Women Inmate Substance Abusers’ Reactivity to Visual Alcohol, Cigarette, Marijuana, and Crack-Cocaine Cues: Approach and Avoidance as Separate Dimensions of Reactivity

Despite the growing recognition for multidimensional assessments of cue-elicited craving, few studies have attempted to measure multiple response domains associated with craving. The present study evaluated the Ambivalence Model of Craving (Breiner et al. Alcohol Research and Health 23:197–206, 1999; Stritzke et al. 2007) using a unique cue reactivity methodology designed to capture both the desire to use (approach inclination) and desire to not consume (avoidance inclination) in a clinical sample of incarcerated female substance abusers. Participants were 155 incarcerated women who were participating in or waiting to begin participation in a nine-month drug treatment program. Results indicated that all four substance cue-types (alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and crack cocaine) had good reliability and showed high specificity. Also, the validity of measuring approach and avoidance as separate dimensions was supported, as demonstrated by meaningful clinical distinctions between groups evincing different reactivity patterns and incremental prediction of avoidance inclinations on measures of stages of change readiness. Taken together, results continue to highlight the importance of measuring both approach and avoidance inclinations in the study of cue-elicited craving.     

The freud-jones letters

Abstract

Despite over a hundred years of writings about the history of psychoanalysis, from the point of view of professional intellectual historians this field remains amateurish in terms of solid scholarship. This edition of the Freud-Jones letters illustrates many of the long-standing problems. Although Jones was never one of Freud's personal favorites, it takes a subtle reading of the evidence to see the full nature of the tensions between the two. It is surprising, given the length of this text, how much additional surviving material might profitably been added.

Aside from serious shortcomings to this edition of Freud's correspondence, for example the longstanding orthodox tilt against Sandor Ferenczi, nothing like the tendentiousness associated with other editions of Freud's letters has taken place here. Future generations who get to see the full volumes of Freud's letters are going to have trouble recreating the human circumstances under which he was working. The Freud-Jones letters will remain of key interest to specialists. By now most know certain key historiographical failings on Jones's part, and it may be time now to underline how much he succeeded in accomplishing.     

A Contingency Approach to Specializing an Industrial Sales Force

Abstract

Psychographic, sociocultural and functional specialization are three alternative forms of deploying sales forces currently used by firms in combination with the traditional bases of specialization. Despite their usage, these forms have received little recognition and acceptance in the marketing literature. Because there is no single best form of specialization for all firms, this article proffers a contingency model of specialization whereby the optimal form(s) of specialization is dependent on the accurate analysis of twelve situational variables.     

Condom Use and Contraception Non-Use Amongst 16-19 Year Olds: A Within Subjects Comparison

Abstract

The present study used a within subject design to examine which situation specific factors discriminated between the use of condoms and non-use of contraception in the context of preventing unwanted pregnancy. Adapting the methodology of Gold et al (1991, 1992), 215 16 to 19 year olds completed a questionnaire concerning the most recent time they had experienced sexual intercourse without using contraception (the “without contraception” encounter) and me most recent time they had experienced sexual intercourse using a condom (the “with a condom” encounter). The results showed that although past behaviour did not differentiate between the two encounters, situational factors relating to preparation for action, affect and interpersonal interaction were important. However, when analysed for men and women separately most of the differences were only found for women. In particular, the results suggest that women report non-contraception use as associated with feeling more guilty, having a partner who is less motivated to use contraception than they are, with neither themselves nor their partner raising the desire to use contraception, not expecting to have sex and not discussing contraception and not having contraception available. In contrast, for men, only the availability of contraception appeared to differentiate between the two encounters. The results are discussed in terms of the usefulness of the methodology and the associated shift in emphasis from users and non-users of contraception to use and non-use. The implications of the results in terms of health education interventions are also considered.     

Psychological and behavioural effects of bone density screening for osteoporosis

Abstract

To examine the psychological effects of bone density measurement, 298 women were assessed two weeks before the bone density scan, immediately before the scan, after the results, a week later and three months later. For the group as a whole, ratings of anxiety and perceived vulnerability were lower at the three month follow-up than at the initial assessment. Women who received a low bone mineral density (BMD) result were more anxious and reported more osteoporosis-preventive behaviours at the three month follow-up than women who received a high BMD result; these differences had not been apparent at the initial assessment Women with low BMD results had higher ratings of perceived vulnerability after the scan, although for some of these ratings there were group differences before the scan. Women with a low BMD result showed a decrease in ratings of the seriousness of a below-average result, which may reflect minimization of the health threat     

Personality and attitudinal correlates of healthy and unhealthy lifestyles in young adults

Abstract

The relationship between healthy lifestyle and personality and attitudinal variables was analyzed with data collected from 809 men and 996 women aged 18–30 years in England, Belgium, Finland and Norway as part of the European Health and Behaviour Survey. A health practices index was constructed on the basis of performance of sixteen behaviours including smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, sleep time and a variety of dietary and preventive practices. Scores on the health practices index were higher in women than men, but in both sexes the index was normally distributed. Consistently healthy practices were positively correlated with extraversion and optimism, and negatively associated with neuroticism, psychoticism and chance locus of control beliefs. These effects were maintained after controlling for social desirability, but together accounted for only a modest proportion of the variance in the health practices index. The results are discussed in relation to the factors characterising health conscious and unhealthy lifestyles.     

Social cognitions measured in 4 to 6 year olds are predictive of objectively measured physical activity

Objective: This study tested whether social cognitions from the reasoned action approach (RAA) can be reliably measured in a sample of primary school children (aged 4–6 years) and whether these RAA measures are predictive of physical activity.

Design: Longitudinal observational study with repeated measures over six months.

Measures: RAA variables were measured using a novel choice paradigm between physically active and sedentary pastimes. Relative reinforcing value, covariates (sex, age, deprivation and BMI) and physical activity by accelerometry (primary outcome) were also measured.

Results: RAA cognitions could be measured with acceptable retest reliability and discriminant validity and social norms regarding parents and teachers (but not friends) were correlated with physical activity and change in physical activity when relative reinforcing value and other covariates were controlled for.

Conclusions: RAA cognitions can be reliably measured in primary school children aged 4–6 and RRA measures appear useful in understanding children’s activity choices and may potentially inform future interventions.     

Psychological consequences of positive results in cervical cancer screening

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the psychological impact of abnormal cervical smear results. Existing literature contain only uncontrolled studies or controlled studies with non-standardised measures. Subjects were recruited from women attending two general practices for routine cervical smears over a six month period. A comparison was made between women with positive results who were referred for colposcopy, with mild abnormalities who were asked to return for a repeat smear in six months, or negative smear results. Psychometric assessment by postal questionnaire was carried out one week after receiving the result. The measures used were the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Spielberger State Anxiety (STAI), and a measure designed specifically for use in the study, the Cervical Screening Questionnaire (CSQ). Results indicated that women with positive smear test results who were referred for colposcopy had significantly higher scores on GHQ (p<.01) STAI-S (p<.05) and CSQ (p<.001) than women with mild abnormalities or negative results. Significant differences between the groups with mild abnormalities and negative results were found on the CSQ (p<.05). These findings suggest that positive results on cervical screening are associated with a significant psychological impact including a range of specific concerns about gynaecological health and cancer, increased anxiety and impaired well-being. Even mildly abnormal results, which involve a recommendation for early repeat screening, cause raised concern about cancer for the recipients. The procedures for providing smear results should be organised to minimise the level of distress.     

Socio-economic health inequalities: Their origins and implications

Abstract

Evidence attests to substantial variations in health contingent on socioeconomic position. It is argued that these effects cannot be dismissed as artefact nor can they be explained, in the main, by either social selection or an unequal distribution of accepted behavioural risk factors among different social groups. The most likely explanation would seem to be social causation. However, it is continuing social and material inequality that appears most implicated; accounts which locate the effects in childhood social and material causes are far less compelling. The persistence of socioeconomic health differentials into the materially better-off social strata and the possible determining role of relative as well as absolute living standards suggest that psychological, in addition to material, variables are likely to be involved. Isolating the key psychological variables and identifying the nature of their influences will not be easy tasks, although social relations, psychological stress, uplifts, and control have emerged as possible candidates. However, psychological mediators of this sort most probably constitute surface rather than basic causes. Socio-economic inequality, it is contended, remains the basic cause, and, as such, the proper target for intervention. Psychological interventions are unlikely to yield much in the way of dividends in this context and indeed could inadvertently contribute to victim blaming.     

the relationship between pain and coping styles among hiv-positive men and women

Abstract

Pain in HIV/AIDS patients is associated with compromised quality of life and emotional adjustment. Although previous findings support a relationship between coping styles and subjective pain for various groups of chronically-ill persons, little research has examined the associations between coping and pain in HIV-positive or AIDS patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between pain and coping styles among 105 HIV-positive participants (32 women and 73 men) in a randomized clinical trial designed to examine the effect of group psychotherapy on quality of life and health behavior. Participants completed the Brief COPE, the pain scale from the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV, and a demographic and medical questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis, with pain as the dependent variable, showed that participants who reported coping through denial reported greater pain severity (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that denial as a coping strategy appears to be signficantly associated with pain for persons with HIV/AIDS. However, further research is necessary to determine the causal relationship between pain and coping through denial. These findings also point to the possibility of psychological intervention in order to modify maladaptive coping styles and to ameliorate pain in this population.