Background and Purpose: The Internet has become a site for bullying, exacerbated by perceptions o... more Background and Purpose: The Internet has become a site for bullying, exacerbated by perceptions of anonymity, technological knowledge among youth, and the ability of bullying messages and images to be quickly transmitted to a large audience. While a developing research base exists (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009; Kowalski & Limber, 2007; Williams & Guerra, 2007), little research has explored the factors that place youth most at risk for being cyber bullied and perpetrating cyber bullying. The purpose of this research was to identify subgroups of youth most likely to have cyber bullied or to have experienced cyber bullying. Methods: A geographically stratified random sample of grade six, seven, ten and eleven students (n=2186) in a large urban centre completed a cyber bullying survey. Multivariate classification tree analysis generated subgroups of students most likely to have experienced or perpetuated cyber bullying, based on factors such as demographics and technology use. Results: One-t...
Background/Purpose Gay and bisexual men (GBM) experience high levels of body dissatisfaction whic... more Background/Purpose Gay and bisexual men (GBM) experience high levels of body dissatisfaction which is associated with both disordered eating risk (Wichstrm, 2006) and sexual risk (Allensworth-Davies, et al., 2008). More research is needed that explores the connectedness between identity, disordered eating and the well-being of GBM. The objectives are: 1) Estimate the prevalence of disordered eating risk and sexual risk among a racially diverse sample of GBM attending Toronto's 2008 LGBT Pride Festival, 2) Identify demographic/psychosocial factors associated with these risks. Methods: Cross sectional data were collected using a survey from a convenience sample. Variables included demographics, HIV status, body mass (BMI), depression/anxiety, alcohol/illicit drug consumption, and body image (idealized and behavioral drive for muscularity). The variables of primary interest were disordered eating risk (EAT-26; Garner et al., 1982) and sexual risk (specifically sero-discordant unpro...
Background and Purpose: The Internet is becoming the preferred method of communication for youth.... more Background and Purpose: The Internet is becoming the preferred method of communication for youth. It is also becoming a site for bullying, exacerbated by perceptions of anonymity, greater technological knowledge among youth, and the ability of bullying messages and images to be sent at any time and quickly transmitted to a large audience. The devastating impact of cyber bullying, including depression, substance use and delinquency (Mitchell, Ybarra & Finklehor, 2007) has revealed cyber bullying as a dominant public health problem. While a developing research base exists, estimating the prevalence of cyber bullying between 9-25% (Kowalski & Limber, 2007; Li, 2007; Williams & Guerra, 2007), this is the first study to specifically examine cyber bullying with a representative sample. The purpose was to identify the extent and impact of cyber bullying to generate knowledge and inform interventions. Methods: A geographically stratified random sample of grade six, seven, ten and eleven stu...
... An introduction to HLM: Computer program and user's guide. ... Influence of cooperat... more ... An introduction to HLM: Computer program and user's guide. ... Influence of cooperative early field experi ence on preservice elementary teachers' science self effi cacy. ... An investigation of therelationship between training in cooperative learning and teacher job satisfaction. ...
This study used data collected by Statistics Canada in the Mental Health and Well-being cycle of ... more This study used data collected by Statistics Canada in the Mental Health and Well-being cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey (N = 20,211) to examine the associations between disordered eating behavior and selected mood, anxiety and substance use disorders in adult women grouped in three age groups. Significant associations between disordered eating behaviors and major depression, substance dependence and psychological distress were found for women in all three age ranges. Prevalence of specific classes of anxiety disorders in women who reported disordered eating behaviors differed according to their age. Having disordered eating behaviors was significantly associated with both 12-month and lifetime prevalence of social phobia for women above 25 years of age. Lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia was associated with disordered eating behaviors in women 15-44 years old, and the 12-month prevalence was associated with disordered eating behaviors only in women 15-24 years of age. Disordered eating behaviors were significantly associated with lifetime prevalence of panic disorder in women in all three age ranges and with 12-month prevalence of panic disorder in women in two age ranges, 15-24 and 45 and above. The findings highlight the importance of taking age into consideration when developing assessment instruments and treatment strategies to address the co-occurrence of eating disorders and other psychiatric disorders.
This study examined whether state income inequality was associated with an individual&amp... more This study examined whether state income inequality was associated with an individual's limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) when controlling for the individual's demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The study was based on secondary analyses of data collected in the 2003 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is a national survey of Americans with a 96.7% response rate. The sample used for this research included 645,835 participants aged 25 years and older. A multilevel model with a non-linear logit link function was used. A 0.05 increase in the Gini coefficient (a measure of state level income inequality) was associated with an increase of 11% in the odds of ADL limitations [odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% confidence intervals 1.01-1.22] even after controlling for the individual's demographic and socio-economic characteristics. These elevated odds are comparable with those associated with women in comparison with men (OR 1.12). A separate analysis indicated that individuals in the three least equitable states had consistently higher probabilities of ADL limitations across the whole economic spectrum when compared with individuals in the three most equitable states. State-level income inequality and individual income levels were significant independent predictors of ADL limitations. The impact of any future changes in state-level income inequality or shifts in individual income levels in the USA could be used to further investigate if this relationship is causal.
ABSTRACT Background: Significant associations between eating disorders (ED) and each of substance... more ABSTRACT Background: Significant associations between eating disorders (ED) and each of substance use disorders (SUD) and major depression (MD) have been established. Aims: To examine the comorbidity of all three disorders in a large nationally representative sample of Canadian men and women. Methods: This research used data collected by Statistics Canada in cycle 1.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (20,211 women and 16,773 men). Results: MD fully mediated the relationship between ED and alcohol dependence and partially mediated their relationship with alcohol interference for both men and women. The multivariate comorbidity of MD and illicit drug use exhibited different patterns for men and women with eating disorders symptomatology. Conclusion: Findings support the importance of developing assessment instruments and treatment strategies that address the co-occurrence of ED, MD and SUD for both women and men. Findings also indicate that it might be beneficial for prevention programs to target depression.
ABSTRACT Background: Mental disorders represent a significant burden to individuals and society. ... more ABSTRACT Background: Mental disorders represent a significant burden to individuals and society. They can lead to occupational impairment, disruption in interpersonal and family relationships, poor health and suicide. Aims: This study aimed to examine socio-economic and demographic factors associated with mood and/or anxiety disorders and to assess the relation of these disorders with short-term disability and work activity. Methods: This study used data collected in the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey (N = 108,986). Results: Higher rates of mood and/or anxiety disorders were found among women, the 30–69 years old, the single/divorced/widowed, Canadian-born, low-income participants and those with chronic physical illness. The presence of mood and/or anxiety disorders was significantly associated with short-term disability, requiring help with daily activities and reduction/modification of work activity. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of early detection and treatment of mental disorders, especially in those at higher risk of developing them.
Although male rape is being reported more often than before, the majority of rape victims continu... more Although male rape is being reported more often than before, the majority of rape victims continue to be women. Rape myths—false beliefs used mainly to shift the blame of rape from perpetrators to victims—are also prevalent in today’s society and in many ways contribute toward the pervasiveness of rape. Despite this, there has been limited consideration as to how rape prevention programs and policies can address this phenomenon, and there is no updated information on the demographic, attitudinal, or behavioral factors currently associated with rape myths. This research aimed to address this gap by examining the correlates of rape-myths acceptance (RMA) in published studies. A total of 37 studies were reviewed, and their results were combined using meta-analytic techniques. Overall, the findings indicated that men displayed a significantly higher endorsement of RMA than women. RMA was also strongly associated with hostile attitudes and behaviors toward women, thus supporting feminist premise that sexism perpetuates RMA. RMA was also found to be correlated with other “isms,” such as racism, heterosexism, classism, and ageism. These findings suggest that rape prevention programs and policies must be broadened to incorporate strategies that also address other oppressive beliefs concurrent with RMA. Indeed, a renewed awareness of how RMA shapes societal perceptions of rape victims, including perceptions of service providers, could also reduce victims’ re-victimization and enhance their coping mechanisms.
Evidence suggests that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) score higher than ... more Evidence suggests that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) score higher than heterosexual-identifying men on disordered eating symptomology (DES). This exploratory study examined if the following psychosocial factors were associated with ...
Previous studies have treated teacher efficacy as a unitary trait without considering how teacher... more Previous studies have treated teacher efficacy as a unitary trait without considering how teachers’expectations of their ability to produce student learning varies within teaching assignments. In this study, teachers in nine restructuring secondary schools in one district estimated their ability to perform common teaching tasks in four of the courses they expected to teach in the coming school year. Although
A retrospective chart review was conducted of women with stage III breast cancer seen at the Prin... more A retrospective chart review was conducted of women with stage III breast cancer seen at the Princess Margaret Hospital between January 1977 and December 1980. Three hundred and sixty-nine patients were available for analysis. These cases were evaluated to determine the prognostic factors of patients presenting with this stage of the disease using a recursive partitioning technique, RECPAM, and a Cox regression model. A non-mathematical description of RECPAM is presented and the advantages of RECPAM over Cox analysis are discussed. The results identify primary tumour size, axillary node involvement, internal mammary node involvement, and estrogen receptor status as the most important prognostic variables. RECPAM identified 3 prognostic groups and simultaneously provided rules based on the prognostic variables to assign patients to poor, intermediate, or good prognosis categories. Patients with estrogen receptor negative tumours, or those with axillary node involvement, primary tumours greater than 5 cm, and serum alkaline phosphatase greater than 60 IU/L, or those with internal mammary node involvement, no skin changes, and serum alkaline phosphatase greater than 60 IU/L, define a group with a poor prognosis. Patients with estrogen receptor positive tumours, no axillary node involvements, and primary tumours greater than 5 cm, or estrogen receptor positive tumours, axillary node involvement, primary tumours greater than 5 cm, but serum alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 60 U/L, have an intermediate prognosis. The good prognosis group consists of those patients with estrogen receptor positive tumours who have either skin changes or primary tumours less than or equal to 5 cm. The effect of loco-regional and systemic therapy was assessed and there was no association between treatment assignment and prognostic group. On the basis of this RECPAM analysis, we have defined important prognostic variables to be used in the design of clinical trials, and three major patient subgroups which can be used in routine oncologic practice as a guide to patient management.
HIV-related stigma may negatively impact the health, quality of life, social support and well-bei... more HIV-related stigma may negatively impact the health, quality of life, social support and well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Previous studies have used diverse samples and a multitude of measurement instruments to examine demographic and health correlates of HIV-related stigma, highlighting the importance of synthesizing findings across different studies to gain a better understanding of these associations. This study examined the relationships between HIV-related stigma and a range of demographic, social, physical and health characteristics. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the overall strength and direction of these relationships. Twenty-four studies of PLHIV, conducted in North America and published in peer-reviewed journals between January of 2000 and November of 2007, were examined and their findings integrated. The heterogeneity of reported results was also assessed and examined. Our review revealed substantial variability in the ways researchers measure participants' HIV-related stigma as well as their physical, emotional and mental health. In spite of this variability, high stigma level was consistently and significantly associated with low social support (r = -0.369, p<0.0005), poor physical health (r = -0.324, p<0.0005), poor mental health (r = -0.402, p<0.0005), age (-0.066, p<0.05) and income (-0.172, p<0.005). These correlations were of a medium size, which would be recognized by the individual in daily life. Health and mental health professionals working with individuals and families impacted by HIV could benefit from an enhanced understanding of correlates of HIV-related stigma, which will inform assessments, interventions and treatment plans. The association between HIV-related stigma and physical health has potential implications for treatment, care and support for people at different stages of HIV infection. AIDS Service Organizations are also encouraged to integrate findings into HIV stigma interventions and social support programs. Additionally, HIV-related stigma scales should be developed and validated, so that future studies using them are able to report findings that are operationally and conceptually consistent.
This study aimed to examine the comorbidity between eating disorders and substance use in a large... more This study aimed to examine the comorbidity between eating disorders and substance use in a large nationally representative sample of Canadian adult women. Recent as well as life-time measures of substance use were used. The research was based on secondary analyses of data collected, using multi-stage stratified probability sampling, by Statistics Canada in the Mental Health and Well-being cycle 1.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was used to measure risk of eating disorders. Alcohol use, dependence and interference, and illicit drug use, dependence and interference were measured using relevant modules from the short form of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-SF). Data on a nationally representative sample of Canadian adult women, grouped into three age groups, were used for this research. Alcohol dependence and alcohol interference were associated significantly with the risk for an eating disorder in the three adult age groups. Significant associations were also found in the three age groups between risk for an eating disorder and the life-time abuse of and dependence on illicit drugs. Significant associations were found in the 15-24 and 25-44-year age groups when the 12-month time-frame was used. The study findings support the call for the development of short screening instruments for adult women with eating disorders and substance abuse, as well as for the development of treatment strategies that address the co-occurrence of eating disorders and substance use
This study sought to investigate time to remission from depression in a community-based sample of... more This study sought to investigate time to remission from depression in a community-based sample of adults followed for 12 years. Data were derived from the National Population Health Survey (1994/5-2006/7 and 1996/7-2008/9). Fully 1,128 adults were included who were depressed at baseline according to DSM-III/CIDI-SF criteria. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards procedures were used to determine time to remission and the demographic (e.g., gender and marital status), psychosocial (e.g., social support and adverse childhood experience) and health-related (e.g., pain, health conditions and alcohol use) factors with which it is associated. More than three quarters of the sample (77 %) no longer screened positive for depression at 2 years, and nearly the entire sample (94 %) had remitted by 12 years. Adverse childhood experiences (i.e., childhood abuse and parental additions), lack of social support, the presence of pain and health conditions (i.e., migraines, arthritis and back pain) each predicted more time to remission. The only factor associated with time to remission in the multivariate analysis was a history of childhood physical abuse. Most community members with depression get better after 2 years and nearly all will have remitted, at least once, by 12 years. The results of this study may help guide the development of interventions for chronic depression that focus on early prevention of childhood abuse.
Background and Purpose: The Internet has become a site for bullying, exacerbated by perceptions o... more Background and Purpose: The Internet has become a site for bullying, exacerbated by perceptions of anonymity, technological knowledge among youth, and the ability of bullying messages and images to be quickly transmitted to a large audience. While a developing research base exists (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009; Kowalski & Limber, 2007; Williams & Guerra, 2007), little research has explored the factors that place youth most at risk for being cyber bullied and perpetrating cyber bullying. The purpose of this research was to identify subgroups of youth most likely to have cyber bullied or to have experienced cyber bullying. Methods: A geographically stratified random sample of grade six, seven, ten and eleven students (n=2186) in a large urban centre completed a cyber bullying survey. Multivariate classification tree analysis generated subgroups of students most likely to have experienced or perpetuated cyber bullying, based on factors such as demographics and technology use. Results: One-t...
Background/Purpose Gay and bisexual men (GBM) experience high levels of body dissatisfaction whic... more Background/Purpose Gay and bisexual men (GBM) experience high levels of body dissatisfaction which is associated with both disordered eating risk (Wichstrm, 2006) and sexual risk (Allensworth-Davies, et al., 2008). More research is needed that explores the connectedness between identity, disordered eating and the well-being of GBM. The objectives are: 1) Estimate the prevalence of disordered eating risk and sexual risk among a racially diverse sample of GBM attending Toronto's 2008 LGBT Pride Festival, 2) Identify demographic/psychosocial factors associated with these risks. Methods: Cross sectional data were collected using a survey from a convenience sample. Variables included demographics, HIV status, body mass (BMI), depression/anxiety, alcohol/illicit drug consumption, and body image (idealized and behavioral drive for muscularity). The variables of primary interest were disordered eating risk (EAT-26; Garner et al., 1982) and sexual risk (specifically sero-discordant unpro...
Background and Purpose: The Internet is becoming the preferred method of communication for youth.... more Background and Purpose: The Internet is becoming the preferred method of communication for youth. It is also becoming a site for bullying, exacerbated by perceptions of anonymity, greater technological knowledge among youth, and the ability of bullying messages and images to be sent at any time and quickly transmitted to a large audience. The devastating impact of cyber bullying, including depression, substance use and delinquency (Mitchell, Ybarra & Finklehor, 2007) has revealed cyber bullying as a dominant public health problem. While a developing research base exists, estimating the prevalence of cyber bullying between 9-25% (Kowalski & Limber, 2007; Li, 2007; Williams & Guerra, 2007), this is the first study to specifically examine cyber bullying with a representative sample. The purpose was to identify the extent and impact of cyber bullying to generate knowledge and inform interventions. Methods: A geographically stratified random sample of grade six, seven, ten and eleven stu...
... An introduction to HLM: Computer program and user's guide. ... Influence of cooperat... more ... An introduction to HLM: Computer program and user's guide. ... Influence of cooperative early field experi ence on preservice elementary teachers' science self effi cacy. ... An investigation of therelationship between training in cooperative learning and teacher job satisfaction. ...
This study used data collected by Statistics Canada in the Mental Health and Well-being cycle of ... more This study used data collected by Statistics Canada in the Mental Health and Well-being cycle of the Canadian Community Health Survey (N = 20,211) to examine the associations between disordered eating behavior and selected mood, anxiety and substance use disorders in adult women grouped in three age groups. Significant associations between disordered eating behaviors and major depression, substance dependence and psychological distress were found for women in all three age ranges. Prevalence of specific classes of anxiety disorders in women who reported disordered eating behaviors differed according to their age. Having disordered eating behaviors was significantly associated with both 12-month and lifetime prevalence of social phobia for women above 25 years of age. Lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia was associated with disordered eating behaviors in women 15-44 years old, and the 12-month prevalence was associated with disordered eating behaviors only in women 15-24 years of age. Disordered eating behaviors were significantly associated with lifetime prevalence of panic disorder in women in all three age ranges and with 12-month prevalence of panic disorder in women in two age ranges, 15-24 and 45 and above. The findings highlight the importance of taking age into consideration when developing assessment instruments and treatment strategies to address the co-occurrence of eating disorders and other psychiatric disorders.
This study examined whether state income inequality was associated with an individual&amp... more This study examined whether state income inequality was associated with an individual's limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) when controlling for the individual's demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The study was based on secondary analyses of data collected in the 2003 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is a national survey of Americans with a 96.7% response rate. The sample used for this research included 645,835 participants aged 25 years and older. A multilevel model with a non-linear logit link function was used. A 0.05 increase in the Gini coefficient (a measure of state level income inequality) was associated with an increase of 11% in the odds of ADL limitations [odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% confidence intervals 1.01-1.22] even after controlling for the individual's demographic and socio-economic characteristics. These elevated odds are comparable with those associated with women in comparison with men (OR 1.12). A separate analysis indicated that individuals in the three least equitable states had consistently higher probabilities of ADL limitations across the whole economic spectrum when compared with individuals in the three most equitable states. State-level income inequality and individual income levels were significant independent predictors of ADL limitations. The impact of any future changes in state-level income inequality or shifts in individual income levels in the USA could be used to further investigate if this relationship is causal.
ABSTRACT Background: Significant associations between eating disorders (ED) and each of substance... more ABSTRACT Background: Significant associations between eating disorders (ED) and each of substance use disorders (SUD) and major depression (MD) have been established. Aims: To examine the comorbidity of all three disorders in a large nationally representative sample of Canadian men and women. Methods: This research used data collected by Statistics Canada in cycle 1.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (20,211 women and 16,773 men). Results: MD fully mediated the relationship between ED and alcohol dependence and partially mediated their relationship with alcohol interference for both men and women. The multivariate comorbidity of MD and illicit drug use exhibited different patterns for men and women with eating disorders symptomatology. Conclusion: Findings support the importance of developing assessment instruments and treatment strategies that address the co-occurrence of ED, MD and SUD for both women and men. Findings also indicate that it might be beneficial for prevention programs to target depression.
ABSTRACT Background: Mental disorders represent a significant burden to individuals and society. ... more ABSTRACT Background: Mental disorders represent a significant burden to individuals and society. They can lead to occupational impairment, disruption in interpersonal and family relationships, poor health and suicide. Aims: This study aimed to examine socio-economic and demographic factors associated with mood and/or anxiety disorders and to assess the relation of these disorders with short-term disability and work activity. Methods: This study used data collected in the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey (N = 108,986). Results: Higher rates of mood and/or anxiety disorders were found among women, the 30–69 years old, the single/divorced/widowed, Canadian-born, low-income participants and those with chronic physical illness. The presence of mood and/or anxiety disorders was significantly associated with short-term disability, requiring help with daily activities and reduction/modification of work activity. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of early detection and treatment of mental disorders, especially in those at higher risk of developing them.
Although male rape is being reported more often than before, the majority of rape victims continu... more Although male rape is being reported more often than before, the majority of rape victims continue to be women. Rape myths—false beliefs used mainly to shift the blame of rape from perpetrators to victims—are also prevalent in today’s society and in many ways contribute toward the pervasiveness of rape. Despite this, there has been limited consideration as to how rape prevention programs and policies can address this phenomenon, and there is no updated information on the demographic, attitudinal, or behavioral factors currently associated with rape myths. This research aimed to address this gap by examining the correlates of rape-myths acceptance (RMA) in published studies. A total of 37 studies were reviewed, and their results were combined using meta-analytic techniques. Overall, the findings indicated that men displayed a significantly higher endorsement of RMA than women. RMA was also strongly associated with hostile attitudes and behaviors toward women, thus supporting feminist premise that sexism perpetuates RMA. RMA was also found to be correlated with other “isms,” such as racism, heterosexism, classism, and ageism. These findings suggest that rape prevention programs and policies must be broadened to incorporate strategies that also address other oppressive beliefs concurrent with RMA. Indeed, a renewed awareness of how RMA shapes societal perceptions of rape victims, including perceptions of service providers, could also reduce victims’ re-victimization and enhance their coping mechanisms.
Evidence suggests that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) score higher than ... more Evidence suggests that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) score higher than heterosexual-identifying men on disordered eating symptomology (DES). This exploratory study examined if the following psychosocial factors were associated with ...
Previous studies have treated teacher efficacy as a unitary trait without considering how teacher... more Previous studies have treated teacher efficacy as a unitary trait without considering how teachers’expectations of their ability to produce student learning varies within teaching assignments. In this study, teachers in nine restructuring secondary schools in one district estimated their ability to perform common teaching tasks in four of the courses they expected to teach in the coming school year. Although
A retrospective chart review was conducted of women with stage III breast cancer seen at the Prin... more A retrospective chart review was conducted of women with stage III breast cancer seen at the Princess Margaret Hospital between January 1977 and December 1980. Three hundred and sixty-nine patients were available for analysis. These cases were evaluated to determine the prognostic factors of patients presenting with this stage of the disease using a recursive partitioning technique, RECPAM, and a Cox regression model. A non-mathematical description of RECPAM is presented and the advantages of RECPAM over Cox analysis are discussed. The results identify primary tumour size, axillary node involvement, internal mammary node involvement, and estrogen receptor status as the most important prognostic variables. RECPAM identified 3 prognostic groups and simultaneously provided rules based on the prognostic variables to assign patients to poor, intermediate, or good prognosis categories. Patients with estrogen receptor negative tumours, or those with axillary node involvement, primary tumours greater than 5 cm, and serum alkaline phosphatase greater than 60 IU/L, or those with internal mammary node involvement, no skin changes, and serum alkaline phosphatase greater than 60 IU/L, define a group with a poor prognosis. Patients with estrogen receptor positive tumours, no axillary node involvements, and primary tumours greater than 5 cm, or estrogen receptor positive tumours, axillary node involvement, primary tumours greater than 5 cm, but serum alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 60 U/L, have an intermediate prognosis. The good prognosis group consists of those patients with estrogen receptor positive tumours who have either skin changes or primary tumours less than or equal to 5 cm. The effect of loco-regional and systemic therapy was assessed and there was no association between treatment assignment and prognostic group. On the basis of this RECPAM analysis, we have defined important prognostic variables to be used in the design of clinical trials, and three major patient subgroups which can be used in routine oncologic practice as a guide to patient management.
HIV-related stigma may negatively impact the health, quality of life, social support and well-bei... more HIV-related stigma may negatively impact the health, quality of life, social support and well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Previous studies have used diverse samples and a multitude of measurement instruments to examine demographic and health correlates of HIV-related stigma, highlighting the importance of synthesizing findings across different studies to gain a better understanding of these associations. This study examined the relationships between HIV-related stigma and a range of demographic, social, physical and health characteristics. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the overall strength and direction of these relationships. Twenty-four studies of PLHIV, conducted in North America and published in peer-reviewed journals between January of 2000 and November of 2007, were examined and their findings integrated. The heterogeneity of reported results was also assessed and examined. Our review revealed substantial variability in the ways researchers measure participants' HIV-related stigma as well as their physical, emotional and mental health. In spite of this variability, high stigma level was consistently and significantly associated with low social support (r = -0.369, p<0.0005), poor physical health (r = -0.324, p<0.0005), poor mental health (r = -0.402, p<0.0005), age (-0.066, p<0.05) and income (-0.172, p<0.005). These correlations were of a medium size, which would be recognized by the individual in daily life. Health and mental health professionals working with individuals and families impacted by HIV could benefit from an enhanced understanding of correlates of HIV-related stigma, which will inform assessments, interventions and treatment plans. The association between HIV-related stigma and physical health has potential implications for treatment, care and support for people at different stages of HIV infection. AIDS Service Organizations are also encouraged to integrate findings into HIV stigma interventions and social support programs. Additionally, HIV-related stigma scales should be developed and validated, so that future studies using them are able to report findings that are operationally and conceptually consistent.
This study aimed to examine the comorbidity between eating disorders and substance use in a large... more This study aimed to examine the comorbidity between eating disorders and substance use in a large nationally representative sample of Canadian adult women. Recent as well as life-time measures of substance use were used. The research was based on secondary analyses of data collected, using multi-stage stratified probability sampling, by Statistics Canada in the Mental Health and Well-being cycle 1.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was used to measure risk of eating disorders. Alcohol use, dependence and interference, and illicit drug use, dependence and interference were measured using relevant modules from the short form of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-SF). Data on a nationally representative sample of Canadian adult women, grouped into three age groups, were used for this research. Alcohol dependence and alcohol interference were associated significantly with the risk for an eating disorder in the three adult age groups. Significant associations were also found in the three age groups between risk for an eating disorder and the life-time abuse of and dependence on illicit drugs. Significant associations were found in the 15-24 and 25-44-year age groups when the 12-month time-frame was used. The study findings support the call for the development of short screening instruments for adult women with eating disorders and substance abuse, as well as for the development of treatment strategies that address the co-occurrence of eating disorders and substance use
This study sought to investigate time to remission from depression in a community-based sample of... more This study sought to investigate time to remission from depression in a community-based sample of adults followed for 12 years. Data were derived from the National Population Health Survey (1994/5-2006/7 and 1996/7-2008/9). Fully 1,128 adults were included who were depressed at baseline according to DSM-III/CIDI-SF criteria. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards procedures were used to determine time to remission and the demographic (e.g., gender and marital status), psychosocial (e.g., social support and adverse childhood experience) and health-related (e.g., pain, health conditions and alcohol use) factors with which it is associated. More than three quarters of the sample (77 %) no longer screened positive for depression at 2 years, and nearly the entire sample (94 %) had remitted by 12 years. Adverse childhood experiences (i.e., childhood abuse and parental additions), lack of social support, the presence of pain and health conditions (i.e., migraines, arthritis and back pain) each predicted more time to remission. The only factor associated with time to remission in the multivariate analysis was a history of childhood physical abuse. Most community members with depression get better after 2 years and nearly all will have remitted, at least once, by 12 years. The results of this study may help guide the development of interventions for chronic depression that focus on early prevention of childhood abuse.
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Papers by Tahany Gadalla
of rape. Despite this, there has been limited consideration as
to how rape prevention programs and policies can address this phenomenon,
and there is no updated information on the demographic, attitudinal,
or behavioral factors currently associated with rape myths. This research aimed to address this gap by examining the correlates of rape-myths acceptance (RMA) in published studies. A total of 37 studies were reviewed, and their results were combined using meta-analytic techniques. Overall, the findings indicated that men displayed a significantly higher endorsement of
RMA than women. RMA was also strongly associated with hostile attitudes
and behaviors toward women, thus supporting feminist premise that sexism perpetuates RMA. RMA was also found to be correlated with other “isms,” such as racism, heterosexism, classism, and ageism. These findings suggest that rape prevention programs and policies must be broadened to incorporate strategies that also address other oppressive beliefs concurrent with RMA. Indeed, a renewed awareness of how RMA shapes societal perceptions of rape victims, including perceptions of service providers, could also reduce
victims’ re-victimization and enhance their coping mechanisms.
of rape. Despite this, there has been limited consideration as
to how rape prevention programs and policies can address this phenomenon,
and there is no updated information on the demographic, attitudinal,
or behavioral factors currently associated with rape myths. This research aimed to address this gap by examining the correlates of rape-myths acceptance (RMA) in published studies. A total of 37 studies were reviewed, and their results were combined using meta-analytic techniques. Overall, the findings indicated that men displayed a significantly higher endorsement of
RMA than women. RMA was also strongly associated with hostile attitudes
and behaviors toward women, thus supporting feminist premise that sexism perpetuates RMA. RMA was also found to be correlated with other “isms,” such as racism, heterosexism, classism, and ageism. These findings suggest that rape prevention programs and policies must be broadened to incorporate strategies that also address other oppressive beliefs concurrent with RMA. Indeed, a renewed awareness of how RMA shapes societal perceptions of rape victims, including perceptions of service providers, could also reduce
victims’ re-victimization and enhance their coping mechanisms.