An evaluation of the accuracy of self-reports for predicting menstrual onset

Abstract

The self-reported predicted and actual day of menstrual onset were compared for 107 female volunteers. The differences between predicted and actual day of menstrual onset were compared by categorizing women into the ovulatory, premenstrual, and menstrual phases separately based on their predicted and actual days of menstrual onset. A main effect for phase suggested that menstrual women were less accurate in predicting menstrual onset. Thus, the degree of inaccuracy differed by phase and varied as a function of whether predicted or actual menstrual onset date was used to assign women to phases. These data provide a more precise indication of the degree of unreliability of self-reports and suggest a phase-accuracy connection which may be influenced by a number of factors, particularly recall of last menstrual onset.     

Life events and psychological well-being in old age

Abstract

Although life event research has burgeoned in recent years, little attention has been paid to the prevalence of events among the elderly or their relationship to psychological well-being. This paper presents data from a three-wave longitudinal study of community elderly in Aberdeen. Negative life events were highly prevalent among both survivors [N=349) and non-survivors [N=108], but the relatively small differences between the groups indicate that attrition does not seriously affect longitudinal findings. Longitudinal analysis of survivors' data was performed using LISREL and yielded a model with a goodness of fit index of 0.918, demonstrating a close fit between the data and the model. The model parameters indicate that those in poor psychological state were more likely to report serious non-health events than health events, although the latter were more likely than the former to result in a decline in psychological well-being, even after prior psychological state was taken into account. While elderly people with low social integration experienced more severe reactions to life events in the short term than those with high social integration, there were no significant long term effects, even for those reporting highly stressful events. There was no evidence of a sub-group of elderly people lacked into a cycle of serious life events. However life events were not random occurrences; serious health events were more often reported by those with low education while women and those in lower social classes were more likely to report serious non-health events. Overall, long term disruption, directly attributable to life events, was minimal when viewed within the context of the community elderly's stable psychological state.     

Young women’s construction of their post-cancer fertility

Younger women diagnosed with cancer often face compromised fertility as a result of their treatment. However, previous research has adopted a biomedical model of fertility and utilised hypothetico-deductive research methods which have not allowed for full exploration of women’s subjectivity. This study explored younger women’s construction of their fertility post-cancer, and their discussions of fertility with healthcare professionals, from a social constructionist epistemology. Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with eight women aged 18–26, across a variety of cancer types. Foucaultian Discourse Analysis identified three subject positions associated with fertility concerns: ‘Inadequate woman: Accepting the motherhood mandate’; ‘Adequate woman: Resisting the motherhood mandate’; and ‘Survival of the fittest: Woman as genetically defective’. Implications of these subject positions included feelings of inadequacy, fear and devastation; feeling undesirable to romantic partners; and concern about passing on cancer-positive genes. In describing healthcare professional interactions, women adopted positions of ‘Satisfied patient’; ‘Passive recipient patient’; or ‘Resisting the passive patient position’. Accounts of inadequate information provision were associated with anger and frustration, whereas feeling adequately informed was associated with satisfaction at making decisions about fertility preservation. These results suggest that fertility is of importance to young women cancer survivors, and that compromised fertility can negatively impact subjectivity.     

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.     

The Impact of Poverty on Women's Psychosocial Well-being: Narratives from Zimbabwean Migrant Women in South Africa

The study investigated the psychosocial impact poverty has had on Zimbabwean migrant women. The sample comprised 7 female participants (3 professional teachers and 4 informal traders) who had migrated to South Africa because of poverty. Their age ranged from 16 to 55 years. In-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The migrant women's health and well-being were compromised from poverty related experiences while sojourners.     

Islamic identity re‐covered: Muslim women after September 11th

For women, hijab is a prominent and oftentimes controversial physical marker of their social identity as Muslims. This study explores the perceptions of Muslim women living in Houston regarding the hijab and how these perceptions were partially shaped by media portrayals of Muslim women overseas after the September 11th tragedy. The effects of these perceptions on women's decisions to wear the hijab after September 11th were also examined. Using a convenience sample of 67 women, semi‐structured interviews were conducted. Results suggest that American Muslim women were more likely to talk about hijab in terms of identity than immigrant Muslim women, and to believe that by wearing hijab they could help portray a more positive image of Muslims in the United States.     

Women Court-Ordered for Domestic Violence: Improvements in Depression

A quasi-experimental design was employed to compare depression at intake and completion of a sample of primarily Latina women court-ordered to a batterer intervention program. Data were derived from the intake assessments of 112 women over 24 months. Overwhelmingly, women reported being abused by their current and former partners. Approximately 58% of the women in this sample were depressed at intake. When culturally competent, gender-appropriate treatment is given to court-ordered women, depression symptomatology may decrease to levels of normal functioning. Further research is needed to understand court-ordered women as well as how to meet their unique needs.     

Testing Posttraumatic Stress as a Mediator of Childhood Trauma and Adult Intimate Partner Violence Victimization

This study examined whether potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) mediated the relationships between different forms of childhood trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, violence between caregivers) and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (psychological, physical, sexual). Participants were 1,150 female nurses and nursing personnel. Path analytic findings revealed potential PTSD partially mediated the relationships between childhood sexual abuse and psychological IPV and childhood sexual abuse and sexual IPV. Potential PTSD did not mediate the relationship between other types of childhood trauma and IPV. This study adds to the literature indicating PTSD as a risk factor for revictimization in the form of adult IPV among women. Screening for and treatment of PTSD among female child sexual abuse survivors could prevent future IPV victimization.     

Why Do Police Arrest Victims of Domestic Violence? The Need for Comprehensive Training and Investigative Protocols

After all the positive changes in the criminal justice system over the last ten to fifteen years concerning the response to incidents of domestic violence, there remains the problem of battered women who are arrested as perpetrators of domestic violence. The reasons for these arrests are complex and varied. They range from the patriarchal structure of criminal justice agencies, to the staffing of these agencies, and finally to the inappropriate and inadequate training of police officers. This article includes real life examples of cases where victims were arrested, and why these arrests occurred. It also includes suggestions on how to minimize these illegal arrests.     

Coping with Intimate Partner Violence: Battered Women's Use and Perceived Helpfulness of Emotion-Focused Coping Strategies

This study investigated intimate partner violence (IPV) victims' emotion-focused coping efforts, as well as their retrospective ratings of the perceived helpfulness of these efforts, in the context of a longitudinal study of battered women's experiences over time. Four hundred and six primarily African American, low-income battered women who had experienced IPV within the previous 12 months were interviewed. Patterns of coping use and perceived helpfulness were explored. The correlation between prevalence of use of emotion-focused coping strategies and perceived helpfulness of these strategies was examined, and results showed that the strategies used by more battered women were less helpful in dealing with feelings about abuse. Implications for clinical interventions with battered women are discussed.