Jeanne T. Hernandez

Relationship of sexual and physical abuse to pain and psychological assessment variables in chronic pelvic pain patients

&NA; This study examines the incidence of sexual and physical abuse and its relationship to selected pain description and psychological variables in a sample of 36 chronic pelvic pain patients. Abuse was measured on a 6‐item reliable scale, and abused and non‐abused respondents were compared on 4 categories of variables expected to be related to the effects of abuse (pain description, functional impact of pain, others response to pain, and psychosocial impact of pain). Results indicated that 19 of 36 patients reported prior abuse. Physical abuse was reported less commonly than sexual abuse. No differences between the abused and non‐abused groups were noted on demographic, pain description, or the functional interference variables. On the psychological variables, however, the abused group reported less perceived life control, greater punishing responses to pain, and higher levels of somatization and global distress than the non‐abused group. These results indicate a high incidence of sexual abuse in patients with chronic pelvic pain and suggest that abused and non‐abused patients differ on psychological but not pain description or self‐reported functional interference variables.

Self-Control and Ego Identity Development as Predictors of Unprotected Sex in Late Adolescent Males.

Male college students completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire assessing HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, moral development, personality factors and behaviors. Bivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with high-risk sexual intercourse. Significant demographic psychosocial and behavioral predictors were entered into a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the independent influence of each predictor on unprotected sexual intercourse. Behavioral factors were the most powerful predictors of unprotected sexual intercourse. Adolescents reporting multiple sex partners, drinking and picking-up sex partners were significantly more likely to engage in sex without condoms. Examining psychosocial factors alone, it was found that adolescents who had low scores for ego-development (goal-directedness) and self-control were significantly more likely to engage in sex without condoms. Identification of two personality constructs as underlying predictors of high-risk behavior, while potentially important for the development of effective HIV prevention programs, needs corroboration to further define the interrelationships between these factors and other psychosocial constructs.

A comparison of binge-purgers, obese binge eaters, and obese nonbinge eaters on the MMPI

This study compared the (MMPI) score distributions obtained by binge-purgers (n=34), obese binge eaters (n=34), and obese nonbingers (n=34) of similar age. Significant differences emerged among the three groups on all MMPI scales except Masculinity-feminity (Mf) and Mania (Ma), and there was a consistent trend on the clinical scales for binge-purgers to obtain the highest scores and obese nonbingers the lowest. Obese binge eaters were statistically different from obese nonbingers on 10 of 13 scales and from binge-purgers on 4 of 13 scales. The results suggest that these groups represent three distinct populations, with obese nonbingers exhibiting the least psychological disturbance and binge-purgers exhibiting the most

Pain locus of control scores in chronic pain patients and medical clinic patients with and without pain

Abstract: Objective:We investigated the association between treatment setting and pain control attributions as assessed by the Pain Locus of Control Scale (PLOC). Design: Nonrandomized consecutive samples. Patients and Setting: The patient groups included an outpatient pain clinic sample of chronic pain patients (n = 48), a group of medical clinic outpatients with chronic pain (n = 28), and a group of medical clinic outpatients without current pain (n = 22). Medical clinic patients without current pain were asked to reply to the PLOC items in terms of their usual response when experiencing pain. Results and Conclusions:Results indicated that pain clinic patients were the least likely of the three groups to report predictable control of their pain as reflected by their significantly lower “powerful other” and higher “chance” dimension scores. Medical clinic patients without pain reported greater personal control of pain than the other two groups as evidenced by their higher “internality” dimension score and lower “chance” dimension score. Results indicate that pain control appraisals differ among patients with chronic pain and illness as a function of the treatment setting and suggest that differences in cognitive appraisal can affect treatment efficacy.

Psychometric characteristics of a brief measure of pain-related functional impairment

This study presents reliability and validity data from two samples (pain clinic vs medical clinic) on a five-item self-report scale, termed the Functional Interference Estimate (FIE), designed to measure functional impairment associated with chronic pain. Results from the pain clinic sample demonstrated that the FIE is internally consistent and has satisfactory levels of test-retest reliability, item-total score correlations, and convergent validity. Results from the medical clinic sample demonstrated that the FIE discriminated between medical clinic patients without pain and both medical clinic patients with pain and pain clinic patients. The data support the use of the FIE as one of several available assessment methods for evaluation of pain-related functional impairment.

Sensation Seeking and STD Control

Abstract Most adolescents have received AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) prevention education, and while research shows that relevant safer sex knowledge has improved, corresponding behavior changes are lagging. In this study, questionnaires were used to examine relationships among sensation seeking safer sex attitudes, and safer sex practices in older adolescents. Results suggest that condom use is related to intentions to use condoms, but not directly to sensation seeking or to sexual motivation. While sexual motivation in dating is still high, recent health education efforts may be responsible for altering condom use intentions and practices. Discussion stresses the need to consider such variables as gender and sensation seeking when advising adolescents on STD prevention.

Self-Concept and Locus of Control in Hemophiliacs

A comparison study of self-concept was done with twenty-one hemophiliacs ages six to twenty-four and twenty-one control subjects, examining the effects of the first year of a home-infusion treatment program on self-esteem. A battery of six self-esteem tests was used for pre- and posttesting. Statistically significant improvement occurred in Locus of Control in both samples, but more change in the controls than in the patients; there were also some interesting trends in the other areas. The results are discussed in terms of further defining appropriate test instruments for self-esteem assessment in this population.

Social and economic indicators of well-being among hemophiliacs over a 5-year period

The psychosocial characteristics of a 1983 population of hemophiliacs were described and compared to the 1978 patient population from the same hemophilia center to document any improvements that newer medical treatment and social programming were expected to bring and to compare the 1983 population of hemophiliacs to the general population. Findings included a reduction in the use of pain medication, an increase in the number of 18-35 year olds in school, and a decrease in the proportion of unemployed to employed workers. This updated profile will be helpful for professionals who are planning comprehensive programs for hemophiliacs, including those who have tested seropositive for AIDS.

Moral Reasoning and Unprotected Sex among Young Men

Abstract This study examined the influence of moral reasoning on young mens HIV-related sexual risk behaviors, specifically unprotected sexual intercourse. It was hypothesized that those with higher stage moral reasoning will be more likely to practice safe sex. Male college students completed a measure of moral reasoning and a self-report questionnaire assessing sexual behavior. Those scoring high on moral reasoning reported significantly fewer incidents of unprotected sex and more respect for partners who wanted to practice safe sex. They also had fewer sex partners, reported fewer pick-ups, and their sexual motivation on dates was lower (the latter comparisons did not reach levels of significance). That students engage in risky sexual practices less when they use higher levels of moral reasoning is important to the health education disciplines effort to promote safer sex. It speaks to incorporating training in higher levels of moral reasoning into sex education curricula, for example, by presenting m...