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Introduction: Numerous external factors, including parental influences, impact the dietary quality and physical activity of children. In this study, we examined if parental views were associated with the dietary quality and physical activity of children. Design: A cross-sectional observational study was used to recruit and collect data from a purposive sample of 176 parents and their children, 4-11 years of age. Setting: A suburban school district in Michigan, USA. Methods: Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2005 scores were calculated from child food frequency data, and bivariate linear regression was used to test associations between the total HEI 2005 and fruit, total vegetable, solid fats and added sugars (SoFAAs) and saturated fat dietary components, as well as relative to the parent's views of raising children. Multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between the HEI score and the parental views. Multinomial linear regression was used to test associations between physical activity and parental views on their children's behaviours related to health outcomes. Results: Children whose parents had firm parenting views were significantly more likely to eat vegetables and foods and beverages that were lower in saturated fat and added sugars. Parental views on child behaviour were not associated with physical activity of children. Conclusion: Parental views on child behaviour and other influences on child dietary quality are complex. As a result, health care professionals including dieticians should use a multifaceted approach to assess how parental views shape guidance regarding children's dietary quality and subsequent health.

Objective: This article presents the development of a new smoking status, the "phantom smokers," who do not view themselves as smokers but report smoking cigarettes. Participants: Students from 2 universities in Michigan (N = 899; October 2005) and Florida (N = 1,517; May 2006) participated in surveys. Methods: Respondents in Michigan completed measures regarding smoking status and tobacco use, and respondents in Florida completed measures regarding smoking status, tobacco use, smoking consequences, and norms. Results: The studies identify the incidence of phantom smokers (29.6% in Michigan and 5.5% in Florida). Different questions resulted in different smoking rates. Phantom smokers expect more negative affect reduction and social facilitation from smoking than nonsmokers. Phantom smokers display ambivalent attitudes toward a typical smoker's image. They experience less pressure to change their smoking behavior than smokers. Conclusion: Phantom smokers' dissociation from smokers should be recognized and targeted as a distinct group for antismoking messages. (Contains 11 tables and 1 figure.)

The objective of this study is to develop and test a model of online protection behaviour, particularly regarding the use of virus protection. Hypotheses are proposed concerning the predictors of the intention to engage in virus protection behaviour. Using a survey of 273 college students who use the Internet, a test of the hypotheses is conducted using multiple regression analysis. The result suggests that perceived self-efficacy in using virus protection measures, perceived response efficacy of virus protective measures, positive outcome expectations of virus protection measures, perceived vulnerability to virus threats and prior virus infection experiences were the most important predictors of the intention to adopt virus protection behaviour. The conclusion is that those who are in charge of information security management should not only concentrate their efforts into increasing individuals' awareness of the likelihood of virus attacks, but also conduct interventions aimed at increasing self-efficacy and response efficacy beliefs. (Contains 2 tables.)

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5931.2007.00380.x Byline: SEJUNG MARINA CHOI (1), NORA J. RIFON (2) Author Affiliation: (1)University of Texas at Austin (2)Michigan State University

The overarching goal of this study is to clarify how individual characteristics may influence consumers to be more or less receptive to ecologically themed ad claims. An experiment compares the effectiveness of strong and weak green product claims with a cause-related marketing strategy to advertise a "green" product. The results suggest that consumers with positive attitudes toward environmental protection are equally receptive to all conditions tested. An analysis using a theoretically based structural equation model points to the important role played by perceived consumer effectiveness in creating positive responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Numerous external factors, including parental influences, impact the dietary quality and physical activity of children. In this study, we examined if parental views were associated with the dietary quality and physical activity of children. Design: A cross-sectional observational study was used to recruit and collect data from a purposive sample of 176 parents and their children, 4–11 years of age. Setting: A suburban school district in Michigan, USA. Methods: Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2005 scores were calculated from child food frequency data, and bivariate linear regression was used to test associations between the total HEI 2005 and fruit, total vegetable, solid fats and added sugars (SoFAAs) and saturated fat dietary components, as well as relative to the parent's views of raising children. Multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between the HEI score and the parental views. Multinomial linear regression was used to test associations between physical activity and parental views on their children's behaviours related to health outcomes. Results: Children whose parents had firm parenting views were significantly more likely to eat vegetables and foods and beverages that were lower in saturated fat and added sugars. Parental views on child behaviour were not associated with physical activity of children. Conclusion: Parental views on child behaviour and other influences on child dietary quality are complex. As a result, health care professionals including dieticians should use a multifaceted approach to assess how parental views shape guidance regarding children's dietary quality and subsequent health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]