Physical activity, sleep, and C-reactive protein as markers of positive health in resilient older men
This study explored whether physical activity and sleep, combined with the biomarker C-reactive protein, indexed positive health in older men. Many were former prisoners of war, with most remaining psychologically resilient and free of any psychiatric diagnoses. Activity and sleep were recorded through actigraphy in 120 veterans (86 resilient and 34 nonresilient) for 7 days. Resilient men had higher physical activity, significantly lower C-reactive protein levels, and 53 percent had lower cardiac-disease risk compared to nonresilient men. Sleep was adequate and not associated with C-reactive protein. Results suggest contin...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Fields, A. J., Hoyt, R. E., Linnville, S. E., Moore, J. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Alcohol use among university students: Considering a positive deviance approach
This study examined whether variables identified in the positive deviance literature would predict responsible alcohol consumption among university students. Surveyed students were categorized into three groups: abstainers, responsible drinkers and binge drinkers. Multinomial logistic regression modelling was significant (2 = 274.49, degrees of freedom = 24, p < .001), with several variables predicting group membership. While the model classification accuracy rate (i.e. 71.2%) exceeded the proportional by chance accuracy rate (i.e. 38.4%), providing further support for the model, the model itself best predicted binge dr...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tucker, M., Harris, G. E. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Evaluating the effects of six alcohol-related message frames on emotions and intentions: The neglected role of disgust
In conclusion, studies have over-focused on fear-loss frames, neglecting the utility of disgust-loss frames in health messages. This study suggests that disgust-loss frames deserve equivalent attention. (Source: Journal of Health Psychology)
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Collymore, N. N., McDermott, M. R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Psychological distress and loneliness in caregiver of advanced oncological inpatients
The objective of this study is to compare and examine the relationships between levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other variables on primary caregivers and cancer inpatients. The study involved 100 Turkish primary caregivers of inpatients with advanced or terminal stages of cancer. Loneliness and anxiety scores were significantly higher for the primary caregivers of inpatients with terminal stage of cancer than primary caregivers of inpatients with advanced stage of cancer. Excluding the cancer stage, loneliness and anxiety were primarily associated with the socio-demographic factors of primary caregivers rath...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Soylu, C., Ozaslan, E., Karaca, H., Ozkan, M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
The effects of anxiety and depression on stress-related growth among Chinese army recruits: Resilience and coping as mediators
Stress-related growth can occur after various traumas or stressful events. In order to investigate how anxiety and depression relate to stress-related growth, this study was conducted with 443 Chinese army recruits who had just finished a 3-month recruit training program. Path analyses revealed that resilience and positive/negative coping partially mediated the effect of anxiety on perceived stress-related growth, while negative coping fully mediated the relationship between depression and perceived stress-related growth. Moreover, positive coping partially carried the influence of resilience on perceived stress-related gr...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Yu, Y., Peng, L., Liu, B., Liu, Y., Li, M., Chen, L., Xie, J., Li, J., Li, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Positive interventions in seriously-ill children: Effects on well-being after granting a wish
We examined whether a positive intervention (i.e. granting a wish) could promote positive psychological and physical changes (e.g. reduced nausea and pain) in seriously-ill children. Children and their parent were randomly assigned to a wish group (completed measures 2–3 days before the wish and 3 weeks later) or to a waiting-list control group (with an equivalent time-lag and receiving the wish after the assessment). Wish intervention significantly increased levels of positive emotions, satisfaction with life, personal strengths, and reduced rates of nausea compared with the control group. Mothers in the wish group ...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Chaves, C., Vazquez, C., Hervas, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Bullying, internalized hepatitis (Hepatitis C virus) stigma, and self-esteem: Does spirituality curtail the relationship in the workplace
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of workplace bullying on self-esteem, including the mediating effect of internalized stigma and the moderating effect of spirituality, among hepatitis C virus patients. Data were collected from 228 employed hepatitis C virus patients who had been admitted to Gastroenterology and Hepatology wards in Pakistani hospitals. We found support for the hypothesis that workplace bullying is associated with low self-esteem via internalized stigma. In addition, spirituality moderated the association such that participants with greater spirituality were buffered from the impact of s...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Noor, A., Bashir, S., Earnshaw, V. A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Evaluating illness representations in heart transplant patients
The aim was to see whether qualitative analysis improved quantitative measurement of illness perception after heart transplant. Two methods of evaluating illness representations were compared: one quantitative (administration of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised) and one qualitative (phenomenological reduction). The qualitative analysis provided greater insight into the idiosyncratic and dynamic nature of the concept of illness representations. Adjustments to the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised are suggested to improve the evaluation of illness perception in terms of dispersion of scores, emotional impa...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janelle, C., OConnor, K., Dupuis, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Willingness to provide support for a quit attempt: A study of partners of smokers
This study investigates predictors of support for a quit attempt. Partners of smokers (N = 131) reported their relationship quality, concern for partner’s health, own smoking status, and intended support for a quit attempt. Smokers were less supportive than were nonsmokers. Relationship quality, concern for partners’ health, and motivation to quit were positively associated, and nicotine dependence was negatively associated, with intended support. The findings suggest that support for smoking cessation depends on one’s own smoking behaviors as well as characteristics of the relationship. (Source: Journal ...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: vanDellen, M. R., Boyd, S. M., Ranby, K. W., MacKillop, J., Lipkus, I. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Happiness and social determinants across age cohorts in Taiwan
The purpose of this study was to examine happiness and social determinants across age cohorts in Taiwan. The data were obtained from the 2011 Taiwan Social Change Survey (aged 18 +, n = 2,199). The social determinants of happiness included socioeconomic status and social connection. Happiness was not different across the age groups. Receiving less family support, less formal support, more social trust and more control over life were significant for the younger group. Being married and having more social participation were significant for the middle-aged. Receiving less family support and having a higher economic status wer...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Hsu, H.-C., Chang, W.-C., Chong, Y.-S., An, J. S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Mindfulness and satisfaction in physical activity: A cross-sectional study in the Dutch population
This study explored their relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 398 Dutch participants who completed measures on trait mindfulness, mindfulness and satisfaction with physical activity, physical activity habits, and physical activity. We performed mediation and moderated mediation. Satisfaction mediated the effect of mindfulness on physical activity. Mindfulness was related to physical activity only when one’s habit was weak. The relation of mindfulness with satisfaction was stronger for weak compared to strong habit. Understanding the relationship between mindfulness and satisfaction can contribute ...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - August 16, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tsafou, K.-E., De Ridder, D. T., van Ee, R., Lacroix, J. P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Coming out during adolescence: Perceived parents reactions and internalized sexual stigma
Disclosing sexual orientation to parents is a challenging developmental task for lesbian and gay adolescents. The aim of the study is to investigate parental negative reaction to coming out, which is associated with high levels of internalized sexual stigma and psychological problems. Participants’ perceptions of their parents’ reactions, age at coming out, gender, parental political orientation and religiosity, family functioning, and internalized sexual stigma were assessed in 150 Italian homosexual adolescents. Findings confirm that negative parental reactions are connected to poor family functioning and str...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - July 23, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Baiocco, R., Fontanesi, L., Santamaria, F., Ioverno, S., Baumgartner, E., Laghi, F. Tags: Brief report Source Type: research
Coping with infertility: Comparison of coping mechanisms and psychological immune competence in fertile and infertile couples
This study compared coping strategies and psychological immunity of parents with a child conceived with assisted reproductive technology (n = 84) and parents with a naturally conceived child (n = 84) in a Hungarian fertility-age population. Results showed that in vitro fertilization parents are able to control their emotions in a better way than comparison couples. They interpret trials as challenges and consider themselves more worthy than the members of the control group. Our research confirms that consideration and management of psychological factors in treating infertility have an important preventive role to play. (So...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - July 23, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Nagy, E., Nagy, B. E. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Investigating young peoples experiences of successful or helpful psychological interventions for tic disorders: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study
This study explored experiences of young people who self-identified as having had a successful or helpful talking therapy, in order to understand the phenomenology, value and meaning of outcomes. The experiences of seven participants aged 10–17 years were described in semi-structured interviews and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Themes included the challenging battle with tics and process of re-defining self-identity, making sense of and managing experiences, the value of control, and spectrum of positive change. The results highlighted valued outcomes that could be incorporated into clinica...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - July 23, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Smith, H., Fox, J. R., Hedderly, T., Murphy, T., Trayner, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Resilience as a mediator in emotional social supports relationship with occupational psychology health in firefighters
This study’s objective is to examine the relationship between emotional demands and emotional social support at work, and the impact of resilience on health. A cross-sectional study of 156 firefighters was conducted. Descriptive analyses of the study’s variables were performed, along with structural equation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. The results suggest statistically significant relationships among the study’s variables. Social support from one’s boss and intense emotional demands were found to have an interaction effect on firefighters’ resilience. The findings confirm th...
Source: Journal of Health Psychology - July 23, 2016 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Bernabe, M., Botia, J. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
