Mutuality and the social regulation of neural threat responding.

Recent studies have shown that the presence of a caring relational partner can attenuate neural responses to threat. Here we report reanalyzed data from Coan, Schaefer, and Davidson ( 2006 ), investigating the role of relational mutuality in the neural response to threat. Mutuality reflects the degree to which couple members show mutual interest in the sharing of internal feelings, thoughts, aspirations, and joys - a vital form of responsiveness in attachment relationships.

Naturalistically observed swearing, emotional support, and depressive symptoms in women coping with illness.

Objective: The goal of this study was to explore the intra- and interpersonal consequences of swearing. Specifically, it investigated what implications swearing has for coping with and adjustment to illness.

Methods: The present project combined data from two pilot studies of 13 women with rheumatoid arthritis and 21 women with breast cancer.

Naturalistically observed sighing and depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a preliminary study.

Objective: This study tested the degree to which naturalistically observed sighing in daily life is a behavioral indicator of depression and reported physical symptoms (i.e., experienced pain and flare days) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Mutuality's prospective beneficial effects on inflammation in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Supportive close relationships are important for health. Mutuality, the reciprocal sharing of thoughts and feelings in close relationships, is linked with better outcomes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in cross-sectional data. Hypothesizing that mutuality has a beneficial impact on inflammation, we tested potentially causal relations of couple mutuality with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in prospective data.

A comparison of strength training, self-management, and the combination for early osteoarthritis of the knee.

Objective: To assess the relative effectiveness of combining self-management and strength training for improving functional outcomes in patients with early knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: We conducted a randomized intervention trial lasting 24 months at an academic medical center. Community-dwelling middle-aged adults (n = 273) ages 35-64 years with knee osteoarthritis, pain, and self-reported physical disability completed a strength training program, a self-management program, or a combined program.

Coping self-efficacy as a mediator between catastrophizing and physical functioning: treatment target selection in an osteoarthritis sample.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative effects of coping self-efficacy and catastrophizing on physical functioning. Over a 9-month period, studying changes in self-efficacy as possible mediator between catastrophizing changes and physical functioning changes might provide evidence for the most promising treatment target. Data came from a randomized, longitudinal controlled trial comparing exercise, self-management and the two combined to treat 254 individuals with early knee osteoarthritis.

Progressive resistance training improves overall physical activity levels in patients with early osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Prescription of resistance training (RT) exercises is an essential aspect of management for knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, whether patients with knee OA who are randomly assigned to receive RT simply substitute RT for other modes of physical activity remains unclear.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a structured RT intervention on overall levels of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in patients with early-onset knee OA.

Physical activity levels in patients with early knee osteoarthritis measured by accelerometry.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) is recommended for osteoarthritis (OA) management to reduce pain and improve function. The purpose of this study was to objectively assess the level and pattern of PA in male and female knee OA patients to determine adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American College of Sports Medicine and Exercise and Physical Activity Conference recommendations for PA.

Methods: Early OA patients (n = 255, 76% women, mean +/- SD age 54.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients' perceptions of mutuality in conversations with spouses/partners and their links with psychological and physical health.

Objective: Mutuality, measured as subjects' perceptions of responsiveness in conversations with their spouse/partners, is linked with women's psychological health. Our objectives were to examine physical and psychological health outcomes of married/partnered patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to their perceptions of their own responsiveness (self-mutuality), their partner's responsiveness (partner-mutuality), and combined responsiveness (overall mutuality), and to examine potential sex differences in the links between mutuality and depressive symptoms.

Methods: Symptoms of depression and anxiety, physical disability, and arthritis impact reported by RA patients were examined in correlation matrices with their perceptions of overall mutuality, partner-mutuality, and self-mutuality in conversations with spouses/partners in the whole sample (n = 148) and separately for men (n = 34) and women (n = 114).

A multicenter, randomized, open study to evaluate the impact of an electronic data capture system on the care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To examine the impact of an electronic data capture system on patient satisfaction and patient-physician interactions in a rheumatology clinical setting.

Study Design: In this multicenter study, 1079 patients with rheumatoid arthritis completed questionnaires quarterly about their health and satisfaction with care using a computer. At 6 months, 901 eligible patients were randomized 2:1 to receive or not to receive graphical summarized health information or Health Tracker (HT) reports.

Optimal health and well-being for women: definitions and strategies derived from focus groups of women.

Women participating in focus groups were asked how they define health and well-being, and what strategies they would suggest for health optimization. Women defined health and well-being largely in terms of relationships. Their strategies for improving health involved enhancement of the quality of relationships with families, partners, and community.