Psychometric properties of the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ), a new measure of perceived social support among older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Based on literature and available questionnaires, the present study aimed at creating and validating the Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ): a 4-item scale assessing the perceived social support in older adults. Normative scores were also computed. METHODS: Three hundred and two participants (mean age 87.68) selected from ongoing population-based studies completed a phone interview. Among these, 247 completed a second interview 4 months later allowing assessing the questionnaire fidelity over time. RESULTS: The factor analysis evidenced two dimensions: availability of social support and satisfaction with it. Both dimensions had a satisfactory internal consistency but weak intraclass correlation coefficient. Univariate analyses revealed that age, number of calls per week and living environment marginally associated with the availability score. The satisfaction score was associated with perceived health status, sadness, depressive mood, feeling of loneliness, anxiety, and the perception of social support during the pandemic context. The norms computed were stratified on age. CONCLUSIONS: The PSSQ is a short and easy-to-administer tool allowing assessing perceived social support in older population. Despite a weak fidelity that could actually be explained by changes in perceived social support over time, the questionnaire revealed good psychometric qualities and validity.

Stigma Attached to Smoking Pregnant Women: A Qualitative Insight in the General French Population.

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette consumption during pregnancy has major health consequences for women and unborn children. The stigma of smoking during pregnancy might hinder mothers-to-be's access to adequate healthcare and smoking cessation, especially in disadvantaged groups. This qualitative study was designed to describe extensively the public stigma associated with smoking during pregnancy. AIMS AND METHODS: Participants were French adults recruited from the general population through social networks (N = 100). They were asked to answer three pairs of open-ended questions regarding cognitions, emotions, and behaviors elicited in the general population by pregnant smoking women. An inductive thematic analysis was performed and interjudge agreement was computed on 30% of the corpus analyzed deductively. Finally, independence (chi-square) between themes and gender, education, parenthood, and smoking status was tested. RESULTS: Themes (n = 25) were defined regarding cognitions (n = 9, eg, irresponsible, thoughtless, and unmindful), emotions (n = 8, eg, anger and disgust), and behaviors, (n = 8, eg, inform and persuade, and moralize and blame). Global interjudge agreement was strong (κ = .8). No difference was observed in themes according to gender, parental status, or education, indicating a heterogenous awareness of stigma. However, some differences were observed according to smoking status (χ 2 = 69.59, p = .02) (eg, nonsmokers more frequently stressed immorality). CONCLUSIONS: The stigma associated with smoking during pregnancy includes various components that might be measured and targeted in interventions to improve access to adequate healthcare and smoking cessation in this specific population. IMPLICATIONS: This qualitative study explores the stigma that the general French population attaches to pregnant women who smoke. Themes regarding cognitions (eg, irresponsible, thoughtless, and unmindful), emotions (eg, anger and disgust), and behaviors (eg, inform and persuade, and moralize and blame) were identified. These themes could guide further research regarding scale development and antistigma interventions to support smoking cessation.

The Pregnant Smoker Stigma Scale - Public Stigma (P3S-PS): development and validation in general French population.

While pregnancy smoking stigma is widely acknowledged, no psychometrically sound tool to measure it exists. This study was designed to build the Pregnant Smoker Stigma Scale - Public Stigma (P3S-PS) for assessing the stigma of pregnancy smoking in the general French population. A total of 342 adults were recruited online to take the P3S-PS and some items (condemnation/rejection, and support for punitive actions) from other scales. Exploratory factor analysis was performed. Measurement invariance was tested according to gender and smoking status. Temporal reliability was checked after two weeks (n = 72). The P3S-PS has 26 items and four dimensions: "derogatory cognitions," "negative emotions and behaviors," "personal distress," and "information provision." All dimensions were correlated (r = .36 to .75) and have good internal consistency (α.>.70), temporal reliability (ICC>.75), and measurement invariance. Validity is exhibited through the P3S-PS's association with condemnation and rejection (r = .32 to .53), support for punitive actions (r = .35 to .65), and presence of pregnant smokers in the close circle (r = -.23 to -.40). The P3S-PS is a promising tool that exhibits good psychometric qualities. This scale will be useful to trigger research regarding the stigma of smoking while pregnant.

Living in rural area: A protective factor for a negative experience of the lockdown and the COVID-19 crisis in the oldest old population?

OBJECTIVES: Some factors influence the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic (health, loneliness, digital access...), but what about the living area? The objective was to compare between rural and urban areas, the psychological and social experiences of the older individuals with regard to the COVID-19 crisis during the first French lockdown. METHODS: The sample included participants of three existing population-based cohorts on aging. Telephone interviews conducted by psychologists focused on the lockdown period. Data collected included living environment, professional assistance, social support, contacts with relatives, difficulties encountered, health, and knowledge and representations of the epidemic. The negative experience was defined by the presence of at least two of the following items: high anxiety symptomatology, depressive symptoms, worries or difficulties during the lockdown and insufficient social support. RESULTS: The sample included 467 participants, aged on average 87.5 years (5.2), 58.9% were female and 47.1% lived in rural areas. Persons living in rural area had better social support, greater family presence, a less frequent feeling of imprisonment (OR = 0.60, 95 CI% = 0.36-0.99), 95% had a garden (vs. 56%), fewer depressive symptoms and lower anxiety scores, but also tended to lower comply with the health measures. Finally, they had an almost twofold lower risk of having a negative experience of the lockdown compared to their urban counterparts (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33-0.92, p = 0.0223). CONCLUSIONS: The oldest old living in rural area experienced the first lockdown better than the urbans. Living conditions, with access to nature, a greater social support and family presence, could have contributed to these findings.

A Subjective Quality of Life Proxy for Older Adults in the PAQUID Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Quality of life is regarded as a major outcome in epidemiologic research, especially in the older population. Nevertheless, some cohort studies lack a specific instrument to evaluate it. The aim of this study was to propose a subjective quality of life proxy using easily accessible items, available in most epidemiologic studies. METHOD: We used data from the PAQUID (Personnes Agées Quid) cohort study (1991-1992, France). A subjective quality of life proxy was created based on items on positive affects, subjective health, and life satisfaction. Logistic and linear regression models as well as Cox survival models were used to assess the association between the proxy score and depression, dependence, cognitive complaints, adverse life events, comorbidities, and death. Analyses were replicated in an independent cohort study, AMI (Approche Multidisciplinaire intégrée; 2007-2008, France). All models were adjusted for age, sex, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and place of residence. RESULTS: In the PAQUID sample (n = 2135), we found significant associations between the proxy score and the selected health outcomes. We found the same associations in the AMI cohort. CONCLUSION: This proxy might be useful when no gold standard for quality of life assessment is available or when in need of a short but reliable instrument that will not require extended administration time.

Development and validation of the Work Stressor Inventory for Nurses in Oncology: preliminary findings.

AIM: This study is a report of the development and testing of the Work Stressor Inventory for Nurses in Oncology. BACKGROUND: Stressors in oncology nursing are generally assessed using generic stress scales like the Nursing Stress Scale or the Health Professions Stress Inventory. However, qualitative investigations have highlighted the specific nature of the stress to which nurses are exposed. DESIGN: The Work Stressor Inventory for Nurses in Oncology was developed using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. METHOD: For the item generation phase, a semi-structured interview was conducted with 59 nurses working in oncology units during 2007. A total of 51 work-related items were retained for the final survey. A convenience sample of 582 nurses working in oncology completed the survey between January 2008-June 2008. They also completed the General Health Questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The Work Stressor Inventory for Nurses in Oncology was further tested for theoretically supported constructs, internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity. FINDINGS: The exploratory results revealed five factors: workload, dealing with death and dying, dealing with suffering, interpersonal conflicts, dealing with patients and relatives. The internal consistency of the five subscales was satisfactory. Correlation patterns between the Work Stressor Inventory for Nurses in Oncology dimensions and both mental health and burnout variables support the criterion-related validity of the scale. CONCLUSION: Future quantitative or qualitative studies using this scale could add knowledge about the experiences of emotional and organizational stressors related to this area of nursing.

The stigma of smoking among women: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Smoking stigma has been well documented, but little is known regarding its specific features and effects on women. Notably, women face unique social, cultural, and economic challenges that may interact with smoking stigma and impact health outcomes. This review investigates the extent to which smoking women encounter and internalise stigma, while examining the various coping mechanisms they employ to manage these negative experiences. METHODS: In November 2022, major databases were systematically searched with no time restrictions. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 23 studies (three quantitative and 20 qualitative) met our criteria. We conducted a quality assessment and summarised the findings pertaining to public stigma, self-stigma, and coping strategies. RESULTS: The stigma about smoking emerges from a variety of sources, such as family, healthcare providers, or internet forums. Women smokers are universally aware of the negative image they have in society. Yet, their experiences and management of the stigma of smoking are shaped by other variables such as cultural background, social class, or motherhood status. Smoking stigma produces ambivalent effects, such as concealment, reduced usage of support services, and to a lesser extent, smoking cessation motivation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that smoking stigma is an important social justice and public health issue and that further research is needed to better prevent its effects on women's well-being and health behaviours.

Health and aging in elderly farmers: the AMI cohort.

BACKGROUND: The health of the agricultural population has been previously explored, particularly in relation to the farming exposures and among professionally active individuals. However, few studies specifically focused on health and aging among elders retired from agriculture. Yet, this population faces the long-term effects of occupational exposures and multiple difficulties related to living and aging in rural area (limited access to shops, services, and practitioners). However, these difficulties may be counter-balanced by advantages related to healthier lifestyle, richer social support and better living environment. The general aim of the AMI cohort was to study health and aging in elderly farmers living in rural area through a multidisciplinary approach, with a main focus on dementia. METHODS/DESIGN: The study initially included 1 002 participants, randomly selected from the Farmer Health Insurance rolls. Selection criteria were: being 65 years and older; living in rural area in Gironde (South-Western France); being retired from agriculture after at least 20 years of activity and being affiliated to the Health Insurance under own name. The study started in 2007, with two follow-up visits over 5 years. Baseline visits were conducted at home by a neuropsychologist then by a geriatrician for all cases suspected of dementia, Parkinson's disease and depression (to confirm the diagnosis), and by a nurse for others. A large panel of data were collected through standardised questionnaires: complete neuropsychological assessment, material and social living environment, psychological transition to retirement, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol and diet), medications, disability in daily living, sensory impairments and some clinical measures (blood pressure, depression symptomatology, anxiety, visual test, anthropometry...). A blood sampling was performed with biological measurements and constitution of a biological bank, including DNA. Brain MRI were also performed on 316 of the participants. Finally, the three-year data on health-related reimbursements were extracted from the Health System database (medications, medical and paramedical consultations, biological examinations and medical devices), and the registered Long-Term Diseases (30 chronic diseases 100% covered by the Insurance System). DISCUSSION: AMI is the first French longitudinal study on health and aging set up in a population of elderly farmers living in rural area through a multidisciplinary approach.

Patients' experience one year after dialysis initiation: a lexicometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis implies huge changes in patients' lives. Yet, there is a need to better understand patients' experience in the time following dialysis initiation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate patients' experience of dialysis a year after treatment initiation and the associations between patients' discourse and their anxiety and depression symptoms. METHODS: Twenty two patients (mean age 63.4; 68% men) took part in a semi-directed interview about their experience with dialysis. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Interviews were analyzed using a lexicometric analysis. RESULTS: The analysis generated five classes: experience with nephrological care, facing loss and family relationships, family and acceptance, implementation of a new routine and making sense of the end-stage renal disease experience. Patients' felt very passive in their experience with care. They reported the importance of integrating dialysis in their lives and the role of family support when facing treatment initiation. Depressed patients were more likely to describe their nephrological monitoring very factually and to talk about what they lost with dialysis initiation. CONCLUSION: Dialysis initiation is a hard time for patients during which they face many challenges. This first year represents a time of adaptation, in which family seems essential.

Older Adults and the COVID-19 Pandemic, What About the Oldest Old? The PACOVID Population-Based Survey.

Introduction: The literature draws a mitigated picture of the psychosocial effects of the lockdown in older adults. However, the studies conducted so far are mainly based on web surveys which may involve selection bias. The PACOVID survey relies on a population-based design and addresses the attitudes, psychological and social experiences of the oldest old regarding the pandemic and lockdown and their impact. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional phone survey involving 677 persons. Baseline report on attitudes, psychological, and social experiences of the oldest old, regarding the pandemic and lockdown measures. Results: The mean age was 87.53 (SD 5.19). About 46% were living alone during the lockdown. Concerning difficulties, "none" was the most frequent answer (35.6%). For questions addressing how often they had felt sad, depressed, or lonely (CESD-scale), the most frequent answers were "never/very rarely" (58.7, 76.6, 60.8%) and 27.1% had anxious symptomatology (STAI scale). Most (92.9%) felt socially supported. Engaging in leisure activities was the most frequent coping strategy, and for numerous participants the lockdown did not represent much of a change in terms of daily routine. A very good knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 and the safety measures was observed. Comparisons with measures collected before the pandemic showed low changes in subjective health and the CES-D questions. Discussion: With a methodological design limiting selection bias, our results claim for a weakened psychosocial impact even though the participants are concerned and aware of the pandemic issues. These results highlight the resources and resilience abilities of older persons including in advancing age.

Psychometric properties of the French adaptation of the multidimensional body self relations questionnaire-appearance scales.

The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the French adaptation of the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales, a widely used instrument in body image research. The questionnaire is composed of five subscales: Appearance Orientation, Appearance Evaluation, Overweight Preoccupation, Self-classified Weight, and the Body Areas Satisfaction Scale. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted on a sample of 765 subjects for the first two subscales. As expected, the analyses yielded two factors: Appearance Orientation and Appearance Evaluation. Internal consistencies ranged between .66 and .88 and test-retest reliabilities ranged between .78 and .85 for the five subscales. Appearance evaluation and the Body Areas Satisfaction Scale showed good convergent validity with the Body Image Questionnaire. Validity was supported by comparing scores for sex, for groups according to body mass index (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese), and by exploring the influence of social desirability.

[Anxiety and depression in hemodialysis: validation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. / Anxiété et dépression en hémodialyse : validation de l'Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Anxiety and depression are considered as frequent disorders in end-stage renal disease patients. However studies on this topic are almost nonexistent in France. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS, Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) is a well-used instrument in the international literature. Fast and easy to administer, it measures anxiety and depression symptomatology in physically ill patients. The purpose of the present study was to test the psychometric properties of the scale within a French sample of 207 hemodialysis patients. Exploratory factor analysis yielded two factors: anxiety and depression. Further analysis showed that the two factors presented good internal consistency, were significantly correlated to patient's age and quality of life, but were not associated with years on dialysis. Moreover, differences were found for gender and dialysis modality (self-care units versus in center). The results of this study underline the relevance of using the HADS to identify anxiety and depression and confirm the importance to take into account these disorders to enhance patient's quality of life and global care.

Psychosocial risks in small enterprises: the mediating role of perceived working conditions in the relationship between enterprise size and workers' anxious or depressive episodes.

Purpose. The relationship between enterprise size and psychosocial working conditions has received little attention so far but some findings suggest that conditions are more favorable in small enterprises. This could have a positive impact on workers' mental health. The objective of this study was to test the mediating effect of perceived working conditions in the relationship between enterprise size and anxious or depressive episodes. Methods. Data from the 2010 SUMER - Surveillance Médicale des Expositions aux Risques professionnels (French periodical cross-sectional survey) were analyzed; N = 31,420 for the present study. Anxious or depressive episodes were measured with the hospital anxiety and depression scale and the perceived working conditions were psychological demand, decision latitude and social support as assessed with Karasek's job content questionnaire. The indirect effect was tested according to the method proposed by Preacher and Hayes. Results. In a multivariate logistic regression, the risk of anxious or depressive episodes was found to be lower in micro enterprises (2-9 employees). Formal tests pointed to a significant indirect effect of enterprise size on mental health through perceived working conditions, with a larger effect for psychological demand. Conclusion. This study highlights perceived working conditions as an explanation of the effects of enterprise size.

Psycho-social factors and coping strategies as predictors of chronic evolution and quality of life in patients with low back pain: a prospective study.

UNLABELLED: Low back pain (LBP) is a major problem of public health. Chronic pain is the most difficult to treat and the most expensive. The way patients cope with their pain may influence its outcome. AIM: To identify coping strategies of LBP patients, and their influence on LBP evolution. METHODS: Ninety nine patients were assessed just after an acute LBP episode and one year later. Assessment tools included medical and social reports, scales of anxiety, depression, quality of life, locus of control (LOC), social support and coping strategies. RESULTS: One year after the initial episode, 67% of patients have improved and 33% had a chronic pain. A principal components analysis showed that two main dimensions might be identified inside the outcome: functional and emotional non-adjustment. Functional non-adjustment was predicted by male gender, reduction of activity, and history of trauma over one year. Emotional non-adjustment was only predicted by trait-depression. Reactions to pain were structured in four factors: distraction-praying, helplessness-hopelessness, cognitive restructuration and perceived control. Two of these factors predicted adjustment one year later: distraction-praying had a direct effect on functional non-adjustment, and helplessness-hopelessness on emotional issue. CONCLUSIONS: Besides somatic factors, psychosocial predictors of LBP chronic evolution may be identified. Both aspects must be taken into account in order to prevent chronic pain. Perhaps cognitive-behavior therapy may help LBP patients to cope with pain in a better way.

Short form of Sarason's Social Support Questionnaire: French adaptation and validation.

The original short form of Sarason's Social Support Questionnaire measures two dimensions of social support, availability and satisfaction. The factorial structure of the social support was assessed in a French sample along with the association between the dimensions of social support and personality traits such as Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Depression. A 6-item French version was administered to 648 subjects: 348 university freshmen (228 females, 120 males) and 304 unemployed men. A principal component analysis followed by oblique rotations was undertaken on each sample. This yielded two factors, Availability and Satisfaction. These results sustained the stability of the factorial structure from one culture to another. Validity and reliability were satisfactory. Moreover, these two dimensions were correlated with two personality scales (high extraversion, low depression). Such results agree with previous results establishing relations between social support and salutogenic dimensions of personality.

[What role can the psychologist have in patient education in nephrology? An out-center example]. / Quel rôle le psychologue peut-il avoir en éducation thérapeutique en néphrologie? Un exemple en auto-dialyse.

This article presents the experience of a psychologist in the development of a multidisciplinary and collective Therapeutic Patient Education program for dialysis patients in out-center (self-dialysis). The role of the psychologist is situated at different levels: construction of the program, animation and co-animation of interventions and evaluation of the program.

Family relations, mental health and adherence to nutritional guidelines in patients facing dialysis initiation.

This study investigated the effect of family relations on patients' adjustment to dialysis. The two main aims were to develop a family typology, and to explore the influence of family profile on the patient's anxiety, depression and adherence to nutritional guidelines. The sample consisted of 120 patients (mean age 63 years; 67.5% of men). They completed several measures 1, 6 and 12 months after dialysis initiation. The scales used were the Family Relationship Index and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Perceived adherence to nutritional guidelines was assessed using two visual analogical scales. Results showed that family relations remained stable over time. Cluster analysis yielded three family profiles, which were named conflict, communicative and supportive families. Patients belonging to conflict families perceived themselves as less adhering to nutritional guidelines. For these patients, anxiety and depressive moods increased significantly over time, whereas mental health remained stable over time for communicative and supportive families. This research underlines that family relations are essential in global consideration of the care of patients treated by dialysis. Conflict families seem especially at risk. They should be identified early to help them adapt to this stressful treatment.

[Interest of a specific programme in patient education for dialysis in out-center patients]. / Intérêt d'un programme spécifique en éducation thérapeutique auprès de patients dialysés en hors-centre.

The development of therapeutic patient education for dialysis patients is recent and concerns mainly out-center patients. To our knowledge, only two papers centred on therapeutic education with out-center patients have been published. The particularities of this dialysis modality (unit close to the home, more autonomy, a nurse for six patients, organisation of unit, better quality of life and psychological status) highlight the interest to develop specific educational programs for patients treated in out-center sitting. The example of a program in Aquitaine (France) composed of mainly collective sessions (representations of the disease, dietetic recommendations, hygiene and protection of the vascular access, drugs compliance…) allows to propose several practical implications to initiate the development of specific programs in therapeutic education for out-center dialysis: educative sessions during the sessions of dialysis, group patients, multidisciplinary team, evaluation of the program from a medical and psychosocial point of view…

Personality traits and executive functions related to on-road driving performance among older drivers.

The present study investigated how executive functions and personality traits are related with driving performance among older drivers. Forty-two participants aged 60 and over were recruited to complete a battery of cognitive tests, measures of personality traits and an on-road driving test. Significant correlations were found between poor driving performances and low scores on tests assessing shifting and updating functions. In addition, extraversion had a negative relation with driving performance and made the only contribution, among the psychological factors, to the prediction of driving performance. Finally, gender and age emerged as the best predictors of on-road driving performance. Gender, personality traits and executive functions should be taken into account when studying safety among older drivers.

Assessment and effects of Therapeutic Patient Education for patients in hemodialysis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This review examined the impact of Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) programs in hemodialysis and the assessment of these programs. REVIEW METHODS AND DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was performed. Bibliographical research was done with a database in the social and human sciences (PsychINFO, PsycARTICLES, SocINDEX with Full Text and the Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection). References were also searched in several reviews specialized in nephrology-dialysis and in patient education. Articles were classified according three different outcomes: (1) physiological outcomes, (2) psychosocial outcomes, (3) or combined criteria. RESULTS: 35 articles were selected. The majority dealt with purely physiological outcomes (18) and the minority concerned only psychosocial outcomes (4). Fifteen articles discussed both physiological and psychosocial outcomes, i.e. combined criteria. Beneficial effects were shown such as improvements in knowledge, adherence and quality of life. Most educational interventions were performed by nurses. CONCLUSION: This systematic review found that educational programs in dialysis have become more numerous and efficient, with a prevalence of assessment based on physiological outcomes. TPE is a global management method based on both the physiological and the psychological well-being of the patient. Studies that take into account both physiological and psychosocial variables are very useful for understanding the effects of TPE programs on dialysis patients. The review shows that nurses play an important role in TPE and that they require varied communicational, educational, animation and assessment skills. These positive effects are encouraging for nurses to stimulate the development of TPE programs for dialysis patients in their multidisciplinary teams. The nurse's role is important for the commitment of each health caregiver (nurse, physician, dietician, pharmacist, psychologist, etc.) for the global management of patients in the TPE process.