Journal of Health Psychology

Van Den Berg, Agnes E. ;Custers, Mariëtte H.G.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310365577pmid: 20522508

Stress-relieving effects of gardening were hypothesized and tested in a field experiment. Thirty allotment gardeners performed a stressful Stroop task and were then randomly assigned to 30 minutes of outdoor gardening or indoor reading on their own allotment plot. Salivary cortisol levels and self-reported mood were repeatedly measured. Gardening and reading each led to decreases in cortisol during the recovery period, but decreases were significantly stronger in the gardening group. Positive mood was fully restored after gardening, but further deteriorated during reading. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that gardening can promote relief from acute stress.

Barnack-Tavlaris, Jessica L. ;Reddy, Diane M. ;Ports, Katie

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367527pmid: 20709880

This study investigated the psychosocial factors that influence psychological adjustment among women with genital herpes, while taking into account the physical factors. Women with herpes (N = 105, age 18—30) completed an on-line survey about factors related to their diagnosis and herpes-related quality of life. Perceived stigma, acceptance coping, denial coping, support from the Internet, and support from religious/spiritual figures accounted for 65.9 percent of the variance in quality of life scores. The findings reveal the importance of specific coping strategies and sources of support on psychological adjustment to herpes. Furthermore, a significant interaction between stigma and acceptance coping suggests a complex relationship between these two psychosocial factors that warrants future research.

Havstam, Christina ;Laakso, Katja ;Ringsberg, Karin C.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367529pmid: 20709879

Individuals born with a cleft lip and palate risk developing a deviant appearance and speech during childhood and sometimes also as adults. In this study, 13 young adults born with a cleft (lip and) palate, who had had deviant speech in adolescence, participated in semi-structured interviews. The core category Making sense of the cleft, comprising the two categories Shaping one’s attitude to the cleft and Dealing with being different with seven subcategories, describes the processes of developing self-image in relation to the cleft. The findings are believed to be relevant for individuals born with a cleft, their parents and caregivers.

Reardon, Rhona ;Grogan, Sarah

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367531pmid: 20656768

This study explored experiences of women with large breasts who were considering or had had breast reduction surgery. Open-ended questionnaires were returned via email from 32 women, 13 of whom were seeking breast reduction and 19 who had already undergone breast reduction surgery. Transcripts were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Themes arising from this analysis included physical symptoms, information, and body image and self-esteem. Implications for Health Psychology are discussed, including the necessity to assist women to cope with pain prior to breast reduction, and assisting health professionals to develop more effective communication skills.

Brunet, Jennifer ;Sabiston, Catherine M.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367530pmid: 20709876

This study examined the psychometric properties of two scales which assessed social physique anxiety (SPA) in the context of peers (peer SPA) and parents (parent SPA), and differences in reported levels of peer SPA and parent SPA. Young adults (N = 381, 161 males, Mage = 18.69 years) completed self-report measures. Results supported the internal consistency, convergent validity and factor structure of the peer SPA and parent SPA scales. Also, participants reported significantly higher levels of peer SPA compared to parent SPA. Findings offer preliminary support for the investigation of contextualized SPA using the scales tested in this study, and suggest more research is needed to better understand the processes that may increase or decrease SPA when surrounded by peers and parents.

Kogan, Steven M. ;Brody, Gene H. ;Chen, Yi-Fu ;DiClemente, Ralph J.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367831pmid: 20709883

In this brief report, the hypothesis that self-regulatory problems would mediate the association between contextual stressors and unprotected intercourse among rural African American young adult men was investigated. Family support and religiosity were hypothesized to ameliorate the influence of contextual stressors on self-regulatory problems. Hypotheses were tested on 79 sexually active men from a sample recruited with Respondent Driven Sampling; episodes of unprotected intercourse constituted the criterion variable. Analyses supported the mediating role of self-regulatory problems in linking young adult men’s contextual stressors with a heightened likelihood of unprotected intercourse. Religious involvement and family support interacted with contextual stressors to predict diminished associations with self-regulatory problems.

Roepke, Susan K. ;Mausbach, Brent T. ;Patterson, Thomas L. ;Von Känel, Roland ;Ancoli-Israel, Sonia ;Harmell, Alexandrea L. ;Dimsdale, Joel E. ;Aschbacher, Kirstin ;Mills, Paul J. ;Ziegler, Michael G. ;Allison, Matthew ;Grant, Igor

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Ahern, Amy L. ;Bennett, Kate M. ;Kelly, Michelle ;Hetherington, Marion M.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367690pmid: 20709877

The thin ideal has been identified as playing a central role in female body dissatisfaction. However, research into idealization of thinness in young women tends to focus on quantitative measures that can mask the complexity of attitudes and experiences. This article describes a series of focus groups with 41 females aged 16—26 and explores the multifaceted relationship young women have with the thin ideal. Thematic qualitative analysis revealed differences between individuals in the construct of the thin ideal and explored the conflict and ambivalence experienced by young women who are confronted by these ideals on a daily basis.

Merin, Abigail ;Pachankis, John E.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367528pmid: 20656766

This article reviews the psychological consequences of genital herpes infection through the lens of a recently proposed framework for conceptualizing concealable stigmas. We incorporate research on identity, stigma, and the connection between psychological and physical health to outline how negative stigma-related psychological consequences perpetuate distress associated with genital herpes. Our review of the research suggests a model linking negative affect and poor coping to frequent recurrences of genital herpes outbreaks. Frequent outbreaks, in turn, increase the salience of the stigma, reinforcing a stigmatized self-schema, thereby creating negative psychological consequences, continuing the cycle. We conclude by discussing the implications of this model for future research and mental health treatment.

Keough, Meghan E. ;Timpano, Kiara R. ;Zawilinski, Laci L. ;Schmidt, Norman B.

doi: 10.1177/1359105310367689pmid: 20631041

Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) endorse greater negative affect, including anxiety psychopathology. To examine the role anxiety plays in the maintenance and exacerbation of IBS the links between IBS and two anxiety related constructs, body vigilance and discomfort intolerance, were examined. A non-treatment seeking college sample (N = 476) completed measures that assessed IBS symptomatology, vigilance to bodily sensations and ability to tolerate physical discomfort. A total of 4.2 percent of the sample met Rome II criteria for IBS. Consistent with the hypotheses, IBS symptoms were associated with increased vigilance to bodily sensations and increased desire to avoid these sensations.