title: Pediatric anogenital exam: a theory-driven exploration of anticipatory appraisals and affects.
abstract: Smith and Lazarus's 1990 and 1993 theory of cognition-emotion associations guided this exploration of individuals' pre-exam experiences. The study also tested the model's integrity during a stressful event and examined its downward extension to children. A total of 47 girls ages 8 to 14 (M = 11.57, SD = 2.14) and 109 adult guardians of female patients (all ages) completed a brief questionnaire about their pre-exam thoughts and feelings. The majority of participants viewed the impending exam as important and desirable, reported optimism and confidence in their ability to cope or adjust, and described mild-moderate anxiety as well as moderate-high hope/gladness. The majority of adults also reported relatively high levels of sadness. Data supported the model's cognition-emotion associations. This theory-driven research offers a richer understanding of children who may have been sexually abused and their supportive adult guardians and encourages more positive and realistic expectations for these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 400 East 2nd Street, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA 17815, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Waibel-Duncan
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009013:Morale; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires