Biomedical subjects

Donald B Chambers

Publications and source records attributed to Donald B Chambers.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A validity and reliability study of the coping self-efficacy scale.

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the psychometric characteristics of the coping self-efficacy (CSE) scale, a 26-item measure of one's confidence in performing coping behaviors when faced with life challenges. DESIGN: Data came from two randomized clinical trials (N1=149, N2=199) evaluating a theory-based Coping Effectiveness Training (CET) intervention in reducing psychological distress and increasing positive mood in persons coping with chronic illness. METHODS: The 348 participants were HIV-seropositive men with depressed mood who have sex with men. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and comparison conditions and assessed pre- and post-intervention. Outcome variables included the CSE scale, ways of coping, and measures of social support and psychological distress and well-being. RESULTS: Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) revealed a 13-item reduced form of the CSE scale with three factors: Use problem-focused coping (6 items, alpha=.91), stop unpleasant emotions and thoughts (4 items, alpha=.91), and get support from friends and family (3 items, alpha=.80). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability are strong for all three factors. Concurrent validity analyses showed these factors assess self-efficacy for different types of coping. Predictive validity analyses showed that residualized change scores in using problem- and emotion-focused coping skills were predictive of reduced psychological distress and increased psychological well-being over time. CONCLUSIONS: The CSE scale provides a measure of a person's perceived ability to cope effectively with life challenges, as well as a way to assess changes in CSE over time in intervention research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Positive emotions: exploring the other hemisphere in behavioral medicine.

The search for the psychological antecedents of medical disorders has focused on the role of stress and negative emotional states. Previous research in this area has investigated relations between negative emotions and physiological adaptations (e.g., blood pressure elevations), adverse health behaviors (e.g., smoking), and social conditions (e.g., social isolation). In this discussion, we argue that more attention is needed to understand the effects of positive emotional states on health enhancement and disease prevention. In each of the areas cited previously, evidence is beginning to emerge that indicates that positive emotions can be associated with health promoting conditions. Interventions using cognitive behavioral strategies or meditation can increase positive emotional states that are maintained over time and that may benefit health and well-being. Implications for behavioral medicine are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2003

Social support, distress, and well-being in older men living with HIV infection.

Older men with HIV infection/AIDS, having often lived with the condition longer, are more likely to confront the stress of managing more advanced HIV disease than their younger counterparts. Meanwhile, they also are more likely to have less social support and experience more distress than younger persons with HIV infection. The moderating effect of social support on health functioning and distress is unknown for persons with HIV infection, particularly those who are older. Study objectives were to assess whether the association between perceived health functioning and psychological distress and well-being is moderated (or influenced) by social support and age and if the impact of social support on distress and well-being is more pronounced for older than for younger men living with HIV infection/AIDS. In this cross-sectional study of HIV-positive adult men (n = 199) who have sex with men, participants completed self-report assessments of perceived health functioning, social support, and psychological distress and well-being. Measures of health functioning and overall social support were significantly associated with outcome measures of distress and positive affect (all p < .05). However, the main effect for social support was qualified by a significant age-by-social support interaction for both outcomes (beta = -.190, p < .01 for distress; beta = .172, p < .05 for positive affect), indicating that the impact of social support on decreasing distress and increasing well-being was more pronounced in older men. The relationships between perceived health functioning and distress and well-being were not moderated by social support or age. The influence of social support on negative and positive moods in this population of HIV-infected men who have sex with men was significantly greater among older than among younger participants. With an increasing number of older people with HIV infection/AIDS, special efforts to create effective and sustainable social support interventions may be particularly beneficial to older persons living with HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2000

Cultural, contextual, and intrapersonal predictors of risky sexual attitudes among urban African American girls in early adolescence.

The role of cultural factors in explaining sexual attitudes among African American urban girls, aged 10-13 years, was investigated in this study. The authors predicted that girls with higher school interest, family cohesion, religiosity, and behavioral self-esteem would endorse less risky sexual attitudes. Also, older girls were expected to have more risky sexual attitudes than younger girls, and girls from 1- rather than 2-parent households were expected to have more risky sexual attitudes. The authors hypothesized that ethnic identity and gender role orientations would contribute to explaining variability in sexual attitudes after controlling for contextual and intrapersonal variables. A questionnaire containing measures of the study constructs was administered to 214 girls who were participants in a substance abuse prevention program. Pretest data were used in analyses. A final regression model accounted for 23% of the variance in sexual attitudes. Age and behavioral self-esteem were significant predictors, with younger teens and teens with higher behavioral self-esteem having less risky sexual attitudes. Cultural variables contributed to explaining variation in sexual attitudes after other variables were controlled for. Higher levels of ethnic identity were associated with less risky sexual attitudes. A masculine gender role orientation was associated with more risky sexual attitudes.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Coping effectiveness training for men living with HIV: results from a randomized clinical trial testing a group-based intervention.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized clinical trial was designed to compare the effects of a theory-based coping effectiveness training (CET) intervention with an active informational control (HIV-Info) condition and a waiting-list control (WLC) condition on psychological distress and positive mood in HIV-seropositive gay men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors recruited 149 self-identified gay or bisexual men who were 21 to 60 years of age, reported depressed mood, and had CD4 levels of 200 to 700 cells/mm(3). CET and HIV-Info participants attended 10 90-minute group sessions during the 3-month intervention phase and six maintenance sessions over the remainder of the year. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Data were collected 1992 to 1994, before the introduction of HAART. Analyses were based on the 128 participants who completed the 3-month assessment. RESULTS: After the 3-month intervention phase, when compared with HIV-Info, CET participants showed significantly greater decreases in perceived stress and burnout, and regression analyses indicated that significant increases in coping self-efficacy mediated the improvements in perceived stress and burnout. Compared with WLC, CET participants also showed significantly greater decreases in anxiety, and regression analyses indicated that significant increases in positive states of mind mediated the improvements in anxiety. Significant treatment group differences for positive morale were maintained at 6 and 12 months. In addition, optimism continued to increase in the CET and HIV-Info treatment groups during the maintenance phase. CONCLUSIONS: CET can be an effective strategy for managing psychological distress and improving positive psychological states in patients confronting chronic illness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗