On the Position and Function of Core Values in the Construction of National Cultural Soft Power

“Cultural soft power” as a key component of the comprehensive strengths of a country and nation, has been gaining increasing attention from all over the world. With the advent of this global age, there are three major games between countries, which are games of political systems, interests and core values. And the game of core values has been the pillar of the games between countries nowadays. (Gong, 2014) As the heart and soul of cultural soft power, core values have been playing a more and more vital role in the international competition, whose effects matching up to the importance of economy, military, science and technology should not be underestimated

The Influence of Local Food Environments on Adolescents\u27 Food Purchasing Behaviors

This study examined the relationship between the neighborhood food environment and the food purchasing behaviors among adolescents. Grade 7 and 8 students (n = 810) at 21 elementary schools in London, Ontario, Canada completed a questionnaire assessing their food purchasing behaviors. Parents of participants also completed a brief questionnaire providing residential address and demographic information. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to assess students\u27 home and school neighborhood food environment and land use characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the influence of the home neighborhood food environment on students\u27 food purchasing behaviors, while two-level Hierarchical Non-Linear Regression Models were used to examine the effects of school neighborhood food environment factors on students\u27 food purchasing behaviors. The study showed that approximately 65% of participants reported self-purchasing foods from fast-food outlets or convenience stores. Close proximity (i.e., less than 1 km) to the nearest fast-food outlet or convenience store in the home neighborhood increased the likelihood of food purchasing from these food establishments at least once per week by adolescents (p \u3c 0.05). High fast-food outlet density in both home and school neighborhoods was associated with increased fast-food purchasing by adolescents (i.e., at least once per week; p \u3c 0.05). In conclusion, macro-level regulations and policies are required to amend the health-detracting neighborhood food environment surrounding children and youth\u27s home and school

Obesogenic Neighborhoods: The Impact of Neighborhood Restaurants and Convenience Stores on Adolescents\u27 Food Consumption Behaviors

To examine the relationship between the neighbourhood food environment and dietary intake among adolescents. Cross-sectional design using: (i) a geographic information system to assess characteristics of the neighbourhood food environment and neighbourhood socio-economic status; (ii) the modified Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to assess participants\u27 overall diet quality; and (iii) generalized linear models to examine associations between HEI and home and school food environmental correlates. Mid-sized Canadian city in Ontario, Canada. Participants Grade 7 and 8 students (n 810) at twenty-one elementary schools. Students living in neighbourhoods with a lower diversity of land-use types, compared with their higher diversity counterparts, had higher HEI scores (P \u3c 0.05). Students with more than 1 km between their home and the nearest convenience store had higher HEI scores than those living within 1 km (P \u3c 0.01). Students attending schools with a distance further than 1 km from the nearest convenience store (P \u3c 0.01) and fast-food outlet (P \u3c 0.05) had higher HEI scores than those within 1 km. Those attending schools with three or more fast-food outlets within 1 km had lower HEI scores than those attending schools with no fast-food outlet in the school surroundings (P \u3c 0.05). Close proximity to convenience stores in adolescents\u27 home environments is associated with low HEI scores. Within adolescents\u27 school environments, close proximity to convenience and fast-food outlets and a high density of fast-food outlets are associated with low HEI scores

The Influence of Local Food Environments on Adolescents’ Food Purchasing Behaviors

This study examined the relationship between the neighborhood food environment and the food purchasing behaviors among adolescents. Grade 7 and 8 students (n = 810) at 21 elementary schools in London, Ontario, Canada completed a questionnaire assessing their food purchasing behaviors. Parents of participants also completed a brief questionnaire providing residential address and demographic information. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to assess students’ home and school neighborhood food environment and land use characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the influence of the home neighborhood food environment on students’ food purchasing behaviors, while two-level Hierarchical Non-Linear Regression Models were used to examine the effects of school neighborhood food environment factors on students’ food purchasing behaviors. The study showed that approximately 65% of participants reported self-purchasing foods from fast-food outlets or convenience stores. Close proximity (i.e., less than 1 km) to the nearest fast-food outlet or convenience store in the home neighborhood increased the likelihood of food purchasing from these food establishments at least once per week by adolescents (p < 0.05). High fast-food outlet density in both home and school neighborhoods was associated with increased fast-food purchasing by adolescents (i.e., at least once per week; p < 0.05). In conclusion, macro-level regulations and policies are required to amend the health-detracting neighborhood food environment surrounding children and youth’s home and school

Juntos y Saludables: Outcomes of a peer led approach to obesity prevention for Head Start

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together), a multi-component obesity prevention pilot tailored for Mexican American Head Start children (ages 3-5). For the parent education component, researchers trained seven peer parent educators to deliver health information via afterschool parent education sessions. When parents attended the sessions, they received a take-home bag with a book and family activity to promote physical activity in the home. Method: Parent intercept interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires were collected (average 80% participation rate). Results: Average participation rate at the parent education sessions was 46% and rates varied between 34% (61 parents) and 53% (94 parents). More parents in the intervention school reported that their child ate fruit at least 3 times (83.5% versus 79.17%), ate in front of the television less than three times (70.87% versus 49.38%) during the typical week and more parents reported that their child watched 2 hours or less of television each day (73.79% versus 13.19%), compared to the comparison school. 81% of parents interviewed correctly identified the program name. On average, parents could recall almost 3 (M=2.94, SD=1.92) of the 8 key messages without a prompt and about 6 (M=5.91, SD=1.88) when prompted. Messages recalled the most, without a prompt, included (1) preschoolers need 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and (2) children who get all five servings of fruits and vegetables each day are more likely to get the nutrients they need. In the focus group, parents reported that they enjoyed the peer-led session format and session scheduled time. Conclusion: Results suggest that peer-led approaches can be highly effective with parents, especially when addressing childhood obesity prevention

Lessons Learned from Juntos Y Saludables Peer-Led Parent Education

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of training received by peer educators in the Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together) program. Juntos y Saludables is a multi-component childhood obesity prevention program for Head Start. Method: This study applied the peer led education approach to provide parents with education regarding healthy growth among their children. Seven parents were recruited through teachers, other parents, and the Parent Leadership Institute at a local Head Start center. Faculty and graduate assistants from local universities provided training to the parent educators in both English and Spanish. Training sessions were conducted the week of each new parent education session, with one booster training after spring break (7 training sessions in total). The parent educators were trained to: (1) encourage the Head Start parents to participate in the sessions, (2) explain the health messages, and (3) answer any questions the parents had. A focus group was conducted at the end of the program, with all seven parent educators, to assess their feedback about the training they received. Results: The peer parent educators reported that they became educators to improve children’s health. They were satisfied with the training methods and felt that they learned a lot of information regarding nutrition and physical activity recommendations for their children. They also reported feeling comfortable delivering health information to other parents. Parent educators appreciated that they could work together (e.g., in bilingual pairs) to provide the health education to parents in both English and Spanish. The peer parent education training session attendance was high-71% and greater. Conclusions: Most peer parent educators felt comfortable and confident delivering the material as the program progressed. Earlier training might assist the parent educators to have greater familiarity with content prior to the first session. Educators also created strategies to deal with situations that arose during the sessions (e.g. crowd control, parents requesting extra bags). Future training can include suggested strategies to handle similar situations

Diabetes Self-Management Support Program in Predominantly Hispanic Faith Community Settings: A Pilot Study

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility, facilitators, barriers, and impact of adopting the Self-Management Resource Center Diabetes Self-Management Program (SMRC DSMP) on diabetes-related outcomes. Methods: The SMRC DSMP was implemented in five churches in San Antonio, Texas. A single group pre-post-test design was used to evaluate program effect on improving T2D outcomes. The primary outcome was glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) and secondary outcomes included Self-Efficacy for Diabetes, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and patterns of eating and physical activity. Program feasibility, facilitators, and barriers were assessed through documentation and in-person interviews with participants. Results: A total of 96 participants were in the program with 87 completed endpoint surveys (91%). HbA1c level was significantly reduced by 0.73%. HRQL score increased by 2.6 days per month; stretching/strengthening activity increased by 36 minutes per week; and Self-Efficacy for Diabetes score significantly increased. The program was viewed as necessary for the community due to familiar environment with church acquaintances and ease of access to the program. Key barriers were a lack of facilitators’ competency in the Spanish language, short program length, and no ongoing support group / reunions. Conclusion: The DSMP program was feasible and effective when implemented in faith community settings for Hispanics

Building a Heathly Temple

PURPOSE: This study aimed to qualitatively explore the Hispanic faith-based communities\u27 perceptions and willingness to address the childhood obesity epidemic. We will gain insights on faith-based communities’ perceptions of childhood obesity; their openness and willingness to address the issue of childhood obesity; their perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing faith-based community obesity prevention programs; and their ideas of appropriate obesity interventions in faith-based community settings. METHOD: In-depth interviews with 30 Hispanic church leaders and 7 focus groups with 38 church attending Hispanic children and 38 parents in San Antonio’s West Side, a low-income Hispanic community, were used to collect qualitative data. Interviews and focus groups were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative analysis was sequential, utilizing a combination of editing and immersion crystallization. Pertinent research findings will be disseminated to policy makers, community groups and health professionals through town hall meetings, community forums, conference presentation and publications. RESULTS: Preliminary Findings demonstrated that Hispanic faith-based communities are aware of the burning issues associated with obesity and its consequences, such as diabetes and hypertension, affecting their congregations. Both church leaders and members showed willingness to address childhood obesity in faith-based community settings. They perceived a relationship between ones’ faith and health. They identified the needs for culturally sensitive health education through sermons and Sunday school, free after-school activities or a summer camp providing physical activity opportunities for both parents and children, healthy cooking classes, church and home food environmental changes, as well as congregation-wide healthy competition. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that Hispanic faith-based communities in San Antonio are aware of and willing to address childhood obesity among their congregations. Implementation of future childhood obesity programs through the Hispanic faith-based community is worthy of investigation in the future

College Students’ Percieved Barriers and Failitators to Maintaining a Healthy Bodyweight

PURPOSE: It has been evident that on average college students experienced excess weight gain as they transited from high school. The objectives of this study were to qualitatively explore college students’ perceived barriers and facilitators to maintaining a healthy bodyweight and identify the key modifiable factors underlying unhealthy behaviors. METHOD: The study employed photovoice (PV), a qualitative research method, in undergraduate students in South Texas. Participants took pictures and wrote descriptions of three perceived barriers and three facilitators to maintaining a healthy body weight; they were then asked to choose one of each for discussion. Eight focus groups were conducted with 96 participants and were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative analysis was sequential, utilizing a combination of editing and immersion crystallization. RESULTS: We were able to identify an array of common perceived facilitators and barriers to maintaining a healthy body weight among college students. Common barriers included time constraints, peer influences, unhealthy vending machine options, high cost of and limited access to healthy foods, obesogenic campus infrastructure, cultural environment, and social norms. Common facilitators included social support, access to a campus recreation center, having a variety of physical activity options available, health education classes, acting as a role model for their children, health benefits through work, sidewalks and staircases around campus, and the ability to pack healthier foods from home to take to campus. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for policy and environmental changes on college campuses such as: more affordable and accessible variety of healthier food options; meal heating and refrigeration facilities; bans on unhealthy vending content; and mandatory physical and health education. Social marketing campaigns and support groups would facilitate a shift of cultural and social norms toward a health promoting attitude