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Biomedical subjects

B Baluch

Publications and source records attributed to B Baluch.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Basic processes in reading: semantics affects speeded naming of high-frequency words in an alphabetic script.

Previous work on single-word naming in university-level readers has shown that semantic factors affect the naming of low frequency words both in an alphabetic script like English, which is often irregular in terms of the spelling-sound correspondences, and in the syllabic Japanese Kana script, in which the spelling-sound correspondences are consistent. The present experiment shows that a semantic factor (imageability) affects naming time to both low- and high-frequency words in an alphabetic script (Persian) when the word is opaque (vowels not specified) but not when it is transparent (vowels specified). Other characteristics of opaque words that promote the use of semantics are discussed. At least in some orthographies, semantics play a larger role in single-word naming than previously thought.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Expressed concerns of Yemeni adolescents.

This study examined the concerns of adolescents in the Republic of Yemen. A short version of the Mooney Problem Check List was administered to 150 13- to 17-year-old males and females. Results indicated that the major concerns and problems reported by Yemeni adolescents were related to their vocational and educational future, recreational activities, religious matters, and school curriculum and teaching methods. Problems related to social life, family, and health and physical issues were less prominent. Results also showed that though there were similarities in the number of concerns expressed by males and females, males reported more difficulties with their vocational and educational future, marriage and sexual matters, and finances and employment, while females reported more problems with recreational activities, personal relationships, and health.

Achievement↗
PubMed1997

Perception of body shapes by anorexics and mature and teenage females.

Three groups of females-Anorexic (mean age 28). Teenage (mean age 16), and Mature adults (mean age 27)-were shown four male and four female body drawings ranging from very thin to very fat and asked to rate them on four categories (attractive, healthy, confident, and popular) using a 10-point bipolar scale. A predicted and consistent pattern occurred, namely that the anorexics rated fatter women less attractive, less healthy, less confident and less popular than teenagers and mature females, while at the same time rating male body shapes more attractive than did the two other female groups. Both anorexic and teenage groups rated the thinner women as more attractive, healthy, confident, and popular than the mature females. Both mature and teenage females rated the fat female body shape more positively than did the anorexics. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Could popping air capsules affect state anxiety?

The present study examined whether popping air capsules affects students' state anxiety. One group of university students were asked to pop air capsules for 5 min. (experimental group); another group did nothing (the control group). Both groups were tested on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Analyses showed that there was a difference in mean State Anxiety scores between the two groups, with the control group having a lower mean than the experimental group, which was contrary to our expectation. The findings are discussed in relation to an earlier published study of the effects of popping air capsules on changing a person's mood.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Eye colour: an unconsidered variable in cognitive research?

Evidence analysed based on reaction time has contributed to the development of cognitive models of human information processing. Essential to the consideration of possible variables to be controlled when designing experimental work on cognitively related issues are variables such as the subjects' age, sex, or education. Barely a handful of studies have ever taken eye colour seriously as a variable to be controlled when exploring cognitively related issues. Very few researchers have considered the possibility that a person's eye colour might influence reaction time. The question is whether eye colour should be taken seriously when designing experimental work in cognitive psychology. In this study we found significant differences in choice reaction time using the McCarthy and Donchin (1981) paradigm, the dark-eyed subjects being faster tha the light-eyed. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Failing to conceive with in vitro fertilization: the Middle Eastern experience.

This paper examined the psychological aspects of failing to conceive with in vitro fertilization on 14 treated infertile and 14 untreated Iranian patients. Analysis suggests that, although a significant amount of psychological discomfort is associated with being infertile, the fact that patients have endured unsuccessful treatment cycles does not seem to aggravate the situation any further. Perhaps undergoing unsuccessful IVF treatment cycles could be a psychologically positive epilogue in closing the book on infertility treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

On choosing a baby's sex: what the future generation thinks, a preliminary survey.

The new biomedical techniques of reproduction, such as predetermination of a baby's sex, are gradually being initiated into formal practice in some countries such as Britain. This paper surveyed the attitudes of 60 academic and 60 nonacademic men and women between 18 and 20 years on whether they supported the idea of choosing a baby's sex. More than 75% of all participants rejected the idea of choosing a baby's sex, whilst only 20% agreed with the latter issue and a negligible number (4%) offered no opinion. Neither sex differences nor differences between academic/nonacademic population were significant. The results are discussed in relation to recent work on differences in attitudes between genders in academic and nonacademic settings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Prime factors for seeking infertility treatment amongst Iranian patients.

This paper reports a survey of prime factors for seeking infertility treatment amongst 14 Iranian couples and discusses the implications of the findings in relation to issues related to infertility treatment and the need for comparative research on patients from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

What is stressful about in vitro fertilization?

The present work was designed to explore whether psychological stress is more related to concerns about the actual physical pain or fear of treatment during in vitro fertilization. Analysis of data for 12 middle-class women from Iran showed that the greatest psychological stress during treatment was associated with worries about the outcome of different stages of treatment rather than fear and pain of the actual procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

False heart-rate feedback, social anxiety and self-attribution of embarrassment.

120 subjects high or low on social anxiety were asked to speak in front of a camera. While watching a replay of their performance, false heart-rate feedback was presented. Highly anxious subjects (n = 36) reported significantly more embarrassment than subjects who scored low in anxiety. Further, subjects reported being embarrassed according to the direction of false heart-rate information. Results offer support for the self-attribution theory of emotions.

Adolescent↗