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Biomedical subjects

J L Deffenbacher

Publications and source records attributed to J L Deffenbacher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Anger, aggression, risky behavior, and crash-related outcomes in three groups of drivers.

High anger drivers who acknowledged problems with driving anger and were interested in treatment were compared to high and low anger drivers who did not acknowledge problems with driving anger or want treatment. Although high anger drivers who acknowledged problems reported greater anger on two measures than high anger drivers who did not acknowledge problems, both high anger groups tended not to differ from one another and were more frequently and intensely angered when driving, reported more aggressive and less adaptive/constructive forms of expressing anger while driving, engaged in more aggressive and risky behavior on the road, and experienced more of some accident-related outcomes than low anger drivers. High anger groups did not differ from each other, but reported more trait anxiety and anger and more outward negative and less controlled general anger expression than the low anger group. The two groups of high anger drivers, however, require different types of interventions given their state of readiness for driving anger reduction. Results were also interpreted as supportive of the state-trait model of anger and construct validity of the Driving Anger Scale.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2001

Further evidence of reliability and validity for the driving anger expression inventory.

This study provided evidence of reliability and validity for the four scales of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory. Alpha reliabilities for scales ranged from .84 to .89. Measures of aggressive anger expression while driving (Verbal Aggressive Expression, Personal Physical Aggressive Expression, and Use of the Vehicle to Express Anger scales) correlated positively with each other and negatively with the Adaptive/Constructive Expression scale. Scores on the three aggressive forms of anger expression correlated positively with trait anger and measures of driving-related anger, aggression, and risky behavior, whereas scores on the Adaptive/Constructive Expression scale correlated negatively with these variables. Reports of aggressive and risky behavior correlated most strongly with the Use of the Vehicle to Express Anger scale. Forms of anger expression were minimally or uncorrelated with rated trait anxiety and reports of moving violations, close calls, and accidents. Findings replicated earlier findings and provided further evidence for the reliability and validity of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2001

Peer isolation and drug use among white non-Hispanic and Mexican American adolescents.

The social-emotional characteristics and drug-use patterns of adolescents who reported having no friends (i.e., isolates) were compared to those of adolescents in drug-using and non-drug-using peer groups. Adolescents who did not have drug-using peers reported the lowest drug use and those with drug-using peers had the highest drug use, with adolescents who were isolated falling in between. Isolated youth reported more shyness, greater feelings of alienation, and lower social acceptance than did those in the other groups. Isolated youth also reported more anger and depression than did youth with non-drug-using peers, but less anger and equivalent depression when compared to adolescents with drug-using peers. Results are discussed in terms of social-emotional characteristics of isolated youth and risk/protective factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Cognitive-behavioral conceptualization and treatment of anger.

This article outlines several therapeutic issues in working with angry clients and provides a conceptual framework for understanding, assessing, and treating them. Cognitive-behavioral interventions addressing different elements of the problematic anger are then described. However, it was emphasized that careful attention must be paid to unique client characteristics, to their stage of readiness for change, and to the therapeutic relationship and alliance if therapeutic impasses are to be minimized and successful application of cognitive-behavioral strategies is to be maximized. These issues and strategies are clarified in the specifics of two difficult cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Primary socialization theory. The influence of the community on drug use and deviance. III.

Primary socialization theory states that drug use and deviance are social behaviors learned predominantly through three sources, the family, the school, and peer clusters. This paper shows that the theory provides a parsimonious explanation of how characteristics of both the local community and the larger extended community influence drug use and deviance. These characteristics affect deviance because they either strengthen or weaken bonding with the three primary socialization sources, or affect the norms that are transmitted through the primary socialization process. The paper considers the following social structure characteristics of the local neighborhood or community: physical characteristics, rurality, ethnicity, heterogeneity, occupational type, mobility, poverty, neighborhood deviance, and age distribution. It also examines how other secondary socialization sources, the extended family, associational groups, religion, the peer environment, and the media influence the primary socialization process and, in turn, drug use and deviance.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Primary socialization theory. The role played by personal traits in the etiology of drug use and deviance. II.

Primary socialization theory proposes that drug use and deviant behaviors emerge from interactions with the primary socialization sources--the family, the school, and peer clusters. The theory further postulates that the individual's personal characteristics and personality traits do not directly relate to drug use and deviance, but, in nearly all cases, influence those outcomes only when they affect the interactions between the individual and the primary socialization sources. Interpretation of research results from the point of view of primary socialization theory suggests the following: 1) Characteristics such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are related to drug use and deviance only when they have strong effects on the primary socialization process, i.e., among younger children; 2) Traits such as anger, aggression, and sensation seeking are related to drug use and deviance because these traits are more likely to influence the primary socialization process at all ages; 3) The psychopathologies that are least likely to interfere with bonding with prosocial socialization sources, the anxieties and most of the affective disorders, are less likely to have comorbidity drug dependence; and 4) Psychopathologies such as oppositional disorder, conduct disorder, attention deficit disorder, and antisocial personality are more likely to interfere with primary socialization, and the literature shows that these syndromes are also most likely to have a dual diagnosis with drug dependency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Alcohol use and academic status among Mexican American and White non-Hispanic adolescents.

In this study, Mexican American and White non-Hispanic school dropouts and students in good academic standing were compared on their use of alcohol. Results indicated that dropouts were at higher risk for alcohol use and misuse. Dropouts were 2.53 times more likely to report frequent alcohol use, 3.16 times more likely to classify themselves as heavy drinkers, and 3.00 times more likely to report frequent drunkenness when compared with their in-school counterparts. Gender, but not ethnicity, was also associated with alcohol use and misuse. The implications regarding greater risk of alcohol use and misuse among dropouts are discussed in terms of prevalence and prevention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Correlations among maternal rejection, dropping out of school, and drug use in adolescents: a pilot study.

Rejection and hostility scores of mothers whose sons had dropped out of school and of mothers whose sons were in good standing academically formed non-overlapping distributions. All mothers of drop-outs had higher hostility and rejection scores than mothers whose sons were doing well academically. Scores of mothers whose sons were still in school, but who were experiencing academic problems, fell midway between these two groups and were significantly different from both. Maternal rejection and hostility also correlated significantly with drug use. Possible causal linkages among these phenomena and clinical and preventive implications were discussed briefly.

Achievement↗
PubMed1996

The expression of anger and its consequences.

Cluster analysis, using TRYSYS key cluster variable analyses, on 59 anger expression items replicated Spielberger's Anger-In and Anger-Control dimensions and revealed seven additional forms of anger expression: Noisy Arguing, Verbal Assault, Physical Assault-People, Physical Assault-Objects, Reciprocal Communication, Time Out, and Direct Expression. Aggressive dimensions (Noisy Arguing, Verbal Assault, Physical Assault-People and -Objects) correlated positively with each other and with trait anger and negatively with non-aggressive forms of expression (Control, Reciprocal Communication, and Time Out). The latter were positively correlated with each other and negatively with trait anger. Forms of expression correlated logically with the frequency of eight types of anger consequences, and there was evidence of distinct relationships between anger expression and anger consequences; e.g. Physical Assault-People correlated most with frequency of physical altercations, and Noisy Arguing and Verbal Assault with the frequency of verbal fights. Males were more likely to utilize aggressive forms of expression and to suffer consequences involving physical and verbal fights and property damage. Results are discussed in terms of convergent and discriminant validity, and in terms of their implications for assessment, treatment, and future research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Development of a driving anger scale.

A cluster analysis of responses from more than 1500 college students to 53 potentially angering driving-related situations yielded a 33-item driving anger scale (alpha reliability = .90) with six reliable subscales involving hostile gestures, illegal driving, police presence, slow driving, discourtesy, and traffic obstructions. Subscales all correlated positively, suggesting a general dimension of driving anger as well as anger related to specific driving-related situations. Men were more angered by police presence and slow driving whereas women were more angered by illegal behavior and traffic obstructions, but differences compensated so there were no gender differences on total score. A 14-item short form (alpha reliability = .80) was developed from scores more highly correlated (r = .95) with scores on the long form. Driving anger may have potential value for research on accident prevention and health psychology.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1987

The effects of information, behavioral rehearsal, and prompting on breast self-exams.

This study evaluated the efficacy of three approaches to increasing breast self-exam frequency in college-aged women. Program components included (1) an educational format which provided information on breast cancer and breast self-examinations, (2) a demonstration format where examinations were demonstrated and practiced, and (3) a prompt format where subjects received monthly reminders to self-examine. Components were completely crossed in a factorial design with four assessment periods (pretreatment and 1, 3, and 6 months posttreatment). The results showed that the examination frequency increased over time and was significantly higher in the prompt conditions. Information and demonstration programs did not increase the exam frequency. The frequency also increased in the control group, suggesting that assessments may have also prompted the behavior. Implications of the results are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Life stress and chronic yeast infections.

This study investigated the relationships of positive and negative life change to yeast infections in women having a gynecological examination at a university health center. Subjects completed the Life Experiences Survey and a questionnaire about experiences with yeast infections and received, as a routine part of their visitation of the gynecology service, a standard gynecological examination, including a laboratory test for yeast infections. Positive life change was unrelated to any of the variables regarding yeast infections and was only minimally correlated with negative life change. Negative life change, while not related to the presence of current yeast infections, was positively correlated with the reported number of yeast infections during the past year, concern about these infections, and a number of physician visits for yeast infections. Negative life change was also negatively correlated with grade point average. Neither antibiotics nor contraceptive pill use interacted with negative life change to influence experiences with yeast infections.

Adolescent↗