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| 2. |
- Forsberg, Hanna
(författare)
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Active school transportation : Understanding the parental decision-making process
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Few children and adolescents reach the recommended levels of daily physical activity. This trend is evident in the countries examined in this thesis: Sweden and Spain. In efforts to reverse the current trend, active school transportation (AST) and independent mobility (IM) have been suggested as opportunities to increase levels of physical activity. Unfortunately, AST and IM have decreased during recent decades; consequently, initiatives promoting such behaviors have been called for. Parents are the main decision-makers on a child’s use of AST and IM, and thus, understanding their decisions is important in efforts to promote such behaviors. The overarching aim of this thesis was to increase the understanding of the parental decision-making process concerning their children’s active transport to school.This thesis applied an exploratory sequential design, with both interview (qualitative) and cross-sectional (quantitative) designs used to attain the overall aim. Data was collected through interviews with 20 parents (I) and two surveys: the PILCAST (Parents intentions to let their child use AST) questionnaire (II-III) and the PACO (Pedalea y Anda COlegio [Cycle and walk to school]) family questionnaire (IV). In total, 1024 responses from parents were collected with the PILCAST questionnaire (II). In paper III, a sub-sample of 610 was extracted from the 1024, based on parents responding “yes” or “no” to participation in an AST intervention. In paper IV, a total of 573 parents were included in the study. Data was analyzed with content analysis (I), descriptive statistics (II-IV), confirmatory factor analysis (II), linear regression analysis (II-IV), and logistic regression analysis (IV).The main findings showed that parents’ decisions regarding AST and IM were influenced by social norms, which was reflected in appearing to be a good parent and by what significant others do in their vicinity and neighborhood (I, II, IV). The importance of social norms applied to both Swedish and Spanish parents when it comes to AST. Some, gender differences were found, showing that they might play a more important role for parents of girls when it comes to AST and IM. Further, the findings showed that attitudes influence decisions, which was reflected in how parents master everyday life by sometimes choosing what is most convenient, even though they are aware of the benefits of AST (I-II). Parents identified factors both impeding and facilitating the use of AST, while safety and trusting the child were found to be important (I-II). The findings also indicate that the intervention within the Sustainable Innovation for Children Transporting Actively (SICTA) project might positively influence parents’ beliefs about AST (III). In addition, there seems to be a habitual factor involved in the parental decision-making process (II). Differences were found between parents’ decisions to let their child cycle to school compared to letting their child walk to school (II). Finally, the parental decision-making process seems to be influenced by the child’s age and the distance between home and school (I, II, IV). The PILCAST questionnaire showed acceptable validity and reliability.In conclusion, the findings show that when aiming to promote AST and IM, social acceptance is important. This concerns both other people’s judgments of parenting and what other important referent groups are doing, encompassing the visibility of AST and IM in the parents’ vicinity and neighborhoods. Attention given to gender differences could be beneficial as well. Further, it is also important to understand the prerequisites of modern family life. It is likely that strengthening positive attitudes in parents could promote AST, but the practice also needs to be in line with their everyday life tasks. Efforts should also be made to strengthen the factors that facilitate AST. From a parental perspective, this includes safety and being supported in gaining trust in their children and their children’s capabilities with respect to the age of the children. Habit seems to play an important role, and to encourage parents to form new habits, it might be beneficial to launch AST interventions along with contextual changes, as these might open a window for change, which could occur in the transition between preschool and primary school. It could be beneficial to consider cycling and walking as different behaviors because walking seems to be more dependent on the distance to school than cycling. Further, the PILCAST questionnaire was valid and reliable, providing an increased understanding of these behaviors from a parental perspective. Finally, to make children’s use of active transport to school the more favorable choice, it seems worthwhile not only to give children the opportunity to participate but also to involve parents and address their beliefs when designing interventions.
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| 3. |
- Forsberg, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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Children's intervention participation is associated with more positive beliefs towards active school transportation among parents
- 2023
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Ingår i: Health Promotion International. - : Oxford University Press. - 0957-4824 .- 1460-2245. ; 38:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Insufficient physical activity among children is a critical issue and health promoting initiatives are required to reverse this trend. In response to the current situation, a school-based intervention aiming to increase physical activity with the aid of active school transportation (AST) was implemented in one municipality in northern Sweden. By adopting the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior, we aimed to analyse beliefs among parents whose children were or were not involved in the AST intervention. All municipality schools were included. There were 1024 responses from parents, comprising 610 who responded either 'yes' or 'no' to participating in the intervention. An adjusted linear regression analysis showed that children's intervention participation was significantly associated with more positive beliefs towards AST among parents. These results indicates that it is possible to influence beliefs that are important in the parental decision-making process by the use of an AST intervention. Therefore, to make children´s active transport to school the more favorable choice for parents, it seems to be worthwhile to not only give children the opportunity to participate but also to involve parents and address their beliefs when designing interventions.Not enough physical activity among children is an important issue and health promoting initiatives are needed to reverse this trend. In response to the current situation, a school-based intervention aiming to increase physical activity using active school transportation (AST) was implemented in one municipality in northern Sweden. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework, we aimed to analyse beliefs among parents whose children were or were not involved in the AST intervention. Children’s participation in the intervention was significantly associated with more positive beliefs towards AST among parents. These results indicate that it is possible to influence beliefs that are important in the parental decision-making process by the use of an AST intervention. Therefore, to make children’s active transport to school the more favourable choice for parents, it seems to be worthwhile to not only give children the opportunity to participate but also to involve parents and address their beliefs when designing interventions.
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| 4. |
- Forsberg, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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Development and Initial Validation of the PILCAST Questionnaire : Understanding Parents’ Intentions to Let Their Child Cycle or Walk to School
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Children generally do not meet the recommendation of 60 min of daily physical activity (PA); therefore, active school transportation (AST) is an opportunity to increase PA. To promote AST, the involvement of parents seems essential. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the aim was to develop and validate the PILCAST questionnaire to understand parents’ intentions to let their child cycle or walk to school. Cross-sectional sampling was performed, where 1024 responses were collected from parents. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit indices for the factorial structure according to the TPB, comprising 32 items grouped in 11 latent constructs. All constructs showed satisfying reliability. The regression analysis showed that the TPB explained 55.3% of parents’ intentions to let the child cycle to school and 20.6% regarding walking, increasing by a further 18.3% and 16.6%, respectively, when past behavior was added. The most influential factors regarding cycling were facilitating perceived behavioral control, positive attitudes, subjective and descriptive norms, and for walking, subjective and descriptive norms. The PILCAST questionnaire contributes to a better understanding of the psychological antecedents involving parents’ decisions to let their child cycle or walk to school, and may therefore provide guidance when designing, implementing and evaluating interventions aiming to promote AST.
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| 6. |
- Forsberg, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
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It’s about being the good parent : exploring attitudes and beliefs towards active school transportation
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Circumpolar Health. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1239-9736 .- 2242-3982. ; 79:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent decades, there has been a decline in active school transportation (AST). Parents play an important role as the key decision-makers of children’s AST, and there is a need of more knowledge about the decision-making process and parents’ beliefs towards AST. The overall aim of this study was to explore parents’ attitudes and beliefs towards AST in the northern part of Sweden. Twenty parents participated in semi-structured interviews, which was based on the theory of planned behaviour. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the interviews. The analysis yielded one main theme, “Parenting and active school transportation – making route choices in a changed landscape” and four subthemes, “Knowing that it is beneficial while struggling with daily life”, “Considering barriers and solutions to enable AST”, “Parenting is challenging and about balancing”, and “Reflecting and contemplating about what we and others do”. Winter conditions affect parents’ decisions, and this needs to be considered when facilitating AST in these regions. Overall better health, increased physical activity, time spent outdoors, and free play were revealed as positive outcomes of AST. Decisions were also influenced by social norms and how the idea of parenting has changed through generations. The findings of this study are likely to be important when promoting AST.
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| 7. |
- Forsberg, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Cervical Sensorimotor Function Tests Using a VR Headset—An Evaluation of Concurrent Validity
- 2024
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Ingår i: Sensors. - : Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). - 1424-8220. ; 24:17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sensorimotor disturbances such as disturbed cervical joint position sense (JPS) and reduced reaction time and velocity in fast cervical movements have been demonstrated in people with neck pain. While these sensorimotor functions have been assessed mainly in movement science laboratories, new sensor technology enables objective assessments in the clinic. The aim was to investigate concurrent validity of a VR-based JPS test and a new cervical reaction acuity (CRA) test. Twenty participants, thirteen asymptomatic and seven with neck pain, participated in this cross-sectional study. The JPS test, including outcome measures of absolute error (AE), constant error (CE), and variable error (VE), and the CRA test, including outcome measures of reaction time and maximum velocity, were performed using a VR headset and compared to a gold standard optical motion capture system. The mean bias (assessed with the Bland–Altman method) between VR and the gold standard system ranged from 0.0° to 2.4° for the JPS test variables. For the CRA test, reaction times demonstrated a mean bias of −19.9 milliseconds (ms), and maximum velocity a mean bias of −6.5 degrees per seconds (°/s). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between VR and gold standard were good to excellent (ICC 0.835–0.998) for the JPS test, and excellent (ICC 0.931–0.954) for reaction time and maximum velocity for the CRA test. The results show acceptable concurrent validity for the VR technology for assessment of JPS and CRA. A slightly larger bias was observed in JPS left rotation which should be considered in future research.
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| 8. |
- Forsberg, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Concurrent Validity of Cervical Movement Tests Using VR Technology—Taking the Lab to the Clinic
- 2023
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Ingår i: Sensors. - : MDPI. - 1424-8220. ; 23:24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reduced cervical range of motion (ROM) and movement velocity are often seen in people with neck pain. Objective assessment of movement characteristics is important to identify dysfunction, to inform tailored interventions, and for the evaluation of the treatment effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concurrent validity of a newly developed VR technology for the assessment of cervical ROM and movement velocity. VR technology was compared against a gold-standard three-dimensional optical motion capture system. Consequently, 20 people, 13 without and 7 with neck pain, participated in this quantitative cross-sectional study. ROM was assessed according to right/left rotation, flexion, extension, right/left lateral flexion, and four diagonal directions. Velocity was assessed according to fast cervical rotation to the right and left. The correlations between VR and the optical system for cervical ROM and velocity were excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values > 0.95. The mean biases between VR and the optical system were ≤ 2.1° for the ROM variables, <12°/s for maximum velocity, and ≤3.0°/s for mean velocity. In conclusion, VR is a useful assessment device for ROM and velocity measurements with clinically acceptable biases. It is a feasible tool for the objective measurement of cervical kinematics in the clinic.
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| 10. |
- Westman, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Chemical reactions in the system Si3N4-SiO2-B2O3
- 1998
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Ingår i: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. - 0955-2219 .- 1873-619X. ; 18:6, s. 633-640
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chemical interactions in the system of silicon nitride with borosilicate glass have been studied as part of an evaluation of glass encapsulated HIP. Theoretical calculations have been performed to predict the thermodynamically stable phases under conditions reflecting different stages in a HIP-cycle. Experimental studies were made on heat treated mixtures of the silicon nitride and the silicate glass. These samples were evaluated with X-ray diffraction. At temperatures commonly used for densification, the system reacted to BN and Si2N2O in agreement with the theoretical calculations. At typical temperatures for pressure application no chemical reactions could be detected but the theoretical calculations showed that BN and, for larger amount of silicon nitride, also silicon oxynitride were stable. Minor amounts of the phases may have formed or non-equilibrium conditions could be explanations for the absence of the expected phases
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