Bryan A. Weber

The Impact of Dyadic Social Support on Self-Efficacy and Depression After Radical Prostatectomy

Objectives: To assess the effect of one-on-one peer support at enhancing self-efficacy and decreasing depression in older men treated by radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Methods: Six weeks after surgery, 72 men (M age = 60) were randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 37) or control group ( n = 35). Treatment group participants were paired to form dyads with a trained support partner who had similar treatment and related side effects; control group participants received usual health care. Dyads met 8 times over 8 weeks to discuss concerns and coping strategies. Results: At posttest, the treatment group had significantly higher self-efficacy than the controls (M = 328.89 and M = 304.54, respectively) and significantly less depression (M = 0.92 and M = 2.49, respectively). Depression outcomes remained significant when controlling baseline self-efficacy and social support (F = 4.845, p = .032). Discussion: Findings confirm pilot study results and are theoretically consistent with the self-efficacy enhancing nature of vicarious experience described by Bandura in self-efficacy theory.

Physical and emotional predictors of depression after radical prostatectomy.

Radical prostatectomy commonly results in urinary, sexual, and bowel dysfunction that bothers men and may lead to depressive symptomatology (hereafter depression) that occurs at a rate 4 times greater for men with prostate cancer than healthy counterparts. The purpose of this study was to assess depressive symptoms in men shortly after radical prostatectomy and to identify associated risk factors. Seventy-two men were interviewed 6 weeks after surgery. Measured were depression (Geriatric Depression Scale), self-efficacy (Stanford Inventory of Cancer Patient Adjustment), social support (Modified Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors), physical and emotional factors (UCLA Prostate Cancer Index), and social function (SF-36 subscale). Results indicate that men with high self-efficacy and less sexual bother were 45% and 55% less likely to have depressive symptoms, respectively. Findings from this study add to the limited amount of information on the complex relationship between prostate cancer treatment and depression in men.

The Role of Resilience and Social Support in Predicting Postdeployment Adjustment in Otherwise Healthy Navy Personnel

The purpose of this study was to determine if resilience, social support, and exposure to combat, stressful deployment environments, and additional stressful life events predicted short-term (12 months or less) postdeployment adjustment in a relatively healthy subset of Navy service members. One hundred and thirty-two service members between 3 and 6 months postdeployment completed anonymous surveys at a deployment health center. Service members with probable post-traumatic stress disorder and those who were at risk for harm to self or others were excluded. There was relatively low variance in exposure to combat, stressful deployment environments, and additional stressful life events for this convenience sample. Although the sample was a relatively healthy subset of service members and conclusions may not be generalizable to larger populations, 56% endorsed considerable adjustment difficulties. Results of logistic regression indicated that greater resilience, greater postdeployment social support, and less stressful deployment environments predicted greater postdeployment adjustment. Resilience and postdeployment social support remained significant predictors of postdeployment adjustment when controlling for covariates. Results also suggest that individual augmentee experience may be a protective factor against postdeployment adjustment difficulties-at least in otherwise healthy service members.

Psychometric properties of the Task Self-Efficacy Scale for everyday activities in older adults.

Physical and cognitive factors contribute to independence in daily activities, but the confidence to perform an activity (self-efficacy) also contributes to it. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Task Self-efficacy Scale (TSE) for confidence in performing daily activities. Validity and reliability were assessed in 278 older adults with scores on all items on the TSE for analysis. Factor analysis revealed two factors (self-care and mobility) explaining 72.42% of the variance in the items. Moderate to large correlations were found between the TSE for Self-Care and TSE for Mobility to exertion (.90 to .93, respectively) and fatigue (–.79 to –.84, respectively) associated with activities assessed in the TSE. The expected differences in TSE were found between those with and without mobility difficulties, fear of falls, and shortness of breath with activity. Cronbach’s alpha was .96.