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After neonatal cardiac surgery, families, and the health care team strive for exclusive oral feedings before hospital discharge. With the hypothesis that exclusive oral feedings would reduce the length of stay (LOS), a multidimensional path analysis was used to examine a cross-section of 280 neonates from 2009 to 2013. Buttigieg, Abela, and Pace's theoretical framework of structural and process-related determinants of LOS was modeled with hypothesis-driven correlation and directionality. The recursive path model had a good global and local fit with outcome variances of 26% for exclusive oral feeding and LOS. In the full cohort and model groups (single and biventricular), when controlling for covariances: sepsis, birth distance, necrotizing enterocolitis, genetic differences, specialty consults, the age at which neonatal cardiac surgery occurred (β =.23, p ≤.001) and the duration of postoperative intubation (β =.47, p ≤.001) more significantly influenced the LOS than intermediate mediation of exclusive oral feedings at discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with long-lasting and pervasive impacts on survivors' sexual health, particularly on their sexual satisfaction. Dispositional mindfulness has been found to be associated with greater sexual satisfaction among adult CSA survivors. However, the mechanisms involved in this association remain understudied. The present study examined the role of sexual self-concept (i.e., sexual esteem, sexual preoccupation, and sexual depression) in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and sexual satisfaction among CSA survivors. A total of 176 adult CSA survivors (60.6% women, 39.4% men) completed an online survey assessing dispositional mindfulness, sexual self-concept, and sexual satisfaction. Path analyses revealed that dispositional mindfulness was positively related to sexual satisfaction through a significant indirect effect of higher sexual esteem and lower sexual depression. The integrative model explained 66.5% of the variance in sexual satisfaction. These findings highlight the key roles that dispositional mindfulness and sexual self-concept play in CSA survivors' sexual satisfaction. Implications for interventions based on trauma-sensitive mindfulness targeting the sexual self-concept are discussed, as they may promote sexual satisfaction in adult CSA survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies show that experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is related to poor maternal–infant bonding. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. This article aims to examine whether maternal postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms mediate the association between pregnancy IPV and maternal–infant bonding, and whether the relationship differs by maternal–infant bonding subscales—lack of affection, anger/rejection. A survey was conducted among women who participated in a postpartum health check-up program in Aichi prefecture, Japan (N = 6,590) in 2012. We examined whether experiences of emotional and physical IPV were related to maternal–infant bonding and whether PPD symptoms mediated this relationship. Path analysis showed that emotional and physical IPV were associated with PPD symptoms, and PPD symptoms predicted poor bonding. The total effect of emotional IPV on poor bonding was significant, showing a marginally significant direct effect and statistically significant indirect effect. The total effect of physical IPV on poor bonding was not statistically significant. Emotional IPV was significantly associated with both lack of affection and anger/rejection bonding subscales, which were similarly mediated by PPD symptoms. Findings revealed a modest indirect association between IPV, emotional IPV in particular, and poor maternal–infant bonding, which was mediated by PPD symptoms. While prevention of IPV is the ultimate goal, the treatment of PPD symptoms among women who experience IPV during pregnancy may improve maternal–infant bonding and mitigate cross-generational effects of IPV. Identifying opportunities for detection of IPV and PPD symptoms, as well as prevention and early intervention, may improve maternal–infant bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) reported to experience uncertainty because of gradually progressive disease characteristics with no cure, and variably manifesting and unpredictable symptoms. This study was designed to identify illness-related variables influencing uncertainty in PD patients and to analyze direct and indirect paths between these variables. Data were collected from 206 participants using a structured questionnaire. Path analysis revealed the direct and/or indirect effects of economic status, disease severity, social support, and resilience on uncertainty in people with PD. Disease severity, social support, and resilience were shown to have significant direct effects on uncertainty. Economic status and disease severity had indirect effects on uncertainty, which were mediated by social support. Disease severity and social support also had indirect effects on uncertainty, which were mediated by resilience. Therefore, the efforts of health care professionals should be directed not only toward managing PD symptoms, but also toward facilitating social support and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite several models of coping have been proposed in chronic pain, research is not integrative and has not yet identified a reliable set of beneficial coping strategies. We intend to offer a comprehensive view of coping using the social problem-solving model. Participants were 369 chronic pain patients (63.78% women; mean age 58.89 years; standard deviation = 15.12 years). Correlation analyses and the structural equation model for mental health revealed potentially beneficial and harmful problem-solving components. This integrative perspective on general coping could be used to promote changes in the way patients deal with stressful conditions other than pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to examine the relationships between early life experiences and self-compassion. Sample of the study consists of 268 university students, in Turkey. Participants completed the Early Life Experiences Scale and the Self-compassion Scale. The relationships between early life experiences and self-compassion were examined using correlation analysis and the hypothesis model was tested through structural equation modeling. In correlation analysis, self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness factors of self-compassion were found negatively and self-judgment, isolation and over-identification factors of self-compassion were found positively related to early life experiences. The structural model fitted well (X2 = 21.92, df = 9, X2/df = 2.43, p = .00914, AGFI = .93, GFI = .97, CFI = .98, NFI = .97, NNFI = .95, IFI = .98, RFI = .92, SRMR = .047, RMSEA = .073). According to path analysis results, selfkindness, common humanity and mindfulness were predicted negatively by early life experiences. Further early life experiences predicted self-judgment, isolation and over-identification in a positive way. This research shows that early life experiences have a direct impact on the self-compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes self-management (DSM) is a complex behavior and various factors influence it. Despite continual recommendations to DSM, implementation of this behavior still remains a major health problem for diabetic patients. Identifying effective factors in DSM is useful to promote health in diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of individual and environmental factors on DSM. Path analysis was used to examine both one-way direct and indirect effects of 7 constructs and 3 demographic factors on DSM in this population (N = 396). Data were collected from a convenience sample of 104 (26.3%) males and 292 (73.7%) females with a median age 53 years. The final model provided a good fit to the data explaining 25% of the variance in DSM. Illness perception and provider–patient communication were the most effective factors in DSM. Knowledge and self-efficacy affected DSM indirectly via illness perception. The results of this study showed that effective DSM interventions should be designed to change illness perception and patient–provider communication, especially in patients with low duration of diabetes and low level of education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]