Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Daytime behaviour'

This thesis presents the work completed over the course of the author’s doctorate of clinical psychology, and consists of two volumes. The first volume includes three chapters, the first of which is a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of insomnia in clinical and non-clinical populations of children and adolescents. The second chapter is an empirical paper exploring the relationship between sleep problems and daytime challenging behaviour in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The final chapter is a document summarising chapters one and two for the purpose of public dissemination. The second volume constitutes each of the five clinical practice reports completed over the course of the doctoral training and will be available online in December 2026.

As activity levels of intensively managed broiler chicken vary over time, detailed knowledge on their influence is potentially useful to further adjust welfare assessment schemes. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of daytime and age on the performance of broiler chicken in two applied fear tests.On-farm studies were carried out in 14 flocks of intensively managed broiler chicken. A forced and a voluntary approach test were conducted during morning and evening hours and at three different ages (1: 6-12d; 2: 21-24d; 3: prior to slaughter). At each observation, avoidance distances (AD) and the number of animals voluntarily approaching (VA) an observer were collected.No significant correlation was found between daytime and AD or VA. When tested at different ages, daytime and VA were significantly correlated (1: r= 0.56*; 2: r= 0.40*; 3: r= 0.64*), but the results were not consistent. At three weeks the VA was found to be higher in the morning but at younger age and prior to slaughter, more birds approach an observer in the evening. Both, approach and avoidance peaked at three weeks and decreased prior to slaughter. Further, the effect of differing observer locations in the chicken house on the behavioural response of broiler chicken was studied. A higher proportion of birds voluntarily approached an unknown human in the area close to the main entrance door, but the avoidance behaviour was not affected.From the results of this study I conclude, that the time of assessment has no effect on avoidance or approach behaviour of commercial slow-growing broiler chicken. However, fear related behaviour changed depending on age. This makes the applied tests potentially applicable independent of daytime restrictions when performed with birds of the same age.

Sleep research with adults with learning disabilities has been limited. This study considered the sleep problems experienced by adults with learning disabilities in two main sections, a survey and an intervention. The survey assessed the prevalence, nature and range of sleep problems experienced by adults with learning disabilities who live at home with their families, and investigated the relationship between sleep problems and daytime behaviour disturbance. The intervention part of the study considered whether daytime behaviour difficulties reduced following a successful sleep intervention, and whether carer stress was influenced by an improvement in sleep problems. Individuals with learning disabilities who live at home with their families had prevalence figures for sleep problems higher than those experienced by the general population. The relationship between sleep and behaviour problems was highly specific with settling problems predicting hyperactivity, lethargy, irritability and the overall score on behavioural measures. The interventions did not provide substantial evidence that sleep and behaviour were related, with only one of six participants demonstrating a decrease in behaviour problems following an improvement in sleep. Carer stress did not significantly reduce as a result of the intervention. The study has provided prevalence rates of sleep problems for a population which has not been previously studied. It concludes that the relationship between sleep and behaviour definitive conclusions can be drawn. The efficacy of behavioural interventions was demonstrated, and the clinical and theoretical implications of the results were considered.

Objective: The incidence rates of sleep problems have previously been found to be significantly higher in children with a moderate to severe learning disability and/or autism in comparison to typically developing children (Richdale, Gavidia-Payne, Francis & Cotton, 2000). Further, the existence of a sleep problem has been found to be correlated with daytime challenging behaviour and maternal stress (Wiggs & Stores, 1996; Quine, 1991; Quine, 1992). To date, no study has investigated this relationship and prevalence rates specifically in a clinical population. In this study it was hypothesised that children who had been referred to a specialist learning disability and autism clinical service for complex psychological and behavioural difficulties and were, by definition, considered to have problems that have reached clinical significance, would have increased sleeping difficulties in comparison to children with the same degree of disability whose behaviour had not warranted referral. Further, this would have an impact on maternal stress in that stress levels would be again higher in the clinical group. Results: In comparison to the control group, mothers of children in the clinical group rated their children as having significantly more sleeping problems and daytime challenging behaviour. Further the mothers in the clinical group scored more highly on a measure of maternal stress. A correlation was found between all three variables in the clinical group; sleep and maternal stress were not correlated in the control group. Regression analysis suggested that children’s sleep problems were the best predictor of maternal stress in the clinical group and daytime challenging behaviour was the best predictor of maternal stress in the control group. The results are discussed with reference to previous research findings and clinical implications. Consideration is also given to the methodological shortcomings of the current study and suggestions for future research are made.

The current research considered parent report of sleep problems in children with an intellectual disability (ID). Of specific interest were parents who reported child sleep issues/disturbances but who did not consider their child to have a sleep problem. Also of interest was the use of a general parent-training program to treat both the sleep and behaviour problems in children with an ID. Study 1 examined parent perceptions regarding sleep in children with an ID. Parents who reported a child sleep problem provided information on the types of sleep treatment tried and rated their effectiveness. Overall, 243 questionnaires were completed by parents of children with a range of disabilities aged between 3.1 to 18.7 years. While 62% of parents rated their child as displaying problematic night settling, night waking, early waking, or other disturbing sleep behaviours, only 27% of parents considered their child to have a sleep problem. A higher number of parents (75%) than expected had tried at least one type of intervention, although it was not possible to discern 'self help' treatments from 'professionally sought' treatments. Study 2 investigated child and parent factors associated with parent perception of sleep problems in children with an ID. Seventy-six parents from Study 1 completed measures in relation to child adaptive and daytime behaviour, parent stress, locus of control, personality (extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism), parenting competence, and perceived control over the child's sleep and daytime behaviour. Based on parent report on a sleep measure and response to the question 'do you think your child has a sleep problem' parents were allocated into one of three sleep groups: Parents who recognised a sleep problem (RSP, N=20), parents whose child did not have a sleep problem (NSP, N=35), and parents who did not recognise their child to have a sleep problem (USP, N=21). The results revealed differences between parents who do (RSP) and parents who do not (USP) recognise their child's sleep problem. These differences related to amount of child sleep (as reported by parents) and parent perceived control over the child's sleep and daytime behaviour. Study 3 examined the efficacy of a general parent-training (behaviour management) program, with sleep used as the training exemplar, for the treatment of sleep problems in children with an ID. Of the 20 parents in the RSP group in Study 2, five agreed to take part in Study 3 and three completed the intervention. The effect of the intervention on (a) a targeted sleep problem, (b) a targeted behaviour problem, (c) other sleep and daytime behaviours, (d) parent stress, (e) parent sleep, (f) parent sense of competence, and (g) parent perceived control over the child's sleep and daytime behaviour were examined. All parents reported an improvement in target sleep behaviour, and at follow-up all of the parents no longer considered their child to have a sleep problem. One parent reported a decrease in stress and an increase in measures of perceived control, and parenting competence, while two parents showed minimal to no improvement on child and parent outcomes.

碩士
國立中興大學
畜產學系
94
The purpose of this study was to know the daytime behavior activity of caged pullet. Chickens studied were Red-feathered commercial breed (RF) and L2 selected strain of Taiwan Country Chicken (L2), and Single Comb White Leghorn (WL). Behaviors of caged pullets were observed at 30 and 50 weeks of age periods on laying and non-laying days as well as on the day of cease laying period. The observed data used were 16 daytime hours video data recorded from 0500 to 2100. The first was a study of sampling frequency, and its results was used to determine sampling frequency in further study of daytime behavior. Results suggested that for crouching, feeding, alert and preening with longer duration, 10 min. sampling interval may be appropriate. However, for drinking, head-shaking with very short duration need much shorter interval to improve reliability of measurement. Important results of main factors were as follows. (1) RF chickens had higher drinking frequency (P<0.01) than L2 and WL, L2 displayed higher alert behavior (P<0.01) than RF and WL, WL had higher feeding and preening frequency (P<0.01) than RF and L2. (2) RF chickens at 30 weeks of age had higher alert (P<0.01) and lower preening frequency (P<0.01) than at 50 weeks. L2 at 30 weeks of age had higher drinking and alert frequency (P<0.01) and lower feeding and preening frequency (P<0.01) than at 50 weeks of age. WL at 30 weeks of age had higher feeding and drinking frequency (P<0.01) than at 50 weeks. (3) Laying days had higher crouching (P<0.01) and alert (P<0.05) frequency than not-laying days. Stop-laying days had higher crouching (P<0.01) and lower feeding and alert (P<0.05) frequency than laying days and not-laying days. (4) Frequency of crouching, feeding and preening changed dramatically before and after laying time, could be used as criteria to predict laying time in caged pullets.

碩士
國立中興大學
動物科學系所
98
The majority of country chicken breeders are kept in battery cage in Taiwan. The narrow space and bare environment have an enormous influence on the welfare of chickens. In June 1999 the new European Union Directive on welfare of laying hens was passed, and the directive requires phasing out the battery cages by 2012. Investigations into alternative systems (such as aviaries) and enrichment cages for laying hens should be conducted for the future. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a simple enrichment of cage environment on daytime behavior of native chickens. This study used the six conserved breed chickens which were named Hsin-Yi, Ju-Chi, Hua-Tung, Quemoy, Shek-Ki, and Nagoya. The chickens were 45~51 weeks age old. Each breed had 30 chickens, which were equally allocated to the treatment (hanging red nylon rope in front of the cage) and the control (no red nylon rope) groups. Totally, 180 chickens were used in this experiment. Scan sampling were used for the daytime observations, and it were carried out 5 days per week. The observed time was from 5:00 to 19:00, all birds were scanned once each hour to represent the behavior in the period. The behavior observed were categorized into: ingest, comfort, investigate, rest, alert and other activities. Tonic Immobility test (TI) was carried out after the behavior observation. The results indicated that though the simple environmental enrichment by hanging red nylon rope did not change chicken’s daytime behavior, breeds and egg laying did have some significant effect. Compared to other breeds, Shek-Ki displayed more rest and less comfort behavior; Hua-Tung had more investigate behavior and other activities, Ju-Chi, Shek-Ki and Nagoya showed more ingest behavior, and Hsin-Yi and Quemoy displayed more alert behavior. All birds showed more rest behavior during the non-laying days. TI duration was longer for Hsin-Yi and shorter for Quemoy and Nagoya. The treatment group also had shorter TI duration than the control. White Blood Cell count''s result showed that the Quemoy has the highest H:L ratio, The treatment group did not significant difference with the control. The egg production result showed the egg production and laying rate had significant difference Between various breeds, the treatment group had higher egg production and laying rate with the control. Overall, the simple environmental enrichment although did not affect the hen’s daytime behavior, it might have changed them to be less fearful. It can also improve the egg production of chicken, but the reason awaits the further discussion

碩士
輔英科技大學
護理系碩士班
93
Although daytime sleep behaviors is common among older people, exceeding daytime sleep is closely related to their health and quality of life. Age, culture, medical conditions, psychological factors, cognitive functioning, and medication usage are also reinforcing factors to elderly daytime sleep behaviors. In addition, most of older people concerned about that the quality of their nighttime sleep be influenced by their daytime sleep behaviors. Yet, studies on institutional older peoples’ daytime sleep in Taiwan are limited. The purpose of this study was to look into the influencing factors of daytime sleep behaviors and its relationship with quality of nighttime sleep in institutional elders in Taiwan. This was a descriptive-correlational research, using instrumental survey and natural observation techniques to collect elderly sleep data from a 400-bed high ranked assisted living facility in southern Taiwan. Eighty subjects aged 65 or older completed the study. Along with the instrumental data collection, each day the researcher observe and record five elderly subjects’ frequency and duration of daytime sleep simultaneously. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the self designed daily memoir also served as the study instruments. Descriptive statistic, t-test, one way ANOVA, pearson’s correlation, stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze data. Findings indicated that 95% of the subjects had daytime sleep, and the average of their length of daytime sleep was 128.40+ 83.58 minutes. The main daytime sleep behaviors were napping and siesta, with the average length of napping was 46.38 minutes and the average length of siesta was 82.03 minutes. Besides, findings of the present study also showed that five variables factors explained 26.7% of the total variance for subjects’ daytime sleep behaviors among all variables examined. Activities of daily living alone explained 13.4% (p<.005) of total variance in subjects’ daytime sleep behaviors, and had negative relationship with daytime sleep. However, when age was added, the variance turned to 18.2% (p<.05).As the matter of fact, older people with poor activity of daily of daily living presented longer daytime sleep. Lastly, although no significant relationship was found between daytime sleep and nighttime quality of sleep (p=.968), 82.5% of the elderly experienced poor quality of nighttime sleep. Institutional nurses commonly feel helpless in dealing with elderly s'' sleep problems, and these problems are not simplify normal aging processes. Therefore, findings of this study may provide knowledge of elderly sleep pattern and related factors to nurses when planning for care for this group of people. In addition, family members and caregivers can obtain this information and place into their care when facing elderly people’s sleeping problems. Caregivers can recognize and handle the related factors of daytime sleep, and it is believed that the elderly s'' quality of sleep and quality of life can be promoted. Although this is a master’s thesis with limited sample size, it may be a basis for future policy decision making and educational strategy planning.

碩士
國立中興大學
動物科學系所
100
In order to understand ethograms of local chickens, daytime behaviors and night-time resting locations of different breeds of local chicken were observed from growing (13-20 weeks of age) to laying stage (21-32 weeks of age). Twenty pullets for each breed were housed in two floor pens which each had a set of nest with two tiers of nest boxes and perches, and effects of breed, age stage (13-20 weeks growing stage vs. 21-32 weeks laying stage) and daytime hour on their daytime behaviors, present locations and night-time resting locations were tested. The results showed that Shek-Ki had the heaviest body weight, but displayed the least ingestive behavior, and the most comfort and rest behaviors, which is similar to commercial meat-type chicken. Quemoy had the lightest body weight, but spent more time at feeder and stand/walk, and was found on ground more often than other breeds. All these suggest that they are the most active breed. Ju-Chi displayed more ingestive behavior and visited the nest box more often. Hsin-Yi stayed on the perches more often than other breeds. During growing stage, pullets had more ingestive behavior in the morning, more comfort and crouch at noon and in the afternoon, and due to searching for appropriate egg laying locations before laying, they displayed more stand/walk and staying on perches. During laying stage, pullets not only used nest more often in the morning for laying, but also increased their ingestive behavior in the afternoon. After the onset of egg laying, although pullets would jump on the perch and nest to rest at night, but more pullets, especially Quemoy, would still stay on the ground. In conclusion, both age-stage and daytime hour had important effects on pullet’s daytime activity, and large difference was also found between different breeds of local chicken.

碩士
國立中興大學
動物科學系所
102
Hua-Tung, Hsin-Yi, Ju-Chi, Quemoy, Shek-Ki and Nagoya are six breeds of local chicken that preserved by National Chung-Hsing University. In order to understand ethograms of local chickens, daytime behaviors and night-time resting locations of six local chicken breeds were observed from 5 to 16 weeks of age. There were one hundred twenty birds for each breed that were raised in floor pens. We compared daytime behaviors, active locations and night-time resting locations of different breeds, age-stages, daytime periods and sexes. The results showed that Shek-Ki performed the least ingestive behavior, but it had the heaviest body weight, while show more crouch than other breeds, which is similar to commercial meat-type chicken. Quemoy had the lightest body weight, but spent more time at feeder than other breeds. Nagoya show less stand/walk than other breeds. Hua-Tung and Nagoya displayed more comfort behavior than other breeds. Sex significantly affected daytime behaviors. Males displayed significantly less foraging behavior than females, but displayed more feeder feeding and drinking behavior. Females had significantly more comfort and stand/walk behaviors, while males had a significantly more resting behavior. Birds displayed more ingestive, stand/walk behaviors in the morning and evening, and more drink, comfort and rest behaviors at noon and in the afternoon. During the day, Hsin-Yi and Ju-Chi stayed on the perch more often than other breeds, but at night, Hua-Tung rested on the perch at most (66.03%), while Quemoy almost used no perches (1.64%). In conclusion, the birds behaviors were affected by age-stage, daytime period and sex, and also were significantly different among the six breeds. Especially their location at night were pronounced different among different breeds.

RESUMO - Neste trabalho procurou-se avaliar a qualidade do sono dos trabalhadores de uma empresa de transportes, com exploração em ambiente de subsolo, em associação com os níveis de sonolência diurna, ansiedade, depressão e stresse, bem como com alguns comportamentos de higiene de sono. Foram analisados 399 trabalhadores com base num questionário aplicado nas várias áreas profissionais da empresa, com funções em ambiente de subsolo (57%) e de superfície (43%). O questionário integrou o Índice de Qualidade de Sono (IQSP), de Pittsburgh, Escala de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stresse (EADS-21:versão portuguesa), de Lovibond e Lovibond, Escala de Sonolência Diurna (ESE), de Epworth e Questionário de Preferência Matutino/Notívago, de Horne e Östberg, para além das variáveis sociodemográficas, de contexto profissional, comportamentos de higiene do sono, patologias diagnosticadas, sintomas percebidos e autoapreciação do estado de saúde. Os resultados revelaram uma associação entre a qualidade do sono e o ambiente de trabalho (subsolo/superfície) (p<0,001), a função (p=0,001) e o horário de trabalho (p=0,001). Verificou-se, ainda, uma associação com a ansiedade (p<0,001), depressão (p<0,001) e stresse (p<0,001) e a sonolência diurna (p<0,001), as cefaleias (p=0,002) e a insónia (p<0,001) e com a autoapreciação do estado de saúde (p<0,001). Relativamente aos comportamentos de higiene de sono, verificou-se uma associação com o consumo de tabaco (p=0,041). O estudo demonstrou pior qualidade de sono nos trabalhadores com sonolência diurna significativa e excessiva e uma variação significativa de prevalência de distúrbios de sono nos indivíduos que trabalham em ambiente de subsolo e com horário de trabalho por turnos com folga rotativa, maioritariamente na função de operador comercial e agente de tráfego. Foi, também, nestas funções que se verificou uma maior prevalência de ansiedade, depressão, stresse e cefaleias. Concluiu-se que a promoção da qualidade do sono será um fator importante na prevenção e tratamento dos sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e stresse dos trabalhadores da empresa com a consequente melhoria da autoapreciação do estado de saúde.
ABSTRACT - The aim of this study is to evaluate the sleep quality of workers of a public transportation company, operating in an underground environment, in association with levels of daytime sleepiness, anxiety, depression and stress, as well as some sleep hygiene behaviours. 399 workers were analysed based on a questionnaire applied in the various professional areas of the company, working underground (57%) and aboveground (43%). The questionnaire included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21: Portuguese version), by Lovibond and Lovibond, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, by Horne and Östberg. It also comprised sociodemographic variables, the professional context, sleep hygiene behaviours, diagnosed pathologies, perceived symptoms and self-assessment of health status. The results showed an association between sleep quality and work environment (underground/aboveground) (p<0,001), occupation (p=0,001) and working hours (p=0,001). They also revealed an association with anxiety (p<0,001), depression (p<0,001) and stress (p<0,001), as well as daytime sleepiness (p<0,001), headaches (p=0,002) and insomnia (p<0,001), and also with self-assessment of health status (p<0,001). Concerning sleep hygiene behaviours, results showed an association with tobacco consumption (p=0,041). The study demonstrated poorer sleep quality in workers with significant and excessive daytime sleepiness and a significant variation in the prevalence of sleep disorders in individuals who work in shifts, underground and with rotating days off, which is mainly the case of commercial operators and traffic agents. It was also in these occupations that there was a higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress and headaches. It is concluded that the promotion of sleep quality is an important factor in the prevention and treatment of anxiety, depression and stress symptoms of the company's workers, which will consequently improve the self-assessment of health status.

The basal ganglia (BG) are a group of brain nuclei situated deep in the cerebral hemispheres. While BG were primarily associated with motor functions, in recent years there has been an increasing evidence that BG are also significantly involved in a wide range of non-motor functions. This work focused on some of the non-motor symptoms associated with two typical basal ganglia disorders: Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). The first study concerned spatial navigation impairment in patients with HD. Their spatial navigation skills were tested using the Blue Velvet Arena, technique evaluating spatial navigation in real space, capable to selectively differentiate between two components of spatial navigation - allocentric (environment-oriented) and egocentric (self-oriented). Allocentric navigation is linked to hippocampal function, whereas egocentric navigation is usually associated with striatum, a structure predominantly affected in HD. We found that spatial navigation is not significantly affected in the early stages of HD and that in more advanced stages, when spatial navigation is already impaired, there is no significant difference between allocentric and egocentric navigation impairment. We speculate that the striatal involvement does not contribute to the impairment of the...