Kevin S. Masters

Prayer and Health: Review, Meta-Analysis, and Research Agenda

This article reviews the empirical research on prayer and health and offers a research agenda to guide future studies. Though many people practice prayer and believe it affects their health, scientific evidence is limited. In keeping with a general increase in interest in spirituality and complementary and alternative treatments, prayer has garnered attention among a growing number of behavioral scientists. The effects of distant intercessory prayer are examined by meta-analysis and it is concluded that no discernable effects can be found. The literature regarding frequency of prayer, content of prayer, and prayer as a coping strategy is subsequently reviewed. Suggestions for future research include the conduct of experimental studies based on conceptual models that include precise operationally defined constructs, longitudinal investigations with proper measure of control variables, and increased use of ecological momentary assessment techniques.

Does type-D personality predict outcomes among patients with cardiovascular disease? A meta-analytic review

OBJECTIVE Research generally indicates that psychological variables are stronger predictors of cardiovascular outcomes in healthy populations than in those with preexisting illness. Studies of Type-D personality, however, suggest that it may also be predictive of negative health outcomes in cardiovascular patient populations. To date, no independent, comprehensive meta-analysis centered specifically on Type-D has integrated this literature and provided quantitative estimates of these relationships. The present meta-analysis investigated the associations between Type-D personality and (a) major adverse cardiac events (MACE), (b) health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and (c) biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease among cardiovascular patients. METHOD Two independent reviewers abstracted data from 15 separate studies. A random effects meta-analytic model was utilized to calculate omnibus effect sizes for each set of related studies, i.e., for the MACE (N of patients=2903), HRQOL (N of patients=1263) and biochemical marker (N of patients=305) measures. RESULTS A positive association was found between Type-D personality and MACE, whereas a negative association was observed between Type-D personality and HRQOL. There was a trend toward significance in the association between Type-D personality and cardiovascular disease biomarkers. CONCLUSION Type-D personality is a promising construct for understanding psychological relationships with important outcomes among cardiovascular patients. Subsequent investigations undertaken by a more diverse group of unaffiliated scientists are important for further development in this line of research.

Canonical correlation reveals important relations between health locus of control, coping, affect and values.

This article explored advantages of canonical correlation using the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scales in relation to measures of coping, affect and values. Survey data collected from 659 participants demonstrated significant canonical correlations between the MHLC and synthetic variables representing all three of these constructs. Results verified some previously hypothesized relations (e.g. external health control relates to passive coping) and introduced new findings pertaining to the relations between networks of MHLC variables and networks of the other three constructs (e.g. positive affect relates to collaborative control between self and God regarding health). Canonical correlation promotes greater understanding of relations between health loci of control and other multidimensional variables than can be obtained through simpler analytic strategies.

Application of the Competency Model to Clinical Health Psychology

In response to the growing emphasis on defining professional competence within applied psychology (e.g.,clinical, neuropsychology, counseling, school), in 2007 American Psychological Association Division 38(Health Psychology) sponsored a summit meeting with a specific focus on revisiting the standards of graduatecurricula and training in clinical health psychology. Using the cube model of core competency domains ofprofessional psychology as a framework, summit participants were charged with identifying the foundationaland functional competencies expected of a well-trained, entry-level clinical health psychologist. As a productof these discussions, the present article is presented as an initial effort to identify the competencies and beginthe discussion in clinical health psychology. As such it is likely to be of interest to a wide audience, includingclinical training programs with an existing or planned emphasis in clinical health psychology, practitionersinterested in acquiring the competencies required to practice as a clinical health psychologist, and studentsevaluating potential graduate and postgraduate training options in clinical health psychology.Keywords: clinical, health psychology, competencyC

Psychometric Examination of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality Among College Students

Resurgent interest in the relations between religiousness/spirituality (R/S) and health is evident in the scientific literature but much of the research fails to capture the proposed multidimensional nature of R/S. This problematic situation is compounded by the existence of a plethora of measures mostly lacking substantial empirical or even theoretical support. The Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) was developed to address measurement confusion by providing a standard instrument for researchers investigating the dimensions of R/S relevant to health. Psychometric properties and factor structure of the BMMRS were investigated in a sample of 374 college students. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses suggested a seven-factor structure for the BMMRS. Preliminary construct validity for the instrument was demonstrated. These findings generally support those of previous studies and suggest that the modified BMMRS is a viable multifactor measure of R/S for use with young adults.

Functional Roles and Foundational Characteristics of Psychologists in Integrated Primary Care

Psychologists are presented with unprecedented opportunities to integrate their work in primary care settings. Although some roles of psychologists in primary care overlap with those in traditional psychology practice settings, a number are distinct reflecting the uniqueness of the primary care culture. In this paper, we first describe the integrated primary care setting, with a focus on those settings that have components of patient centered medical home. We then describe functional roles and foundational characteristics of psychologists in integrated primary care. The description of functional roles emphasizes the diversity of roles performed. The foundational characteristics identified are those that we consider the ‘primary care ethic,’ or core characteristics of psychologists that serve as the basis for the various functional roles in integrated primary care. The ‘primary care ethic’ includes attitudes, values, knowledge, and abilities that are essential to the psychologist being a valued, effective, and productive primary care team member.

Religiousness/spirituality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer: Cultural integration for health research and intervention.

OBJECTIVE Recently, behavioral scientists have developed greater interest in understanding the relations between religiousness and spirituality (R/S) and health. Our objectives were to (a) provide an overview of the R/S and health literature specific to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, (b) discuss the importance of religious culture considerations to behavioral medicine research, (c) suggest methodological changes to advance this research toward greater depth of understanding, and (d) begin discussion on clinically appropriate ways to integrate R/S into treatment. METHOD Individual studies and meta-analyses on the relations of R/S with CVD and cancer were reviewed along with articles on the importance of culture to understanding R/S phenomena. RESULTS Trends in the literature suggest that R/S predicts reductions in all-cause and CVD-related but not cancer mortality. R/S also shows relations with cardiovascular morbidity, and various dimensions of R/S show relations with cancer risk factors and well-being in cancer patients. Investigators have progressively studied more specific dimensions of R/S but have largely failed to consider them within religious cultural contexts. This context is essential for a deeper understanding of R/S and health relations and has profound methodological implications for future studies. CONCLUSIONS R/S and health research is expanding; yet, the field needs more programmatic research and greater theoretical organization. We propose that consideration of R/S variables within their religious culture will provide structure for greater integrative understanding to move the field forward. This understanding is imperative if R/S is to be appropriately integrated into culturally sensitive clinical interventions.

The relations of cognitive strategies with injury, motivation, and performance among marathon runners: Results from two studies

Abstract Two studies, one retrospective and the other prospective, investigated the relation of cognitive strategies (association, dissociation) with injury, motivation, and performance variables among marathon runners. Association was found to predict injury in runners at 4 month follow-up. It appears that association is favored by runners who are more competitive, participate in numerous races, and are heavily invested in running. Contrary to early theorizing, findings demonstrated that dissociation was not related to injury but was related to motivation and performance variables suggesting that dissociating runners tend to run slower, be less competitive, and be less invested in running. It is proposed that motivational and physiological factors account for the use of cognitive strategies among marathon runners.

Purpose in life is associated with physical activity measured by accelerometer

Previous research has shown that purpose in life, the belief that one’s life is meaningful and goal-directed, is associated with greater engagement in self-reported physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between purpose in life and accelerometer-measured physical activity. Community volunteers (N = 104) completed measures of purpose in life and potential confounds and wore accelerometers for three consecutive days. Purpose in life was positively associated with objectively measured movement, moderate to vigorous physical activity, and with self-reported activity. These relationships were largely unchanged after controlling for potential confounds. These results suggest that purpose in life is a reliable correlate of physical activity.

Religiousness and Blood Donation Findings from a National Survey

Religions instruct individuals to engage in prosocial behaviors. Previous studies are lacking on a positive relation between religiousness and blood donation. We tested this hypothesis using a national survey of 7611 women and 4282 men aged 18—44 years. In women, positive associations of childhood religious affiliation, current affiliation and attendance with blood donation were seen on bivariate analysis but were no longer significant when socio-demographic variables were controlled for. Religiousness was not associated with history of blood donation in men, with the exception of higher donation rates in Catholic men aged 35—44.