Relationships of self-esteem and efficacy to psychological distress in mothers of children with chronic physical illnesses.

This study examined relationships of children's illness-related functional limitations and 2 maternal psychological resources, self-esteem and efficacy, to symptoms of psychological distress in 365 urban mothers of 5- to 9-year-old children with diverse chronic illnesses. Multiple regression controlling for sociodemographic variables indicated that presence of functional limitations in the child and lower resources each were associated with higher maternal scores on a psychological symptom scale. Self-esteem had a main effect on maternal distress; however, a significant Efficacy?×?Functional Status interaction term suggested that mothers experienced greater distress when their children had illness-related functional limitations and maternal efficacy was low. Interventions aimed at enhancing maternal psychological resources may reduce the likelihood of distress in mothers of children with chronic illness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological impact of illness downturns: A comparison of new and chronic conditions.

Older adults (N?=?166) who had chronic arthritis, a chronic vision problem, new arthritis symptoms, or a new vision problem were compared with older adult controls on psychological distress and well-being. The psychological impacts of new versus chronic illness stressors, and stressors associated with arthritis versus vision loss, were examined. The chronic arthritis group had the greatest psychological distress, the least well-being, and the greatest self-reported pain. Results supported an additivity theory approach to chronic illness and not an anticipatory coping approach. Differences in level of pain accounted in part for elevations in distress but did not explain differences between groups in psychological well-being. Positive affect was found to be the indicator of well-being that best differentiated groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abstract versus concrete goals: Personal striving level, physical illness, and psychological well-being.

Examined the relation between personal striving level and psychological and physical well-being. Level refers to the degree of generality vs specificity of one's goal strivings. In 3 studies, 188 Ss generated lists of their personal strivings, which were then rated on specificity level. High-level striving was associated with more psychological distress, particularly depression. Low-level striving was related to higher levels of physical illness. Correlations between striving level and self-reported symptoms were generally not as strong as those between level and the more objective illness indicators. High-level strivings were seen as more difficult and requiring more effort than low-level strivings. Results are interpreted in terms of control theory, goal-setting theory, and the repressive personality style. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cultural, sociofamilial, and psychological resources that inhibit psychological distress in African Americans exposed to stressful life events and race-related stress.

This study tested a sociocultural model of stress and coping in a sample of 215 African Americans. Psychological resources (optimism, ego resilience) were modeled as a "nested self" (S. E. Hobfoll, 2001), supported by social resources (family adaptability and cohesion) and cultural resources (racial pride, religiosity). Race-related stress was a significantly more powerful risk factor than stressful life events for psychological distress. Structural equation modeling results confirmed the hypotheses that psychological resources had a significant direct effect in minimizing psychological distress, and social resources had a significant stress-suppressing effect on race-related stress. Theoretical and practical implications for counseling psychologists are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological symptoms and marital satisfaction in spouses of Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans: Relationships with spouses' perceptions of veterans' experiences and symptoms.

Much research has shown that spouses of combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have higher rates of psychological and marital distress than do spouses of veterans without PTSD; however, very few studies have examined potential mechanisms of this increased vulnerability. The current study examined spouses of National Guard soldiers recently returned from deployments in Iraq. In addition to documenting elevated levels of psychological symptoms in these spouses, the authors found that spouses experienced greater symptom severity when they perceived high levels of symptoms in soldiers but the soldiers endorsed low levels of symptoms. Furthermore, spouses' marital satisfaction was negatively linked to soldiers' self-reported symptom severity only when spouses perceived that soldiers had experienced low levels of combat activity while deployed. When spouses perceived high levels of such activity, soldiers' self-reported symptoms had no relationship with spouses' marital satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of interpersonal perceptions in intimate relationships and are consistent with the notion that uncontrollable attributions for a relative's mental health problems may provide a buffer against relationship distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An epidemiologic study of primary health care service utilization of summer visitors to Abha, Asir, Saudi Arabia

Few studies have investigated stressors to which fire fighters are subjected and the potential psychological consequences. One hundred and forty-five fire fighters were studied to enumerate potential occupational stressors, assess psychological distress and problems with alcohol use, and determine whether a relationship exists between these measures and self-reported stressors. Hearing that children are in a burning building was the highest ranked stressor. According to three self-report instruments, between 33 and 41% of the fire fighters were experiencing significant psychological distress, and 29% had possible or probable problems with alcohol use. These figures are significantly higher than would be expected in a typical community or working population. In a logistic regression analysis, no relationship was found between measures of psychological distress and alcohol use and the 10 most highly ranked work stressors.     

Differences in coping styles among persons with spinal cord injury: A cluster-analytic approach.

Two subgroups were identified and validated in a group of 53 persons with spinal cord injury by applying cluster-analytic procedures to subjects' self-reported coping and health locus-of-control belief scores. Subjects in Cluster 1 relied extensively on all seven scales of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, had elevated external health attributions, and reported higher levels of psychological distress and depression. Subjects in Cluster 2 emphasized internal health attributions, reported less distress, and relied less on coping methods described in the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Treatment implications of results for the two subgroups are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress and health outcomes: The mediating role of negative affectivity in female health care workers.

The current study explored the interrelationships among occupational stress, family stress, poor physical health, and psychological distress and examined the mediating role of negative affectivity (NA) in the stress and health process. A cross-sectional, nonexperimental design was used and a convenience sample of 271 female health care workers was recruited from northeastern Ohio. Data were collected with a self-reported questionnaire, scanned using Teleform Software, and electronically transferred to the SPSS format. Data analyses were performed in three separate phases: preliminary, measurement model, and structural model analyses (using structural equation modeling). Results suggested that occupational stress had a significant effect on psychological distress, and family stress had a significant impact on both poor physical health and psychological distress. NA partially mediated the effect of occupational stress on psychological distress. The effects of family stress on poor physical health and psychological distress were also partially mediated through NA. The indirect to total effect ratios were 30%, 17.15%, and 28%, respectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological distress in blood donors notified of HTLV-I/II infection. Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study

BACKGROUND: Blood donations in the United States have been screened for antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I/II) since November 1988. Although clinically diagnosed illness associated with HTLV-I/II remains relatively uncommon, blood donors notified of HTLV infection frequently report negative psychological and social effects following notification. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To assess psychological outcomes, the General Well-Being Scale, a standardized 18-item questionnaire, was administered to 464 HTLV-I/II-positive donors and 91 sex partners at five blood centers in the United States following notification of HTLV-I/II infection. The questionnaire was also given to 735 HTLV-I/II-negative donors. RESULTS: Scores for donors seropositive for HTLV-I and HTLV-II showed significantly more psychological distress than did scores for seronegative donors (p < 0.0005) or a large national sample (p < 0.05). Both HTLV-I (p = 0.02) and HTLV-II (p = 0.01) seropositivity remained significant predictors of lower overall well-being scores after analysis controlling for race, age, gender, education, income, donation type, time since notification, self-reported health status, and intravenous drug use. Variables that predicted higher overall scores were negative HTLV status, older age, higher income, better health, fewer sick days, and fewer work limitations due to health problems. CONCLUSION: Increased psychological distress may be related to notification of HTLV infection among blood donors in the United States.     

Adjustment following the mass shooting at Virginia Tech: The roles of resource loss and gain.

Unfortunately, many individuals will be exposed to traumatic events during their lifetime. The experience of loss and gain of valued resources may represent important predictors of psychological distress following these experiences. The current study examined the extent to which loss and gain of interpersonal and intrapersonal resources (e.g., hope, intimacy) predicted psychological distress among college women following the mass shooting at Virginia Tech (VT). Participants were 193 college women from whom preevent psychological distress and social support data had been obtained. These women completed surveys regarding their psychological distress, coping, and resource loss and gain 2- and 6-months after the VT shooting. Structural equation modeling supported that resource loss predicted greater psychological distress 6 months after the shooting whereas resource gain was weakly related to lower levels of psychological distress. The study also revealed that social support and psychological distress prior to the shooting predicted resource loss, and social support and active coping with the shooting predicted resource gain. Implications of the results for research examining the roles of resource loss and gain in posttrauma adjustment and the development of interventions following mass trauma are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Financial strain, received support, anticipated support, and depressive symptoms in the People's Republic of China.

The purpose of this study is to examine the interface between financial strain, informal received economic support, informal anticipated financial support, and psychological distress in later life. Data provided by a large probability sample of older adults in the People's Republic of China reveal that the relationship between financial difficulty and psychological distress is stronger for older adults who receive more economic assistance. However, the results involving anticipated support are in the opposite direction. More specifically, the association between financial problems and psychological distress is lower for older adults who believe that others stand ready to help in the future should the need arise. A detailed theoretical rationale is developed to explain these results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does psychological distress predict disability?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate psychological distress as a predictor of disability due to common chronic disorders. STUDY POPULATION AND METHODS: A 10-year follow-up study was carried out among a representative cohort (N = 8655) of 18-64 year old Finnish farmers, who had participated in a health survey in 1979 and were able to work at baseline. A record linkage with the nationwide register of the Social Insurance Institution was made to identify disability pensions granted between 1980 and 1990 in the cohort. The medical certificates of 1004 (11.6%) prematurely retired farmers were reviewed to confirm and classify disabling conditions. A sum score based on self-reports of 11 symptoms at the baseline was used as a measure of psychological distress. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, smoking and body mass index, the cause-specific relative risks (RR) (95% confidence intervals [CI]) of disability in the highest quartile of the psychological distress score as compared with the lowest quartile were for myocardial infarction 2.34 (95% CI: 1.17-4.69), for depression 2.50 (95% CI: 1.09-5.72), for neck-shoulder disorders 1.98 (95% CI: 1.26-3.11), for unspecified low-back disorders 1.76 (95% CI: 1.24-2.49), for knee osteoarthritis 1.55 (95% CI: 0.91-2.63) and for trip osteoarthritis 0.89 (95% CI: 0.42-1.85). The corresponding RR for overall disability was 1.76 (95% CI: 1.44-2.14) in the highest quartile of psychological distress score as compared with the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological distress is an independent risk factor for disability. Its predictive significance varies between disorders leading to functional deterioration. The association mechanisms are likely to vary from one disorder to another.     

Perceived control, coping efficacy, and avoidance coping as mediators between spousal unsupportive behaviors and psychological distress.

This study examined whether avoidance, coping efficacy, and perceived control mediate the effects of spouses" unsupportive behaviors on patient psychological distress among 191 married individuals enrolled in cancer treatment. Results of the structural equation analyses suggested that avoidance and coping efficacy mediated the relationship between spouses" unsupportive behaviors and patient psychological distress. Perceived control of emotional aspects of the illness, including emotional responses and relationships with family and friends, and perceived control of the medical course of the cancer did not mediate the relationship between spouses" unsupportive behaviors and patient psychological distress. These findings suggest 2 mechanisms to explain why unsupportive responses from spouses may be associated with psychological distress among cancer patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived income inadequacy as a predictor of psychological distress in Alzheimer's caregivers.

The authors examined perceived income inadequacy as a predictor of self-reported depressive symptomatology and anxiety in the original sites of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health I project. Perceived income inadequacy, self-reported household income, and control factors (e.g., subjective health) were entered into hierarchical regression analyses predicting psychological distress. Findings suggest that perceived income inadequacy and not household income significantly predicted more self-reported depressive symptomatology and greater self-reported anxiety. This supports previous findings that objective income measures alone are not adequate indicators of socioeconomic status in older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health status and the use of outpatient mental health services.

Investigated the effects of mental health status—self-reported psychological distress and psychological well-being—on the use of outpatient mental health services, based on mental health data from the Rand Corporation's Health Insurance Survey. Results reveal that probability of mental health care and intensity of treatment provided by mental health specialists increase significantly with increases in psychological distress, independent of insurance plan, physical health, and sociodemographic variables. Results support the validity of self-report mental health surveys. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-concealment, avoidance of psychological services, and perceived likelihood of seeking professional help.

Undergraduate students (N?=?732) completed questionnaires about their perceived likelihood of seeking professional psychological help, attitudes toward psychotherapy, fears of psychotherapy, psychological distress, social support, and self-concealment. Self-concealment (a person's tendency to keep intimate information secret) was positively associated with self-reported distress and avoidance of needed psychological treatment. Although low social support was associated with greater perceived likelihood of seeking help, this effect was canceled at high levels of self-concealment. Specific types of distress selectively predicted perceived likelihood of seeking help as a function of the type of problem for which help would have been sought. Overall, the data contradicted previous findings and conclusions that suggested high self-concealers were more inclined than low self-concealers to seek psychological services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impact of duration of caregiving on stress among primary caregivers of elderly

This study examined (1) the direct effect of the duration of caregiving on caregiver psychological distress, and (2) two- or three-way interactions between duration, stressors (elderly's physical and cognitive impairments), and personal (caregiver's economic or work status) or social (informal or formal supports) resources. We interviewed 833 primary family caregivers of non-institutionalized frail elderly who had been selected through a screening process of all residents aged 65 and over (21,567 persons) in a suburban area of Tokyo. Caregiver psychological distress was evaluated by "Caregiving Burden Scale" as a caregiving-specific psychological measurement, and "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)" as a general psychological measurement. The results were as follows. 1. For Caregiving Burden, duration showed a direct effect, as those who had been providing care for a longer duration of time reported higher burden. We found no interactions between duration, stressors, and resources on caregiving burden. 2. For CES-D, duration had interactions, but no direct effect. (1) Two-way interactions were observed between duration and caregiver's economic or work status, as caregivers with a low economic status or who were unemployed showed a stronger negative impact from duration of caregiving. (2) Three-way interactions were observed between duration, the elderly's ADL impairment, and informal support. Informal support, such as a secondary caregiver, buffered the negative impact of the elderly's ADL impairment in cases with a shorter duration of caregiving, but not for those with longer duration. (3) Three-way interactions were observed between duration, the elderly's cognitive impairment, and formal emotional support. Formal emotional support buffered the negative impact of the elderly's cognitive impairment for those with a longer duration of caregiving, but not for those with a shorter duration. These findings suggest that stress-buffering resources differ according to duration of caregiving.     

Illness intrusiveness, uncertainty, and distress in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To examine the relation of illness intrusiveness and illness uncertainty to psychological distress in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Study Design: Participants were recruited from regional support groups and local neurologists. Participants completed self-report measures of illness intrusiveness, illness uncertainty, and psychological distress. Disease status was assessed by administration of a mental status exam and an index of ambulation. Participants: The sample included 78 (55 women, 23 men) individuals diagnosed with MS. Main Outcome Measure: The Symptom Checklist—90—Revised Global Severity Index. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that illness intrusiveness and illness uncertainty independently predicted adjustment problems above and beyond demographic and illness variables. No mediator or moderator relationships were found for illness intrusiveness. Conclusions: Psychological appraisals of illness are salient predictors of adjustment even after statistically controlling for the influence of age, education, and objective indices of physical and cognitive impairment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anger problem profiles among partner violent men: Differences in clinical presentation and treatment outcome.

Cluster analysis of 139 partner violent men's self-reports on the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory identified profiles reflecting pathological anger (PA), low anger control (LAC), and normal anger (NA). The PA group self-reported higher pretreatment partner abuse, interpersonal dysfunction, distress, and substance abuse and had lower treatment attendance than the NA and LAC groups. Collateral (victim) partners reported higher pretreatment abuse by the PA and LAC groups than the NA group. At posttreatment and 6-month follow-up, the PA group had the highest levels of physical assault and injury. The LAC group exceeded the NA group in physical assault at posttreatment and psychological aggression at posttreatment and follow-up. The recognition of distinct anger problem profiles may lead to new strategies for research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coping style, perceived uncertainty in illness, and distress in individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

Examined the relationship of coping style and illness uncertainty to psychological distress in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their primary caregivers. Design: Correlational methods, within-group theory-driven hierarchical regression analyses, and transactional analyses. Ss were 44 dyads composed of individuals with PD and their caregivers. Main Outcome Measures: Hoehn and Yahr Clinical Disability Rating Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Symptom Distress Checklist-90—Revised, Mischel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community Form, and Revised Ways of Coping Checklist. Results: Emotion-focused coping was associated with higher levels of distress for persons with PD, whereas both emotion-focused coping and perceived uncertainty were associated with distress for the caregivers. Transactional analyses between patients and caregivers indicated that higher levels of patient problem-focused coping and perceived uncertainty in illness were associated with increased problems in caregiver distress. Adjustment to PD is influenced by several patient and caregiver variables. The results warrant consideration of a variety of clinical interventions involving patient and caregiver education about the disease and methods for managing the associated symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)