Biomedical subjects

Pamela C Regan

Publications and source records attributed to Pamela C Regan.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Binge eating and purging in a multi-ethnic community sample.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to document the frequency of three eating disorder-related behaviors (binge eating; self-induced vomiting; and use of laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills) among a multi-ethnic community sample. METHOD: A questionnaire was administered to 1225 Hispanic, Asian, black, and white women and men. Participants responded to items (based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for eating disorders) about binge eating and purging behavior. RESULTS: Binge eating and purging were more common among women than among men in Hispanic, black, and white subsamples (frequency rates were similar among Asian men and women). Ethnic differences were found in frequency of purging among women (ethnicity was not associated with behavior rates among men). Fewer Asian than Hispanic, black, and white women induced vomiting and used laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills as weight control methods. CONCLUSION: The fact that frequency rates differed as a function of participant sex and ethnicity underscores the importance of considering both of these group variables when examining disordered eating and weight control behaviors.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Frequency of cervical and breast cancer screening rates in a multi-ethnic female college sample.

This exploratory study examined frequency of self-reported cervical and breast cancer screening rates in a multiethnic sample of 331 female university students. In general, rates of lifetime screening were fairly low, with only 41% reporting having ever had a PAP examination and 44% reporting having undergone at least one clinical breast examination. Screening rates differed by ethnicity. Non-Hispanic White and African-American women had higher screening rates than Asian/Pacific Islander and Latina women. The significantly lower rate of screening among the latter groups is of particular concern given the higher cancer mortality rates typically observed in those groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Effects of participants' sex and targets' perceived need on supermarket helping behavior.

A field experiment was focused on whether participants' sex and targets' perceived need influenced helping behavior. Confederates approached 332 (166 women, 166 men) same-sex participants in a supermarket and asked for 25 cents to help purchase one of three randomly assigned food items: milk which was defined as a high-need item, frozen cookie dough which served as a low-need item, or alcohol, which was a low-need item with negative social connotations. The dependent variable was whether a participant provided help. Participants' sex was not associated with helping behavior as equal proportions of men and women provided assistance to the confederate; however, perceived need strongly influenced whether the confederate received help. Specifically, the high-need item produced more helping behavior than did either of the low-need items, and the socially acceptable low-need item of cookie dough produced more helping behavior than the socially unacceptable low-need item of alcohol. This may be interpreted as showing that what one buys and how deserving of help one appears to be influence whether one is helped by others.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Attitudes toward extrarelational sex as a function of participant's and third party's gender.

An experiment was conducted to examine whether attitudes toward extrarelational sex, i.e., "swinging," differed as a function of participant's gender and gender of the third party, i.e., the "swinging" partner. Participants were asked to imagine that their current romantic partner had expressed an interest in "swinging" with another individual (male or female, randomly assigned). Analysis yielded several significant differences by participants' gender. Specifically, men expressed greater interest than did women in joining a swinger's club, reported a higher likelihood than did women of actually joining such a club, and believed more than women that their sex life with their partner would improve after joining a swinger's club. Participants also preferred a female more than a male swinging partner, although this comparison was not statistically significant.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Parenting styles and academic achievement in college students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parenting styles and college academic achievement. An ethnically diverse group of college students reported their GPA and responded to the Parenting Style Index. Parenting style scores were unrelated to college GPA. Additional analyses of ethnic groups indicated differences in maternal involvement and strictness and relationship of these variables to GPA.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Customer service as a function of shopper's attire.

A field experiment explored whether a female shopper's appearance would influence the customer service she received. Specifically, a female confederate dressed in formal work clothes (skirt and blouse) or informal gym clothes (tights and t-shirt) entered a series of randomly selected women's clothing stores in a large mall and proceeded to "shop." The amount of time that passed before an employee approached and acknowledged the confederate served as the dependent variable. As hypothesized, she was acknowledged significantly sooner when formally attired than when informally dressed. Thus, clothing, like other aspects of appearance, influences how people are evaluated and treated by others.

Adult↗