Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Psychology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Do Patient-Reported Androgen-Deprivation Therapy Side Effects Predict Anxiety And Depression Among Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy? Implications For Psychosocial Therapy Interventions, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie Sep 2013

Do Patient-Reported Androgen-Deprivation Therapy Side Effects Predict Anxiety And Depression Among Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy? Implications For Psychosocial Therapy Interventions, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Antiandrogen therapy (AAT) is a common adjunct treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) patients and has shown significant benefits to long-term outcomes from radiation or surgery. Although AAT has some adverse side effects and data from breast cancer patients indicate that such side effects from hormonal therapies may contribute to anxiety and depression and may also hinder AAT treatment compliance, this issue has not been investigated within a sample of PCa patients. This study explores the incidence of AAT side effects in a sample of PCa patients, the links between those side effects and anxiety and depression, the possible ways in …


How Prostate Cancer Patients Cope: Evaluation And Refinement Of The Prostate Cancer Patients' Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie Sep 2013

How Prostate Cancer Patients Cope: Evaluation And Refinement Of The Prostate Cancer Patients' Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) patients suffer from identifiable stressors that may cause them anxiety and/or depression. In a previous study, an initial exploration of the ways in which PCa patients seek to cope with those stressors was described. However, several methodological limitations prevented direct comparisons of the relative effectiveness of patients’ coping strategies. To further investigate this issue, a standardised format was used to present the most commonly-used coping strategies to a new sample of PCa patients and to compare the effectiveness of those strategies. Methods: A total of 147 PCa patients completed a background questionnaire and the Prostate Cancer …


Perceptions Of Positive Growth Following Breast Cancer In Survivor Couples, Katherine Boyd Jul 2013

Perceptions Of Positive Growth Following Breast Cancer In Survivor Couples, Katherine Boyd

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of couples following breast cancer and their perceptions of growth as a result of their experiences with the illness. Qualitative methodology, specifically a phenomenological research design, was utilized to gain understanding of couples’ perceptions and interpretations of growth, particularly within the contexts of couple relationships. Ten survivor couples participated in the study. Study data was collected through semistructured interviews with the couple jointly. Genograms were constructed for each couple and were utilized to track couples’ experiences with illness, care-taking, and growth following adverse or traumatic situations. Data analysis revealed …


Regret In Cancer-Related Decisions, Terry Connolly, Jochen Reb May 2013

Regret In Cancer-Related Decisions, Terry Connolly, Jochen Reb

Jochen Reb

Decision-related regret is a negative emotion associated with thinking about a past or future choice. The thinking component generally takes the form of a wish that things were otherwise and involves a comparison of what actually did or will take place with some better alternative--a counterfactual thought. For predecisional (anticipated) regret, the thinking involves a mental simulation of the outcomes that might result from different choice options. Prior research has focused on regret associated with decision outcomes, addressing especially (a) the comparison outcome selected and (b) whether the outcome resulted from action or inaction. More recent research examines regret associated …


The Role Of Family Organization In Family Health History Communication About Cancer, Vivian M. Rodríguez May 2013

The Role Of Family Organization In Family Health History Communication About Cancer, Vivian M. Rodríguez

Theses and Dissertations

Family health history (FHH) has been recognized as an important tool in cancer prevention and health promotion. To date, literature on FHH discussions about cancer have largely focused on patient-physician communication or the dissemination of cancer-specific genetic tests results within the family. Fewer studies have sought to identify family factors that may promote FHH discussions, yet this type of information could be used to identify families needing support in having these conversations. Thus, the present study examined relations between family organization (cohesion and flexibility), communication openness, and FHH communication about cancer within a diverse group of women recruited from an …


Supporting The Well Being Of University Student Survivors Of Cancer, Janice Lewis May 2013

Supporting The Well Being Of University Student Survivors Of Cancer, Janice Lewis

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Young adult survivors of cancer present a unique set of needs and developmental factors to consider when working to support their well being (physical, mental, emotional, and social health). The experiences of these individuals can vary in many ways. This variety might include variables such as: age of diagnosis, type of cancer, type of treatment, resources available, family support, etc. The intent of this project is to examine and review the needs of young adult university student cancer survivors and address important considerations for professionals working to support their well being. Interviews with cancer survivors and a supportive professional were …


The Utility Of Cancer-Related Cultural Constructs To Understand Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans, John P. Meriac, Vetta L. S. Thompson, Alan Bugbee, Jenine K. Harris May 2013

The Utility Of Cancer-Related Cultural Constructs To Understand Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans, John P. Meriac, Vetta L. S. Thompson, Alan Bugbee, Jenine K. Harris

Psychology Faculty Works

Data suggest that colorectal cancer could be cut by approximately 60% if all people aged 50 years or older received regular screening. Studies have identified socio-cultural attitudes that might inform cancer education and screening promotion campaigns. This article applies item response theory (IRT) to a set of survey items selected to assess sociocultural attitudes in order to determine how current measures may affect what we know about how these attitudes affect colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Design and Methods. A survey of colorectal cancer screening, screening attitudes and cultural beliefs was administered to 1021 African Americans - 683 women and 338 …


Social Relations, Health Behaviors, And Health Outcomes: A Survey And Synthesis, Louis Tay, Kenneth Tan, Ed Diener, Elizabeth Gonzalez Mar 2013

Social Relations, Health Behaviors, And Health Outcomes: A Survey And Synthesis, Louis Tay, Kenneth Tan, Ed Diener, Elizabeth Gonzalez

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The primary goal of this paper is to summarise current evidence on social relations and health, specifically how social integration and social support are related to health behaviors and health outcomes, using results from published reviews. Our analysis revealed that social relations are beneficial for health behaviors such as chronic illness self-management and decreased suicidal tendency. The salutary effects of general measures of social relations (e.g. being validated, being cared for, etc.) on health behaviors (e.g. healthy diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol abuse) are weaker, but specific measures of social relations targeting corresponding health behaviors are more predictive. There is …