Dimensional and social comparisons in a health fitness context.

Whereas prior research has found that people are influenced by both internal (e.g., dimensional) and external (e.

Tendencies for Comparing Up and Down: An Examination of the Directional Subscales of the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure.

People vary in their individual tendencies to compare to others-referred to as social comparison orientation (SCO). Researchers have heretofore developed and validated a scale to assess SCO-the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM). The standard INCOM assesses non-directional comparisons, but not directional comparisons to better- and worse-off others.

The prospective relations of substance use frequency to social distancing behaviors and intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of social distancing self-efficacy.

To identify factors that increase risk for nonadherence to recommended health protective behaviors during pandemics, this study examined the prospective relations of substance use frequency to both adherence to social distancing recommendations and social distancing intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the role of social distancing self-efficacy in these relations. A U.S.

An experimental investigation of the affect regulating properties of sugar consumption: Examining the roles of socially-oriented positive and negative affect.

Obesity is a major public health concern, and sugar consumption is a key risk factor for obesity. Thus, there is a need to identify factors that may increase motivation to consume sugar. One such factor may be negative affect, as research has shown that negative affect increases motivation for and engagement in appetitive behaviors, including sugar consumption.

The impact of stay-at-home orders on vulnerability assessments and precautionary intentions during a pandemic.

In 2020, a novel emerging infectious disease - COVID-19 - became a global pandemic and prompted unprecedented social distancing measures. We examined the associations of voluntary stay-at-home (SAH) orders during the COVID-19 pandemic with vulnerability assessments and precautionary intentions (e.g.

Absolute and comparative risk assessments: evidence for the utility of incorporating internal comparisons into models of risk perception.

Numerous health behavior models have emphasized absolute risk perceptions as prominent predictors of future behavior and intentions, but more recent research has shown that people also attend to risk information. While most research highlights (social) comparisons as the primary way people contextualize risk, it is also possible that people use comparisons, such as comparing their current risk to their past risk (temporal comparisons) or comparing their risk for one health threat to their risk for another health threat (dimensional comparisons). The current research sought to examine differences in absolute, external, and internal comparative risk perceptions across a variety of health threats.

The prospective influence of COVID-19 affective risk assessments and intolerance of uncertainty on later dimensions of health anxiety.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to increase risk for the development of health anxiety. Given that elevated health anxiety can contribute to maladaptive health behaviors, there is a need to identify individual difference factors that may increase health anxiety risk. This study examined the unique and interactive relations of COVID-19 affective risk assessments (worry about risk for contracting/dying from COVID-19) and intolerance of uncertainty to later health anxiety dimensions.

Psychological Outcomes Associated with Stay-at-Home Orders and the Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Daily Life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the widespread implementation of extraordinary physical distancing interventions (e.g., stay-at-home orders) to slow the spread of the virus.

Examining Relationships between Gender, Opioid Dependence, and Distress Tolerance among Patients in Substance Use Disorder Treatment.

: Opioid abuse/dependence is associated with multiple negative outcomes relative to other forms of substance abuse/dependence, including relapse. Research identifying modifiable characteristics associated with opioid dependence and associated negative outcomes may inform the development of targeted interventions for this high-risk population. One factor warranting investigation is low distress tolerance (DT).

Examining the impact of online rejection among emerging adults with borderline personality pathology: Development of a novel online group chat social rejection paradigm.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by emotional reactivity and interpersonal sensitivity, including greater emotional and cognitive reactivity to social rejection than controls. However, existing social rejection paradigms are not relevant to the particular social contexts that are increasingly relevant for adolescents and young adults (i.e.

Cross-sectional evaluation of perceived health care provider engagement, self-efficacy, and ART adherence in people living with HIV/AIDS.

Despite advancements in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains suboptimal. Research indicates that health care provider (HCP) engagement is related to adherence, yet little is known about the specific pathways that underlie this relation. This cross-sectional study examined the relation between perceived HCP engagement and ART adherence in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), as well as the role of adherence self-efficacy in this relation.

Predicting attrition in long-term residential substance use disorder treatment: A modifiable risk factors perspective.

Although numerous factors are associated with attrition in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, many are unmodifiable and therefore difficult to target in efforts to improve treatment outcomes. The current study sought to identify the strongest and most modifiable predictors of attrition in long-term residential SUD treatment from myriad characteristics associated with treatment termination. Archival data were examined for 2,069 adults (74% male; 38% non-Hispanic White) who entered a long-term residential SUD treatment facility between January 2010 and June 2016.

Management of vaginal agenesis.

Purpose Of Review: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome is undergoing new research outcomes involving genetics and management.

Recent Findings: Recent literature supports a polygenic multifactorial genetic basis for the syndrome. Management is now predominantly by vaginal dilators and nonsurgical, but holistic.

Australian diagnostic reference levels for multi detector computed tomography.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is undertaking web based surveys to obtain data to establish national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for diagnostic imaging. The first set of DRLs to be established are for multi detector computed tomography (MDCT). The survey samples MDCT dosimetry metrics: dose length product (DLP, mGy.

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: a review of 245 consecutive cases managed by a multidisciplinary approach with vaginal dilators.

Objective: To understand the efficacy of vaginal dilators in the management of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome.

Design: Retrospective sequential study.

Setting: Hospital.

Horner's syndrome with epidural anaesthesia.

A 29-year-old woman, primigravida, had labour induced for post-maturity following an uncomplicated antenatal course. She requested an epidural prior to commencement of syntocinon. This was administered in the sitting position without complication.

Psychological distress in women with uterovaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, MRKH).

Background: Uterovaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome; MRKH) is a congenital nonformation of the vagina and the uterus, but with normal ovaries.

Objective: The authors investigated the psychological impact of this disorder, about which very little is known.

Method: A group of 66 women with MRKH were compared with 31 control-group women on a range of self-rating scales assessing psychological distress and self-esteem.

A cognitive behavioural model and therapy for utero-vaginal agenesis (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: MRKH).

Background: Utero-vaginal agenesis, also called the Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome (MRKH), is a congenital abnormality of the female genital tract, characterized by the non-formation of the vagina and the uterus. It is a common cause of primary amenorrhoea. Little is known about the psychological impact and management of this condition.

Preconception transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report pregnancy outcome and complication rates for women with recurrent late pregnancy loss who were treated with preconception transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage.

Study Design: This was a case note review of 19 women at high risk for second trimester loss and early preterm delivery who were treated with preconception transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital from 1994 to 2003.

Results: Preconception transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage was associated with a postoperative fetal survival rate of 100% for pregnancies that reached >12 weeks of gestation, compared with a preoperative fetal survival rate of 12%.

Congenital malformations of the genital tract and their management.

While congenital malformations of the genital tract are not common, the sequelae of their presence can be serious. The practising gynaecologist must be aware of the range of congenital abnormalities that may occur and the symptoms that may result from them. Failure to manage these patients correctly may have long-term sequelae for their psychological, sexual and reproductive health.

Pediatric and adolescent gynecology--the UK experience.

This review looks at the history of the establishment of pediatric and adolescent gynecology in the United Kingdom and, having addressed the chronology, sets the service in the context of the current health care system. The National Health Service does not provide an environment that encourages the delivery of this care in a structured way. There are some specialist services that are provided by central government, one of which addresses one part of pediatric and adolescent gynecology, but currently the services are relatively haphazard and delivered by individuals who have acquired knowledge and skills over time rather than in a structured training way.