Psychology & Health最新文献

Objective: This pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the relationship between masculinity and psychological adjustment outcomes among men with prostate cancer by synthesising the current quantitative evidence.

Methods: Embase, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and CINAHL Plus were systematically searched. We performed primary meta-analyses, moderator analyses, quality assessment and publication bias analyses.

Results: 22 studies involving 6614 participants were included. More positive self-appraisal of masculine identity was strongly associated with greater positive adjustment outcomes (Z = .68, SE = .06, p < .001) and less negative outcomes (Z = -0.62, SE = .15, p < .001). Conformity to masculine norms, on the other hand, showed no significant relationship with either positive adjustment (Z = -0.07, SE = .09, p = .25) or psychological distress (Z = .04, SE = .05, p = .38). Narrative synthesis suggested that masculine threat or loss consistently associated with poorer adjustment.

Conclusion: Masculinity plays a critical role in the psychological adjustment of men with prostate cancer. Tailored interventions should be developed and implemented to improve men's sense of masculinity following prostate cancer. This may be achieved by facilitating men's cognitive reappraisal of masculine beliefs and values in the context of prostate cancer.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that perseverative, worrisome thoughts are prospectively related to poor sleep outcomes and that worry postponement interventions may be effective in reducing worry. However, their effectiveness for improving sleep outcomes is unknown and they have not been tested over a period longer than 7 days. The current study investigated the effects of a worry postponement intervention, alongside a worry postponement + planning intervention (augmented condition) against active and non-active control conditions on daily worry and sleep outcomes.

Methods and measures: A four-armed (online) randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted using an interval-contingent design, where self-report measures of worry each night (duration & frequency for that day) and sleep (sleep onset latency; number of awakenings, sleep quality) each morning (for the previous night) were collected within 186 participants (M^age = 30.34; SD = 7.89) across 14 days.

Results: Participants in the augmented arm reported significantly lower worry duration (by ∼15 min), relative to the standard worry postponement arm alone. However, the intervention arms did not produce significant improvements in any of the sleep outcomes, relative to the control groups.

Conclusion: Creating specific 'if-then' plans for when and how to engage in a worry postponement can produce favourable outcomes for worry reduction; however, future studies are needed to unpick how to best translate these effects into positive outcomes for sleep.

Women in midlife (ages 40-65) experience significant risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including declining physical activity (PA). Lack of social support is a key barrier, but PA partnerships show promise for increasing PA. Little is known about women's preferences for PA partnerships or how preferences are linked to women's broader conceptions of PA. In this study, we used a mixed methods design to evaluate beliefs about PA and preferences for PA partnerships among women in midlife with ≥1 CVD risk factor. Participants (N = 27, M_Age=53.3, M_BMI=32.6 kg/m²) used a proprietary web application for 7 days to view hypothetical PA partners and completed a 1-hour qualitative interview. Thematic analysis indicated that some women in midlife hold specific perceptions about PA that inform a desire to feel validated and understood. Their definitions of PA and the role of caregiving are critical to PA and partner preferences; they prefer to partner with women at similar starting levels of PA, though they are open to a range of partners who can foster motivation and growth. Findings show that PA partnerships may be desirable to women in midlife with elevated CVD risk and point to critical next steps for optimising partner-based PA promotion for women.

Objective: Responses to miscarriage can vary, with many, but not all, people describing inadequate support, feelings of isolation and significant psychological distress. Limited knowledge exists about the support that people seek and offer online following miscarriage. We aimed to explore how people impacted by miscarriage use an online Facebook support group to seek and offer support.

Methods and measures: We employed directed content analysis to examine 270 opening posts and 3,484 responding comments within an 'open' Facebook support group for miscarriage. Opening posts and responding comments were coded into five social support categories using an existing support framework.

Results: Informational Support, particularly medical information or advice, was the most commonly sought support in opening posts, followed by Emotional Support, where people expressed their grief-related feelings. In responding comments, Emotional Support and Informational Support were predominantly offered.

Conclusion: While not a substitute for appropriate medical care, people impacted by miscarriage seek and offer support online. Health professionals should be aware of this behaviour and discuss potential benefits and risks of online support with patients. A social support framework may usefully guide health professionals in identifying patients' support needs and in knowing how to support patients.

Objective: Engaging a support partner during behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs can improve outcomes. However, little information is available about those selected as support partners. The study aimed to (1) characterize support partners and qualities of the relationship, (2) assess differences in relationship dynamics across relationship types, and (3) assess differences in supportive relationships by participant gender.

Methods and measures: Upon entering a 24-month BWL program, participants (N = 323) nominated a support person from their existing social networks. Participants completed self-report measures at baseline, including the Working Alliance Inventory and study-specific measures assessing characteristics of the support person and comfort in communicating with them.

Results: Spouse/partners were chosen by 43.3% of all participants. Among married participants, 80.9% of men and 53.8% of women chose their spouse/partner. Working alliance was lower when the support partner was a spouse/partner versus a friend (p < 0.05, r = -0.19). Comfort talking about exercise with a support partner was higher than talking about eating or weight (p < 0.001, η²_p= 0.05).

Conclusion: A variety of friends and family can be selected as support partners during BWL. Programs should attend to the unique needs of men versus women when identifying sources of support.

Objectives: While anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs can reduce vaccine intentions, longitudinal research shows that vaccine hesitancy can increase conspiracy beliefs. In three experiments (N = 949), we examined the effect of fear about a vaccine on vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs.

Method and measures: In Studies 1a (N = 221) and 1b (N = 508), participants were exposed to high fear (vs low fear) about a (fictional) vaccine before reporting vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs. In Study 2, all participants were exposed to high fear before being asked to think about not getting vaccinated (vs vaccinated) against the (fictional) disease. Participants then reported their vaccine hesitancy, anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs, and closeness to others who distrust official narratives.

Results: In Studies 1a and 1b, exposure to high fear (vs low fear) increased vaccine hesitancy, which was positively correlated with anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs. The reverse model's effect was either smaller (Study 1a) or non-significant (Study 1b). In Study 2, fear and not wanting to vaccinate resulted in vaccine hesitancy, which then predicted anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs and feeling closer to those distrusting official narratives.

Conclusion: Therefore, fear creates a response not to get vaccinated. A conspiracy belief may then justify this response.

Background: Around twenty percent of meningitis survivors experience after-effects. However, very little research on their psychological impact has been conducted. This report details a small explorative investigation into these psychological impacts.

Objective: To explore the impact sequelae have on the meningitis survivors affected.

Methods and measures: Thematic analysis of one-hundred individual user's blog posts, self-reporting one or more sequelae after a diagnosis of meningitis.

Results: Blog posters' experiences varied greatly. Common trends in experience were mapped onto three themes. 'Struggling to Adjust to the New Normal' captures blog posters' struggles in returning to their lives post-hospitalization. 'Navigating Possibilities for Positivity' explores how blog posters either reported positive change due to their illness experience or felt a pressure, or inability, to do so. 'The Impact of Knowledge and Support' overarching two sub-themes; 'Lack of Awareness Causing Further Suffering' and 'Validation Leads to Narrative Shift'. These sub-themes contrast differences in experience blog posters reported, with and without knowledge, of the cause of their symptoms and support in dealing with the resulting difficulties.

Conclusions: Consistent and structured after-care would benefit patients experiencing sequelae. Suggestions of a possible format this could take are put forward. In addition, self-regulatory models of illness perception help explain some variations in blog posters experiences, with possible intervention plans based on these models also suggested. However, limitations, including the comparatively small and highly selected sample, mean that further research is necessary to validate the findings and assess their validity, widespread applicability, and financial feasibility.

Objective: The majority of parents with a disabled child experience chronic sorrow, characterized by recurrent feelings of grief and loss related to their child's disability. There is a significant lack of research on parents' lived experiences of chronic sorrow, which limits our ability to understand parents' needs and provide proper support.

Design: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was conducted based on in-depth interviews with six parents of severely disabled children.

Results: In the literature on chronic sorrow, an important aspect has been consistently overlooked: the particular position of being a parent, experiencing an awareness of being ultimately responsible for their children. The analysis revealed how this awareness, experienced as a deeply felt ethical commitment, unconditional, largely in isolation, and without a limit in time, shaped the experience of chronic sorrow. Because of this awareness, the parents experienced themselves facing a Herculean task of navigating their intricate emotions while struggling to maintain their ability to function.

Conclusions: By revealing the importance of considering the unique parental position, the study enriches the concept of chronic sorrow, simultaneously offering insights into what it means to be a parent of a disabled child. These insights can improve care professionals' responsiveness to parental needs.

Objective: Health-promoting behaviors carry substantial significance for miners' overall health and well-being. This study aimed to examine the association between cumulative risk (CR) and miners' health-promoting behaviors and test the mediating role of health beliefs in this relationship.

Methods: Data were collected from a sequential survey conducted among 712 frontline miners (M_age=41.7 ± 10.1 years) in China. The survey entailed online questionnaire measurements at three distinct time points, each spaced two weeks apart. This study utilized the conceptual model of health-promoting behaviors, the CR model, and structural equation modeling in the analysis of relationships.

Results: CR was negatively related to health-promoting behaviors, with a negative acceleration effect. CR was positively associated with perceived threat in a gradient effect, while negatively associated with perceived benefits in a gradient effect. Furthermore, CR was negatively related to self-efficacy, following a negative acceleration effect. Perceived threat, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy emerged as significant mediators in the relationship between CR and health-promoting behaviors.

Conclusion: This study highlights the critical role of considering both CR and health beliefs in shaping miners' health-promoting behaviors. Understanding these dynamics is pivotal for developing interventions to enhance miners' health and well-being.

Early career professionals (ECPs) are a critical target for physical activity (PA) promotion. Affect contributes to an established PA intention-behaviour gap and is pertinent among ECPs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based intervention and explore the effects on secondary outcomes (moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), emotion regulation, multi-process action control constructs).

Methods: Adults aged 25-44 who were employed at least part-time in a desk-based job and not meeting PA guidelines (<150 min MVPA) were recruited and randomized into a 6-week online intervention integrating acceptance and commitment principles and affect regulation strategies, or a control group.

Results: Forty adults were recruited and randomized to the web-based intervention (n = 21) and waitlist control (n = 19). The recruitment rate was 29%, retention was 75%, engagement was 68%, and satisfaction was high in both quantitative and qualitative assessment. Participants allocated to the intervention improved MVPA (η_p²=0.30), emotion regulation (η_p² =0.49), behavioural regulation (η_p²=0.53), affective attitude (η_p²=0.23), identity (η_p²=0.24), and constructs of mindfulness (η_p²=0.44), and valued living (η_p²=0.20).

Conclusions: Primary outcomes concerning feasibility were adequate and secondary outcomes improved, suggesting a full-scale randomized controlled trial is feasible with minor modifications. A large-scale study is warranted to establish intervention effectiveness.