Impact of amputation of the upper limb and prostheses on perceptions of competence, warmth, and functional abilities.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated attitudes that young adults have toward individuals with amputation of the upper limb (AUL). Previous studies have found that people tend to feel sympathy toward these individuals, but they are also perceived as less competent in various situations. However, it is unclear if these perceptions are influenced by factors such as the cause of amputation, the gender of the amputee, whether they use a prosthesis or not, or the type of prosthesis. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: The survey included 469 participants from a university in the Southeastern United States. Participants rated pictures of individuals with or without amputation, and with and without prostheses after reading a brief background scenario. Images were rated using a semantic differential for competence and warmth, and a scale of functional ability. RESULTS: Factorial analysis of variances produced significant main effects indicating individuals with AULs who used prostheses were rated with higher competence and ability than individuals with AULs who did not use prostheses. Females were rated with lower competence and ability, and higher warmth regardless of AULs status. Higher ability ratings were obtained for individuals with advanced technology prostheses as compared to body-powered prostheses. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Our research shows that people generally hold positive attitudes toward individuals with AUL when they use prostheses. However, traditional stereotypes persist for those who do not. Negative biases toward women should be accounted for in disability stigma studies. The cause of amputation did not influence ratings. Prostheses that appear to be advanced technology positively influenced ratings of functional ability when compared to traditional body-powered types. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Gastrointestinal functioning and menstrual cycle phase in emerging young adult women: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Women experience more severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms compared to men. The onset of puberty and the menstrual cycle may influence these differences. Additionally, health anxiety is an important construct that has been shown to play a role in increased symptomatology across many medical conditions. Using standardized clinical measures often employed to assess disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) we aimed to identify differences of GI functioning across menstrual cycle phases and to evaluate the role of health anxiety in this relationship. METHODS: Six hundred three participants completed a survey including functional GI assessment scales (PROMIS-GI®), an abdominal pain scale and map, and a health anxiety measure. They were grouped by menstrual cycle phases (Menses, Follicular, Early-Luteal, and Premenstrual) based on self-reported start date of most recent period. Multivariate analyses of covariance were conducted to identify differences between menstrual cycle phase and scores on the symptom scales. Heath anxiety was included as a covariate in all analyses. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between menstrual cycle group and PROMIS-GI scores. Higher GI-symptom and pain levels were found as health anxiety increased. Pain in the hypogastric region of the abdomen was significantly higher during the Menses phase when compared to Early-Luteal and Premenstrual phases. A subset of participants with DGBI diagnoses demonstrated significantly higher GI-symptom severity on several PROMIS-GI scales when compared to matched controls who did not have those diagnoses. In addition, participants with DGBI diagnoses reported significantly greater pain across multiple abdominal regions than their non-diagnosed counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: GI symptom levels as measured by the PROMIS-GI scales in otherwise healthy women were not dependent on menstrual cycle phase. Yet, the PROMIS-GI scales were sensitive to symptom differences in women with DGBI diagnoses. Overall, this study demonstrated that the PROMIS-GI measures are unlikely to be affected by gynecological functioning in healthy young women. We argue that the abdominal pain map is an essential addition to classification and diagnosis.

Psychosocial impact of ocular surface allergic inflammatory disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is one of the most common ocular surface allergic inflammatory conditions seen in primary care that impacts patient's quality of life. Allergic conjunctivitis is increasingly being recognized as its own symptom complex that negatively impacts patient's quality of life separate from allergic rhinitis. This article reviews the psychosocial impact of ocular surface allergic inflammatory disorders (namely seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, ocular allergy, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, and atopic keratoconjunctivitis) on adult and pediatric populations. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite the perception that allergic conjunctivitis is a trivial condition, it imposes a burden on numerous psychosocial aspects of life for adolescents and adults. Several questionnaires specific to rhinoconjunctivitis have been found to be effective tools at gauging quality of life (QoL) and communicating impairments in specific behavioral domains for adult and pediatric populations. An emerging focus on the role of hormone fluctuations and age on ocular surface allergic inflammation underscores the importance of nuancing the physiologic effects on ocular allergy and QoL at every decade of life. SUMMARY: Further exploration and research of symptoms by age would greatly improve our understanding of age's impact on QoL in these patients and contribute to improved management of allergic conjunctivitis.