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Biomedical subjects

V J Callan

Publications and source records attributed to V J Callan.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Stress and semen quality in an in vitro fertilization program.

While a greater understanding is emerging of the psychological stresses of infertility treatment, little is known about the specific effects of these stresses upon the quality of the semen sample used at the fertilization stage in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. This study evaluated two semen profiles for each of 500 couples on IVF treatment. The first semen sample was collected in the couple's pre-IVF workup, and the second sample was given by husbands after ovum aspiration, and used to inseminate the eggs in vitro. Comparisons of samples revealed that sperm density, total sperm count, and both quantitative and qualitative sperm motility were significantly lower in the second sample presented for IVF. For 91% of cases, there was no change across samples in assigned fertility index categories. However, 14 cases revealed a deterioration, falling from normal to pathologic, while 21 cases changed in semen character from normal in IVF workup to severely pathologic in IVF treatment. For these cases, the incidence of total fertilization failure in the procedure also dramatically increased. Several steps are discussed in the better management of patients with such declines in semen quality.

Fertilization in Vitro↗
PubMed1986

Adolescent and parent perceptions of family cohesion and adaptability.

This study examined across 281 families of different aged adolescents the similarity of parent-adolescent perceptions of levels of adaptability and cohesion in families. Compared to parents, adolescents of almost all age groups (13-17 years) were less satisfied with levels of adaptability in families and so the ability of the family to change its roles and rules in relation to stress. Adolescents judged the present state of the family as more inflexible to changes in its structure than did parents. Asked about ideal levels of adaptability, fathers with 14 and 16 year old adolescents of both sexes, and fathers with 17 year old sons were least flexible about changes to the power and role structure of families. Scores on cohesion or the emotional bonding in families indicated that across family types parents judged the family as more cohesive than did adolescents. Adolescents, however, still showed fairly high levels of cohesion, although below their parents. Adolescents desire changes to power and roles in the family system, but still want a relatively cohesive and supportive family environment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Children of alcoholic fathers and recovered alcoholic fathers: personal and family functioning.

Twenty-one adolescent children of recovered alcoholic fathers and 14 children of alcoholic fathers were compared with 35 sociodemographically matched children on aspects of family and personal adjustment, the parent-child relationship and perceptions of alcoholism. Children of recovered alcoholics and controls rated their families as happier and more trusting, cohesive, secure and affectionate than children of families where father still drank alcohol. Adolescents scored similarly on measures of self-esteem and locus of control, but children of alcoholics were less happy with their lives. The three groups did not differ in their relationships with either parent. Children of alcoholic or recovered alcoholic fathers were less likely to attribute alcoholism to internal causes than controls, however, and were more positive about alcoholics and their recovery.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1985

Cross-cultural perspectives on teenage attitudes to alcohol.

Six hundred and seventy-seven indigenous Papua New Guinean, 315 Australian, and 166 American high school teenagers completed a series of measures on attitudes to alcohol. Papua New Guinean students differed most from other students in considering that money was wasted on alcohol and that preventive steps should be adopted to ban sales of take-away alcohol. In addition, Papua New Guinean males and females were more likely than other teenagers to feel that women should not drink alcoholic beverages. Within countries, males and females had fairly similar attitudes about alcohol and alcohol-related issues, and where differences occurred, males generally were less likely to highlight the costs of alcohol abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Similarity of university students' and their parents' attitudes toward alcohol.

It is proposed that older adolescents become more sensitive to parental norms about alcohol use. Seventy-two father-mother-daughter triads and 30 father-mother-son triads rated structural attitude statements about alcohol and drinking. Factor analyses yielded six dimensions of attitudes toward alcohol. Sons and parents had similar attitudes overall, with perceptions differing more on the sociability factor. There were a larger number of differences in the attitudes of parents and their daughters, especially concerning women drinking, moderate uses of alcohol and social status benefits from drinking. Daughters' attitudes were more likely to be different from both parents' attitudes than were sons' attitudes. The attitudes of daughters toward alcohol were discussed with reference to changes in women's roles and differences in their education and lifestyle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Cultural perceptions of the mentally ill: Australian and Papua New Guinean high school youth.

One hundred and thirty-three (76 male, 57 female) Papua New Guinean (PNG) and 144 (93 male, 51 female) Australian high school students completed a series of structured and open-ended measures on attitudes to the mentally ill, especially opinions about the nature of mental illness, characteristics of the mentally ill, and treatment. Both groups of students suggested hereditary and environmental causes, with PNG students citing more often witchcraft and sorcery. Australian students generally presented more favourable attitudes to mental illness, in that they were more willing to work with or marry the mentally ill. PNG students, however, were more likely to highlight the disruptive, violent behaviour of the long long, and possibly held a much narrower view of the types of persons labelled mentally ill.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between premenstrual dysphoria and daily ratings dimensions.

This study assessed the relationship between premenstrual dysphoria reflected in the Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF) and the Daily Ratings Form (DRF) dimensions of dysphoric mood, physical discomfort, energy levels, consumption and levels of alcohol, sex and activity. Reports of 59% of women with PAF Major Depressive Syndrome were confirmed by their DRF dysphoric mood score, compared with 27% of women with PAF Minor Depressive Syndrome. Women with confirmed premenstrual dysphoria (PMS + group) had significantly higher levels of mood dysphoria, physical discomfort and lower energy levels than the control group at the premenstrual phase. Higher levels of consumption overall were reported premenstrually than postmenstrually. There were no significant differences between groups on the dimension of more alcohol, sex and activity. Implications for future assessment are discussed.

Adult↗