Dimensionality of psychosocial responses to marital disruption.

The purpose of the study was to assess whether psychosocial responses to marital disruption were best arranged along one single dimension ranging from maximum positive to maximum negative responses, or whether positive and negative responses constituted two separate and distinct dimensions. Participants were 658 recently divorced individuals. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a two-factor model provided a better fit to the data than a one-factor model. Moreover, a number of external variables differentiated between positive and negative responses, indicating that such responses reflect two separate domains. Thus, the findings support the notion that psychosocial responses after marital disruption comprise a bidimensional rather than a unidimensional pattern. The findings are discussed within the general framework of positive-negative asymmetry and the idea that positive and negative evaluations belong to different psychological system.

The prevalence of analgesics containing dextropropoxyphene or codeine in individuals suspected of driving under the influence of drugs.

To investigate the prevalence of analgesics containing dextropropoxyphene (DXP) or codeine in individuals suspected of driving under the influence of drugs, we analysed all blood samples in which drugs were screened for in cases of suspected drunken driving in Sweden during the years 1992-1997. DXP was found in 130 (2.7%) and codeine in 388 (7.9%) of the 4896 drug-screened cases. The ratio between the number of DXP and of codeine cases and prescription of defined daily dose/1000 inhabitants during a 12-month period (DDD) was determined. The quotient for DXP was trebled from 1992 (0.99) to 1997 (2.89), while the codeine quotient decreased by 9% (from 6 to 5.5). The blood samples showed polydrug use in all but 28 cases of the 486 cases where DXP and/or codeine was found. In 71% of the 486 cases benzodiazepines were also present and in 38% of the cases amphetamine and/or cannabis were present. It was concluded that analgesics containing DXP or codeine are not drugs of primary interest in this specific population. Nevertheless, because of the high toxicity of DXP, especially when combined with alcohol or other drugs, the increase in the DXP prevalence gives reason for concern, since the studied population represents a group of individuals who use large doses of therapeutic or illegal drugs.

Social support after the loss on an infant child: a long-term perspective.

The article presents findings from a survey among 251 parents whose infant child had died. For most of the parents, the loss occurred several years ago. The survey assessed the amounts of instrumental, emotional and informational support received by these parents from various sources in connection with the death. The findings revealed that different sources provided different kinds of support. There was only one significant difference between bereaved males and females with regard to amount of support: females received more emotional support from their friends than males did. Furthermore, large amounts of support received by one spouse was associated with a similar level of support received by the other spouse. Social support in connection with the death was to some extent related to long-term psychological adaptation. Particularly support from neighbours and professionals was consistently associated with psychological adaptation. In general, however, the findings with regard to long-term effects of social support were ambiguous.

Predictors of intention to be sexually active among Tanzanian school children.

This paper presents the results from a study of human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS risk behaviour conducted among primary school children in the Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions of northern Tanzania. The study was guided by the theory of reasoned action, and the decision to have or abstain from sexual intercourse was studied. All sixth and seventh grade pupils at eighteen schools were invited to participate. A total of 2,026 pupils (mean age 14.0 years) participated (participation rate of 85%), representing a wide variety of ethnic, socio-economic and urban-rural groups. Sixty-three percent of the boys and 24% of the girls reported having had their sexual debut. Attitudes, subjective norms and self-efficacy were all predictors of intention to have sexual intercourse within the next three months, but prior behaviour emerged as the strongest predictor of intention. Primary schools appear to be an important arena for HIV/AIDS education in Tanzania and it is recommended that such education be directed toward young adolescents.

Young adolescents' intention to use seat belts: the role of attitudinal and normative beliefs.

In this study, the Theory of Reasoned Action was applied for two different purposes: (i) to explain and predict seat-belt usage among young adolescents, and (ii) to investigate the specific cognitions underlying the decision to use seat belts. A detailed analysis of these cognitions may provide clues as to which beliefs one should try to change in order to improve seat-belt usage among young adolescents. The decision to wear seat belts was under attitudinal control in the front seat, while it was under both attitudinal and normative control in the back seat. However, prior use of seat belts was the single most powerful predictor of intention. There was a striking consistency in the difference between high intenders and low intenders with regard to the specific underlying cognitions. The most promising 'messages' for persuasive communication appears to be that use of seat belts has an injury reducing effect and makes one feel safe when driving.

[Use of safety equipment among immigrant children in Norway. A comparison with Norwegian children]. / Bruk av sikkerhetsutstyr bland innvandrerbarn i Norge. En sammenlikning med norske barn.

Young immigrants aged ten to 17 years who had been living in Norway for one year or more participated in a survey about their use of different kinds of safety equipment. The figures were compared with the corresponding figures for Norwegian children and adolescents. The results showed that the young immigrants used safety equipment to a less extent than the Norwegian youngsters did. Furthermore, the immigrants reduced their use of safety equipment significantly from age 11 to age 15, as did the Norwegians. The amount of time the young immigrants had lived in Norway was significantly, although only slightly associated with use of safety equipment. Also the immigrants' attitude toward the Norwegian way of life was slightly related to whether they used safety equipment or not.

Accident prevention activities in the Norwegian municipalities: the local response to a nationwide campaign.

The Norwegian "Campaign Against Home Accidents" was launched nationwide during 1988 to 1991, with the goal of reducing the incidence of home accidents by 20%. The aim of the campaign was to urge primarily the municipal health services to form local accident prevention groups and to implement local measures for prevention of home accidents. On the basis of two surveys, after one year and at the end of the national campaign, an evaluation was carried out concerning the participation of the municipal health services in the campaign and the impact of the campaign on local accident prevention activities. The results indicate that the national campaign engaged the majority of the municipalities and stimulated local accident prevention work to some extent. Most local activities were health education measures, whereas environmental intervention were less commonly reported. Involvement in the campaign was the variable most related to level of accident prevention activities at the end of the campaign period. However, the relationship was only modest. Restricted economical resources, too little emphasis on environmental change, lack of political involvement and insufficient use of coalition partners at the community level are suggested as the major explanations for the limited effect of the campaign.

Preventing childhood accidents in the home: parental behavior to reduce household hazards.

The parents of all children between 6 and 18 months in four Norwegian municipalities participated in an investigation to assess to what extent parents take actions to reduce household hazards their children are exposed to, and to identify factors associated with such behaviors. The Health Belief Model was used as a theoretical framework guiding the selection of variables. The results indicate that most parents take considerable action to reduce household hazards. The constructs derived from the Health Belief Model accounted for only a small part of the variance in parental behavior to reduce hazards in the home.

[Self-reported accident frequency among children and adolescents]. / Selvrapportert ulykkesfrekvens blant barn og ungdom.

The article presents self-reported accidents among a representative group of Norwegian children from grades 5, 7 and 9. About half of the girls and 2/3 of the boys report having had at least one accident which had to be treated by a physician during their lifetime. This number is less than expected on the basis of accident-report figures, and may indicate that a small group of children have an unproportionally large number of accidents. About 35% of the children surveyed report having had an accident sometime during the past year. This is significantly more than expected and thus indicates report bias. There are important methodological difficulties associated with self-reporting of accidents among children. The difficulties can be minimized if the time period is limited and the types of accident are well-defined. If these conditions are fulfilled, self-reporting can be an important complement to accident-report figures.

[Use of safety devices among children and adolescents]. / Barn og ungdommers bruk av sikkerhetsutstyr.

5,000 Norwegian children from grades 5, 7 and 9 participated in a survey which questioned to what extent they use various kinds of safety equipment: safety belt, bicycle helmet, reflector, life-vest when in small boats, skateboard helmet and other skateboard safety devices. Use of all types of equipment decreases with increasing age. Except for reflectors, which are used most often by girls, there are no difference between girls and boys as regards use of safety equipment. The results indicate that there is a large potential for increasing the use of safety equipment among children. The consistent decrease in use of such equipment as children grow older shows the importance of understanding the social processes associated with use of safety equipment.

[A campaign against home accidents--accident prevention efforts in the communities]. / Aksjon mot hjemmeulykker--ulykkesforebyggende arbeid i kommunene.

A nation-wide campaign aimed at preventing accidents in the home is being implemented in Norway. 95% of the municipalities acknowledge having received information material from the campaign, 33% report having established accident prevention committees, and 26% report having introduced preventive measures as a result of this national campaign. The study indicates that accidents are not recognized as yet as a major health problem in many municipalities. Identification of accidents as a health problem seems to be an important factor in the preventive efforts. To enhance further accident prevention efforts it seems important to increase awareness of accident as a health problem, and to increase the involvement of key personnel within the community.