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    Iodine and mid-life women living in Auckland, New Zealand who avoid bread : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Finlayson, Jacqueline
    Aim: To investigate if avoidance of iodine fortified bread products by mid-life women results in low iodine status following mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt in New Zealand in 2009. Method: This cross-sectional study actively recruited women whose consumption of iodine fortified commercially baked bread was less than one slice per day. Assessment of iodine intake and status was determined via food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), three-day diet diary (3DDD) and 24-hour urine collection. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined and daily urinary iodine excretion and daily iodine intake was assessed. Results: Forty-six mid-life women living in Auckland were recruited for assessment of dietary intake of iodine, women were aged between 40-63 years and did not have diagnosed thyroid disease. The median urinary iodine concentration was 49 (35, 78) μg/l and indicates deficiency (Zimmermann, 2011). The median urinary iodine excretion was 108 (74, 154) μg/day and based on these results, the estimated median iodine intake of 120 (82, 171) μg/day was determined. This intake is below the recommended dietary intake (RDI) of 150 μg/day. Further, 91% of participants’ intake was below the estimated average requirement (EAR) of 100μg/day. Conclusion: From this small sample, the study showed that mid-life women living in NZ who avoid bread are at risk of inadequate dietary iodine intake. This group is unable to benefit from the mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt. This highlights the importance of continued monitoring of the iodine fortification programme within New Zealand. Further research should investigate both thyroid function and dietary habits of low bread consumers in New Zealand in a larger sample. Also an attempt to raise awareness of the best sources of iodine in the NZ diet, to improve both dietary intake and status of iodine amongst at-risk groups such as this is highly recommended.
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    Hormone replacement therapy use and everyday memory in mid-aged New Zealand women : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2000) Hamilton, Yolande M
    There continues to be inconsistent evidence as to the extent that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may preserve memory performance in menopausal women. The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test-Extended Version (RBMT-E) is a new measure of everyday memory developed for normal populations. The RBMT-E was used to test the everyday memory in a sample of 104 mid-aged New Zealand women (53 HRT users & 51 non-users). Measures of mood, affect, stress, general health and menopausal symptoms as well as age and education were also taken to control for possible confounds. Results showed significant differences (p< 0.5) between the groups for three sub-tests: 'Story Immediate', 'Story Delayed', and 'Message Delayed'. After calculation of a total profile score and adjustments for age and IQ, HRT users scored more highly than non HRT users on the RBMT-E overall measure of Everyday Memory. Conclusions suggest that HRT use does show a relationship with verbal memory, and that the potentially beneficial effect may assist in the performance of everyday memory tasks.
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    Menopause, mood and memory : the effect of hormone replacement therapy on mood and everyday memory in mid-life women : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Bristow, Virginia Margaret
    There is considerable neuro-scientific evidence that oestrogen influences memory and enhances mood because of its influence on brain mechanisms. Research on the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on both mood and memory is equivocal although findings indicate that oestrogen may enhance verbal memory. It has been suggested that this area of research should expand to include ecologically valid measures of everyday memory. This study examined the effect of HRT on mood and everyday memory in two separate samples of mid-life women. A cross-sectional comparison of HRT users and non-users among 124 women aged between 40 and 60 years showed that there were no significant differences in mood between HRT users and non-users. However, HRT users performed significantly better on tests of everyday memory and delayed verbal memory when the effects of age, IQ, and education were controlled for. A within-subjects comparison, using the same measures, with 17 women before, and 3 months after, HRT use, showed that negative mood states were reduced and positive mood states were enhanced by HRT, when change in stressful life events, self-rated health, sleep problems, vasomotor symptoms, and exercise were controlled for. The longitudinal sample also showed that everyday memory, working memory, and delayed verbal memory improved with HRT use. The improvement in memory was not mediated by mood. These results suggest that the effect of HRT on mood may only be short-term but that oestrogen does enhance everyday memory.
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    Universal change-individual responses : women's experience of the menopause and of taking hormone replacement therapy : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Anderson, Maxine
    The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the phenomenon of menopause as experienced by women taking hormone replacement therapy. The study set out to answer the question "What is the experience of taking hormone replacement therapy during the menopause?" The narratives of the ten women who participated in this study provided rich descriptions which revealed some of the ambiguity and silence that has concealed much of this experience. The conclusions of this study are that menopause as an universal event, in human females, is comprised of individual responses which are interpreted within the context of each woman's life. The inevitable-unexpectedness of the menopause, (knowing that it will come) does not prepare the women for the experience. Ways of coping with a changing body are directed by concerns which arise from each woman's societal, family and individual experiences. The findings of this study suggest that the decision to take or not to take HRT is not a definitive one, but the source of an ongoing dilemma. A dilemma caused by the women's desire to cope naturally and their need to regain some control over their bodies and their lives through taking HRT. Underlying the women's decisions is a weighing up of the possible outcomes of taking HRT - to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease, or to increase their chances of developing cancer. The impact of conflicting information from both medical professionals and the press added to the women's concern about their bodies. This manifested itself in the women becoming very watchful of their bodies and taking surreptitious breaks from HRT regimes. For all the freedom and self management promised by HRT, we need to alert ourselves to the possibility that in some way HRT dampens down something that wishes to express itself, but which as yet modern Western society does not accommodate. The central over-riding theme of this study is universal change-individual responses. This is supported by three essential themes: living-with-a-changing-body, being-on-hormone-replacement-therapy and relationships-past-and-present.
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    Maintaining physical activity as a health-promoting behaviour for midlife women : a feminist perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Nursing), Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) Yarwood, Judith A
    Whilst being physically active is linked to many health benefits, it appears maintenance of activity is both complex and poorly understood. Ten women participated in this research to explore the positive and negative factors that may influence midlife women to maintain physical activity over time. The perceived benefits of physical activity as a health-promoting behaviour have been found to be firmly located within the biomedical discourse, with disease prevention accorded primacy by a consensus of health and social disciplines. The individualistic nature of this discourse mostly ignores contextual determinants, which has necessitated a feminist approach be taken in this research to ensure that the everyday reality of midlife women living in a gendered society was recognised. The three discourses of physical activity taken up by the participants - disease prevention, health and well-being and the "body beautiful" - had resonance with the currently competing discourses in society. All three discourses appear to be constituted within a health imperative, which strongly motivated all participants to maintain physical activity. Whilst the desire to maintain such activity was axiomatic, the context in which this occurred was frequently problematic. The interweaving and changing life situations clearly illustrated the relevance of the social context in which these women were physically active. Nurses' position within health promotion discourses has been located within and constrained by the individualistic bio-medical discourse. The limitations inherent in risk and lifestyle behaviours appear to have prevented examination of the contextual reality of women's lives. Within the political and health ideology currently underpinning health care there are opportunities for nurses to expand their practice to incorporate social determinants. In so doing they can claim their place as autonomous practitioners who emphasize promoting health within a contextual reality, thus acknowledging the uniqueness, diversity and complexity of women's lives.