Stress and Health

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090301pmid: N/A

Rosenman, Ray H.

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090302pmid: N/A

There is consistent evidence that self‐perceived stress can cause significant short‐term increases of plasma total and LDL cholesterol that vary in different individuals and are occasionally of large magnitude. This may be due to a stimulation of sympathetic nervous system activity that suppresses LDL cholesterol receptors. Behavioral ‘activation’ appears to be associated with higher cholesterol levels, reduced participation in life activities with lower levels, and transient increases during emotional arousal with anxiety.

Grisaru, Nimrod; Paronsky, Alla; Zabow, Aubrey; Belmaker, R. H.

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090303pmid: N/A

The Gulf War led to an anticipated missile attack on the Israeli civilian population. Psychotic inpatients in a locked ward repeatedly had to enter a sealed room and put on gas masks, after air raid sirens were sounded. Despite absence of psychological preparation, the patients cooperated well and no exacerbations of psychosis were noted.

Jamal, Muhammad; Badawi, Jamal

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090304pmid: N/A

This study examined the relationship of job stress with psychosomatic health problems, happiness in life, job satisfaction, job motivation, organizational commitment and turnover motivation in a sample of Muslims living in Canada and the USA. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire (N = 325). Results generally supported the prediction that job stress will be positively related to psychosomatic health problems and turnover motivation, and negatively related to happiness in life, job satisfaction, job motivation and organizational commitment. Degree of religiosity was proposed as a moderator of job stress‐outcome relationships. Results from moderated multiple regression indicated that for this sample of Muslims religiosity was an important moderator of the stress‐outcome relationships. Implications of the findings for stress management and for future research in the racioethnic area are highlighted.

Stehbens, William E.

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090305pmid: N/A

Currently the lipid hypothesis dominates research in atherogenesis and fundamental defects in the epidemiological approach lie at the crux of the cholesterol controversy. Causal knowledge is indispensable in science and logically cause should be used as the sole prerequisite without which the disease cannot occur rather than synonymously with risk factors, which are non‐specific, non‐causal factors related to coronary heart disease (CHD) rather than atherosclerosis. The incidence of CHD (a surrogate of end‐stage atherosclerosis) is not a specific disease, nor a suitable monitor for the severity of atherosclerosis. Nor is it the correct parameter or end‐point in epidemiological studies of the cause of atherosclerosis commencing in infancy, if not in utero. Other epidemiological defects include the use of fallacious monocausal mortality rates, assumed causal role of risk factors, fallacious dietary data, non‐specificity of statistical correlations and selection bias for familial hypercholesterolaemia, failure to take note of inconsistencies in evidence and the lack of corroborative pathological and experimental evidence, since the vascular lesion of familial hypercholesterolaemia and the cholesterol‐fed rabbit are lipid storage phenomena and not atherosclerotic. These deficiencies in CHD epidemiological methodology provide defective and fallacious data requiring vigorous scientific reappraisal of the lipid hypothesis and open debate.

Ekblad, Solvig

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090306pmid: N/A

This study examined the family functioning and the child's psychological adaptation while staying in a refugee camp in the Stockholm area. Data were collected by means of a structured interview from 66 children and their parents, mainly mothers, from the former Yugoslavia.

Shima, Satoru

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090307pmid: N/A

The frequency and magnitude of life events and the relationships between these events and neurotic impairment were examined in 368 Japanese employees, using a life events questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). While both desirable and undesirable life events with a high frequency were related to work only, both kinds of life events with a high strength were related to both family and work. No significant relationship was found between GHQ scores and the frequency or strength of desirable life events, but it was found between these scores and the frequency or strength of undesirable events.

Burke, Ronald J.

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090308pmid: N/A

This study examined a research model developed to understand work satisfactions and emotional and physical well‐being among police officers. Data were collected from 828 men and women in police work using questionnaires completed anonymously. Although considerable diversity was present in the sample, a majority were male constables in their early careers. Five groups of predictor variables identified in previous research were considered: individual demographic and situational variables, work stressors, work‐family conflict, coping responses, and psychological burnout components. Work stressors and psychological burnout were fairly consistently and significantly related to levels of self‐reported work attitudes and emotional and physical well‐being. Somewhat surprisingly, work‐family conflict and individual coping responses were generally unrelated to measures of work attitudes and self‐reported emotional and physical well‐being.

Morse, Donald R.

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090309pmid: N/A

First, the stress relevance of vampirism is discussed, and the current vampire craze is considered along with a rationale for the scientific investigation of vampirism. Second, the origins of vampirism are examined. Third, the origin of Dracula is presented. Fourth, cinematic portrayals of Dracula and other vampires are given. Fifth, methods of prevention of vampire formation are considered. Sixth, a typical vampire is examined. Seventh, creation of vampires is explored. Eighth, destruction of vampires is considered. Ninth, historical vampires are examined. Tenth, current vampires are discussed. Eleventh, the sociological, physiological, and stress‐‐related reasons for vampirism are explored. Twelfth, the anatomical, physiological, and stress‐related aspects of love, vampire, and lethal biting are considered. Forensic methods of bite detection are then examined. Afterwards, the sociological, physiological, and psychological aspects of vampirism are evaluated. Finally, the dangers of vampirism are detailed.

Rosenman, Ray H.

doi: 10.1002/smi.2460090310pmid: N/A