Adjustment in aging: The roles of life stress, hassles, and self-efficacy.

Examined the relationship of life stress, daily hassles, and perceived self-efficacy to adjustment in a community sample of 32 men and 32 women (aged 65–75 yrs). In a structured interview, negative life change events, daily hassles, self-efficacy, depression, psychosomatic symptoms, and negative well-being were assessed. Both negative life events and daily hassles were related to psychological distress and physical symptoms for men, and hassles were associated with psychological distress and physical symptoms for women. An inverse relationship between self-efficacy and maladjustment was also found. Hassles showed the most powerful relationship to distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A longitudinal investigation of depression, hopelessness, social support, and major and minor life events and their relation to suicidal ideation in adolescents

The longitudinal relationship of psychological and social-environmental factors with adolescent suicidal ideation over a 1-year-period was examined in a sample of 374 high school students. Students were assessed twice over a 1-year period with measures of depression, hopelessness, major negative life events, daily hassles, social support, and suicidal ideation. At the initial assessment, daily hassles and negative life events for males and social support and depression for females were significant factors related to suicidal ideation levels 1 year later. Changes in depression and hopelessness were significantly related to changes in suicidal ideation over the 1 year interval for males and females. Differences found between males and females in the relationship of psychological and social-environmental variables with suicidal ideation supports the need to examine gender specific relationships when conducting research on suicidal behavior in adolescents.     

Intergenerational Transmission of Depression: Test of an Interpersonal Stress Model in a Community Sample.

An interpersonal stress model of depression transmission was tested in a community sample of nearly 800 depressed and never-depressed women and their 15-year-old children. It was hypothesized that maternal depression (and depression in the maternal grandmother) contributed to chronic interpersonal stress in the mothers, affecting quality of parenting and youths' social competence. In turn, poor social functioning and interpersonal life events caused at least in part by the youths were predicted to be the proximal predictors of current depressive symptoms and diagnoses. Structural equation modeling confirmed the predicted associations among variables and the link between youth chronic and episodic interpersonal stress and depression. Additionally, the association between maternal and child depression was entirely mediated by the predicted family and interpersonal stress effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The contribution of small life events to the psychological distress of married and widowed older women

The contribution of small life events to the prediction of general psychological distress was examined for 50 married and 21 recently widowed older women. These two groups were contrasted as having or not having experienced an uncontrollable major life stressor (i.e., the recent death of a spouse). Negative small life events (i.e., daily hassles) contributed above and beyond general demographic factors; conjugal bereavement status; social support; other, non-conjugal bereavement, major life events; and the interaction of these life events and social support in the prediction of general psychological distress. Results support assessing negative small life events as well as major life events for both married and recently widowed older women.     

Diet and humoral responsiveness of lines of chickens divergently selected for antibody response to sheep red blood cells

OBJECTIVE: To assess everyday life stress and emotional adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their children. METHODS: We conducted a 6 month study of 14 patients with RA with children aged 4-16 years (25 children) and 24 control families (53 children). Life event stress and functional capacity were assessed at the beginning and end of the study, and minor stressors (hassles), positive events (uplifts), and salivary cortisol were recorded weekly. Emotional adjustment was measured monthly in adults by self-report, and bimonthly in children using the Child Behavior Checklist (completed by parents). Social support and psychological coping responses were also measured. RESULTS: Patients with RA experienced fewer positive events than did controls, and they tended to have smaller support networks. Daily hassle levels correlated with severity of disability, and differences in psychological coping were also observed. Children from RA families reported nearly 50% more hassles per week than did controls, and their social networks were significantly smaller. They were rated as having greater problems of social adjustment than controls. Cortisol concentration was greater among children who experienced more life event stress over the study period, but did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: The patients with RA in this study showed good adaptation, but experienced less pleasure in their daily lives. The children of patients with RA may have heightened vulnerability to stress related problems, with fewer social resources and difficulties in behavioral adjustment.     

Expectancies for negative mood regulation, coping, and dysphoria among college students.

Participants (N?=?222) completed measures of negative mood regulation (NMR) expectancies, negative life events, coping responses, dysphoria, and somatic symptoms. After 6 to 8 wks, they completed the same questionnaires except that daily hassles in the previous month were assessed instead of negative life events. In cross-sectional analyses and with stable variance in coping and symptoms controlled, NMR expectancies were positively related to active coping and negatively related to avoidant coping and symptoms. Changes in NMR expectancies and dysphoria were correlated. Time 1 dysphoria was positively related to daily hassles at Time 2, which in turn was associated with changes in coping and dysphoria from Time 1 to Time 2. Implications for counseling and stress-management interventions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress, drinking, and the adverse consequences of drinking in two samples of young adults.

This study examined the relationships between stress and both alcohol use and alcohol problems, in addition to testing the possibility that social support and coping styles significantly moderate these relationships. Two samples of men and women in their 20s and 30s were studied. Findings showed that stress was unrelated to alcohol consumption in 1 sample, and, although there were significant associations in the 2nd sample, the overall percentage of variance explained was small. Stress appeared to be more highly related to alcohol problems, with some stress measures showing a protective relationship vis á vis alcohol problems and others acting in ways that can put people at risk for alcohol problems. Coping styles and social support interacted significantly with some measures of life stress (e.g., daily hassles, negative life events), but only in some circumstances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stressful life events, psychological distress, coping, and parenting of divorced mothers: A longitudinal study.

This was a prospective longitudinal study of the relationships among life stress, psychological distress, coping, and parenting behaviors in a sample of divorced custodial mothers. First, the differential effects of major events and daily stressors on psychological distress and parenting were explored. Second, the mediational links among stress, distress, and 3 dimensions of parenting behaviors were studied. Third, 3 coping strategies were studied as moderators of the relationship between distress and parenting. The results showed that both major and small events had significant effects on parental distress, with the effects of daily negative events being greater than those of major events. Parental distress mediated the relationships between stressful life events and parental acceptance of their children's behaviors. Parental coping strategies moderated the relationship between mothers' psychological distress and mothers' discipline practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias in the absence of organic heart disease: classification, differential diagnosis, and implications for therapy

As the number of youths infected with HIV rises, secondary prevention programmes are needed to help youths living with HIV meet three goals: (1) increase self-care behaviours, medical adherence and health-related interactions; (2) reduce transmission acts; and (3) enhance their quality of life. This article describes an intervention programme for youths living with HIV, delivered over 30 sessions, in three modules. Based on modifications of the social action model, perceptions, attitudes and skills to enhance affective awareness and positive behavioural routines are identified as prerequisites for meeting each of the targeted outcomes. In each module, youths engage in small-group activities over 8-12 sessions with other infected peers to modify their behavioural patterns. Module 1 focuses on choosing one's social identity with respect to a seropositive status, implementing new daily routines to stay healthy, coping with receiving high quality medical care and keeping safe from reinfection. Module 2 aims to reduce substance use and unprotected sexual acts. Module 3 focuses on using sensory awareness as a strategy for enhancing the quality of life. A variety of delivery strategies are discussed for secondary interventions.     

The relation between perfectionism and distress: Hassles, coping, and perceived social support as mediators and moderators.

This study of university students (136 men and 307 women) examined the roles of hassles, avoidant and active coping, and perceived available social support in the relation between evaluative concerns and personal standards perfectionism and distress symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the measurement model used in this study. Structural equation modeling results indicated that hassles, avoidant coping, and perceived social support are each unique mediators that can fully explain the strong relation between evaluative concerns perfectionism and distress. Personal standards perfectionism had a unique association with active coping only. Hassles and social support also moderated the relation between both dimensions of perfectionism and distress. Clinical implications of distinguishing between evaluative concerns and personal standards perfectionism are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictive relation of automatic thoughts and student efficacy to depressive symptoms in undergraduates.

Examined the relative contribution to subsequent depression of automatic thoughts and self-efficacy, after controlling for initial depressive symptoms, life events stress, and social support. 49 undergraduates completed a test battery that included the Beck Depression Inventory, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ; S. D. Hollon and P. C. Kendall [see PA, Vol 66:180]) and the Life Events Scale twice at monthly intervals. Initial scores on the ATQ and on a measure of efficacy each predicted subsequent depressive symptoms. Automatic thoughts and perceived self-efficacy may serve additive predisposing roles in depression. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pathways between physical activity and quality of life in adults with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: This prospective study examined symptoms of depression, fatigue, pain, self-efficacy, and social support as possible intermediaries in the pathway between changes in physical activity and quality of life (QOL) across a 6-month period in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design and Main Outcome Measures: Adults with a definite diagnosis of MS wore an accelerometer for 7 days and then completed a battery of questionnaires at baseline (n = 292) and 6-months follow-up (n = 276). The data were analyzed using panel analysis and covariance modeling in Mplus 3.0. Results: The initial analysis indicated that change in physical activity was associated with a statistically significant and small residual change in QOL (β = .07). The subsequent analysis indicated that change in physical activity was associated with residual changes in fatigue (γ = ?.17), pain (γ = ?.13), social support (γ = .07), and self-efficacy (γ = .11), and, in turn, changes in fatigue (β = ?.13), pain (β = ?.09), social support (β = .18), and self-efficacy (β = .10) were associated with a residual change in QOL. Conclusion: The observed pattern of relationships supports the possibility that physical activity is indirectly associated with improved QOL through pathways that include fatigue, pain, social support, and self-efficacy in individuals with MS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mediators of the Relation Between Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Internalizing and Disruptive Behavior Disorders.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 18(1) of Journal of Family Psychology (see record 2007-16896-001). On page 551, in Table 2, two values are listed incorrectly. In row 17, Early Child Externalizing (K, Grade 2), the correlation coefficients in columns 4 and 5 should be transposed to read -.087 in column 4 (People in My Life Communication) and -.208 in column 5 (Inventory of Parent Experiences Community Support).] Drawing on a normative sample of 224 youth and their biological mothers, this study tested 4 family variables as potential mediators of the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood and child psychological outcomes in preadolescence. The mediators examined included mother-child communication, the quality of the mother-child relationship, maternal social support, and stressful life events in the family. The most parsimonious structural equation model suggested that having a more problematic mother-child relationship mediated disruptive behavior-disordered outcomes for youths, whereas less maternal social support mediated the development of internalizing disorders. Gender and race were tested as moderators, but significant model differences did not emerge between boys and girls or between African American and Caucasian youths. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coping strategies, drinking motives, and stressful life events among middle adolescents: Associations with emotional and behavioral problems and with academic functioning.

A sample of 733 middle adolescents was used to study interrelations among coping strategies, drinking motives, stressful life events (major, daily positive, and daily negative), emotional and behavioral problems, and academic functioning. A main-effects (vs. stress-buffering) model was supported. Some predictors (e.g., task-oriented coping, major stressful events) were general in their predictive relations to the outcome variables, whereas others were highly specific (e.g., emotion-focused coping predicting depressed affect). Overall, the predictors accounted for 22-53% of the variance in regression equations. Positive daily events predicted higher levels of alcohol use, alcohol problems, and delinquent activity, as well as higher academic performance and lower levels of depressed affect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children's state anxiety in reaction to disaster media cues: A preliminary test of a multivariate model.

This study examined a multivariate conceptual model regarding the relations among life events, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, social support, and negative coping, and how these relations influence children's state anxiety in reaction to disaster media cues. Participants were 248 Hispanic/Latino elementary school students (Grades 2–5) from a hurricane prone region. To first examine whether children would show elevated state anxiety in response to disaster media cues, 185 (75%) of the 248 children were shown disaster media cues. These children's state anxiety was compared with the state anxiety of a comparison group: 63 children (25%) of the 248 children, who were shown a neutral weather film. The data from the 185 children shown the disaster media were used to evaluate the study's conceptual model. State anxiety was statistically significantly higher in the children shown the disaster media cues than the children shown the neutral weather film. Structural equation modeling results indicated that children's perceived available social support and use of coping strategies predicted state anxiety following exposure to the media cues of disaster. Life events and preexisting depression symptoms did not significantly predict social support and coping; child anxiety symptoms significantly predicted perceived social support. The study represents an initial step toward establishing and empirically evaluating a multivariate model of children's reactions to disaster cues. The study's findings are discussed in the context of developing preventive interventions for children at-risk for exposure to disasters. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coping strategies and collective efficacy as mediators between stress appraisal and quality of life among rescue workers.

Fire-fighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians routinely confront potentially traumatic events in the course of their jobs. The mediation role of coping strategies and collective efficacy in the relationship between stress appraisal and quality of life was examined (compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout) in a correlational study. Participants were 463 Italian rescue workers (fire fighters and different categories of emergency health care professionals). Participants filled out measures of stress appraisal, collective efficacy, coping strategies, and quality of life. The results showed that emotion and support coping, self-blame coping, and self-distraction mediated the relationship between stress appraisal and compassion fatigue. Moreover, collective efficacy, self-blame coping, and religious coping mediated the relationship between stress appraisal and burnout. Finally, collective efficacy, self-blame coping, and problem-focused coping mediated the relationship between stress appraisal and compassion satisfaction. Cognitive restructuring and denial did not mediate the relation between stress appraisal and any of the quality of life dimensions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-blame, self-efficacy, and adjustment to abortion.

The causal impact of attributions and coping self-efficacy on adjustment to abortion was examined. 283 women were randomly assigned prior to their abortion to 1 of 3 counseling interventions: 1 designed to alter attributions for unwanted pregnancy (ATT-INT), 1 designed to raise coping expectations (EXP-INT), or a control (standard counseling) group. Depression, mood, anticipated consequences, and physical complaints were assessed postabortion. Ss in the ATT-INT or EXP-INT group were better adjusted immediately postabortion than women in the control group. The EXP-INT group was also less depressed than the ATT-INT group. Three individual difference factors were also related to better adjustment: high coping self-efficacy, low self-character blame, and low other-blame. Self-efficacy also predicted adjustment 3 wks postabortion. Implications for theories of adjustment to major life events, therapeutic interventions to assist coping with such events, and public policy on abortion are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Adverse Life Events in Late Life: Their Manifestation and Management in Daily Life.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among major life events, chronic events, daily instrumental activities, and well-being. Fifty individuals between 73 and 93 years of age reported major life events, minor hassles and uplifts, and daily activities during 5 measurement periods. In addition, positive affect was assessed in situ 5 times per day on 6 consecutive days on the basis of a random time-sampling scheme. The effects of major life events on positive affect were transmitted through minor events. However, there was no evidence that the relationship between minor events and positive affect was moderated by the occurrence of a major event. The relationship between life events and positive affect, however, was moderated by change in instrumental activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Combining major life events and recurrent hassles in the assessment of stress in Chinese adolescents: Preliminary evidence.

Major life events and hassles have been considered 2 distinct constructs in the measurement of stress. Research also shows that chronic events are more impactful than time-limited ones. This study reports a new approach to measuring stress in which major life events are combined with recurrent hassles to form a single index—the Adolescent Stress Index (ASI). High school students (N = 365) in Hong Kong responded twice at a 3-month interval to measures of major life events and hassles, the ASI, and measures of physical and depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results showed that the ASI predicted symptoms concurrently and prospectively above and beyond the effects of existing measures of major life events and hassles. The ASI is a viable instrument for documenting the cumulative impact of major and minor events in the lives of adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)