Sulamunn R M Coleman1, Matthew J Zawadzki2, Kristin E Heron3, Lenny R Vartanian4, Joshua M Smyth1. 1. a Department of Biobehavioral Health , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania. 2. b Department of Psychological Sciences , University of California , Merced , Merced , California. 3. c Department of Psychology , Old Dominion University , Norfolk , Virginia. 4. d School of Psychology , University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether self-focused and other-focused resiliency help explain how early family adversity relates to perceived stress, subjective health, and health behaviors in college women. PARTICIPANTS: Female students (N = 795) participated between October 2009 and May 2010. METHODS: Participants completed self-report measures of early family adversity, self-focused (self-esteem, personal growth initiative) and other-focused (perceived social support, gratitude) resiliency, stress, subjective health, and health behaviors. RESULTS: Using structural equation modeling, self-focused resiliency associated with less stress, better subjective health, more sleep, less smoking, and less weekend alcohol consumption. Other-focused resiliency associated with more exercise, greater stress, and more weekend alcohol consumption. Early family adversity was indirectly related to all health outcomes, except smoking, via self-focused and other-focused resiliency. CONCLUSIONS: Self-focused and other-focused resiliency represent plausible mechanisms through which early family adversity relates to stress and health in college women. This highlights areas for future research in disease prevention and management.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether self-focused and other-focused resiliency help explain how early family adversity relates to perceived stress, subjective health, and health behaviors in college women. PARTICIPANTS: Female students (N = 795) participated between October 2009 and May 2010. METHODS:Participants completed self-report measures of early family adversity, self-focused (self-esteem, personal growth initiative) and other-focused (perceived social support, gratitude) resiliency, stress, subjective health, and health behaviors. RESULTS: Using structural equation modeling, self-focused resiliency associated with less stress, better subjective health, more sleep, less smoking, and less weekend alcohol consumption. Other-focused resiliency associated with more exercise, greater stress, and more weekend alcohol consumption. Early family adversity was indirectly related to all health outcomes, except smoking, via self-focused and other-focused resiliency. CONCLUSIONS: Self-focused and other-focused resiliency represent plausible mechanisms through which early family adversity relates to stress and health in college women. This highlights areas for future research in disease prevention and management.
Entities:
Keywords:
College women's health; early family adversity; health behavior; perceived stress; psychosocial resiliency; subjective health