Katerina Zervaki, Nikolaos Yiannakouris, Despina Sdrali and Vassiliki Costarelli
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a subjective multi-dimensional concept referring to an individual’s perception of health and well-being in domains related to physical…
Abstract
Purpose
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a subjective multi-dimensional concept referring to an individual’s perception of health and well-being in domains related to physical, mental, emotional and social functioning. The current study aims at investigating possible associations between dietary quality, disordered eating attitudes and HRQOL in Greek adolescents.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 400 students (198 boys; 202 girls), 14-17 years old, were recruited from five high schools in the area of Kallithea in Athens, Greece. Standard anthropometric measurements were taken, and obesity classification was conducted using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off points. Students completed the KIDMED index, which evaluates the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) as a diet quality index, the EAT-26 questionnaire, which assesses disordered eating attitudes and the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire for children and adolescents assessing perceived HRQOL.
Findings
Disordered eating attitudes are significantly negatively correlated with the total score of HRQOL (p < 0.01) and with the subcategories: psychological well-being (p < 0.01), parents and autonomy (p < 0.01) and school environment (p < 0.001), whereas adherence to the MedDiet was positively correlated with all the components and total score of HRQOL. Linear regression analysis revealed that adherence to the MedDiet (p < 0.05), total number of meals/day (p < 0.01) and number of meals with the family (p < 0.05) were significant predictors of HRQOL in adolescents.
Research limitations/implications
The convenient sampling of 400 students was conducted from five schools, from one municipality of Athens, Greece.
Originality/value
Adherence to the MedDiet positively affects important components of HRQOL in adolescents, whereas disordered eating attitudes has a negative effect. Identifying adolescents with low HRQOL is highly important because it could result in an early detection of individualised healthcare needs and possible non-diagnosed ill-health problems.
Details
Keywords
Despina Sdrali, Maria Goussia-Rizou, Panagiota Giannouli and Konstantinos Makris
Social economy employees focus on personal fulfillment and social good rather than economic gains. They prefer to work in a sector that promotes satisfaction and makes them feel…
Abstract
Purpose
Social economy employees focus on personal fulfillment and social good rather than economic gains. They prefer to work in a sector that promotes satisfaction and makes them feel worthy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate employees’ motivations to engage in the social economy sector, especially in a period of financial downturn in Greece. Furthermore, the impact of specific demographic characteristics on employees’ work motivation is examined.
Design/methodology/approach
The research participants included 200 employees of worker cooperatives and social cooperative enterprises. A survey was conducted by collecting primary data and using a close-ended type questionnaire.
Findings
According to the findings, intrinsic forces motivate the employees to a greater extent toward social economy sector than economic ones. However, the replacement of the profit motivation from the main concern, it does not mean that the employees are not interested in financials. The survey also indicated that the most important barrier for starting to work in the social economy sector is the difficulty in finding partners. Finally, the findings showed that demographic characteristics partially influence work motivations of Greek employees on the social economy sector.
Originality/value
The results of this study may interest employers in finding new ways to motivate employees toward social economy sector under economic crisis conditions.
Details
Keywords
Vassiliki Costarelli, Despina Sdrali and Aggeliki Konstantopoulou
– The study aims to explore the effect of socio-economic status (SES) on energy balance behaviours and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in Greek adolescents.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore the effect of socio-economic status (SES) on energy balance behaviours and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in Greek adolescents.
Design/methodology/approach
391 students, 14-16 years old, have been recruited from two public high schools located in low SES areas of Athens and two private high schools from higher SES areas. Students completed a specifically designed energy balance behaviours questionnaire together with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents and the KIDMED index.
Findings
Adolescents of low SES reported lower adherence to the MD (p<0.05), higher consumption of soft drinks (p<0.001), lower breakfast consumption (p<0.001), fewer meals per day consumed with parents (p<0.05), lower physical activity levels (p<0.01) and more TV viewing hours (p<0.01) compared to adolescents of higher SES.
Research limitations/implications
Family annual income, an indicator of family SES, has not been recorded, since this was considered a sensitive and difficult information to be obtained by the adolescents.
Originality/value
This study was conducted during a period of Greek economic recession and was designed to investigate the effect of lower SES on diet quality and unhealthy behaviours in the youth. Understanding and limiting possible health inequalities in Greece, due to the economic crisis, is of paramount importance.