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Biomedical subjects

B L Bloom

Publications and source records attributed to B L Bloom.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Self-report measures of family functioning: extensions of a factorial analysis.

A factor analysis of four commonly used self-report measures of family functioning (Bloom, 1985) yielded 15 5-item factors. Five of these item sets have now been revised and strengthened. These modifications were undertaken because a review of the literature has revealed that the results of the factor analysis are being increasingly used in family studies. The rationale and description of the revisions of the factor item sets are presented. Psychometric analysis of the revised factors suggests that factor scores are highly reliable as well as stable over time. In addition to presenting comprehensive reliability data, this article provides information regarding factor score intercorrelations and structure, as well as a commentary on the factors themselves.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A factor analysis of self-report measures of family functioning.

Four well-known, self-report measures of family functioning were serially examined in order to identify a limited set of reliable concepts for describing families. Following the completion of four separate data collection procedures, a 75-item scale comprising 15 dimensions of family functioning was constructed. The dimensions appear reasonably independent of each other and have satisfactory psychometric properties. An initial effort to validate the scales was undertaken by contrasting scale scores obtained from descriptions of intact families with those obtained from descriptions of families that subsequently were disrupted by separation and divorce. Significant differences in scale scores were obtained on 12 of the 15 dimensions of family functioning. The 15 dimensions of family functioning could be subsumed under the three general headings suggested by Moos, Insel, and Humphrey (14)--relationship dimensions, personal growth or value dimensions, and system maintenance dimensions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Surgeons and operating rooms: underutilized resources.

A classification of surgical procedures, based on degree of complexity and the need for facilities and personnel, was applied to all 50,782 surgical interventions performed in the Valle del Cauca, Colombia during 1974. Three-fourths of all operations were of low levels of complexity, and most could be performed on an ambulatory basis with immediate discharge after recovery from anesthesia. Mean numbers of operations per year for surgical specialists and other physicians were 119.7 and 18.1, respectively. The 76 existing operating rooms were utilized only 41.6 per cent of the time. The implications of underutilization of personnel and facilities and low productivity of surgeons are discussed.

Colombia↗
PubMed1982

A preventive program for the newly separated: initial evaluation.

A 6-month long preventive intervention program for newly separated persons was designed on the basis of an analysis of the literature that identified the major stressful elements in the separation experience. Following the implementation of the program, its impact was assessed by contrasting persons who were assigned to the program (n = 100) with newly separated persons who were randomly selected to serve as a no-treatment control group (n = 50). Of the nine dependent measures of adjustment used in this evaluation, five significant posttreatment differences were found, in each case favoring the intervention group. The nature of these significant differences is particularly encouraging in light of the preventively oriented objectives of the intervention program. Detailed analysis of program characteristics resulted in the identification of desirable program modifications that could be implemented when the program is reinstituted.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Social support: its structure and impact on marital disruption.

Availability of social support has been hypothesized to play a role in influencing adjustment to marital disruption either directly or by moderating the debilitating effects of stress. Yet previous research has not adequately conceptualized or measured the nature and availability of social support. In an effort to learn more about the structure and impact of social support as it relates to marital disruption, 50 newly separated men and women were interviewed at 2 months and again at 8 months after their separations. The structure of social support was found to include (a) several important sources of support, including family, friends, and the larger community; (b) an index of social activity; and (c) a sense of satisfaction with present marital status. Although the stress associated with separation was positively related to poorer adjustment, certain aspects of social support were found to moderate this relationship.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1981

The predicament of the newly separated.

This study examines early adjustment to marital separation as a function of sex and parent status in a sample of 153 persons separated an average of eight weeks from their spouses because of marital discord. Men were much more satisfied with the quality of their marriages prior to separation and much more opposed to its ending than were women. Women consistently reported more gains than men as a consequence of their separations and a greater readiness to divorce. Social support systems were stronger in the case of women than men and in the case of parents than nonparents. Formal and informal helpseeking was very common. There was considerable difficulty in the areas of job performance and career planning, and the presence of children appeared to add to the difficulties faced by divorcing parents. In general, while the preseparation period appeared to be more stressful for women, the early postseparation period was far more difficult for men.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1979

Prevention of mental disorders: recent advances in theory and practice.

This paper begins by reviewing the current status of primary prevention. Basic concepts and definitions are introduced, and the existing knowledge base is examined. Recent advances in how primary prevention is viewed are described, and some general issues not yet resolved are identified. In particular, the importance of the growing shift of interest from predisposing factors in emotional disorders to precipitating factors, and the shift from the search for disorder-specific causes to the search for general, nonspecific causes is underlined.

Health Policy↗
PubMed1978

The psychologist in the community mental health center: an analysis of activities and training needs.

Professional activities and expressed needs for additional training were examined in the case of 211 psychologists employed in 51 community mental health centers in western United States. Two-thirds of the work week is taken up directly or indirectly with traditional clinical services, 19% with community mental health activities; and the balance in program development, administration, research, and program evaluation. In contrast to the common assertion linking psychologists and research activity, the current results indicate that psychologists in community mental health centers devote very little time to research or program evaluation. Expressed training needs parallel reported activity patterns - highest for clinical functions and moderately high for community mental health functions. The significant impact of the community mental health movement is seen in both the distribution of professional activities and in expressed needs for additional competence.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Current issues in mental health continuing education.

Data from two studies are presented and related literature is reviewed in an effort to identify current issues of concern to mental health continuing educators. These issues include: (a) the need to increase the level of participation of mental health professionals in continuing education programs, (b) the lack of stable funding sources, (c) the need to evaluate the consequences of continuing education program participation (d) the role of continuing education in the emerging process of recertification and relicensure, (e) the need for continuing education program content to reflect contemplated changes in the organization and financing of human service delivery systems, (f) the growing interest in multidisciplinary continuing education, and (g) problems in meeting the continuing education demands of a more broadly defined constituency.

Certification↗