Demographic Predictors (demographic + predictor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Multiple Justiciable Problems: Common Clusters and Their Social and Demographic Indicators

JOURNAL OF EMPIRICAL LEGAL STUDIES, Issue 2 2004
Pascoe Pleasence
Justiciable problems do not always occur in isolation. However, little empirical research has examined multiple problems in depth by identifying common clusters of problems, their extent, and those who experience them. The Legal Services Research Centre's Periodic Survey of Justiciable Problems is a large-scale survey undertaken in England and Wales, documenting 5,611 respondents' experience of 21 discrete problem categories. Having assessed the overall incidence and overlap of problem types, hierarchical cluster analysis, based on each respondent's experience of these categories, was used to identify clusters. We then established social and demographic predictors of each cluster using mixed-effects Poisson regression and examined each problem type's likelihood of overlapping with further problems, both within and between identified clusters. We highlight policy implications of our findings, particularly concerning developing "joined-up" solutions to multiple "joined-up" problems. [source]


The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS): Predictors of Alcohol Attitudes and Expectancies in Hispanic National Groups

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2010
Britain A. Mills
Background:, Multiple theoretical frameworks identify attitudes and expectancies as important predictors of alcohol behavior. Few studies have examined demographic predictors of these evaluative and belief-based cognitive mediators in the general population, and none have examined them in large-scale studies of Hispanics, a group at higher risk for drinking behavior and problems. This study probes the extent to which dimensions of attitudes and expectancies share common demographic predictors in a large sample of Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and South/Central Americans. Methods:, The 2006 Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS) used a multistage cluster sample design to interview 5,224 individuals randomly selected from households in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. This study focused on 2,773 respondents self-identified as current drinkers. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of positive and negative dimensions of attitudes and expectancies, controlling for various background variables. Results:, Religious affiliation selectively predicted alcohol attitudes, with Catholics having more positive and fewer negative attitudes than other religious groups. Hispanic group selectively predicted alcohol expectancies, with Cuban-Americans having less positive and less negative expectancies than other groups. Being U.S.-born or male predicted more positive attitudes and expectancies, but birthplace and gender did not predict negative dimensions of attitudes or expectancies. Higher acculturation and more education were linked to a decreased tendency to agree with any item. Age was positively and negatively associated with negative expectancies and positive attitudes, respectively, and having never been married, higher income, and unemployment were each linked to fewer negative attitudes. Conclusions:, Although there is some overlap, attitudes and expectancies are influenced by different sociodemographic variables. Positive and negative dimensions of those constructs also show distinct patterns of relations. Prevention and treatment programs targeting cognitive mediators of behavior should be mindful of these differential determinants and future modeling endeavors should incorporate them. [source]


Exercise participation after diagnosis of breast cancer: trends and effects on mood and quality of life

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2002
Bernardine M. Pinto
Individuals treated for cancer often experience higher levels of emotional distress than the general population. Previous research has shown that exercise can have an ameliorating effect on these problems. This 12-month prospective longitudinal study investigated mood, quality of life, cancer-related symptoms, and exercise behavior of 69 women who had completed treatment for Stage 0,2 breast cancer. We studied the natural progression of exercise participation after cancer treatment. Effects on mood, quality of life, and cancer-related symptoms were assessed after controlling for demographic variables, disease variables, social support, and baseline values to test the hypothesis that women who exercised were more likely to report better mood, higher quality of life, and fewer cancer-related symptoms. Results indicated that women did not increase their exercise participation over time and that overall mean minutes of exercise participation were below recommended levels. Baseline demographic predictors of exercise participation included younger age, having a spouse or partner, increased time since diagnosis, higher social support, and higher depression. Exercise participation was associated with improved physical functioning, but not overall mood or cancer-related symptoms. We discuss implications of these findings towards the well-being of breast cancer survivors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Ethnic differences in quality of life among early breast and prostate cancer survivors

PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
Carolyn Cook Gotay
This study assessed quality of life (QOL) in recently diagnosed breast and prostate cancer patients of European American and Asian Pacific Islanders (specifically, individuals of Filipino, Japanese, and Native Hawaiian ancestry) to investigate whether QOL varied according to ethnicity and the relative importance of ethnicity as a predictor of QOL. Participants were identified through consecutive registrations on the Hawaii Tumor Registry, based on a diagnosis of breast or prostate cancer 4,6 months previously. QOL was measured by the QLQ-C30, a standardized questionnaire widely used in cancer patient populations. Two hundred and twenty-seven individuals participated (101 prostate and 126 breast cancer patients). QOL was similar across ethnic groups in most areas of QOL. However, differences were found in several areas, all in the direction of Filipino patients reporting worse outcomes. Hierarchical stepwise regressions supported the importance of ethnicity, controlling for clinical and demographic predictors. We conclude that additional research is needed to understand the relationship between ethnicity and QOL in cancer survivors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Unanswered questions: A preliminary investigation of personality and individual difference predictors of 9/11 conspiracist beliefs

APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2010
Viren Swami
Given the widespread appeal of conspiratorial beliefs, it is surprising that very little empirical research has examined the psychological variables associated with such beliefs. In the present study, we examined individual and demographic predictors of beliefs in conspiracy theories concerning the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon among a representative British sample of 254 women and men. Results of structural equation modelling showed that 9/11 conspiracist beliefs were positively associated with belief in other conspiracy theories, exposure to 9/11 conspiracist ideas, political cynicism, defiance of authority and the Big Five personality factor of Agreeableness. In total, a model including demographics, personality and individual difference variables explained over 50% of the variance in 9/11 conspiracist ideas. The implications of these findings for the literature on conspiracy theories are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]