Choi K. Wan

LISREL approaches to interaction effects in multiple regression

Introduction Qualitative Moderator Variables Repeated Measures and Longitudinal Designs The Use of Product Terms General Considerations

Effects of sensory and procedural information on coping with stressful medical procedures and pain: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis of studies on preparation for medical procedures and pain evaluated the relative effects of sensory; procedural, and combined sensory-procedural preoperational information on coping outcomes. Results indicated that, in contrast to sensory information, procedural information provided no significant benefits over control group instruction. Combined sensory-procedural preparation, however, yielded the strongest and most consistent benefits in terms of reducing negative affect, pain reports, and other-rated distress. The meta-analytic results are consistent with the dual process preparation hypothesis, which proposes that the information combination is optimal because procedural details provide a map of specific events while sensory information facilitates their interpretation as nonthreatening. It is concluded that a combined preparation is the preferred clinical option.

Condom use: A self-efficacy model.

A survey of heterosexually active college students gathered information about condom use, self-efficacy (SE), outcome expectancies, sexual attitudes, peer group influences, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, and perceived vulnerability to AIDS. On the basis of A. Banduras (1986) social-cognitive theory, a structural model with SE as the central mediator was formulated and evaluated with LISREL. This model explained 46% of the variance in condom use from judgments of SE and effects attributable to peers and 53% of the variance in SE from outcome expectancies and peer group influences. Sexual attitudes, AIDS knowledge, and perceived vulnerability did not predict condom use. Most students were well-informed about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission but reported not feeling at risk, even though many engaged in risky sexual behavior.

The Relationship between Social Support and Life Satisfaction as a Function of Family Structure

The present study focuses on the discriminant validity of 4 types of social support and the utility of distinguishing support provision from different referents. Hypotheses about the influence of family structure on the relationship between social support and life satisfaction were formally evaluated. The respondents were 512 parents, including 176 married mothers, 172 married fathers, and 164 single mothers. Results corroborate the importance of distinguishing who provides the social support. A cluster analysis revealed distinct referent clusters in which the correlational structure suggested a degree of discriminant validity between referents. An analysis of mean levels of support indicated that individuals tended to receive more support from some referents than from others. In addition, the correlations of social support with life satisfaction differed depending on the referent providing the support. Psychological and sociological scholars have emphasized the notion that interpersonal relationships can influence an individuals well-being. Recent research on social support has revitalized this idea. Social support and its ability to predict well-being are major issues that have been addressed in the literature (e.g., Cobb, 1976; Ganster & Victor, 1988; Gottlieb, 1985; Schwarzer & Leppin, 1988). Identifying the underlying structure (dimensionality) of social support is important. Various typologies of supportive behaviors or acts have been proposed. In theory, the social support system has four different functions (e.g., Cohen & Wills, 1985). Emotional support conveys that a person is valued for his or her own worth and experiences and is accepted. This support results in the enhancement of self-esteem and functions as esteem support, expressive support, ventilation, and close support. According to House (1981) and Gottlieb (1988), the behaviors that function this way provide esteem, affect, trust, concern, and listening. Informational support helps a person to define, understand, and cope with problems. This function often has been labeled as advice, appraisal support, and cognitive guidance. Associated with this function are any behaviors that provide affirmation, feedback, social comparison, advice, suggestions, and direction. Companionship support, also referred to as diffuse support and belongingness, serves to help distract persons from their problems or to facilitate positive affective moods. Activities such as spending time with others in leisure and recreational activities are subsumed under this category. These activities reduce stress and provide affiliation and contact with others. Tangible support refers to the provision of financial aid, material resources, and needed services. This is also called aid, material support, and instrumental support. Any behavior providing money, labor, or any kind of direct resolution of a problem can serve this type of function. There is controversy over the importance of making distinctions between these different types of support. Cohen and Hoberman (1983) developed the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), a questionnaire designed to measure the perceived availability of these four specific support resources, and presented evidence concerning the independence of the four subscales (see also Cohen & Willis, 1985). However, some researchers have noted that Cohen and his associates use a total ISEL score in several analyses, implying that distinctions among the types of support are not necessary. In addition, high correlations among subscales of appraisal, belonging, and self-esteem in the general population version of the ISEL (reported in Cohen, Mermelstein, Kamarck, & Hoberman, 1984) have led some researchers (House & Kahn, 1985) to conclude that the scale actually differentiates only two independent support functions-tangible versus the other three. The confirmatory factor analysis of ISEL reported by Brookings and Bolton (1988) did not empirically demonstrate the utility of distinguishing four types of social support, compared with a single general index. …

Recalling Sexual Partners: The Accuracy of Self-Reports

Accuracy of recall of the number of sexual partners individuals had over a period of one month, three months, six months and one year was studied in a group of 285 young, single, heterosexual adults. Self-reports of the number of partners were obtained on a weekly basis and then compared with recall of behavior over longer time periods that overlapped the weekly measures. For individuals who claimed abstinence or who claimed to be monogamous, accuracy of recall was relatively high, especially at the shorter time frames. Level of education was related to accuracy for claimed abstainers, such that lower levels of education were associated with lower accuracy of recall. Accuracy rates for individuals who reported having multiple sexual partners tended to be lower and were found to be related to one’s propensity to engage in casual sex.

Gay men's safer sex behavior: An integration of three models

This cross-sectional study explored gay mens sexual risk behavior from the perspective of three popular conceptual models, the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action, and social cognitive theory. Data were collected from sexually active gay men via anonymous questionnaire containing questions about sexual behavior and items related to the constructs comprising the three models. Using structural equation modeling techniques (LISREL 8), self-reported condom use was examined from the perspective of each theory. The results suggested that a substantial part of the variance in unprotected anal intercourse could be explained by conceptually analogous constructs common to these models. These constructs referred to the cognitive-affective reactions toward condoms and to the social context of using condoms. An additional variable unique to social cognitive theory, self-efficacy, added to the explained variance in the criterion above and beyond the variables that were common to the models. Relevant variables from the three theories were integrated into an expanded self-efficacy model.

Cross-Cultural Methods for the Study of Behavioral Decision Making

A framework for studying behavioral decision making in cross-cultural contexts is described. The approach is based upon a combined etic-emic methodology and circumvents scaling problems that have plagued past applications of decision theory in different cultures. The approach was applied empirically to career decisions of college students in the United States and Hong Kong. Overall, the data were supportive of the framework.

The relation between type A behavior and chronic emotional distress: a meta-analysis

A meta-analysis was conducted of studies examining the relation between Type A behavior and chronic emotional distress as measured by standard psychological scales. Aggregating across all studies, the average effect size was .27, indicating a positive association between Type A and chronic dysphoria; however, there was considerable variability in the size of the relation among studies. Partitioning by Type A measure revealed that Structured Interview-assessed Type A was unrelated to chronic dysphoric emotions; however, most of the self-report measures of Type A behavior were moderately correlated with upset. The Framingham Type A Scale and the Bortner Scale showed the strongest relations. Thus, contrary to the traditional view, Type A measured by self-report does have some emotional concomitants, although they are not in the pathological range. Also discussed are how the results bear on the proposal that the maladjusted personality confers coronary risk, the implications for reported associations between Type A and illness complaints, and for the study of the Type A as a social psychological construct.

The Prediction of Accurate Contraceptive Use From Attitudes and Knowledge

A framework of the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and behavior was described in the context of couples use of birth control. It was hypothesized that when knowledge of behavioral enactment is present, attitudes and beliefs about susceptibility to pregnancy will be predictive of accurate use of the diaphragm. Respondents were 111 women who participated in a three-wave panel design focusing on diaphragm use. Analyses indicated that the level of knowledge about what a woman should do to use the diaphragm correctly was high. Correct knowledge, however, did not translate into accurate behavior. Motivational factors focusing on attitudes, perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, and normative factors were also relevant.

Implications of Behavioral Decision Theory and Social Marketing for Designing Social Action Programs

In recent years, there has been increased interest in applied research by social psychologists. Attempts have been made to identify significant social problems and then to address these problems by means of social interventions or social action programs. Psychological research and methodology has been used to guide the formulation of such programs. This chapter describes issues that we have confronted in the context of our own research programs on the prevention of unintended pregnancies and the prevention of drunk driving. Although we discuss many of these issues in general terms, we do not believe that they are applicable to all social action programs. Nor are they exhaustive of all the issues that must be addressed. Rather, they represent a cross section of some of the perspectives we have adopted when designing interventions to address two specific problems of social significance.