Ageing with an intellectual disability: the impact of personal resources on well-being.

BACKGROUND: The population of ageing people with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities (ID) is growing rapidly. This study examines how personal resources (physical health, mental health and social networks) impact the well-being of ageing people with ID. METHODS: Longitudinal survey data on 667 people with a mild or moderate ID were acquired via interviews in 2006 and 2010. Indicators of personal resources (physical health, mental health and social networks) were assessed, as were indicators of well-being (satisfaction with life, happiness and loneliness). Additionally, data on background characteristics and autonomy were gathered. RESULTS: The results show that age is positively related to decreased mobility and auditory disabilities and negatively related to independent living, autonomy in how one spends one's leisure time and autonomy in decision-making. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated that, with the exception of health that deteriorated, and social satisfaction that improved, almost all variables remained stable over the 4-year period. Further, good physical health in 2006 predicted happiness in 2010. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that age is associated with poorer physical and mental health and a smaller social network, this study showed that older people with ID have relatively high levels of well-being. Findings are discussed in the light of coping with ageing and impact of life events.

Modelling antecedents of blood donation motivation among non-donors of varying age and education.

Understanding blood donation motivation among non-donors is prerequisite to effective recruitment. Two studies explored the psychological antecedents of blood donation motivation and the generalisability of a model of donation motivation across groups differing in age and educational level. An older well-educated population and a younger less well-educated population were sampled. The studies assessed the role of altruism, fear of blood/needles and donation-specific cognitions including attitudes and normative beliefs derived from an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Across both samples, results showed that affective attitude, subjective norm, descriptive norm, and moral norm were the most important correlates of blood donation intentions. Self-efficacy was more important among the younger less well-educated group. Altruism was related to donation motivation but only indirectly through moral norm. Similarly, fear of blood/needles only had an indirect effect on motivation through affective attitude and self-efficacy. Additional analyses with the combined data set found no age or education moderation effects, suggesting that this core model of donation-specific cognitions can be used to inform future practical interventions recruiting new blood donors in the general population.

Identifying blood donors willing to help with recruitment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Social influence shapes behaviour and donors are ambassadors for blood banks. Donors are role models for family and friends and, therefore, so may be able to help with donor recruitment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was used to assess donors' willingness to engage in donor recruitment. Measures included willingness to recruit new donors and antecedents of recruitment motivation based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). RESULTS: More than half of our participants were willing to try to recruit friends and family (57%). Self-efficacy was the most important correlate of intention to recruit as were cognitive attitude and experience with the blood bank. The findings suggest that the TPB provides a good basis for understanding cognitive antecedents of donors' willingness to recruit other donors. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that using existing donors to recruit new donors could be an efficient and cost-effective way to recruit additional donors. This approach warrants further investigation.

(Mis)interpretation of body weight in adult women and men.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined what methods people use to determine and interpret their body weight, and what factors are associated with either an underestimation of overweight or an overestimation of a healthy body weight. METHOD: The study used self-reported data on weight and height. Data were collected by means of questionnaires (n = 722). RESULTS: In comparison with unaware overweight individuals, aware overweight respondents had a significantly lower score on comparing their body to that of others and on listening to remarks from others as methods to determine and interpret their body weight. The same was true for respondents with a correct perception of their healthy body weight compared with respondents who overestimated their healthy body weight. Respondents with a correct perception also had a significantly lower score on using the need to change to a different clothing size to determine body weight. Underestimation of overweight was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI), intense physical activity, knowledge of a healthy weight range and body comparison; overestimation of healthy body weight was significantly associated with gender, BMI, weight loss history and media influences. DISCUSSION: The study had a cross-sectional design, and therefore no causal relations could be determined. Despite this, the study provided more insight into the way people estimate and judge their body weight.

Fear of Stigmatization as Barrier To Voluntary HIV Counselling and Testing In South Africa

Objective: The objective of this qualitative study was to identify psychosocial correlates of HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT); with an emphasis on the association between fear of AIDS-related stigma and willingness to have an HIV test. Methods: The study was executed in Limpopo Province at University of Limpopo; Polokwane; South Africa. Focus group interviews were held among 72 students; divided over 10 groups. Results: Results showed that participants had different levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and VCT; and that AIDS was still strongly associated with 'death'. Results further demonstrate that HIV/ AIDS related stigma is still a very serious problem in South Africa. Lack of HIV/ AIDS related knowledge; blaming persons with HIV/AIDS for their infection; and the life-threatening character of the disease were seen as the most important determinants of AIDS-related stigma. The main benefit to go for VCT was 'knowing your HIV status'; whereas main barriers for testing were 'fear of being stigmatised' and `fear of knowing your HIV positive status'. Conclusion: Fear of stigmatization is an important barrier to HIV testing and has negative consequences for AIDS prevention and treatment. Interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma are needed in order to foster voluntary HIV counselling and testing in South Africa