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Biomedical subjects

T L Patterson

Publications and source records attributed to T L Patterson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Blood pressure reactivity to exercise: stability, determinants, family aggregation, and prediction.

Previous studies have shown blood pressure reactivity to exercise predicts future resting blood pressure. Subjects in this study were 206 healthy Mexican-American and Anglo-American families with fifth or sixth grade children. A total of 539 children (mean age = 12 years) and parents (mean age = 37 years) had complete data at baseline, and 79% were remeasured 48 months later. Blood pressure was measured during a submaximal cycle ergometer fitness test. Reactivity measures included systolic blood pressure at 70% of maximal heart rate (SBP70) and slope of the blood pressure-heart rate association during exercise (SLOPE). Stability of reactivity measures over 24 months varied from .22 to .63 (all p less than 0.001). Correlates of blood pressure reactivity in parents included resting heart rate, gender, age, and sodium intake. Correlates of reactivity in children included resting heart rate, body mass index, and age. Modest but significant levels of family aggregation of blood pressure reactivity were observed. In stepwise multiple regression analyses, SBP70 at baseline predicted resting blood pressure 48 months later in parents but not in children. The present results confirm previous studies indicating systolic blood pressure reactivity to exercise is a significant predictor of later resting blood pressure.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Severity of psychosocial stress and outcome of alcoholism treatment.

We examined the relation between stressful life events and drinking outcome among 129 male alcoholics who had completed an alcohol treatment program. Life events were assessed for the year prior to treatment and for the 3 months after treatment and were rated on the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview and the Contextual Rating System. Approximately 40% of the pretreatment stressors were found to be directly or indirectly related to alcohol use. When stressors related to drinking were excluded from consideration, we found that men who returned to drinking after treatment experienced more severe or highly threatening stress before their relapse than men who remained abstinent during the follow-up period. These data suggest that although less severe stress may not increase risk for relapse, acute severe stressors and highly threatening chronic difficulties may be associated with elevated relapse risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Internal vs. external determinants of coping responses to stressful life-events in the elderly.

Coping appears to function in the relationship between stressful life-events and health. Factors that may influence an individual's use of a particular coping strategy, however, are not well understood. Coping consistency within individuals and across situations was examined in a longitudinal study of 74 independently living elderly persons, as were the effects of the type of event experienced, appraisal of its degree of threat, and demographic variables on coping behaviour. Correlational analyses indicated that coping responses were more a function of event type than of an individual's consistent style. A number of distinct life-events were associated with particular types of coping responses. The degree of threat, one's expectation of the changeability of an event, and one's appraisal of possible courses of action were also correlated with specific coping behaviours. Age was negatively correlated with problem-focused coping and total number of coping responses. This study suggests that the type of stressful event an individual experiences may be a more important general determinant of one's coping response than is one's overriding propensity to cope in a particular way.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Attendance at health promotion programs: baseline predictors and program outcomes.

As part of a family cardiovascular health promotion project, 111 Mexican-American and 95 Anglo-American families with fifth- or sixth-grade children were assigned to either a primary prevention program involving 18 sessions or to a control condition. This article evaluates predictors of attendance at the year long sequence of sessions in the intervention group. In addition it considers the relationship between attendance and program outcomes. Low baseline scores on physical activity and cardiovascular fitness measures were associated with higher attendance for both children and adults. High initial health knowledge and self-motivation were also associated with attendance. Multiple regression analysis showed that adult attendance was significantly predicted by a model including completion of a three-day food record, low exercise, higher socioeconomic status, family adaptability, and self-motivation. Attendance was correlated with greater knowledge gains and larger reductions in blood pressure. The results indicate that motivated families who are in greater need of conditioning attended more sessions in a health promotion program.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Avoidant coping predicts psychological disturbance in the elderly.

In a prospective study of 81 independently living elderly persons, information on coping strategy in response to a stressful life event was used in a canonical analysis to examine the relationship between coping factors and health status measures. A canonical correlation of .53 (28% of variance) indicated that those who responded to stressful life events with self-blame, wishful thinking, and avoidance tended to be more symptomatic 4 months later. In a regression analysis, avoidant coping significantly contributed to the prediction of psychological disturbance at the time of the second interview (R2 = .22, p less than .05). Coping strategy, however, did not significantly contribute to the prediction of physical health status during the interval examined. These results are generally consistent with the notion that coping strategies modulate the influence of life events on health and well-being but underscore the possibility that such relationships may differ depending on whether physical or psychological health status is being predicted.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

A shortened MMPI useful for psychiatric screening of the non-institutionalized elderly.

We compared the reliability of the Faschingbauer Abbreviated MMPI (the FAM) to the standard MMPI with a sample of non-institutionalized, independently living elderly individuals. FAM items were extracted from the standard MMPIs of 83 middle-class men and women with a mean age of 74 years. Results indicate that the FAM is correlated highly with the MMPI. Although statistically significant differences were found between the FAM and MMPI forms on some scales, 77% of the profile pairs were judged to satisfy interpretive reliability criteria, and for the profiles that were rejected the FAM was not found to overestimate or underestimate any MMPI scale systematically. The potential value of the FAM as a screening device for elderly individuals who are living in the community is addressed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of beliefs about AIDS among urban, suburban, incarcerated, and gay adolescents.

Beliefs about AIDS were surveyed among opportunistic samples of 1572 adolescents to compare four subgroups of youth: urban public high school students; suburban private school students; youth incarcerated in a detention facility; and a group who were contacted through a gay youth organization. The questionnaire items formed four important theoretical constructs derived by an expert group extensively involved with AIDS education. The constructs were: 1) agreement with health guidelines; 2) perceived personal threat of AIDS; 3) a sense of personal efficacy to prevent infection and the spread of AIDS; and 4) perceived norms of safe sex behaviors. In all groups, females were more likely to endorse higher norms for safe sex practices than males. Older adolescents of both sexes tended to perceive less personal threat of AIDS, and also rated lower norms for safe sex practices than did the younger adolescents. The incarcerated group of adolescents demonstrated significantly poorer knowledge and lower agreement with health guidelines (p = 0.0000), lower perceived personal threat of AIDS (p = 0.005), lower personal efficacy to prevent AIDS (p = 0.003), and lower perceived norms of safe sex practices (p = 0.0000), compared to the other groups. The education implications of these findings are discussed, including the necessity of program elements directed toward subculture peer norms and support, a realistic sense of vulnerability about AIDS, and self-confidence building as well as specific skills to prevent the infection and spread of the human immunodeficiency virus among adolescents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Exercise suppresses heritability estimates for obesity in Mexican-American families.

In multivariate analysis, suppressor variables attenuate the true relationship between predictor and outcome variables. Although suppressor variables relationships were described more than 45 years ago, few examples have been reported in the health care literature. We studied the correspondence between body mass in 111 Mexican-American families. Estimates of exercise suppressed the correlation between body mass for some dyads within these families. We concluded that the suppressor variable relationship may cause underestimates of heritability in multivariate studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Familial aggregation of aerobic power: the influence of age, physical activity, and body mass index.

Whereas modest familial aggregation of VO2max has been documented after controlling for variables such as physical activity habits, the effect of adjustment for moderating variables has not been directly tested. This issue was addressed in 95 Anglo and 111 Mexican-American families who underwent submaximal cycle ergometer testing. Zero-order correlations of predicted VO2max between pairs of family members were generally weak for both Anglo families (r = 0.04 to 0.35) and Mexican-American families (r = 0.03 to 0.50). Five of 12 correlations were significant. Similar results were found for combined ethnic groups. Adjustment for age, physical activity, and body mass index by partial correlation had few significant effects on aggregation of predicted VO2max. Adjustment for body mass index produced significant decreases in the correlation for Anglo spouses and mother-older child and sibling pairs in the combined group. Although influential moderating variables were not identified, body mass index was found to be a significant, though inconsistent, mediator of aggregation of VO2max. Genetic factors were not strongly supported because of generally weak aggregation in the two ethnic groups.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Familial similarities of changes in cognitive, behavioral, and physiological variables in a cardiovascular health promotion program.

A number of studies have demonstrated that physiological and behavioral cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors aggregate within families. This fact, and the potential mediating role that the family plays in behavior change, have led to the development of family-based CVD risk reduction programs, including the San Diego Family Health Project. The aggregation of behavioral, physiological, and cognitive changes within families was assessed during a 1-year intervention. We found evidence of modest but significant aggregation of change. There was more aggregation of change in behavioral variables than in physiological or cognitive variables. More significant correlations were found among 3-day food record measures than among 24-hour recall dietary measures, suggesting an influence of assessment method. Aggregation of change within families was stronger within generations than across generations. These data point to the importance of involving all age groups in health promotion programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A family approach to cardiovascular risk reduction: results from the San Diego Family Health Project.

The effectiveness of a family-based cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention was evaluated in two ethnic groups. Participants were 206 healthy, volunteer low-to-middle-income Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white (Anglo-American) families (623 individuals), each with a fifth or a sixth-grade child. Families were recruited through elementary schools. Half of the families were randomized to a year-long educational intervention designed to decrease the whole family's intake of high salt, high fat foods, and to increase their regular physical activity. Eighty-nine percent of the enrolled families were measured at the 24-month follow-up. Both Mexican- and Anglo-American families in the experimental groups gained significantly more knowledge of the skills required to change dietary and exercise habits than did those in the control groups. Experimental families in both ethnic groups reported improved eating habits on a food frequency index. Anglo families reported lower total fat and sodium intake. There were no significant group differences in reported physical activity or in tested cardiovascular fitness levels. Significant differences for Anglo-American experimental vs. control adult subjects were found for LDL cholesterol. Significant intervention-control differences ranging from 2.2 to 3.4 mmHg systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure were found in all subgroups. Direct observation of diet and physical activity behaviors in a structured environment suggested generalization of behavior changes. There was evidence that behavior change persisted one year beyond the completion of the intervention program. It is concluded that involvement of families utilizing school based resources is feasible and effective. Future studies should focus on the most cost-effective methods of family involvement, and the potential for additive effects when family strategies are combined with other school health education programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Television's influence on children's diet and physical activity.

Understanding the impact of TV on children's diet and physical activity is important for developing strategies to prevent obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Determining parents' perceptions of television's influence on children's dietary intake and physical activity may provide useful information on this important topic. A questionnaire was developed to assess viewing habits and child requests for food and sport items advertised on TV. It was administered to 66 mothers of children, ages 3-8. Foods that children requested because they had seen them on TV paralleled the frequencies with which these foods were advertised on TV. Weekly viewing hours correlated significantly with (a) reported requests by children and purchases by parents of foods influenced by TV, and (b) children's caloric intake. Children's requests for sport items and physical activities were not significantly correlated with the number of hours of TV viewing. It appears from these data that parents perceive that television influences family purchasing patterns through the mechanism of their children's requests.

Advertising↗
PubMed1989

Stability of systolic blood pressure reactivity to exercise in young children.

Blood pressure reactivity to stress in childhood has predicted development of hypertension 45 years later, so it is important to understand the characteristics of blood pressure reactivity in childhood. The present study assessed the 1-week and 6-month stability of systolic blood pressure reactivity to a 40-meter run stressor in preschool children. Sixty-three low-income children (mean age, 3.9 years) were assessed on four different days over a 6-month period. One-week stability (r = 0.39 to 0.50) and 6-month stability (r = 0.56) of reactive systolic blood pressure levels were highly significant. Reactive systolic blood pressure level was more stable than resting systolic or diastolic blood pressure in this sample. Sex, body mass index, family cardiovascular disease history, and child Type A behavior all were unrelated to systolic blood pressure reactivity. Systolic blood pressure reactivity to exercise appears to be an enduring characteristic that emerges in early childhood.

Arousal↗
PubMed1988

Direct observation of physical activity and dietary behaviors in a structured environment: effects of a family-based health promotion program.

The effects of cardiovascular risk reduction are typically assessed by self-reported behavior change and physiological outcomes. There is a need to enhance evaluation protocols by including direct observation measures of targeted health behaviors. To improve the evaluation of a family-based diet and physical activity change program, families were observed during a planned visit to the San Diego Zoo. This standardized environment afforded many options for dietary intake and physical activity. Thirty families who had participated in a 1-year intervention program and 30 control families were observed. Caucasian and Mexican-American families were equally represented. Observations in this standard environment discriminated between intervention and control families, and the findings indicated that intervention effects generalized to this novel setting. Intervention families consumed fewer calories, ate less sodium, and walked further than did control families. Ethnic differences were noted.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Aggregation of physical activity habits in Mexican-American and Anglo families.

It is believed that families are important influences on the development of health habits, and the purpose of the present study was to examine the familial aggregation of physical activity. Physical activity habits were assessed by standardized interview in adults and children in 95 Anglo families and 111 Mexican-American families. The results indicated a moderate degree of aggregation of physical activity in both samples, and adjustment for body mass index was inconsequential. Intrafamily correlations tended to be higher in Mexican-Americans. Mother-child correlations usually were higher than father-child correlations. These findings support the hypothesis that the family is a significant influence on physical activity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Relation of cardiovascular fitness and physical activity to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and adults.

The associations of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness with cardiovascular disease risk factors were studied in 88 male adults, 180 female adults, 148 male children, and 142 female children. Subjects were families recruited from elementary schools in San Diego, California. Fitness (VO2 max) was measured by a submaximal cycle ergometer test. Physical activity was assessed by seven-day recall interview, yielding caloric expenditure, and by a simple self-rating of activity level. Risk factors included blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the ratio of high density lipoproteins to low density lipoproteins (LDL), and body mass index. For all subgroups, fitness was strongly and significantly correlated with virtually all risk factors. After adjustment for body mass index, most fitness-risk factor associations were no longer significant. Seven-day caloric expenditure was significantly correlated with HDL/LDL only in female adults and children. The activity rating was significantly correlated with body mass index in all subgroups and with HDL/LDL in female adults and male adults. The simple activity rating tended to be correlated with fitness. The pattern of association was similar for adults and children.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Social supports in relation to physical health and symptoms of depression in the elderly.

The authors examined the relationship of social supports to physical and psychological well-being in 118 men and women 65 years old or older who were living independently in the community. Subjects with more symptoms of depression reported having fewer emotionally satisfying consistent supports from relatives, but those who had physical illnesses reported more supports from relatives. The authors conclude that although having fewer key supports may contribute to dysphoria, having a physical illness may mobilize meaningful support. They suggest that social supports and health outcomes be carefully defined so that possible differential relationships between them can be understood more specifically.

Aged↗