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Biomedical subjects

L K Hervig

Publications and source records attributed to L K Hervig.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

The five-factor model of personality as a framework for personality-health research.

The NEO Five Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1989) and representative personality scales drawn from health psychology were administered to 2 samples of male military recruits (Ns = 296 and 502). Factor analysis of health-related personality scales revealed 3 conceptually meaningful domains. Examination of these domains and their constituent scales, with reference to the 5-factor model of personality, permits 3 general conclusions. First, most health-relevant dimensions and scales appear to be complex mixtures of broad personality domains. Second, variation in many health-related personality instruments is explained to a significant degree by the 5-factor model. Third, 2 of the 5 personality domains (i.e., conscientiousness and openness) appear to be substantially neglected in health psychology research.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Demonstration of replicable dimensions of health behaviors.

Health behaviors are known to be multidimensional, but the precise number of dimensions involved and their behavioral content have not been clearly established. Using convergence of factor analyses of 40 health behaviors across two samples as the criterion for identifying both the number and content of health behavior dimensions, the present study showed that individual differences in health behavior can be conceptualized in terms of a hierarchical model. At the most general level, health behaviors formed two broad categories or dimensions, preventive behavior and risk taking behavior. Preventive behavior included two empirically distinct subsets of behaviors, wellness maintenance behaviors and accident control behaviors. Risk taking behavior included subsets comprised of traffic-related risk taking and risk taking through exposure to hazardous substances. This hierarchical model is consistent with important theoretical distinctions in health behavior research, can accommodate the findings of prior studies, and should provide a useful framework for formulating research questions regarding antecedents and consequences of individual differences in health behaviors. Brief scales are proposed for use as reference measures in future studies of health behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of smoking interventions in recruit training.

Smoking prevention and cessation programs were implemented and evaluated in recruit training. Four groups of incoming recruits were compared: an education group, a no-smoking group, a health risk appraisal feedback group, and a no-treatment control group. Smoking behavior, perceptions related to smoking, and knowledge about smoking were assessed. Recruits in the education and no-smoking groups were less likely to start smoking for the first time during recruit training than recruits in the control group. The education group had fewer smokers stop smoking than the control group. The 2-year follow-up evaluation needs to be conducted before the long-term effects of these programs on prevention and cessation of smoking can be determined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Nutrition knowledge among Navy recruits.

The Navy wants to incorporate nutrition education programs into basic training to teach Navy personnel fundamental principles of good nutrition. This study was undertaken to: determine deficits in recruits' nutrition knowledge, identify recruits with above-average need for nutrition education, and compare recruits' nutrition knowledge with that of typical U.S. school students. Demographic information and responses to a shortened version (36 items) of the National Dairy Council's Nutrition Achievement Test 4, developed for junior and senior high school students, were obtained from 205 male recruits. Although nutrition knowledge among Navy recruits was relatively comparable with that of U.S. school students, findings indicated that nutrition education is indeed needed. Only 2% of recruits answered 90% of the questions correctly. Forty percent answered half or more of the nutrition questions incorrectly. Questions answered incorrectly by more than 50% of recruits involved: (a) how one assesses nutrient needs and whether those needs are being met, (b) the four major food groups and recommended servings, and (c) effects of alcohol and drugs on nutritional status. Recruits who received higher grades in high school, got into less trouble in high school, were older, and were Caucasian had higher nutrition knowledge. Detailed information regarding nutrition misconceptions should help the Navy develop focused nutrition education materials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Type A behavior pattern and coping and defense.

The relationship of coping and defense to Type A behavior pattern (TABP), as measured by the Structured Interview and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS), was investigated to understand the dynamics of TABP and psychological factors associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. It was hypothesized that global TABP and its component "speed and impatience" would be related to the use of defense mechanisms, while the TABP attribute "job involvement" would be related to high coping. The interview measure of global TABP was not related to coping and defense. For the JAS, "Job involvement" was related to high coping scores and low defense scores, "speed and impatience" was related to high defensiveness, and "hard driving" was related to low coping scores. One implication is that TABP may be associated with increased CHD risk only when combined with low coping skills and high defenses. The JAS findings imply that increased coronary risk may be associated with poor coping skills. Future studies should examine multifactorial interaction of personality variables that may contribute to CHD risk.

Adult↗