An appraisal-based coping model of attachment and adjustment to arthritis
Guided by pain-related attachment models and coping theory, we used structural equation modeling to test an appraisal-based coping model of how insecure attachment was linked to arthritis adjustment in a sample of 365 people with arthritis. The structural equation modeling analyses revealed indirect and direct associations of anxious and avoidant attachment with greater appraisals of disease-related threat, less perceived social support to deal with this threat, and less coping efficacy. There was evidence of reappraisal processes for avoidant but not anxious attachment. Findings highlight the importance of considering att...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sirois, F. M., Gick, M. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The Measure of Sickle Cell Stigma: Initial findings from the Improving Patient Outcomes through Respect and Trust study
Research about the influence of stigma on health outcomes in sickle cell disease is limited. We administered the recently developed Measure of Sickle Cell Stigma to 262 patients in the United States. The Measure of Sickle Cell Stigma yielded very good internal consistency and four interpretable factors. Significant associations among stigma, pain-related healthcare utilization, and perceived disease severity were observed for three of the four stigma factors (F range = 2.78–5.44). The Measure of Sickle Cell Stigma appears to be a useful tool for measuring disease-specific stigma among adults living with sickle cell d...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Bediako, S. M., Lanzkron, S., Diener-West, M., Onojobi, G., Beach, M. C., Haywood, C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The value of nurses tailored communication when discussing medicines: Exploring the relationship between satisfaction, beliefs and adherence
This study supports the argument that tailoring is an effective strategy for improving adherence via beliefs and can contribute to medical education and to adherence interventions. (Source: Journal of Health Psychology)
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Linn, A. J., van Weert, J. C., van Dijk, L., Horne, R., Smit, E. G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Social constructions of the male contraception pill: When are we going to break the vicious circle?
Social constructions of men towards the availability of a male hormonal contraceptive, the ‘male pill’, were explored. A qualitative approach applying semi-structured interviews and scenarios with 22 men (mean age 35 years) from the North East of England revealed two core constructs and six sub-constructs using a Thematic-Construct Analysis in line with the method of Toerien and Wilkinson and Clarke and Kitzinger. Verbal accounts were inductively used to balance the deductively created two core constructs ‘Constructing the male pill norm: dominant system of sensemaking’ and ‘Living by the male...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Dismore, L., Van Wersch, A., Swainston, K. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Are parents more willing to vaccinate their children than themselves?
Risk perception studies have focused on personal risks; yet many decisions are taken for others. Some studies have suggested that parents are especially sensitive to risks to their children. We compared 245 parents’ willingness to vaccinate their child versus themselves in nine hypothetical scenarios relating to influenza strains. Scenarios varied according to non-vaccination risk (low, medium and high) and ‘risk target’ (oneself, one’s child or, as a comparator, one’s elderly parent). Participants were more willing to vaccinate their child (61% acceptance) than themselves (54%) or their paren...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tang, M. Y., Shahab, L., Robb, K. A., Gardner, B. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Emotional representation of tuberculosis with stigma, treatment delay, and medication adherence in Russia
This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to explore emotional representation and illness coherence, the understanding a person has about an illness which helps them make sense of the experience, in Russians with tuberculosis. In a secondary analysis of questionnaires from 105 Russians treated for pulmonary tuberculosis, social isolation and disease consequences were predictors of negative emotions related to tuberculosis and accounted for 49 percent of the variance. Participants who scored higher on illness coherence were less likely to experience negative emotions. Development of programs to help patients understand t...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Woith, W. M., Rappleyea, M. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Understanding pandemic influenza behaviour: An exploratory biopsychosocial study
Pandemic influenza represents an ongoing public health threat. Understanding the associated behavioural domain is vital for future intervention development. Cross-sectional qualitative research employing purposive sampling employed a combination of one-to-one semi-structured interviews (n = 57) and focus groups (n = 59). Data were analysed using (1) inductive thematic analysis and (2) theoretical thematic analysis focusing upon resonance with psychosocial and sociocultural constructs. Two broad themes highlighted an important duality regarding the determinants of pandemic behaviour: (1) psychosocial determinants (e.g. agen...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Flowers, P., Davis, M., Lohm, D., Waller, E., Stephenson, N. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Social support mediates loneliness and depression in elderly people
This study investigated the effect of loneliness on depression and further tested the mediating effect of social support. A total of 320 elderly persons completed the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Results revealed that loneliness and social support significantly correlated with depression. Structural Equation Modeling indicated that social support partially mediates loneliness and depression. The final model illustrated a significant path from loneliness to depression through social support. This study sheds light on the concurre...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Liu, L., Gou, Z., Zuo, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Bodies as means for continuing post-death relationships
Secondary analysis of data from 30 people in three interview studies shows that bereaved people use their own and the deceased’s body in their continuing efforts to maintain a relationship with the departed. Following the continuing bond perspective, the study reveals three body-associated strategies for maintaining post-death relationships: (a) the presence of the deceased in the bereaved’s body, (b) body-associated actions and activities, and (c) sensing and caring for the deceased’s body. The conceptual dimension of embodiment is used to interpret results. Attention is also given to the bereaved’...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Leichtentritt, R. D., Mahat Shamir, M., Barak, A., Yerushalmi, A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Type D personality is associated with health behaviors and perceived social support in individuals with coronary heart disease
This study investigated the role of Type D personality in health behaviors and perceived social support in individuals with coronary heart disease. Different from other related studies, this study assessed a broader range of health behaviors in an eastern population while controlling for anxiety and depression. In all, 386 Indonesian individuals with coronary heart disease completed the measures assessing Type D, perceived social support, depression, anxiety, and health behaviors. Compared with non-Type D, Type D individuals reported more unhealthy behaviors, less healthy behaviors, and perceived less social support. For t...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ginting, H., van de Ven, M., Becker, E. S., Näring, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The impact of social support on postpartum depression: The mediator role of self-efficacy
This study aimed to investigate the impact of perceived social support on the depression of postpartum women, and mainly focuses on confirming the mediator role of self-efficacy. A total of 427 new mothers from two general hospitals in Beijing accomplished the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, General Self-efficacy Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The results revealed that both social support and self-efficacy significantly correlate with postpartum depression. Structural equation modeling indicated that self-efficacy partially mediates the relationship between social support and postpartu...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Zhang, Y., Jin, S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Vision for improvement: Expressive writing as an intervention for people with Stargardts disease, a rare eye disease
This study implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of an expressive writing intervention among patients with Stargardt’s disease, a rare disease due to macular degeneration. Participants were randomly assigned to either an expressive writing intervention or a neutral writing condition. Participants completed measures at three time points: baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks post-intervention. Psychological health outcomes improved at the 3-week follow-up for the intervention condition compared to control. Self-reported physical health improved at the 6-week follow-up in the intervention condition compared to control. ...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Bryan, J. L., Lu, Q. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The effects of similarity, parasocial identification, and source credibility in obesity public service announcements on diet and exercise self-efficacy
This study examined the effect of the audience’s similarity to, and parasocial identification with, spokespersons in obesity public service announcements, on perceived source credibility, and diet and exercise self-efficacy. The results (N = 200) indicated that perceived similarity to the spokesperson was significantly associated with three dimensions of source credibility (competence, trustworthiness, and goodwill), each of which in turn influenced parasocial identification with the spokesperson. Parasocial identification also exerted a positive impact on the audiences’ diet and exercise self-efficacy. Additio...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Phua, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Participant attributions for global change ratings in unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify participants’ attributions for their global impression of change ratings in a behavioral intervention for unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome. At 3-month follow-up, participants (N = 67) were asked "Why do you think you are (improved, unchanged, worse)?" Improved patients pointed to specific behavioral changes, unchanged patients referred to a lack of change in lifestyle, and worsened patients invoked stress and/or specific life events. Identifying patient perceptions of behaviors associated with patient global impression of change–rat...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Friedberg, F., Coronel, J., Seva, V., Adamowicz, J. L., Napoli, A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
(Re-)defining the self - Enhanced posttraumatic growth and event centrality in stroke survivors: A mixed-method approach and control comparison study
Growing evidences highlight the co-existence of negative and positive (e.g. posttraumatic growth) identity changes following stroke. Identity changes were assessed by comparing 42 survivors 21 months after stroke and healthy controls. A total of 26 stroke survivors participated in a semi-structured interview. Stroke survivors showed significantly higher posttraumatic growth (F(1, 75) = 9.79, p = .003) and integrated the critical life event to a higher extent into their identity (event centrality) (F(1, 74) = 37.54, p < .001). Qualitative analysis revealed increased appreciation of life and more intense/selective relatio...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Kuenemund, A., Zwick, S., Rief, W., Exner, C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
