Negative Affect Symptoms Research Articles

The effects of blood sugar level changes on cognitive function, affective state, and somatic symptoms.

In an attempt to find out whether decreased blood sugar level is associated with impaired cognitive function, adverse emotional changes, or somatic symptoms, 35 subjects who suspected that they had hypoglycemia were given 5-hr glucose tolerance tests (GTTs). Nine blood samples were taken during the GTT, and the subject's mood, Serial Sevens Test (SST) performance, and somatic symptom reports were recorded on each occasion of sampling. The subjects reported significantly more negative affect and somatic symptoms after glucose nadir than before nadir. SST performance deteriorated at glucose nadir. These effects were more pronounced for subjects with high hypoglycemic index scores than for subjects with low index scores. The impairment in SST performance was greater for subjects who showed rapid decreases in blood sugar than for subjects who showed slow decreases. Dividing subjects by high and low nadirs did not reveal any differences in symptomatology.

Beginning Medical School: Determinants of Male and Female Emotional Reactions1

With the knowledge that medical students experience a variety of academic pressures as well as interpersonal stress during medical school, an assessment was made of emotional reactions among male and female students during the initial months of medical training. Questionnaires were completed at the start of school and 4 months later for the incidence of positive and negative emotions and tension‐related symptoms. Students also estimated their midterm grade point average (GPA) and rated the friendliness of their peers and their experience of sex discrimination. By midterm, all students experienced negative emotions and symptoms more frequently and positive emotions less frequently than at the beginning of the school year. Additionally, women students reported more negative affect and physical symptoms at both time points than men. Women also reported a greater decrease in positive emotions and perceived peer friendliness than men. Higher anticipated GPA was associated with more frequent experience of positive emotions and less frequent negative emotions and physical symptoms in both sexes, but this pattern was stronger for women than for men. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Socialization and social context: influence on perimenstrual symptoms, disability, and menstrual attitudes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of socialization and exposure to a stressful milieu on women's experiences of perimenstrual symptoms, related disability, and menstrual attitudes. Women (N= 179) from 18 to 35 years of age were interviewed using the Index of Sex Role Orientation, Schedule of Recent Events, Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire. Path analysis was used to assess models based on Mechanic's concept of illness behavior for negative affect, pain and water retention symptoms during the perimenstruum. Exposure to a stressful milieu was useful in explaining cyclic, recurrent symptoms. Socialization and exposure to a stressful milieu were more useful in explaining negative affect than pain or water retention symptoms. Socialization and exposure to a stressful milieu are not as important in understanding disability as is the severity of symptoms, but socialization influences menstrual attitudes.

Relationship of Socialization and Stress to Perimenstrual Symptoms, Disability, and Menstrual Attitudes

This study examined the influence of socialization and exposure to a stressful milieu on perimenstrual symptoms, related disability, and menstrual attitudes. Women (N = 179) aged 18 to 35 were interviewed using the Index of Sex Role Orientation, Schedule of Recent Events, Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and Menstrual Attitudes Questionnaire, Path analysis was used to assess a model based on Mechanic's (1962, 1980) concept of illness behavior for negative affect, pain, and water retention symptoms during the perimenstruum. Exposure to a stressful milieu was useful in explaining cyclic, recurrent symptoms of negative affect. Of all the symptom clusters, negative affect was found to be the most important cause of perimenstrual disability. Traditional socialization, intense negative affect symptoms, and related disability all influenced menstrual attitudes.

Negative affect, alcohol consumption and hangover symptoms among normal drinkers in a small community.

Negative affect, alcohol consumption and hangover symptoms among normal drinkers in a small community.