Perceived Vulnerability (perceived + vulnerability)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Psychosocial functioning and career decision-making in Israeli adolescent and young adult cancer survivors,,

PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 4 2010
Marilyn Stern PhD
Abstract Objectives This study examined how dispositional optimism, health vulnerability, and time perspective were related to adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors' career decision-making (CDM) and quality of life (QOL). Secondarily, how cultural factors relate to CDM and QOL among Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Arab cancer survivors was explored. Methods Fifty-one cancer survivors (68.6% females, 80.4% Israeli-Jewish, 19.6% Israeli-Arab, Mage,=,21.45 years), at least 6 months post-active treatment (Mtime,=,5.75 years) completed self-report questionnaires. Results Multiple regression analyses indicated that optimism, vulnerability, and past negative, present fatalistic, and future time perspective were significantly associated with QOL (F(6, 47),=,6.80, P,<,0.001) and CDM (F(6, 47),=,2.46, P,<,0.04). Perceived vulnerability explained the main portion of QOL variance with greater vulnerability associated with lowered QOL (,,=,0.33, P,<,0.001). Optimism was positively associated with QOL (,,=,0.55, P,<,0.02). Greater present fatalistic time perspective was associated with greater CDM difficulties (,,=,0.32, P,<,0.05). Multivariate analyses indicated greater past negative time perceptions (F(1, 46),=,8.92, P,<,0.005) and fatalism about the future (F(1, 46),=,5.90, P,<,0.02) among Israeli-Arabs as compared to Israeli-Jewish survivors. Israeli-Jewish survivors were more optimistic than Israeli-Arab survivors (F(1, 46),=,3.48, P,<,0.065). Conclusions Vulnerability, optimism, and time perspective were significantly associated with QOL and CDM among Israeli AYA cancer survivors. Israeli-Arabs viewed their pasts and futures more negatively and reported lower optimism than Israeli-Jews. Implications for future research and interventions were considered. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:708,713. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Risk perception and smoking behavior in medically ill smokers: a prospective study

ADDICTION, Issue 6 2010
Belinda Borrelli
ABSTRACT Aims To examine the influence of risk perception on intentions to quit smoking and post-treatment abstinence. Design Prospective and longitudinal. Setting United States. Participants A total of 237 adult smokers (mean age 56 years) receiving medical care from home health-care nurses. Participants did not have to want to quit smoking to participate, but received cessation counseling within the context of their medical care. Measurements Three measures of risk perception were given pre- and post-treatment: perceived vulnerability, optimistic bias and precaution effectiveness. Smoking status was verified biochemically at end of treatment and at 2, 6 and 12 months later. Findings Principal components analysis supported the theoretical discriminability of the risk perception measures, and intercorrelations provided evidence for concurrent and predictive validity. Elevated risk perception was associated with a variety of socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics. Optimistic bias was associated significantly with older age and ethnic minority status. Smokers in pre-contemplation had lower perceived vulnerability and precaution effectiveness and greater optimistic bias than those in contemplation and preparation. Smokers in preparation had higher perceived vulnerability and lower optimistic bias than those in earlier stages. Change in perceived vulnerability predicted smoking cessation at follow-up. Optimistic bias predicted a lower likelihood of cessation and precaution effectiveness predicted a greater likelihood of smoking cessation, but only among those with a smoking-related illness. Conclusions In patients receiving medical care from home health-care nurses, change in perceived vulnerability to smoking-related disease is predictive of smoking cessation. In those with smoking-related illnesses, optimistic bias predicts continued smoking while precaution effectiveness predicts cessation. [source]


Differences in consumer attributions of blame between men and women: The role of perceived vulnerability and empathic concern

PSYCHOLOGY & MARKETING, Issue 2 2004
Daniel Laufer
This article explores differences in blame attributions between men and women in a consumer context. The first experiment finds that women blame a company more than men for a product harm crisis. A second experiment replicates these results in a different product harm crisis and suggests the process underlying these differences. The results of tests of mediation suggest that women blame a company more than men for a product harm crisis because they feel more personally vulnerable to a similar crisis occurring to them. The tests of mediation also show that empathic concern is not the reason driving the differences between men and women in consumer attributions of blame despite observed differences on this personality trait. The theoretical and practical implications of this research are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Relation of family history of prostate cancer to perceived vulnerability and screening behavior

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2004
Paul B. Jacobsen
Men with a positive family history of prostate cancer are known to be at increased risk for the disease; however, relatively little is known about their risk perceptions or screening behavior. To address these issues, the current study examined the relationship of family history of prostate cancer to perceived vulnerability of developing prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening practices. Participants were 83 men with a positive family history of prostate cancer and 83 men with a negative family history of prostate cancer. As predicted, men with a positive family history reported greater (p,0.05) perceived vulnerability of developing prostate cancer and stronger intentions to undergo screening (p,0.05). They also reported greater past performance of prostate-specific antigen screening and were more likely to request information about prostate cancer (p,0.05). Additional analyses indicated that perceived vulnerability mediated the relation between family history and intentions to undergo prostate cancer screening. Findings confirm the increased likelihood of men with a positive family history to undergo prostate cancer screening and suggest that heightened concerns about developing the disease are an important motivating factor. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


HIV/AIDS among midlife African American women: An integrated review of literature

RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 4 2005
Cheryl D. Stampley
Abstract HIV occurs among African American women at rates exceeding those among White women, and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is rising disproportionately among African American adults over 40. The literature between 1987 and 2003 was reviewed for data on prevention and risk taking behavior regarding HIV transmission among midlife African American women. A search of relevant databases revealed four reports specifically targeting African American women aged 40,65. Five reports including this population also included men and other ethnic/racial groups. Content analysis revealed that factors related to risk for HIV included socioeconomic factors, knowledge, perceived vulnerability, sexual assertiveness, and risk taking behavior. Findings suggest that further research on the relationships between sociocultural variables and individual factors may explain prevention and risk taking behaviors in midlife African American women. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 28:295,305, 2005 [source]