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    Mindful eating and wellbeing : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Barnett, Stephanie
    Emerging evidence supports the application of mindful eating to individual health and wellbeing. The present study examined the relationship of mindful eating to specific health behaviour outcomes; physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. The moderating influence of Self-Compassion and Self-Efficacy was also investigated. A total of 388 participants were recruited via an online quantitative questionnaire, which assessed demographics and health behaviours, as well as including the Mindful Eating Questionnaire, Self-compassion Scale-SF and the General Self-efficacy Scale. Results indicated mindful eating was significantly correlated with physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. Self-Compassion and Self-Efficacy correlated highly with mindful eating practice, although played a minimal role in moderating the mindful eating and health behaviour relationship. Future studies could aim to include more detail around the specific types of exercise and foods being consumed in order to infer any health benefits. Findings have implications for the management of specific health indicators, including overweight, obesity, and restrictive eating disorders – these are discussed.
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    The health seeking behaviours of ageing Niuean women in Central Auckland : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2002) Arapai, Doreen Minnie
    This qualitative study encompasses several features in its design. It is exploratory, emergent and the realms of discovery and description are informed by Max van Manen's (1990) human science approach. Van Manen's approach has enabled analysis of the data. Human science is comprised of phenomenology, hermeneutics and language and when coupled with the data collection method of focus groups makes for interesting outcomes. Time is needed to develop the narrative texts as phenomenological interpretation is never complete. There will always be levels of understanding waiting to be discovered. As a New Zealand bom Niuean woman, I have provided a preliminary account of the health seeking behaviours of ageing Niuean women (Matua fifine) in Auckland. The context of health seeking behaviour cannot be realized until there is an understanding of the participant's perceptions of health and illness. Understanding peoples perceptions of health and illness may give insights into the reasons for the decisions that the Matua fifine make when choosing to engage or not engage primary and or secondary health services. This also includes traditional medicine and complementary therapies. The assumption is that people make a direct move to seek a healthcare provider when well and unwell. What is not appreciated are the choices that are also available such as self management or a wait and see approach. Equally important is the role of spirituality, which encompasses Christian beliefs and traditional beliefs. Background information of history and the Niuean way of life, sets the context for this study. Consultation within the Niuean community is an ethical consideration that has paved the way for support for this study. This study will enable the voice of the Matua fifine Niue to be heard so that health services will be able to respond to and preserve their dignity and individuality which are foundational for good health and positive ageing.
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    "Food's yum" : primary school children's constructions of food and healthy food messages : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2004) Sargisson, Julie Michelle
    In the current climate of increasing child obesity levels, and the accompanying media constructions of child obesity, improving children's eating behaviours is the focus of much attention. Traditional methods of promoting healthy eating have had limited success in improving eating behaviours, in part because they do not adequately address the social and environmental complexities associated with food and eating. This study adopts a discursive approach to examine the ways in which children construct food and make meaning of food in their everyday lives. A discursive analysis of conversations from small groups of 9-11 year old children about food, with an emphasis on healthy food, resulted in the identification and reporting of the use of four of the interpretative repertoires drawn on by the children: sensory, nutrition, natural and healthism. I describe the ways in which the children draw upon these repertoires to construct food as an object and to use food as a social marker and personal identifier. By drawing on multiple discourses in their constructions of food, the children demonstrate the socially negotiated nature of food. Unlike previous studies examining children's food preferences and eating habits, these children indicate that they are interested in healthy eating, however this position is negotiated rather than static. The strong presence of the healthism discourse in the conversations indicates that children are receiving healthy food messages, but emphasises that these messages form one part of a complex social negotiation of food practices and are used for the children's own social purposes. The children's focus on the responsibility of individuals to maintain health indicates that some of the concern that health promotion messages create a morality around health behaviours is justified.
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    A study of individual health practices in relation to health locus of control beliefs and health value : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1989) Gjaltema, Karolle
    Health-related behaviour has become a major focus of public concern because of the realisation that lifestyle factors are important in the etiology of many of today's illnesses. The present study was designed to increase the understanding and prediction of preventive health behaviour by investigating individual health beliefs. As a result of major theoretical and methodological shortcomings, previous research has not been entirely consistent in this area. However, overall trends suggest that the locus of control beliefs construct, which deals with individual perceptions of the causality of outcomes, is an important variable in the prediction of preventive health behaviour although the amount of variance explained by these factors in past studies has not been very large. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether the locus of control construct, in conjunction with the value an individual places on his/her health, have a significant effect on preventive health behaviour. A questionaire which included the Multi-dimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (Wallston, Wallston and DeVellis 1978), was administered to a sample of first year university students. A comprehensive range of preventive health behaviours was measured in order to obtain an accurate index of preventive health behaviour participation. The perceived efficacy of the preventive health behaviours was also measured as research into the Health Belief Model (Rosenstock 1966) suggests that it is an important factor in the prediction of health-related behaviours. Comparisons were made between those subjects who valued their health highly and those for whom health had a lower priority. Results confirm the hypothesis that health locus of control beliefs, in conjunction with health value, account for a significant proportion of the variance in preventive health behaviour. Furthermore, when only those preventive health actions which were perceived by subjects as being very healthy were considered, the ability of health locus of control beliefs and health value to predict preventive health behaviour increased. The results of this study indicate the importance of measuring locus of control beliefs in conjunction with the value placed upon health, when assessing their ability to predict preventive health behaviour. The study also highlights the importance of measuring a comprehensive range of preventive health behaviours which subjects perceive as being effective in health promotion, rather than a small number of preventive health beliefs with no measure of their perceived efficacy. Practical implications of this research and future research directions are suggested.