A Comparison of Quality of Life Measures in Husbands of Women with Breast Cancer

The Quality of Well-Being Scale (QWB-SA) and Medical Outcome Study SF-36 short form (SF-36) are popular health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessment tools; however, it is unclear whether these measures overlap enough to be interchangeable, and if not, which might be a better choice. This study examined conceptual overlap, validity, and relation with psychosocial functioning of the QWB-SA and SF-36 in a sample of partners of women undergoing adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Partners (n = 79) of breast cancer patients, recruited in a chemotherapy infusion clinic, completed the QWB-SA and SF-36 and additional psychosocial measures. Descriptive content review shows that both instruments provide a breadth of HRQOL coverage including physical health, mental health, social functioning, role functioning and general health perceptions; however, more QWB-SA scales suffered floor effects. Subscales correlated, with the strongest correlations between the QWB-SA total score and the mental health scales of the SF-36. The QWB-SA and the SF-36 Mental Health Component Summary score, but not the SF-36 Physical Component Summary score were strongly correlated to measures of mood, satisfaction with life, burden, and social support. The QWB-SA and SF-36 measure distinct aspects of HRQOL. Each instrument presents distinct advantages and disadvantages in coverage of particular domains. Labels assigned to SF-36 scales more accurately reflect what they measure. The SF-36 appeared more sensitive to the impact that psychological health played on overall assessment of HRQOL in these partners

Identifying the Meaning of Acculturative Stress in Latino Adolescent Girls

poster abstractThere are significantly high depression and suicide attempt rates among Latino adolescents in Indiana. Recently, in a large Community-Based Participatory Research Study (CBPR) meant to identify predictors of depression in Latino adolescents and determine if predictors differ by gender found that Latino adolescent females are more impacted by acculturative stress as a predictor of depression than their male counterparts. Acculturative stress is the stress of navigating two cultures, one at home, one outside the home, and affects immigrants and children of immigrants. The Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental (SAFE) scale is the research instrument that was used to currently evaluate acculturative stress in the CBPR study. Although psychometrically sound, the scale does not provide details about the experience of acculturative stress, just the presence. As a result, it was concluded that qualitative data in the form of interviews should be gathered from Latino adolescent females in order to complement the quantitative data collected. Interviews with 10-20 Latino females ages 14-17 are being conducted to gain a better understanding of the meaning and influence of acculturative stress in the lives of Latino adolescent females. Once the Latino adolescent interviews have been collected, they will be transcribed and analyzed. Themes will be retrieved from the data and conclusions will be made. The data collected will inform the Latino adolescent camp intervention Your Life. Your Story. (YLYS). With new insight into the meaning attributed to acculturative stress in Latino adolescent females, the curriculum of the YLYS intervention will be adjusted to better serve the needs of its participants and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the topic to the scientific community. Mentors: Silvia M. Bigatti, Ph.D., Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, IUPU

The influences of course effort and outside activities on grades in a college course

The influences of course effort and outside (family, job, social) activities on grades earned in a college course were examined for 230 urban college students. Multiple measurements of hours of work, social and family activities, and course effort were collected over a semester. Path modeling revealed that cumulative GPA and course effort had significant and independent predictive paths with grades. Outside activities did not directly influence course grade. Job activities, however, negatively influenced course grade indirectly through reduced course effort and mediated the influence GPA exerted on course grade. Thus, work demands lessened course effort and lessened GPA-indexed potential for course success. Cumulative GPA positively influenced effort, and effort mediated part of the relation between cumulative GPA and grades

Religiosity and Spirituality as Resiliency Resources: Moderation, Mediation, or Moderated Mediation?

A growing body of literature indicates a modestly positive association between religiosity and spirituality as predictors of psychological health (anxiety and depression), suggesting they serve as personal resiliency factors. The purpose of this study was to expand our understanding of the relationships among these constructs. Using Lazarus’ Transactional Model of Stress as a theoretical framework, we examined a) the extent to which spirituality and religiosity mediated and/or moderated the association between perceived stress and psychological health, and b) whether there was a moderated (religiosity) mediation (spirituality) between stress and health. The Perceived Stress Scale, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale, Religious Commitment Inventory, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered to measure the following constructs: stress, spirituality, religiosity, and psychological health. This study utilized a non-experimental, quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional, moderated-mediation design, and included a convenience sample of 331 research participants. Both spirituality and religiosity moderated stress and health. However, only spirituality (not religiosity) partially mediated the relationship. In addition, religiosity did not moderate the mediating effects of spirituality. Overall, this study confirmed the role of both religiosity and spirituality as effective resiliency resources

An Assessment of the Fidelity of Two Different Interventions to Improve Adherence to Glaucoma Treatment in Patients of African Descent

poster abstractGlaucoma is a chronic eye disease, which is asymptomatic and can slowly lead to blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve and can lead to irreversible loss of sight. The overall objective of this MURI study was to determine the impact of two different interventions on compliance to glaucoma medication in patients of African descent with open-angle glaucoma. Two types of intervention were used – Education and Motivational Interviewing (MI). The educational intervention involved sharing knowledge with patients about glaucoma, its causes, and its treatments, to help patients better understand glaucoma and the importance of adhering to the daily medication regimen. The MI intervention involved communicating with the patients and encouraging them to identify strategies that would help them better adhere to their medications. These sessions were video-recorded and the content of each video was transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were then scored to assess the fidelity of each session with the intervention type that was given; this was done to ensure that each patient in the MI group received intervention consistent with MI, and that each patient in the Education group received an intervention free of MI. The standard Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 3.0 coding sheet was used to code the MI and Education sessions. Global ratings were given for empathy, direction, collaboration, evocation and autonomy/support on a scale ranging from 1 (Low) to 5 (High). The following behaviors were counted within each transcript: giving information, MI adherent (asking permission, affirm, emphasize control, support), MI Non-adherent (advise, confront, direct), questions (closed questions, open questions), and reflections (simple, complex). We expect that the MI interventions would have significantly higher scores on MI adherent behaviors and significantly lower on MI-non-adherent behaviors compared to the Education session

Determining the Impact of Demographic Factors on Adherence to Glaucoma Treatment in Patients of African Descent

poster abstractPrimary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) affects approximately 2.5 million Americans. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only treatable risk factor to slow the progression of the disease and prevent blindness. Topical ocular hypotensive medications, dispensed in the form of eye drops, are the first line of treatment to reduce IOP. Patients are required to use their eye drops once or twice daily throughout the rest of their lives. Patients of African descent are more vulnerable to this chronic disease, with a prevalence six times higher than patients of European descent. They also have worse adherence to the treatment regimen in general. The main purpose of this study was to determine the impact of education, age, gender, household income, marital status, employment and number of prescribed medications on the adherence to the glaucoma treatment. Twenty-one patients were included and adherence was measured using Medication Event Monitoring System caps, which electronically record every time a patient uses their eye drops. After 4 weeks, patients returned with the caps and the compliance level was recorded. During the initial interview, patients answered a questionnaire about the different factors tested in this study. There was a positive correlation between the compliance percentage and age, with patients who are 70 years or older having the highest compliance levels (82% compared to 62% in the 50s and 60s category). Education also affected compliance, with patients who have a high school degree having a lower compliance at 62% compared to the patients with some college or a bachelor’s degree with compliance of 81%. The employment status was another contributor, with higher compliance in full-time employed patients compared to other employment types. The remaining factors did not contribute to the adherence levels. Overall, education, age, and employment status were the only factors that impacted adherence levels

The Impact of a Resilience-Building Intervention with Indianapolis Latino Teenagers

poster abstractBackground and Objectives: Data shows that Indiana Latino high school students face a 65 percent higher rate of suicide attempts and a 24 percent higher rate of depression than their non-Hispanic white peers. Together with the help of the Latino Health Organization, a team of researchers performed a pilot study to investigate this and from the findings developed a one-year resilience-building intervention called Your Life. Your Story. This program aims to increase self-mastery and resilience, as well as decrease rates of depression. This is accomplished through evidence-based, interdisciplinary components such as art, physical activity, and a resilience-building curriculum. In the summer of 2014, 30 Latino teens, ages 12 to 17, became the first to participate in the Your Life. Your Story pilot program. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of the program on increasing resilience and decreasing depression at the program’s six-month mark, participants completed surveys. The Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS) was utilized to measure depression, and the Resilience, Attitudes, and Skills Profile (RASP) was utilized to measure resilience. Paired samples t-tests were utilized to measure changes over time, from the data collected prior to the program start. Results: At the program’s six-month mark, depression levels (M=4.16, SD=4.018) continue to have decreased significantly, t(17)=2.270, p=0.037, and a significant increase in resilience (M=114.88, SD=14), has also been sustained, t(22)=-2.221, p=0.037. Conclusions: Results suggest that the Your Life. Your Story. Program is creating a significant impact on the Latino teen participants in regards to depression and resilience levels. More data will be collected at the end of the program (June 2016) and will be analyzed to evaluate the overall impact of the program

Values-based action in fibromyalgia: results from a randomized pilot of acceptance and commitment therapy

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition characterized by pain, fatigue, and nonrestorative sleep. The disruptive symptoms of FMS are associated with reductions in quality of life related to family, intimate relationships, and work. The present study was part of a randomized pilot study of an 8-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention compared to education in a sample of 28 women with FMS. The Chronic Pain Values Inventory was administered at baseline, postintervention, and 12 week follow-up. Both groups showed significant improvements in family success, which were maintained at follow-up. Groups showed a differential pattern of success in work. The ACT group demonstrated significant, maintained improvements in success in intimate relationships, while the education group reported no changes over time. Findings suggest that both interventions may lead to improvements in valued living; however different interventions may be best suited for certain valued domains. The results of this study indicate that FMS patients are able to improve their success in family and intimate relationships and losses in these areas are not necessarily permanent