Predictors Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

Perceived social support as an offshoot of attachment style

Questionnaires were completed by college students ( N=182), with the purpose of examining the role of adult attachment and social support as predictors of psychological distress. Factor analyses of the attachment and social support measures yielded three factors for attachment (Preoccupation, Avoidance, Dismissiveness), and two for social support (Intimate, Casual). Both types of support were significant zero-order predictors of distress, but intimate support effects were rendered non-significant when attachment style was controlled for. In contrast, attachment style (Preoccupation) exerted a significant additional effect after social support was controlled for. Analyses of interactions suggested that Preoccupation reduces the effect of Intimate Support, while Avoidance enhances the effect of Casual Support. These results support the hypothesis that perceived social support, and particularly Intimate Support is, to a large extent, a by-product of attachment style, but also point towards possible moderator effects of attachment style upon the impact of support.

Trauma Events, Residence in Refugee Camps, and Educational Attainment as Predictors of Trauma Symptoms of Albanian Refugees in Macedonia

Adult members of 79 Albanian families who had fled from Kosovo to Macedonia during the immediate postwar period (June–August 1999) were interviewed. In conjunction with therapeutic intervention, the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the General Health Questionnaire (GTQ) were administered. Trauma symptoms as measured by the HTQ and psychological distress as measured by the GHQ were highly correlated. The best predictor of psychological distress was severity of the trauma experienced. Refugees with high educational attainment had fewer trauma symptoms than those with lower educational attainment. Refugees who lived with host families in towns showed fewer trauma symptoms than those who lived in camps, but they were also more highly educated. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses suggested that educational attainment may mediate the effect of place of residence. Educational attainment may be an indicator of resourceful and effective coping strategies that ameliorate the effects of trauma.

Gender Role Internalization, Multiple Roles, and Chinese Women's Mental Health

The influence of gender role internalization as a moderator in the relationship between women's multiple roles and psychological distress was investigated. Study 1 identified three components of gender role internalization, which were labeled “Traditional Ideal Person,” “Self-Sacrifice,” and “Competence Without Complaint,” and found that it did not, overlap with existing gender-typed measures among 128 female Chinese university students. The multidimensionality of gender role internalization was confirmed in Study 2 among a sample of 225 women in the paid Hong Kong workforce. As expected, role quality was a better predictor of psychological distress than role quantity. Gender role internalization accounted for significant portions of explained variance even after taking role quality into account. Internalization of Traditional Ideal Person and Competence Without Complaint messages exacerbated distress in certain areas when role quality was low. However, internalization of Self-Sacrifice messages mitigated distress for Chinese women with low work quality.

Stress, social support, and coping as predictors of depressive symptoms: Gender differences among Mexican Americans

The authors investigated stress, coping responses, and social support variables as predictors of psychological distress among 171 Mexican American men and women. The study tested hypotheses positing gender differences in the rates of depressive symptoms as well as differences in factors associated with depressive symptoms. Stepwise regression analyses were conducted for the total sample and separately for each gender. Data indicate that although men and women did not differ significantly in terms of the rate of depressive symptoms, they did differ in terms of the sources of stress and social support associated with depression. The study underscores the need to examine sociocultural phenomenon in the stress-coping-outcome paradigm.

Prediction of psychological distress in young offenders

Purpose. This study was designed to evaluate the extent to which, and how, anxiety and depression could be predicted among incarcerated male young offenders.Methods. In a two‐stage prospective study over 3 months, scores on new ‘Stress’ and ‘Coping’ scales designed specifically for present purposes using information given by the offenders themselves were, together with first stages scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ‐R Short Scale; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1975), the Culture‐Free Self‐Esteem Inventory (CFSEI Second Edition; Battle, 1981), the Emotion Control Questionnaire (ECQ2; Roger & Najarian, 1989) and the Coping Styles, Questionnaire (CSQ; Roger, Jarvis, & Najarian, 1993) regressed on second stages scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; Zigmond & Snaith, 1983).Results. HADS Anxiety scores were accounted for by scores on the new ‘Stress’ questionnaire, Aggression Control, and an interaction of ‘Stress’ scores with Rational coping. HADS Depression scores were accounted for by ‘Stress’ scores, EPQ Extraversion and an interaction of ‘Stress’, EPQ Extraversion and EPQ Liar scores. In addition, a three‐component interaction term comprising ‘Stress’, ‘Coping’ and EPQ Psychoticism scores predicted both anxiety and depression. The implications of this interaction are explored in detail.Conclusions. The results have important repercussions for the psychological well‐being of incarcerated young offenders, some of whom are vulnerable and possibly prone to parasuicidal behaviour. Fundamental changes in the young offender culture are a preferred option in mitigating the psychological effects of detention than the encouragement of coping behaviour which is not conducive with rehabilitation.

Functional impairment, marital quality, and patient psychological distress as predictors of psychological distress among cancer patients' spouses.

This study investigated contextual determinants of psychological distress among 197 spouses of cancer patients. It was hypothesized that higher levels of patient functional impairment would lead to greater patient distress. Patient distress, in turn, would lead to lower spouse marital satisfaction and ultimately to higher spouse distress. Spouses completed measures of distress and marital quality at three time points. Cancer patients rated their functional impairment and psychological distress at the same time points. Results indicated that at all time points, greater patient impairment was associated with higher levels of patient distress, which, in turn, was related to lower marital satisfaction. However, marital quality was related to spouse distress at only 1 time point, but spouse distress was directly associated with patient distress at each time point. Implications for cancer patients and spouses are discussed.

Functional impairment, marital quality, and patient psychological distress as predictors of psychological distress among cancer patients' spouses.

Functional impairment, marital quality, and patient psychological distress as predictors of psychological distress among cancer patients' spouses.

Predictors of psychological distress following serious injury.

Posttraumatic psychological distress was assessed in 109 survivors of serious physical injury during acute hospitalization and at 3 months postdischarge. Participants had an average of 4.4 injuries, with a mean injury severity score of 15.5, denoting moderate to severe injuries. Using the Impact of Event Scale (IES), the mean total IES score in-hospital was 22.5 and at 3 months postdischarge was 30.6. Approximately 32% of individuals experienced high levels of distress in-hospital, and this increased to 49% at 3 months postdischarge. The regression model that best explained the variance in posttraumatic psychological distress at 3 months postdischarge included greater psychological distress during hospitalization, a positive drug/alcohol screen on hospital admission, younger age, and the lack of anticipating problems returning to normal life activities. These findings suggest that factors present during acute hospitalization may be used to identify individuals at risk for increased psychological distress, several months following serious physical injury.

Social Motives, Social Support, and Distress in Gay Men Differing in HIV Status

Intimacy motivation, power motivation, and perceived social support were examined as predictors of psychological distress in gay men who were HIV− (N = 38), who had AIDS (N = 39), or who were HIV+ but did not have AIDS (N = 48). Social motives were assessed using Emmons' (1986) personal strivings methodology. Multiple-regression analyses revealed that Intimacy Striving and Perceived Social Support were inversely related to distress, but Power Striving was positively related to distress. The effect of Power Striving was especially strong in the group of HIV+ individuals who did not have AIDS. Perceived Social Support mediated the relation of Intimacy Striving to distress; that is, gay men in the HIV+ and AIDS groups with high levels of Intimacy Striving were more likely to perceive that social support was available to them and in turn reported less psychological distress.

Faculty stressors, job satisfaction, and psychological distress among university teachers in Hong Kong: The role of locus of control.

The study aimed at identifying the sources of stress, and investigating their effects on job satisfaction and psychological distress among 106 university teachers (86 males, 20 females) from four tertiary institutes in Hong Kong. Another purpose of the study was to examine the moderating effect of locus of control on stressor-strain relationships. A factor analysis of the faculty stressors revealed six factors: recognition, perceived organizational practices, factors intrinsic to teaching, financial inadequacy, home/work interface, and new challenge. A series of stepwise multiple regressions demonstrated that recognition, perceived organizational practices, and financial inadequacy were best predictors of job satisfaction, whereas perceived organizational practices and home/work interface were the best predictors of psychological distress. Further, external locus of control was associated with low job satisfaction and psychological distress. A series of hierarchical moderated regressions demonstrated a moderating effect of locus of control on some of the stressor-strain relationships.

Comparison of knowledge and psychological well-being between patients with a short disease duration (≤1 year) and patients with more established rheumatoid arthritis (≥10 years duration)

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of short disease duration (i.e. ≤1 year) were compared with patients of longer disease duration (i.e. ≥10 years) in terms of RA knowledge, symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression and disease acceptance. In addition, the predictors of psychological distress (i.e. symptoms of anxiety and depression) were examined. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. As expected, patients with more established disease were significantly older and had more physical dysfunction. However, there were no statistically significant differences on anxiety, depression, acceptance of illness, pain or knowledge about RA. The need for education regarding RA and its implications was expressed by all participants regardless of disease duration. Illness acceptance beliefs were identified as significant predictors of both anxiety and depression.

Prediction of Psychological Distress in School-Age Children With HIV

(1999). Prediction of Psychological Distress in School-Age Children With HIV. Children's Health Care: Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 201-220.

Cancer and Psychological Distress

Summary Social problem-solving ability has previously been found to be an important coping mechanism in predicting distress reactions to stressful events in the general population. This article describes two studies that empirically evaluated the applicability of these findings to the psychooncology literature by assessing the relationship between distress and problem-solving in two different groups of cancer patients. In Study 1, 105 patients with recently diagnosed cancer completed inventories addressing social problem-solving, symptoms of distress, and cancer-specific problems. The results indicated that the patients who were less effective problem-solvers also reported higher levels of anxiety and depression as well as more cancer-related problems. Study 2 involved 64 women who had undergone surgery for breast cancer between 1 and 13.3 years earlier. A self-report of negative life events served to control for the effects of recent Stressors. The results of this study indicated that less problem-solving ability was a significant predictor of psychological distress, whereas time since surgery was not associated with cancer-related distress. Together, the two studies provide strong initial support for the existence of an important relationship between social problem-solving and cancer-related distress.

Generational differences in psychosocial adaptation and predictors of psychological distress in a population of recent Vietnamese immigrants.

While first-wave Vietnamese immigrants adapted well to life in the United States, subsequent immigrants have had greater adjustment difficulties, including more evidence of psychological distress. This study aimed to analyze psychosocial adaptation differences among three generations of recent Vietnamese immigrants, as well as to examine predictors of mental distress in the sample as a whole. A community sample of 184 recent Vietnamese immigrants, categorized as either elderly, middle-aged, or young adults, was assessed for levels of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as family conflict, dissatisfaction with life in the U.S., acculturation and biculturalism, social support, coping, and premigratory stressors. Young Vietnamese adults were most acculturated, most bicultural, and reported themselves as healthiest and least depressed. They were most often working, least often on welfare, and had the highest family income. However, they also reported most dissatisfaction with their current lives in the U.S. and most family conflict. Regression analysis explaining approximately one-quarter of the variance in mental distress implicated current dissatisfaction with and lack of adjustment of life in the United States, as well as greater acculturation and increased family conflict. Although young adults scored significantly higher than other generations on most of the risk factors for psychological distress, they appeared to be buffered against poorer mental health outcomes by factors of generation and perceived positive overall well-being. In terms of testing a predictive model of psychological distress, this study found current adjustment factors significantly more important in determining mental health outcomes than premigratory stressors such as war-related traumas.

Predicting psychological distress among former Soviet immigrants.

This study investigated whether age, gender, marital status, education, employment, length of time in the U.S. and immigration demands (novelty, occupation, language, discrimination, loss, and not feeling at home) were predictors of psychological distress in a sample of 1,647 former Soviet immigrants. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the combined model of demographic and demand of immigration variables was significant. Results indicated that women, older immigrants, those with less than a college education, and those with greater immigration demands related to novelty, language, discrimination, loss, and not feeling at home were most distressed.

Correlates of psychological distress in relation to male infertility

Objectives. To investigate, within a stress and coping framework, the existence, extent and predictors of psychological distress in a sample of men with a diagnosis of sole male factor infertility.Design. A cross‐sectional design was used to investigate correlates of distress.Method. Questionnaires were sent to 130 men with a diagnosis of sole male factor infertility who were attending a specialist infertility clinic for primary infertility. Fifty‐one men responded, giving a 39 per cent response rate. In addition to completing the Beck Depression Inventory, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Ways of Coping Questionnaire and a measure of infertility‐related distress, participants also provided data concerning their age, their partner's age, and the duration and severity of infertility.Results. There was evidence for elevated depression and state anxiety in some infertile males. Three significant predictors of depression were identified: an anxious disposition, a tendency to appraise situations as stressful and an avoidant coping style. In relation to state anxiety two predictors were identified: trait anxiety and failure to seek social support.Conclusions. Male infertility is perceived as stressful and can be associated with a greater risk of psychopathology in some cases, particularly for those men with an enduringly anxious disposition, an inability to seek social support and those who engage in avoidance coping strategies. Identification of factors predictive of distress will enable professionals to effectively direct psychological interventions to vulnerable individuals.

Gender differences in psychological distress among Southeast Asian refugees.

The focus of this study was to examine gender differences in levels and predictors of psychological distress in a community sample of Southeast Asian refugees. Although previous studies with clinical samples of Southeast Asian refugees have found gender differences in the degree of psychological distress, the few community-based studies have been inconclusive. This community study found that there were gender differences in the predictors of distress and that refugee women reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress than their male counterparts. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Predictors of psychological distress in chronic pain patients.

The purpose of this study was to identify sources of psychological distress in patients attending pain clinics. Patients attending two pain clinics in the UK completed a self-report assessment questionnaire which included a 12-item, 5-point semantic differential measure of psychological well-being/distress, together with a range of single-item measures of pain and psychosocial factors measured using 5-point verbal report scales. Multiple regression analysis identified that 60% of the variance associated with psychological distress was explained by a combination of fears about the future, regrets about the past, age (younger people were more distressed), practical help (more help was associated with more distress), feeling unoccupied and personal relationship problems. These results support previous findings which have suggested that a significant proportion of the emotional disturbance in chronic pain patients is associated with psychosocial factors which are either secondary to, or concurrent with, the pain. The method described provides a simple and quick method of assessment which may be used by nurses in clinical settings to identify sources of psychological distress in patients with chronic pain and opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators: physical and psychosocial outcomes

The long-term outcomes of living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator are an important consideration in recovery. However, little is known about physical and psychosocial outcomes beyond 1 year after implantation. To describe the long-term physical and psychosocial adaptation of persons who have had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for approximately 2 years or more. This nonexperimental cross-sectional study used telephone interviews to ascertain the responses of 80 recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators to physical and psychosocial questionnaires to explore the long-term outcomes of living with the devices. Subjects eligible for inclusion were selected from the files of an arrhythmia clinic. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that subjects who are not emotional are likely to be more physically active, especially if they are young and male, and that subjects who tend to be emotional are likely to be psychologically distressed and have poorer social and domestic adaptation. Furthermore, use of emotions was a positive predictor of psychological distress and poor social and domestic adaptation. Subjects reported the use of both emotion- and problem-focused coping. Subjects' scores on physical and psychosocial functioning were comparable to scores reported in the literature for patients who have had myocardial infarction or dysrhythmia. Emotional responses to distress were predictive of little physical activity and psychological distress. Furthermore, young recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and men were predicted to be physically active. Persons who have had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for approximately 2 years or more can anticipate that their physical and psychosocial functioning will be similar to that of patients who have myocardial infarction or dysrhythmia.

Occupational and nonoccupational factors in job satisfaction and psychological distress among nurses.

To facilitate nurses' job satisfaction and reduce their psychological distress, it is useful for a nursing manager to know whether factors within the workplace provide greater prediction of these affective states than variables outside the domain of work, and whether there are common predictors of satisfaction and distress. The relative importance of occupational and nonoccupational variables in the prediction of job satisfaction and psychological distress was investigated in a survey of hospital nurses (N = 376). Perceived relations with the head nurse, coworkers, physicians, and other units/departments, along with unit tenure and job/nonjob conflict, were predictors of job satisfaction. Personal disposition (anxiety-trait), social integration, unit tenure, professional experience, position level, and job/nonjob conflict, along with the relations with the head nurse and physicians, were predictors of psychological distress. The relations with the head nurse and physicians, as well as unit tenure and job/nonjob conflict, were predictors of both satisfaction and distress. The prediction by unit tenure is noteworthy. Unit tenure had a negative relationship to satisfaction and a positive one to distress, whereas total experience had a negative relationship to psychological distress and none with job satisfaction. The role of unit tenure in nurses' affective experiences warrants more attention in future research, along with the role of job/nonjob conflict and other variables predictive of nurses' satisfaction and distress.