Importance Of Self-perceptions Research Articles

Efficacy Study for Co-Teaching in Practices in Rhetoric and Natural Sciences

Abstract: This study examines the effectiveness of the co-teaching practices for Scientific Presentations in the study programmes physics and material science at the Centre for Competence Development (ZfbK) at the Justus Liebig University Giessen. These practices focus on the link between subject-specific and speech science teaching content. The 40 students were required to investigate a current research topic in the field of physics or material science and then hold two presentations on this topic that had been recorded on video. In addition to the supervision provided by researchers from the natural sciences, the students participated in rhetorical training in which the focus was on the importance of self-perception and external perception when giving presentations. Each student received feedback on their speaking skills and the content they presented, as well as feedback on their video recordings. On the basis of questionnaires on speaking skills and a fear of speaking in public, as well as evaluations of the presentations completed by internal and external examiners (researchers from the natural sciences and speech scientists), it was possible to show in a pre- and post-comparison that students significantly improved their presentation skills (self-assessment: p = 0.01; external evaluation: p < 0.05). The results of the questionnaire of Speech anxiety was´nt significant (p = 0.07). Keywords: rhetoric, natural sciences, teaching practices, co-teaching, effectiveness. Rhetoric and Communications Journal, issue 58, January 2024

A Familial Case Study Exploring the Effects of a Strengths-Based Camp Intervention on Children’s Self-Perception

Childhood victimization can negatively affect children’s self-perception, a multifaceted developmental asset that can be delineated into Global Self-Worth, Social Competence, and Behavioral Conduct. Despite the importance of self-perception, few studies have examined how strengths-based interventions impact self-perception among youth experiencing victimization. Using a familial case study design, the current study evaluated how a camp-based intervention, known as Camp HOPE, affected self-perception among siblings who experienced childhood victimization. Participants included three siblings and their mother who all identify as Black/African American and reside in the Midsouth, United States. The siblings participated in a week-long, overnight camp with other children exposed to victimization. The family was evaluated across three timepoints: pre-camp, 1 month post-camp, and 4 months post-camp. Participating in Camp HOPE appeared to have differential effects on the siblings’ self-perception. Specifically, all three children endorsed small to medium improvements in perceived Behavioral Conduct, but the camp differentially impacted their Global Self-Worth and Social Competence. Findings suggest that Camp HOPE may enhance self-perception among Black/African American children who have experienced victimization. This intervention may also be more accessible and acceptable, compared to traditional treatment formats.

Perception of secondary school adolescent girls on their own diet and health status in urban Benin

From childhood to adulthood, adolescence phase transition, implies many lifestyle changes. This study aims to investigate the perception of adolescent girls of their own diet and health status. A cross-sectional study, using a structured face-to-face administered questionnaire, were carried out in 395 adolescent girls 15 - 19 years old in secondary schools in Cotonou, in Benin. Chi 2 and Wilcoxon - Mann Whitney tests were performed to appreciate the variables associations. Logistic regression was executed to appraise the effect of self-perception on dietary practices. The average age of the participants was 16.7 ± 1.26 years. The prevalence of self-reported anaemia, diet quality and overweight/obesity was 18.23%; 57.72% and 9.87% respectively. Considering school character, more adolescents in private schools perceived themselves as being “overweight/obese” (22.8%) compared to their peers from public schools (0.4%). Self-perceived anaemia was related to dark green leafy vegetable and vitamin C-rich fruits consumption while self-perceived overweight/obesity decrease the consumption of meat and meat products. Adolescents who perceived their own diet as healthy reached the Minimum Dietary Diversity. The findings of this study highlight the importance of self-perception in adolescents eating habits and this should be considered in interventions improving their diet quality.

Η σπουδαιότητα των επιμέρους τομέων αυτοαντίληψης ως παράγοντας διαφοροποίησης της συνάφειάς τους με την αυτοαντίληψη

Η ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ ΒΡΙΣΚΕΤΑΙ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΟ ΑΡΧΕΙΟ PDF

Abstract B30: Promoting exercise in Hispanic cancer survivors

Abstract Introduction: Obesity has reached pandemic levels in the highly Hispanic populated South Texas-Mexico Rio Grande Valley (RGV) which also has the highest levels of physical inactivity in the country. Mexican-American women are less active than non-Hispanic white women, moreover many breast cancer survivors who were not previously active will stay inactive; and those who were active often do not return to their previous level of activity. Indeed, up to 80% of breast cancer survivors do not meet the current physical activity guidelines, and for Hispanic women this number is likely higher. Furthermore, breast cancer is still the leading cause of death among cancers within Hispanic women. The benefits of being physically active and leaner for breast cancer survivors include reduced risk for recurrence as well as benefits of weight management, improved physical and emotional well-being, reduced risk for chronic diseases, and second primary cancers. Thus promoting exercise behaviors for Hispanic breast cancer survivors is an important endeavor. Identifying the variables associated with increased exercise adoption is needed to address the negative consequences of an inactive lifestyle on survivorship and stem the alarmingly increasing obesity tide. Here we employed a Social Cognitive Theory-based model to investigate variables affecting beliefs in overcoming barriers to exercise specific to Mexican-American breast cancer survivors living in the South Texas-Mexico RGV community. Methods: We employed a Social Cognitive Theory-based survey on 38 post-treatment breast cancer survivors who had agreed to participate in a 16-week exercise intervention. After assessment of physical fitness, participants completed a psycho-social questionnaire that included questions of a bi-level acculturation scale (BASH) and SCT-based variables of barriers to exercise self-efficacy (BSE), modeling of exercise (MOD), social support for exercise from friends (SSFR) and family (SSFA) and self-identification as an exerciser (SIE). We conducted a predictive model of BSE as the dependent variable and MOD, SSFR, SSFA and SIE as predictor variables. For any significant predictor variables, we then conducted a mediation analyses on the interaction of BASH on effect to BSE. Results: Baseline data confirmed that our population was obese (average BMI = 30.7; average body fat = 39.3%) coupled with very poor physical fitness (average cardiorespiratory [VO2] = 18.8 mlO2/kg/min). From a range of scores of 1= “not all confident” to 5 = “extremely confident”, participants reported a low level of BSE (M = 2.61). Participants reported a moderate amount of modeling (M = 3.19, possible range 0-8). For a possible range of 0 = “none” to 5 = “very often”, participants reported some SSFR (M=2.02) and slightly more from SSFA (M=2.43). SIE (M= 3.78) with a possible range of 0 = “do not see myself as an exerciser” to 6 = “very much see myself as an exerciser” was the only predictor of BSE (β = 0.50, p = .002) which was not mediated by acculturation level (% mediation < 0.10%). Conclusions: As expected, our Mexican-American participants were mostly obese and with poor fitness. Surprisingly only one variable was predictive of BSE for our participants which was a single item instrument that asked the participant how much they saw themselves as an exerciser. Not discounting previous studies that have found modeling of exercise behaviors and social support from significant others as conducive to promoting exercise confidence; our study suggests the importance of self-perception as an exerciser. Our study also suggests the importance of promoting this perception in our Hispanic breast cancer population which may be characterized by obesity and poor physical fitness. Citation Format: Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker, Sonio D. Garcia, Laura Treviño, Ruth Morris, Gabriela A. Villanueva, Amelie G. Ramirez, Daniel C. Hughes. Promoting exercise in Hispanic cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B30.

It’s Not You, It’s Me

Much research focuses on the formation of antifat attitudes, but an understanding of antifat bias is incomplete without incorporating self-perceptions. We tested a model in which self-perceptions influenced stereotyping of the same target shown as obese versus thin via antifat attitudes. Participants rated six targets, two of which were the same individual before and after weight loss. Questionnaires assessed participants’ self-perceptions and antifat bias. Multiple group path analysis indicated participants’ body mass index positively predicted greater perceived body size in men and women, though the relationship was stronger for women. Greater perceived body size predicted decreased antifat attitudes, while greater body shame and beliefs about personal control predicted increased antifat attitudes. Antifat attitudes predicted greater negative stereotyping of the target when shown as obese relative to thin. These findings point toward the importance of self-perception in the stigmatization of others and the need to include self-acceptance in weight-bias interventions.

Student Teachers’ Self-perception of their Mathematical Skills and their Conceptions about Teaching Mathematics in Primary Schools

Research has shown that more often than not beliefs rather than knowledge are major determinants in pedagogical decisions that teachers make in the classroom (Doudin, Pons, Martin & Lafortune, 2003). Self-perceptions appear to be strongly influenced by students’ relationship with mathematical contents and students’ perceptions about their own ability to master these contents. The importance of self-perceptions, beliefs and pre-conceptions in decision making leads to this question: does student teachers’ self-perception of their mathematical competence influence their conceptions about mathematics teaching? To answer this question we compared the results obtained from two questionnaires administered to student teachers. The first questionnaire focused on conceptions about teaching mathematics while the second focused on self-perceptions in mathematics. This paper analyzes in the context of Boyer's Dialectical reconstruction of knowledge model (Boyer & Mailloux, 2012) the links between student teachers’ conceptions about mathematics education and their perceptions of their own mathematical skills.

Importance of self-perception of pigmentation issues in Asia

Importance of self-perception of pigmentation issues in Asia

Skin scar preconceptions must be challenged: Importance of self-perception in skin scarring

Greater objective scar severity and visibility should intuitively cause greater psychosocial distress for patients. Previous research is contradictory and has employed non-validated scar severity measures whilst neglecting patient-rated severity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of objective and patient-rated scar severity, scar type and location on psychosocial distress. Skin scars were quantitatively assessed on two independent occasions using the 'Manchester Scar Scale' (MSS) - a validated measure. Scars were scored twice independently. Patients also rated their scars (from 'very good' [zero] to 'poor' [four]) and good completed the Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS24) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Eighty-two patients, with an average+/-SD (range) age of 34+/-15 (16-65) years were recruited. Mean psychosocial questionnaire scores were: DAS24 45.5+/-17.8 (15-91); DLQI 7.5+/-6.7 (0-26). Participants had 1.9+/-1.5 (1-8) scars with an MSS score of 31.3+/-24.0 (6.6-162.0) and subjective score of 2.6+/-1.2 (0-4). Correlation between psychosocial distress and objective severity was not significant (DAS24 0.14 p=0.11; DLQI 0.16 p=0.06). Correlation between psychosocial distress and subjective severity was significant (DAS24 0.48 p<0.0001; DLQI 0.46 p<0.0001). Patients with non-visible scars experienced greater psychosocial distress than patients with visible scars (DAS24 9.7 p=0.046; DLQI 4.2 p=0.014). Scar type was unrelated to psychosocial distress. Patient-rated scar severity and scar visibility are correlated with psychosocial distress rather than clinician's objective severity rating or scar type. Although counter-intuitive, results are consistent with research into other disfiguring conditions and patient self-assessment should therefore form an integral part of clinical assessment.

Subjective age and health perceptions of older persons: maintaining the youthful bias in sickness and in health.

Self-reports of 250 persons fifty years of age and older confirm the increasing bias toward reporting a more youthful age as one increases in years. Optimistic perceptions of health care also maintained in older persons. Results from two subsets of this sample (N = 48) further indicate that the youthful and optimistic bias occurs in older persons with poorer and failing health (N = 23) as well as for persons in stable and good health (N = 25). Given the importance of self-perceptions in quality of life and in determining survivability, and given the indication that such measures are modifiable, it is suggested that future research be aimed at identifying those self-perceptions of health and age that are most susceptible to intervention.