Sussie Eshun

Culture and Gender Effects in Pain Beliefs and the Prediction of Pain Tolerance

The goals of this study were (a) to explore beliefs about appropriate or normative pain responses among college students in the United States and India and (b) to examine differences in pain tolerance and intensity ratings and the role beliefs play in predicting pain tolerance. Scales to assess beliefs about appropriate pain responses in males and females were completed by college students in both countries. Ratings of pain intensity were then obtained following the cold pressor test. Results indicated that participants in India were less accepting of overt pain expression than those in the United Cross-Cultural Research, Vol. 34 No. 2, May 2000 135-151 States. Females believed that overt pain expression was more appropriate than did males. Consistent with their beliefs, Indian participants had higher pain tolerance than those in the United States, and males had higher pain tolerance than females. Reported pain intensity predicted 28% of the variance in pain tolerance, whereas beliefs predicted an additional 5%.

Role of Gender and Rumination in Suicide Ideation: A Comparison of College Samples From Ghana and the United States

The role of ruminative coping and gender as potential moderators of cultural differences in suicide ideation among 194 college students from Ghana and the United States were studied. Participants completed the Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire and the Rumination scale of the Response Style Questionnaire. Significant main effects for cultural group and gender were found for suicide ideation. Furthermore, gender and rumination together accounted for significant portions of the variance in suicide ideation scores. Implications for future research are discussed.

Cultural variations in hopelessness, optimism, and suicidal ideation : A study of Ghana and U.S. college samples

As a follow-up study on previous findings of cultural differences in responses to depressive mood, college students from Ghana and the United States completed measures of hopelessness, optimism, and suicidal ideation. Statistical analyses were performed to compare differences in means between the two countries. Compared to the U.S. sample, Ghanaian college students reported less feelings of hopelessness,t(179) = -3.365,p < .001, and were significantly more optimistic,t(208) = 6.609,p < .0001. Furthermore, the U.S. sample endorsed significantly more items on the suicidal ideation scale, t(207) = 2.121,p < .035, than their Ghanaian counterparts. The role of factors such as cultural variations in an individual’s sense of belonging, social support, and expectancies is discussed in light of the present findings. Implications and directions for future research are also considered.

Cultural and gender differences in responses to depressive mood: a study of college students in Ghana and the U.S.A.

Abstract The present study examined the role of culture as a potential moderator of gender differences in response to depressive mood in 315 college students from two separate nationalities (203 from Ghana and 112 from the U.S.A.). Participants from both cultural groups completed the Response Styles Questionnaire (RSQ; Nolen-Hoeksema & Morrow, 1991) which assesses individual differences in coping with depressed mood. Results from conducting a series of analyses of variances indicated a significant gender (male vs female) × culture (Ghanaian vs American) interaction for one of the four sub-scales of the RSQ. Specifically, culture was found to moderate the effects of gender on scores for Dangerous Activity response style. Also a significant cultural as well as gender effect was found for Rumination. The present findings support the importance of cultural sensitivity in research and psychotherapy.

Acculturation and suicide attitudes : A study of perceptions about suicide among a sample of Ghanaian immigrants in the United States

To investigate whether a relationship exists between acculturation and attitudes about suicide, 81 Ghanaian immigrants living in the U.S. who responded to a mail inquiry were selected to participate in the current study. This particular immigrant sample was chosen because although they represent a rapidly growing group in the U.S., they have been rarely studied. Respondents consisted of 42 women and 36 men (3 did not identify their sex), with a mean age of 29.5 yr. (SD = 10.6). Participants completed measures of acculturation and attitudes about suicide. Results indicated significant correlations between length of residency in the United States and negative suicide attitudes, and also between psychological acculturation and negative suicide attitudes. No significant relationship was found between behavioral acculturation and suicide attitudes. Furthermore, length of residency was a stronger predictor of suicide attitudes than other subjective measures of acculturation. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Teaching the Principles of Test Validation in Introductory Psychology

We describe a simple classroom activity that demonstrated the process of assessing predictive validity. We assessed changes in student understanding of the process, confidence in psychological testing, and enjoyment in participating in the exercise. Students who completed the activity performed better on a test question about validity and reported more confidence in testing. Students reported they enjoyed the exercise and that the activity provided them with a better understanding of the test development process.