The association of social capital and health has gained much research attention and interest during the past decade. Many a study has demonstrated that a higher social capital is associated with a better population health state including lower total or disease related mortality or more benign health related behaviors. However, most studies reported were using secondary data analyses of survey data. Though there are many ongoing studies and application of social capital survey worldwide, it still lack of consensus to define social capital and its standard instrument to measure it. There is also lack of empirical studies to investigate the causal relationship and mechanism how social capital could affect the individual or population health. Few empirical studies concerning social capital have been done in Taiwan. Hence, this study has two major aims, first in phase I study, to develop and test psychometric properties of a social capital instrument for measuring social capital among adults Taiwan¡¦s indigenous people. The specific aims are to identify the content dimensions for the indicators of social capital and evaluate the internal consistency and construct validity of this instrument. Second, in phase II, this study investigated the relationship between community social capital and physical-mental health at individual level using the social capital instrument. We also study whether social capital plays a role of moderating or mediating effect on the relationship between individual non-specific psychological distress and health. In phase I, this study based on Bullen and Onyx¡¦s measurement of social capital in community and developed a five-factor¡¦s social capital scale in Taiwan area using indigenous people in Southern Taiwan as studying population. Psychometric testing demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, validity and Goodness of fitness index for this instrument for indigenous people of Southern Taiwan using first-order and second-order confirmatory factor analysis. In phase II, a total of 898 indigenous people of Rukai and Paiwan lived in four townships, mountainous area, Pingtung county of Southern Taiwan, aged 30 to 93, were surveyed during December 2004 to December 2005. Our results show individual community social capital was inversely correlated with perceived distress level and positively correlated with quality of life. In hierarchical regression analysis, individual social capital has a moderating effect on the relationship between individual perceived distress and individual quality of life in Taiwan¡¦s indigenous people. In structural equation model analysis using Amos statistical software also demonstrated that individual social capital has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between individual perceived distress and individual quality of life in Taiwan¡¦s indigenous people. In conclusions, this study demonstrated that individual with higher community social capital was associated with better physical and mental health in indigenous people of Rukai and Paiwan lived in Pingtung county of Southern Taiwan. Individual social capital has a moderating effect and partial mediating effect on the stress-health model.

Background: The development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) following a traumatic event is related to significant functional impairment, diminished quality of life, and physical health issues. Yet it is not entirely clear why some traumatized individuals experience negative outcomes while others do not. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of several influential factors related to PTS severity and negative outcomes, such as diminished quality of life and physical health issues, following traumatic events. Method: One hundred and twenty-two trauma-exposed adults were recruited through the University of South Florida’s SONA system and through flyers on campus. Subjects were administered the following self-report measures in a counter-balanced manner: the PTSD Checklist-Civilian, the Trauma History Questionnaire-Short, The Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale 21, Sheehan Disability Scale, WHOQOL-BREF, and the Economic Impact Questionnaire-Revised. Results: Posttraumatic stress symptom severity was positively correlated with depressive symptom severity, chronicity of the most distressing trauma and number of traumas. Posttraumatic stress symptom severity and anxiety sensitivity were significantly related to all of the outcomes examined including three domains of disability, four domains of quality of life, burden and physical health issues. Main effects were found for PTS severity, anxiety sensitivity, and depressive symptom severity on quality of life domains. Posttraumatic stress symptom severity mediated the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and physical health issues such that the relationship between AS and physical health issues is dependent on PTS severity. Implications: This study helps clarify the role of various factors in the relationship between trauma and negative outcomes. Clinical and research implications are discussed, including early detection of PTS and an increased awareness of the relationship between PTS, anxiety sensitivity and physical health issues.

The present study proposed an integrated coping framework that included both personal and social resources and explored the interaction of these constructs with future-oriented, proactive coping processes. Expressive writing was utilized as a cost-effective and minimally intrusive intervention to encourage individuals to facilitate proactive coping in cognitive and behavioral domains. One-hundred and eighty five participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) Proactive Writing (N = 63) to facilitate processing of a significant future stressor that is anticipated but is not certain to occur in the immediate future, 2) Expressive Writing (N = 53) to facilitate processing of the most difficult problem or situation experienced in the previous twelve months, or 3) Control Writing (N = 69) regarding time management as a credible placebo condition. The current study had three empirical aims. First, the current study experimentally tested whether implementing expressive writing as a proactive coping intervention increased proactive coping. Second, the current study tested whether proactive coping was positively related to adaptive functioning. Third, the current study vii examined reactive coping and perceived social support as mediators of the proactive coping to adaptive functioning relationship. Findings indicated that proactive coping and cognitive and behavioral coping efforts were associated with several clinical outcomes in the domains of psychological affect, life satisfaction, and physical health. Significant group differences in days per week of exercise and overeating behavior were present following the intervention, with a marginally significant trend found for social network size. Percentage of approach-oriented cognitive and behavioral coping towards anticipated and extant stressors, and perceptions of available support, enacted support, and satisfaction with one's social network were examined for mediational properties. Overall findings did not support the proposed mediation model of proactive coping. Implications of findings, limitations and future directions are discussed. / text

The goal of this dissertation is to examine minority stress in the lives of gay and lesbian individuals and couples. To do this I conducted three separate, but empirically and conceptually related studies using data from 68 self-identified gay men and lesbians. Of these, 38 participants were coupled (n = 19 couples). All three studies were informed by minority stress theory. In the first study I examined individual (N = 68) and partner (n = 38) correlates and associations with concern for safety because of sexual orientation and harassment because of sexual orientation. Comfort with homosexuality was the strongest negative predictor of concern for safety because of sexual orientation. Further, involvement with gay related activities was found to be the strongest positive predictor of harassment because of sexual orientation. In the next two studies I examined the daily influence of minority stress for same-sex couples (n = 19). In the second study I examined how daily public displays (PDA) of affection are associated with daily relationship satisfaction, daily concern for safety because of sexual orientation, and daily harassment because of sexual orientation. I found daily PDA to be positively associated with concurrent and lagged relationship satisfaction, positively associated with concurrent and lagged concern for safety, and concurrent, lagged, and prospective increases in harassment because of sexual orientation. In the third and final study I examined the moderating effect of daily relationship satisfaction on the relationships between daily concern for safety and harassment in predicting daily physical health and well-being. I find that daily concern for safety and harassment are not associated with daily physical health suggesting that the negative effects of minority stress on physical health are more cumulative and do not fluctuate from day-to-day. I also find that daily relationship satisfaction does moderate the relationship between daily concern for safety and harassment and their daily well-being in unexpected ways. Collectively, this dissertation illustrates the complex influence of minority stress in the lives of gay and lesbian individuals and couples in two ways: first, as it pertains to how personal characteristics and behaviors (e.g. involvement with gay related activities and engagement in PDA) are associated with minority stress overall and on a daily basis; second, by illustrating the daily influence of minority stress on daily physical health and well-being. In conclusion, in these studies I highlight the complexity of life and how minority stress, stress that is unique to gay men and lesbian individuals and couples, complicates otherwise beneficial behaviors. Further, I illustrate the long and short term ramifications minority stress has on gay men and lesbian individuals and couples.

<p> Puerto Rico has the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes, low birth-weight, and the second highest prevalence of preterm-birth in all the U.S. and its non-incorporated territories. These conditions are related. Birth-weight at both ends of the spectrum and preterm-birth are associated with an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and immune-inflammatory dysregulations. Maternal psychosocial stressors during pregnancy have also been recognized as potential risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and have been consistently associated with preterm-birth and low birth-weight across populations. Current evidence points toward epigenetic fetal metabolic-programming as the mechanism that underlies the increased risk for the previously mentioned morbidities. However, the particular psychosocial stressors that may contribute to the high prevalence of low birth-weight and preterm-birth in the population of Puerto Rico have not been well studied.</p><p> The present study assesses the relationships between particular psychosocial stressors, socioeconomic status, food insecurity, and birth outcomes. The results of this study show that low-risk pregnancy women were more likely to have babies with a higher ponderal index if they were exposed to stressors during gestation months 5, 6, and 7, or if exposed to "relationship stress" at any time during pregnancy. Women exposed to "financial difficulties" at any time during pregnancy were more likely to deliver babies at an earlier gestational age. Differences in birth outcomes between the exposed and non-exposed women were independent of maternal anthropometric measurements, maternal age at birth, number of previous births, and sex of the baby. Significant differences in birth outcomes were found between categories of father's self-identified and identified by others ethnicity, but sample size within categories was small. Although mothers with children at home had higher levels of food insecurity, and the level of food insecurity was correlated with higher levels of stress, no birth outcome measure was associated with food insecurity.</p><p> Some results are atypical in comparison with other populations, and therefore these findings may contribute to the understanding of population differences in the relationship between maternal stress during pregnancy and birth outcomes. The relatively small sample size and strict exclusion criteria of this study may limit the generalizability of the findings. Epidemiological similarities between Puerto Rico and other populations, and the possibility of a higher ponderal index increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes in the population of Puerto Rico need to be examined in future research.</p>

This study examined the influence of social support on the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid psychopathology, suicidal behaviour, and mental and physical health functioning in the general population. Data came from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) (N=34,653). Results showed a differential impact of posttraumatic stress disorder and social support depending on gender. For men, social support had a moderating effect, where social support had a greater influence on the prevalence of comorbid psychopathology for men with posttraumatic stress disorder compared to those without the disorder. In contrast, social support had an additive effect for women, where social support was associated with decreased psychopathology and posttraumatic stress disorder was associated with increased psychopathology. This study suggests that social support should be included in the treatment of men with posttraumatic stress disorder and encouraged among women regardless of mental disorder diagnosis.

Bakgrund  Många studier visar att personer med psykiska besvär oftare drabbas av fysisk ohälsa och unga personer med psykossjukdom utgör en speciellt utsatt grupp. Syfte Syftet var att undersöka hur unga vuxna med psykossjukdomar upplever sin kroppsliga hälsa. Arbetet syftade även till att kartlägga patienternas uppfattning om hjälp- och stödbehov när det gäller upprätthållande/förbättring av hälsotillståndet. Metod En kvalitativ studie med intervjuer med tio patienter. Intervjuerna analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat Analysen ledde fram till ett tema: Synen på den kroppsliga hälsan är en strävan efter att med stöd och hjälp leva ett liv som alla andra. Temat uppstod utifrån fyra kategorier. 1. Hur man lever livet – livsstilsaspekter som studiedeltagarna förknippade med kroppslig hälsa, dvs. motion, kost, rökning, rutiner i vardagen. 2. Att känna sig frisk – kroppslig hälsa som motsats till sjukdom. Kategorin inkluderar även balans och energi. 3. Hälsa som en process – beskrivning av hälsa i följande dimensioner: gemenskap och självständighet, vändpunkt och förändring samt sorg och hopp. 4. Stöd och hjälp från hälso- och sjukvården – studiedeltagarnas erfarenhet av tillit samt önskemål om större tillgänglighet, mer individanpassade insatser och utökat finansiellt stöd. Slutsats Unga vuxna med psykossjukdom uppfattade kroppslig hälsa som ett mångdimensionellt fenomen som gick långt utanför den biomedicinska traditionen där hälsa ses som frånvaro av sjukdom. Det är patientens egen förståelse av hens hälsa som borde styra psykiatrisjuksköterskans omvårdnadsarbete i stort och hälsofrämjande insatser i synnerhet.

Higher education institutions in South Africa are undergoing transformation because of increasing student numbers, government and the private sector relying on tertiary institutions to assist in solving problems in addition to the globalisation of knowledge. University staff is continuously faced major changes. Immense pressure is placed on academic institutions, including support staff. Support staff are constantly faced with increasing job demands and decreasing job resources. This imbalance and the increase of job stress over a prolonged period of time can lead to the devastating result of burnout. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between task characteristics, burnout, health and life satisfaction in a higher education institution in the North West Province. A cross-sectional design was used. The study population (N=334) consisted of support staff members of higher education institutions in the North West Province. The Job Demands-Resources Scale (JDRS), The Maslach Burnout Inventory - GS (MBI-GS), the Health subscale of the ASSET and The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used as measuring instruments. Descriptive statistics (for example, means, standard deviations and kurtosis) were used to analyse the data. Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationships between job demands, job resources, burnout, physical health, psychological health and life satisfaction. The correlation coefficients indicated that exhaustion was positively related to psychological ill-health. Cynicism correlated negatively with growth opportunities. Multiple regression analysis showed that overload and growth opportunities predicted 26% of the variance for exhaustion and 29% of the variance in cynicism. Exhaustion predicted 24% of the variance for physical ill-health and 37% of the variance for psychological ill-health. Psychological ill-health predicted 16% of the variance of life satisfaction. Recommendations for future research and the organisation were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

For employees to optimally perform at work, it is important that they are healthy. The employee is under constant work pressures that affects their health behaviour. The aim of this research is to look at the evident health risks of employees working within a financial institution, to analyze how physical activity influences these health risk factors and their medical costs. In this study a sample of 9860 self selected employees, aged between 18 and 64 (35.3 ± 10.7 years), was used. These employees are spread over all the provinces of South Africa and from all racial groupings. Differentiation was made between employees who were on chronic medication and those who were not. The Health Risk Assessment (HRA) questionnaire developed and provided by the medical aid of the institution was used as the analysis tool. Medical expenditures of the sample group were also provided by the medical aid and investigated. A national network of registered Biokineticists administered the implementation of the HRA, based on a set protocol. ANOVA was used for statistical data analysis - providing descriptive and summarising statistics. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine relationships between variables. It is clear from the descriptive data that the tendencies of selected health risks were high. The results also show that 37.6% (Diastolic) and 47.87% (Systolic) of the sample group comply with the normal borders of blood pressure. With regards to BM3, 32.3% were overweight and 25.3% within the boundaries of obesity. The average cholesterol of the group is 4.4mmol.L-l. The Physical activity levels were determined using an activity algorithm developed by the medical aid of the institution (described in detail in the thesis). Results show a low level of physical activity index (7.18 + 3.05) within the sample group. No statistical significance could be found between physical activity levels and medical expenditure, although those who are highly active seemed to have higher expenditure than those who are inactive. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

While it is a presumably accepted fact that rural and farming communities represent an important sector in the life of every nation due to their contribution to food security and nutrition, there is limited available empirical knowledge on their lives. This study intended to explore the health profile of the rural and farming communities in South Africa, and to explore the relationships between the physical and psychological health, the needs and quality of life facets of a specific group of farm workers and to provide guidelines for intervention in the said areas. This objective was achieved through a literature review, empirical study and suggested guidelines for bio psychosocial health promotion. The end product of this study is presented in three separate, but related manuscripts or articles. A holistic conceptual framework was adopted in the literature review and is described in manuscript 1. This overview focused on life on farms and in rural areas through both the social and natural sciences lenses in a parallel and integrative manner. The needs domain was conceptualised in its broad and narrow uses, and health was broadly defined in terms of the World Health Organization's (WHO, 1999:6) conceptualisation. The term "rural" was narrowly described for the purposes of the current study, i.e. according to the typical descriptive aspects of population dynamics, geographic, economic and other social considerations. Although studies from elsewhere in the world were used to provide a clearer picture of rural contexts, the focus was on available local South African literature. The literature review suggested a situation of serious disparities in the lives of the rural communities in comparison to their counterparts living in urbanised settings in South Africa. They suffer poor socioeconomic status, poor access to services, physical infrastructure problems, food insecurity and nutritional problems, physical and mental health problems, and violence and violations of their human rights. Manuscript 2 reports on an empirical, mixed-methods investigation that was conducted on a convenience sample of 52 farm workers (18-60 years) from three farms near Potchefstroom, in the North West Province. All participants completed quantitative measures and interviews were conducted with a random sample of 25 participants. As a conceptual framework, health was defined comprehensively in terms of physical, psychological and social dimensions (World Health Organization, 1999). Psychological well-being was defined on a continuum from symptoms of stress to a focus on strengths, capacities, mental well-being or psychological health (Wissing & Van Eeden, 2002, 1997; Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ryan & Frederick, 1997) and measured with the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) Scale (Antonovsky, 1987), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) (Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985), the Affectometer 2 (AFM) (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (Goldberg & Hiller, 1979) the Need Satisfaction Scale (NSC) (La Guardia et al., 2000), and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) (Ryan & Frederick, 1997). Quality of life was operationalised in terms of the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI) (Frisch, 1994). Physical health was operationalised in terms of standardised measures of blood pressure heart rate body mass index, waist-hip ratio and a nutritional intake measure, the Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ) (Vorster et al. 2000). Participants reported relatively poor states of physical health nutritional deficiencies poor mental health and poor quality of life. In manuscript 3 specific guidelines for the promotion of the bio psychosocial health of farm workers were suggested to address the specific and identified problems in an integrated manner. The guidelines were grouped into operational and administrative/bureaucratic interventions. Recommendations were also made for further exploration of the relationship between the farm workers' context and the bio psychosocial health indicators. Farm workers suffer problems of physical and psychological distress as well as shortages of health care providers, lack of the necessary health infrastructure and other social and physical infrastructure amenities. For successful and sustainable interventions health professionals and health workers, policy makers and bureaucrats, human rights activists and rural/farm employee organisations as well as the broader social movement and other interested/affected parties need to jointly contribute to health programmes aimed at addressing the challenges facing rural communities in general, and farm workers in particular. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.