Contribution Of Psychosocial Factors Research Articles

Adolescents who are frequent attenders to primary care: contribution of psychosocial factors

Frequent attendance to primary care services has shown an association with psychosocial factors in adult and child populations. Little is known about the psychosocial correlates of attendance in adolescents. To study the contribution of psychosocial factors to frequent primary care attendance in a community sample of young British people. The method used was a cross-sectional survey of 1,251 secondary school pupils, using self-report questionnaires for socio-demographic, physical and psychological health data. A total of 1,116 pupils [mean age 13.51 years (SD 1.5), 52% female] completed questionnaires and provided information about contact with their general practitioner (GP) in the previous year; 30% were frequent attenders (≥4 appointments). Frequent attenders were significantly younger; they were more likely to come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, report significantly more past and current physical problems, have more hospital visits in the previous year, have more recent intense somatic symptoms made worse by stress and causing impairment, and have more days off school. Frequent attendance was also significantly associated with the presence of emotional symptoms and a history of mental health consultations. Logistic regression analysis identified seeing a hospital doctor, current illness, having days off school, a history of mental health consultations and younger age as independent predictors of frequent attendance. In addition to physical health problems, social factors and psychiatric difficulty are linked to and require attention in young people who are frequent attenders at primary care health services.

Psychosocial Predictors Of Involvement Of Women As Victims Of Trafficking In Persons In South West Nigeria

This study investigated psychosocial predictors of involvement of women as victims of human trafficking using. This descriptive study had four independent variables- “coping strategies”, “self-esteem” “risk taking attitude” and “social support”. The dependent variable was involvement of women as victims of trafficking in persons. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 participants from Lagos and Ogun States for this study. Four survey instruments were adopted in this study – The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Domain–Specific Risk-Taking Attitude Scale (RAS) and Involvement in Trafficking in Person Scale (ITPS) was developed by this researcher Two hypotheses were tested and findings indicated significant combined and relative contributions of psychosocial factors identified as predictors of involvement of women as victims of trafficking in persons. These findings emphasized the roles of communities in preventing rather than punishing the crime of human trafficking .The young girls that were denied necessary social support either perceived or tangible might have high propensity to take risk, have poor self esteem and adopt emotional coping strategies. This situation coupled with high level of poverty serve as plausible to fall prey or enticed by the bait of traffickers. It was recommended that various government agencies and parastatal should ensure enforcement of compulsory universal basic education, discourage disparity against girl child education and educate family exposing children to danger through cultural practices such as child fostering. Gender and Behaviour Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 1480-1493

Number and cost of claims linked to minor cervical trauma in Europe: results from the comparative study by CEA, AREDOC and CEREDOC

Comparative epidemiological study of minor cervical spine trauma (frequently referred to as whiplash injury) based on data from the Comité Européen des Assurances (CEA) gathered in ten European countries. To determine the incidence and expenditure (e.g., for assessment, treatment or claims) for minor cervical spine injury in the participating countries. Controversy still surrounds the basis on which symptoms following minor cervical spine trauma may develop. In particular, there is considerable disagreement with regard to a possible contribution of psychosocial factors in determining outcome. The role of compensation is also a source of constant debate. The method followed here is the comparison of the data from different areas of interest (e.g., incidence of minor cervical spine trauma, percentage of minor cervical spine trauma in relationship to the incidence of bodily trauma, costs for assessment or claims) from ten European countries. Considerable differences exist regarding the incidence of minor cervical spine trauma and related costs in participating countries. France and Finland have the lowest and Great Britain the highest incidence of minor cervical spine trauma. The number of claims following minor cervical spine trauma in Switzerland is around the European average; however, Switzerland has the highest expenditure per claim at an average cost of €35,000.00 compared to the European average of €9,000.00. Furthermore, the mandatory accident insurance statistics in Switzerland show very large differences between German-speaking and French- or Italian-speaking parts of the country. In the latter the costs for minor cervical spine trauma expanded more than doubled in the period from 1990 to 2002, whereas in the German-speaking part they rose by a factor of five. All the countries participating in the study have a high standard of medical care. The differences in claims frequency and costs must therefore reflect a social phenomenon based on the different cultural attitudes and medical approach to the problem including diagnosis. In Switzerland, therefore, new ways must be found to try to resolve the problem. The claims treatment model known as “Case Management” represents a new approach in which accelerated social and professional reintegration of the injured party is attempted. The CEA study emphasizes the fundamental role of medicine in that it postulates a clear division between the role of the attending physician and the medical expert. It also draws attention to the need to train medical professionals in the insurance business to the extent that they can interact adequately with insurance professionals. The results of this study indicate that the usefulness of the criterion of so-called typical clinical symptoms, which is at present applied by the courts to determine natural causality and has long been under debate, is inappropriate and should be replaced by objective assessment (e.g. accident and biomechanical analysis). In addition, the legal concept of adequate causality should be interpreted in the same way in both third party liability and social security law, which is currently not the case.

The contribution of psychosocial factors to allostatic load

The contribution of psychosocial factors to allostatic load

Determinants of chronic disability related to low back pain: Towards an integrative biopsychosocial model

Purpose : Since the early 1990s, numerous prospective studies have been published on the determinants of chronic disability related to low back pain (LBP) of non-specific origin whose human and financial costs are enormous. The significant contribution of psychosocial factors is being increasingly recognized. However, additional efforts are needed to clarify their role and to improve the interventions. The purpose of this theoretical paper is to propose a coherent organization of the medical and psychosocial determinants identified in prospective studies into a conceptual framework. Method : Several models available in the field of pain and disability as well as in health psychology were reviewed. Results : A recent version of the stress coping model was chosen and adapted to the problem. The adapted model suggests that stress, particularly that caused by the pain associated with LBP, could have a negative impact on the outcome either: (1) indirectly through the negative emotional responses that it produces, which can cause biological or behavioural changes; or (2) directly through the biological or behavioural changes, which can in turn negatively affect the emotional response. Conclusions : The proposed biopsychosocial model assumes that LBP-related chronic disability is possibly, in some cases, a stress-related disorder. Its empirical verification in LBP could particularly improve the understanding of the interrelationships between certain variables.

Psychosocial Predictors of Mental Health in a Population of Elderly Women Test of an Explanatory Model

The understanding of adjustment to aging calls for models that illustrate the interaction of psychosocial and health factors. The authors surveyed a group of retired Catholic sisters, examining the contributions of psychosocial factors and religiousness to life satisfaction, psychological distress, and depression. Life satisfaction was best explained by a four-factor model that included mastery, social support, physical functioning, and religious commitment. General level of distress was best predicted by physical functioning, social support, and mastery, but not religiousness. Depression, on the other hand, was predicted by mastery, social support, and religious commitment. These data are consistent with a proposed model in which internal, external, and coping resources mediate the psychological impact of impaired functional status.

Psychosocial factors in pregnancy and the experience of labor: A prospective study

A prospective study of the contribution of psychosocial factors to obstetric outcome is reported. This is the first stage of a longitudinal predictive study of difficulties in the mother-infant relationship. One hundred and forty-three women were interviewed during pregnancy using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction. A strong relationship was found between mode of delivery and the woman's perceptions of the mothering she received during childhood. Women who saw their mothers as less caring were more likely to have unassisted vaginal deliveries while those who saw their mother as overprotective were more likely to have their babies delivered by Cacsarean section.

Postpartum depression: A critical review.

The available literature on postpartum depression has failed to distinguish among the maternity blues, postpartum affective psychoses, and mild to moderate postpartum depression. Mild to moderate postpartum depression, which is similar to an untreated nonpostpartum clinical depression, merits further study for two reasons. First, it is a relatively common disorder, affecting as many as 20% of new mothers, and it has clear ramifications for the well-being of women and their infants. Second, the study of postpartum depression offers a unique opportunity to clarify the relation between a specific stressor (the birth of a child) and the development of psychiatric illness. Previous research on postpartum depression is reviewed and critically evaluated. Methodological and conceptual shortcomings of existing studies have resulted in inconsistent findings, which in turn have prevented the development of a coherent theoretical framework for understanding the etiology, course, and treatment of this disorder. Because recent data indicate a relation between stress and depression, one promising area for further research is the contribution of psychosocial factors, specifically life events and social support, to postpartum depression. Recommendations that may lead to the development of a comprehensive theoretical model of this disorder are proposed for future research.