Psychosocial processes of remission in unipolar depression: Comparing depressed patients with matched community controls.

Investigated the posttreatment phase of unipolar depression by examining the personal and social-environmental characteristics of remitted, partially remitted, and nonremitted depressed patients. The sample was based on a 12-mo follow-up of 424 depressed persons who received psychiatric treatment and a comparable follow-up of demographically matched, nondepressed community controls. 98.8% of the Ss were located at 12-mo follow-up. Analyses were based on 380 Ss. At follow-up, the 138 Ss whose depressive symptoms remitted also reported improvement in other aspects of their adjustment as well as in personal resources such as self-esteem and coping responses to posttreatment stressors. In contrast, the 133 nonremitted Ss continued to report deficits in each of these domains. 124 Ss were categorized as partially remitted. Remitted Ss approached normal levels of life stressors and social resources, whereas nonremitted Ss continued to report heightened stressors and lower levels of support. Risk factors identified at treatment intake were predictive of these Ss' subsequent outcome at follow-up. These findings imply that many successfully treated depressed patients can resume near-normal patterns of functioning and that remission is linked to normalization of personal and social context factors. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment experiences of adults with unipolar depression: The influence of patient and life context factors.

Examined between- and within-programs variations in the amount and type of treatment obtained by 412 patients (aged 18+ yrs) who entered treatment for unipolar depression in 1 of 6 programs. Ss were assessed on the Health and Daily Living Form, the Family Environment Scale, and the Work Environment Scale. Each program had a distinctive orientation toward treatment as shown by considerable between-programs variability in Ss' treatment experiences. These between-programs differences remained significant after controlling for severity of depressive symptoms and the sociodemographic characteristics of Ss treated in each program. Within programs, there was only limited evidence for a patient–treatment matching process in which Ss with more severe depression received more intensive treatment. However, there was also little evidence of clinician bias against providing treatment to less "desirable" Ss, such as those who were older or of lower social status. Ss who experienced more recent life stressors were treated less intensively, perhaps because of a tendency to attribute their depression to situational rather than dispositional factors. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coping, stress, and social resources among adults with unipolar depression.

Used a stress and coping paradigm to guide the development of indices of coping responses and to explore the roles of stress, social resources, and coping among 424 men and women (mean age 40.7 yrs) entering treatment for depression. An expanded concept of multiple domains of life stress was used to develop several indices of ongoing life strains. A variety of measures were obtained from Ss, family members, and treatment staff. Two questionnaires completed by Ss included the Health and Daily Living Form and the Work Environment Scale. Although most prior studies have focused on acute life events, results of the present study show that chronic strains were somewhat more strongly and consistently related to the severity of dysfunction. The coping indices generally showed acceptable conceptual and psychometric characteristics and only moderate relationships to Ss' sociodemographic characteristics or to the severity of the stressful event for which coping was sampled. Coping responses directed toward problem solving and affective regulation were associated with less severe dysfunction, whereas emotional-discharge responses, more frequently used by women, were linked to greater dysfunction. Stressors, social resources, and coping were additively predictive of an S's functioning, but coping and social resources did not have stress-attenuation or buffering effects. (72 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term psychosocial adjustment following very severe closed head injury.

Examined the cognitive, psychological, and social functioning of 18 community-dwelling male patients who had experienced a severe closed head injury (CHI) at least 18 mo previously and still required contact with rehabilitation services. Results from Ss with CHI were compared with those from 27 normal control Ss. Information on Ss' behavior was also obtained from their significant others. Results show that Ss with CHI exhibited deficits in their cognitive and social functioning but showed no signs of emotional or psychiatric disturbance. Attempts to find a relationship between the cognitive impairment and social functioning of Ss with CHI were partially successful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Home environment and development of slow-learning adolescents: Reciprocal relations.

Investigated the reciprocal relation between the home environment and the development of 148 7–14 yr old slow-learners longitudinally over a 3-yr period. Annual assessments of the home environment included childrearing attitudes, educationally relevant stimuli and opportunities, and psychosocial climate and environmental press of the home. Main caregivers (usually mothers) were administered the Henderson Environmental Learning Process Scale and the Family Environment Scale. Measures of the Ss' development included social competency, psychosocial adjustment, and self-concept. Partial correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed significant influence of environmental stimulation, both cognitive and social, on the Ss' subsequent cognitive development and social adjustment. Harmony and quality of parenting, and educational expectation and aspiration were the 2 most salient environmental variables associated with the Ss' development. The study also demonstrated significant influence of the Ss' psychosocial adjustment on subsequent changes in the home environment including psychosocial climate of the home, family adjustment, and the parents' educational expectations and aspirations. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Long-term effects of sexual victimization in childhood: An attributional approach.

Explored the relation between childhood sexual victimization experience and adult functioning in 103 women (aged 18–56 yrs) who were victimized as children or adolescents and 88 women (aged 18–57 yrs) who were not victimized, who served as controls. Members of both groups completed a questionnaire about their present social, psychological, and sexual functioning; measures included the Beck Depression Inventory, SCL-90, Texas Social Behavior Inventory, Attributional Style Questionnaire, Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Victimized Ss differed significantly from nonvictims on measures of (a) childhood family and social experiences; (b) adult attributional style; and (c) levels of depression, psychological distress, self-esteem, and sexual problems. Results suggest that the sexually victimized Ss' adult functioning was related most strongly to their attributional style for bad events. Perception of the victimization experience and quality of social support were important factors related to adult functioning. Possible implications for treating women who are experiencing problems related to childhood sexual victimization experiences are discussed. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stressful life events and symptoms: A longitudinal model.

245 males (mean age 46.8 yrs) and 248 females (mean age 44 yrs) were readministered the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, measures of personal functioning, and a social background index 12–15 mo after their initial assessment. There was some evidence for temporal consistency in the number and type of events Ss experienced as well as for a relationship between initial symptoms of depression (among males) and the more frequent occurrence of later events. After controlling for Ss' initial symptom levels and propensity to experience stressful events, an increase in negative events during the follow-up period was related to an increase in symptoms. Among several gender differences, negative events were found to have more impact on females than males. The confounding of the measurement of discrete stressful events and ongoing life strain is identified as potentially underlying the consistency of "events" as well as contributing to the difficulty in interpreting the relationship between "events" and functioning. (53 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Increasing the interpersonal problem-solving skills of an alcoholic population.

64 male alcoholics aged 23–66 yrs admitted into an alcoholism treatment program at a VA hospital were assigned to either the control or treatment group. Control Ss participated in all standard treatment aspects of the program. Treatment Ss, however, participated in an additional 10 sessions of group therapy structured specifically to improve interpersonal problem-solving thinking skills. Comparisons conducted at the point of discharge (generally 6 wks after admission) demonstrated that treatment Ss had made significantly greater improvement on a measure of problem-solving thinking (Means–Ends Problem Solving procedure) than had controls. Further, a comparison of Ss' responses in a structured discharge interview demonstrated that treatment Ss were significantly more likely to anticipate and plan ahead for postdischarge problems than were control Ss. Data also reveal that the means–ends problem-solving procedure can reliably discriminate individuals within an adult alcoholic population who differ in their levels of social competence and in the quality of their planning for coping with postdischarge problems. Finally, follow-up at the 1-mo postdischarge point indicated that the majority of treatment Ss contacted had made practical use of the problem-solving principles that were taught in the group sessions. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlates of children's long-term adjustment to their parents' divorce.

Assessed the nature and correlates of adjustment to divorce in a sample of 58 White, middle-class, 8–17 yr old children whose parents had been separated about 4 yrs. Ss were administered a battery of tests, including the California Psychological Inventory, the Adjective Check List, the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children, and a questionnaire on divorce adjustment. Measures of Ss' understanding of and feelings about the divorce were nonsignificantly related only to Ss' positive feelings about the divorce. Ss' understanding of the divorce did not reveal great difficulty of adjustment; however, feelings about the divorce were largely negative. A 2-yr follow-up of 24 Ss and 14 of their siblings revealed moderate stability in Ss' divorce adjustment with significant increases in their positive feelings regarding the loss of the noncustodial parent and peer relations. Locus of Control and Interpersonal Reasoning were significant predictors of divorce adjustment independent of age. Finally, specific adjustment to divorce was related to Ss' more global personal adjustment. (62 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perception of normality in families: Four samples.

Explored the extent to which normative values on family assessment measures reflected perceptions of what constituted a "normal" family. Ss from 4 samples in the US and Canada were identified. 20 Canadian Ss, 65% of whom were female with a child 6 yrs and under; 172 undergraduates, approximately 60% of whom were female; 24 grandmothers (aged 51–79 yrs); and 21 therapists (aged 27–61 yrs). Ss completed the Family Environment Scale and 2 self-report measures based on family systems models. Results point out differences among Ss' ratings of normal families, perceptions of their own families, and instrument norms. Group differences highlighted the need to incorporate family developmental concerns in all family assessment, therapy, and research and raised questions about differences in perceptions between family members and therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual functioning among breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, and healthy women.

Determined the specific type of sexual functioning deficits and the relationship between global sexual satisfaction and adjustment in 2 related life areas (marital relationship and body image) for 2 groups of cancer patients at high risk for sexual difficulties. The 2 groups included 16 27–67 yr old females with Stage 2 breast cancer and 16 31–65 yr old females with gynecologic cancer. These Ss were compared to 16 healthy female outpatients (controls). Measures included the Sexual Activities scale from the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, a modified version of the Dyadic Assessment Scale (marital adjustment), a global sexual evaluation, and a body-image scale. Analyses revealed that the aspects of sexual functioning for breast-cancer and gynecologic-cancer Ss that differed from those of controls were the frequency of sexual behaviors and the level of sexual arousal. Whereas Ss' evaluations of their current sexual life had no relationship to their marital-adjustment ratings, analyses suggested that body-image disruption may be a prevalent problem for gynecologic cancer patients. Data suggest that cancer diagnosis and treatment are instrumental in producing reductions in sexual activity and arousability. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short-term small group intervention for college freshmen.

99 freshmen were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment conditions or to a control condition. Ss were given questionnaires designed to assess social life satisfaction, social anxiety, and self-esteem. One treatment condition focused on the universality of social adjustment stress among freshmen, whereas no such emphasis was made in the "regular" condition. Half the sample was designated as particularly vulnerable to transition stress on the basis of Ss' concern about their social adjustment. The effect of group participation differed as a function of Ss' vulnerability. The social adjustment of vulnerable Ss was significantly enhanced by group participation, whereas nonvulnerable Ss were unaffected. No differences were found between universality-focused and regular groups. Results demonstrate the value of a small group experience in facilitating the transition to college of vulnerable freshmen. (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social ecology of the megadorm in university student housing.

Investigated the influence of high- vs low-rise building design on the psychosocial climate of university residence hall environments, as measured by the University Residence Environment Scale administered to 110 freshmen residents on a large state university campus. It was hypothesized that physical design features (building size and floor level) would differentially influence perception of social environments. These features significantly affected degree of commitment Ss felt for one another, patterns of interaction and emotional support, and level of involvement in organizational functioning. Results strongly support the usefulness of the University Residence Environment Scale as an evaluative tool to assess psychosocial consequences of architectural decisions. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social comparison information and judgments about depression and seeking counseling.

Examined the effects of social comparison information, and the interaction of this information with symptom severity and sex, on 40 male and 40 female undergraduates' evaluations of depression symptoms and their willingness to seek counseling. Ss were administered the Depression Adjective Checklist—Form E (DACL—E) and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Help Scale, as well as ratings of willingness to seek counseling and manipulation checks. A significant main effect was found on DACL—E scores for social comparison information. Ss who received serious social comparison information reported the highest depression scores. In addition, a significant interaction was found between social comparison information and sex of S in DACL—E scores. A significant main effect was also found on Ss' ratings of willingness to seek counseling for social comparison information and sex of S. Ss were more willing to seek counseling help when the social comparison information was serious. Also, female Ss were more willing to seek counseling than were male Ss. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The development of ADHD boys: A 12-year follow-up.

12 yrs after initial assessment, 33 male attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Ss (aged 14.4–24.9 yrs) were compared with 52 normal controls. Controls (selected at follow-up) were sex-, SES-, language-, and age-matched. According to childhood scores from the IOWA Conners Teacher Rating Scale, 24 ADHD Ss were inattentive/overactive (IO) and 9 were aggressive plus inattentive/overactive (A–IO). Ss and parents were interviewed and Ss completed a battery of tests. Core deficits of the disorder persisted in more than half of the ADHD group. IO Ss did not differ significantly from the controls in psychiatric functioning, except for their persistent ADHD. A–IO Ss had received the most individual and residential treatment for their behavior problems. ADHD Ss experienced significantly more problems in high school and displayed significantly poorer spelling, arithmetic, and reading comprehension skills than did controls. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Response biases and the relation between negative life events and psychological symptoms.

Investigated whether reporting biases can account for the correlation between negative life events and subclinical psychological symptoms. 73 undergraduates each brought a close friend to the experiment. Ss completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and a college student life events schedule. Friends were asked to report about life events experienced by the Ss. Findings did not support an S reporting bias associated with social desirability, depression, or symptoms. For one of the life events scales, depression was significantly associated with a higher rate of agreement between Ss and friends as to which negative events occurred to Ss. There were significant correlations between symptom and depression measures and life events measures that were free of S-reporting biases (Ss' negative life events reported by both Ss and their significant others, as well as Ss' negative life events as reported by significant others alone). Data suggest that response biases may not be able to account for the relation between negative events and psychological symptoms. It is contended, however, that the hypothesis that negative life events play a significant role in symptom development remains plausible. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client locus of control, problem perception, and interview behavior.

Administered Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale to 50 21–27 yr old clients at a university counseling center and asked Ss to list all their problems in order of priority. Problems were subsequently classified on an external–internal dimension. Analysis of the relationship of Ss' locus of control (LOC) and interview initiative was based on a subsample of 20 Ss whose initial interview was recorded. Findings show that Ss' LOC was related to the extent to which they assumed initiative and became behaviorally involved in directing the interview process. However, contrary to expectations, counselor control did not moderate this relation. It is suggested that internally oriented clients are more likely to assume initiative in the interview and attempt to redirect the treatment process in a direction preferred by them. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of the causes of obesity and responsiveness to treatment.

Tested the predictions that (1) the principal attributional effect of a group behavioral self-control treatment for obesity would be to increase Ss' belief in their ability to lose weight and (2) the degree to which Ss perceived themselves to be personally and socially victimized by their weight difficulties would limit the potential success of treatment. 27 Ss (mean age 36.75 yrs) participated under diet treatment, diet plus behavior modification, or delayed-treatment control conditions. In accord with the predictions, the monitored diet plus behavioral self-control treatment was the most effective in promoting weight reduction, and the most powerful predictor of positive weight status at both posttreatment and 4-mo follow-up was Ss' perception that they had the ability to lose weight. Ss who felt personally and socially victimized lost less weight than those who did not. It is concluded that investigating more complex cognitive and motivational effects may hold some promise in describing how therapeutic change takes place as a result of the behavioral treatment of obesity. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improving the social status of mainstreamed retarded children.

37 mainstreamed educable mentally retarded (EMR) children in Grades 3, 4, and 5 were randomly assigned to a control group or to an experimental treatment given during regular class activities for the purpose of improving their social status among nonretarded classmates. On the average, Ss were 8–20 mo older than their normal classmates. Each experimental S worked in a small cooperative group with 4–6 nonretarded classmates on highly structured, manipulative tasks using multimedia materials. The treatment was provided in 2 cycles which lasted a total of 8 wks. Sociometric tests were given before and after treatment to pupils in classes with experimental and control EMR Ss. By 2–4 wks following completion of treatment, nonretarded Ss' social acceptance of their experimental peers improved significantly more than that of control Ss. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring minors' reluctance and dissatisfaction with psychotherapy.

Among 42 10–19 yr olds with learning and associated behavioral or emotional problems who had been referred for counseling, 79% manifested some form of reluctance or dissatisfaction, as demonstrated by refusal to participate, expressions of ambivalence, avoidance, or premature termination. The most frequent reasons for negative attitudes toward psychotherapy were perceived negative attributes of therapy, Ss' feeling that they did not need therapy, and lack of choice in the decision. Ss' mothers and therapists tended to attribute their resistance to therapy to defensiveness, rebellion, or other negative attributes of the Ss. Ss who were reluctant to enter therapy rated it as less important and were rated by their therapists as less committed than Ss who were not reluctant to begin therapy. A 1-yr follow-up of 25 Ss showed a high degree of consistency in Ss' attitudes toward and decisions regarding psychotherapy. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)