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Biomedical subjects

P M Keith

Publications and source records attributed to P M Keith.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Support from others and efficacy of volunteer ombudsmen in long-term care facilities.

The work of the ombudsman has been described as the most difficult in the field of aging. Hypotheses about support from ten sources, relationships with peers, and efficacy were tested using questionnaire data from 607 volunteer ombudsmen in nursing facilities. Support from facility administrators and residents contributed to efficacy whereas help from other volunteers had a negative effect. Committed peers, however, facilitated the perception of a job well done. Efficacious ombudsmen believed their needs were taken into account suggesting the importance of caring for volunteers who in turn care for others.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Marital food interaction and dietary behavior.

The objective of this investigation is to consider the role of family food interaction in healthful dietary activity. A theoretical model is proposed in which three sets of determinate variables are specified as leading to interaction in the family on food issues which, in turn, is predicted to have a positive effect on four indicators of dietary quality. 155 married couples from a midwestern US state were randomly selected and interviewed. The findings provide clear evidence of the importance of family food interaction for the quality of marital partners' diet. Also differences found between husbands and wives indicate that wives contribute more to husbands' dietary quality than the reverse, suggesting again the dominant status of wives in family food selection and preparation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The strain of guardianship for men in the United States.

This study examined the extent to which control, commitment, and support influenced the strain experienced among men in the U.S. who were acting as guardians for aged adults, an atypical role for such men. A total of 146 male guardians responded to a questionnaire. Results of the study showed that control and commitment were associated with less strain, whereas the use of formal support systems was related to greater levels of strain. Additionally, strain was found to be less prevalent among older guardians.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Change in adult self-esteem: a longitudinal assessment.

This is a longitudinal investigation of self-esteem change in an adult population. The analysis addresses two limitations in earlier studies: the use of convenience samples of children and adolescents, and cross-sectional or short-duration longitudinal studies of self-esteem change. Participants are 97 randomly selected married couples interviewed at two points in time separated by 13 years. Two components of the self were measured: self-esteem and reflected appraisals (perception of others' evaluation). Contrary to previous research on self-esteem change, a significant decline was found in all components of the self for both husbands and wives. The decline in self-esteem was not a function of age, education or income. The decline was more likely to occur for high, rather than low, self-esteem participants. This finding is attributed to the demands on higher self-esteem participants to maintain or enhance self-esteem and the caution of low self-esteem participants to engage in behaviours that would threaten the self.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Equity/inequity and patterns of guardianship of older persons.

There have been recent reforms of guardianship systems focusing on the rights of older persons in Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Germany, and the United States. Little is known, however, about the lives of guardians. Equity theory guided the investigation of four styles of guardianship: the tough, sympathetic, challenged, and sad. Among 317 guardians, perceptions of inequity and benefit differentiated the sad and tough from others. Implications for practice are suggested.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Predicting fat in diets of marital partners using the health belief model.

The objective of this investigation is to use the health belief model (HBM) to explain the percentage of calories from fat in the diet (PCF) for marital partners. The model includes four sets of determinate variables: perceived threat of a high-fat diet, barriers to a healthier diet, food choices made for health reasons, and self-efficacy, as well as sociodemographic background factors. One hundred fifty-five married couples were selected by a random area sample from the state of Iowa. Husbands and wives were interviewed separately in the home. The results partially support the HBM as applied to a nutrition domain and revealed interesting gender differences. For wives the cost of healthy diet changes had an effect on PCF. For husbands, perceived threat and self-efficacy had an effect on PCF. The differences are discussed on the basis of gender roles in the home and gender socialization.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Implementation of recommended guardianship practices and outcomes of hearings for older persons.

We analyzed 1,160 court records to determine whether implementation of recommended procedural safeguards and guardianship practices was associated with outcomes of hearings for older persons. The presence of the proposed ward at the hearing was not related to decisions about guardianship. Proposed wards who retained their own counsel were more likely to receive limited guardianships or have the petition denied. Wards with undefined court-appointed counsel more often received full guardianships than those without representation.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Self-esteem agreement in the marital relationship.

With the use of the circular-causal model of relationship development, this study examined the convergence of the self-esteem of marriage partners over four martial life stages. Three hundred thirty-six married couples in the United States were randomly selected and divided into four life stage groups: younger couples with a child (or children) under age 6; couples with children in school; empty nest couples, in which the wife is in the age range of 45-59 years; and retired couples. Measures of a partner's self-esteem and his or her evaluation of the spouse's self-esteem were taken. The findings demonstrated a convergence of the partners' self-esteem across life stages.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The status of the aged in Korea: are the modern more advantaged?

Using individual modernity as a measure of modernization and decision-making power to assess the status of the aged at the micro level, this study examines how modernity, family environment, and demographic characteristics affect the status of the aged in the extended family. Data are analyzed from a sample of 252 Korean elderly living with one of their married children. In contrast to findings at the societal level, this research indicates that individual modernity is associated with higher status of the aged. Individual modernity may become an important resource in negotiating for decision-making power with adult children.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Guardianship reform: does revised legislation make a difference in outcomes for proposed wards?

There is a lack of critical examination of the efficacy of guardianship reform. Yet, the awarding of guardianship, especially when it is unwarranted, may deprive individuals of their most basic civil liberties. This longitudinal research investigated whether guardianship decisions differed prior to and following revision of state statutes increasing procedural safeguards. Using data from 766 petitions for guardianship of persons 60 years of age or over from Iowa and Missouri, it revealed that in most cases, a request for a full guardianship was tantamount to receiving one. Least restrictive alternatives were seldom employed, and few petitions were denied either before or after legislative changes. Reasons for the seeming discrepancy between revised statutes and guardianship decisions are suggested. No amount of statutory reform, however, will alter the tendency for society's attitudes toward aging to overshadow and shape the interpretation and implementation of legislation.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

What do discharge planners plan? Implications for older Medicare patients.

This research examines the discharge-planning process, specifically assessing the extent to which components critical to effective discharge planning are implemented in acute-care settings. We surveyed 16 discharge planners in rural and metropolitan hospitals. The analysis examined the degree to which discharge-planning programs incorporate client-centered planning activities, collect information about the client's care deficits, use community services to support the client on discharge, and the extent of interdepartment involvement in discharge planning. Results indicated that the majority of planners were client centered in their planning; however, a complete assessment of the client's resources and care deficits did not occur on admission. We discuss implications for discharge planning.

Admitting Department, Hospital↗
PubMed1990

Rethinking isolation among the married and the unmarried.

Personal characteristics of married and unmarried men and women that differentiate patterns of isolation-satisfaction were investigated. Results indicated that social isolation, often regarded as a deficit, may not, in itself, be a reason for intervention, but that a mismatch between actual and preferred levels of social affiliation was more problematic.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Use and evaluation of health services by women in a developing country: is age important?

Today, the majority of the world's older persons live in less developed countries, where they represent an increasing proportion of the population. Using interviews conducted with 136 female heads of households in rural Sri Lanka, we considered the importance of age relative to other factors (e.g., marital status, education, employment, diet, and health practices) in accounting for use and evaluation of health services. Marital status figured more importantly than age in the use of services. As unmarried heads of households increase in less developed places, their demands for health care at the village level likely will escalate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Financial strain and health of unmarried older people.

In a study of 1,782 older unmarried persons, we found no evidence that financial strain contributed to poor health. We examined the effect of financial strain on physical health over time and the degree to which vulnerability to financial strain was linked to health.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Finances of unmarried elderly people over time.

This research assessed the effect of widowhood, divorce, and life-long singleness on income and evaluations of finances at two points, and investigated factors associated with satisfaction with level of living in old age. Data were analyzed from two interviews with 2,047 older, unmarried men and women. Models explaining satisfaction with level of living were relatively similar for the marital status groups. Marital status affected the economic circumstances and perceptions of finances of women more often than men. The strains of divorce and widowhood for women and divorce for older men had an enduring influence on finances, and in the instance of men, were heightened over time.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The relationship of self-esteem, maternal employment, and work-family plans to sex role orientations of late adolescents.

Self-esteem, maternal employment, and work-family plans are examined in relation to sex role orientations of late adolescents. Data are analyzed from questionnaires administered to 387 males and females. It was found that future work-family plans were closely tied to sex role orientations of adolescents of both sexes. However, self-esteem, evaluation of the relative difficulty of male-female sex roles, and projected childlessness were salient to sex role attitudes of females but not of males. Positive evaluations of self were related to non-traditional sex role orientations among females. Maternal employment differentially affected male and female children. Sons of women in high-status occupations were reluctant to get involved in a two-career family with children. Mothers' occupational status had little influence on the plans or sex role attitudes of daughters. The results indicate that future research should investigate whether maternal employment in high-status occupations, while providing a wider range of acceptable models for girls, may serve as a negative model for boys.

Adolescent↗