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Biomedical subjects

J W Berry

Publications and source records attributed to J W Berry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Acculturative stress among young immigrants in Norway.

The study examined the relationship between migration and the incidence of emotional disorders among 568 young Third World immigrants in Norway. Participants were 10-17 years of age. Using a questionnaire, acculturative stress (i.e., change in health status as a result of acculturation) was found to exist among the children, although having to migrate or being born in Norway was not related to mental health status. A stressful acculturative experience (i.e., difficulties in initiating friendship with Norwegian peers) alone could account for only 1% of the self reported emotional disorders. Incidence of depressive tendencies, poor self image, and psychological and somatic symptoms were found to be related to close and supportive parents, marginality, integration, gender and the number of friends the child had. These accounted for between 12 and 15% of the explained variance. The paper theoretically discusses how these factors may be related to acculturative stress, and recommends them as starting points for a primary intervention program to reduce emotional disorders among these children.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1995

The drug-of-choice phenomenon psychological differences among drug users who preferred different drugs.

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Brief Symptom Inventory were administered to 125 recovering drug users with three or more months abstinent from drugs. Subjects were divided according to drug preference: opiates, stimulants, marijuana, alcohol, and a polydrug preference. Opiate users were significantly higher in Susceptibility to Boredom. Alcohol misusers compared to a combined stimulant, opiate, and polydrug group were significantly lower in Extroversion and Susceptibility to Boredom. Subjects raised in drug/alcohol-using families scored significantly higher on Neuroticism and on the Positive Symptom Total of the BSI, and had a higher rate of suicidality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Primary prevention of acculturative stress among refugees. Application of psychological theory and practice.

Primary prevention in refugee mental health requires information from clinical, health, and cross-cultural psychology. Primary prevention's roots are in public health, which is distinguished by a communitywide perspective for addressing mental health concerns. This article summarizes research suggesting that refugees are an at-risk population, making them especially suitable for public health interventions. Research on stress and acculturation is highlighted, given its importance to prevention in refugee mental health. The opportunities for primary prevention programs and policies at 3 levels (i.e., local community, national, and international) are illustrated with case examples from both the United States and Canada. Prevention at the international level is highlighted by a World Health Organization Mental Health Mission to camps on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1990

Acculturation and adaptation: health consequences of culture contact among circumpolar peoples.

An overview is presented of the processes of acculturation and adaptation. Research with a variety of acculturating groups (including Refugees, Immigrants, Sojourners, Native Peoples and Ethnic Groups) shows that satisfactory adaptations are possible given appropriate conditions in the host or settlement countries. These conditions are largely under the potential control of policy makers and programm developers, and hence healthy outcomes are within reach. When these findings and conclusions are applied to Native Peoples in Circumpolar regions, some particular experiences stand out, resulting in the potential for difficult social and psychological adaptations. However, the literature shows that like all other acculturating groups, successful adaptations are possible for Circumpolar peoples, especially when they are in a position to understand and control the process.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1988

Nutritional evaluation of chickpea and germinated chickpea flours.

The ability of seed germination to increase the nutritional quality of chickpea was studied. Chickpea flours germinated for 0, 24 and 48 h were evaluated nutritionally by determination of protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein ratio (NPR), digestibility and essential amino acid availability "in vivo". A significant increase in ascorbic acid was observed during germination. PER and NPR values indicated that germinated chickpea flours compared favorably to casein. Protein digestibility decreased as germination time increased. Essential amino acid availability did not change after 24 h of germination, but a small decrease was observed after 48 h. The increase in some amino acids during germination may account for the observed increase in PER for the germinated flours. Seed germination enhanced significantly the nutritional quality of chickpea protein and substantially increased the ascorbic acid level.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1987

Psychological, social, and health consequences of caring for a relative with senile dementia.

While providing home care for a family member with senile dementia is clearly extremely stressful, there has been little controlled research assessing the specific effects of this stress on caregiver psychological, social, and health functioning. To address this question, 44 primary caregivers of senile dementia patients and 44 matched controls completed a series of questionnaires and interview assessments. Caregivers reported significantly higher levels of depression and negative affect toward their relatives, and lower overall life satisfaction than controls. Caregivers also had significant impairment of their social activities, including visits with friends, vacations, and church attendance when compared with controls. Caregivers expressed less satisfaction with their social networks than did controls, but the groups did not differ in objective size of social network or number of network contacts. Caregivers reported poorer health, more prescription medication use, and higher utilization of health care than controls. Results clearly indicate the serious and wide-ranging effects of the stress of caregiving, and reinforce the importance of providing comprehensive services for caregiving families.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Starch digestibility of foods: a nutritional perspective.

Dietary starch varies greatly in digestibility and its effects on the utilization of other nutrients. The variation appears to be due to differences in starch components and their crystallinity. Processing treatments, storage conditions, chemical modification, and genetic breeding influence the digestibility of starch. Cereal starches are generally more digestible than root/tuber and legume starches. Although cooking often significantly improves the digestibility of poor and intermediately digestible starches, some foods such as bananas with starches of these types are consumed uncooked. The efficient digestion of starch is especially important to specific groups of people such as infants under 6 months of age. Ruminants must also be provided with highly digestible starch to assure maximum production efficiency. Poor digestibility of starch may have negative effects on the utilization of protein and minerals but is likely to have positive effects on the availability of certain vitamins. Decreases in the rate of starch digestion may have therapeutic application. Most clinical studies have reported that starch blockers do not elicit a significant decrease in the digestion of starch in humans. Much remains to be learned, clarified, and understood about starch digestion and its effects on diabetes and weight control.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Shame, guilt, and depression in men and women in recovery from addiction.

Men and women in recovery from addiction were compared on levels of depression and self-conscious affect including proneness to shame, guilt, externalization, detachment, and pride. The sample consisted of 130 subjects (88 men and 42 women; mean age 33.04), 90 of whom were active participants in a 12-step recovery program, and 40 of whom were in a residential treatment community. Subjects completed The Beck Depression Inventory and The Test of Self-Conscious Affect. Significant differences between the sexes were found for proneness to shame, detachment, and depression. Women were significantly higher on shame and depression; men were significantly higher on detachment. The subjects were compared to subjects who were not chemically dependent. It was found that these recovering drug-addicted subjects scored significantly higher in proneness to shame and externalization and significantly lower on proneness to guilt. Treatment implications of proneness to shame in the drug-addicted population, and particularly in women, are discussed. The use of confrontational drug treatment strategies may be contraindicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The drug-of-choice phenomenon: why addicts start using their preferred drug.

The reasons why addicts begin using their preferred drug are examined and compared for differences between groups. Utilizing a questionnaire regarding their drug of choice and their reasons for use, a survey was made of 130 subjects (88 men and 42 women; mean age = 34.3 years) who were actively involved in recovery programs. The most frequent period of abstinence from the use of alcohol and other drugs was between one and two years. Forty-five of the subjects preferred opioids, 27 amphetamines, 24 cocaine, 18 marijuana, and 16 alcohol. The reasons for use were separated into three categories: emotional, physical, and social. Results showed that the amphetamine and cocaine addicts selected a higher number of physical reasons for use, and that the alcohol group chose social reasons most frequently. There were no differences between drug groups in total number of emotional reasons selected. Specific reasons for use were also analyzed between drug-of-choice groups. The findings cast doubt on earlier studies that suggested differential psychopathology or emotional disorders among addicts with different drugs of choice. Clinical implications of these data are discussed.

Adolescent↗