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Biomedical subjects

J S Levin

Publications and source records attributed to J S Levin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Age differences in mystical experience.

Age differences are examined in reports of deja vu, ESP, clairvoyance, spiritualism, and numinous experience. According to the 1988 General Social Survey (N = 1481), these mystical experiences are somewhat more common now than in 1973, and deja vu, clairvoyance, and a composite mysticism score have increased with successively younger age cohorts. Further, private and subjective religiosity are positively related to overall mystical experience, while organizational religiosity is inversely related.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Immediate internal fixation of low-velocity gunshot-related femoral fractures.

Fractures caused by gunshots are increasingly common in urban hospitals and trauma centers. The rising incidence and complexity of these injuries present difficult management problems and health care burdens. In a 3-year period, from 1989 through 1991, 21 patients with femoral shaft fractures from low-velocity bullets were treated with intramedullary fixation within 15 hours of admission. Eighteen patients were available for follow-up. The fractures had healed in all patients. Average hospitalization for an isolated injury was 7 days. There were no complications related to immediate internal fixation. Immediate internal fixation of femoral shaft fractures caused by low-velocity gunshots can be performed in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Prayer and health during pregnancy: findings from the Galveston Low Birthweight Survey.

In this study we examined the relationship between praying for one's baby during pregnancy and self-ratings of health. Data were collected from a biethnic (black and Hispanic) sample of postpartum mothers in Galveston, Tex, from 1986 to 1987. This sample is representative of the annual biethnic population of live births in Galveston. Subjective health was assessed for the periods both before and during pregnancy with self-ratings of global or overall health, worry over health, and functional health or lack of disability. Analyses controlled for the effects of the mother's age, marital status, gravidity, education, and self-rated religiosity. Findings revealed that all three prepregnancy health measures were associated with prayer. Subjectively unhealthier mothers prayed more for their baby during pregnancy regardless of their perceived health during pregnancy, and subjectively healthier mothers prayed less for their baby regardless of their self-reported religiosity. Additional analyses revealed that the effect of poor health on the frequency of prayer was not simply an outcome of the mother's worry over her own health.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Antecedents and dimensions of religious involvement among older black adults.

This study proposed and tested a measurement model of religiosity among a sample of older (55 years of age and above) Black Americans. This model incorporates three correlated dimensions of religious involvement, termed organizational, nonorganizational, and subjective religiosity. Findings indicate that the proposed model provides a good fit to the data, is preferable to other alternative models, and exhibits convergent validity with respect to exogenous or antecedent variables (age, gender, marital status, income, education, urbanicity, and region) known to predict religious involvement. In addition, these antecedents exhibit stronger effects on subjective religiosity than on the two more behavioral dimensions of religiosity. Interpretation of these status-group differences in religiosity focuses on socialization experiences and social environment factors which may promote a religious world-view.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1992

Ethnic differences in patient requests for pregnancy testing.

This study identifies a black-white difference in pregnancy test requests and in factors predicting such requests among 324 women tested at an academic family practice in 1986. Data were obtained from encounter sheets filled out by clinicians at the time tests were ordered. Analysis of variance revealed that blacks requested fewer pregnancy tests than whites, and that this finding remained significant (P less than .01) after controlling for the effects of gestational status and other clinical and sociodemographic factors. Blacks were less likely to be married or possess health insurance, but more likely to have been pregnant before. Logistic regressions indicated that factors predicting test requests differed by ethnicity, with symptoms and age predicting test requests among whites, and pregnancy the only significant predictor among blacks. Explanations consistent with these findings include possible ethnic differences in reactions to symptoms and economic factors. Further refinement of these hypotheses and consideration of other alternatives will advance understanding of ethnicity as a factor in test-requesting behavior, and enable clinicians to communicate with and care for black women more effectively.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1991

The factor structure of the pregnancy anxiety scale.

This paper presents a measurement model of a ten-item scale of maternal anxiety during pregnancy. Using confirmatory factor analysis, its reliability and validity are examined in a hospital sample of mothers (N = 266) surveyed postpartum in Galveston, Texas. According to several indices of overall fit as well as individual parameter estimates, a latent internal structure of three interrelated dimensions is confirmed for the scale items. These first-order constructs are anxiety about being pregnant, childbirth, and hospitalization. This model exhibits a considerably better fit than both a no-factors model and a model in which the dimensions are uncorrelated. Finally, several exogenous constructs expected to be associated with pregnancy anxiety--age, marital status, and worry over health--exert significant effects on dimensions of the model or on a second-order factor.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1991

Triethnic differences in pregnancy outcomes: findings from the GLOWBS study.

Findings are presented from the Galveston Low Birthweight Survey (GLOWBS), conducted at The University of Texas Medical Branch from 1986 through 1987. One full year of delivery logbook data were abstracted on all live, single births (N = 3904) to Anglo (n = 2114), black (n = 902), and Hispanic (n = 888) mothers. Analyses include triethnic comparisons of pregnancy outcomes and maternal characteristics through analysis of variance and both crude and adjusted logistic regression for deleterious pregnancy outcomes in blacks relative to non-blacks. The most striking finding is a consistent black disadvantage that withstands controlling for parity, age, and marital status. Blacks have a significantly lower mean birthweight, shorter mean gestation, lower 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores, and a higher incidence of both low birthweight (RR = 1.89) and prematurity (RR = 1.57) than either Anglos or Hispanics, between whom no differences are found.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Laboratory differences in cervical cytology.

This prospective study was designed to determine if there is a difference in reporting endocervical cells in Papanicolaou smears among laboratories used by an urban, academic family practice. A review of the literature found no studies comparing Papanicolaou smear results among laboratories with respect to the presence of endocervical cells. In this study, three laboratories evaluated a total of 140 Papanicolaou smears from women aged 16 to 83 (mean = 33.8) for endocervical cells. The presence of endocervical cells was reported for 88 smears (62.9%) ranging from 42/83 (50.6%) to 21/23 (91.3%) among laboratories. Results of an analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference in the frequency of reporting endocervical cells (p less than .001) among the laboratories. Analysis of covariance controlling for effects of several factors known to influence the outcome of Papanicolaou smears (age, days since last menstrual period, method used to obtain smear, and experience of clinician obtaining smear) failed to explain this difference.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Is religion therapeutically significant for hypertension?

Epidemiologic studies of the effects of religion on blood pressure suggest that religious commitment is inversely associated with blood pressure and that several religious denominations or groups have relatively low rates of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality. In this review, we examine the implication that certain characteristics and functions of religion account for this association, and we posit 12 possible explanations for this finding. We propose that a salutary effect of religion on blood pressure can be explained by some combination of the following correlates or sequelae of religion: the promotion of health-related behavior; hereditary predispositions in particular groups; the healthful psychosocial effects of religious practice; and, the beneficial psychodynamics of belief systems, religious rites, and faith. Since past epidemiologic studies may have been methodologically limited or flawed, possible explanations for the findings of these studies also include epistemological confusion, measurement problems, and analytical errors. Finally, for the sake of completeness, two more speculative hypotheses are identified: superempirical and supernatural influences or pathways.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1989

Dimensions of the OARS mental health measures.

A measurement model of mental health for the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) questionnaire is described. Using confirmatory factor analysis on noninstitutionalized elderly from Cleveland (N = 1834) and Virginia (N = 2146), the 21 OARS mental health items were fit to a 15-item model. In addition to the second-order construct of mental health, there were four first-order dimensions: life satisfaction, psychosomatic symptomatology, alienation, and cognitive deficit. Analyses were further replicated by splitting both samples in half. The model fit well and compared favorably to other alternative specifications. In addition to this analysis of internal structure, the model was also examined in relation to several exogenous factors including age, sex, race, education, and physical health. While the model again fit well, a model with cognitive deficit separate from the other factors seemed more reasonable.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

What does gerontology mean?

Despite growth in the field of gerontological research over the past 50 years, no consensus has emerged on either the definition of gerontology or on its scope and boundaries. This confusion is rooted historically in developments involving the origins and adoption of the term. These include the divergent agendas and world views of particular disciplines and gerontological institutions, as well as conflicts over both ideology and turf among major gerontologists. Speculation is offered on the potential, as well as the costs, of developing consensus-in the future.

Geriatrics↗
PubMed1989

Exploring the persistent black risk of low birthweight: findings from the GLOWBS Study.

Results are presented from the Galveston Low Birthweight Survey (GLOWBS) Study, a tri-ethnic survey (N = 1,179) of live, single births, conducted in Galveston, Texas, from 1986 to 1987. Four principal findings emerged pointing to a persistent black risk for low birthweight (less than 2,500g). First, black infants (2,997g) have significantly lower mean birthweight than either Anglos (3,281g) or Hispanics (3,270g). Second, blacks are at significantly higher risk of low birthweight than nonblacks (risk ratio = 1.71). Third, despite controlling for a variety of pregnancy- and health-related, psychosocial, socioeconomic, and health services factors (including even gestational length), being black still exerts a significant, inverse effect on birthweight (beta = -0.137). Fourth, of the above factors only gestational length (R2 = 0.39) accounts for more than a negligible amount of the total variance in birthweight among blacks. These findings are discussed, and several lines of follow-up research are proposed.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1988

Is there a religious factor in health care utilization?: A review.

This paper reviews more than 30 studies of health care utilization in which the effects of religion variables are examined, an area previously unreviewed. The authors found that over three-quarters of these studies reported significant religious differences in rates of utilization. The most common operationalization of religion was religious affiliation (typically Protestant vs Catholic vs Jewish), although the effects of religious attendance and religiosity were occasionally examined. Most major areas of health care use are represented in this literature, including psychiatric care, maternal and child health services, dental care, and physician and hospital utilization. Despite the preponderance of significant findings, it is difficult to isolate any consistent trends, although low-order analyses seem to suggest that Jews are higher utilizers than non-Jews. New findings presented from a study in Appalachia were inconclusive. The authors discuss the conceptual limitations inherent in ways in which health services researchers typically investigate the effects of religion. Drawing on recent work in the epidemiology of religion, several recommendations are offered regarding the prospect of future research in this area.

Appalachian Region↗
PubMed1987

Is frequent religious attendance really conducive to better health? Toward an epidemiology of religion.

Although hundreds of published studies have addressed the effects of religion on morbidity and mortality, many investigators may be unaware of this literature. This paper begins with an analysis of an important subset of these studies--those 27 which operationalize 'religiosity' as religious attendance--and which, taken as a whole, point to a consistent salutary effect for frequent attendance. Upon identifying several pervasive epistemological, methodological, and analytical problems with these studies, however, this paper shows that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that religious attendance is positively and significantly related to health. Nevertheless, the authors present a theoretical basis for expecting such associations. This framework is included in a brief primer on religion for epidemiologists and other sociomedical scientists interested in exploring the health-related effects of religious factors. Finally, a possible scenario for the development of an epidemiology of religion is discussed.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1986

'New age' healing in the U.S.

This paper provides a conceptual overview of the 'New Age' phenomenon and of 'New age healing,' concepts which have gone virtually unaddressed in social science research, health-related or otherwise. First, drawing upon diverse sources, the authors attempt to define 'New age,' after which they discuss those medical, spiritual, and sociocultural developments which help account for the rise of new age healing in the U.S. Next, a comprehensive review of over a dozen schemata of healing, healers, and medical systems fails to provide a satisfactory classification of new age healing. Finally, by analyzing data derived from primary and secondary source materials on 81 healing systems or techniques identifying themselves with the new age, a typology of new age healing itself is inductively generated. Three general modes are found: mental or physical self-betterment, esoteric teachings, and contemplative practice. These types of new age healing place primary emphasis, respectively, on body, mind and soul.

Complementary Therapies↗