Can self-affirmation exacerbate adverse reactions to stress under certain conditions?

Objective: Self-affirmation has repeatedly been shown to reduce adverse psychological and physiological responses to stress. However, it is plausible that self-affirmation could exacerbate negative reactions to stress under certain conditions. The current research explored whether self-affirmation would increase negative psychological responses to a stressor occurring in a central life domain characterised by low levels of control.

Design: Female participants (Study 1 N = 132; Study 2 N = 141) completed baseline measures of anxiety and mood. They were then randomly allocated to complete a self-affirmation or control task, before reading a narrative documenting a stressful birth and imagining themselves in the place of the woman giving birth. After completing this task, participants again reported their levels of anxiety and positive mood.

Main outcome measures: Anxiety and positive mood assessed at follow-up.

Results: Study 1 demonstrated that self-affirmed women experienced increased anxiety and less positive mood at follow-up, compared both to baseline and to women in the control condition. Study 2 revealed that the effect of self-affirmation on outcomes was moderated by fear of childbirth.

Conclusion: These results provide preliminary evidence that self-affirmation may worsen negative responses to stressors under certain conditions and for certain individuals.     

Evidence of improved fluid management in patients receiving haemodialysis following a self-affirmation theory-based intervention: A randomised controlled trial

Objective: Haemodialysis patients are at risk of serious health complications; yet, treatment non-adherence remains high. Warnings about health risks associated with non-adherence may trigger defensive reactions. We studied whether an intervention based on self-affirmation theory reduced resistance to health-risk information and improved fluid treatment adherence.

Design: In a cluster randomised controlled trial, 91 patients either self-affirmed or completed a matched control task before reading about the health-risks associated with inadequate fluid control.

Outcome measures: Patients’ perceptions of the health-risk information, intention and self-efficacy to control fluid were assessed immediately after presentation of health-risk information. Interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), excess fluid removed during haemodialysis, is a clinical measure of fluid treatment adherence. IDWG data were collected up to 12 months post-intervention.

Results: Self-affirmed patients had significantly reduced IDWG levels over 12 months. However, contrary to predictions derived from self-affirmation theory, self-affirmed participants and controls did not differ in their evaluation of the health-risk information, intention to control fluid or self-efficacy.

Conclusion: A low-cost, high-reach health intervention based on self-affirmation theory was shown to reduce IDWG over a 12-month period, but the mechanism by which this apparent behaviour change occurred is uncertain. Further work is still required to identify mediators of the observed effects.     

Does self-affirmation following ego depletion moderate restrained eaters’ explicit preferences for,and implicit associations with,high-calorie foods?

Objective: The difficulty for chronic dieters (i.e. restrained eaters) in regulating their food intake is a conflict between two apparently incompatible goals: eating enjoyment and weight control. The latter goal consistently relies on the deployment of cognitive resources, and very often on a significant amount of self-control. This study investigated whether self-affirmation might counteract the effect of ego depletion on restrained eaters’ motivation to consume high-calorie foods.

Design: Participants (N = 183) were assigned to one of four conditions in a 2 × 2 (Ego depletion × Self-Affirmation) experimental design and were subsequently exposed to images of high- and low-calorie foods.

Main outcome measures: Participants completed tasks assessing their implicit and explicit preferences for high vs. low-calorie foods, along with a measure of the perceived self-control required to resist foods.

Results: Results indicated that, following ego depletion, self-affirmation facilitated restrained eaters’ perceptions of self-control and led to lower explicit preferences for high-calorie foods. This pattern was not apparent for implicit preferences.

Conclusion: Self-affirmation interventions may be capable of restoring self-control resources among restrained eaters. Pointers for future research and practical applications are discussed.     

Book reviews and books received

Helping interventions John Heron: Helping the Client: a Creative Practical Guide. London: Sage, 1990. £9.95.

A person-centred perspective on school counselling John McGuiness: A Whole School Approach to Pastoral Care. London: Kogan Page, 1989. £8.95.

How to relate effectively Richard Nelson-Jones: Human Relationship Skills (2nd edition). London: Cassell, 1990. £11.95.

Ripe for research? Dave Mearns and Windy Dryden: Experiences of Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1989. £9.95.

Issues in action Windy Dryden (ed.): Key Issues for Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1989. £7.95.

The meaning of death Rosemary Dinnage: The Ruffian on the Stair: Reflections on Death. London: Viking, 1990. £14.99.

The empty cradle Irving G. Leon: When a Baby Dies: Psychotherapy for Pregnancy and Newborn Loss. London: Yale University Press, 1990. £20.

Children against themselves Israel Orbach: Children Who Don't Want to Live: Understanding and Treating the Suicidal Child. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1988. £17.95.     

Book reviews and books received

Practical help for family therapists John Carpenter and Andy Treacher: Marital and Family Therapy. Oxford: Blackwell, 1989. €29.50 (hardback); €9.95 (paperback).

Survival for the guidance teacher W.P. Gothard and E. Goodhew: Guidance and the Changing Curriculum. London: Croom Helm, 1987. €22.50.

Second-class male Michael S. Kimmel (ed.): Changing Men: New Directions in Research on Men and Masculinity. London: Sage, 1987. €35 (hardback); €14.50 (paperback).

Analysing the analyst Rosemary Dinnage: One to One: Experiences of Psychotherapy. London: Viking, 1988. €12.95.

Practical counselling skills revisited Richard Nelson-Jones: Practical Counselling and Helping Skills. London: Cassell, 1988. €7.95.

Snakes and pyramids Jocelyn Chaplin: Feminist Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1988. €7.95.

The person-centred approach: a key text Dave Mearns and Brian Thome: Person-Centred Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1988. €7.95.     

Book reviews

So you thought you had sorted out a Code of Ethics? Gavin Fairbairn and Susan Fairbaim: Ethical Issues in Caring. Aldershot: Avebury, 1988. £22.50.

The myth of positivism Celia Kitzinger: The Social Construction of Lesbianism. London: Sage, 1987. £8.95.

A family approach to art psychotherapy H. B. Landgarten: Family Art Psychotherapy: a Clinical Guide and Casebook. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1987. $27.50.

Simple psychodynamics Michael Jacobs: Psychodynamic Counselling in Action. London: Sage, 1988.

Optimistic assumptions T. Haberle: Counselling and Curing. London: SPCK, 1987. £3.50.     

Book reviews and book received

The most practised, the least taught David S. Werman: The Practice of Supportive Psychotherapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1984. $34.00.

Another load of research L.S. Greenberg and W.M. Pinsof (eds.): The Psychotherapeutic Process: a Research Handbook. New York: Guilford, 1986. £39.95.

Crisis of identity K. Yardley &; T. Honess (eds.): Self and Identity: Psychosocial Perspectives. Chichester: Wiley, 1987. £28.

A dig from the 'Rib' Sue O'Sullivan (ed.): Women's Health: a Spare Rib Reader. London: Pandora, 1987. £5.95.

'Weak on vision, hot on workshops' Zandy B. Leibowitz, Caela Farren and Beverley L. Kaye: Designing Career Development Systems. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1986. £30.75.

Holland not neglected in Australia Jan J. Lokan and Keith F. Taylor (eds.): Holland in Australia: a Vocational Choice Theory in Research and Practice. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research, 1986. $A24.95.

Need help getting a job? Elizabeth B. Yost and M. Anne Corbishley: Career Counseling: a Psychological Approach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1987. £24.

Children's health B. Mayall: Keeping Children Healthy. London: Allen &; Unwin, 1986. £6.95.

Educating about divorce Kathleen M. Cox and Martin Desforges: Divorce and the School. London: Methuen, 1987. £7.95.     

Book reviews

Laughing Gods, Weeping Virgins: Laughter in the History of Religion. Ingvild Sæud Gilhus, 1997 London, New York: Routledge 173 pp., £45.00 (hb) ISBN 0–415–16197–5

Questioning the Secular State: The Worldwide Resurgence of Religion in Politics. David Westerlund, ed., 1996 London: Hurst & Companyμ xii +428 pp., £14.95 ISBN 1–85065–241–4 (pb.)

Religion and Resistance Politics in South Africa. Lyn S. Graybill, 1996 Westport, Connecticut: Praeger/Greenwood Press 157 pp., £44.95 (hb) ISBN 0–275–95141–3

Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia Christopher S. Queen & Sallie B. King, eds., 1996 Albany, NY: State University of New York Press 446 pp., US$24.95 ISBN 0–7914–2844–3

Religious Pluralism and Christian Truth. Joseph S. O'Leary, 1996 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press xiii + 269 pp., £45.00 ISBN 0–7486–0727–7

Church, State and Religious Minorities. Tariq Modood, ed., 1997 London: Policy Studies Institute 96 pp., £10.95 ISBN 0 85374 724 5

The Coming Deliverer: Millennial Themes in World Religions. Fiona Bowie, ed., 1997 Cardiff: University of Wales Press 264 pp., £9.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7083–1338–8

Zoroastrians in Britain. John R. Hinnells, 1996 Oxford, Clarendon Press xiv + 336 pp., £42.00 (hb) ISBN 0–19–826193–4

From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium. William Dalrymple, 1997 London, Harper Collins 484 pp., illustrated, £18.00 ISBN 0–0025–5509–3

Jerusalem Today: What Future for the Peace Process?. Ghada Karmi, edv 1996 Reading: Ithaca Press xix +191 pp., £25.00 ISBN 0–86372–204–0

Judaism Since Gender. Miriam Peskowitz & Laura Levitt, eds., 1997 London: Routledge 229 pp., £14.99 (pb), £45.00 (hb) ISBN 0–415–91461–2 (pb), ISBN 0–415–91460–4 (hb)

Muslim Communities in the New Europe. Gerd Nonneman, Tim Niblock & Bogdan Szajkowski, eds., 1996 Reading: Ithaca Press 346 pp, £35.00 (hb) ISBN 0–86372–192–3

Congregation and Community. Nancy Tatom Ammerman, 1997 New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press xvi + 434 pp., US$55.00 (hb), US$24.00 (pb) ISBN 0–81352–334–6 (hb), ISBN 0–81352–335–4 (pb)

Against the Stream: The Adoption of Traditional Christian Faiths by Young Adults. Richard P. Cimino, 1997 Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America & Religion Watch 128 pp., US$46,00 (hb), US$26,00 (pb) ISBN 0–7618–0574–5 (hb), ISBN 0–7618–0575–3 (pb)

Polygamous Families in Contemporary Society. Irwin Altman & Joseph Ginat, 1996 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press xv + 512 pp., £55.00 (hb), £19.95 (pb) ISBN 0–521–56169–8 (hb), 0–521–56731–9 (pb)

Fertility, Class and Gender in Britain: 1860–1940. Simon Szreter, 1996 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 710 pp., £50.00 ISBN 0–521–34343–7

Implicit Religion in Contemporary Society. Edward I. Bailey, 1997 Kampen, Netherlands: Kok Pharos Publishing House; Weinheim, Germany: Deutscher Studien Verlag 302 pp., Dfl.69.00, £23.00 ISBN (Kok) 90–390–0581–8; ISBN (DSV) 3–89271–694–3

Geography of Religions in Russia. Alexei D. Krindatch, 1996 Decatur, Georgia: Glenmary Research Center 72 pp., 47 maps, US$29.95 (Paper/Spiral Bound) ISBN 0–914422–25–1

Believing in Australia: A Cultural History of Religions". Hilary M. Carey, 1996 St Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin xviii + 270p., £16.95 (pb) ISBN 1–86373–950–5

Icelandic Spiritualism: Mediumship and Modernity in Iceland. William H. Swatos, jr. & Loftur Reímar Gíssurarson, 1997 New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers 269 pp., US$32.95 (hb) ISBN 1–56000–273–5

The Channeling Zone: American Spirituality in an Anxious Age. Michael F. Brown, 1997 Cambridge, Massachusetts & London, England: Harvard University Press 214 pp., £14.50 (hb) ISBN 0–674–10882–5

Listening People, Speaking Earth: Contemporary Paganism. Graham Harvey, 1997 London: Hurst & Co. 250 pp., £27.50 (hb), £9.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85065–271–6 (hb), ISBN 1–85065–272–4 (pb)     

Facets of conscientiousness and objective markers of health status

Objective: To examine the association between six facets of conscientiousness (self-control, order, industriousness, traditionalism, virtue, responsibility) and objective markers of health status, including adiposity, blood markers and physical performance.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of participants from the health and retirement study (N = 12,188).

Main Outcome Measures: Adiposity (body mass index, waist circumference), blood markers (A1c, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, cystatin c, c-reactive protein) and physical performance (lung function, grip strength, walking speed).

Results: Four of the six facets of conscientiousness were associated with nearly all of the health markers: Self-control, organisation, industriousness and responsibility were related to lower adiposity, healthier metabolic, cardiovascular and inflammatory markers, and better performance on physical assessments. Traditionalism and virtue had fewer associations with these objective markers.

Conclusion: This research took a facet-level approach to the association between conscientiousness and objective markers of health status. This research builds on models of conscientiousness and health to suggest that, in addition to health-risk behaviours, facets of conscientiousness are associated with more favourable biomedical markers of health status.     

Book notes

Apocalyptic Bodies: The Biblical End of the World in Text and Image Tina Pippin, 1999 London, New York: Routledge 160 pp., £14.99 ISBN 0–415–18248–4

The Picture in Question: Mark Tansey and the Ends of Representation Marc C. Taylor, 1999 Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press 144 pp., US$30.00, £23.95 (hb), US$12.00, £9.50 (pb) ISBN 0–226–79128–9 (hb), ISBN 0–226–79129–7

Religion in the Twenty‐first Century Mary Pat Fisher, 1999 London: Routledge 128 pp., £6.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–21166–2

Religion im Wandel der Kosmologien Religionswissenschaft Vol. 10 Dieter Zeixer, ed., 1999 Frankfurt a.M., Berlin, Berne, New York, Paris, Vienna: Peter Lang 305 pp., £33.00 (pb) ISBN 3–631–33138‐X

Pluralism and the Religions: The Theological and Political Dimensions John D'Arcy May, ed., 1998 London: Cassell 99 pp., £30 (hb), £9.99 (pb) ISBN 0–304–70258–7 (hb), ISBN 0–304–70259–5 (pb)

Sharing Shalom: A Process for Local Interfaith Dialogue between Christians and Jews Philip A. Cunningham & Arthur F. Starr, eds., 1998 New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books 120 pp., US$7.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8091–3835–2

What Price Prejudice? Christian Antisemitism in America Frank E. Eakin, Jr., 1998 New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press/Stimulus Books 208 pp., US$9.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8091–3822–0

Christian Theology: A Brief Introduction Gareth Jones, 1999 Oxford: Polity Press 178 pp., £45.00 (hb), £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–7456–1062–5 (hb), ISBN 0–7456–1063–3 (pb)

Holy Smoke. Religion and Roots: A Personal Memoir LiBBY PURVES, 1998 London: Hodder & Stoughton 199 pp., £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–340–72151–0

Animal Gospel: Christian Faith as though Animals Mattered Andrew Linzey, 1998 London: Hodder & Stoughton 212 pp., £6.99 (pb) ISBN 0–340–62150–8

Vocations in Kerala: A Study on the Changes in the Social Determinants of Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life in the Catholic Community in Kerala Jose Kuriedath, 1998 Thevara, Kochi, India: Sacred Heart College 144 pp., Rs 50/‐ no ISBN indicated

Jim Bakker: Miscarriage of Justice? James A. Albert, 1997 Chicago; La Salle, Illinois: Open Court Publishing 532 pp., £31.95 (hb), £14.50 (pb) ISBN 0–8126–9369–8 (hb), ISBN 0–8126–9370–1 (pb)

Buddhism and the Mythology of Evil: A Study in Theravada Buddhism Trevor Ling, 1997 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 179 pp., £11.99 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–132–9

Jung on Mythology Robert A. Segal, ed., 1998 London: Routledge 275 pp., £15.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–19944–1

Islam: A Concise Introduction Neal Robinson, 1999 Richmond, Surrey: Curzon 197 pp., £40.00 (hb), £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–7007–1103–1 (hb), ISBN 0–7007–1100–7 (pb)

Der Koran: Zugänge und Lesarten Hans Zirker, 1999 Darmstadt: Primus Verlag 230 pp., DM 39.80, SFR 37.00, 6S 291.00 (pb) ISBN 3–89678–121–9

On Faith Nathan Rotenstreich/Paul Mendes‐Flohr, 1998 Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press xii +169 pp., £27.95, US$35.00 (hb), £11.95, US$15.00 (pb) ISBN 0–226–72875–7 (hb), ISBN 0–226–72876–5 (pb)

Hegel's Idea of a Phenomenology of Spirit Michael N. Forster, 1998 Chicago: University of Chicago Press 661 pp., £59.95, US$75 (hb), £23.95, US$30.00 (pb) ISBN 0–226–25740–1 (hb), ISBN 0–226–25742–8 (pb)

Cartesian Questions: Method and Metaphysics Jean‐Luc Marion, 1999 Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press 215 pp., US$25.00, £19.95 (pb) ISBN 0–226–50544–8     

Book reviews and books received

Counselling and spirituality Lyall, D. 1995 Counselling in the Pastoral and Spiritual Context Buckingham, Open University Press ISBN 0-335-19162-2 £10.99

Career counselling Seligman, L. 1994 Developmental Career Counseling and Assessment (2nd ed.) London, Sage ISBN 0-8039-5804-8 £19.95

Women's careers Walsh, W.B. &; Osipow, S.H. (Eds), 1994 Career Counseling for Women Hove, Erlbaum ISBN 0-8058-1035-8 £53.50

Crisis? what crisis? Dattilio, F.M. &; Freeman, A. (Eds), 1994 Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies in Crisis Intervention New York, Guilford ISBN 0-89862-221-2 £25.00

Guidance on research methods McLeod, J. 1994 Doing Counselling Research London, Sage ISBN 0 8039 7804 9 £10.95

Barker, C. Pistrang, N. &; Elliott, R. 1994 Research Methods in Clinical and Counselling Psychology Chichester, Wiley ISBN 0-471-93612-X £29.95

Research into creative therapies Gilroy, T. &; Lee, C. (Eds), 1995 Art and Music Therapy and Research London, Routledge ISBN 0-415-10045-3 £37.50 (hardback); £15.99 (paperback)

Treating stress Palmer, S. &; Dryden, W. 1995 Counselling for Stress Problems London, Sage ISBN 0-8039-8863-X £12.95

Breast cancer Batt, S. 1994 Patient No More: the Politics of Breast Cancer London, Scarlet Press ISBN 1-85727-167-3 £10.99

Supervision Feltham, C. &; Dryden, W. 1994 Developing Counsellor Supervision London, Sage ISBN 0-8039-8939-3 £9.95     

Moderation of the effects of discrimination-induced affective responses on health outcomes

Objective: The goal of the study was to examine differential mediation of long-term effects of discrimination on health behaviour and health status by internalising (anxiety and depression) and externalising (hostility and anger), and to explore moderation of these effects, specifically, by the presence of support networks and coping tendencies.

Design: The current analyses employed structural equation modelling of five waves of data from Black female participants of the Family and Community Health Study over 11 years (M age 37–48).

Main Outcomes Measures: The main outcome variables were health status and alcohol use (frequency and problematic consumption).

Results: Perceived racial discrimination was associated with increases in internalising and externalising. In addition, internalising reactions to discrimination were associated with deterioration in health status and increases in problematic drinking; externalising reactions were associated with increases in frequency of drinking. These relations were attenuated by availability of support networks, and exacerbated by use of avoidance coping.

Conclusion: The current study (a) replicated previous research suggesting that two different types of affective reactions mediate the relations between perceived racial discrimination and physical health status vs. health-impairing behaviours: internalising and externalising, and (b) revealed moderation of these effects by coping mechanisms.     

Influencing health decision-making: A study of colour and message framing

Objective: Previous research has provided evidence that colour associations and frame can influence behavioural intentions to engage in vaccination behaviours. In this study, the extension of these effects to sunscreen application behaviours was investigated. Additional colours and the manner in which colour primes were employed were also explored.

Design: Two hundred and eighty-six college students were primed with either short wavelength colours (blue/purple) or long wavelength colours (red/orange) as part of goal framed sunscreen information pamphlets.

Main outcome measures: Self-reported behavioural intentions to apply sunscreen, immediate affective reaction to stimuli material, anticipated affect towards sunscreen use, and perceived efficacy of preventing skin cancer were measured.

Results: Individuals with no prior intention to use sunscreen expressed greater behavioural intentions to do so after reading a positively framed sunscreen pamphlet that was designed using short wavelength colours. The negatively framed messages and those presented in long wavelength colours did not enhance persuasion.

Conclusions: In accordance with the Unification Theory of Framing, a match between the representations of the target behaviour, the colour prime, and the frame resulted in the greatest amount of persuasion. Creating communications with representations that match the target behaviour could be a powerful tool to increase compliance.     

Book reviews

Modern American Religion, Vol. 3. Under God, Indivisible, 1941–1960 Martin E. Marty, 1996 Chicago: University of Chicago Press 548 pp. + xii. £27.96, US$34.95 ISBN 0–22–50898–6

Perspectives on New Religious Movements John A. Sauba, 1995 London: Geoffrey Chapman 240 pp., £12.99 (pb), £35.00 (hb) ISBN 0–225–66787–8 (pb),’ ISBN 0–225–66786‐X (hb)

New Religions and the New Europe Robert Towler, ed., 1995 Aarhus: Aarhus University Press 246 pp., £19.95 ISBN 87 7288 433 9

A New Dictionary of Religions John R. Hinnells, ed., 1995 Oxford: Blackwell 760 pp., US$74.95 (hb) ISBN 0–631–18139–3

Den Fremden verstehen: Eine Praktische Hermeneutik Theo Sundermeier, 1996 Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht 260 pp. ISBN 3–525–01619–0

Religion and Mass Media: Audiences and Adaptations Daniel A. Stout & Judith M. Buddenbaum, eds, 1996 Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications 294 pp., £37.00 (hb), £18.50 (pb) ISBN 0–8039–7173–7 (hb), 0–8039–7174–5 (pb)

Contemporary Mainstream Religion: Studies from Humberside and Lincolnshire Peter G. Forster, ed., 1995 Aldershot: Avebury xxxvii +135 pp., £30.00 ISBN 1–8562–919–2

One Earth Many Religions: Multifaith Dialogue and Global Responsibility Paul F. Kntiter, 1995 Maryknoll, New York: Orbis xiv + 218 pp., US$17.00 ISBN 1–57075–037–8

A Wider Vision: A History of the World Congress of Faiths 1936–1996 Marcus Braybrooke, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 192 pp., £10.99, US$16.95 ISBN 1–85168–119–1

The Phenomenon of Teilhard: Prophet for a New Age David H. Lane, 1996 Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press xvi +192 pp., US$21.95 ISBN 0–86554–498–0

The Wisdom of the Wyrd: Teachings for Today from our Ancient Past Brian Bates, 1996 London: Rider xiii +306 pp., £12.99 ISBN 0‐712E‐7277‐X

Desinformation als Methode. Die Bahā'ísmus‐Monographie des F. Ficicchia Udo Schaefer, Nicola Towfigh, Ulrich Gollmer, 1995 Hildesheim Georg Olms Verlag xiii + 685 pp., DM 65.00 (hb) ISBN 3–487–10041‐X

The New Latin American Mission History (Latin American Studies Series) Erick Langer & Robert H. Jackson, eds, 1995 Lincoln & London: University of Nebraska Press 212 pp., £15.95 (pb), £32.95 (hb) ISBN 0–8032–7953–1 (pb), ISBN 0–8032–2911–9 (hb)

Gender Rituals: Female Initiation in Melanesia Nancy C. Lutkehaus & Paul B. Roscoe, eds, 1995 New York Routledge 265 pp., £13.99 (pb), £37.50 (hb) ISBN 0–415–91107–9 (pb), ISBN 0–415–91106–0 (hb)

Daughters of Anowa: African Women and Patriarchy Mercy Amba Oduyoye, 1995 Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books 229 pp., US$18.00 (pb) ISBN 0–88344–999–4

Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non‐Western Religion Kwame Bediako, 1995 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; Maryknoll: Orbis Books 276 pp., £16.95 ISBN 0–7486–0625–4

The Christian Heritage in the Holy Land Anthony O'Mahony with Goran Gunner & Kevork Hintuan, eds, 1995 Epping, Essex: Scorpion Cavendish xi + 320 pp., £15.95 ISBN 1–900269–06–6 (pb)

Patterns of the Sacred: English Protestant and Russian Orthodox Pilgrims of the Nineteenth Century Ruth & Thomas Hummel, 1995 Epping, Essex: Scorpion Cavendish ix + 76 pp., £10.00 ISBN 1–900269–08–2 (pb)

Pilgrimage Past and Present: Sacred Travel and Sacred Space in the World Religions Simon Coleman & John Elsner, 1995 London: British Museum Press 240 pp., Illus., £20.00 ISBN 0–7141–1738–2     

Book notes

Mana: Revue de Sociologie et d'Anthropologie Caen: Department of Sociology, University of Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 1400 Caen, France. 242 pp, 81 FF (in France, inch postage)

Desh Pardesh: The South Asian Presence in Britain Roger Ballard, ed., 1994 London: Hurst & Co. 296 pp., £9.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85065–092–6

Religions et sécurité international Jean‐François Mayer, 1995 Bern: Office Central de la Défense Series: Études relatives à la politique de sécurité, No. 2/1995 143 pp.

Essential Teachings His Holiness the Dalai Lama London: Souvenir Press, 1995 152 pp., £9.99 (hb) ISBN 0–285–63273–6

Voices of Islam John Bowker, 1995 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 188 pp., £8.95 ISBN 1–85168–095–0

A Short History of the Bahá'i Faith Peter Smith, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 168 pp., £5.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–070–5

A Short History of Islam William Montgomery Watt, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 156 pp., £5.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–109–4

Dictionary of the Middle East Dilip Hiro, 1996 Basingstoke: Macmillan 367 pp., £14.99 (pb) ISBN 0–333–65926–0

The Hebrew Bible Dan Cohn‐Sherbok, 1996 London: Cassell 257 pp., £55.00 (hb), £13.99 (pb) ISBN 0–304–33702–1 (hb), 0–304–33703‐X (pb)

The Puzzle of God Peter Vardy, 1995 London: Fount/Harper Collins 240 pp., £7.99 ISBN 0–00–627965–1     

Effects of tailoring ingredients in auditory persuasive health messages on fruit and vegetable intake

Objective: Health messages can be tailored by applying different tailoring ingredients, among which personalisation, feedback and adaptation. This experiment investigated the separate effects of these tailoring ingredients on behaviour in auditory health persuasion. Furthermore, the moderating effect of self-efficacy was assessed.

Design: The between-participants design consisted of four conditions. A generic health message served as a control condition; personalisation was applied using the recipient’s first name, feedback was given on the personal state, or the message was adapted to the recipient’s value.

Main outcome measures: The study consisted of a pre-test questionnaire (measuring fruit and vegetable intake and perceived difficulty of performing these behaviours, indicating self-efficacy), exposure to the auditory message and a follow-up questionnaire measuring fruit and vegetable intake two weeks after message exposure (n = 112).

Results: ANCOVAs showed no main effect of condition on either fruit or vegetable intake, but a moderation was found on vegetable intake: When self-efficacy was low, vegetable intake was higher after listening to the personalisation message. No significant differences between the conditions were found when self-efficacy was high.

Conclusion: Individuals with low self-efficacy seemed to benefit from incorporating personalisation, but only regarding vegetable consumption. This finding warrants further investigation in tailoring research.     

Sex,germs, and health: pathogen-avoidance motives and health-protective behaviour

Objective: Recent work suggests that the psychology of pathogen-avoidance has wide-reaching effects on how people interact with the world. These processes – part of what has been referred to as the behavioural immune system – are, in a way, our ‘evolved’ health psychology. However, scholars have scarcely investigated how the behavioural immune system relates to health-protective behaviours. The current research attempts to fill this gap.

Design: Across two cross-sectional studies (N = 386 and 470, respectively), we examined the relationship between pathogen-avoidance motives and health-protective behaviour.

Outcome Measures: The studies used self-reported measures of attitude and intention as indicators of health-protective behaviour.

Results: Data collected in Study 1 revealed that pathogen-avoidance motivation related to participants’ attitude and intention towards sexually transmitted infections screening. High levels of pathogen-avoidance motivation were also related to having had fewer sexual partners, which partially mediated the effect of pathogen-avoidance variables on testing motivation. Study 2 extended these findings by showing moderate associations between pathogen-avoidance motivation and a broad range of health-protective behaviours, including but not limited to pathogen-related health concerns.

Conclusion: We argue that understanding and targeting pathogen-avoidance psychology can add novel and important understanding of health-protective behaviour.     

Effects of optimism on recovery and mental health after a tornado outbreak

Objective: Dispositional optimism, a stable expectation that good things will happen, has been shown to improve health outcomes in a wide range of contexts, but very little research has explored the impact of optimism on post-disaster health and well-being.

Design: Data for this study come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public health systems and mental health community recovery (PHSMHCR) Survey. Participants included 3216 individuals living in counties affected by the April 2011 tornado outbreak in Mississippi and Alabama.

Main outcome measures: This study assesses the effect of dispositional optimism on post-disaster recovery and mental health.

Results: Dispositional optimism was found to have a positive effect on personal recovery and mental health after the disaster. Furthermore, it moderated the relationship between level of home damage and personal recovery as well as the relationship between home damage and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with stronger effects for those with increased levels of home damage.

Conclusions: The utility of screening for optimism is discussed, along with the potential for interventions to increase optimism as a means of mitigating adverse mental health effects and improving the recovery of individuals affected by disasters and other traumatic events.     

Book notes

Ruchy Pogranicza Religii i Nauki. Jako Zjawisko Socjopsychologiczne [Movements on the Border of Science and Religion as Socio‐Psychological Phenomenon]

Tadeusz Doktor, ed, 1996 Warsav: Wydawnictwa University Warsav 274 pp. ISBN 83–230–9829–8

Religion: North American Style, 3rd edn. Thomas E. Dowdy & Patrick H. McNamara, eds, 1996 New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press 221 pp., US$48.00 (hb), US$16.95 (pb) ISBN 0–8135–2343–5 (hb), ISBN 0–8135–2344–3 (pb)

Islam in a World of Diverse Faiths. Dan Cohn‐Sherbok, ed, 1997 Houndsmill, Basingstoke: Macmillan Press 218 pp., £45.00 (hb), £15.99 (pb) ISBN 0–333–52612–0 (hb), ISBN 0–333–69067–2 (pb)

Spirituality and Culture: The Case of Celtic Christianity. Oliver Davies, 1996 Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 10 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–13‐X

Christianity and New Age Thought. Frank Whaling, 1996 Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 11 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–08–3

Religious Experience: A Sociological Perspective. Bryan Wilson Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 15 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–09–1

Searching for the Truth around the Next Twist: Why Do We Like The X‐Files Mark Fox. Oxford: Religious Experience Research Centre, Westminster College 9 pp., £2.00 ISBN 0–906165–11–3

Sexual Morality in the World's Religions. Geoffrey Parrinder, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 276 pp., £8.95 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–108–6

The Sacred Thread: Hinduism in its Continuity and Diversity, 2nd edn John I. Brockington, 1996 Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press 222 pp., £10.95 (pb) ISBN 0–7486–0830–3

Behind the Crystal Ball: Magic and Science from Antiquity to the New Age. Anthony Aveni, 1996 London: Newleaf 406 pp., £20.00 ISBN 0–7522–0549–8

Historical Dictionary of Methodism. Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. & Susan E. Warrick, 1996 Lanham: Scarecrow Press 299 pp., £44.65 ISBN 0–8108–3140–6

Historical Dictionary of the Orthodox Church. Michael Prokurat, Alexander Golitzin & Michael D. Peterson, 1996 Lanham, Maryland, London: Scarecrow Press 440 pp., £80.40 ISBN 0–8108–3081–7

God's Straggler: Religion in the Writings of Nikos Kazantzakis. Darren J. N. Middleton & Peter Bien, eds, 1996 Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press 236 pp., US$32.95 ISBN 0–86554–499–9

Apocalypticism in the Dead Sea Scrolls. John J. Collins, 1997 London: Routledge 187 pp., £37.50 (hb), £11.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–14636–4 (hb), ISBN 0–415–14637–2 (pb)

The Word Made Strange: Theology, Language, Culture. John Milbank, 1996 Oxford; Cambridge, MA: Blackwell 298 pp., £45.00, US$59.95 (hb), £14.99, US$23.95 (pb) ISBN 0631–20335–4 (hb), ISBN 0631–20336–2 (pb)

The Simple Guide to the Roman Catholic Church. Edmund Hartley, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 144 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–023–7

The Simple Guide to Judaism. David Starr‐Glass, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 120 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–008–3

The Simple Guide to Hinduism. Venika Mehra Klngsland, 1997 Folkestone, Kent: Global Books 117 pp., £5.99 ISBN 1–86034–018–0

Mission on the Margins. Mary Beasley, 1997 Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press 110 pp., £7.99 ISBN 0–7188–2966–2     

Physical and mental health trajectories of cancer patients and caregivers across the year post-diagnosis: a dyadic investigation

Objective: Evidence suggests interdependence between cancer patients’ and their caregivers’ physical and mental health. However, the extent to which caregivers’ health relates to their patients’ recovery, or patients’ health affects their caregivers’ outcomes, is largely unknown. This dyadic investigation reports the relations between cancer patients’ and their caregivers’ physical and mental health trajectories during the year following diagnosis.

Design: Ninety-two colorectal cancer patient–caregiver dyads completed questionnaires at 2, 6 and 12 months post-diagnosis.

Outcome measures: Self-reported physical and mental health using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey-12.

Results: Patients reported improved physical health over the year following their diagnosis, whereas caregivers reported declining physical health. Patients with lower mental health at diagnosis had stagnated physical health recovery. Caregivers’ physical health declined most noticeably among those reporting low mental health at diagnosis and whose patients reported low physical health at diagnosis.

Conclusion: Findings suggest targeting health interventions to cancer patients and caregivers reporting poor mental health at diagnosis may mitigate their long-term physical morbidity. Limited evidence of dyadic interdependence between patients’ and caregivers’ physical and mental health trajectories suggests future studies are warranted to identify psychosocial and medical characteristics moderating the relations between patients’ and caregivers’ health.