High Schools In Taipei Research Articles

Influences of virtual reality on design creativity and design thinking

This study explores the influences of virtual reality (VR) on creative design performance and design thinking processes. In this pretest−posttest experiment, nonequivalent groups of 180 seventh-grade students from a junior high school in Taipei were enrolled as research participants. For interior design lesson activities, the experimental and control groups were taught using VR applications and multimedia lectures, respectively, after which their creative design performance and design thinking processes were assessed and compared. The main conclusions are as follows: VR has a significant and positive influence on the creative design process (particularly the design and planning, testing and modification, and thinking and sharing stages), but it did not influence the data collection stage; VR has moderate effects on the functional integrity, technical requirements, sophistication and esthetics, and originality and novelty of creative design outcomes; and VR users have comprehensive design thinking processes that transition smoothly from empathy to problem definition, creative ideation, prototyping, and testing and verification. The experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in empathy.

No Progress Leads to Abandonment: The Research on Learning Problems of At-Risk Students in Junior High School

<p>高關懷學生有較高的學業適應問題，容易促發偏差行為甚至中輟。為了瞭解他們的學習困境，本研究從 第三空間理論探究他們自學校學習的認同特徵及形成，同時檢視不利於他們學習的學校制度特徵。研究 對象為十位有偏差行為的高關懷學生，選自北部一所升學型國中的三個多元班。研究方法採個別深度訪 談及非參與觀察法。訪談對象為學生、三位多元班主責教師與輔導組長。觀察的三個班別為農耕班、熱 舞班及導航班。以詮釋現象學取向進行資料分析。研究結果發現，他們的認同特徵是不讀書。認同形成 肇因於不懂所學，他們學習壓力相當大，混和許多負向情緒，於是成為課堂局外人，展現課堂偏差、翹 課甚至中輟。他們因應學習壓力的方式，混和逃避、放棄、抗拒、自然反應與偏差行為，不僅無助於改 善困境，反而在學校制度課程屬性、統一規範的課程進度、大班教學與考試範圍下，形成棄學的迴圈。 在課堂規範下，他們受管教而破壞師生關係，連帶討厭課堂。即使師生關係佳，仍不等於支持學習。也 因放棄學習而缺乏支持學習的同儕。當他們從學習轉向玩樂，提高回歸學習的難度，若交往涉及幫派的 同儕，不僅偏差行為加劇，更可能回頭抗拒家庭的管教。</p> <p> </p><p>At-risk students have more problems of learning in schools that might lead to delinquent behaviors and drop-out. It is important to find out their difficulties in learning in schools and let at-risk students receive suitable schooling. The research purposes are to investigate the identity and their formation based on the third space theory. This approach could reflect the school systems which would obstruct learning of at-risk students from their coping attitudes. Ten at-risk students who had delinquent behaviors were chosen from three Multiple Classes in a junior high school in Taipei. The school has better high school entrance performance. Multiple Classes teaching various activities but academy are designed for delinquent students who are not able to stay in regular classroom to learn. Classes include gardening, dance and navigation related activites. Research methods are individual in-depth interview and non-participatory observation. Interviewees were students, one teacher from each of the three Multiple Classes and Section Chief of Counseling in school. Observation was conducted in each of three Multiple Classes using video recording and field diary. Data were analyzed by hermeneutic phenomenology approach. Interviews with student were the primary data, and interviews with teachers and class observation served as triangulation. After all cases were analyzed individually, cross cases analysis followed.</p> <p>The results find the identity of at-risk students is to quit learning, and four students identified themselves as to playaround. Regarding identity formation, they bear huge pressure from learning with lots of negative emotions which results from not understanding what they are taught. These emotions led to their delinquency behaviors and marginalization in class, cut classes or even flunk out. Avoiding, giving up, resisting and spontaneous reaction were used by these students to cope with pressure in school. These attitudes relating to misbehaviors can not relieve their difficulties, but form a feedback loop that impeded student learning in the school systems. These school systems are academic curriculum, one-size-fits-all curriculum schedule and tests, and whole class instruction. The loop keeps them from learning, getting harder to follow up classes and even staying away from schools. Class delinquency of students often led to disciplinary actions which worsened teacher-student relationship and their attitude toward the teachers’ classes. Even the relationship is fair, it does not mean to support their learning. Additionally, at-risk students lack of classmates to support their learning after quit learning because common activities of classmates are about learning. If they escape from learning to play around, they spend more time on play and created a vicious circle of low school. Their parents are commonly unfamiliar with their friends frequently hanging on. If they have friends to do with gangsters, they would act more delinquent behaviors and even rebel against their family rules.</p> <p>The contributions of this research are in two perspectives. From research approach perspective, this research adopts third space theory to explore at-risk students learning problems in school. It not only reveals huge pressure experiences by at-risk students in learning but also the school systems that are disadvantageous to their learning. The at-risk student is the title labelled from the authority of school system taking them as different. From practical perspective, the results depict extremely embarrassed situations of at-risk students in learning. Education policy makers and school administrators should adjust the systems to be more flexible and fit better students’ learning conditions. Teachers and consultants should be more sensitive to identifying their explicit delinquent behaviors and interpret such behaviors not as violating rules intentionally but as a warning of their learning difficulties and assist them to overcome.</p> <p> </p>

Effects of games on students’ emotions of learning science and achievement in chemistry

ABSTRACT This study investigated the time effect of cooperative games on students’ emotions of learning science and the treatment effect on their chemistry achievement. This quasi-experimental study compared the use of cards, board games, and riddles, and the use of conventional paper-and-pencil exercises to learn the basics of chemical elements and compounds, for a duration of 4 weeks. One hundred and fourteen ninth graders at an urban public high school in Taipei were involved. The results revealed that the experimental group had significantly higher positive emotion and lower negative emotion throughout the intervention period. While no time effect was observed for the experimental group, a significant time effect on positive and negative emotions in the comparison group using exercises was found: high achievers decreased their positive emotion, and middle to high achievers increased their negative emotion. Furthermore, low and middle achievers performed better when using games. However, no significant difference for the high achievers of the two groups was discovered. This study showed that conventional exercises were detrimental to middle and high achievers’ learning emotions, although their concepts improved. Science teachers may try innovative activities such as collaborative games to maintain students’ positive emotions and facilitate low achievers’ conceptual learning.

Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors associated with current cigarette smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking among adolescents in Taiwan

Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are the most common types of substance use and misuse (SUM) among adolescents. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and psychosocial factors associated with current cigarette smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking among adolescents in Taiwan. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires on computers from students at 14 senior high schools in Taipei, Taiwan. Hierarchical multiple regression strategies were used to determine the risk factors for SUM. A total of 5879 participants were recruited, the majority of whom were female (56.7%). The prevalence rates of current smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking were 3.84% and 7.38%, respectively. Risk factors associated with current smoking were similar to those for hazardous alcohol drinking, including male gender, low school ranking, and depression. In addition, current smoking was associated with increasing age, hazardous alcohol drinking, and fewer parents with whom they can talk, whereas hazardous alcohol drinking was associated with current smoking, not living with both biological parents, and more peers with whom they can talk. The potential coexistence of adolescent SUM and common psychosocial correlates demands an integrated approach. Health professionals should provide corresponding intervention programs and coordinate with parents and teachers to develop an anti-SUM environment, especially for males and high-risk schools. Preventive psychiatric services as an integral part of anti-SUM strategies for adolescents targeting to depression may be useful in reducing the risk.

Energy performance evaluation for benchmarking school buildings using dynamic clustering analysis and particle swarm optimization

Benchmarking the energy performance of buildings has received increasing attention as striving for energy efficiency through more effective energy management has become a major concern of governments. Various methods for classifying building energy performance have been developed, and the clustering technique is considered one of the best approaches. This paper proposes a method utilizing dynamic clustering to analyze the electricity consumption patterns of buildings to decide the optimal cluster number and allocate the buildings to corresponding clusters for energy benchmarking. For the evaluation of number of clusters, this article has employed the inter–intra clustering method with particle swarm optimization algorithm. The electricity consumption data were collected through an energy survey performed in 30 junior high schools in Taipei, Taiwan. In a traditional method, the 30 schools would be grouped into one same cluster and the energy benchmarking report an average value of 541.4 kWh/year per student. The proposed method that took different electricity consumption patterns of the schools into consideration produced more detailed results as follows: the optimal cluster number was 3 with an inter–intra index value of 0.708, and the energy benchmarking index of these three clusters read, respectively, 362, 512, and 851 kWh/year per student. Practical application: The study proposed an innovative dynamic clustering technique to decide the optimal cluster number and allocate the assessed buildings. The results showed that compared to a traditional approach that tended to group assessed buildings into one cluster, the proposed method was able to classify the buildings into three clusters for further benchmarking. This method can be used by governments and large corporations. For example, in Hong Kong, primary schools are grouped into one cluster for energy benchmarking. Using the proposed method can further classify primary schools into more clusters; benchmarking index can then be developed for each cluster.

The Effectiveness of a Facebook-Assisted Teaching Method on Knowledge and Attitudes About Cervical Cancer Prevention and HPV Vaccination Intention Among Female Adolescent Students in Taiwan.

Lack of education is a known barrier to vaccination, but data on the design and effectiveness of interventions remain limited. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of a Facebook-assisted teaching method on female adolescents' knowledge and attitudes about cervical cancer prevention and on their human papillomavirus vaccination intention. A quasi-experimental time series research design was used. Two hundred female adolescents at a senior high school in Taipei were recruited into two groups. Following a classroom lecture, one group was provided a Facebook-assisted online discussion, and the other group was provided an in-person discussion forum. A demographic questionnaire and cervical cancer prevention questionnaire were distributed. Data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and generalized estimation equations. Improvement from T0 to T2 in knowledge and attitude scores was 4.204 and 4.496 points, respectively. The Facebook group's improvement in vaccination intention from T0 to T2 was 2.310 times greater than the control group's improvement under conditions of out-of-pocket expenses and 2.368 times greater under conditions of free vaccination. School-based cervical cancer prevention education can be effective. The Facebook-assisted discussion method was more effective than the in-person discussion. Providing the human papillomavirus vaccine free of charge would increase female adolescents' intention to be vaccinated.

Learning differences and eye fixation patterns in virtual and physical science laboratories

This project analyzed high school students' performance and eye movement while learning in a simulation-based laboratory (SBL) and a microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL). Although the SBL and the MBL both used computers to collect, graph, and analyze data, the MBL involved manual manipulation of concrete materials, whereas the SBL displayed everything on a monitor. Fifty senior high school students at three urban public high schools in Taipei were randomly assigned to the MBL and SBL settings. The participants conducted the Boyle's Law experiment with an accompanying worksheet and completed pre- and post-conceptual tests. FaceLAB and ASL MobileEye were used to record each participant's eye movements in the SBL and MBL settings, respectively. The results showed that lower achievers improved significantly from the pre-to post-conceptual tests. The SBL group tended to carry out more experiments. Moreover, the MBL group's performance on the worksheet was moderately correlated with their post-test. However, this correlation was not found for the SBL group. Furthermore, at the beginning of the laboratories, the SBL group had a higher percentage of fixations with longer fixation duration, which implies more attention to and deeper cognitive processing of the equipment and running experiments, while the MBL group focused on the worksheet. This study concludes that, for e-learning like SBLs, students tend to start off doing an experiment, and then think about the questions on the worksheets, whereas for physical laboratories like MBLs, they tend to think before doing.

A Comparison of Students’ Approaches to Inquiry, Conceptual Learning, and Attitudes in Simulation-Based and Microcomputer-Based Laboratories

The purpose of this project was to investigate the effects of virtual versus physical manipulation using a simulation-based laboratory activity (SBL) and a microcomputer-based laboratory activity (MBL). Both the SBL and the MBL used computers to collect, graph, and analyze data. A major difference was that the MBL allowed the students to manipulate physical materials, whereas in the SBL activity they manipulated virtual materials. In this quasi-experimental design, two 11th-grade classes (N = 68) at an urban public high school in Taipei were assigned to the SBL and MBL settings. The participants conducted the Boyle's law experiment without having done any relevant prior experiment. Their science concepts, performance of inquiry tasks, and attitudes toward the SBL/MBL were examined by pre- and postconceptual tests, an inquiry-based lab manual, and postlaboratory interviews. The results showed that both groups performed equally well and had remarkable gains in their pre- to posttest learning achievement. Nevertheless, physical manipulation may have contributed to inquiry practices such as creating practical ideas for conducting and improving the experiment and interpreting the data and may have increased the enjoyment of the laboratory. This study concludes that virtual manipulation is as effective as physical manipulation in learning physics concepts, but that the former gives learners some naive expectations and induces certain learning strategies that seem to lead to mindless planning and conducting of experiments and hinders them from generating ideas to improve experiments.

Refractive error change and its association with ocular and general parameters in junior high school students in Taiwan.

To assess the relationships between refractive error and ocular and general parameters in Taiwanese junior high school students and to identify the predictive factors associated with the changes in refractive error. This was a prospective, school-based study. A total of 687 students (357 boys and 330 girls) from a municipal junior high school in Taipei were enrolled. The students' refractive status, intraocular pressure, and ocular parameters were measured first in 2010 and again 1year later. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models and generalized estimating equations (GEEs). Significant differences were found between the baseline (2010) and 1-year follow-up (2011) mean anterior chamber depths, mean axial lengths, and mean horizontal and vertical corneal refractive powers. GEE models revealed that vertical and horizontal corneal refractive powers, axial length, and anterior chamber depth were significantly associated with refractive error change. Students with a longer axial length, steeper corneal radius, and shallower anterior chamber depth had an increased risk of myopic refractive errors.

The association of media exposure and media literacy with adolescent alcohol and tobacco use.

This study examined the relationship of media exposure and media literacy to alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents in Taiwan. A total of 2992 10th-grade students recruited from 26 high schools in Taipei, Taiwan, completed a questionnaire in 2010. The multivariable analysis results indicated that the students with higher alcohol and tobacco media exposure were more likely to use alcohol and tobacco and have intentions to drink and smoke, while students with higher media literacy were less likely to use alcohol and have intentions to drink and smoke.

Using media exposure to predict the initiation and persistence of youth alcohol use in Taiwan

BackgroundYouth consumption of alcohol is a major public health problem in Taiwan, yet little research has been conducted to examine the potential influence of exposure to alcohol advertising. The present study examined the prospective influence that exposure to alcohol advertising has on the initiation and persistence of youthful drinking in Taiwan. MethodsA total of 2315 students from 26 high schools in Taipei, Taiwan were assessed in the 10th grade with follow-up conducted in the 11th grade. Self-administered questionnaires were collected in 2010 and 2011 to assess the patterns of change in youth alcohol drinking behaviors, media exposure to alcohol, and risk and protective factors. ResultsOf the 1712 non-drinking students in the 10th grade, 285 (16.6%) had initiated drinking by the 11th grade. Of the 590 drinkers in the 10th grade, 396 (67.1%) were persistently drinking by the 11th grade. Multivariate analysis results indicated that when other potential confounders were accounted for, greater media exposure to alcohol advertising in the 10th grade was found to be significantly associated with the initiation of alcohol use and when combined with an increase in media exposure from grades 10 to 11, this was significantly associated with the persistence of alcohol use. ConclusionExposure to alcohol advertising in the media was associated with both the initiation and the persistence of alcohol use by youth.

Patient Health Questionnaire for School-Based Depression Screening Among Chinese Adolescents

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9) and its 2 subscales (1 item and 2 items) for the screening of major depressive disorder (MDD) among adolescents in Taiwan. A total of 2257 adolescents were recruited from high schools in Taipei. The participants completed assessments including demographic information, the Chinese version of the PHQ-9, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and data on the number of physical illnesses and mental health service utilizations were recorded. Among them, 430 were retested using the PHQ-9 within 2 weeks. Child psychiatrists interviewed a subsample of the adolescents (n = 165) using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia Epidemiological Version as the criterion standard. The PHQ-9 had good internal consistency (α = 0.84) and acceptable test-retest reliability (0.80). The participants with higher PHQ-9 scores were more likely to have MDD. Principal component factor analysis of the PHQ-9 yielded a 1-factor structure, which accounted for 45.3% of the variance. A PHQ-9 score ≥15 had a sensitivity of 0.72 and a specificity of 0.95 for recognizing MDD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.90. The screening accuracy of the 2 subscales was also satisfactory, with a Patient Health Questionnaire-2 item cutoff of ≥3 being 94.4% sensitive and 82.5% specific and a Patient Health Questionnaire-1 item cutoff of ≥2 being 61.1% sensitive and 87.7% specific. The PHQ-9 and its 2 subscales appear to be reliable and valid for detecting MDD among ethnic Chinese adolescents in Taiwan.

Association of thin-ideal media exposure, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents in Taiwan

ObjectiveThe present study examined the relationships between thin-ideal media exposure, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents in Taiwan. MethodA total of 2992 students in the 10th grade were recruited from 26 high schools in Taipei, Taiwan to complete a questionnaire in 2010. ResultsThe results showed that the adolescents were exposed to thin-ideal messages a few times a week. Females had higher levels of thin-ideal media exposure, media pressure to be thin, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors than males. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that media pressure and thin-deal internalization significantly increased the likelihood of body dissatisfaction, while media pressure and body dissatisfaction contributed to both restrained eating and unhealthy weight control behaviors, when all other variables were controlled for.

Relationships Among Cyberbullying, School Bullying, and Mental Health in Taiwanese Adolescents

This study examined the relationships among cyberbullying, school bullying, and mental health in adolescents. In 2010, a total of 2992 10th grade students recruited from 26 high schools in Taipei, Taiwan completed questionnaires. More than one third of students had either engaged in cyberbullying or had been the target (cybervictim) of it in the last year. About 18.4% had been cyberbullied (cybervictim); 5.8% had cyberbullied others (cyberbully); 11.2% had both cyberbullied others and been cyberbullied (cyberbully-victim). About 8.2% had been bullied in school (victim); 10.6% had bullied others (bully); and, 5.1% had both bullied others and had been bullied in school (bully-victim). Students with Internet risk behaviors were more likely to be involved in cyberbullying and/or cybervictimization; students who had cyberbullying or victimization experiences also tended to be involved in school bullying/victimization. After controlling for sex, academic performance, and household poverty, cyber/school victims and bully-victims were more likely to have lower self-esteem, and cyber/school victims, bullies and bully-victims were at a greater risk for serious depression. Both cyberbullying and school bullying and/or victimization experiences were independently associated with increased depression.

The Design of Web-Based Learning Environment to Actively Connect Human Brain and Goble Brain

The main goal of this study is to identify factors that might influence learners to learn online actively based on the theories of human brain, constructivism, rational behavior, innovation diffusion. There are 2,083 interviewers data collected from high schools in Taipei and Hualien. The “Active Online Learning” Model has been constructed based on survey results by using structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis indicate that the perceive usefulness is the critical factor to promote satisfaction to the web-based learning environment. A content-rich online learning environment can connect each individual's prior academic experiences and encourage active online learning.

M-B-020 ACADEMIC MOTIVATION PLAYS A KEY ROLE ON IRREGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING LONG VACATION

Introduction and Objectives: It is not uncommon that teenagers get insufficient sleep during the school term due to early class schedule. Therefore, they typically extend sleep duration on non-school days. This practice might lead to a delay of circadian phase. Consequently, it usually needs a great effort to accommodate the intrinsic circadian rhythm to the school schedule after the end of a long vacation. The current study explored the factors that are associated with irregularity of sleep schedule among senior high school students during long vacation. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire regarding sleep pattern, sleep quality, achievement motivation, parent’s supervisory behavior, and the Morningness-Eveningness preference were administered to 608 students from the 10th grade to 12th grade. The participants were recruited from senior high schools in Taipei using stratified cluster sampling method. There were 510 valid questionnaires obtained. Results: Academic motivation (r= -0.150, p=0.001) and the discrepancy in bed time (r=0.235, p<0.001) between school day and holiday were significantly correlated to difficulty in falling asleep when students went back to school. Moreover, academic motivation significantly correlated with discrepancy in bedtime (r= -0.237, p=0.001) and rise-time (r= -0.167, p<0.001) between school day and holiday sleep. One-way ANOVA revealed low academic motivation groups went to bed (F=14.6, p<0.001) and woke up (F=6.12, p=0.002) significantly later than average and high academic motivation groups on holiday but not during school days. Conclusion: The current study found that academic motivation, rather than circadian preference, correlate more with the discrepancy of sleep schedule between school and non-school days. In addition to the effect of physiological factor (circadian preference) that was well-established in previous studies, psychological factor (achievement motivation) might have significant impact on sleep during the transition from vacation schedule to school schedule among senior high school students.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Life Attitude Schedule (LAS-C) in a sample of Taiwanese adolescents

Background Although prior research has proposed that several risk factors are conceptually and positively related to suicidal behavior, researchers have also suggested that suicide may be multifaceted. The Life Attitude Schedule (LAS) measures a broad range of suicide-related behaviors, including life-enhancing and life-threatening behaviors. Objective This study aimed to translate the LAS into Chinese and evaluate the psychometric properties of the new version (LAS-C). Design A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used. Setting Data were collected from high schools in the city of Taipei in northern Taiwan. Participants A convenience sample of 1492 high school students was recruited from five high schools in Taipei. Methods We used the Multi-Health Systems (MHS) translation policy to guide the translation process. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency (represented by Cronbach's α coefficients) and test–retest (represented by intraclass correlation). Validity was demonstrated by content, convergent, divergent, concurrent, and contrast group comparison. Confirmatory factor analysis was further used to examine the theoretical model and to support construct validity. Results The Cronbach's α coefficient for the whole scale of the LAS-C and its subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.91. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.76 to 0.89 on the whole scale and its subscales, and were all statistically significant, at least at the p < 0.05 level, indicating good stability over a three-week period. Validity was supported by a Content Validity Index (CVI) of 0.99, convergent, divergent, current, and contrast group comparison validity. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical model, further providing solid evidence of construct validity. Conclusions The LAS-C has proper psychometric properties. Future studies must be conducted to shorten the items to form a briefer version.

Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test Performance in Healthy Adolescents: A Twin/Sibling Study

This study aimed to estimate the relative contributions from genetic and environmental factors to the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) performance, a widely used measurement for assessing frontal lobe function. Participants included 350 pairs of twins (257 MZ and 93 DZ) and 47 same-sex sib-pairs, aged 12-16 years, systematically recruited from junior high schools in Taipei. A computerized version of the WCST was administered for each participant and its nine indexes were used for subsequent analysis. Univariate analysis in structural equation modeling was performed for each WCST index using Mx program. The ACE model for each WCST index indicated no significant genetic influence, whereas the shared environmental influence ranged from 30 to 38% for four indexes (Perseverative Errors, Perseverative Responses, Categories Achieved, and Conceptual Level Responses). We concluded that WCST performance might be an indicator more for environmental insult than for genetic influences on frontal lobe function.

An Evaluation of a Weight-Loss Program Incorporating E-Learning for Obese Junior High School Students

Obesity in adolescents is continuing to rise at an alarming rate and is becoming an important public health problem in Taiwan. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of a Weight-loss E-learning Program (WEP) on obese Chinese adolescents and (2) to gauge this group's satisfaction with the WEP. The design was quasi-experimental, using purposive samples from two junior high schools in Taipei, Taiwan. Obese adolescents between 12 and 14 years of age with body mass indexes (BMI) over 25 kg/m2 were recruited. A 14-week WEP was developed to expedite weight loss for the selected adolescents. Data such as BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold, blood pressure, and physical fitness were collected through standardized instruments and methods before and after the WEP. The satisfaction of the subjects and four psychosocial variables were evaluated and taken into account by authoritative scales and questionnaires. In total, 37 adolescents participated in this study. After the WEP, we found significant decreases in BMI (p < 0.05), waist circumference (p < 0.05), and triceps skinfold (p < 0.001) in the sample population. Improvements were found in three of four tests of physical fitness (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively). All psychosocial variables showed significant favorable changes (p < 0.01 for self-esteem scores, p < 0.001 for the other three variables) and satisfaction levels for the WEP ranged from 56.6% to 83.8% in four different criteria. The WEP was effective in helping obese Chinese adolescents lose weight. However, there is still room for improvement.

The Taipei Adolescent Twin/Sibling Family Study I: Behavioral Problems, Personality Features, and Neuropsychological Performance

AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate genetic and environmental influences on behavioral problems, personality features, and neuropsycho-logical performance among adolescents in Taipei, Taiwan. Between 1996 and 1998, with the assistance of the Twin Association and junior high schools in Taipei City, we solicited a list of twins from 51 junior high schools in Taipei. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the twins enrolled in these schools were obtained. The vast majority of the recruited twins were between 12 and 16 years old. The recruited twins received assessments for behavioral problems, general and schizotypal personality, and cognitive functions. Their parents rated their children on behavioral/ emotional problems and were assessed on their own general and specific personality. Same-sex sibling pairs (ages vary within 2 years) and their parents from three schools were also recruited to increase sample size for the group with a kinship coefficient of .50. Twins' zygosity was determined by a combination of DNA typing and physical similarity. The Mx program was used to estimate parameters for the full model and its reduced models. The recruitment, measurements, data managements, and published results are described in this article.