Biomedical subjects

Karen Hooker

Publications and source records attributed to Karen Hooker.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Possible selves of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

This study is one of the first to examine self-goals and their relationship to affect among individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using the construct of possible selves, the authors collected data from 50 participants with mild to moderate AD and 50 demographically similar cognitively intact older adults. Findings suggest a resourcefulness and flexibility of the self-system in response to the presence of dementia-related concerns. Positive affect was associated with family-related self-goals of AD participants, indicating particular importance of this domain. Some of these responses may represent goal modifications that result in a more satisfactory adjustment to the illness; further inquiry may lead to a better understanding of resiliency and quality of life in persons with AD.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Factors important to success in the volunteer long-term care ombudsman role.

This study found that the satisfaction of one state's largely older volunteers' altruistic, affiliation, and self-improvement motives corresponded to increased organizational loyalty and better performance across several dimensions. Younger volunteers served for shorter periods and were more highly motivated by the "self-improvement" need. Altruism and organizational loyalty emerged as particularly important motivations.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Personality reconsidered: a new agenda for aging research.

The purpose of this article is to introduce a newly emerging model of personality that integrates structures and processes within a levels-of-analysis framework. This model, labeled the six foci of personality, includes traits, personal action constructs, and life stories as structural components, and it includes states, self-regulation, and self-narration as the parallel process constructs. Conceptual and methodological issues are discussed in relation to this model, and each of the six foci is reviewed for its relevance to personality and aging. It is argued that the model provides a framework so that the research base in each of the six focal areas can be nurtured, solidified, and organized-ultimately contributing to a more integrative, comprehensive understanding of personality and its importance over the life span.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Variability in constraints and functional competence in adults with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Examine intraindividual change in physical and psychological impairments associated with multiple sclerosis and assess the relationship between changes in specific deficits and functional competence in activities of daily living. DESIGN: A multivariate, replicated, single-subject, repeated-measures design was used to examine variability patterns across subjects. Five adults with multiple sclerosis were assessed on leg strength, upright postural control, mood, fatigue, stress, and self-efficacy for 4 mo. Functional competence in three activities of daily living was also evaluated. P-technique factor analyses were performed to examine which variables covaried with time. RESULTS: Analyses revealed covariation among physical and psychological variables for four of the five participants. Across all participants, coefficients of variation revealed greater variability in stress (32.3%-53.4%) and fatigue (23.4%-5.9%) than in any of the physical variables (<20%), and variability in all impairments was greater than variability in the functional tasks (0%-12.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The greater stability in functional performance compared with both physical and psychological constraints provides important insight into symptom management and clinical intervention. The magnitude of variability found in the psychological variables across individuals also has implications concerning psychological adjustment to the disease.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Behavioral change in persons with dementia: relationships with mental and physical health of caregivers.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that changes in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia of persons with Alzheimer's disease have on their caregivers' mental health and physical health. The research design was a prospective, longitudinal follow-up study conducted in a major medical center and in participants' homes. Longitudinal analysis linking change in behavior to caregiver outcomes was based on 64 cases. Care recipients were assessed at the time of diagnosis with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). To provide information on the care recipient's behaviors, caregivers participated in an interview with the Modified Neuropsychiatric Inventory at diagnosis and at follow-up. Caregivers also completed a battery of established instruments to measure stress appraisal, mental health, and perceptions of their physical health at follow-up. Results showed that increases in problem behaviors among persons living with dementia, along with residence status, were significant predictors of caregivers' mental health and also their physical health. However, these relationships were mediated through stress appraisal. Variables such as MMSE score of the person with dementia, number of years caregiving, relationship status, and education level were not significant predictors of caregivers' health when behavior change was in the model.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

The MBTI and social information processing: an incremental validity study.

The ability of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI; Myers & McCaulley, 1985) to predict performance on social cognitive tasks tapping information processing effort was assessed. Judgment and intuition interacted to predict amount of attributional adjustment on a dispositional attribution task. The MBTI scales predicted processing above and beyond measures of the five factors, rational-experiential preferences, and causal uncertainty. The relevance of these results for interpretation of the MBTI indexes is discussed.

Adult↗