scholarly journals Determinants of diet and physical activity in adolescents in Mysore, India: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shama Joseph ◽  
G. V. Krishnaveni ◽  
K. Kumaran ◽  
Susie Weller ◽  
M. C. Ramya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
South Indian

Abstract Background Adolescence is an important transitional period in which major physical, psychological and cognitive changes occur. Lifestyle habits during this time, particularly related to dietary behaviour and physical activity, strongly influence overall health and non-communicable disease risk in adulthood. There are gaps in knowledge about the determinants of food choices and physical activity habits of adolescents in low and middle income countries. Objectives To identify factors which influence the food choices and physical activity habits of adolescents in the South Indian city of Mysore, India. Methods Six focus group discussions were conducted in selected urban neighbourhoods of Mysore. Thirty volunteers were recruited by purposive sampling method to include younger (10-12 years old, n=12) and older (15-17 years old, n=12) adolescents, and caregivers of adolescents (n=6). The focus group discussions were conducted by investigators who were native to the region Results Despite revealing a propensity for consuming fast foods, adolescents ate home cooked meals regularly, and both young people and their parents were satisfied with the quality of the adolescents’ diets. Also, all participant groups reported that adolescents regularly played and enjoyed games and sports, and did household chores as part of their physical activity. However, the pressure of schoolwork and the increasing amounts of time spent on digital devices including mobile phones were major constraints to being active. Conclusions Adolescents and caregivers perceive that Mysore adolescents’ dietary habits remain satisfactory. Academic study was found to be the priority in adolescents’ lives. This is recognized and accepted both socially and culturally as the right choice by parents and young people alike. Therefore, not much time or effort is spent on being active. A contradiction is that although time is considered to be a scarce commodity that necessitates careful partitioning, any surplus time is preferentially spent in playing digital games and interacting on social media. Interventions are needed to increase the amount of physical activity undertaken by Mysore adolescents.

Researching young people’s perceptions and experiences of place

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Spatial Practices ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Everyday World ◽  
People’S Perceptions

This chapter presents an overview and reflection of the range of methods involved in researching teenagers’ spatial practices in a divided city. The research draws on the ‘new sociology of childhood’ as its theoretical framework. This involves seeing young people as competent social actors in their own right. It involves recognising that young people do not simply reflect adult assumptions about the everyday world but develop their own ways of seeing and knowing. It prioritises young people’s points of views and uses methodologies which encourage young people’s voices to be heard. The study utilised a range of methods including questionnaires, focus group discussions, essays and photo prompts and the chapter outlines how each method contributed to the aims and objectives of the research.

scholarly journals Development and evaluation of a physical activity intervention informed by participatory research- a feasibility study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rathi Ramji ◽  
Elisabeth Carlson ◽  
Anders Kottorp ◽  
Sergey Shleev ◽  
Eman Awad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
Health Parameters

Abstract Background Despite numerous interventions aiming to improve physical activity in socially disadvantaged populations, physical inactivity remains to be a rising challenge to public health globally, as well as, in Sweden. In an effort to address this challenge, a community-based participatory intervention was developed through active community engagement and implemented in a socially disadvantaged neighborhood in Sweden. The current study aims to present the development and initial evaluation of a participatory research driven physical activity intervention. Methods Fifteen participants (11 females and 4 males) aged 17–59 years volunteered to participate in the physical activity intervention program. The intervention program was evaluated using a longitudinal mixed methods design measuring health impact changes over time through focus group discussions and quality of life surveys. Further additional biomedical health parameters such as levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, levels of oxygen saturation and body mass index were monitored before and after the intervention. Focus group data were analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach. The pre-and post-test scores from the survey-based quality of life domains, as well as the health parameters were compared using non-parametric and parametric statistics. Results Four themes emerged from the analysis of the focus group discussions including sense of fellowship, striving for inclusion and equity, changing the learner perspective and health beyond illness. The scores for the domains Physical Health, Psychological Health, Social Relationships and Health Satisfaction where significantly higher after participation in the physical activity intervention program compared to the pre-test scores (p < .05)s. There were however, no significant changes in the scores for the environmental domain and overall quality of life after intervention compared to that prior to intervention start. Overall, the biomedical health parameters remained stable within the normal ranges during intervention. Conclusion The focus group discussions and results from the surveys and biomedical measures reveal important findings to understand and further develop the intervention program to promote health equity among citizens in disadvantaged areas. Evaluating the feasibility of such an intervention using multiple approaches contributes to effective implementation of it for larger communities in need.

Young Women's and Men's Different Worlds of Alcohol, Fear, and Violence in Focus Group Discussions with 18-Year-Olds in Stockholm

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Abrahamson
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Street Violence

The purpose of the paper is to investigate how young women and men in focus group discussions reason about alcohol, street violence, fear of assault by a stranger, and to compare the different kinds of threats that young women and men present of what might happen when they are out at night and on their way home. The interviews are analysed from the point of view of the accounts the young people give for their feelings and behaviors. The young women's accounts are dominated by their answers to an implicit question of blame for how they ensure their security and which measures they have taken. What the young women are afraid of is rarely formulated explicitly. It is implicit and goes without much saying. On the other hand the accounts the young men are giving for their actions consist of answers to the implicit question of blame for violence they have been involved in and also of blame for fear of violence. The young men's picture of threat is concrete and consists of other young men of the same age. By their accounts they show that fear of violence is something that has to be given an explanation. The young men use intoxication both as an excuse for the violence they are using and as an explanation to why violence occurs.

Teachers’ and Parents’ Perceptions on Eating Behaviour of Primary School Students: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 119-128
Author(s):  
Milan Acharya ◽  
Kamal Prasad Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
School Students ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Grade One

This study explores the perceptions involved in the healthy eating behaviour of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-grade students in a primary level community school in Nepal. A total, ten observations during mid-day meal and three focus group discussions were conducted among teachers and parents. Sixty students from grade one to three, five teachers and sixteen parents took part in the study. All the participating teachers and parents were engaged in dialogue conferences during focus groups and students’ eating behaviours were observed by the teachers and parents during tiffin time throughout the study. Thematic-content analysis based on the qualitative approach was used on the collected data from the field notes during a series of participant observations and focus group discussions. It is found that the family norms and feeding culture around a child’s domestic life have an active role in establishing and promoting healthy habits that persists throughout. It is also noted that parental food habits and feeding strategies are the most dominant determinants of children eating behaviour and food choices of mid-day meal during tiffin time at the school. It is recommended that parents and teachers should expose their children and students to a range of good food choices and acting as positive role models.  

scholarly journals Determinants of Weight-Related Behaviors in Male Saudi University Students: A Qualitative Approach Using Focus Group Discussions

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3697
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Balhareth ◽  
Mohammed Jafer ◽  
Ester van der Borgh-Sleddens ◽  
Stef Kremers ◽  
Ree Meertens
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
University Students ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions

Obesity is a serious public health concern in the Gulf States. Students are exposed to many unhealthy weight-related behaviors due to college life. However, research that gives insight into regional and culture-specific aspects and determinants of weight-related behaviors in students is lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential determinants of weight change, eating behaviors, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and sleep behaviors in Saudi university students. Five semi-structured focus group discussions guided by Social Cognitive Theory were conducted, consisting of 33 male university students 20 to 22 years old. The data were transcribed, coded, and organized according to themes. The students reported weight gain due to personal, social, and environmental factors related to university lifestyle, such as unhealthy eating behaviors, low physical activity, high sedentary behaviors, and inadequate sleep. Both eating behaviors and physical activity shared similar personal aspects found in other studies, such as knowledge, stress, lack of time, and lack of motivation. However, there were some unique social and environmental factors in the region, such as the social norms, cultural aspects, weather conditions, passive transport dependency, and khat consumption, compared with studies worldwide. Such differences are key factors to developing effective interventions in the future.

Us and them: Young people’s constructions of national identity in Cyprus

Childhood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Leonard
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Divided Societies ◽  
Greek Cypriot ◽  
Turkish Cypriot

The purpose of this article is to explore young people’s constructions of national identity in Cyprus. The article is based on focus group discussions with 20 Greek-speaking and 20 Turkish-speaking young people between 13 and 15 years of age, drawn from two schools in the divided capital city of Nicosia. The article explores both the ways in which Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot young people understand their own identity and the degrees of their allegiance to an overarching identity as ‘Cypriot’, rather than Turkish/Greek Cypriot. The article reflects on the contradictions young people face in divided societies where there are competing discourses around national identity.

scholarly journals The Dangers Associated with Female Adolescents Consuming Nyaope Drug in Butterworth, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samkelo Bala ◽  
Simon M. Kang’ethe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Potent Drug

AbstractNyaope is a potent drug that is currently challenging South Africa; its ramifications have destroyed the country’s youth. The study described in this paper sought to explore the dangers associated with the consumption of Nyaope in Butterworth, South Africa. This study adopted an explorative and descriptive qualitative approach that involved the facilitation of focus group discussions and one-on-one interviews with twenty-six participants. An analysis of the findings of the study revealed the health hazards associated with consuming Nyaope and the tendency of Nyaope consumption to induce hallucinations and delusions in young people. Moreover, the study showed that Nyaope stimulated mood swings among female adolescents, its consumption created a fertile ground for conflict, and the addiction to Nyaope led to the destruction of the future of female adolescents. The researchers recommend the application of multiple approaches to preventing the initiation of Nyaope consumption. These approaches include attempts to control the peddling of Nyaope in schools and communities as well as the introduction of pro-active educational interventions regarding the dangers of Nyaope on the part of relevant institutions and government.

“The Menthol One Is More Friendly”: Young Singaporeans’ Perspectives on Flavored Cigarettes

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110653
Author(s):  
Yvette van der Eijk ◽  
Lavinia Lin ◽  
Lydia Gan ◽  
Odelia Teo ◽  
Mythily Subramaniam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Smoking Initiation ◽  
Young Age ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Nicotine Content ◽  
Hot And Humid Climate

Over half of the cigarettes sold in Singapore contain added flavors such as menthol. We conducted nine focus group discussions (n = 46) with young (age 20-25) current smokers in Singapore to understand the role of flavors in smoking initiation. We found that flavors triggered the curiosity to experiment with tobacco and e-cigarette products and played an important role in the formation of early cigarette preferences. Menthol-flavored cigarettes were the most appealing to participants due to their smoothness and cooling sensation, described as pleasant against Singapore’s hot and humid climate. While some participants believed that flavored and nonflavored cigarettes were equally harmful, others believed that flavored variants had a lower nicotine content and were therefore less harmful, or that the added chemicals in flavored cigarettes could result in higher toxicant exposures. Thus, among young people in Singapore, flavors appear to play an important role in smoking initiation and there appear to be various misperceptions regarding their harmfulness.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND INTEREST IN THE PROCESS OF LATVIAN STATE ADMINISTRATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 387
Author(s):  
Liga Mirlina
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Public ◽  
State Administration

Democratic state administration needs interaction with the public, which requires not only government communication with the public but also the public interest and understanding in the political and public administration processes. The task of public administration is to create a legal and institutional framework and mechanisms for public participation, while NGOs and the general public need civil competency to use the opportunities of public participation. Analysing the Latvian government's communication activities related to public participation and public awareness, the aim of this paper is to examine the level of participation of different social groups and the impact of their awareness on it. Within the framework of the research, the following methods have been used: analysis of normative documents, statistics on the implementation of the Memorandum of cooperation between the government and non-governmental organizations, interviews with experts from NGOs and state administration, focus group discussions with young people. Analysing legal documents and statistics on the involvement of NGOs, public participation platforms and their use have been evaluated. Based on the views of NGOs and state administration experts, there are certain factors that influence the level of public participation and public awareness. Focus group discussions with young people have identified their awareness and interest in public administration processes as well as their civic participation. The research study found that the state administration has created a variety of platforms for the involvement of NGOs in decision-making processes and an increase in the participation of NGOs. By choosing young people as one of the social groups of society, it can be concluded that information about public participation does not reach the general public, thus it has little effect on the formation of the general public's awareness and the level of participation.

scholarly journals Perception, Attitudes, and Experiences Regarding Mental Health Problems and Web Based Mental Health Information Amongst Young People with and without Migration Background in Germany. A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Ümran Sema Seven ◽  
Mendy Stoll ◽  
Dennis Dubbert ◽  
Christian Kohls ◽  
Petra Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Migration Background ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions

Mental illnesses in adolescence and young adulthood are steadily increasing. Thus, mental disorders represent an individual and societal challenge and an enormous health economic burden, creating an urgent need for research and action. Mental health problems are omnipresent in the life of young people and the internet is the first resource, which helps them to understand their situation. Young people with migration background often have more difficulties accessing health care services. Digital technologies offer an ideal opportunity for a low-threshold platform that addresses the needs of young people. The current project “GeKo:mental” aims to design a multilingual website for Cologne-based adolescents and young adults that will enable them to obtain comprehensive information about mental illness and health, treatment options and first contact points. To design this website, this study aims to find out what kind of health information is needed and how it should best be presented. Nine focus group discussions with adolescents and young adults with and without migration background (N = 68) were conducted; the focus group discussions took place at schools, in an association for social youth work and in an cultural association, which is linked to a mosque in Cologne, Germany. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the gathered material. The participants reported concrete challenges and needs. The results will form the basis for the development and design of a website.

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