Although harassment in the workplace has been linked to deleterious drinking outcomes, researcher... more Although harassment in the workplace has been linked to deleterious drinking outcomes, researchers have yet to examine the long-term effects of chronic workplace harassment. During a 10-year longitudinal mail survey, university employees (N = 2,265) were administered measures of sexual harassment, generalized workplace harassment, and problematic drinking. Using growth mixture modeling, two latent classes of workplace harassment emerged: infrequent and chronic. Demographic characteristics (gender, age, and race) predicted the shape of the trajectories and likelihood of class membership. As hypothesized, membership in the chronic harassment classes was linked to future problematic drinking, even after controlling for previous drinking.
Research has demonstrated effects of 9/11 on distress and drinking outcomes in individuals direct... more Research has demonstrated effects of 9/11 on distress and drinking outcomes in individuals directly affected and indirectly affected across the United States. Fewer studies have addressed vulnerability and protective factors shown to moderate the effects of stress exposure. We report findings from a Midwestern workplace cohort study. Respondents to a 6 wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires prior to September 11, 2001 and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses encompassed measures of terrorism-related beliefs and fears, workplace stressors (sexual harassment, generalized abuse and low decision latitude), marital and parental status, and perceived social support in 2003, and distress and deleterious drinking outcomes in 2005. Analyses showed that terrorism-related fears significantly interacted with workplace stressors and interpersonal social relationships in predicting distress, drinking or both, controlling for pre-9/11 distress and drinking. Gender differences were also found. This article suggests that certain individuals may be at heightened risk for distressful reactions to and/or deleterious drinking resulting from terrorism-related issues and fears due to additional risk factors involving workplace stressors and inadequate interpersonal bonds. However, limitations of the study were noted and future research was recommended.
We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental heal... more We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental health status has focused disproportionate attention on microlevel social stressors to the detriment of macrolevel stressors. Also, we assessed the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on subsequent mental health among participants in a Midwestern cohort study. Respondents in a 6-wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires before September 11, 2001, and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses focused on measures of negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears, as well as psychological distress and deleterious alcohol use outcomes measured both before and after September 11. Negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears assessed in 2003 predicted distress and drinking outcomes in 2005 after control for sociodemographic characteristics and pre-September 11 distress and drinking. The events of September 11 continue to negatively affect the mental health of the American population. Our results support the utility of according greater attention to the effects of such macrolevel social stressors in population studies embracing the stress paradigm.
... the prevalence and scope of employee assistance programs (EAPs) have been steadily increasing... more ... the prevalence and scope of employee assistance programs (EAPs) have been steadily increasing since the 1970s (Erfurt, Foote & Heirich, 1992). As the presence of EAPs has grown, so have questions about their purpose, usefulness, and efficacy. The Kathleen M. Rospenda ...
This study examined processes linking economic stressors, somatic complaints, and two alcohol-rel... more This study examined processes linking economic stressors, somatic complaints, and two alcohol-related outcomes (past-month drinking and problematic drinking). Structural equation models of data from a national survey revealed that somatic complaints partly explain the association between economic stressors and problematic drinking. The associations of both economic stressors and somatic complaints with problematic drinking were significantly greater for men than women. However, the association between economic stressors and somatic complaints was greater for women. These findings clarify the circumstances in which gender matters most for the associations among economy-related stressors, somatic complaints, and drinking. They highlight the significance of difficult economic circumstances for physical health and, in turn, problematic drinking-particularly among men.
... Moreover, they suggest the utility of simultaneously considering the influence of gender ... ... more ... Moreover, they suggest the utility of simultaneously considering the influence of gender ... Discrimination Perpetrator Characteristics Most of the research on perpetrator characteristics is limited ... Begany and Milburn (2002) found evidence that authoritarian personality coupled with ...
We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental heal... more We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental health status has focused disproportionate attention on microlevel social stressors to the detriment of macrolevel stressors. Also, we assessed the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on subsequent mental health among participants in a Midwestern cohort study. Respondents in a 6-wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires before September 11, 2001, and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses focused on measures of negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears, as well as psychological distress and deleterious alcohol use outcomes measured both before and after September 11. Negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears assessed in 2003 predicted distress and drinking outcomes in 2005 after control for sociodemographic characteristics and pre-September 11 distress and drinking. The events of September 11 continue to negatively affect the mental health of the American population. Our results support the utility of according greater attention to the effects of such macrolevel social stressors in population studies embracing the stress paradigm.
We hypothesized that chronic stressors associated with an everyday social role (work) would inter... more We hypothesized that chronic stressors associated with an everyday social role (work) would interact with a traumatic macrosocial stressor (the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001) in predicting mental health status (during the fall of 2001). We used mail surveys returned as part of wave 3 of a workplace cohort study, both before and after September 11, 2001, to assess decision latitude, sexual harassment, generalized workplace abuse, psychological distress, and alcohol use. We also used regression analyses to assess the main effect of September 11 and interactions between September 11 and stressors, after control for baseline mental health. The main effect of September 11 on elevated alcohol use was significant for women but not for men. For women, work stressors significantly interacted with experiencing the events of September 11 to affect alcohol use and anxiety outcomes. Women experiencing chronic work stressors were most vulnerable to elevated psychological distress and alcohol use after September 11, 2001.
Stress among medical students has been linked to poor academic performance, while supportive soci... more Stress among medical students has been linked to poor academic performance, while supportive social relationships have been associated with the alleviation of psychological stress. This study examines social support as a potential buffer against stress and hence as a potential strengthener of students' academic performances. A cohort of 153 third-year students at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago was asked in the fall of 1990 to complete a questionnaire assessing role stress (stress involving competing demands between school and social and/or family life), social support, and sources of support (outside or inside medical school). Grades for the five major clerkships through which all the students rotated during their third year were collected from student transcripts. Statistical analyses of the relationships among academic performance, stress, and social support included factor analysis, hierarchical multiple-regression analysis, and Pearson correlational analysis. Data from 120 students (78% of the cohort) were used for correlational analysis. Of these students, 79 (66%) were men and 41 (34%) were women. Because eight of the questionnaires contained incomplete data, 112 questionnaires (73%) were used for multiple-regression analysis. No buffering effect was found for social support. Rather, social support from outside the medical school explained significant variance in academic performances and in role stress. Higher levels of outside support were associated with poorer clerkship grades for women, but with lower levels of stress for men. Also, total support (outside and inside combined) was negatively related to clerkship grades for the entire sample. The results suggest that contrary to the study's hypotheses, social support in general is related to lower levels of academic performance for both men and women, and that the negative effects of support from outside the medical school context may be particularly salient for women. These results are understandable given the nature of medical training, which places great demands on students' time. Therefore, it may be more appropriate for medical schools to promote time-management strategies than support-building interventions, especially for women.
Although harassment in the workplace has been linked to deleterious drinking outcomes, researcher... more Although harassment in the workplace has been linked to deleterious drinking outcomes, researchers have yet to examine the long-term effects of chronic workplace harassment. During a 10-year longitudinal mail survey, university employees (N = 2,265) were administered measures of sexual harassment, generalized workplace harassment, and problematic drinking. Using growth mixture modeling, two latent classes of workplace harassment emerged: infrequent and chronic. Demographic characteristics (gender, age, and race) predicted the shape of the trajectories and likelihood of class membership. As hypothesized, membership in the chronic harassment classes was linked to future problematic drinking, even after controlling for previous drinking.
Research has demonstrated effects of 9/11 on distress and drinking outcomes in individuals direct... more Research has demonstrated effects of 9/11 on distress and drinking outcomes in individuals directly affected and indirectly affected across the United States. Fewer studies have addressed vulnerability and protective factors shown to moderate the effects of stress exposure. We report findings from a Midwestern workplace cohort study. Respondents to a 6 wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires prior to September 11, 2001 and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses encompassed measures of terrorism-related beliefs and fears, workplace stressors (sexual harassment, generalized abuse and low decision latitude), marital and parental status, and perceived social support in 2003, and distress and deleterious drinking outcomes in 2005. Analyses showed that terrorism-related fears significantly interacted with workplace stressors and interpersonal social relationships in predicting distress, drinking or both, controlling for pre-9/11 distress and drinking. Gender differences were also found. This article suggests that certain individuals may be at heightened risk for distressful reactions to and/or deleterious drinking resulting from terrorism-related issues and fears due to additional risk factors involving workplace stressors and inadequate interpersonal bonds. However, limitations of the study were noted and future research was recommended.
We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental heal... more We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental health status has focused disproportionate attention on microlevel social stressors to the detriment of macrolevel stressors. Also, we assessed the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on subsequent mental health among participants in a Midwestern cohort study. Respondents in a 6-wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires before September 11, 2001, and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses focused on measures of negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears, as well as psychological distress and deleterious alcohol use outcomes measured both before and after September 11. Negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears assessed in 2003 predicted distress and drinking outcomes in 2005 after control for sociodemographic characteristics and pre-September 11 distress and drinking. The events of September 11 continue to negatively affect the mental health of the American population. Our results support the utility of according greater attention to the effects of such macrolevel social stressors in population studies embracing the stress paradigm.
... the prevalence and scope of employee assistance programs (EAPs) have been steadily increasing... more ... the prevalence and scope of employee assistance programs (EAPs) have been steadily increasing since the 1970s (Erfurt, Foote & Heirich, 1992). As the presence of EAPs has grown, so have questions about their purpose, usefulness, and efficacy. The Kathleen M. Rospenda ...
This study examined processes linking economic stressors, somatic complaints, and two alcohol-rel... more This study examined processes linking economic stressors, somatic complaints, and two alcohol-related outcomes (past-month drinking and problematic drinking). Structural equation models of data from a national survey revealed that somatic complaints partly explain the association between economic stressors and problematic drinking. The associations of both economic stressors and somatic complaints with problematic drinking were significantly greater for men than women. However, the association between economic stressors and somatic complaints was greater for women. These findings clarify the circumstances in which gender matters most for the associations among economy-related stressors, somatic complaints, and drinking. They highlight the significance of difficult economic circumstances for physical health and, in turn, problematic drinking-particularly among men.
... Moreover, they suggest the utility of simultaneously considering the influence of gender ... ... more ... Moreover, they suggest the utility of simultaneously considering the influence of gender ... Discrimination Perpetrator Characteristics Most of the research on perpetrator characteristics is limited ... Begany and Milburn (2002) found evidence that authoritarian personality coupled with ...
We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental heal... more We examined the extent to which the stress paradigm linking psychosocial stressors to mental health status has focused disproportionate attention on microlevel social stressors to the detriment of macrolevel stressors. Also, we assessed the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on subsequent mental health among participants in a Midwestern cohort study. Respondents in a 6-wave longitudinal mail survey completed questionnaires before September 11, 2001, and again in 2003 and 2005. Regression analyses focused on measures of negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears, as well as psychological distress and deleterious alcohol use outcomes measured both before and after September 11. Negative terrorism-related beliefs and fears assessed in 2003 predicted distress and drinking outcomes in 2005 after control for sociodemographic characteristics and pre-September 11 distress and drinking. The events of September 11 continue to negatively affect the mental health of the American population. Our results support the utility of according greater attention to the effects of such macrolevel social stressors in population studies embracing the stress paradigm.
We hypothesized that chronic stressors associated with an everyday social role (work) would inter... more We hypothesized that chronic stressors associated with an everyday social role (work) would interact with a traumatic macrosocial stressor (the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001) in predicting mental health status (during the fall of 2001). We used mail surveys returned as part of wave 3 of a workplace cohort study, both before and after September 11, 2001, to assess decision latitude, sexual harassment, generalized workplace abuse, psychological distress, and alcohol use. We also used regression analyses to assess the main effect of September 11 and interactions between September 11 and stressors, after control for baseline mental health. The main effect of September 11 on elevated alcohol use was significant for women but not for men. For women, work stressors significantly interacted with experiencing the events of September 11 to affect alcohol use and anxiety outcomes. Women experiencing chronic work stressors were most vulnerable to elevated psychological distress and alcohol use after September 11, 2001.
Stress among medical students has been linked to poor academic performance, while supportive soci... more Stress among medical students has been linked to poor academic performance, while supportive social relationships have been associated with the alleviation of psychological stress. This study examines social support as a potential buffer against stress and hence as a potential strengthener of students' academic performances. A cohort of 153 third-year students at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago was asked in the fall of 1990 to complete a questionnaire assessing role stress (stress involving competing demands between school and social and/or family life), social support, and sources of support (outside or inside medical school). Grades for the five major clerkships through which all the students rotated during their third year were collected from student transcripts. Statistical analyses of the relationships among academic performance, stress, and social support included factor analysis, hierarchical multiple-regression analysis, and Pearson correlational analysis. Data from 120 students (78% of the cohort) were used for correlational analysis. Of these students, 79 (66%) were men and 41 (34%) were women. Because eight of the questionnaires contained incomplete data, 112 questionnaires (73%) were used for multiple-regression analysis. No buffering effect was found for social support. Rather, social support from outside the medical school explained significant variance in academic performances and in role stress. Higher levels of outside support were associated with poorer clerkship grades for women, but with lower levels of stress for men. Also, total support (outside and inside combined) was negatively related to clerkship grades for the entire sample. The results suggest that contrary to the study's hypotheses, social support in general is related to lower levels of academic performance for both men and women, and that the negative effects of support from outside the medical school context may be particularly salient for women. These results are understandable given the nature of medical training, which places great demands on students' time. Therefore, it may be more appropriate for medical schools to promote time-management strategies than support-building interventions, especially for women.
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