Heather Foran | Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (original) (raw)

Papers by Heather Foran

Research paper thumbnail of Attitudes Toward Front-Loaded Reintegration Scale

Research paper thumbnail of Future directions for science and public health

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional abilities, relationship functioning, and depressive symptoms

Research paper thumbnail of Theories of intimate partner violence

Research paper thumbnail of Family Maltreatment, Substance Problems, and Suicidality: Prevalence Surveillance and Ecological Risk/Protective Factor Models

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional abuse and its unique ecological correlates among military personnel and spouses

Psychology of Violence, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Does the Presence of an Infant or Toddler Increase Physical Abuse Risk for the Parents' Other Children?

Research paper thumbnail of Combat Trauma and its Longitudinal Impact on Externalizing Behaviors and Intent to Divorce

Research paper thumbnail of The Buffering Effects of Benefit Finding and Leadership on Combat-Related PTSD Symptoms

Research paper thumbnail of Child Maltreatment in DSM-5 and ICD-11

Research paper thumbnail of Postdeployment military mental health training: Cross-national evaluations

Psychological Services, 2013

Deployments increase risk for adjustment problems in service members. To mitigate this increased ... more Deployments increase risk for adjustment problems in service members. To mitigate this increased risk, mental health training programs have been developed and implemented in several nations. As part of a coordinated effort, three nations adapted a U.S. mental health training program that had been validated by a series of group randomized trials demonstrating improvement in postdeployment adjustment. Implementation of evidence-based programs in a new context is challenging: How much of the original program needs to remain intact in order to retain its utility? User satisfaction rates can provide essential data to assess how well a program is accepted. This article summarizes service member ratings of postdeployment mental health training and compares ratings from service members across four nations. The participating nations (Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States) administered mental health training to active duty military personnel in their respective nations. Following the training, military personnel completed an evaluation of the training. Overall, across the four nations, more than 70% of military personnel agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the mental health training. Although some differences in evaluations were observed across nations, components of training that were most important to overall satisfaction with the training were strikingly similar across nations. Fundamentally, it appears feasible that despite cultural and organizational differences, a mental health training program developed in one nation can be successfully adapted for use in other nations.

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of benefit finding and leadership on combat-related PTSD symptoms

Military Psychology, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Risk Factors for Clinically Significant Intimate Partner Violence Among Active-Duty Members

Journal of Marriage and Family, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Alcohol Problems, Aggression, and Other Externalizing Behaviors After Return From Deployment: Understanding the Role of Combat Exposure, Internalizing Symptoms, and Social Environment

Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2012

The study examined whether elevated rates of externalizing behaviors following deployment could b... more The study examined whether elevated rates of externalizing behaviors following deployment could be explained by internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms), and health of the social environment (unit leadership, organizational support, and stigma/barriers to care). A model of combat exposure, social environment, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing behaviors was tested in a military unit following a fifteen-month deployment to Iraq. The sample included 1,397 soldiers assessed four month post-deployment; 589 of these soldiers were assessed again nine months post-deployment. Externalizing behaviors were highly stable over the five-month post-deployment period. Both social environment and internalizing symptoms were significantly associated with level of externalizing behaviors at four months and nine months post-deployment, but combat exposure alone significantly predicted change in externalizing behaviors over the follow-up period. Results suggest the need to broaden the scope of interventions targeted to combat veterans and have implications for care providers and military leaders.

Research paper thumbnail of Alcohol and intimate partner violence: A meta-analytic review

Clinical Psychology Review, 2008

The link between alcohol use/abuse and partner violence attracted increasing research attention i... more The link between alcohol use/abuse and partner violence attracted increasing research attention in the past decade. Some studies reported a null or weak association between alcohol use and intimate partner violence, whereas other studies reported a moderate or large association. Using a meta-analytic approach, the link between alcohol use/abuse and male-to-female partner violence as well as female-to-male partner violence was examined herein. The results indicate that there is a small to moderate effect size for the association between alcohol use/abuse and male-to-female partner violence and a small effect size for the association between alcohol use/abuse and female-to-male partner violence. For men only, several moderators were also examined and the magnitude of the effect sizes varied significantly as a function of the type of sample and type of alcohol measure selected. Specifically, there was a larger association of alcohol and aggression in clinical versus non-clinical samples and when measures assessed more severe alcohol problems.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of an alternative postdeployment reintegration strategy with soldiers returning from Iraq

Psychological services, 2014

The present study examined behavioral health outcomes, risk behaviors, aggression, alcohol misuse... more The present study examined behavioral health outcomes, risk behaviors, aggression, alcohol misuse, marital satisfaction, and attitudes toward reintegration associated with an alternative, front-loaded reintegration strategy compared with a more standardized reintegration process in soldiers returning from combat deployments. The type of reintegration strategy used did not predict differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, alcohol misuse, aggression, and marital satisfaction, although slightly higher reports of risk behaviors were found in the unit using the standard reintegration approach even after controlling for demographic covariates and combat exposure. These findings may help guide leadership when making decisions regarding reintegration approaches in the future.

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional intimate partner violence and its unique ecological correlates

Research paper thumbnail of Slep Foran Heyman 2014 IPV

Research paper thumbnail of Practical tools for assessing child maltreatment in clinical practice and public health settings

Research paper thumbnail of Dimensional Latent Structure of Relationship Quality: Results of Three Representative Population Samples

Journal of Marriage and Family, 2015

ABSTRACT A fundamental question facing every latent construct (e.g., relationship quality) is whe... more ABSTRACT A fundamental question facing every latent construct (e.g., relationship quality) is whether the construct is categorical or dimensional in nature. The authors analyzed the latent status of relationship quality in 3 large general German population samples using the Partnership Questionnaire (PFB), the Quality of Relationship Inventory, and the short form of the PFB (PFB-K; N1 = 1,330, N2 = 1,494, N3 = 1,390). They applied 3 widely used taxometric methods: (a) MAXEIG, (b) MAMBAC, and (c) L-Mode. Simulation data were created to evaluate the comparison curve fit index values, which were below 0.5 across the 3 German population samples, supporting a dimensional solution. Hence, in the current study the latent structure of relationship quality encompassed differences in degree rather than kind. Implications of the dimensional latent status of relationship quality, as well as causes of the discrepant findings with previous taxometric studies, are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Attitudes Toward Front-Loaded Reintegration Scale

Research paper thumbnail of Future directions for science and public health

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional abilities, relationship functioning, and depressive symptoms

Research paper thumbnail of Theories of intimate partner violence

Research paper thumbnail of Family Maltreatment, Substance Problems, and Suicidality: Prevalence Surveillance and Ecological Risk/Protective Factor Models

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional abuse and its unique ecological correlates among military personnel and spouses

Psychology of Violence, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Does the Presence of an Infant or Toddler Increase Physical Abuse Risk for the Parents' Other Children?

Research paper thumbnail of Combat Trauma and its Longitudinal Impact on Externalizing Behaviors and Intent to Divorce

Research paper thumbnail of The Buffering Effects of Benefit Finding and Leadership on Combat-Related PTSD Symptoms

Research paper thumbnail of Child Maltreatment in DSM-5 and ICD-11

Research paper thumbnail of Postdeployment military mental health training: Cross-national evaluations

Psychological Services, 2013

Deployments increase risk for adjustment problems in service members. To mitigate this increased ... more Deployments increase risk for adjustment problems in service members. To mitigate this increased risk, mental health training programs have been developed and implemented in several nations. As part of a coordinated effort, three nations adapted a U.S. mental health training program that had been validated by a series of group randomized trials demonstrating improvement in postdeployment adjustment. Implementation of evidence-based programs in a new context is challenging: How much of the original program needs to remain intact in order to retain its utility? User satisfaction rates can provide essential data to assess how well a program is accepted. This article summarizes service member ratings of postdeployment mental health training and compares ratings from service members across four nations. The participating nations (Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States) administered mental health training to active duty military personnel in their respective nations. Following the training, military personnel completed an evaluation of the training. Overall, across the four nations, more than 70% of military personnel agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the mental health training. Although some differences in evaluations were observed across nations, components of training that were most important to overall satisfaction with the training were strikingly similar across nations. Fundamentally, it appears feasible that despite cultural and organizational differences, a mental health training program developed in one nation can be successfully adapted for use in other nations.

Research paper thumbnail of The impact of benefit finding and leadership on combat-related PTSD symptoms

Military Psychology, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Risk Factors for Clinically Significant Intimate Partner Violence Among Active-Duty Members

Journal of Marriage and Family, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Alcohol Problems, Aggression, and Other Externalizing Behaviors After Return From Deployment: Understanding the Role of Combat Exposure, Internalizing Symptoms, and Social Environment

Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2012

The study examined whether elevated rates of externalizing behaviors following deployment could b... more The study examined whether elevated rates of externalizing behaviors following deployment could be explained by internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms), and health of the social environment (unit leadership, organizational support, and stigma/barriers to care). A model of combat exposure, social environment, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing behaviors was tested in a military unit following a fifteen-month deployment to Iraq. The sample included 1,397 soldiers assessed four month post-deployment; 589 of these soldiers were assessed again nine months post-deployment. Externalizing behaviors were highly stable over the five-month post-deployment period. Both social environment and internalizing symptoms were significantly associated with level of externalizing behaviors at four months and nine months post-deployment, but combat exposure alone significantly predicted change in externalizing behaviors over the follow-up period. Results suggest the need to broaden the scope of interventions targeted to combat veterans and have implications for care providers and military leaders.

Research paper thumbnail of Alcohol and intimate partner violence: A meta-analytic review

Clinical Psychology Review, 2008

The link between alcohol use/abuse and partner violence attracted increasing research attention i... more The link between alcohol use/abuse and partner violence attracted increasing research attention in the past decade. Some studies reported a null or weak association between alcohol use and intimate partner violence, whereas other studies reported a moderate or large association. Using a meta-analytic approach, the link between alcohol use/abuse and male-to-female partner violence as well as female-to-male partner violence was examined herein. The results indicate that there is a small to moderate effect size for the association between alcohol use/abuse and male-to-female partner violence and a small effect size for the association between alcohol use/abuse and female-to-male partner violence. For men only, several moderators were also examined and the magnitude of the effect sizes varied significantly as a function of the type of sample and type of alcohol measure selected. Specifically, there was a larger association of alcohol and aggression in clinical versus non-clinical samples and when measures assessed more severe alcohol problems.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of an alternative postdeployment reintegration strategy with soldiers returning from Iraq

Psychological services, 2014

The present study examined behavioral health outcomes, risk behaviors, aggression, alcohol misuse... more The present study examined behavioral health outcomes, risk behaviors, aggression, alcohol misuse, marital satisfaction, and attitudes toward reintegration associated with an alternative, front-loaded reintegration strategy compared with a more standardized reintegration process in soldiers returning from combat deployments. The type of reintegration strategy used did not predict differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, alcohol misuse, aggression, and marital satisfaction, although slightly higher reports of risk behaviors were found in the unit using the standard reintegration approach even after controlling for demographic covariates and combat exposure. These findings may help guide leadership when making decisions regarding reintegration approaches in the future.

Research paper thumbnail of Emotional intimate partner violence and its unique ecological correlates

Research paper thumbnail of Slep Foran Heyman 2014 IPV

Research paper thumbnail of Practical tools for assessing child maltreatment in clinical practice and public health settings

Research paper thumbnail of Dimensional Latent Structure of Relationship Quality: Results of Three Representative Population Samples

Journal of Marriage and Family, 2015

ABSTRACT A fundamental question facing every latent construct (e.g., relationship quality) is whe... more ABSTRACT A fundamental question facing every latent construct (e.g., relationship quality) is whether the construct is categorical or dimensional in nature. The authors analyzed the latent status of relationship quality in 3 large general German population samples using the Partnership Questionnaire (PFB), the Quality of Relationship Inventory, and the short form of the PFB (PFB-K; N1 = 1,330, N2 = 1,494, N3 = 1,390). They applied 3 widely used taxometric methods: (a) MAXEIG, (b) MAMBAC, and (c) L-Mode. Simulation data were created to evaluate the comparison curve fit index values, which were below 0.5 across the 3 German population samples, supporting a dimensional solution. Hence, in the current study the latent structure of relationship quality encompassed differences in degree rather than kind. Implications of the dimensional latent status of relationship quality, as well as causes of the discrepant findings with previous taxometric studies, are discussed.