Health-related Behavior over the Course of Life in the Czech Republic

AbstractThis study presents partial results of an extensive research project (Grant Agency n. 13-19808S). The aim is to map health-related behaviour over the course of life in the Czech Republic and to examine how four age groups (20 – 35, 36-50, 51 – 65, 65 and older) differ in components of their health-related behaviour. The research sample consisted of 1,268 respondents (69% women) between 20 and 93 years of age. For rating, our research used the Health-related Behaviour Scale (Dosedlová, Slováčková, Klimusová, 2013). Via Principal Component Analysis (with Varimax rotation), we extracted five factors of health-related behaviour. The means of factor scores of health-related behaviour in the individual age groups were compared via General Linear Model.The five factors explaining 44% of the total variance of the 34 initial items of health-related behaviour are as follows: healthy diet, mental health, daily regimen, physical activity, and avoidance of addictive/harmful substances. The four age groups (20 – 35, 36 – 50, 51 – 65, 65+) differ significantly in all health-related behaviour factors with the exception of mental hygiene. With increasing age, individuals tend to increase their healthy food intake, keep daily regimen and avoid addictive substances; however, the amount of physical activity decreases with age

Současné konstrukty optimismu/pesimismu ve výzkumu

Příspěvek se věnuje třem současným konstruktům optimismu a pesimismu: dispozičnímu optimismu (Carver, Scheier, 2002), optimismu jako explanačnímu stylu (Seligman, 1990) a defenzivnímu pesimismu (Cantor, Norem, 1989). Ověřuje konstrukt defenzivního pesimismu a dále posuzuje vztahy mezi jednotlivými typy optimismu/pesimismu. Kromě teoretického zakotvení autorky nabízejí rekapitulaci výsledků dvou studií, z nichž jedna byla podporovaná GA ČR (projekt č. 406/09/0611). Závěry obou studií potvrzují, že jednotlivé konstrukty optimismu/pesimismu jsou na sobě do značné míry nezávislé.The exploratory study contributes to clarifications on relation among dispositional optimism/pessimism (Carver, Scheier, 2002), optimism/pessimism as a explanatory style (Seligman, 1990) and defensive pessimism (Cantor, Norem, 1989). Two studies (N1=1617, N2=106) are presented (one of them was supported by Czech Grant Agency, no. 406/09/0611). The results confirm that the presently existing leading constructs of optimism/pessimism are independent in large measure. The subsequent aim is to create a model of optimism based on the presented concepts

Computer-administered assessment - ability tests

The ever increasing application of computer technology in the psychological practise and particulary in psychological assessment raises questions regarding menthological issues of usage of the computer versions of the traditional psychological tests. In our paper we have focused on the comparsion of the computer and the traditional (paper-pencil) form of administration of widely used assessment methods. Amthauer´s Intelligence Structure Test (IST-70) and Kucera´s Attention Concentration Test have been used out of the ability tests

Food preference for milk and dairy products

Milk and dairy products constitute an important source of energy and nutrients for humans. Food preferences may significantly influence the actual consumption (and thus nutrition) of people at the population level. The objective of the present large-scale survey was to specify current preferences for milk and dairy products with regard to age and sex. The study was conducted across the Moravia region, Czech Republic, on a sample of 451 individuals divided into 4 age groups: children, adolescents, young adults, and elderly people. A graphic scale questionnaire was administered, with respondents rating their degree of preference for each food item by drawing a mark on a 35 mm line. Out of the 115 items in the questionnaire, 11 items represented dairy products. Data was analysed by means of a general linear model using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Preference for milk was lower in the elderly group than the other groups (P P < 0.01). The overall preference for dairy products (21.6) was lower than the average preference for all foods on the list (22.5). The cross-sectional study revealed intergenerational differences in preferences for specific dairy products, which were most marked in case of cream, processed cheese, blue cheese, and buttermilk. The knowledge of these differences might help promote more focused action at the community level directed at increasing the overall consumption of dairy products in the population