Health promotion in active-duty military women with children

Perceived health competence predicts health behavior and health-related quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effect of perceived health competence, a patient's belief in his or her ability to achieve health-related goals, on health behavior and health-related quality of life.

METHODS

We analyzed 2063 patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome and/or congestive heart failure at a large academic hospital in the United States. Multivariable linear regression models investigated associations between the two-item perceived health competence scale (PHCS-2) and positive health behaviors such as medication adherence and exercise (Health Behavior Index) as well as health-related quality of life (5-item Patient Reported Outcome Information Measurement System Global Health Scale).

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment, perceived health competence was highly associated with health behaviors (p<0.001) and health-related quality of life (p<0.001). Low perceived health competence was associated with a decrease in health-related quality of life between hospitalization and 90days after discharge (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived health competence predicts health behavior and health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized with cardiovascular disease as well as change in health-related quality of life after discharge.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Patients with low perceived health competence may be at risk for a decline in health-related quality of life after hospitalization and thus a potential target for counseling and other behavioral interventions.

Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among Arabic Muslim Jordanian women serving in the military

The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational study was to investigate the prevalence of symptoms and psychosocial predictors of postpartum depression (PPD) among Arabic Muslim Jordanian women serving in the military. Jordanian active-duty military women who had given birth within the last year (n = 300) and were working in 4 military hospitals participated in the study. Tools used included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the Multidimensional Perception of Social Support. Sixty-seven percent of study participants had mild to moderate symptoms of PPD, and 16% had high levels of symptoms of PPD. Seventy-five percent reported having adequate social support, and 75% reported perceived stress above the cutoff score. There was a strong positive significant relationship between symptoms of PPD and perceptions of stress. There was a significant moderate negative relationship between symptoms of PPD and perception of social support. Income, intendedness of pregnancy, mode of birth, family social support, and perception of stress were the strongest predictors of PPD. There was a reciprocal relationship between PPD and psychosocial variables, with women having low levels of perceived stress and satisfaction with social support having fewer symptoms of postpartum. These findings demonstrate the need to address the psychosocial needs of Arabic Muslim Jordanian childbearing women serving in the military through comprehensive interventions. Findings highlight the importance of social support in decreasing perceived stress and symptoms of PPD in these women.

Stress in Junior Enlisted Air Force Women With and Without Children

The objective was to determine if there are differences between young enlisted military women with and without preschool children on role strain, stress, health, and military career aspiration and to identify the best predictors of these variables. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design of 50 junior Air Force women with preschool children and 50 women without children. There were no differences between women with and without children in role strain, stress, health, and military career aspiration. In all women, higher stress was moderately predictive of higher role strain (39.9% of variance explained) but a poor predictor of career aspiration (3.8% of variance explained). Lower mental health scores were predicted by high stress symptoms (27.9% of variance explained), low military career aspiration (4.1% of variance explained), high role strain (4.0% of variance explained), and being non—White (3.9% of variance explained). Aspiration for a military career was predicted by high perceived availability of military resources (16.8% of variance explained), low family of origin socioeconomic status (4.5% of variance explained), and better mental health status (3.3% of variance explained). Contrary to theoretical expectations, in this sample, motherhood was not a significant variable. Increased role strain, stress, and decreased health as well as decreased military career aspiration were evident in both groups and may have more to do with individual coping skills and other unmeasured resources. More research is needed to determine what nursing interventions are needed to best support both groups of women.