The Role of Psychopathy and Exposure to Violence in Rape Myth Acceptance.

The main aim of the present study was to specify and test a structural model to examine the relationships between four psychopathy dimensions (Interpersonal Manipulation, Callous Affect, Erratic Lifestyle, and Antisocial Behavior), childhood exposure to violence, and rape myth acceptance while controlling for gender, age, sample type (prisoner vs. non-prisoner), and relationship status. Participants were a sample of non-offending adults (n = 319) recruited from the University of Security in Poznan, and a sample of prisoners (n = 129) incarcerated in Stargard Szczecinski Prison. Results indicated that the model provided a good fit for the data, and that Callous Affect and childhood exposure to violence had a significant positive effect on attitudes toward rape and rape victims. Theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.

Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy.

This study assessed the combined effects of coping style and intra-procedural information on indices of distress (physiological measures, observed distress, self-report measures of anxiety and affect) among a group of patients undergoing colposcopy. High and low monitors were exposed to one of three interventions: high information (live video feed of colposcopy); low information (complete audiovisual distraction); and control. Results revealed a 2 (monitoring style) × 3 (information level) × 2 (time) interaction for systolic blood pressure (SBP), F(2, 111) = 3.55, p = .032. Among low monitors, patients in the low-information group exhibited significant SBP reductions during colposcopy, while those in the high-information group exhibited SBP increases. Among high monitors, patients in the high-information and control groups exhibited SBP reductions. Further, significant differences in observed signs of distress were found between groups with high monitors in the low-information group faring best overall, F(2, 111) = 4.41, p = .014. These findings indicate that tailoring information to suit individual coping style may maximize the apparent efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing stress during medical examinations.

Dysplasia severity, but not experiences during colposcopy, predicts adherence to follow-up colposcopy.

OBJECTIVE: Patient adherence with treatment recommendations is an essential factor for the effectiveness of cervical cancer screening programs. Psychological factors may play a role in patient adherence to cervical cancer screening. The present study aimed to extend knowledge of women's adherence to follow-up colposcopy, by examining possible predictive biopsychosocial variables measured at colposcopy and objective attendance rates from patients' medical files. METHODS: Baseline data on psychosocial factors (e.g. demographic variables, state anxiety, and pain) were collected from 141 women prior to undergoing colposcopy for the first time (M age = 29.63, SD = 8.39). Experiences of colposcopy and adherence to follow-up (within two years) were assessed subsequently. RESULTS: There were no associations between adherence and demographic variables. Women with severe dysplasia were more likely to adhere to follow-up colposcopy than women with other histology grades. Women who did not attend for follow-up reported significantly greater state anxiety and pain unpleasantness following colposcopy than women who did attend. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the psychological experiences of colposcopy did not predict adherence status. However, dysplasia severity made a significant contribution to the model. The odds of adhering to colposcopy for patients with severe dysplasia were 3.57 times higher than for patients with normal histology, and 4.35 times higher than for patients with moderate dysplasia (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Colposcopy-related experiences do not appear to be strong predictors of adherence, but women with dysplasia grades other than 'severe' should be targeted for follow-up recommendations and advice.

Predicting intention to uptake H1N1 influenza vaccine in a university sample.

OBJECTIVE: Global pandemic H1N1 was atypical of influenza in that it was associated with high symptom severity among young adults. Higher education institutions were therefore understandably concerned about the potential for high infection rates among students. This study examined intention to uptake H1N1 vaccine between November and December 2009, when the virus was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being in the pandemic phase. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design was employed. METHOD: Two hundred university students completed a questionnaire battery comprised of health, belief/attitudes, and behavioural intention measures. RESULTS: Findings suggested that non-intention to vaccinate is associated with a strong disbelief in its efficacy, in negative attitudes towards vaccinations, and in lack of perceived threat, which is underscored by a disinterest in others' opinions, including authoritative bodies. Findings also suggested that there is resistance to the idea of vaccinations being mandatory. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination intent is in some way linked to a range of attitudes and beliefs. The implication for health practitioners is that behaviour intent may be open to influence where psycho-education can create pro-vaccine attitudes and beliefs.

Firearms, hanging, and drowning suicides in the Republic of ireland.

BACKGROUND: The firearms climate in Ireland is rapidly changing, and there is currently no research on the risk profiles of those dying through firearms suicides. AIMS: To compare the sociodemographic profile of firearms suicide deaths with hanging and drowning suicides. METHODS: Analyses are based on data for 9,674 suicides that occurred between 1980 and 2005 and provided by the Central Statistics Office of Ireland (CSO). Risk factors included were gender, place of residence, employment status (agri-employed/not agri-employed), marital status, and age. RESULTS: Those dying by shooting were twice as likely to be male than those dying by hanging (95% CI = 1.5 to 2.6) and 6.7 times more likely than those dying by drowning (95% CI = 4.9 to 9.1). They were also more likely to have resided in a rural location (hanging OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 2.8 to 5.0; drowning OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 3.1 to 5.6) and to have been agri-employed (hanging OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.6; drowning OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.7). Firearms suicides were significantly younger (H = 458.9, p < .0005). Model fit statistics from logistic regressions are presented. Factors included in the study were limited to those recorded by the CSO. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have implications for awareness training for suicide prevention workers and for those concerned with Ireland's increasingly liberal firearms climate.

Firearm-assisted suicide: legislative, policing and clinical concerns.

Until recent years the Republic of Ireland had one of the most restrictive regimes on firearms access with the Irish police (An Garda Siochana) consistently refusing to grant certificates for a wide range of guns including handguns, high calibre rifles and shotguns capable of holding more than three cartridges. In 2004 the High Court ruled that this policy was without legislative backing and since then the police began to issue certificates for firearms where the applicant is not disentitled under law from possessing a gun. Set against this backdrop, this paper explores the consequences of liberal gun regimes in the context of access to firearms by those suffering from mental illness and who pose a threat of parasuicide or suicide. Consideration is given to experiences in other jurisdictions and international research on firearm suicide prevention. Finally some recommendations for changes in legislation, policy and protocol in the Irish context are presented.

Patients' psychological reactions to colposcopy and LLETZ treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To compare intra-procedural distress between colposcopy and see-and-treat LLETZ patients, and to assess patients' perceptions of possible non-pharmacological interventions to reduce distress. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective postal questionnaire survey. A total of 151 women aged 20-60 with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), of which 86 had undergone colposcopy, and 65 had undergone LLETZ treatment, recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Galway, Ireland. Colposcopy- and LLETZ-related distress and pain, and patient perceptions of helpfulness of suggested interventions. RESULTS: Respondents reported high levels of colposcopy-related anxiety and worry. Those who reported fear of cancer, and concerns about fertility, colposcopy procedure itself and embarrassment had higher anxiety levels than those not reporting these concerns. LLETZ treatment was perceived as distressing, and as more painful than colposcopy. Women's perceptions of certain interventions were associated, and distinct coping profiles were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Colposcopy elicits high levels of anxiety, and see-and-treat LLETZ patients experience greater negative psychological consequences than colposcopy patients. Finding suitable interventions to reduce anxiety levels is recommended.