Health Psychology

Comparing social contact and group identification as predictors of mental health.

by Juliet Wakefield

Co-authored with Sani, F., Herrera, M., Boroch, O., & Gulyas, C. Accepted for publication in the British Journal of Social Psychology. I am third author.

Current research on social integration and mental health operationalizes social integration as frequency of... more Current research on social integration and mental health operationalizes social integration as frequency of interactions and participation in social activities (i.e., social contact). This neglects the subjective dimension of social integration, namely group identification. We present two studies comparing the effect exerted by social contact and group identification on mental health (e.g., depression, stress) across two different groups (family; army unit), demonstrating that group identification predicts mental health better than social contact. Methodologically, our findings show the necessity to include group identification measures as indicators of social integration in empirical research; theoretically, they support social identity researchers’ contention that group identification is a central mechanism in the processes leading from social integration to health.

O’Donnell, P. J. (2007, November). Integrating psychology into the health care system. Pennsylvania Psychologist, 67(10), 3-6.

by peter o'donnell

Methods in Health Psychology

by Charlotte Taylor

Upton, D,. & Taylor, C. (2010). Methods in Health Psychology. Psychology Review, 16(2), 22-25.

Perceived barriers to self-management for people with dementia in the early stages

by Faith Martin

First author, published online first in "Dementia: The international journal of social research and practice"

People with dementia in the early stages currently experience a care gap, which self-management may address. We... more People with dementia in the early stages currently experience a care gap, which self-management may address. We explore perceived barriers to self-management. Using a systematic approach (logic mapping), 19 participants (people with dementia, carers, health care professionals and charity representatives) described self-management barriers facing people living with dementia. Thematic content analysis revealed six main themes: the lived experience of dementia, diagnosis, role of carer/family, impact of health care professionals, organisation of health services and societal views. People with dementia were seen as passive recipients of care, unable to self-manage owing to the impact of dementia on cognitive abilities. The need for interventions that are largely emotion focused, encourage activity maintenance and improve quality of life are described. Barriers to self-management exist at multiple levels, suggesting a whole-systems approach is required.

Forecasting the specific providers that recipients will perceive as unusually supportive

by Edward Orehek

2011, Personal Relationships, 18, 677-696

Perceived support primarily reflects the relationships among specific recipients and providers. These strong... more Perceived support primarily reflects the relationships among specific recipients and providers. These strong relational influences suggest a new approach to interventions: Match specific providers with specific recipients so that unusually supportive relationships emerge. For this approach to be successful, progress must be made on several basic research questions. For example, it must be possible to forecast the specific providers that recipients will perceive as unusually supportive (i.e., forecasting relational support). In 2 studies, support recipients had 3 or 5 conversations with the same providers and reported affect, provider supportiveness, and perceived similarity (Study 2 only) after each conversation. Relational support could be forecasted from recipients' reactions to a single, brief conversation with each provider, even after 4 months had elapsed.

Poster: Exploring the Impact of Spirituality, Hopelessness, Depression, and Anxiety on the Life Satisfaction of Individuals with a Terminal Illness

by Ryan Hale

Poster Presentation for my Thesis

Chapter 19: Self-Regulation: The commonsense Model of Illness Representation

by Faith Martin

Reynolds N, Martin F, Nanyonga R & Alonzo A (2012) Chapter 19: Self-Regulation: The commonsense Model of Illness Representation. in Hill, V. (Ed) Handbook of Stress, Coping, and Health Implications for Nursing Research, Theory, and Practice. 2nd Edition. London: Sage

No abstract. Co-authored book chapter providing an outline and reviewing the literature around the "Common... more No abstract. Co-authored book chapter providing an outline and reviewing the literature around the "Common Sense" model of illness representation and its relevance to coping and health research.

Illness perceptions account for variation in positive outlook as well as psychological distress in Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Sam Norton

S. van Os, S. Norton, L. D. Hughes, & J. Chilcot (2011). Psychology, Health & Medicine, in press

Psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, and appears highly... more Psychological distress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, and appears highly related to patient’s illness perceptions. This study aimed to investigate the association between illness perceptions, psychological distress, positive outlook, and physical outcomes in RA. 230 patients aged > 18 years and prescribed at least one DMARD were recruited from outpatient clinics across Hertfordshire (England). Patients completed a questionnaire that assessed psychological distress and positive outlook (DAPOS), illness perceptions (IPQ-R), and functional disability (HAQ). Information regarding prescribed medication and disease activity (DAS28) was collected from medical notes. Psychological distress, but not positive outlook, was associated with functional disability and DAS28. After controlling for sex, age and DAS28, perceptions of greater symptomatology (identity) and lesser understanding of RA (coherence) were significantly associated with increased psychological distress. Perceptions of greater treatment control were associated with greater positive outlook, but only for those with low DAS28. Coherence was also associated with positive outlook. These findings indicate that illness perceptions may influence psychological distress and positive outlook in RA patients, and may therefore be a useful basis for future psychological interventions.

Evidence for a cognitive bias of interpretation toward threat in individuals with a Type D personality

by Delphine Grynberg

Biological and behavioral mediators link Type D personality with a poor prognosis in heart disease. However, the... more Biological and behavioral mediators link Type D personality with a poor prognosis in heart disease. However, the mediator role of cognitive biases is still unknown. This study tested whether Type D individuals exhibit an interpretative bias for ambiguous social situations. For this aim we examined Type D and non-Type D individuals’ evaluations of written social situations that varied in terms of situations’ clarity (clear, ambiguous) and social judgment (neutral, negative). A convenience sample of 42 young, healthy adults rated each situation in relation to the difficulty of formulating a verbal response, anticipated distress, and perceived threat, and they completed the Type D personality scale (DS14; Denollet, 2005). Results showed an interpretation bias among Type D individuals, as they rated ambiguous or neutral situations as significantly more distressing compared to non-Type D individuals. Only clearly negative situations were rated similarly by Type D and non-Type D individuals. The discussion suggests that this interpretation bias in Type D individuals would increase their vulnerability to perceived stress.

Understanding successful behaviour change: the role of intentions, attitudes to the target and motivations and the example of diet

by Jane Ogden

Estimation of blood glucose levels by people with diabetes: a cross-sectional study

by Jane Ogden

Making sense of children’s medically unexplained symptoms: managing ambiguity, authenticity and responsibility

by Jane Ogden

Expert Knowledge, Cognitive Polyphasia and Health

by Alicia Renedo

Incidental exposure to no-smoking signs primes craving for cigarettes

by Brian Earp

Earp, B. D., Dill, B., Harris, J., Ackerman, J., and Bargh, J. (2011). Incidental exposure to no-smoking signs primes craving for cigarettes: An ironic effect of unconscious semantic processing? Yale Review of Undergraduate Research in Psychology, Vol 2, No 1, 12-23.

The present study tests whether incidental exposure to no-smoking signs may ironically boost craving for cigarettes in... more The present study tests whether incidental exposure to no-smoking signs may ironically boost craving for cigarettes in smokers. Smokers viewed photographs in which no-smoking signs were either incon- spicuously embedded (prime) or edited out (control). Participants then used a joystick to make quick approach vs. avoid motions while viewing smoking-related and neutral stimuli on a computer screen (Chen & Bargh, 1999). We hypothesized that primed smokers, but not controls, would show an automatic reach bias toward the smoking- related stimuli. The data supported our prediction. Possible mecha- nisms for the effect are discussed, as well as implications for public health policy, negation-based social campaigns in general, and our understanding of the unconscious processing of semantic infor- mation.

Psychometric Properties of the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) Among Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

by Kenneth Royal

Royal, K. D., & Elahi, F. (2011). Psychometric Properties of the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) Among Terminally Ill Cancer Patients. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 29(4), 359-371.

Research conducted with the terminally ill population in relation to death anxiety is rare and mostly outdated. The... more Research conducted with the terminally ill population in relation to death anxiety is rare and mostly outdated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the widely used Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) on a sample of terminal cancer patients. Additionally, validation studies of the DAS have exclusively used traditional statistical methods for analysis. The current study utilized an item response theory technique (IRT), namely the Rasch Rating Scale model for data analysis. The methodology employed may be useful for other researchers conducting validation studies from an IRT perspective.

Effective Counseling Skills: the practical wording of therapeutic statements and processes

by Daniel Keeran MSW

by Daniel Keeran, MSW, RMHC-S

Also used as a counselor training and examination manual, this book gives away the secrets of effective counselors and... more Also used as a counselor training and examination manual, this book gives away the secrets of effective counselors and therapists. The practical skills and concepts distilled in the present form, are the contributions of countless colleagues and clients who over the years have challenged the creative energies of the author. Effective Counseling Skills is designed to achieve the primary purpose of making counseling skills public knowledge in the belief that the health of society is improved when counseling is known to the most people. The style of the manual is conversational with numerous examples of the wording of therapeutic statements.

Major topic areas include an explanation of the client's personal history, suicide prevention, how to begin and deepen the counseling process, helping the client learn healthy ways of relating, moving the client from childhood to maturity, skills for healing grief, and working with couples facing issues of conflict, infidelity, addiction, and other common problems. Practical ways to build and manage a counseling practice are presented. A detailed index and table of contents make the volume easy to use as a guide for both the practitioner as well as people seeking help.

See this news release entitled "Mental Health News: Library Acquisitions Add Counseling Text To Collections" http://prlog.org/11741730

The title is also available through interlibrary loan in the US and Canada from major public and university libraries including : Howard University, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Manitoba, Vancouver Public Library (Canada), Dallas Theological Seminary, Bogazici Univ Library – Istanbul (Turkey), San Diego Public Library, Dixie State College of Utah, University of Louisville, University of Southern California, Texas A&M University, University of Missouri--Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison General Library System, Columbia University Libraries, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Hunter College Wexler Library – New York, NY, Trinity International University, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis.

View text at http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Counseling-Skills-therapeutic-statements/dp/1442177993

View article here http://ezinearticles.com/?Effective-Counseling-Skills---The-Practical-Wording-of-Therapeutic-Statements-and-Processes&id=4878216

Go here for a video presentation from the author http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aodrYDAo9xk

Developing Gender and Ethnically Relevant AIDS Prevention Interventions for High Risk Adolescents.

by Lorraine Gutierrez

CHANGE IN CHILD HEALTH AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS: EXAMINING THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF DIFFERENTIAL PARENTING

by Dillon T. Browne

Adli psikologlar için etik ilkeler ve standartlar [Ethical principles and standards for forensic psychologists]

by Mithat Durak

Psychometric Properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale among Turkish University Students, Correctional Officers, and Elderly Adults

by Mithat Durak

Key Words: Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS, university students, elderly, correctional officers, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, concurrent validity, discriminant validity, multi-group comparison

This study aims to extensively examine the psychometric properties of adapted version of the Satisfaction with Life... more This study aims to extensively examine the psychometric properties of adapted version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in different Turkish samples. In order to test the psychometric properties of the SWLS three separate and independent samples are utilized in this study, namely university students (n = 547), correctional officers (n = 166), and elderly adults (n = 123). Concerning the reliability of the scale, internal consistency and item-total correlation coefficients are found to be satisfactory for all three samples. As for the validity studies, concurrent validity of the scale is supported in all three samples by revealing the association of SWLS with conceptually related measures, which included depression, self-esteem, positive affect and negative affect, work stress, and monthly income measures. Discriminant validity is examined only in the sample of university students, and SWLS revealed a non-significant correlation with a conceptually unrelated construct (i.e., willingness to self-censor). Consistent with the original scale, a single-factor solution model reveals an adequate fit in all three different samples. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis with multi-group comparisons performed demonstrates that SWLS has the same theoretical structure for three different groups on the basis of a single-factor solution model. The theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.