Optimism, Pessimism, Coping, and Depression: A Study on Individuals With Parkinson's Disease.

Few published studies exist on how individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) deal with their disease. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between optimism, pessimism, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms in individuals with PD. Specifically, we assessed the possible mediator role of optimism and pessimism on the relation between coping strategies and depressive symptoms in those with PD.

Optimism, well-being, depressive symptoms, and perceived physical health: a study among Stroke survivors.

The investigation of the relation of positive personality characteristics to mental and physical health among Stroke survivors has been a neglected area of research. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between optimism, well-being, depressive symptoms, and perceived physical health among Stroke survivors. It was hypothesized that Stroke survivors' optimism would explain variance in their physical health above and beyond the variance explained by demographic variables, diagnostic variables, and mental health.

Optimism, mental health, and quality of life: a study among breast cancer patients.

Fifty one breast cancer patients participated in a cross-sectional study developed to assess the relation between their level of optimism, positive and negative mental health, and their quality of life. Patients were measured with the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC). T-tests revealed that these breast cancer patients reported more optimism than pessimism, more positive than negative mental health, and the majority of the sample reported doing well on each qualify life domain of the FLIC.

Dynamic Factor Analysis Models With Time-Varying Parameters.

Dynamic factor analysis models with time-varying parameters offer a valuable tool for evaluating multivariate time series data with time-varying dynamics and/or measurement properties. We use the Dynamic Model of Activation proposed by Zautra and colleagues (Zautra, Potter, & Reich, 1997) as a motivating example to construct a dynamic factor model with vector autoregressive relations and time-varying cross-regression parameters at the factor level. Using techniques drawn from the state-space literature, the model was fitted to a set of daily affect data (over 71 days) from 10 participants who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Women with heart disease: can the common-sense model of illness help?

Noncompliance with cardiac rehabilitation programs is a major concern for female coronary heart disease patients. In this article I argue for the use of the common-sense model of illness in developing interventions to increase compliance with cardiac rehabilitation programs among women with heart disease. First, the common-sense model of illness is discussed.

Age, pain, and coping with rheumatoid arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of age and pain severity (i.e. mild versus severe pain) in predicting coping strategies of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).