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Introduction: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) are associated with increased risk of obstetric complications among pregnant survivors of trauma, abuse and interpersonal violence, but little is known about how PTS affects women's actual experiences of obstetric care. This study investigated the rate at which abuse history was detected by obstetricians, whether abuse survivors experienced more invasive exams than is typically indicated for routine obstetric care, and whether psychological distress was associated with abuse survivors' sense of self-efficacy when communicating their obstetric care needs.Methods: Forty-one pregnant abuse survivors completed questionnaires about abuse history, current psychological distress and self-efficacy for communicating obstetric care needs and preferences. Electronic medical records (EMRs) were reviewed to examine frequency of invasive prenatal obstetric procedures (e.g. removal of clothing for external genital examination, pelvic exams and procedures) and to examine the detection rate of abuse histories during the initial obstetric visit.Results: The majority of participants (83%) reported at least one past incident of violent physical or sexual assault. Obstetricians detected abuse histories in less than one quarter of cases. Nearly half of participants (46%) received invasive exams for non-routine reasons. PTS and depression symptoms were associated with lower self-efficacy in communicating obstetric care preferences.Discussion: Women most at risk for experiencing distress during their obstetric visits and/or undergoing potentially distressing procedures may also be the least likely to communicate their distress to obstetricians. Results are discussed with implications for improving screening for abuse screening and distress symptoms as well as need for trauma-sensitive obstetric practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advertisements are a common venue by which sexist stereotypes are disseminated, and these stereotypes often reinforce the link between women and the domestic role. Gender-based humor is a particular strategy that advertisements may use, allowing for the perpetuation of sexist stereotypes under the mentality that "a joke is just a joke." The present study provided a content analysis of responses to a pair of trouser care instructions reading, "Give it to your woman, it's her jo b." We aimed to determine the ways in which online commentators responded to this statement. Comments were, foremost, labeled as either endorsement or dissent, and those chara c te riz ed as en do rs ement of the joke were categorized by one or more of the following themes: hostile sexism toward women, benevolent sexism toward women, hostile sexism toward men, benevolent sexism toward men, cavalier humor beliefs, denial of sexism, and social dominance orientation. Results indicated that most individuals (68.5%) responded positively to the statement either by expressing perceived humor, affirming the validity of the presented stereotype, or exhibiting hostility toward women who took offense. Furthermore, responses to the label were often characterized by cavalier humor beliefs (25.1%) as well as hostile sexism toward women (10.8%). These justifications likely serve to reaffirm the presence of sexist prejudice in a climate that might otherwise provide sanctions against offensive remarks. In addition, it is likely that many of the comments served to deter men and women who might otherwise attempt to challenge the status quo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: PTSD and depression are related to perceived physical health impairment in veterans, but little is known about the effects of psychological treatment on impairment. We examined the impact of an interactive online treatment for veterans with trauma-related distress, including (a) whether treatment effects include reduced perceived physical impairment, and (b) how these treatment effects are related to symptoms of PTSD and depression., Method: A randomized controlled trial assessed the impact on perceived physical health impairment of interactive online treatment for veterans with symptoms of PTSD and depression. Veterans were randomized to either the Vets Prevail program (n = 209), or a no-treatment control (n = 94) completing measures of depression and PTSD symptomology as well as perceived physical health impairment at 6 and 12 weeks following baseline assessment We conducted a series of multiple and single mediation analyses to examine how the effects of Vets Prevail on these outcomes are related., Results: Compared with control, Vets Prevail was (a) associated with significant reductions in perceived physical health impairment, and (b) this relationship was mediated by reductions in symptoms of PTSD, but not depression. Further analysis showed that perceived physical health impairment also mediated the relationships between intervention and PTSD and depression symptoms., Conclusions: Findings indicate that Vets Prevail reduces perceptions of physical health impairment by reducing PTSD symptomology. It is also possible that treatment initiated more complex, bidirectional relationships such that improvements in psychological distress and in perceived physical health impairment reinforced each other over time. Findings demonstrate that Vets Prevail may help veterans overcome traditional barriers to care and achieve improvements in multiple areas of functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).)