Biomedical subjects

Henk Schut

Publications and source records attributed to Henk Schut.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The prediction of bereavement outcome: development of an integrative risk factor framework.

We propose an integrative risk factor framework to enhance understanding of individual differences in adjustment to bereavement and to encourage more systematic analysis of factors contributing to bereavement outcome (e.g., examination of interactions between variables and establishing pathways in the adaptation process). The examination of individual differences in adaptation to bereavement is essential for practical (e.g. targeting high risk individuals for intervention) and theoretical (e.g. testing the validity of theoretical claims about sources of differences) purposes. And yet, existing theoretical approaches have not led to systematic empirical examination and empirical studies in the current literature are fraught with shortcomings. Derived from Cognitive Stress Theory [Lazarus, R. S. & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer] and the stressor-specific Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement [Stroebe, M. S., & Schut, H. A. W. (1999). The dual process model of coping with bereavement: Rationale and description. Death Studies, 23, 197-224], the framework incorporates an analysis of stressors, intra/interpersonal risk/protective factors, and appraisal and coping processes that are postulated to impact on outcome. Advantages of using the approach are outlined. Challenges in undertaking such research are addressed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2005

Study of colloidal quantum-dot surfaces using an innovative thin-film positron 2D-ACAR method.

Nanosized inorganic particles are of great interest because their electronic properties can be easily tailored, providing a tremendous potential for applications in optoelectronic devices, light-emitting diodes, solar cells and hydrogen storage. Confinement of electrons and holes to dimensions comparable to their wavelength leads to quantum-well states with modified wavefunctions and density of states. Surface phenomena are crucial in determining nanoparticle properties in view of their large surface-to-volume ratio. Despite a wealth of information, many fundamental questions about the nature of the surface and its relationship with the electronic structure remain unsolved. Ab initio calculations on CdSe nanocrystals suggest that passivating the ligands does not produce the ideal wurtzite structure and that Se atoms relax outwards irrespective of passivation. Here we show that implanted positrons are trapped at the surface of CdSe nanocrystals. They annihilate mostly with the Se electrons, monitor changes in composition and structure of the surface while hardly sensing the ligand molecules, and we thus unambiguously confirm the predicted strong surface relaxation.

Cadmium Compounds↗

PubMed2005

Who benefits from disclosure? Exploration of attachment style differences in the effects of expressing emotions.

Pennebaker's disclosure paradigm is a powerful manipulation: writing or talking about emotional experiences has positive effects on health. Nevertheless, the effect does not work for all people and some studies, including those of the highly emotional event of bereavement, have failed to demonstrate any effect at all. This paper reviews empirical evidence and proposes an integrative model to help explain discrepant findings and assess individual differences in the manipulation's effectiveness. Taking bereavement as exemplary of an attachment-related loss experience, it examines the relationship between styles of attachment, internal representations of the self and other, and patterns of disclosure in the coping process. Research has shown disturbances in disclosure among insecurely attached persons. We argue that secure persons are less likely to benefit from the disclosure paradigm, since they are better able to disclose in ways that further the adjustment process in their everyday lives. Targeting persons with insecure attachment styles and providing attachment-style-specific disclosure instructions are likely to increase the power of the manipulation. Our examination of these individual difference patterns is compatible with recent cognitive and linguistic analyses underlying the disclosure paradigm's impact on health.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Grief work, disclosure and counseling: do they help the bereaved?

Bereavement is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. How to protect the bereaved against extreme suffering and lasting health impairment remains a central research issue. It has been widely accepted that to adjust, the bereaved have to confront and express intense emotions accompanying their loss. It has further been assumed that others assist in this process, and that intervention programs are effective. To assess validity of these assumptions, this article reviews research on the impact of expressing and sharing emotions across four research domains (social support; emotional disclosure; experimentally induced emotional disclosure; and grief intervention). In none of these areas is there evidence that emotional disclosure facilitates adjustment to loss in normal bereavement. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Couples at risk following the death of their child: predictors of grief versus depression.

This longitudinal study examined the relative impact of major variables for predicting adjustment (in terms of both grief and depression) among bereaved parents following the death of their child. Couples (N = 219) participated 6, 13, and 20 months postloss. Use of multilevel regression analyses enabled assessment of the impact of several predictors and facilitated analysis of factors that were either shared by parents or individual. Grief was predicted mainly by shared parent factors: child's age, cause and unexpectedness of death, and number of remaining children. By contrast, depression was predicted by individual parent factors: gender, religious affiliation, and professional help seeking. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Interventions to enhance adaptation to bereavement.

This paper reviews quantitative evaluations of the efficacy of intervention programs designed to reduce the pain and suffering associated with bereavement. After identifying the psychological and physical health impacts of bereavement and outlining the prevalence of detrimental outcomes, we conclude that a minority of bereaved persons experience severe and sometimes lasting consequences, whereas the majority manage to overcome their grief across the course of time. We detail criteria for establishing the efficacy of bereavement intervention and examine the impact of intervention according to these stringent criteria. We critically examine previous reviews and summarize their conclusions. Using a narrative review approach, we apply a public health framework to organize intervention programs into primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies. A comprehensive, updated review of empirical studies in these categories leads to the following conclusions: Routine intervention for bereavement has not received support from quantitative evaluations of its effectiveness and is therefore not empirically based. Outreach strategies are not advised, and even provision of intervention for those who believe that they need it and who request it should be carefully evaluated. Intervention soon after bereavement may interfere with "natural" grieving processes. Intervention is more effective for those with more complicated forms of grief. Finally, a research agenda is outlined that includes the use of rigorous design and methodological principles in both intervention programs themselves and in studies evaluating their efficacy; systematic investigation of "risk factors"; and comparison of relative effectiveness of different intervention programs (i.e., what works for whom).

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Bereavement research: methodological issues and ethical concerns.

Principles of conducting research in the field of bereavement are introduced. The review focuses on issues of design and methodology, and considers ethical concerns, particularly in view of the fact that bereaved people are frequently in acute grief when scientific study is conducted. Accurate assessment is fundamental, and requires methodologically stringent procedures. The merits and disadvantages of different types of investigation are considered, the often-neglected need for control groups is described, and quantitative versus qualitative methodological approaches are reviewed. Also considered are biases due to selection and limits on generalizability. Understanding of ethical matters arising in this field of research is essential for the conduct of worthwhile research, and involves methodological sophistication.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Ironic processes in the eating behaviour of restrained eaters.

Theory. The present study examines the processes underlying the disinhibition of the eating behaviour of restrained eaters following negative emotions. Based on Herman and Polivy's (1984) Boundary Model and Wegner's Ironic Process Theory (1994), the limited capacity hypothesis is formulated, suggesting that overeating in restrained eaters results from cognitive capacity limitations. Predictions were that (1) impairment of cognitive capacity during eating will lead to overeating in restrained but not in unrestrained eaters and that (2) this difference should only emerge with food perceived to be high in calories.METHOD: The hypotheses were tested in an experiment with a 2 (restrained/unrestrained) x 2 (distraction yes/no) x 2 (perceived calories high/low) design, in which subjects consumed ice-cream in a taste test situation. Ice-cream consumption was the dependent variable.RESULTS: A second-order interaction was found: as predicted, in the high calorie condition restrained eaters ate the same amount as unrestrained eaters when not distracted, but considerably more when distracted. There was also an unexpected main effect of distraction, which indicated that restrained as well as unrestrained eaters ate more if distracted than if not distracted.DISCUSSION: The restraintxdistractionxperceived calories interaction can be explained by both the Ironic Process Theory and the Boundary Model; and the limited capacity hypothesis appears to be confirmed. The overall main effect of distraction remains puzzling. Two speculative views for the latter effect are offered.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Does disclosure of emotions facilitate recovery from bereavement? Evidence from two prospective studies.

Two longitudinal studies assessed whether disclosure of emotions facilitates recovery from bereavement. Study 1 tested prospectively over a 2-year period whether the extent to which bereaved persons talked about their loss to others and disclosed their emotions was associated with better adjustment to the loss of a marital partner. There was no evidence that disclosure facilitated adjustment. Study 2 randomly assigned recently bereaved individuals either to the Pennebaker writing task (J. W. Pennebaker & S. K. Beall, 1986) or to no-essay control conditions. The writing task did not result in a reduction of distress or of doctors visits either immediately after the bereavement or at a 6-month follow-up. Beneficial effects were not demonstrated for bereaved persons who had suffered an unexpected loss or who at the time of the study still expressed a high need for emotional disclosure.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

To continue or relinquish bonds: a review of consequences for the bereaved.

This article reviews research on the continuing-breaking bonds controversy. Across the course of the 20th century a shift in theorizing took place from an emphasis on the benefits of breaking bonds to investigation of the presence and usefulness of continuing bonds with a deceased person. These different theoretical formulations are examined and empirical evidence on the (mal)adaptive value of retaining versus relinquishing bonds is assessed. The review shows that neither is it possible to conclude that continuing nor that relinquishing bonds is generally helpful. Researchers need to work toward understanding how and for whom continuing or relinquishing bonds furthers adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗