Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Behaviorism”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 937 records · Page 52Linked to original sources

An analysis of health behavior theories applied to breast-screening behavior for relevance with American Indian women.

This article reviews studies of the efficacy of breast-screening interventions and their related theories that have had a positive effect in influencing women to use mammography and assesses the potential of various behavioral models for use with American Indian women. The study involved a search of literature in nursing and other health fields. Both community and practice-based interventions have incorporated elements of various theoretical models. Because of its adaptability, the modified health behavior model appears most relevant for designing interventions to encourage mammography use among American Indian women.

Breast Neoplasms↗

The relationship between radon knowledge, concern and behavior, and health values, health locus of control and preventive health behaviors.

Understanding similarities between health-related and radon-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors may suggest application of effective strategies of radon-related education in targeted populations. A mail survey was returned by 300 randomly selected homeowners in a community at risk for high home radon concentrations (50% response). While 64% were concerned, only 7% tested their homes. The expected association between radon knowledge, radon concern, and information-seeking was identified. In addition, those who tested their homes had greater knowledge and did more information seeking. Health values and radon concern were only weakly related. Environmental concern explained the greatest variance in radon concern (10%). Internal health locus of controls were more likely to have high radon concern. Of the preventive health behaviors, not smoking and seat belt use were the best predictors of variance in radon concern (5%). Segmenting the population is suggested for best educational outcome. Relating information to environmental issues may be helpful. Health-conscious people may need awareness of risks. Issues of self-control and radon testing and reduction may be helpful for some. Synergy between smoke and radon, compounded by smokers lack of concern suggests targeting smokers for education efforts.

Environmental Exposure↗

[Abnormal behavior induced by thiamine deficiency in rats: muricide and its behavioral and pharmacological characteristics].

When rats were maintained on a thiamine-deficient diet for 30 days, about 70% of the animals showed a mouse-killing response (muricide). The thiamine-deficient killer-rats do not eat but merely killed the mice. Once this abnormal behavior appeared, the response remained, and could not be suppressed by the administration of thiamine hydrochloride plus thiamine-supplemented diet, regardless of a return to normal feeding, growth and heart rate. Drugs that activate the central serotonergic and noradrenergic systems have suppressive effects on it. Conversely, among the various depletions of brain monoamines, only depletion of serotonin by the drug p-chlorophenylalanine significantly increased the incidence of muricide. Antihistaminergic drugs were potently effective, but atropine, an anticholinergic drug, were ineffective. Various antidepressants and electroconvulsive shock treatment also suppressed muricide to various degrees. Thus, it is expected that the muricide induced by thiamine deficiency may be useful as an animal model of depression, although the usefulness of this abnormal behavior as a working model of depression or for screening new antidepressants remains to be evaluated.

Aggression↗

Assessment of home-based behavior modification programs for autistic children: reliability and validity of the behavioral summarized evaluation.

Since the publication of Lovaas' (1987) impressive findings, there has been a proliferation of home-based behavior modification programs for autistic children. Parents and other paraprofessionals often play key roles in the implementation and monitoring of these programs. The Behavioral Summarized Evaluation (BSE) was developed for professionals and paraprofessionals to use in assessing the severity of autistic symptoms over the course of treatment. This paper examined the psychometric properties of the BSE (inter-item consistency, factorial composition, convergent validity, and sensitivity to parents' perceptions of symptom change over time) when used by parents of autistic youngsters undergoing home-based intervention. Recommendations for future research are presented.

Autistic Disorder↗

Self-injurious behavior and Prader-Willi syndrome: behavioral forms and body locations.

With few exceptions (e.g., Lesch-Nyhan syndrome), the specific nature of self-injury in relation to identified genetic syndromes associated with mental retardation is poorly understood. In the present study we surveyed the families of 62 persons with Prader-Willi syndrome to determine the prevalence, topographies, and specific body locations of self-injurious behavior. Self-injury was reported for 81% of the participants. Skin-picking was the most prevalent form, with the front of the legs and head being disproportionately targeted as preferred self-injury body sites. Individuals with the 15q11-q13 deletion injured significantly more body sites than did individuals with maternal disomy 15. Results are discussed in relation to previous self-injury body site findings and implications for the relevance of syndrome-specific behavioral phenotypes.

Adolescent↗

Involvement of GABAergic neurotransmission in the neurobiology of the apomorphine-induced aggressive behavior paradigm, a model of psychotic behavior in rats.

The effect of treatment with the acute GABAA receptor agonist THIP and the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen on apomorphine-induced aggressive behavior was studied in adult male Wistar rats. Both THIP (10 mg/kg i.p.) and baclofen (8 mg/kg i.p.) attenuated the aggressiveness, thereby indicating the involvement of GABAergic neurotransmission in the mediation of apomorphine-induced aggressiveness. On the basis of our data it can be proposed that both GABAA and GABAB receptor subtypes are involved in the neurobiology of apomorphine-induced aggressive behavior, as this phenomenon is evidently subject to the general inhibitory effect of GABAergic neurotransmission.

Aggression↗

Relationship between subjective expected utility and behavior: a longitudinal study of adolescent drinking behavior.

The relationship between subjective expected utility (SEU) and the use of beer and distilled spirits by adolescents is examined. A panel design with 1339 subjects who began the study as seventh graders indicated that there were reciprocal relationships between SEU and behavior. It is concluded that SEU should be considered when attempts are made to explain adolescent drinking behavior.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of sexual problems and related help-seeking behaviors among mature adults in Brazil: data from the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Relatively little is known about the usual frequency of sexual activity and how older individuals cope with sexual problems. The objective was to study sexual activity, prevalence of sexual problems and related help-seeking behaviors among middle-aged and older men and women in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population survey, by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. METHODS: Interviews were held with 1,199 Brazilians aged 40-80 years (471 men and 728 women). The standardized questionnaire investigated demographics, general health, sexual behavior, attitudes and beliefs. RESULTS: Overall, 92.6% of men and 58.3% of women had had sexual intercourse during the preceding year. More than half of the men and women had done so more than once a week. Early ejaculation (30.3%) was the commonest male sexual problem, followed by inability to reach orgasm (14.0%), erectile difficulties (13.1%) and lack of sexual interest (11.2%). For women, the commonest sexual problems were lubrication difficulties (23.4%) and lack of sexual interest (22.7%). Depression was a significant correlate of sexual problems, for men and women. More women than men had sought help for sexual problem(s) from a healthcare professional. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of encouraging greater use of available healthcare services, including consultation with a medical doctor regarding sexual health. This should not only enable men and women to maintain satisfactory sexual function well into their later years, but may also result in overall improvement in the quality of healthcare.

Adult↗

Getting a high response rate of sexual behavior survey among the general population in Japan: three different methods of survey on sexual behavior.

The purpose of this study was to specify the most accurate, reliable and valid technique for a general sexual behavioral survey in Japan. This pilot study was conducted to assure a high response rate and to keep respondents' privacy confidential by using an anonymous questionnaire survey technique. The sample (360 potential respondents) was selected randomly from basic resident registers in two geographically different areas. From the registries, 90 residents, aged 20 to 49 years old, were randomly selected to represent each sex from each area. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups each having a different procedure of requesting the completion of the survey and providing the questionnaires: (1) Postal Group, (2) Telephone Group, and (3) Face-to-face Group. The survey was carried out from October 1995 to February 1996. Effective response rates for the above mentioned three groups were 69.2%, 69.2% and 55.8%, respectively. It is difficult to determine the best method when only considering the effective response rates. However, judging from our effort and expense, the mail survey is the best possible procedure and would be a reasonable method for a national sexual behavior survey.

Confidentiality↗

The relationship of personality and behavioral development from adolescence to young adulthood and subsequent parenting behavior.

The purpose of the study was to examine the association of parental personality, behavior, and substance use during adolescence and adulthood as related to the later parent-offspring relationship. The sample consisted of 297 parents (M age 32 yr.), who were first interviewed at earlier points in their lives in childhood and early adolescence at six points in time, extending from 1983 to 2002. Multiple regression models showed that parents with certain earlier personality and behavioral attributes, e.g., more rebelliousness and more frequent tobacco use, had a more difficult relationship with their children. Findings indicated an association between the cumulative number of psychosocial risk factors in the parents and difficulties in the parent-child relationship. The findings suggested that interventions designed to decrease youths' substance abuse may increase the likelihood that later when they are parents they will form nurturing relationships with their children.

Adolescent↗

[A measurement scale for the Type A behavior pattern in women: the development of the Everyday Behavior Questionnaire].

A new 23-item scale, the Everyday Behavior Questionnaire (EDBQ) was developed to assess the Type A behavior pattern in women. Nurses (N = 139) in an university hospital participated in the validation study. Factor analysis of the 23 items revealed a four-factor structure. The four factors were anger/impatience, competitiveness/hard-driving, speed, and eagerness/interest. Internal consistency reliability estimates of four factors were adequate. Concurrent validity assessed by the relationship between the EDBQ and the Jenkins Activity Survey was significantly high. The four-factor structure and the relationship between the factors and psychological/physical symptoms adequately demonstrated Type A characteristics, as well as the uniqueness of the new questionnaire. These results suggested that the construct validity was in the desired direction. Further reliability and validity researches with the EDBQ in various samples were suggested.

Adult↗

[Psychological stress and sexual behavior in male rats. I. Sexual behavior in rats undergoing psychological or physical stress].

The relationship between sexual behavior and long-term stress in male Wistar rats was investigated. Rats were divided into two groups, one of which exposed to electrical foot shock for 1 hour a day for 10 weeks to create physical stress. The other group was exposed to the rats receiving shock to create psychological stress. Rats in both groups were placed in a compartment with a floor grid from which the foot shock might be derived. Rats in the psychological stress group were prevented from receiving foot shock by a plastic plate placed on the floor, but they were exposed to the response of the rats receiving foot shock. Sexual behavior tests were done 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after starting the induction of stress. Rats in the physical stress group increased their sexual activity with exposure to long-term physical stress. On the other hand, rats in the psychological stress group temporarily increased their sexual activity, but then their sexual activity gradually decreased. Our experimental results suggest that long-term psychological stress reduces the sexual activity of male rats.

Animals↗

Hispanics and cancer preventive behavior: the development of a behavioral model and its policy implications.

This paper presents the theoretical development of a model that predicts the conditions under which Hispanics will seek preventive health care. Research trends, however, show that Hispanics tend to delay preventive care, resulting in higher morbidity and mortality rates for serious diseases such as cancer. Since many serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer can be prevented or treated more effectively if detected early, it is crucial to understand the motivating forces behind Hispanics' preventive health behavior. The Hispanic model, which is an extension of the Health Behavior in Cancer Prevention Model developed by Atwood (1986), includes as core variables environmental barriers to access and English language proficiency, as well as social support, health beliefs, self-efficacy, or perceived skill, health locus of control, and health values. The practical health policy applications of the model are also discussed.

Attitude to Health↗

Corticosteroid actions from neuronal membrane to behavior: neurophysiological mechanisms underlying rapid behavioral effects of corticosterone.

Investigation of the rapid suppression of male courtship clasping behavior by corticosterone in roughskin newts (Taricha granulosa) has led to the identification of a specific neuronal membrane receptor for this stress steroid. This paper describes studies of the neurophysiological effects of the rapid, membrane receptor mediated action of corticosterone on neurons that are involved in the control of clasping. In freely behaving newts, medullary neurons, including reticulospinal neurons, process clasp-triggering sensory signals and participate in control of clasping movements. Corticosterone injection causes these brainstem neurons to show selective depression of clasping-related sensorimotor function. These corticosterone effects appear in 3-10 min and are closely associated with the simultaneous depression of clasping. In addition to these functionally specific effects, corticosterone simultaneously causes widespread, primarily depressive effects on neuronal activity and excitability in the medulla and elsewhere in the brain. Thus, the membrane actions of corticosterone lead to diverse neural effects, including changes in membrane excitability as well as specific, network-level actions that are apparent only during behavior. These rapid corticosterone effects strongly interact with actions of the neuropeptides vasotocin and corticotropin-releasing factor, such that the form and magnitude of the steroid's effects depend on the prevailing neuroendocrine state of the brain.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Altered amygdalar CRF release and increased anxiety-like behavior in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats: a microdialysis and behavioral study.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the stress-regulatory corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) may be a factor in genetically determined alcohol preference. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, basal and restraint stress-induced CRF efflux in the CeA was determined by microdialysis in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and nonpreferring (sNP) rats. In addition, differences in anxiety-like behavior between sP and sNP rats were evaluated by using the elevated plus maze and conditioned defensive burying tests. RESULTS: Basal dialysate CRF levels in the CeA were elevated in the alcohol-preferring line (sP, 281.2+/-83.96 pg/ml; sNP, 70.2+/-16.76 pg/ml; p < 0.05). In contrast, no differences in whole-tissue CRF content in the CeA were observed (sP, 1143+/-142 ng/mg protein; sNP, 1181+/-139 ng/mg protein). Restraint stress elevated CRF dialysate concentrations in both sP and sNP rats. Rats of the sP line exhibited more anxiety-like behavior than sNP rats in the elevated plus maze but not in the conditioned defensive burying test. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ethanol-preferring sP rats show a dysregulation in basal CRF release within the CeA that may, in turn, heighten ethanol intake and increase susceptibility to anxiogenic stimuli in these animals.

Alcoholism↗

Assessing behavioral health using OASIS: part 2: cognitive impairment, problematic behaviors, and anxiety.

This article is the second of a two-part series on assessing behavioral health in adult and elderly home care patients using OASIS. Part 1 presented an assessment approach for depressive symptoms and suicidality. This article presents the assessment of cognitive impairment, problematic behaviors, and anxiety using OASIS as a framework and stresses the importance of direct questioning. Case scenarios and guidelines for referral for further evaluation and possible treatment are provided.

Aged↗

Active behavior and 1/f noise in shell-changing behavior of the hermit crabs.

Hermit crabs are known to carry a gastropod shell to prevent abdomen from injuring by predators and cannibalism. One can regard the shell as a boundary between inside and outside worlds for hermit crabs. We conducted an experiment in which hermit crabs without shells deal with artificial tubes. The situation without a shell requires a part of experimental setup to be regarded as inside by each hermit crab. We accept the distance of locomotion as the indication of the estimation process performed by an individual on parts of the experimental setup. As a result, behavioral hierarchy was found with respect to the way of constituting the boundary. At each level of hierarchy, active behavior produced 1/f noise in comparison with the passive one. It suggests that finding 1/f noise at each level of hierarchy may lead to a lower level of hierarchy in another situation.

Animals↗

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in relation to social and behavioral factors (Lithuanian health behavior monitoring).

The aim of the study is to estimate the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Lithuanian adult population and to examine the association of social and health behavior factors with overweight and obesity. Since 1994 five cross-sectional surveys have been conducted among adult population aged 20-64 within the international FINBALT HEALTH MONITOR project. An independent national random sample of 3000 inhabitants of Lithuania was drawn from National Population Register for each survey. The data were collected through mailed questionnaires (covering sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and self-reported height and weight). Overweight was defined as BMI>25 kg/m ( 2 ) and obesity - as BMI>30 kg/m ( 2 ). In 2002 the overall prevalence of obesity was 16% and the prevalence of overweight - 49.1%. Since 1994 both indicators have increased in men while in women the prevalence of overweight has decreased. The prevalence of obesity and overweight increased with age. Obesity and overweight were least prevalent among the highly educated women, but most prevalent among the highly educated men. Women living in cities were less obese and overweight than those living in towns and villages. Obesity and overweight were less prevalent among daily smokers and physically active persons. Women drinking beer at least once a week were less obese and overweight than those who consumed beer more rarely. There was no consistent association between nutrition habits and the prevalence of obesity and overweight. The National obesity control program aimed at promotion of healthy nutrition and physical activity should be elaborated in order to decrease the prevalence of obesity and overweight in Lithuanian population.

Adult↗