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Despite a specific need for transfused blood among African Americans due to higher rates of sickle cell disease, African Americans donate blood significantly less frequently than their White counterparts. This study describes the development and validation of culturally adapted measures of the transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs of Stage of Change, Decisional Balance, and Self-efficacy applied to blood donation in an African American sample. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses produced one pros and two cons scales for the Decisional Balance Inventory, and one scale for the Situational Self-efficacy Measure. Expected patterns for the Decisional Balance and Self-efficacy Scales by Stage of Change were found, but only the pros and one cons scale varied significantly. Results provide support for use of the TTM applied to blood donation and have important implications for development of effective assessment and intervention tools to increase blood donation among the African American population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated how well predictions from the transtheoretical model (TTM) generalized from smoking to diet. Longitudinal data were used from a randomized control trial on reducing dietary fat consumption in adults (n =1207) recruited from primary care practices. Predictive power was evaluated by making a priori predictions of the magnitude of change expected in the TTM constructs of temptation, pros and cons, and 10 processes of change when an individual transitions between the stages of change. Generalizability was evaluated by testing predictions based on smoking data. Three sets of predictions were made for each stage: Precontemplation (PC), Contemplation (C) and Preparation (PR) based on stage transition categories of no progress, progress and regression determined by stage at baseline versus stage at the 12-month follow-up. Univariate analysis of variance between stage transition groups was used to calculate the effect size [omega squared (omega(2))]. For diet predictions based on diet data, there was a high degree of confirmation: 92%, 95% and 92% for PC, C and PR, respectively. For diet predictions based on smoking data, 77%, 79% and 85% were confirmed, respectively, suggesting a moderate degree of generalizability. This study revised effect size estimates for future theory testing on the TTM applied to dietary fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batterers' resistance to traditional intervention programs has been well documented. Within a Transtheoretical Model of Change (stage of change) framework, a measure of processes of resistance was developed and administered to 346 adult male domestic violence offenders in treatment. The study yielded a 38-item measure that assesses eight dimensions of resistance: (a) System Blaming, (b) Problems with Partner, (c) Problems with Alliance, (d) Social Justification, (e) Hopelessness, (f) Isolation, (g) Psychological Reactance, and (h) Passive Reactance. The relationship between resistance and stage of change, time in treatment, and partner aggression are reported. Results suggest that we look beyond the most common forms of resistance (e.g., denial and victim-blaming) to identify and address other forms of resistance that may be more internally based and difficult to detect. The processes of resistance measure provides a tool for measuring those types of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that individuals with autism are more vulnerable to, and less able to cope with, the effects of stressors than the general population. However, very little work has been done to develop tools such as surveys or questionnaires that assess reactions to stressors in individuals with developmental disabilities. In the present investigation, the Stress Survey Schedule for Persons with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (SSS; Groden et al., 2001) was completed for 180 individuals with autism, varying in gender, verbal ability, and age. The results demonstrate that the SSS is a valid tool for identifying which dimensions of stress are perceived to be the most and least stressful for subgroups of persons with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Missing data are a common practical problem for longitudinal designs. Time-series analysis is a longitudinal method that involves a large number of observations on a single unit. Four different missing-data methods (deletion, mean substitution, mean of adjacent observations, and maximum likelihood estimation) were evaluated. Computer-generated time-series data of length 100 were generated for 50 different conditions representing five levels of autocorrelation, two levels of slope, and five levels of proportion of missing data. Methods were compared with respect to the accuracy of estimation for four parameters (level, error variance, degree of autocorrelation, and slope). The choice of method had a major impact on the analysis. The maximum likelihood very accurately estimated all four parameters under all conditions tested. The mean of the series was the least accurate approach. Statistical methods such as the maximum likelihood procedure represent a superior approach to missing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Transtheoretical Model of Change (TMC) postulates two sensitive mediating variables, decisional balance and self-efficacy. Four measures of condom use developed with 296 women at high risk for HIV infection or transmission representing these two constructs were cross-validated with 248 heterosexually active college men and women. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures were conducted with structural equation modeling (SEM). Factor structures for all condom-use measures were replicated using the second independent sample and a different method of analysis, demonstrating the robustness of the scales. Model fit indices were excellent (e.g., decisional balance = .94 and .95; self-efficacy = .97 and .99), suggesting that more standardized measures can be used when assessing attitudes and behaviors toward condom use among heterosexual populations at various risk for HIV or sexually transmitted disease infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]