摘要:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the one‐year development of self‐reported sleep problems in workers with no sleep problem at baseline, and to evaluate the role of work stress in the etiology of a new episode.Design: A prospective design was employed.Methods: A total of 816 employees with no sleeping problems during the past three months completed a baseline questionnaire concerning their general health, working hours and working conditions. One year later they were contacted again to ascertain whether they were experiencing problems sleeping.Results: At the follow‐up, the three‐month point prevalence of self‐reported sleep problems for this population was 14.3%. While controlling for age and gender, it was found that irregular working hours and general health were not significantly related to the development of a new episode of sleeping problems. However, stress in the form of a ‘poor’ psychosocial work environment increased the risk of a new episode by more than twofold (odds ratio 2:15). The attributable fraction suggested that eliminating stress could prevent 53% of the cases.Conclusion: In a population of employees with no reported sleeping problems, 14.3% developed a sleeping problem during the coming year. Even when controlling for possible confounders, stress in the form of a ‘poor’ psychosocial work environment doubled the risk of developin

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891005

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Past research into the effects of hardiness on stress and health has yielded inconsistent findings, possibly because of a failure to acknowledge the influence of variables such as negative affectivity and gender. This study examined the main, moderating and mediating effects of hardiness in a sample of 130 (50 male, 80 female) randomly selected university staff members. Controlling for negative affectivity, limited evidence was obtained for thedirecteffects of hardiness on stress and illness. Kobasa's (1979) model that hardinessbuffersthe effects of stress on illness was supported for males, but not for females. The hypothesis that approach and avoidance copingmediatethe hardiness‐illness relationship was not supported for either sex, although there was evidence that relative coping mediated this relationship in females. Collectively, the results point to a need to reconsider the conceptualization and measurement of hardines

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891014

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between a measure of positivity in illness, the Silver Lining Questionnaire (SLQ), and measures of personality and spirituality/religious beliefs as a way of determining whether positivity in illness is a delusion or existential growth.Method: This is a cross‐sectional study comparing response to the SLQ, to the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ‐R), breathlessness, illness type, and spiritual and religious beliefs in a final total sample of 194 respiratory outpatients.Results: The SLQ was associated positively with extraversion (r= .16,p<.05), unrelated to neuroticism (r= .11, n.s.) and repression (r= .10, n.s.) and was positively associated with spiritual and religious beliefs,F(2; 187) = 7.12,p<001, as predicted by the existential growth but not the delusion interpretation. There was no relationship between positivity and age,r(194) = .09, n.s., or between positivity and gendert(192) = −1.27, n.s., and nor were there relationships with type of illness,F(4, 188) = 2.17, n.s., or breathlessness,F(5, 173) = 0.42, n.s.Conclusions: The results suggest that positivity in illness is associated with existential growth, though the cross‐sectional nature of the study precludes a conclusion of causal direction. The non‐significant correlation between the SLQ and neuroticism is in the opposite direction predicted by the delusion explanation, but the non‐significant relationship between the SLQ and repression is in the predicted direction. We cannot rule out the possibility that some positivity

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891023

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objectives: The study aimed to extend previous research that has demonstrated impaired cognitive function among dieters, by teasing out precisely which components of the phonological loop subsystem of working memory are affected by dieting.Method: Participants were 92 female undergraduate students divided into three groups; current dieters (n= 19), past dieters (n= 29) and never dieters (n= 44). They completed cognitive performance tasks designed to preferentially load on the phonological store and articulatory control process components of the phonological loop, as well as self‐report measures.Results: Current dieting to lose weight had no effect on the phonological store, as evidenced by the lack of effect on the phonological similarity effect. Dieting did, however, impede the articulatory control process, as evidenced by substantial reduction in the world length effect. This effect was partially mediated by preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape. Further, the results mirrored those found with non‐dieters under conditions of articulatory suppression.Conclusions: The results clearly identify the articulatory control process as the site of the cognitive impairment suffered by dieters, and thereby offer very strong support to the preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape that accompany dieting behaviour as the underlying mechan

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891032

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objectives: To examine the emotional and cognitive impact of personal and social comparison information about health risk.Methods: A total of 970 adults responded to vignettes describing risk presentation scenarios that varied in terms of having (a) a ‘real world’ analogue (cardiac event) versus no such analogue (a fictitious pancreatic disease) condition, (b) high versus low levels of personal risk, and (c) no comparison group information given, comparison group risk higher or lower than own risk.Results: For both the cardiac and pancreatic disease vignettes, respondents' emotional responses and estimates of their own risk were influenced by both personal and social comparison risk information. The cardiac event vignettes produced larger effects than the pancreatic disease vignettes. Unfavourable social comparison information had no discernible impact, relative to not providing any social comparison information. Favourable social comparison information resulted in greater reassurance, less worry, and perceptions of lower susceptibility. Lower personal risk generally produced similar effects, relative to higher personal risk.Conclusions: In contrast to previous theory and research in this area, we found that both personal and (favourable) social comparison risk information have emotional and cognitive consequences. We hypothesize that the perceived clarity of the information may account for the different patterns of findings in the literat

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891041

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objectives: The objectives were, first, to determine whether adherence to malaria prophylaxis could be predicted by (i) health beliefs specified by the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and (ii) communication during the consultation in a travel clinic; and secondly, to examine the impact of the consultation in changing travellers' health beliefs.Design: A prospective study using regression analysis.Methods: The participants were 130 consecutive travellers attending a travel medicine clinic. Health beliefs were measured pre‐ and post‐consultation. The consultations were coded from audiotape using the Roter Interaction Analysis System and a content analysis method recording discussion about malaria and prophylaxis. Adherence was assessed by a follow‐up telephone interview.Results: Perceived susceptibility to malaria, perceived benefits of medication and intentions to adhere increased significantly as a result of the consultation, and the perceived permanent nature of side effects reduced significantly. At follow‐up (N= 107), 62% reported full adherence, 25% partial adherence and 12% poor/no adherence. A multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that perceived benefits of medication, length of stay, health professional discussion about adherence and travellers' questions and statements independently predicted reported adherence.Conclusions: Health beliefs and communication significantly predicted adherence in this setting. The findings also suggested qualitative differences between travellers who adhered fully, partially or poorly. Although the clinic consultation had a positive impact, emphasizing benefits of medication and resolving potential barriers to adherence could improve adherence in the pop

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891050

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Theory: Non‐specific or medically unexplained symptoms account for up to 35% of outpatient referrals. In contrast to the literature on affect, little is known about how people frame daily symptoms and how these patterns are influenced by individual differences.Method: Three fixed occasion diary studies over an 8‐day period (one on ill veterans of the Gulf War and two on healthy undergraduates) and a single cross‐sectional survey (on ill Gulf War veterans) were conducted. The severity and frequency of daily symptoms were assessed in all daily diary samples, together with the Big 5 personality domains in one of the undergraduate samples and in the survey of veterans. The data were analysed using auto‐correlations and hierarchical multivariate linear modelling.Results: In all the chronically ill and healthy samples, the data suggested potential cyclical patterns for symptom severity reporting. With regard to the frequency of symptom reporting, the veterans showed a pattern of constant symptom reporting. Finally, the relationship between the reported severity of symptoms was attenuated by intellect and surgency.Discussion: There is evidence that daily experiences of symptom severity are framed relative to each other and this relationship is influenced by personality. The practical implications of these findings are di

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891069

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objectives: The objectives were, first, to identify factors associated with regular diabetes care‐seeking and, second, to compare the performance of the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) and a modified version of the Personal Models of Diabetes Interview (PMDI) in predicting care‐seeking.Method: This was a cross‐sectional study involving 42 patients who had not attended hospital diabetes clinic for a period of 18 months or more and 42 matched controls receiving specialist care. Differences in illness representations between clinic attenders and non‐attenders were examined. Due to the variability in care‐seeking between non‐attenders (ranging from no contact with health professionals to regular general practitioners care), participants were then reclassified for further analyses into those receiving regular care from either hospital diabetes clinic or general practice (n= 52) and those receiving no regular care (n= 32).Results: Patients not seeking regular care held more negative views of the control, course and consequences of diabetes than those who received regular care. Regression analyses showed that the most important construct was treatment effectiveness. Treatment effectiveness (PMDI) and control (IPQ) dimensions were associated with clinic attendance. PMDI constructs of treatment effectiveness, threat and worries were associated with regular care‐seeking.Conclusions: IPQ and PMDI results were generally consistent. In order to understand diabetes care‐seeking behaviour it is important to measure beliefs about the benefits of treatment recommendations in addition to those of the disease itself. Emotional and cognitive responses to diabetes sho

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891078

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare two approaches to classify individuals into stages of motivational readiness for physical activity and test which one was better explained by attitude and perceived behavioural control, as defined by Ajzen (1991).Design: A survey of 20430 respondents from a population‐based sample.Methods: The relevant variables were assessed in a self‐administered questionnaire. The cluster approach consisted of combining both intention and behaviour in order to determine clusters of individuals; such clusters correspond to different stages of motivational readiness. The stage of change (SC) approach consisted of grouping the same individuals by using the SC variable of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM).Results: The SC and cluster‐solution approaches were replicated across four subsamples of the total number of respondents. Attitude and perceived behavioural control were more strongly associated with stage membership derived from four‐cluster solution than with stage membership in the five categories assessed by the SC method.Conclusion: Stage of motivational readiness for physical activity, and possibly for other health‐related behaviours, may usefully be characterized when both recent past behaviour and intention in the near future are simultaneously and explicitly taken into cons

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891087

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Objectives: Two studies tested (a) whether anticipated regret (AR) qualifies as an additional predictor of intentions to engage in a health‐enhancing behaviour (exercise) after variables from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and past behaviour have been controlled, and (b) whether a manipulation that induces participants to focus on AR causes stronger intentions to exercise.Design: Study 1 employed a cross‐sectional questionnaire design; Study 2 employed a between‐participants experimental design (AR focus vs. no AR focus).Method: Participants (N= 385) completed standard, multi‐item, reliable measures of TPB constructs and AR and also reported their past behaviour (Study 1). Participants in Study 2 (N= 70) completed measures of AR and intention; salience of AR was manipulated by means of item order.Results: Study 1 showed that even though TPB variables and past behaviour were reliable predictors of intention, and explained 51% of the variance, AR contributed a substantial increment in the variance (5%) even after these predictors had been taken into account. Study 2 showed that participants who were induced to focus on AR prior to intention formation had significantly stronger intentions to exercise compared to controls.Conclusion: The findings indicate that AR predicts a health‐enhancing behaviour (as well as the health‐risk behaviours examined in previous research) and that effects of AR are independent of TPB variables and past behaviour. The findings also indicate that a simple and inexpensive manipulation of the salience of AR can be used to promote exercise

ISSN:1359-107X    

DOI:10.1348/135910704773891096

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:2004

数据来源: WILEY