Is Social Capital Associated with Academic Achievement in Lithuanian High-school Students? A Population-based Study

Th e present study aims to determine the associations between family, neighbourhood, and school social capital with academic achievement among Lithuanian high-school students. Th e study included 1854 high-school students (901 males and 953 females) aged 16-18 years. At the end of the school year, the students’ achievements were measured as an average grade. Family, neighbourhood, and school social capital were identifi ed, indicating trust and understanding perceived from those social settings. Gender, body-mass index, self-perceived socioeconomic status, self-rated health, psychological distress and physical activity were also measured and used as covariates. Academic achievement was associated with family social capital, horizontal school trust and reciprocity at school. Family support, cooperation, and trust between students positively aff ect their achievement. Policies and strategies for a healthy environment for children need to be incorporated, especially within the school system for students’ better progress

Patients’ who suffer from depression and schizophrenia self-rated health and it’s changes during inpatient treatment

Tyrimo tikslas - nustatyti sergančiųjų depresija ir šizofrenija savo sveikatos vertinimą, pokytį stacionarinio gydymo laikotarpiu bei sąsajas su sociodemografiniais, klinikiniais bei pažintinių gebėjimų rodikliais. Tyrime dalyvavo 149 Žiegždrių psichiatrijos ligoninės pacientai, 69 turintys depresijos ir 80 šizofrenijos diagnozes, vyrų amžiaus vidurkis 38,57, moterų - 41,79 metai. Savo sveikatos vertinimui nustatyti buvo naudojamas 2008 m. prof. A. Goštauto remiantis biopsichosocialiniu modeliu sudarytas 64 teiginių klausimynas. Atlikus klausimyno faktorinę analizę buvo išskirti septyni faktoriai – savo sveikatos vertinimo komponentės (fizinis pajėgumas, psichologinė orientacija, socialinis palaikymas, socialinės-ekonominės sąlygos, fizinis atsparumas, pažintiniai-emociniai aspektai, fizinė savijauta). Tyrimas buvo atliktas dviem etapais: nustatytas savo sveikatos vertinimas stacionarinio gydymo pradžioje ir pabaigoje. Tyrimas atskleidė, kad vyrų ir moterų fizinės ir socialinės savo sveikatos vertinimas nesiskiria nei sergančiųjų depresija, nei sergančiųjų šizofrenija grupėse. Depresija sergantys vyrai geriau nei moterys vertina pažintinius-emocinius savo sveikatos aspektus. Sergantys šizofrenija pacientai geriau vertina fizinės ir psichologinės, bet menkiau socialinės sveikatos komponentes nei sergantys depresija pacientai. Daugelio savo sveikatos komponenčių vertinimas stacionarinio gydymo laikotarpiu gerėjo. Daugiausiai sergančiųjų depresija ir šizofrenija grupėse gerėja fizinės savijautos vertinimas. Sveikimo rodikliai depresija ir šizofrenija sergančiųjų grupėse panašūs. Sergančiųjų depresija grupėje sveikatos vertinimo komponenčių pokyčiai dažniausiai susiję su geresniais pažintinių gebėjimų pokyčiais ir aukštesniu išsilavinimu, sergančiųjų šizofrenija grupėje tik su aukštesniu išsilavinimu.The aim of the study was to evaluate patients’ with depression and schizophrenia self-rated health, it’s changes during inpatient treatment and linkages with sociodemographic, clinical and cognitive characteristics. The study included 149 patients of Žiegždriai psychiatric hospital, 69 diagnosed with depression and 80 with schizophrenia, the average age of men was 38,57, women – 41,79 years. Self-rated health was assessed by 64 claims questionnaire, based on biopsychosocial model and was created in 2008 by prof. A. Goštautas. Factor analysis was done, seven factors – self-rated health components - were extracted (physical capacity, psychological orientation, social support, socio-economic conditions, physical resistance, cognitive-emotional aspects, physical well-being). Research consisted of two stages: evaluation of the self-rated health at the beginning and at the end of the inpatient treatment. The study results revealed that men and women do not differ in their physical and social self-rated health neither in patients with depression nor in patients with schizophrenia groups. Depressed men better than women evaluate cognitive-emotional aspects of their health. Schizophrenia patients evaluate their physical and psychological components of self-rated health better, but social components worse than depressed patients do. At the end of the inpatient treatment many of the components of self-rated health have improved. The assessment of physical well-being improved the most in both patients with depression and schizophrenia groups. Changes of components indexes’ in depression and schizophrenia patients groups were similar. Better health assessment components’ changes in patients with depression group usually associated with better cognitive changes and higher education and in patients with schizophrenia group only with higher education.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Integruoto apsisprendimo ir planuoto elgesio teorijų modelio taikymas sergančiųjų cukriniu diabetu glikemijos kontrolės motyvacijai ir elgesiui paaiškinti

Glycemic control motivation and behavior in persons with diabetes in the frame of integrated model of self-determination theory and theory of planned behavior is analyzed in this dissertation. Integrated model in this research was complemented by certain emotional and social-cognitive factors. In accordance with self-determination theory, the present study assessed autonomous, controlled motivation and perceived autonomy support. In accordance with theory of planned behaviour, various psychosocial factors and intentions were identified. Glycemic control was evaluated as days of compliance for diabetic diet, physical activity and blood sugar monitoring and medicine taking recomendations. There were considered sociodemographic, illness-related and health-related factors. The results indicated that perceived autonomy support indirectly, through autonomous motivation, is related to particular glycemic control behavior and through various social-cognitive factors - to behavior intentions. On the contrary, controlled motivation was not related to more favourable glycemic control behavior or its intentions. Additional emotional and social-cognitive constructs are significantly related to particular glycemic control behavior or its intentions.Daktaro disertacijoje analizuojama sergančiųjų cukriniu diabetu glikemijos kontrolės motyvacija ir elgesys, remiantis integruotu apsisprendimo ir planuoto elgesio teorijų modeliu, kuris buvo papildytas emociniais ir socialiniais-kognityviniais veiksniais. Pagal apsisprendimo teoriją įvertinti autonominės, kontroliuojamos motyvacijos ir paramos autonomijai konstruktai. Pagal planuoto elgesio teoriją nustatyti įvairūs psichosocialiniai su elgesiu susiję veiksniai ir jų nulemti ketinimai. Išmatuotas su glikemijos kontrole susijęs elgesys: mityba, fizinis aktyvumas, cukraus kiekio kraujyje stebėsena ir vaistų vartojimas. Tyrime buvo atsižvelgiama į tiriamųjų sociodemografines, ligos ir sveikatos charakteristikas. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad integruotame apsisprendimo ir planuoto elgesio teorijų modelyje suvokta parama sergančiojo cukriniu diabetu autonomijai netiesiogiai, per autonominę motyvaciją, siejasi su tam tikru glikemijos kontrolės elgesiu ir per įvairius socialinius-kognityvinius veiksnius su ketinimais atitinkamai elgtis. Priešingai, kontroliuojama motyvacija su palankesniu sveikatai glikemijos kontrolės elgesiu ir ketinimais elgtis nesisieja. Papildomi emociniai ir socialiniai-kognityviniai modelio konstruktai reikšmingai siejasi su motyvacija tam tikram glikemijos kontrolės elgesiui ir tam tikru elgesiu.Psichologijos katedraSocialinių mokslų fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Application of the Integrated Model of Self-determination Theory and Theory of Planned Behaviour for Glycemic Control Motivation and Behavior in Persons With Diabetes

Daktaro disertacijoje analizuojama sergančiųjų cukriniu diabetu glikemijos kontrolės motyvacija ir elgesys, remiantis integruotu apsisprendimo ir planuoto elgesio teorijų modeliu, kuris buvo papildytas emociniais ir socialiniais-kognityviniais veiksniais. Pagal apsisprendimo teoriją įvertinti autonominės, kontroliuojamos motyvacijos ir paramos autonomijai konstruktai. Pagal planuoto elgesio teoriją nustatyti įvairūs psichosocialiniai su elgesiu susiję veiksniai ir jų nulemti ketinimai. Išmatuotas su glikemijos kontrole susijęs elgesys: mityba, fizinis aktyvumas, cukraus kiekio kraujyje stebėsena ir vaistų vartojimas. Tyrime buvo atsižvelgiama į tiriamųjų sociodemografines, ligos ir sveikatos charakteristikas. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad integruotame apsisprendimo ir planuoto elgesio teorijų modelyje suvokta parama sergančiojo cukriniu diabetu autonomijai netiesiogiai, per autonominę motyvaciją, siejasi su tam tikru glikemijos kontrolės elgesiu ir per įvairius socialinius-kognityvinius veiksnius su ketinimais atitinkamai elgtis. Priešingai, kontroliuojama motyvacija su palankesniu sveikatai glikemijos kontrolės elgesiu ir ketinimais elgtis nesisieja. Papildomi emociniai ir socialiniai-kognityviniai modelio konstruktai reikšmingai siejasi su motyvacija tam tikram glikemijos kontrolės elgesiui ir tam tikru elgesiu.Glycemic control motivation and behavior in persons with diabetes in the frame of integrated model of self-determination theory and theory of planned behavior is analyzed in this dissertation. Integrated model in this research was complemented by certain emotional and social-cognitive factors. In accordance with self-determination theory, the present study assessed autonomous, controlled motivation and perceived autonomy support. In accordance with theory of planned behaviour, various psychosocial factors and intentions were identified. Glycemic control was evaluated as days of compliance for diabetic diet, physical activity and blood sugar monitoring and medicine taking recomendations. There were considered sociodemographic, illness-related and health-related factors. The results indicated that perceived autonomy support indirectly, through autonomous motivation, is related to particular glycemic control behavior and through various social-cognitive factors - to behavior intentions. On the contrary, controlled motivation was not related to more favourable glycemic control behavior or its intentions. Additional emotional and social-cognitive constructs are significantly related to particular glycemic control behavior or its intentions.Psichologijos katedraSocialinių mokslų fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

The relationship between students’ physical activity and academic stress

Background. Stress and physical inactivity are one of the most common risk factors among students. Problems of stress, experienced by students, and physical activity and impact on health are extremely important in order to improve students’ quality of life and prevent health problems. Methods. Academic stress was measured using the Konduri academic life stress questionnaire. Physical activity was evaluated by the Godin leisure time physical activity questionnaire. Distress was evaluated by the Reeder stress inventory. Study participants were 448 Lithuanian full-time first and third year bachelor’s students, with ages ranging from 18 to 39 years; average age 20.06 ± 18.04. 38 percent (173) of people under investigation were women, and 62 percent (275) were men. 60 percent (268) of people under investigation were first-year students, 40 percent (180) were third-year students. Results. Physically more active students experience less academic stress than less physically active students. Intense physical activity has the greatest impact on academic stress. Students who engage in intensive physical activity more often, experience less academic stress related to social support, motivation to achieve, training program and training mode, and self-confidence, compared with students who engage in intensive physical activity less often. It was found that women experience more academic stress, related to training program, academic aspirations, and career, compared with men. First-year students experience more academic stress, related to support, motivation to achieve, academic aspirations, self-confidence, and exam anxiety, compared with third-year students. Conclusions. Half of all students go in for sports three or more times a week, a third of students go in for sports less than three times a week, almost one-fifth of students never go in for sports. Increased physical activity is among men, first-year students, compared with women and third-year students. A fifth of students experience stress, almost half of students experience nervous tension; one-third of students do not experience tension and stress. Higher stress, both general and related to academic activities, is felt by women and first-year students, compared with men and third-year students. Keywords: students, physical activity, academic stress, stress

Kūno kultūros mokytojų samprata apie sveikatos ugdymą mokykloje

Research background and hypothesis. Health education (HE) is integrated in various modules especially in biology and physical education (PE). Therefore the quality and effectiveness of integrated health education should be analyzed systematically. Research aim. The aim of the study was to examine PE teachers’ perception of health education and social support for HE at their schools. Research methods. The data of convenience sample consisting of 70 physical education teachers (62% were women) from one of the largest Lithuanian cities were analyzed. Respondents ranged in age from 25 to 69 years, average age was 45 ± 11 years. 44.8 percent of participants indicated that they work at school which belongs to the SHE (School for Health in Europe) network. Anonymous questionnaire was developed to assess PE teachers’ health education perceptions and attitudes towards HE. Research results. Only one of ten physical education teachers understood conception of HE and correctly defined its main goal. Neither teachers from schools within the SHE network, nor the ones who began their career after Independence fundamentally differed in their understanding and attitudes towards HE from teachers who did not belong to the SHE network or began their carrier before Independence.The findings of the current study demonstrated that in this sample PE teachers’ behavior change – related competencies were not well-developed for the implementation of effective and safe HE. Discussion and conclusions. This pilot study showed that HE perception of PE teachers’ was incorrect and their attitude towards health education should be optimized. No important differences were observed between HE perceptions of teachers in regard of school belonging to SHE network. PE teachers working in SHE school network reported higher social support for HE activities

Sveikatingumo centruose besimankštinančių asmenų kūno vaizdo ir mankštinimosi sąsajos

Research background and hypothesis. The analysis of factors which might influence exercise adherence is important issue for physical activity promotion. Studies show that exercisers’ body image is important factor associated with well being, exercise motivation and specific exercise-related behaviour. Research aim was is to examine the relationship between exercise adherence, body image and social physique anxiety in a sample of fitness centre participants. Research methods. Members of fitness centres (n = 217, 66 of them were women) provided their answers on exercise experience, in three subscales (appearance evaluation, appearance orientation and overweight preoccupation) of The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ-AS; Brown et al., 1990) and Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS; Hart et al., 1989). Mean age of the sample was 29.02 (9.85) years (range = 18-68 years). Research results. Women demonstrated higher appearance orientation, overweight preoccupation and social physique anxiety compared to men. However, we observed no signifi cant differences in appearance evaluation, appearance orientation and overweight preoccupation in the groups of different exercise experience of men and women.When overweight respondents (≥ 25 kg / m²) were excluded from the analysis, there were no statistically signifi cant differences observed in body image and social physique anxiety in exercise experience groups of men and women. Exercising longer than 6 years signifi cantly predicted overweight preoccupation [95% CI: 1.25–16.94] controlled by age and gender. Discussion and conclusions. Exercising men demonstrated more positive body image and lower social physique anxiety compared to women, except for appearance evaluation. There were observed no body image and social physique relationships with exercise adherence observed in the sample of fitness centre participants, however, exercise experience longer than 6 years predicted overweight preoccupation

Self-rated health and its changes of patients with depression and schizophrenia during hospital treatment

Aktualūs tyrimai psichologijoje: tarptautinė patirtis: tarptautinio simpoziumo, įvykusio 2011 m. balandžio 13 d. Kaune ir Kearney, pranešimų santraukosAccording to the bio-psycho-social model, proposed by World Health Organization in 1948, it is necessary to implement a holistic approach to the sick person. In the case of various diseases, including mental, intervention-based on psychological theories can be applied, and it leads to management of these diseases or reduction of its negative consequences. Collaborative endeavors of psychology and medicine could lessen the costs of the treatment. And we need to consider not only disease management, but also improvement of health and well-being of patients. So subjective well-being should be evaluated as well as biomedical indicators. One of the health damage, well-being and recovery characteristic is subjective assessment of own health. Self-rated health is a psychological construct and it aects daily quality of life, motivation to engage in social activities and re*ects the functioning in the organization. In addition, self-rated health re*ects the patients’ attitudes and feelings which could be important in evaluating the e-ectiveness of the treatment. Considering the evaluation of own health as an indicator of functioning in various,elds of life, then the change of subjective health evaluation during inpatient treatment should be considered as recovery rate. The aim of the study was to identify and compare patients’ with depression and schizophrenia self-rated health, its changes during inpatient treatment and links with sociodemographic, clinical and cognitive characteristics.[...]Psichologijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Exercise goals as predictors of body image concerns, Social Physique Anxiety and Legal Supplement Use among fitness center exercisers

This study examined how exercise goals predicted body image concerns and the use of supplements in a sample of Lithuanian fitness center exercisers of both genders. Fitness exercisers (N=238) completed questionnaires measuring exercising goals, body image (BI), social physique anxiety (SPA) and the use of muscle gain (MGS) and weight loss (WLS) supplements. Regression analyses showed thai appearance goals of exercising were associated with higher BI concerns and SPA. Relatively intrinsic exercise goals (interest/enjoyment, fitness, and competence) were not associated or negatively associated with BI and SPA. Relatively intrinsic social interaction goals were associated with higher BI and SPA. No differences in BI and SPA between MGS and WLS users versus nonusers were found. Women WLS users demonstrated higher overweight preoccupation. Relatively intrinsic fit¬ness goals were associated with lower MGS use. Competence goals were associated with higher MGS use. Results highlight the importance of understanding the motives of goals and fostering self-determined motivation when preventing body image concerns among exercisersLietuvos sporto universitetasPsichologijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta