Social Determinants of Health and Health Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies.

Background: Associations between poor health and sociodemographics exist, but the role of coping strategies in this relationship is understudied. Therefore, we examined how adaptive and maladaptive coping affected the relationship between social determinants of health and health outcomes.

Methods: Participants completed survey questions about demographics, health status, and coping strategies.

Emotional Responses to a Sexual Assault Threat: A Qualitative Analysis Among Women With Histories of Sexual Victimization.

Sexual assaults against women are a leading threat to human rights and public health in the United States. Considering the high rates of sexual revictimization among women and the limited understanding of the mechanisms which fuel this phenomenon, the goal of the present study was to investigate the role of emotion in coping with a hypothetical threat of sexual assault for previously sexually victimized college women. A total of 114 college women with a history of sexual victimization listened to an audio-recording describing a sexual assault scenario and then described how they felt.

"Cancer was a speed bump in my path to enlightenment:" A qualitative analysis of situational coping experiences among young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Young adult survivors of childhood cancer (N = 47) completed essays exploring situational coping within a mixed methods study. Data were qualitatively analyzed using consensual qualitative research-modified methodology. Five themes emerged: (1) initial reactions to cancer, (2) adjustment/coping with cancer diagnosis and treatment, (3) provisions of social support, (4) perceived effects of cancer experience, and (5) reflections on the cancer experience.

Women's Behavioral Responses to the Threat of a Hypothetical Date Rape Stimulus: A Qualitative Analysis.

One in four college women experience sexual assault on campus; yet, campuses rarely provide the in-depth self-defense programs needed to reduce sexual assault risk. Further, little is known about the range of possible behaviors elicited by sexual assault threat stimuli besides assertion. To fill this gap, the aim of the current study was to explore qualitative themes in women's intended behavioral responses to a hypothetical sexual assault threat, date rape, by using a laboratory-controlled threat.

Shared Illness and Social Support Within Two HIV-Affected African American Communities.

A key source of resiliency within HIV-affected African American communities is informal social support. Data from dyadic conversations and focus groups were used to address the following research question: What are HIV-positive African Americans' social support experiences within their informal social networks in response to HIV-related problems? Circumstances that exacerbated HIV-related problems included others' fear of contagion, reticence to be involved, judgment and rejection, and disregard for privacy Support from HIV-negative others buffered the impact of problems when others communicate interest, take the initiative to help, or make a long-term investment in their success. Support from other HIV-positive persons was helpful given the shared connection because of HIV, the opportunity to commiserate about what is mutually understood, and the fight for mutual survival Based on these findings, we offer suggestions for future research and social network interventions aimed at bolstering connections between HIV-positive peers, reducing stigma, and improving family support.

An examination of actor-partner social support effects on HIV-related problems and interpersonal outcomes among a sample of HIV-positive African American dyads.

Objectives: Social support is an important resource that has been associated with better mental and physical health outcomes among HIV-positive people. However, researchers have not adequately explored how social support functions among HIV-positive African Americans. The purpose of the current study was to understand whether HIV-related support resources are associated with relational functioning and HIV-related problems among a sample of HIV-infected African American dyads.

Patterns of missing data in ethnic minority health research: a survey project with Russian-speaking immigrant women with hypertension.

We explored cultural-level variables and their associations with missing data in a group of immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Elderly hypertensive women (N = 105) completed a health survey. Prevalence of missing data and z scores were calculated to determine which survey items and measures were more likely to have missing data.

Sexual identity, identity disclosure, and health care experiences: is there evidence for differential homophobia in primary care practice?

Background: Given extant health disparities among women who belong to the sexual minority, we must understand the ways in which access to and satisfaction with health care contribute to such disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore how sexual minority women's (SMW) health care experiences compared with those of their heterosexually identified counterparts. We also sought to investigate whether there were differences within SMW in this regard.

Self-as-doer for diabetes: development and validation of a diabetes-specific measure of doer identification.

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a scale to measure the level of self-care behavior "doer identity" in persons with diabetes.

Methods: Persons with diabetes (N = 355) completed questionnaires assessing self-as-doer identity and other related constructs. Principle components and parallel analyses and tests of reliability and validity were performed.

Evaluation of a peer-led hypertension intervention for veterans: impact on peer leaders.

Volunteer peer leaders (PLs) benefit from their involvement in health interventions but we know little about how they compare with other non-PL volunteers or with the intervention recipients themselves. We randomized 58 veterans' service organizations' posts (e.g.

Adolescents and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative analysis of the experience of social support.

Objective: Research on how adolescents with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) understand and use social support is limited. Therefore, we explored how adolescents with T2DM experience and perceive social support.

Methods: Adolescents with T2DM were interviewed, and data were qualitatively analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research methodology.

Experiencing type 2 diabetes mellitus: qualitative analysis of adolescents' concept of illness, adjustment, and motivation to engage in self-care behaviors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in terms of how youths conceptualized the effect of T2DM on daily life, adjustment to the illness, and motivation related to diabetes self-care management. The aims of the study were to gather essential information in order to develop appropriate intervention techniques and inform future studies intended to understand the psychosocial experiences of youths with T2DM.

Methods: Eight adolescents diagnosed with T2DM were recruited from an outpatient pediatric diabetes clinic at a Midwestern children's hospital.

Veterans service organization engagement in 'POWER,' a peer-led hypertension intervention.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of program factors on participant engagement in POWER, a peer-led intervention designed to reduce hypertension, increase hypertension knowledge, and improve other relevant health behaviors, such as diet and exercise, among US veterans involved in veterans service organizations throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

Methods: Two hundred and nineteen hypertensive members from 58 VSOs participated in a year-long peer-led intervention designed to improve hypertension knowledge, disease self-management behaviors, and health outcomes. This study represents a qualitative evaluation of post and participant engagement in this intervention.