Other Demographic Variables (other + demographic_variable)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


The Effects of Race and Worker Productivity on Performance Evaluations

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, Issue 4 2001
Marta Elvira
Using personnel data from a large firm, we examine the role of race, supervisor's race, and worker productivity on performance ratings for a diverse employee population. Controlling for worker productivity and other demographic variables, black employees receive lower ratings than whites. These differences in performance evaluations are associated with the racial composition of the subordinate-supervisor pair. Racial differences between subordinate and supervisor lead to lower ratings for both black and white subordinates. [source]


The impact of personal characteristics on engagement in nursing home residents with dementia

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 7 2009
Jiska Cohen-Mansfield
Abstract Objective To examine the impact of personal attributes on engagement in persons with dementia. Methods Participants were 193 residents of seven Maryland nursing homes. All participants had a diagnosis of dementia. Cognitive functioning was assessed via the Mini-Mental State Examination, and engagement was assessed via the Observational Measure of Engagement. Data pertaining to activities of daily living were obtained from the Minimum Data Set. Results Women had longer mean engagement duration than men, and significant results were not seen with the other demographic variables. Significant, positive correlations were found between higher cognitive functioning and longer engagement duration, more attention, a more positive attitude, and a higher refusal rate. There was a positive and significant correlation between the comorbidity index and engagement duration, and between the number of medications and attention. All functional status variables yielded significance in a positive direction. Participants with poor hearing had a higher refusal rate. Cognitive status was the most consistent and potent predictor of engagement in this population. Conclusion Despite a higher refusal rate among those with higher cognitive levels, their overall engagement with stimuli is higher. Caregivers should anticipate higher refusal rates in those with poor hearing, and therefore compensatory methods should be used in presenting stimuli in this population. The potent role of cognitive and functional status on engagement of persons with dementia underscores the importance of tailoring activities to nursing home residents' needs, interests, and limitations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The Tax Incidence of Lotteries: Evidence from Five States

JOURNAL OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Issue 2 2000
ANN HANSEN
The nature of revenue generation for state-sponsored lotteries has been an issue of public debate for quite some time. Although most studies have found lotteries to have a regressive tax incidence, several have concluded otherwise. Unfortunately, the vast majority of academic studies address this concern by examining the tax incidence of only one state's lottery and/or by using only one time period's data. In addition, many assessments of the tax impact of lotteries fail to consider other demographic variables that may influence purchase patterns and, thus, be of interest to policymakers. To remedy this, the current paper assesses the incidence of the lottery excise tax for five states using county level data spanning multiple years. Also assessed are changes in incidence across demographic groups as the lotteries matured. Lottery tax incidence is assessed with multiple regression estimates of the income elasticity of demand for lottery products. The predominant finding is that the lottery tax for these states had a regressive incidence. Otherwise, few consistencies in either change in lottery tax incidence or purchase patterns across demographic variables were found. [source]


Acne's relationship with psychiatric and psychological morbidity: results of a school-based cohort study of adolescents

JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
PJ Magin
Abstract Background, There is a considerable number of studies linking acne with psychological and psychiatric morbidities, although this literature is not entirely consistent and is largely cross-sectional in methodology. Objective, This study aims to establish the relationship of acne and psychological and psychiatric morbidity in adolescents in a community setting and, via a longitudinal methodology, provide evidence for causality in the relationship. Methods, The study was a 12-month cohort study. Two hundred and forty-four students in Years 8, 9 and 11 (ages 14,17) at four Australian high schools were assessed at baseline 6 months and 12 months. Presence and severity of acne were assessed, along with a number of psychological and psychiatric morbidities and personality traits (depression, anxiety, overall psychiatric morbidity, self-consciousness, neuroticism and introversion/extraversion) and other demographic variables. Results, Of the 244 participating students, 209 (86%) completed all three rounds of data collection. A further 26 (11%) completed two rounds. The study failed to demonstrate an association of the presence of acne or of acne severity with the examined measures of psychological and psychiatric morbidity, and no evidence for an effect of acne in their causation. Conclusion, The relationship of acne and psychological morbidities found in previous health care settings was not found in this community sample. This may be due to differences between community and clinical acne populations. Other possible reasons for this finding are attenuation of psychological morbidity in subjects in this study by successful acne treatment, and the role of personality traits in the complex relationship between acne and psychological morbidities. It is suggested that this relationship would be best investigated by means of longer-term cohort studies enlisting subjects at an zearly age, prior to the onset of acne. [source]


Relationship of serum cholesterol levels to atopy in the US population

ALLERGY, Issue 7 2010
M. B. Fessler
To cite this article: Fessler MB, Jaramillo R, Crockett PW, Zeldin DC. Relationship of serum cholesterol levels to atopy in the US population. Allergy 2010; 65: 859,864. Abstract Background:, Cholesterol promotes Th2 immunity and allergic inflammation in rodents; whether this occurs in humans is unclear. Reports of both direct and inverse associations between serum cholesterol and atopy in different populations suggest that race and/or other demographic variables may modify these relationships. Aims of the study:, To determine the relationships between levels of three serum cholesterol measures [total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and non-HDL-C] and atopy in a sample representative of the US population. Methods:, Cross-sectional study of 6854 participants aged ,6 years from the 2005,2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results:, In the overall population, adjusted odds ratios (AORs) per two-standard deviation increase in TC and non-HDL-C for biochemical atopy (defined as ,1 allergen-specific IgE to 19 allergens) were 1.17 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.00,1.38] and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.03,1.39), respectively. Interactions by race were noted for the two relationships (interaction P = 0.004 and P = 0.009, respectively) with non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) having direct relationships [TC: AOR 1.27 (95% CI, 1.03,1.57); non-HDL-C: AOR 1.27 (95% CI, 1.03,1.56)] and non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) inverse relationships [TC: AOR 0.77 (95% CI, 0.62,0.95); non-HDL-C: AOR 0.86 (95% CI, 0.69,1.08)]. The adjusted HDL-C,atopy relationship was nonsignificant for NHWs and inverse for NHBs [AOR 0.77 (95% CI, 0.61,0.96)]. Relationships were independent of body mass index and serum C-reactive protein and unmodified by corticosteroid or statin usage. Results were similar using current hay fever/allergy as the atopy outcome. Conclusions:, There are marked inter-racial differences in the relationship between serum cholesterol and atopy in the US population. [source]


(632) Impact of Chronic Pain Patients' Job Perception Variables on Actual Return to Work

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 2 2000
Article first published online: 25 DEC 200
Authors: DA Fishbain, University of Miami School of Medicine; RB Cutler; HL Rosomoff, University of Miami School of Medicine; T. Khalil, University of Miami Comprehensive Pain and Rehabilitation Center at South Shore Hospital; R. Steele-Rosomoff, University of Miami School of Medicine Objective: To examine the impact of preinjury job perceptions on chronic pain patients' (CPPs) return to work after pain facility treatment. Design: A total of 128 CPPs completed a series or rating scales and yes/no questions relating to their preinjury job perceptions and a question relating to intent to return to the same type of preinjury job following pain facility treatment. These CPPs were part of a grant study for prediction of return to work, and therefore their work status was determined at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months after treatment. The preinjury job perceptions and other demographic variables were used to predict return to work. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used to predict return to work at the 1-month and final time points utilizing the above variables. Stepwise regression analysis was used to predict mean employment status (at all time points), also using the above variables. Results: For the 1-month time point, employment status was predicted by intent, educational status, work dangerous perception complaint, job stress, job physical demands, job liking, and job role conflicts. Here, 79.49% of the CPPs were correctly classified. For the final time point, employment status was predicted by the first 3 predictors for the 1-month time point (in the same order), and age, job stress, and gender. Here, 74.58% of the CPPs were correctly classified. Mean employment status was predicted by intent and educational status. Conclusions: There is a relationship between preinjury job perceptions and actual return to work after pain facility treatment. Voiced intent not to return to the preinjury type of job is highly predictive of not returning to work after pain facility treatment. [source]


Exposure, Threat Appraisal, and Lost Confidence as Predictors of PTSD Symptoms Following September 11, 2001

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 4 2002
Chaya S. Piotrkowski PhD
Six months after September 11, 2001 (9/11), 124 New York City workers participated in a self-report study of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although direct exposure to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 was limited, estimates of the prevalence of current PTSD in this mostly ethnic minority population ranged from 7.8% to 21.2%. as measured by the PTSD Checklist (F. W. Weathers, B. T. Litz, D. S. Herman, J. A. Huska, & T. M. Keane, 1993). Consistent with the study hypotheses, direct exposure to the attacks of 9/11, worries about future terrorist attacks (threat appraisal), and reduced confidence in self after 9/11 each predicted symptoms of PTSD, even after controlling for symptoms of anxiety and depression. These results support the idea that a traumatic event's meaning is associated with PTSD symptoms. Gender was not a significant predictor of symptoms, once other demographic variables were controlled. Most respondents who met the criteria for current PTSD had not sought therapy or counseling. [source]


Correlations between alexithymia and pain severity, depression, and anxiety among patients with chronic and episodic migraine

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 3 2010
Irem Yalug MD
Aims:, Some studies have found elevated alexithymia among patients with chronic pain, but the correlations between alexithymia and the severity of pain, depression, and anxiety among migraine patients are unclear. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether individuals suffering from episodic migraine (EM) differ from those with chronic migraine (CM) in regards to depression, anxiety, and alexithymia measures and to investigate the association of alexithymia with the results of depression and anxiety test inventories and illness characteristics. Methods:, A total of 165 subjects with EM and 135 subjects with CM were studied. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State,Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) were administered to all subjects. The correlation between alexithymia and sociodemographic variables, family history of migraine and illness characteristics (pain severity, frequency of episode, duration of illness) were evaluated. Results:, Compared with EM patients, the CM patients had significantly higher scores on measures of depression but not alexithymia and anxiety. There was a positive correlation between TAS scores and age and education in both migraine groups, but there was no correlation between TAS scores and other demographic variables. Depression and anxiety were significantly correlated with alexithymia in both migraine groups. Conclusion:, Our results indicate that CM patients are considerably more depressive than EM patients. In this study, depression and anxiety were significantly correlated with alexithymia in both migraine groups. Our results demonstrate a positive association between depression, anxiety, and alexithymia in migraine patients. [source]


ORIGINAL RESEARCH,PAIN: Pain, Psychosocial, Sexual, and Psychophysical Characteristics of Women with Primary vs.

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009
Secondary Provoked Vestibulodynia
ABSTRACT Introduction., Women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD), a common cause of dyspareunia, are typically considered a homogeneous group. However, research suggests that differences on some factors (e.g., medical history, pain characteristics, psychological functioning, treatment response) exist based upon whether the pain was present at first intercourse (primary PVD: PVD1) or developed at some later point (secondary PVD: PVD2). Aims., The purpose of this study was to examine differences in demographic variables, pain characteristics, psychosocial and psychosexual adjustment, and pain sensitivity between women with PVD1 and PVD2. Methods., Twenty-six women suffering from PVD (13 with PVD1 and 13 with PVD2) completed a screening assessment, a standardized gynecological examination, an interview, questionnaires, and a quantitative sensory testing session. Main Outcome Measures., These included pain ratings during the gynecological examination and interview, scores on measures of psychosocial/sexual functioning (e.g., Short Form-36 [SF-36] Health Survey, Female Sexual Function Index), and thresholds and pain ratings during thermal sensory testing over the dominant forearm and vulvar vestibule. Results., The women with PVD1 were more likely to be nulliparous, but they were not significantly different from the women with PVD2 on other demographic variables or in their pain ratings during the gynecological examination. The women with PVD1 reported lower levels of social and emotional functioning and heightened anxiety surrounding body exposure during sexual activity, and they also displayed lower heat pain tolerance over the forearm and lower heat detection and pain thresholds at the vulvar vestibule than the women with PVD2. Conclusions., The findings from this study support previous research indicating that women with PVD1 and PVD2 differ in a number of domains. Further research is needed to confirm and elaborate on these findings. Sutton KS, Pukall C, and Chamberlain S. Pain, psychosocial, sexual, and psychophysical characteristics of women with primary vs. secondary provoked vestibulodynia. J Sex Med 2009;6:205,214. [source]


Physical activity of older Australians measured by pedometry

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, Issue 3 2009
Ben Ewald
Aim:, To established population norms for pedometer determined step counts in older Australians. Methods:, A representative sample of 684 participants over the age of 55 years wore a pedometer for a week in Newcastle, Australia. Results:, Response rate was 32%. Median daily step count was 8605 in those aged 55,59 years declining to 3778 in those over 80 years old. The proportion who reached 8000 steps per day was 62% in those 55,59 years and 12% in those over 80 years. Daily step counts were highest on Thursdays and Fridays and least on Sundays. Weekend days had on average 620 less steps than weekdays. After adjusting for age, there was a negative association of step count with body mass index >30, and with a history of arthritis but no significant association with other demographic variables. Conclusion:, Pedometry is feasible in an elderly sample, and research involving pedometers must take days of the week into account. [source]