Personality and Spirituality as Predictors of Mental Health and Salivary Alpha-Amylase Activity in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Objectives: To determine the relative predictive validity of personality and spirituality for mental health and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) in breast cancer (BC) survivors.

Sample & Setting: 23 BC survivors participated in a single-group, cross-sectional study.

Methods & Variables: Predictor variables included personality and spiritual variables.

Physiological acclimation of elk during population restoration in the Missouri Ozarks, USA.

Conservation translocations-the intentional movement of animals to restore populations-have increased over the past 30 years to halt and reverse species declines and losses. However, there are many challenges translocated animals face that should be considered for restoration programs to be successful. Understanding how long it takes for translocated animals to acclimate to these challenges and their new landscape is a critical component of post-release population management.

Associations between religious and spiritual variables and neuroimmune activity in survivors of breast cancer: a feasibility study.

Purpose: Chronic stress is associated with neuroimmune inflammation and adverse outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Some breast cancer survivors rely on religious and spiritual (R/S) variables to manage stress after breast cancer treatment. A spiritually based psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) model of health suggests that R/S variables influence neuroimmune activity; however, these associations are not well-established.

Rural-Urban Differences in Neuroimmune Biomarkers and Health Status Among Women Living With Breast Cancer.

Background: Because of chronic emotional and psychosocial stressors following breast cancer (BC) treatment, BC survivors are at risk of neuroimmune dysfunction in survivorship. Rural BC survivors experience more health disparities than urban BC survivors. Rural-urban residence as a variable on neuroimmune activity in extended BC survivorship continuum has not been explored.

Religiousness, Spirituality, and Salivary Cortisol in Breast Cancer Survivorship: A Pilot Study.

Background: Psychoneuroimmunological theory suggests a physiological relationship exists between stress, psychosocial-behavioral factors, and neuroendocrine-immune outcomes; however, evidence has been limited.

Objective: The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine feasibility and acceptability of a salivary cortisol self-collection protocol with a mail-back option for breast cancer survivors. A secondary aim was to examine relationships between religiousness/spirituality (R/S), perceptions of health, and diurnal salivary cortisol (DSC) as a proxy measure for neuroendocrine activity.