University of Bath

About: University of Bath is a education organization based out in Bath, Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Photonic-crystal fiber. The organization has 15830 authors who have published 39608 publications receiving 1358769 citations. The organization is also known as: Bath University.

A Participatory Inquiry Paradigm

Abstract: This article starts with a critique of Guba and Lincoln's outline of competing paradigms for research, in particular arguing that the constructivist position fails to account for experiential knowi...

Prediction and Intervention in Health-Related Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Review of Protection Motivation Theory

Abstract: Protection motivation theory (PMT) was introduced by Rogers in 1975 and has since been widely adopted as a framework for the prediction of and intervention in health-related behavior. However. PMT remains the only major cognitive model of behavior not to have been the subject of a meta-analytic review. A quantitative review of PMT is important to assess its overall utility as a predictive model and to establish which of its variables would be most useful to address health-education interventions. The present paper provides a comprehensive introduction to PMT and its application to health-related behavior, together with a quantitative review of the applications of PMT to health-related intentions and behavior. The associations between threat- and coping-appraisal variables and intentions, and all components of the model and behavior were assessed both by meta-analysis and by vote-count procedures. Threat- and coping-appraisal components of PMT were found to be useful in the prediction of health-related intentions. The model was found to be useful in predicting concurrent behavior, but of less utility in predicting future behavior. The coping-appraisal component of the model was found to have greater predictive validity than was the threat-appraisal component. The main findings are discussed in relation to theory and research on social cognition models. The importance of the main findings to health education is also discussed, and future research directions are suggested.

Socioeconomic status and smoking: a review

Abstract: Smoking prevalence is higher among disadvantaged groups, and disadvantaged smokers may face higher exposure to tobacco's harms. Uptake may also be higher among those with low socioeconomic status (SES), and quit attempts are less likely to be successful. Studies have suggested that this may be the result of reduced social support for quitting, low motivation to quit, stronger addiction to tobacco, increased likelihood of not completing courses of pharmacotherapy or behavioral support sessions, psychological differences such as lack of self-efficacy, and tobacco industry marketing. Evidence of interventions that work among lower socioeconomic groups is sparse. Raising the price of tobacco products appears to be the tobacco control intervention with the most potential to reduce health inequalities from tobacco. Targeted cessation programs and mass media interventions can also contribute to reducing inequalities. To tackle the high prevalence of smoking among disadvantaged groups, a combination of tobacco control measures is required, and these should be delivered in conjunction with wider attempts to address inequalities in health.

Self-efficacy in changing societies.

Abstract: their psychological and physical well-being (e.g. clinicians and researchers). These caveats notwithstanding, on balance, this text is a comprehensive and scholarly body of work that will be a valuable resource for an array of professionals including researchers, clinicians, teaching professors, and health care administrators. Overall, the authors do an excellent job of reviewing empirical studies and intervention strategies from diverse settings that are specific to adolescents from different minority groups. These reviews provide cogent discussions about an array of outcomes (e.g. cardiovascular disease, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, obesity, eating disorders, physical activity, and delinquent behavior). When data were available, information is presented on African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Native American samples. The reader is cautioned, however, not to view members of these ethnic groups as being homogenous with regard to the individual and sociocultural factors that may act individually or in concert to influence health outcomes. Toward this end, intra-ethnic group comparisons are also presented—data permitting. The chapter discussing psychological/social/cultural perspectives on health provides an excellent backdrop for the necessity of these group and sub-group comparisons. For example, the authors highlight how some groups/sub-groups of minorities are ‘especially disadvantaged’, whereas others are ‘relatively well off’. The authors do an excellent job of discussing the material in a way that goes beyond merely citing statistics and reviewing theoretical jargon. For example, some chapters include conceptual models which facilitate hypothesis generation and testing. Additionally, many of the chapters contain discussions which help the reader translate theories and empirical findings into practice. That is, the authors cover implications for clinicians which include concrete recommendations, as well as a review of research/intervention strategies that appear to be efficacious for given populations and those that do not appear to be as effective. The chapter covering multisystemic therapy is particularly noteworthy, given the authors’ step-by-step description of the initial assessment, treatment planning and delivery, and therapist characteristics. The authors also review four outcome studies using multisystemic therapy to address delinquent behavior, substance abuse/dependence, parent symptomalogy/monitoring, and family functioning. In summary, this text provides a broad and generally thorough review of developing theoretical and empirical knowledge about health behaviors of minority adolescents. The reader will find excellent discussions of the individual, familial, and sociocultural factors related to health behaviors and outcomes. The editors provide 14 chapters with stimulating insights into research and practice that will be of interest to professionals from various health-related disciplines.