The Healing Ministry of Christ

Caring for the sick requires determination and moral courage; there is a spiritual side to the battle against disease. The Christian caregiver, through Christ, receives the grace to confront the morally exhausting suffering of patients and enhancing the unique bonds that arise from that suffering. Our faith Christ who dying destroys death and in rising restores life, allows the Christian to affirm faith as well as heal disease in ministry to the sick.

Increasing screening mammography in asymptomatic women: evaluation of a second-generation, theory-based program

Two theory-based programs to increase mammography screening rates among asymptomatic women were implemented and evaluated in the community. One program (E) was based on the Health Belief Model (HBM); the second program (EP) added exercises adapted from the social psychology of compliance. Program impact on screening among 295 primarily Caucasian, middle-class women was evaluated against untreated controls (C) over a 6-month period. Both programs led to increases in HBM components (Perceived Susceptibility, and Perceived Benefits) and Intentions to obtain a mammogram. Screening rates 2 to 3 times higher were observed in the EP and E over C conditions; EP and E did not differ. A mediational model of compliance illustrated the interplay of HBM components in the compliance process.

Increasing screening mammography in asymptomatic women: evaluation of a second-generation, theory-based program

Two theory-based programs to increase mammography screening rates among asymptomatic women were implemented and evaluated in the community. One program (E) was based on the Health Belief Model (HBM); the second program (EP) added exercises adapted from the social psychology of compliance. Program impact on screening among 295 primarily Caucasian, middle-class women was evaluated against untreated controls (C) over a 6-month period. Both programs led to increases in HBM components (Perceived Susceptibility, and Perceived Benefits) and Intentions to obtain a mammogram. Screening rates 2 to 3 times higher were observed in the EP and E over C conditions; EP and E did not differ. A mediational model of compliance illustrated the interplay of HBM components in the compliance process.

Health beliefs and compliance with mammography-screening recommendations in asymptomatic women

The utility of the health belief model (HBM) for predicting compliance with the American Cancer Society recommendations for mammography screening over and above demographics, knowledge, physician input, and objective risk for breast cancer was assessed. In all, 615 predominantly middle-class White women, age 35-92, were surveyed in 1987-1989. A multiple indicator measurement model of the HBM constructs of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Physician input alone accounted for 25% of the variance in compliance; HBM constructs alone, 16%. HBM constructs accounted for 7% additional variance in compliance beyond all other predictors and thus may be a fruitful focus for interventions to increase screening rates.

Health beliefs and compliance with mammography-screening recommendations in asymptomatic women

The utility of the health belief model (HBM) for predicting compliance with the American Cancer Society recommendations for mammography screening over and above demographics, knowledge, physician input, and objective risk for breast cancer was assessed. In all, 615 predominantly middle-class White women, age 35-92, were surveyed in 1987-1989. A multiple indicator measurement model of the HBM constructs of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Physician input alone accounted for 25% of the variance in compliance; HBM constructs alone, 16%. HBM constructs accounted for 7% additional variance in compliance beyond all other predictors and thus may be a fruitful focus for interventions to increase screening rates.

Life activities and life quality of heroin addicts in and out of methadone treatment

The focus of the present study was the daily life activities and self-perceived health and life quality of heroin addicts both in and out of methadone treatment, based on 219 addicts followed for 8 months after treatment entry. The majority of outcome evaluations of methadone treatment have focused on the "hard" outcome criteria of drug use levels, criminal activities, and employment. The present study, in contrast, addressed how heroin addicts live on a daily basis, and whether being chemically supported on methadone was associated with changes in daily life activities and perceived quality of life. A six-dimensional measurement model of daily life activities, perceived health, and life quality was established. Substantial changes on the dimensions in a positive direction were found in the 2 months just following treatment entry. Changes in daily life activities (e.g., spending more time with the family, attending to the home) may be early indicators of the impact of methadone treatment that precede changes on the usual "hard" criteria (e.g., obtaining legal employment).

Effects of self-consciousness and social anxiety on self-disclosure among unacquainted individuals: an application of the social relations model

Recent research has demonstrated a positive relationship between private self-consciousness and the tendency to self-disclose. These studies have relied exclusively upon self-reports of disclosure. In the present study, Kenny's Social Relations Model (Kenny & La Voie, 1984) was employed to examine the relationship between a subject's self-reports and others' reports of a subject's level of self-disclosure and the relationship of these reports to private self-consciousness, as well as the other traits measured by the self-consciousness scale: public self-consciousness and social anxiety. Unacquainted college women (N = 102) participated in one-on-one interactions in a round-robin design. Subject's self-reports of disclosure and their levels of private self-consciousness correlated positively. The partners' reports of an individual's disclosure, however, were not related to the individual's level of private self-consciousness. The discrepancy between these correlations emphasizes the necessity to ground research in personal relationships on interacting pairs and not only on the self-reports of one member. Future research that would explore this difference is discussed. The examination of the self- and partner reports and subjects' levels of public self-consciousness and social anxiety demonstrated that these two traits significantly influence the acquaintance process. Public self-consciousness related positively to subjects' beliefs that they had created consistent impressions upon their partners. Social anxiety correlated negatively with partners' reports of a subject's dyadic involvement and openness.

Relation of sympathy and personal distress to prosocial behavior: a multimethod study

Assessed sympathy and personal distress with facial and physiological indexes (heart rate) as well as self-report indexes and examined the relations of these various indexes to prosocial behavior for children and adults in an easy escape condition. Heart rate deceleration during exposure to the needy others was associated with increased willingness to help. In addition, adults' reports of sympathy, as well as facial sadness and concerned attention, were positively related to their intention to assist. For children, there was some indication that report of positive affect and facial distress were negatively related to prosocial intentions and behavior, whereas facial concern was positively related to the indexes of prosocial behavior. These findings are interpreted as providing additional, convergent support for the notion that sympathy and personal distress are differentially related to prosocial behavior.

Relation of sympathy and personal distress to prosocial behavior: A multimethod study

Assessed sympathy and personal distress with facial and physiological indexes (heart rate) as well as self-report indexes and examined the relations of these various indexes to prosocial behavior for children and adults in an easy escape condition. Heart rate deceleration during exposure to the needy others was associated with increased willingness to help. In addition, adults' reports of sympathy, as well as facial sadness and concerned attention, were positively related to their intention to assist. For children, there was some indication that report of positive affect and facial distress were negatively related to prosocial intentions and behavior, whereas facial concern was positively related to the indexes of prosocial behavior. These findings are interpreted as providing additional, convergent support for the notion that sympathy and personal distress are differentially related to prosocial behavior.