Measuring cognitive,affective, and behavioral components of homophobic reaction

Comprehensive, reliable, and valid measurement of prejudicial attitudes and behaviors toward lesbians and gay males has been identified as a priority. A sample of undergraduate (N=97) and high school students (N=40) completed three reliable measures of cognitive (Modified Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Scale), affective (Affective Reactions to Homosexuality Scale), and behavioral (Homophobic Behavior of Students Scale) reactions to homosexuals. Undergraduate students' responses confirmed the three-factor structure (homophobic guilt, homophobic anger, delight) of affects in this domain, and supported the concurrent validity of the behavioral measure. Predictive validity of the behavioral scale was demonstrated by findings of the high school study which showed that students subsequently acted in accordance with their responses to this paper-and-pencil test. LISREL confirmatory factor analysis of the overarching model indicated that a tripartite (cognition-affectbehavior) measurement strategy was appropriate. This strategy may be used in future research to provide comprehensive indication of which educational interventions make a difference in improving understanding and acceptance of homosexuality. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Perth, Western Australia, November 21–25, 1993.     

The distinction between affect and cognition in the quality of life of cancer patients—sensitivity and stability

The distinction between affect and cognition has been put forward to clarify the lack of differences found in studies describing quality of life under deteriorated circumstances, such as serious iliness. In the study reported here, cancer patients under treatment (n=201) were compared with a random sampie from the normal population (n=200). As hypothesized, the affective component of life quality turned out to be more severely impaired than the cognitive component. Besides, it was investigated which factors contribute to the affective and the cognitive component of the quality of life of cancer patients under treatment. In cancer patients affect proved more strongly related to the physical domain. Cognition on the other hand was more strongly related to coping resources, especially personality characteristics like the level of self-esteem. It is concluded that an affective measure of quality of life is more sensitive to change in patients. The stability of life quality is attributed to the rather strong relation the affective and the cognitive component both have to coping resources.     

Evaluation of the ability of neurobiological, neurodevelopmental and socio-economic variables to predict cognitive outcome in premature infants

Background When developed in the 1990s, the Neurobiologic Risk Score (NBRS) and Neurodevelopmental Risk Exam (NRE) correlated well with developmental outcomes in premature infants. Given recent advances in neonatology, we assessed their present ability to predict cognitive outcome, alone and combined with socio‐economic factors. Methods One hundred and twenty‐nine neonates <32 weeks gestational age were assessed at 6, 12 and/or 24 months corrected age with the Cognitive Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS). Indices of socio‐economic status included maternal education and marital status. Results At 24 months corrected age (n= 67), the NBRS (r=?0.5), maternal education (r= 0.46) and marital status (r= 0.37) correlated with the CAT/CLAMS. These correlations increased when NBRS and maternal education were combined (r= 0.63) and when specific NBRS components (intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, seizures) and maternal education were combined (r= 0.66). Conclusions In the contemporary neonatal intensive care unit, measures used to predict cognitive outcome should incorporate both neurobiological risk factors and socio‐economic variables.     

Experiences of homophobia among gay and bisexual men: results from a cross-sectional study in seven countries

Experiences of homophobic discrimination are associated with an increased prevalence of psychological disorders and increased odds of reporting suicidal ideation among gay and bisexual men. We examine two domains of homophobia – external homophobic discrimination and internalised homophobia – and their associations with sexual orientation, demographic characteristics, relationships and social support among a sample of gay and bisexual men from seven countries. Sexually active gay and bisexual men aged over 18 and residing in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Thailand, the UK and the USA were recruited through banner advertisements on Facebook. Two outcomes were examined: reporting experiences of homophobic discrimination and reporting feelings of internalised homophobia. No covariates were consistently significantly associated with experiencing external homophobic discrimination across countries. Across all countries, bisexually identifying respondents reported significantly greater feelings of internalised homophobia. Respondents in Brazil and the UK reporting a main partner, and respondents in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Thailand and the USA reporting a larger gay/bisexual social network, reported significantly fewer feelings of internalised homophobia. Results suggest an ameliorative effect of social networks on experiencing homophobia. Additional research should focus on the mechanisms through which social networks reduce feelings of internalised homophobia.     

A Review of the Medical Consequences of Homophobia with Suggestions for Resolution

Purpose: This review highlights the effects of homophobia, the antipathy or disdain for gay men and lesbians, which is a widespread response to this largely unfamiliar and previously hidden segment of society. Data Sources: Peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed journal articles, published and unpublished survey reports, current newspaper coverage of events, U.S. census data, are all integrated to produce an overview of societal, psychosocial, and medical consequences of homophobia. Data Synthesis: The available information has been analyzed from a psychiatric, medical, and sociocultural perspective in order to provide an update on the known science about homosexuality and the medical effects of homophobia. Conclusions: The medical and psychological effects of homophobic prejudice are profound on the developing self-concept of youths as well as adults who recognize a same-sex orientation. Medical practitioners are not immune from societal prejudice and may demonstrate disdain for gay men and lesbians as patients. Patients perceive this disdain, which alienates them from the medical system, reducing utilization of screening modalities, risking higher morbidity and mortality from infections, cancers, and heart disease. Being gay or lesbian is not genetically or biologically hazardous, but risk factors are conferred through homophobia. Therefore, the process of homophobia—the socialization of heterosexuals against homosexuals and concomitant conditioning of gays and lesbians against themselves—poses a legitimate health hazard. Governmental, institutional, educational, and medical resolutions of homophobia are discussed which would improve the quality of medical care provided to gay men and lesbians, and have a favorable impact on the health and quality of life of this population.     

儿童青少年外周动脉顺应性、血管内皮功能的年龄变化规律及与心血管疾病危险因素的关系

目的 探讨儿童青少年外周动脉顺应性和内皮功能的年龄变化规律及其与肥胖相关测量指标和心血管疾病危险因素的关系。方法 在上海市闵行区儿童青少年血压流行病学调查人群中选取7~17岁体重正常和超重/肥胖者,分别采用动脉硬化检测仪、Endopat2000无创内皮功能检测仪测定动脉顺应性、血管内皮功能,测量肱踝脉搏波速度(baPWV)、充血反应指数(RHI)及体格、血压和空腹血生化指标。分析baPWV、RHI随年龄的变化规律。对相关测量指标进行年龄标准化以及偏态分布的指标正态化转换后,使用简单线性相关分析观察baPWV、RHI与肥胖相关测量指标、心血管疾病危险因素的关系。结果 452名体重正常和94名超重/肥胖者完成动脉顺应性和血管内皮功能检测,其中299名(54.76%)为男性。简单线性相关分析显示,正常体重者中baPWV、RHI与年龄呈弱正相关关系(r=0.33,P<0.01;r=0.36,P<0.01)。baPWV与标准化(z_)BMI(r=0.13,P=0.002)、SBP(r=0.20,P<0.01)、DBP(r=0.27,P<0.01)、TG(r=0.11,P=0.010)、胰岛素(r=0.21,P=0.004)、胰岛素抵抗指数(r=0.21,P=0.005)呈正相关关系,与HDL-C呈负相关关系(r=-0.09,P=0.039)。RHI与z_BMI呈正相关关系(r=0.10,P=0.018),与DBP呈弱的负相关关系(r=-0.10,P=0.016),与其他测量指标无显著性相关。baPWV在男性略高于女性,而RHI无性别差异。结论 baPWV、RHI测量值在7~17岁间随年龄增长整体呈上升趋势,提示动脉顺应性和血管内皮功能在此期间处在不断发育的过程。动脉顺应性的变化与心血管疾病危险相关测量指标的变化具有相关性,而血管内皮功能则仅在超重/肥胖儿童中表现出提前发育的现象,与血压、胰岛素抵抗等心血管疾病的危险因素未表现出相关性。对儿童青少年人群心血管疾病危险的早期评估,测量动脉顺应性可能比血管内皮功能指标更敏感。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情下医护人员社会资本对创伤后应激障碍的影响

目的 了解新型冠状病毒肺炎（简称新冠肺炎）救治期间医护人员的创伤后应激反应水平和群组差异,提出疫情后有效恢复和改善医护人员心理状态的建议与意见。 方法 2020年6—7月通过方便抽样方式,收集我国19个省市自治区的公立医院信息,对新冠肺炎疫情下在岗的医护人员进行统计调查,调查问卷内容包括人口统计学资料、社会资本、控制感,以及创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）相关内容。采用描述性统计、独立样本t检验、相关分析、层级回归等方法进行数据分析。 结果 共收回有效问卷760份,其中315名医护人员参与了确诊或者疑似新冠肺炎患者的救治工作。受访的医护人员存在一定程度的PTSD,处于中等水平（2.2155~2.9385）。医生在经历过新冠肺炎疫情后表现出的规避、闯入和唤醒倾向均高于护士群体,差异均有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。新冠肺炎定点救治医院的医护人员在规避反应上高于非定点医院,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。直接参与新冠肺炎患者救治的医护人员规避、闯入和唤醒反应水平均高于未直接参与救治的医护人员,差异均有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。结构资本（r=0.566）、人际资本（r=0.577）和认知资本（r=0.596）对医护人员的控制感具有显著正向影响。结构资本（r=-0.166）、人际资本（r=-0.177）和认知资本（r=-0.168）对医护人员的PTSD具有显著负向影响。控制感（r=-0.179）对医护人员的PTSD具有显著负向影响。 结论 医护人员感知的结构资本、人际资本和认知资本通过增强其控制感可以有效抑制创伤后应激障碍的形成与发展,医院应采取措施通过提高医护人员的社会资本感知和控制感降低创伤后应激障碍的影响。     

The Impact of Gendered Friendship Patterns on the Prevalence of Homophobia Among Belgian Late Adolescents

In order to assess the determinants of homophobia among Belgian adolescents, a shortened version of the Homophobia scale (Wright et al., 1999) was included in a representative survey among Belgian adolescents (n = 4,870). Principal component analysis demonstrated that the scale was one-dimensional and internally coherent. The results showed that homophobia is still widespread among Belgian adolescents, despite various legal reforms in the country aiming to combat discrimination of gay women and men. A multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that boys, ethnic minorities, individuals with high levels of ethnocentrism and an instrumental worldview, Muslim minorities, and those with low levels of associational involvement scored significantly higher on the scale. While among boys an extensive friendship network was associated with higher levels of homophobia, the opposite phenomenon was found among girls. We discuss the possible relation between notions of masculinity within predominantly male adolescent friendship networks and social support for homophobia.     

Relationship between perception of self‐competence and parenting attitudes of Asian Indian preschoolers

The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between parenting attitudes of Asian Indian mothers living in the United States and their preschool children’s perception of self‐competence. Twenty‐eight Asian Indian mothers and their preschool‐aged children living in the United States participated in the study. The parenting attitudes of the mothers were measured using the Adolescent–Adult Parenting Inventory. The participating preschoolers’ perceived self‐competence was measured using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance. Correlation of the parenting attitudes subscales and the perception of self‐competence subscales indicated that there was significant correlation between cognitive competence and inappropriate expectations (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), corporal punishment (r = 0.46, p < 0.05), and role reversal (r = 0.59, p < 0.01). Role reversal was also significantly correlated with peer acceptance (r = 0.46, p < 0.05). The correlation between inappropriate expectations, corporal punishment, role reversal and cognitive competence among the Asian Indian children could be attributed to the values their parents place on cognitive skills.     

Measurement of the quality of life in cancer survivors

A QOL instrument was developed to measure the specific concerns of long term cancer survivors. The QOL-CS is based on previous versions of the QOL instrument developed by researchers at the City of Hope National Medical Centre (Grant, Padilla, and Ferrell). This instrument was revised over a one year pilot by Hassey-Dow and Ferrell. The revised instrument included 41 items representing the four domains of quality of life incorporating physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well being. The present study was conducted as a mail survey to the membership (n=1,200) of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship with 686 subjects responding to the survey. This survey included a Demographic tool, QOL-CS and the FACT-G tool developed by Cella. Psychometric analysis, performed on 686 respondents, included measures of reliability and validity. Two measures of reliability included test-retest and internal consistency. The overall QOL-CS tool test-retest reliability was 0.89 with subscales of Physicalr=0.88, Psychologicalr=0.88, Socialr=0.81, and Spiritual,r=0.90. The second measure of reliability was computation of internal consistency using Cronbach's coefficient as a measure of agreement between items and subscales. Analysis revealed an overallr=0.93. Subscale alphas average ranged fromr=0.71 for spiritual well being,r=0.77 for physical,r=0.81 for social, andr=0.89 for psychological.Several measures of validity were used to determine the extent to which the instrument measured the concept of QOL in cancer survivors. The first method of content validity was based on a panel of QOL researchers and nurses with expertise in oncology. The second measure used stepwise multiple regression to determine factors most predictive of overall QOL in cancer survivors. Seventeen variables were found to be statistically significant accounting for 91% of the variance in overall QOL. The fourth measure of validity used Pearson's correlations to estimate the relationships between the subscales of QOL-CS and the subscales of the established FACT-G tool. There was moderate to strong correlation between associated subscales including QOL-CS physical to FACT physical (r=0.74), QOL-CS Psych to FACT Emotional (r=0.65), QOL Social to FACT Social (r=0.44). The overall QOL-CS correlation with the FACT-G was 0.78. Additional measures of validity included correlations of indimeasures of validity included correlations of individual items of the QOL-CS tool, factor analysis, and construct validity discriminating known groups of cancer survivors. Findings demonstrated that the QOL-CS and its subscales adequately measured QOL in this growing population of cancer survivors.     

Validation of the Diabetes Numeracy Test With Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

There is currently a lack of valid instruments to measure adolescent diabetes numeracy. The Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT) was adapted for type 1 diabetes and was administered to 2 samples of adolescents. Sample 1 was administered the 39-item version of the DNT (DNT-39) with measures of self-management, responsibility, reading, and glycemic control (A1C). Sample 2 was administered the 14-item version of the DNT (DNT-14) with measures of self-management, responsibility, problem solving, and A1C. Both versions of the DNT showed adequate internal reliability. In Sample 1, the DNT-39 and DNT-14 were related (r = .87, p = .001), and both DNT versions were related to parent education (for DNT-14, r = .31, p = .02; for DNT-39, r = .29, p = .03) and reading (for DNT-14, r = .36, p = .005; for DNT-39, r = .40, p = .001). In Sample 2, the DNT-14 was related to A1C (r = ?.29, p = .001), reading skills (r = .36, p = .005), diabetes problem solving (r = .27, p = .02), adolescent age (r = .19, p = .03), and parent education (r = .31, p = .02). In combined analyses, 75% of items were answered correctly on the DNT-14 (range = 7–100), and performance was associated with age (r = .19, p = .03), pump use (r = .33 p = .001), and A1C (r = ?.29, p = .001). The DNT-14 is a feasible, reliable, and valid numeracy assessment that indicated adolescents with type 1 diabetes have numeracy deficits that may affect their glycemic control.     

The primacy of child‐directed pretend play on cognitive competence in a mixed‐age environment: possible interpretations

The goal was to study the impact of a teacher‐directed and a child‐directed pretend play on cognitive performance in a mixed‐age environment. Twenty‐six observations were performed on fifty‐one kindergarten children with a mean age of 4.6 years (age span from three to six years) in two mixed‐aged classrooms. Data were collected regarding children’s affective and cognitive behavior according to generally accepted taxonomies; Bloom for the cognitive domain, and Krathwohl for the affective domain. A significant increase in cognitive behavior was found in child‐directed play compared with teacher‐directed play (113.1 ± 12.1 versus 45.7 ± 10.3, mean ± standard error of the mean; p<0.0001). During child‐directed play we found a significant positive correlation between children’s cognitive and affective behavior (R = 0.52, n = 21, p<0.014) and teacher’s behavioral stimuli and cognitive behavior (R = 0.805, p<0.0001, n = 21), as opposed to teacher‐directed play where teacher’s stimuli correlated with children’s affective behavior (R = 0.905, p<0.0001, n = 16). A balanced development of the cognitive and affective domains generates the main superiority of the child‐directed play.     

A moderate-sodium DASH-type diet improves mood in postmenopausal women

ObjectiveWe compared the effect on mood of a moderate sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension-type diet, which included lean red meat (vitality diet [VD]), with a healthy diet (HD; decreased fat and increased wholegrain breads and cereal).MethodsIn a randomized, parallel intervention study, postmenopausal women were assigned to the VD or HD for 14 wk. Mood was measured every 2 wk by the Profile of Mood States. Dietary adherence was assessed using 24-h urine collections. Data were analyzed using one-way between-groups multivariate analysis of variance and correlations.ResultsForty-six subjects completed the VD and 49 completed the HD. The two groups showed an improvement in anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, vigor, and the Profile of Mood States global score over the length of the intervention (P < 0.01 for time), but there was a significant diet group by time effect for anger (P < 0.05), such that anger improved more in the VD compared with the HD group. For the two groups combined, urinary sodium excretion was associated with the Profile of Mood States global score, such that a low sodium intake was associated with a better mood (r = 0.267, P < 0.05). In addition, red meat consumption (a component of the VD) was associated with a decrease in depression (r = ?0.21, P < 0.05) and an increase in fruit consumption was associated with a decrease in confusion (r = ?0.26, P < 0.05).ConclusionIn addition to the health benefits of a moderate-sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet on blood pressure and bone health, this diet had a positive effect on improving mood in postmenopausal women.     

Spiritual Coping and Anxiety in Palliative Care Patients: A Pilot Study

Patients often rely on spirituality to cope with anxiety, yet it is not known if spiritual coping actually helps patients deal with anxiety. The present study was designed, therefore, to examine this relationship. A series of patients who were referred to the palliative care team at New York University, Langone Medical Center (N = 44) were interviewed about their spiritual coping and anxiety. Anxiety was measured using the first three items of the GAD-7. Fourteen items, which were adapted from existing scales, were used to create the “Beliefs and Activities Spirituality Scale” (BASS), having two subscales: Activities (α = .79) and Beliefs (α = .82). Anxiety had a significant negative correlations with the total BASS (r = ?.56), and the Activities (r = ?.52) and Beliefs (r = ?.42) subscales. The salubrious association of spiritual coping and anxiety remained for the BASS and the Activities subscale, after controlling for demographic variables.     

Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life in Cataract Patients: The Relationship between utility and Health-Related Quality of Life Measurement

The relationship between health-related quality of life (HQL) measures and patient preference for their health status was studied. Study subjects consisted of 132 patients at four hospitals who were scheduled for cataract surgery. Generic and disease-specific health status measures were determined in study subjects. The Medical Outcomes Study Short-form 36 (SF-36) item health status instrument was used to measure generic health status and the Visual Function 14 (VF-14) item visual health status instrument was used as the disease-specific health measure. Preference for general health and visual health was measured by assessing utilities assigned by patients to certain health states. Utilities assigned for general health were correlated with all categories of the SF-36 and VF-14 scores. Utilities assigned for visual health were correlated with four categories of the SF-36 (role limitation due to emotional health, general health, physical functioning, and vitality) and VF-14 scores. Utilities assigned for visual health were more strongly correlated with VF-14 scores than generic measures of health. Verbal ratings for visual health were correlated with Snellen visual acuity (SVA) (r=0.20), utilities assigned for visual health (r=0.58), VF-14 scores (r=0.74), all categories of the SF-36 (r values ranging from 0.21 to 0.28), utilities assigned for general health (r=0.19), and verbal ratings for general health (r=0.29). Utility measures and verbal ratings for general and visual health were shown to be appropriate HQL measures. These measures were strongly correlated with other established generic and disease-specific health measures and should be included in the array of health status measures. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fetal and maternal immune responses to methylmercury exposure: a cross-sectional study

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with known neurodevelopmental effects. In humans, prenatal exposures primarily occur through maternal consumption of contaminated fish. In this study, we evaluated the association between prenatal exposure to MeHg and titers of total immunoglobulins (Ig) and specific autoantibodies in both mothers and fetuses by analyzing maternal and cord blood serum samples. We examined multiple immunoglobulin isotypes to determine if these biomarkers could inform as to fetal or maternal responses since IgG but not IgM can cross the placenta. Finally, we evaluated serum cytokine levels to further characterize the immune response to mercury exposure.The study was conducted using a subset of serum samples (N=61 pairs) collected from individuals enrolled in a population surveillance of MeHg exposures in the Brazilian Amazon during 2000/2001. Serum titers of antinuclear and antinucleolar autoantibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence. Serum immunoglobulins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and BioPlex multiplex assay. Serum cytokines were measured by BioPlex multiplex assay.In this population, the geometric mean mercury level was within the 95th percentile for US populations of women of childbearing age but the upper level of the range was significantly higher. Fetal blood mercury levels were higher (1.35 times) than those in their mothers, but highly correlated (correlation coefficient [r]=0.71; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.89). Total IgG (r=0.40; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.62) and antinuclear autoantibody (odds ratio [OR]=1.05; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.08) levels in paired maternal and fetal samples were also associated; in contrast, other immunoglobulin (IgM, IgE, and IgA) levels were not associated between pairs. Total IgG levels were significantly correlated with both maternal (r=0.60; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.96) and cord blood mercury levels (r=0.61; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.97), but individual isotypes were not. Serum cytokines, interleukin-1β (r=0.37; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.73), interleukin-6 (r=0.34; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.65), and tumor necrosis factor-α (r=0.24; 95% CI: 0.015, 0.47), were positively correlated between maternal and fetal samples. Antinuclear and antinucleolar autoantibody titer and serum cytokine levels, in either maternal or cord blood, were not significantly associated with either maternal or cord blood mercury levels.These data provide further evidence that there are likely IgG biomarkers of mercury-induced immunotoxicity in this population since IgG levels were elevated with increased, and associated with, mercury exposure. However, unlike previous data from adult males and non-pregnant females, we found no evidence that antinuclear and antinucleolar autoantibody titer is a reliable biomarker of mercury immunotoxicity in this population.     

Reliability and validity of a nutrition screening tool to be used with clients with learning difficulties

Background: People with learning difficulties are nutritionally vulnerable for many reasons. There is a need for a nutrition screening tool (NST) to enable carers to identify those at nutritional risk. However, a validated NST for clients with learning difficulties does not exist.Aim: To assess the reliability and validity of a NST being used in a long-stay hospital in North Staffordshire for people with learning difficulties. The NST investigates three areas of risk: nutritional adequacy (food groups), weight and nutrition-related problems such as dysphagia or gastrointestinal disorders.Method: Thirty-six subjects were randomly selected. The reliability of the NST was assessed by three nurses familiar with the participants. Each subject was independently screened using the NST. Validity was assessed by forming an expert panel of three dietitians. Each participant's nutritional status for each of the three risk areas was assessed independently by the dietitians using their own methods. A comparison of the majority opinion of the dietitians with that of the nurses gave an indication of validity.Results: Reliability was analysed using variance component models and indices of agreement. There was good agreement between nurses in the assessment of risk relating to nutrition adequacy (r=0.658), moderate agreement in the assessment of nutrition-related problems (r=0.576), but only fair agreement in the assessment of weight-related risk (r=0.263). Validity was assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic. There was good agreement between the majority opinions of the nurses and dietitians for the assessment of nutritional adequacy-related risk (r=0.708) and for nutrition-related problems (r=0.691), but only fair agreement for weight (r=0.300).Conclusion: Use of the NST in the area of nutrition adequacy gave good repeatability and validity.Similarly, there was good validity in the area of nutrition-related problems. The NST was not satisfactory in assessing weight-related risk and further work is needed in this risk area. There was also a suggestion from the results of the study that the dietitians differed in their approach to assessing nutritional risk.     

Adolescent soft drink consumption, television viewing and habit strength. Investigating clustering effects in the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Clustering refers to the co-occurrence of behaviour and may be particularly relevant in light of the present obesity epidemic. Since evidence regarding clustering of motivational and habitual constructs within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is limited, clustering effects of TPB cognitions and habit strength regarding soft drink consumption and television viewing were studied in a sample of Dutch adolescents (n = 312; mean age = 14.62; SD = 1.62) using cross-sectional data. Results showed that not only soft drink consumption and television viewing cluster (r = .42), but also their intentional (r = .36) and habitual (r = .37) constructs. Furthermore, unmediated effects were found between habit strength and its respective behaviour, whereas habit strength was associated with its clustered behaviour through decreased perceptions of controllability. Our findings suggest that interventions that aim to change habitual soft drink consumption and television viewing may need to incorporate an environmental component, as well as explore the potential usefulness of synergistic effects of incorporating multiple clustered behaviours, as well as their corresponding beliefs and habits in health behaviour change interventions.     

Cadmium in the blood and seminal fluid of nonoccupationally exposed adult male subjects with regard to smoking habits

Blood cadmium (B-Cd) and seminal fluid cadmium (Sf-Cd) were measured in 120 adult male subjects not occupationally exposed to cadmium (Cd), comprising 42 nonsmokers (including nine former smokers) and 78 smokers. The respective median and range values were: 0.46 (0.19–1.49) μg/l of B-Cd and 0.54 (0.17–1.67) μg/l of Sf-Cd in nonsmokers, and 4.33 (0.49–13.33) μg/l of B-Cd and 0.85 (0.29–3.56) μg/l of Sf-Cd in smokers. Both indicators showed a highly significant difference in Cd exposure between the groups (P<0.0001), although the increase in B-Cd was considerably more pronounced than that of Sf-Cd in smokers compared with nonsmokers. The results suggest a nonlinear relationship (log Sf-Cd/log B-Cd: r=0.501, P<0.0001), rather than linear relationship (Sf-Cd/B-Cd: r=0.430, P<0.0001), between the indicators. Significant correlations were found between smoking habits, i.e., the number of cigarettes per day, and an increase in B-Cd in smokers (r=0.296, P<0.01) and in all 120 subjects (r=0.685, P<0.0001), as well as between smoking habits and an increase in Sf-Cd in smokers (r=0.378, P<0.001) and in all 120 subjects (r=0.488, P<0.0001). Both indicators are necessary for evaluation of individual internal Cd dose, since they appear to differ in reflecting recent and long-term cumulative Cd exposure and/or the amount of Cd at the site(s) of its effect(s) in the body. Received: 30 September 1996 / Accepted: 18 February 1997     

Is It More Feeling or Thinking? The Influence of Affective and Cognitive Attitude on Adolescents’ Intention to Engage in Binge Drinking

Previous work has revealed that interventions aiming to reduce adolescent binge drinking commonly focus on cognitive attitudes, but are insufficiently effective in changing binge-drinking intentions. The focus on these cognitive attitudes might be the reason for this insufficient success. That is, other work has revealed that affective attitudes have a stronger influence on binge-drinking intention than cognitive attitudes. However, this relation has so far only been found among traditional college students and pre-vocational school students, therewith neglecting another important population at risk, namely vocational community college students. This study examines whether affective attitudes are also significantly stronger influencers of binge-drinking intentions among vocational community college students. Using a sample of 298 vocational community college students (M_age = 17.63), the current study shows that affective attitudes were more strongly related to vocational community college students’ intention to engage in binge drinking than cognitive attitudes. This finding indicates that the effectiveness of interventions targeting adolescent binge drinking can be improved by incorporating content elements concerning affective attitudes.