Control cognitions and causal attributions as predictors of fatigue severity in a community sample

Are monetary gifts negatively labeled? Material benefits and prosocial motivation evaluation

We examined whether people perceive prosocial actors' prosocial motivations differently when prosocial actors gain monetary gifts and goods gifts. Across five studies, 1351 participants read different prosocial scenarios that depicted prosocial actors who gained either monetary or goods gifts. Then, they evaluated the prosocial motivations of the prosocial actors. Studies 1-5 consistently found that people perceived prosocial motivations to be less authentic when prosocial actors chose to receive monetary gifts compared with goods gifts. In addition, moral disgust and moral character evaluation mediated this effect (Studies 3-4). Moreover, the negative effect of monetary gifts on people's perception of prosocial motivation further undermined their helping intention to prosocial actors (Study 5). Our research expanded the understanding of people's perception of material gifts in prosocial behavior by proposing the model of monetary benefits aggravated tainted altruism. Besides, our findings provide insights into public policy and charity rules.

Explaining fatigue: an examination of patient causal attributions and their (in)congruence with family doctors' initial causal attributions

BACKGROUND

General practitioners (GPs) and patients can have different ideas about the causes of fatigue, which may hinder management of fatigue.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the causal attributions of patients and their GPs for fatigue, their level of agreement, and the association between patients' attributions, and fatigue characteristics and other illness perceptions.

METHODS

Baseline data, collected between 2004 and 2006, of a prospective cohort study among 642 adult patients presenting to Dutch primary care practices (n = 147) with a main symptom of fatigue, were used. Patient causal attributions and illness perceptions were measured using the revised illness perception questionnaire (fatigue version). GP causal attributions were measured with an open question included in the form that was completed at the end of the patient's visit. Fatigue severity was measured using the checklist individual strength.

RESULTS

Psychosocial causes were among the most often reported causal attributions by both patients and GPs. In 33% of 519 cases, the GP had no idea about the cause whereas the patient did. Overall, the agreement between the first reported causal attribution of patients and GPs was low. Qualitative differences in the labelling of causes were also found. Type of attribution (physical vs psychosocial/psychological) was associated with duration of fatigue (40 vs 25 months), and personal control (score 17.4 vs. 18.9).

CONCLUSION

Most patients and GPs had ideas about the causes of fatigue, but differences were found in the first reported causes and the labelling of causes. The findings may provide leads for optimizing communication about fatigue.

The Gap in the Current Research on the Link between Health Locus of Control and Multiple Sclerosis: Lessons and Insights from a Systematic Review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease whose etiology has not been fully understood yet in detail. Empirical findings show how psychosocial symptoms are very important features of the clinical presentation of MS, having a deep impact on patient's quality of life, and thus psychological coping strategies may play a central role in reducing the burden of the disease and improving patient's satisfaction of life. MS progression and relapses/exacerbations are unpredictable and may depend on factors such as stressor chronicity, frequency, severity, type, and individual patient characteristics such as depression, personality, locus of control (LOC), optimism, and perceived social support. Due to its importance for health-care delivery, rehabilitation, and nursing, here, we make a systematic review on the current state-of-the-art studies concerning the relationship between LOC and MS, according to the PRISMA guidelines, and we assess the quality and the completeness of the studies using the CONSORT instrument, underpinning their limitations, and suggesting how to fill the gap in this research field.