Objective: Although women with PCOS have elevated levels of psychological distress, findings regarding which aspects of PCOS contribute to psychological symptoms are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent and differential contributions of the previously identified key PCOS manifestations (infertility, hirsutism, obesity, menstrual problems) to multiple psychological symptoms. Methods: Participants were 126 endocrinology patient volunteers diagnosed with PCOS who completed a cross-sectional study of key manifestations of PCOS (including the PCOSQ) and psychological symptoms (BSI). Results: Participants had significantly elevated scores on all nine BSI subscales of psychological symptoms. Menstrual problems were significantly associated with all symptom subscales as well as the global indicator, while hirsutism and obesity were significantly related to five or more subscales. Neither infertility status nor infertility concerns significantly predicted any of the psychological symptoms. After controlling for demographic factors, menstrual problems remained the strongest predictor of psychological symptoms. Conclusions: Findings suggest that for women with PCOS, the features of excess body hair, obesity and menstrual abnormalities are especially troubling and carry unique risks for serious adverse psychologic symptoms including depression, anxiety, somatization and interpersonal sensitivity. Specific manifestations of PCOS were differentially related to psychological symptoms suggesting that the predictive value of PCOS for depression and other mental health problems may vary according to the specific symptoms experienced. Menstrual problems may be the most salient of these features and deserve particular attention as a marker for psychological risk among women with PCOS.

Objective: Although women with PCOS have elevated levels of psychological distress, findings regarding which aspects of PCOS contribute to psychological symptoms are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the independent and differential contributions of the previously identified key PCOS manifestations (infertility, hirsutism, obesity, menstrual problems) to multiple psychological symptoms. Methods: Participants were 126 endocrinology patient volunteers diagnosed with PCOS who completed a cross-sectional study of key manifestations of PCOS (including the PCOSQ) and psychological symptoms (BSI). Results: Participants had significantly elevated scores on all nine BSI subscales of psychological symptoms. Menstrual problems were significantly associated with all symptom subscales as well as the global indicator, while hirsutism and obesity were significantly related to five or more subscales. Neither infertility status nor infertility concerns significantly predicted any of the psychological symptoms. After controlling for demographic factors, menstrual problems remained the strongest predictor of psychological symptoms. Conclusions: Findings suggest that for women with PCOS, the features of excess body hair, obesity and menstrual abnormalities are especially troubling and carry unique risks for serious adverse psychologic symptoms including depression, anxiety, somatization and interpersonal sensitivity. Specific manifestations of PCOS were differentially related to psychological symptoms suggesting that the predictive value of PCOS for depression and other mental health problems may vary according to the specific symptoms experienced. Menstrual problems may be the most salient of these features and deserve particular attention as a marker for psychological risk among women with PCOS.

The purpose of this study was to facilitate self-discovery of strengths of women who were homeless and trauma-exposed. Using an emancipatory feminist and existential phenomenological qualitative research design, seventeen women participated in facilitative dialogs exploring perceptions of strength. The dialogue focused on three aspects of strength: characteristics, strategies, and barriers. The participants’ words were represented within global themes of strength: balance, protection, and dangerous environments. Results suggest women who are houseless and abused find ways to remain strong as evidenced in their stories. Findings support strength-based discovery, patient engagement, and partnering as a health intervention with vulnerable women.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine what sociocultural, sociodemographic, and sociopsychological factors the Sisters in four Wards in the Taipei Taiwan Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perceived as keeping them from using the health services during the period from June 1975 to May 1976.Forty-five Sisters, age twenty-one and older, were surveyed by a written questionnaire during Relief Society meetings during the last week in June and the first week in July 1966.A majority of the Sisters were found to have experienced times when they did not avail themselves of the existing health services. The way the Sisters viewed their illness, their unwillingness to take time to seek aid, and their limited finances were the reasons most often given as obstacles preventing use of the services. It was concluded that the Sisters tended most often to view the sociocultural factors as limiting their use of the health services.

Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a chronic manifestation of schistosomiasis, a waterborne parasitic infection, and is estimated to impact 56 million women predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there is scarce literature on FGS and related health-seeking behaviour (HSB) among at-risk women. The objective of this mixed-method study is to understand the socio-cultural determinants of HSB and the health information trust networks for women at-risk of FGS in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey and twelve focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in the North Tongu and Weija Districts of Ghana. A total of 863 cross-sectional surveys and 12 FGDs were administered in both districts. There was an overall lack of awareness of FGS among adult women (38.9%). Only 48.8% of women reported HSB from the 86 women who choose to talk about their FGS-related symptoms. HSB was significantly associated with monthly steady income (p-value: 0.036) and level of education (p-value: 0.15,0.27), when controlling for age group and source of trusted health information. Some of the determining themes for HSB included: environmental and systemic context, shared norms, and apprehensions. Active and passive health information-seeking behaviour also emerged through the FGDs. Taking a mixed-method approach allowed for the appraisal of both methodologies and provided validity to the results. The lack of awareness of FGS indicates the need for tailored health information campaigns in endemic communities. More research is required on the FGS diagnostic and treatment capabilities of health facilities to understand their impact on HSB of women. This investigation finds that social, environmental, and cultural determinants are involved in the HSB of women at-risk for FGS, in North Tongu and Weija.

The aim of the study is to explore three healthcare apps, Numa, Ella, and Leia Health, and their affordances in digital healthcare. By applying discourse analysis and discursive interface analysis as primary methods, the study investigates reward and motivation features within these apps, aiming to uncover the norms and assumptions embedded in their interfaces. Theoretical concepts such as motivation affordance, technology affordances, and sociomaterialism are used as frameworks to understand and analyze the results. The interface analysis provides insights into how various affordances, such as functional, cognitive, sensory, and collaborative, shape the user experience in healthcare apps. The results offer an overview and understanding of how user behaviors are influenced by the structure, design, and features of health apps through their digital interfaces, illustrating how the apps provide users with support and information.

This thesis explores the health-related decisions Latin American immigrant women make in MetroWest Massachusetts. Within public health and biomedical literature, women from Spanish-speaking communities are often measured by their adherence to biomedical guidelines. Several programs have been designed to increase compliance with recommended cancer screenings like Pap smears and mammograms in an effort to reduce health inequities between Latina populations and their white counterparts in the United States (Peek and Han 2009). Community Health Organizations often prioritize biomedical models of care, as Community Health Workers are typically trained in public health and biomedicine. Yet little research has been done on women’s conception of their own health. Using the theoretical concept of patterns of resort, this research examines what women prioritize for their own health needs, why, and what local resources women use to meet these needs. Women have a broad understanding of their own health, and use varying resources to meet the needs of physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual health needs. By understanding these specific health needs, researchers and those invested in immigrant communities may create more effective programs with women’s health in mind.

Obstetric violence includes acts of abuse, coercion, or disrespect that occur during the labor process. The present study explores how obstetric violence impacts a person’s postpartum psychosocial adjustment. This study used a subset of data (N = 339) from a larger online study, which attempted to explore multiple facets of a person’s postpartum health. The psychological constructs examined are postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. Additional constructs assessed were protective and risk factors: self-compassion and medical mistrust. Self-compassion and medical mistrust were examined by using moderation models. Additional analyses were completed using simple regression models to explore whether obstetric violence predicts either postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression. Results yielded non-significant moderations for all constructs; however, obstetric violence predicted both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. This study was the first to examine how self-compassion and medical mistrust relate to the onset of postpartum anxiety and depression following an experience of obstetric violence.