David F. Marks

Critical Review Nicotine for the Fetus, the Infant and the Adolescent?

The recent expansion of Nicotine Replacement Therapy to pregnant women and children ignores the fact that nicotine impairs, disrupts, duplicates and/or interacts with essential physiological functions and is involved in tobacco-related carcinogenesis. The main concerns in the present context are its fetotoxicity and neuroteratogenicity that can cause cognitive, affective and behavioral disorders in children born to mothers exposed to nicotine during pregnancy, and the detrimental effects of nicotine on the growing organism. Hence, the use of nicotine, whose efficacy in treating nicotine addiction is controversial even in adults, must be strictly avoided in pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood and adolescence.

Mental imagery and creativity: A meta-analytic review study

The reports of many creative individuals suggest the use of mental imagery in scientific and artistic production. A variety of protocols have tested the association between mental imagery and creativity, but the individual differences approach has been most frequently employed. This approach is assessed here through a range of meta-analytic tests. Database searches revealed 18 papers employing the individual differences approach that were subjected to a conservative set of selection criteria. Nine studies (1494 participants) were included in the final analyses. A marginal, but statistically significant, Fishers Z-transformed correlation coefficient was revealed. Further analyses showed little difference between form and type of self-reported imagery and divergent thinking. Explanations for the failure to account for more than 3% of the variance in the data sets are discussed in the context of anecdotal reports, task validity, and design problems.

Freedom, responsibility and power: contrasting approaches to health psychology.

In Health Psychology in Context it was argued that, if we are to make any sense of it, the subject matter of health psychology must be understood in the context of social, political and economic forces. That theme is continued here with a brief examination of how freedom, responsibility and power enter into the generation of conflicts, including the recent outbreak of war. The interplay of commercial and state interests in academic and health research settings is then discussed. The assumptions, values and meanings of work in health psychology are examined in that light. These are divided between four evolving approaches in health psychology: clinical, public, community and critical health psychology. A framework is presented for positioning these approaches within a system for the production of health and social care.

The Quest for Meaningful Theory in Health Psychology

Theories generate questions, which in turn generate findings, which in turn generate articles. Theories in health psychology have successfully generated research activity but with inconclusive results. Avenues for more fruitful exploration are described. One of these suggests that health psychology will alter its focus from the study of what is (description) to the study of what might be (explanation), from what individuals do and say (behaviour) to what that behaviour means (contextuality), from `social cognitions (box ticks) to personal subjectivities (mental experience), from the status quo (demographics) to social injustice (structures of power and inequality).

Medical pluralism of the Chinese in London: an exploratory study.

OBJECTIVEnThis study was designed to examine the extent of medical pluralism among the Chinese in London.nnnDESIGNnMembers of the London Chinese community were recruited through Chinese organizations in London and participated in six focus groups.nnnMETHODnA total of 48 Chinese men and women aged 24-74 years were asked to talk about their health behaviour and health utilization patterns. Transcripts of the focus group discussions underwent thematic analysis to explore and describe the utilization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine (WM) of informants and factors that impacted on utilization.nnnRESULTSnFindings focus on participants evaluation of TCM and WM as two systems of health provision, how informants used these two health systems, and the reasons associated with use of these two systems. Utilization of TCM and WM varied. Concurrent use of TCM and WM was common. The National Health Service was generally perceived as difficult to use, with concerns over the language barrier, and communicating with and being able to trust health providers. The UK TCM trade was perceived as being aimed at the non-Chinese market and there were issues of trust related to the regulation of UK TCM.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAlthough none of these issues are unique to the Chinese in the UK, previous experience with different approaches to health care, particularly TCM, may make the experience of such barriers more extreme.

Health, Disease and Healthcare in Africa

This editorial introduction to `Health, disease and healthcare in Africa addresses some of the key issues for health psychology in the continent. African populations face a health crisis driven by a double burden of disease, a nutrition transition, war and conflict, and poverty. Health systems are under-funded and underresourced. Research suggests that the most prevalent diseases in Africa are preventable and treatable, and that most deaths are avoidable. Health practices and systems that may aid equitable, cost-effective and sustainable healthcare exist but remain untapped. We advocate a reflective, action-oriented health psychology that challenges social injustice and racism, and develops strategies that promote more just and healthy societies.

Editorial How Should Psychology Interventions Be Reported

Psychology requires new heuristics for intervention research and reporting. There are problems with evidence-based practice (EBP) and with publications reporting intervention studies in Psychology. These issues are connected. EBP is associated with unsustainable levels of Waste, Inertia, Invalidity, Simplisticity and Opacity. Eleven domains of behaviour change are defined which encompass a vast array of programmes, interventions and techniques. These procedures are delivered in a multitude of combinations enabling millions of different interventions in Psychology. Reporting an intervention study in Psychology is a complex operation. A taxonomy for intervention reports is described.Psychology requires new heuristics for intervention research and reporting. There are problems with evidence-based practice (EBP) and with publications reporting intervention studies in Psychology. These issues are connected. EBP is associated with unsustainable levels of Waste, Inertia, Invalidity, Simplisticity and Opacity. Eleven domains of behaviour change are defined which encompass a vast array of programmes, interventions and techniques. These procedures are delivered in a multitude of combinations enabling millions of different interventions in Psychology. Reporting an intervention study in Psychology is a complex operation. A taxonomy for intervention reports is described.

Child labour and the International Labour Organization's Convention 182: a critical perspective.

‘Child labour’ is a worldwide problem that has caused detrimental effects to children’s health and well-being. The ILO Convention 182 aims to address this issue by immediately eliminating its worst forms. This article provides a discourse analysis of this Convention. The analysis suggests that using an organizational discourse, the Convention promotes the maintenance of existing hierarchies of power, primarily through emphasis on legislative structures and consultation with the Organization of Employers and Workers. It has been recommended that the Convention be revised in light of the insights generated by the analysis and that the children be given a more active role in the process.

Health Behaviors and Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine Among the British Chinese

Health behaviors and use of traditional Chinese medicine among the British Chinese community were examined. One hundred and eighty-six British Chinese participants recruited from Chinese health and community centers across the United Kingdom completed the Cultural Health Belief and Value Survey. Results revealed that the majority of respondents used Western medicine. Respondents’ decisions to use Western medicine were influenced by cost of medicine and speed of recovery. Use of traditional Chinese medicine was significantly associated with a number of variables, including respondent speaking a Chinese dialect as his or her first language being, having a sense of cultural superiority, and believing that cultural values and religious beliefs influence health behavior. Concurrent use of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine was found to be common among respondents. Better understanding of the influence of traditional cultural and health beliefs could enable more culturally appropriate and effective health provision.

The case for a pluralist health psychology.

Hepworth (2006) offers a timely and insightful review of critical health psychology. A pluralist health psychology can accommodate the interests and concerns of all psychologists working in the health field. Health inequalities are neglected by the mainstream and yet policy makers at national and international level are giving this a high priority. Also, ecological validity and replicability of mainstream quantitative studies are unacceptably low while qualitative studies are being increasingly utilized. Hepworth’s passionate call to action is an appeal that no psychologist with a concern for human wellbeing can easily ignore.