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Biomedical subjects

W D Balance

Publications and source records attributed to W D Balance.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

Reliability and accuracy of self-report of a new body-image measure.

The present study investigated the reliability and accuracy of the Body-image Distortion Questionnaire, a paper-and-pencil self-report measure. Forty male and 41 female college students completed the questionnaire on each of two occasions 21 days apart. During the second session, height, weight, and body build were measured. Results indicated that the questionnaire is a reliable and accurate measure of body-image distortion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Body-image distortion and dissatisfaction in university students.

The present study investigated body-image distortion and body-image dissatisfaction for a sample of 75 male and 75 female university students, in relation to personality variables implicated in the literature, such as sex-role orientation, self-esteem, locus of control, and depression. Women perceived their weight deviation from the norm at over 15% above their actual deviation, whereas men distorted less than 1%. In a multiple regression analysis, none of the personality measures correlated significantly with body-image distortion; however, sex of subject accounted for 25% of its variance. Body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with low self-esteem, externality, depression, and distortion. The relationship between body-image distortion and dissatisfaction, although significant, was surprisingly small. Apparently, these two aspects of body-image disturbance represent quite distinct constructs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

An empirical investigation of Shneidman's formulations regarding suicide.

This study of suicide notes involved the deduction of 50 protocol sentences that reflected important aspects of Shneidman's formulations regarding suicide. Independent judges noted the incidence of contents corresponding to the protocol sentences in 33 genuine and 33 simulated notes. Statements that were found significantly and more frequently in genuine notes included the following: the experience of adult trauma such as a calamitous relationship; a rejection; the withdrawal of a significant person resulting in despair; perceiving another as dooming one to the suicide; expressions of ambivalence; feelings of love, hate and other emotions; feelings of helplessness, pessimism and emotional confusion; appearing to be intoxicated by one's overpowering emotions and constricted perceptions; and the communications appearing to have unconscious implications. Statements of "egression" and more logical reasoning were more characteristic of the simulated notes. A frequency count in the genuine notes indicated that many protocol sentences were also very predictive of the content. Implications of the results are discussed.

Communication↗
PubMed1984

A predictive approach to suicide notes of young and old people from Freud's formulations with regard to suicide.

This study on suicide notes of young and old people involved the deduction of 25 protocol sentences that reflected important specific aspects of S. Freud's formulations with regard to suicide. Independent judges noted the incidence of contents that correspond to the protocol sentences in 52 notes. Comparisons between the suicide notes revealed that the protocol sentences discriminated significantly as a set in favor of the notes of young people. Specific sentences that were found more frequently in the notes of young people indicated being more self-critical, being more harsh toward oneself, perceiving oneself as having little worth, and treating oneself as an object. Implications are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A predictive approach to Freud's formulations regarding suicide.

This study of suicide notes involved the deduction of 25 protocol sentences that reflected important specific aspects of Freud's formulations regarding suicide. Independent judges noted the incidence of contents corresponding to the protocol sentences in 33 genuine and 33 simulated notes. Comparisons between genuine and simulated notes revealed that the protocol sentences discriminated significantly as a set in favor of the genuine notes. Individual statements found significantly more frequently in genuine notes indicated loss and/or rejection, preoccupation with a lost person, ambivalence toward a lost person, identification with a lost person, communicating feelings of anger toward oneself but appearing to be angry toward someone else, turning back upon oneself murderous wishes or impulses, and seeing the act as a fulfillment of self-punishment. A frequency count of the sentences in the notes indicated that these statements occurred quite frequently (i.e., at least one-third of the time) in the genuine notes. Implications of the results are discussed.

Anger↗
PubMed1981

A predictive approach to the study of manifest content in suicide notes.

Involved the deduction of 30 protocol sentences; 10 each for the theories of Binswanger, Freud, and Kelly. Naive judges noted the incidence of contents that corresponded to the protocol sentences in 33 genuine and 33 simulated notes. A coefficient of concordance of .70 indicated adequate interjudge reliability. Only the protocol sentences derived from Freud discriminated as a set in favor of the genuine notes. Statements that indicated loss and an identification with a lost person were found more frequently in genuine notes. Statements of isolation, immaturity and desires for freedom more frequently characterized the simulated notes. Implications of the results are discussed.

Humans↗