The contribution of three social psychological theories: Fundamental cause theory, stress process model, and social cognitive theory to the understanding of health disparities -- a longitudinal comparison

This study examined the contribution of three social psychological theories--fundamental cause theory, stress process model, and social cognitive theory--to understand health disparities. These theories helped reveal causal relationships between the social and economic factors, and their influence on health-related behaviors and health outcomes. The changes of the influence of social and economic factors on health-related behaviors and health outcomes were observed across three time points. This is important because investigation of the ways social and economic conditions influence health is helpful to understand how to support the health of the population. This research is based on the analysis of Americans\u27 Changing Life (ACL) survey. ACL survey is a multistage area probability sample of the citizens of the United States aged 25 and older. In the current study three waves of the survey were examined, 1986, 1989, and 1994. The baseline survey includes 3,617 participants. The data have been analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results showed the three theories complement each other. Each theory considered the social structural approach, supported by the results of the current study, which show most of the direct effects of socio economic factors for all parts of the models were significant. Consideration of differential stress exposures provides additional explanation to health disparities. The current study revealed significant socioeconomic disparities in chronic stressors and negative life events. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) suggests that personal determinants may influence health behaviors and outcomes. Results from the current study showed perceived control is an important personal determinant of health. This dissertation expands knowledge of the development of health disparities among the population by analyzing the problem from the perspective of fundamental cause theory, stress process model, and social cognitive theory

An investigation of the theory of reasoned action concerning consumer acceptance of food irradiation

This research examined how attitudes and subjective norms influence behavioral intentions to eat irradiated food. This inquiry is important because, food irradiation is controversial and the public\u27s attitude toward it can influence the extent to which it is eventually adopted.;The data received from the first, large-scale commercially funded market test of irradiated food in supermarkets located throughout Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been used for statistical analysis. The test was conducted by Huisken\u27s Meats, Inc. on spring of 2000. The data includes questionnaire responses of 225 participants.;The data analysis of consumers\u27 opinions, concerning food irradiation, confirms the theory of reasoned action. However, the results show that subjective norms have a weak effect on intentions to eat irradiated food. Suggestions are offered for future research based upon the findings of this study

Investigation of the Effects of Nutrition Education on the Lifestyles of Third-Grade Children and their Parents

The current study assessed improvement in healthy lifestyles of third-grade children from Iowa schools who participated in nutrition education lessons provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Building and Strengthening Iowa Community Support for Nutrition and Physical Activity (BASICS) program in 2009. The program encourages children to eat more fruits and vegetables as snacks and to be active every day. Autoregressive models and logistic regression analysis results showed that the BASICS program improved awareness of the “Pick a better snack™ & Act” campaign among children and their parents. The program also led to children’s increased preferences toward fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk products, and to parents’ increased willingness to offer healthy foods to their children. The program stimulated children’s desires to be physically active and parents’ attentiveness toward children’s physical activity. These results indicated that the children influenced their parents’ recognition of campaign materials and how often their parents provided them with fruits and vegetables. Increasing parent age negatively influenced the probability of children receiving free and reduced-price lunch, reflecting the better economic situation of families with older parents

Perceived quality of life among caregivers of children with a childhood-onset dystrophinopathy: a double ABCX model of caregiver stressors and perceived resources

Background: Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, collectively referred to as dystrophinopathies, are recessive X-linked disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and ultimately cardiac and respiratory failure. Immediate family members are often primary caregivers of individuals with a dystrophinopathy. Methods: We explored the impact of this role by inviting primary caregivers (n = 209) of males diagnosed with childhood-onset dystrophinopathy who were identified by the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet) to complete a mailed questionnaire measuring perceived social support and stress, spirituality, and family quality of life (FQoL). Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined associations between study variables using the Double ABCX model as an analytic framework. Results: Higher stressor pile-up was associated with lower perceived social support (r = -0.29, p 0.05). FQoL was positively associated with all support measures (correlations ranged from: 0.25 to 0.58, p-values 0.01-0.001) and negatively associated with perceived stress and control (r = -0.49, p <.001). The association between stressor pile-up and FQoL was completely mediated through global perceived social support, supportive family relationships, and perceived stress and control; supportive non-family relationships did not remain statistically significant after controlling for other mediators. Conclusions: Findings suggest caregiver adaptation to a dystrophinopathy diagnosis can be optimized by increased perceived control, supporting family resources, and creation of a healthy family identity. Our findings will help identify areas for family intervention and guide clinicians in identifying resources that minimize stress and maximize family adaptation.CDC [5U01DD000831, 5U01DD000187, 5U01DD000189, 5U01DD000191, 5U01DD000190]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

An investigation of the theory of reasoned action concerning consumer acceptance of food irradiation

This research examined how attitudes and subjective norms influence behavioral intentions to eat irradiated food. This inquiry is important because, food irradiation is controversial and the public's attitude toward it can influence the extent to which it is eventually adopted.;The data received from the first, large-scale commercially funded market test of irradiated food in supermarkets located throughout Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been used for statistical analysis. The test was conducted by Huisken's Meats, Inc. on spring of 2000. The data includes questionnaire responses of 225 participants.;The data analysis of consumers' opinions, concerning food irradiation, confirms the theory of reasoned action. However, the results show that subjective norms have a weak effect on intentions to eat irradiated food. Suggestions are offered for future research based upon the findings of this study.</p

The contribution of three social psychological theories: Fundamental cause theory, stress process model, and social cognitive theory to the understanding of health disparities -- a longitudinal comparison

This study examined the contribution of three social psychological theories--fundamental cause theory, stress process model, and social cognitive theory--to understand health disparities. These theories helped reveal causal relationships between the social and economic factors, and their influence on health-related behaviors and health outcomes. The changes of the influence of social and economic factors on health-related behaviors and health outcomes were observed across three time points. This is important because investigation of the ways social and economic conditions influence health is helpful to understand how to support the health of the population. This research is based on the analysis of Americans' Changing Life (ACL) survey. ACL survey is a multistage area probability sample of the citizens of the United States aged 25 and older. In the current study three waves of the survey were examined, 1986, 1989, and 1994. The baseline survey includes 3,617 participants. The data have been analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results showed the three theories complement each other. Each theory considered the social structural approach, supported by the results of the current study, which show most of the direct effects of socio economic factors for all parts of the models were significant. Consideration of differential stress exposures provides additional explanation to health disparities. The current study revealed significant socioeconomic disparities in chronic stressors and negative life events. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) suggests that personal determinants may influence health behaviors and outcomes. Results from the current study showed perceived control is an important personal determinant of health. This dissertation expands knowledge of the development of health disparities among the population by analyzing the problem from the perspective of fundamental cause theory, stress process model, and social cognitive theory.</p

Investigation of the Effects of Nutrition Education on the Lifestyles of Third-Grade Children and their Parents

The current study assessed improvement in healthy lifestyles of third-grade children from Iowa schools who participated in nutrition education lessons provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Building and Strengthening Iowa Community Support for Nutrition and Physical Activity (BASICS) program in 2009. The program encourages children to eat more fruits and vegetables as snacks and to be active every day. Autoregressive models and logistic regression analysis results showed that the BASICS program improved awareness of the “Pick a better snack™ & Act” campaign among children and their parents. The program also led to children’s increased preferences toward fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk products, and to parents’ increased willingness to offer healthy foods to their children. The program stimulated children’s desires to be physically active and parents’ attentiveness toward children’s physical activity. These results indicated that the children influenced their parents’ recognition of campaign materials and how often their parents provided them with fruits and vegetables. Increasing parent age negatively influenced the probability of children receiving free and reduced-price lunch, reflecting the better economic situation of families with older parents.This article is from Social Thought and Research 32 (2013): 47, doi:10.17161/STR.1808.12436. Posted with permission.</p

Genetic Spectrum of Idiopathic Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Uncovered by Next-Generation Sequencing.

BACKGROUND:Cardiomyopathies represent a rare group of disorders often of genetic origin. While approximately 50% of genetic causes are known for other types of cardiomyopathies, the genetic spectrum of restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify the genetic background of idiopathic RCM and to compile the obtained genetic variants to the novel signalling pathways using in silico protein network analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS:We used Illumina MiSeq setup to screen for 108 cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia-associated genes in 24 patients with idiopathic RCM. Pathogenicity of genetic variants was classified according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics classification. RESULTS:Pathogenic and likely-pathogenic variants were detected in 13 of 24 patients resulting in an overall genotype-positive rate of 54%. Half of the genotype-positive patients carried a combination of pathogenic, likely-pathogenic variants and variants of unknown significance. The most frequent combination included mutations in sarcomeric and cytoskeletal genes (38%). A bioinformatics approach underlined the mechanotransducing protein networks important for RCM pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS:Multiple gene mutations were detected in half of the RCM cases, with a combination of sarcomeric and cytoskeletal gene mutations being the most common. Mutations of genes encoding sarcomeric, cytoskeletal, and Z-line-associated proteins appear to have a predominant role in the development of RCM

Perceived quality of life among caregivers of children with a childhood-onset dystrophinopathy: a double ABCX model of caregiver stressors and perceived resources

Background: Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, collectively referred to as dystrophinopathies, are recessive X-linked disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and ultimately cardiac and respiratory failure. Immediate family members are often primary caregivers of individuals with a dystrophinopathy. Methods: We explored the impact of this role by inviting primary caregivers (n = 209) of males diagnosed with childhood-onset dystrophinopathy who were identified by the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet) to complete a mailed questionnaire measuring perceived social support and stress, spirituality, and family quality of life (FQoL). Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined associations between study variables using the Double ABCX model as an analytic framework. Results: Higher stressor pile-up was associated with lower perceived social support (r = -0.29, p 0.05). FQoL was positively associated with all support measures (correlations ranged from: 0.25 to 0.58, p-values 0.01-0.001) and negatively associated with perceived stress and control (r = -0.49, p <.001). The association between stressor pile-up and FQoL was completely mediated through global perceived social support, supportive family relationships, and perceived stress and control; supportive non-family relationships did not remain statistically significant after controlling for other mediators. Conclusions: Findings suggest caregiver adaptation to a dystrophinopathy diagnosis can be optimized by increased perceived control, supporting family resources, and creation of a healthy family identity. Our findings will help identify areas for family intervention and guide clinicians in identifying resources that minimize stress and maximize family adaptation.CDC [5U01DD000831, 5U01DD000187, 5U01DD000189, 5U01DD000191, 5U01DD000190]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]