that there was no significant effect of these two interventions. However, there was a significant Self-Rated Health (SRH) × Conditions interaction (F(2,103) = 3.80; p = 0.03). Among individuals with lower SRH, PA behaviour of the control condition (1.88 days/week) was higher compared to the QBE and QBE+II conditions (1.35 and 1.44 days/week) (d [95%CI] = -0.78 [-1.28, -0.27]; p = 0.002). Asking adults to answer several intention questions regarding their maintenance of PA participation at a University fitness centre, with or without forming “if-then” plans to manage potential barriers, was not effective in optimising physical activity adherence or maintenance

Moderators of the intention-behaviour and perceived behavioural control-behaviour relationships for leisure-time physical activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intention is a key determinant of action. However, there is a gap between intention and behavioural performance that remains to be explained. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify moderators of the intention-behaviour and perceived behavioural control (PBC)- behaviour relationships for leisure-time physical activity.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This was tested in reference to Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour. A sample of 300 volunteers, 192 women and 108 men, aged 18 to 55, participated in the study. At baseline, the participants completed a self-administrated psychosocial questionnaire assessing Ajzen's theory variables (i.e., intention and perceived behavioural control). The behavioural measure was obtained by mail three months later.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Multiple hierarchical regression analyses indicated that age and annual income moderated the intention-behaviour and PBC-behaviour relationships. However, in the final model predicting behaviour (R²= .46), only the interaction term of PBC by annual income (β = .24, <it>p </it>= 0.0003) significantly contributed to the prediction of behaviour along with intention (β = .49, <it>p </it>= 0.0009) and past behaviour (β = .44, <it>p </it>< 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Physical activity promotion programs would benefit not only from focusing on increasing the intention of low intenders, but also from targeting factors that moderate the perceived behavioural control-behaviour relationships.</p

The effect of mere-measurement of cognitions on physical activity behavior: a randomized controlled trial among overweight and obese individuals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The promotion of physical activity among an overweight/obese population is an important challenge for clinical practitioners and researchers. In this regard, completing a questionnaire on cognitions could be a simple and easy strategy to increase levels of physical activity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to test the effect of completing a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on the level of physical activity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Overall, 452 overweight/obese adults were recruited and randomized to the experimental or control group. At baseline, participants completed a questionnaire on cognitions regarding their participation in leisure-time physical activity (experimental condition) versus a questionnaire on fruit and vegetable consumption (control condition). The questionnaires assessed the TPB variables that are beliefs, attitude, norm, perception of control, intention and a few additional variables from other theories. At three-month follow-up, leisure-time physical activity was self-reported by means of a short questionnaire. An analysis of covariance with baseline physical activity level as covariate was used to verify the effect of the intervention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At follow-up, 373 participants completed the leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. The statistical analysis showed that physical activity participation was greater among participants in the experimental condition than those in the control condition (<it>F</it>(1,370) = 6.85, <it>p </it>= .009, <it>d </it>= 0.20).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Findings indicate that completing a TPB questionnaire has a significant positive impact on subsequent participation in physical activity. Consequently, asking individuals to complete such a questionnaire is a simple, inexpensive and easy strategy to increase the level of physical activity among overweight/obese adults.</p

Cancer survivors’ experiences of a community-based cancer-specific exercise programme: results of an exploratory survey

Purpose Exercise levels often decline following cancer diagnosis despite growing evidence of its benefits. Treatment side-effects, older age, lack of confidence and opportunity to exercise with others in similar circumstances influence this. Our study explored the experiences of people attending a cancer-specific community-based exercise programme (CU Fitter™). Methods A survey distributed to those attending the programme gathered demographic/clinical information, self-reported exercise levels, information provision and barriers to/benefits of exercise. Results Sixty surveys were evaluable from 65/100 returned (62% female, 68% >60yrs, 66% breast/prostate cancer). Most (68%) were receiving treatment. 68% attended classes once or twice weekly. 55% received exercise advice after diagnosis, usually from their hospital doctor/nurse. More (73%) had read about exercising, but less used the internet to source information (32%). Self-reported exercise levels were higher currently than before diagnosis (p=0.05). 48% said their primary barrier to exercising was the physical impact of cancer/treatment. Improving fitness/health (40%) and social support (16%) were the most important gains from the programme. Many (67%) had made other lifestyle changes and intented to keep (50%), or increase (30%) exercising. Conclusions This community-based cancer-specific exercise approach engaged people with cancer and showed physical, psychological, and social benefits. Implications for cancer survivors Community grown exercise initiatives bring cancer survivors together creating their own supportive environment. Combining this with instructors familiar with the population and providing an open-ended service may prove particularly motivating and beneficial. Further work is required to provide evidence for this