Associations of Green Spaces and Streets in the Living Environment with Outdoor Activity, Media Use, Overweight/Obesity and Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents

Aspects of the living environment can affect health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. Whereas most previous studies assessed the more distant residential urban environment, less is known on possible effects of the close environment. The present study investigated associations of the proportion of streets and green spaces in the immediate urban living environment (50, 100 and 400 m around the home) with media use, outdoor activity, overweight/obesity and emotional problems in two samples of younger (age 3–10, n = 395) and older children (age 10–19, n = 405). Independently of socioeconomic parameters, a higher proportion of streets was associated with overweight/obesity (in younger and older children), higher media use (in younger children), less outdoor activity and more emotional problems (in older children). Older children’s outdoor activity in winter increased with increasing proportions of green spaces. The observations suggest that the immediate urban living environment is a factor that can affect leisure behavior and health in children

Standard values and relationship-specific validity of the Bielefeld Relationship Expectations Questionnaire (BFPE)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Bielefeld Partnership Expectations Questionnaire (BFPE) is a tool to assess attachment in the romantic relationships of adults. The attachment styles are operationalized as configuration patterns of scale scores. While convergent validity has already been investigated, discriminant validity is still lacking confirmation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present sample (n = 1509) is representative for the German population aged 18 to 50. The mean age was 34.6 years. Most of the participants lived in a relationship (77.3 %). Discriminant validity was analyzed using a marital quality questionnaire (PFB), a social support questionnaire (F-Soz-U K-14), and a life satisfaction questionnaire (FLZ).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All the BFPE scales have a satisfying internal consistency between r = .79 and .86. Those individuals who showed a secure pattern, i.e. increased "Readiness for Self-Disclosure" and "Conscious Need for Care" as well as reduced "Fear of Rejection" experienced their partner as socially supportive, reported higher marital quality in all of its facets, and were more satisfied within the life-domains "family/children" and "relationship/sexuality". Standard values for each scale are presented.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The BFPE has repeatedly been verified as a short, reliable, and valid instrument applicable to research practice with healthy individuals as well as within clinical contexts.</p

Association Between Type D Personality and Prognosis in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Since 1995, the association of type D personality and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases has been increasingly investigated

The impact of social and institutional characteristics on the appropriateness of invasive cardiologic procedures

Brause M, Grande G, Mannebach H, Badura B. Der Einfluss sozialer und struktureller Faktoren auf die Angemessenheit invasiver kardiologischer Prozeduren. MEDIZINISCHE KLINIK. 2006;101(3):226-234.Background and Purpose: Germany has the highest per capita rate of invasive cardiologic procedures in Europe. An ami of the SULEIKA study was to present a clearer picture of this important area of health care. Methods: Clinical data along with social characteristics of patients were acquired by means of questionnaires. An additional survey was established to collect data about the treating institution. Clinical information was used to define the appropriateness of coronary angiographies and percutaneous coronary interventions. A possible impact of social or institutional characteristics on the appropriateness was examined. Results: 549 of 709 diagnostic coronary angiographies (77.4%) were rated "appropriate", 54 (7.6%) as "equivocal", and 106 (15%) as "inappropriate". 245 of 317 coronary interventions (77.3%) were rated "appropriate", 40 (12.6%) as "equivocal", and 32 (10.1%) as "inappropriate". Social and institutional impact were found for invasive diagnostics but not for PCI. Conclusion: Social characteristics of patients and institutional characteristics have only a marginal impact on the indication of invasive cardiologic procedures. A trend toward "overdiagnostics" within the group of younger patients has been noticed, even in the case of missing hard medical evidence. A serious deficit of health care research can be found. Consented criteria to assess the appropriateness of medical treatments are missing. More research has to be done in the field of concepts and processes controlling the distribution and movement of patients into different sections of the health care system. Validated, standardized and comprehensive data for aninternational comparison of decisions about medical treatments are needed

Associations of Green Spaces and Streets in the Living Environment with Outdoor Activity, Media Use, Overweight/Obesity and Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents

Aspects of the living environment can affect health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. Whereas most previous studies assessed the more distant residential urban environment, less is known on possible effects of the close environment. The present study investigated associations of the proportion of streets and green spaces in the immediate urban living environment (50, 100 and 400 m around the home) with media use, outdoor activity, overweight/obesity and emotional problems in two samples of younger (age 3–10, n = 395) and older children (age 10–19, n = 405). Independently of socioeconomic parameters, a higher proportion of streets was associated with overweight/obesity (in younger and older children), higher media use (in younger children), less outdoor activity and more emotional problems (in older children). Older children’s outdoor activity in winter increased with increasing proportions of green spaces. The observations suggest that the immediate urban living environment is a factor that can affect leisure behavior and health in children

Associations of Green Spaces and Streets in the Living Environment with Outdoor Activity, Media Use, Overweight/Obesity and Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents

Aspects of the living environment can affect health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. Whereas most previous studies assessed the more distant residential urban environment, less is known on possible effects of the close environment. The present study investigated associations of the proportion of streets and green spaces in the immediate urban living environment (50, 100 and 400 m around the home) with media use, outdoor activity, overweight/obesity and emotional problems in two samples of younger (age 3–10, n = 395) and older children (age 10–19, n = 405). Independently of socioeconomic parameters, a higher proportion of streets was associated with overweight/obesity (in younger and older children), higher media use (in younger children), less outdoor activity and more emotional problems (in older children). Older children’s outdoor activity in winter increased with increasing proportions of green spaces. The observations suggest that the immediate urban living environment is a factor that can affect leisure behavior and health in children