Using the common sense model of self-regulation to understand the relationship between symptom reporting and trait negative affect.

Background/purpose: Based on the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation, we examined if the relationship of trait NA to physical symptom reporting was moderated by life events and illness representations.

Methods: This relationship was examined using a cross-sectional dataset of 554 elderly adults.

Results: A significant three-way interaction demonstrated that individuals who reported the greatest severity of physical symptoms were higher in trait NA, and reported more life events and a chronic illness history.

An intervention to reduce postpartum depressive symptoms: a randomized controlled trial.

Depressive symptoms and depression are a common complication of childbirth, and a growing body of literature suggests that there are modifiable factors associated with their occurrence. We developed a behavioral educational intervention targeting these factors and successfully reduced postpartum depressive symptoms in a randomized trial among low-income black and Latina women. We now report results of 540 predominantly white, high-income mothers in a second randomized trial.

Why do comparative assessments predict health? The role of self-assessed health in the formation of comparative health judgments.

Objective: Research has shown that self-assessments of health are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality regardless of format (i.e., self or comparative).

Measurement invariance of the SF-12 across European-American, Latina, and African-American postpartum women.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a postpartum-specific version of the SF-12 was invariant across three ethnic groups. Specifically, we examined the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) among European-American, Latina, and African-American mothers. DIF refers to differential endorsement of item responses that are not due to the construct being measured.

Heterogeneity in depression symptoms and health status among older adults.

Objectives: We assessed whether distinct classes of depression symptoms could be identified. In addition, we determined how these classes differed in terms of health status.

Methods: Data were analyzed with latent profile analysis.

Modern health worries, health care utilization, and symptom reporting: a cross-cultural comparison.

Perception of risk to personal health from features of modern life and technology is increasing across the globe. We investigated whether these concerns exist in the Turkish setting in the same degree and whether symptom reports mediate the relationship between modern health worries (MHWs) and health care utilization in the UK and Turkish settings. A total of 506 University of St Andrews students and a total of 424 Turkish university students in Istanbul Bilgi University participated in the study.

Association between self-monitoring of blood glucose and diet among minority patients with diabetes.

Background: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is used to regulate glucose control. It is unknown whether SMBG can motivate adherence to dietary recommendations. We predicted that participants who used more SMBG would also report lower fat and greater fruit and vegetable consumption.

Factor structure and longitudinal invariance of the Medical Adherence Report Scale-Asthma.

Adequate assessment of adherence to medical treatment is critical for both research purposes and clinical practice. This study examined the factor structure and longitudinal invariance of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-A10) in a sample of asthmatic patients. We examined longitudinal data from 294 inner-city, adult participants with moderate to severe asthma.

Lack of preparation, physical health after childbirth, and early postpartum depressive symptoms.

Background: Prior research has not examined the association of patient expectations or preparation by providers for the postpartum experience with depressive symptoms. We investigated whether lack of preparation for the postpartum experience and physical health after uncomplicated childbirth were associated with early postpartum depressive symptoms.

Methods: We conducted a telephone survey of 720 early postpartum mothers in New York City.

Modifiable factors associated with changes in postpartum depressive symptoms.

Up to 50% of mothers report postpartum depressive symptoms yet providers do a poor job predicting and preventing their occurrence. Our goal was to identify modifiable factors (situational triggers and buffers) associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Observational prospective cohort telephone study of 563 mothers interviewed at 2 weeks and 6 months postpartum.

Measurement invariance of the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire across African-American and Latino adult asthma patients.

Purpose: This study tested the factorial and measurement invariance of the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ) in a sample of Latino and African-American asthmatic patients.

Methods: We used confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to examine data from adult outpatients diagnosed with asthma (n = 265). We proceeded by examining the original factor structure of the MiniAQLQ in the whole sample.

Distinct trajectories of perinatal depressive symptomatology: evidence from growth mixture modeling.

Although heterogeneity in the timing and persistence of maternal depressive symptomatology has implications for screening and treatment as well as associated maternal and child health outcomes, little is known about this variability. A prospective observational study of 1,735 low-income, multiethnic, inner-city women recruited in pregnancy from 2000 to 2002 and followed prospectively until 2004 (1 prenatal and 3 postpartum interviews) was used to determine whether distinct trajectories of depressive symptomatology can be defined from pregnancy through 2 years postpartum. Analysis was carried out through general growth mixture modeling.

Psychological factors influencing self-assessments of health: toward an understanding of the mechanisms underlying how people rate their own health.

Background: Research in the past 20 years has shown that self-assessed health (SAH) is a consistent and reliable predictor of health outcomes. However, it is still unclear what factors are responsible for the association of SAH with mortality and other objective health indicators.

Purpose: This study examined the impact of trait positive affect, trait negative affect, and functional limitations (FL) on SAH cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Using the common sense model to design interventions for the prevention and management of chronic illness threats: from description to process.

In this article, we discuss how one might use the common sense model of self-regulation (CSM) for developing interventions for improving chronic illness management. We argue that features of that CSM such as its dynamic, self-regulative (feedback) control feature and its system structure provide an important basis for patient-centered interventions. We describe two separate, ongoing interventions with patients with diabetes and asthma to demonstrate the adaptability of the CSM.

Elucidating the relationship between negative affectivity and symptoms: the role of illness-specific affective responses.

Background: More than 20 years of research confirm a positive association of trait negative affect (NA) with reports of physical symptoms. As the mechanisms underlying the association of trait NA and symptom reporting have not been identified, the meaning of the association remains unclear.

Purpose: We attempted to clarify the processes underlying this association by examining the relationship of trait NA and illness-specific worry to both vague, general symptoms and illness-specific symptoms.

Depression as a predictor of perceived social support and demand: a componential approach using a prospective sample of older adults.

This study examined the relationship of the cognitive, mood, and somatic components of depression on perceptions of social support and social demand among older adults (n = 851) over two years. Factor-analyses confirmed the factor structure of our multicomponential model of depression. Results supported our proposal that interpersonal specificity, as measured by depressive cognition about self and others, is important to predicting changes in perceived support and demand over time.

Racial and ethnic differences in factors associated with early postpartum depressive symptoms.

Objective: To explore racial differences in reporting of early postpartum depressive symptoms. To explore whether racial differences in early postpartum experience (such as mother's health status and social context) might account for racial differences in reported postpartum depressive symptoms.

Methods: This was a telephone survey of 655 white, African-American, and Hispanic mothers between 2 and 6 weeks postpartum.

Trait negative affect relates to prior-week symptoms, but not to reports of illness episodes, illness symptoms, and care seeking among older persons.

Objective: Use the commonsense model of self-regulation to generate and test hypotheses about the relationships of trait negative affect (NA) and self-assessed health (SAH) to reports of current symptoms (acute and chronic), episodes of illness, and use of health care during illness in a sample of elderly, community-dwelling respondents. Trait NA and SAH were compared with the properties of the illness episodes in models predicting the use of medical care.

Methods: Data were obtained from two successive annual interviews (N = 790 and 719, respectively) conducted with elderly respondents (mean age = 73 years).