Mentorship 3.0: Reimagining support networks in a digital world [Pipelining: Attractive Programs for Women

BackgroundChronic pain in young people is prevalent in the UK. Young people are digital natives, yet there has not been any online intervention developed in a UK context to help them manage chronic pain. Key to understanding the context in which young people engage with online interventions is better understanding their internet use for chronic pain management. The overarching aim of this study was to explore young peoples’ experiences of searching for information about chronic pain using the internet. This included experiences of using search engines (e.g. Google), health information websites (e.g. the National Health Service [NHS] website) and social media (e.g. Facebook and Instagram).MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with young people aged 16–24-years (n = 24), online, via Microsoft (MS) Teams. The study was advertised online and via patient partner charities. Interview data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants presented with a variety of chronic pain conditions, including joint hypermobility syndrome (n = 6), chronic headache and/or migraine (n = 4) and fibromyalgia (n = 3). Four themes were generated: ‘Trustworthy information, or experiences?’, ‘Diagnostic labels in a digital world’, ‘The online chronic pain community’ and ‘A mind and body approach to self-management’. Young people trust advice from others in their online community and having a diagnostic label help them find relevant pain management strategies and support networks online.ConclusionsThis study is the first qualitative exploration of internet use in UK-based young people with chronic pain. Findings highlight the importance of considering internet use when developing new online interventions for young people with pain and that internet use, particularly social media use, is an important psychosocial consideration in pain management. Young people should be encouraged to verify practical pain management techniques found online with their doctor and be empowered in the safe use of appropriate psychology-based self-management resources.

Background While individual characteristics and social contexts are known to shape parenting behaviors, their influence on parental digital mediation remains underexplored. This study investigates how these factors, with a specific focus on parental self-efficacy, affect strategies for digital mediation among parents in Sweden. Methods Baseline data were drawn from an ongoing evaluation of a parental support program in a municipality in western Sweden. Questionnaires were distributed to parents of children aged 3, 6, 9, and 14 through preschools and schools. A total of 181 parents participated. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-tests and logistic regression. Results The findings reveal significant associations between digital mediation strategies and both native language and parental support networks. Non-native speaking parents reported higher levels of active (p = .02), restrictive (p < .001), and overprotective mediation (p < .001). Parents expressing a need for parental support, as well as those engaged with institutional networks, also reported significantly higher levels of overprotective mediation (p = .008, respective p = .035). Parental self-efficacy showed weak but significant positive associations with all three mediation strategies: active (β = .46, p < .001), restrictive (β = .42, p < .001), and overprotective (β = .31, p < .001). Conclusions The study highlights the role of individual and social factors in shaping how parents mediate their children's digital media use. Language background, support networks, and parental self-efficacy all influence mediation strategies. Overprotective mediation, as a risk factor, was high among parents engaged with institutional networks as well as with parents who had not expressed a need for parental support. These findings stress the importance of addressing both personal and contextual aspects when developing equitable parenting interventions. Key messages • Digital parental mediation is shaped by individual and social factors with implications for equitable public health interventions. • Parents with non-Swedish language background and limited social network support access engage in more intense digital mediation.

Playing Conspiracy

Digital technology has opened up new opportunities, particularly for women, but it has also created significant challenges. In Bangladesh, women face risks such as harassment, exploitation, and cyber violence in the digital world through social media and other digital platforms. This article explores the challenges women encounter in both urban and rural settings, focusing on the sensitive vulnerability to Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women (TF-VAW). Understanding these challenges is essential for addressing the barriers women face in navigating the digital world safely. This article also proposes context-specific solutions to enhance the digital safety of women in Bangladesh by reviewing existing strategies and identifying obstacles. Suggestions include building digital literacy, establishing support networks, and implementing secure online reporting mechanisms.

Digital health technologies (DHT), including telemedicine and world wide web-based tools, have transformed healthcare delivery by enhancing patient self-management and clinical monitoring capabilities. Despite widespread adoption in many populations, U.S. veterans show notably lower rates of technology use compared to other demographic groups. The objective of this study was to investigate factors influencing the adoption of DHT among veterans at a tertiary referral hospital. Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, we conducted structured telephone interviews to assess technology use, knowledge, and preferences using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. We supplemented interview data with information, including sociodemographics from electronic health records. Participants were classified as either non-users or adopters (i.e., those with some-or-more use) of DHT. Analysis included descriptive statistics; logistic regression to identify adoption predictors; and consensus clustering to characterize user subgroups based on demographic, psychosocial, and personality factors. The study included 141 veterans, predominantly older white males from suburban areas. DHT adopters (n = 50, 35.4%) were younger than non-users (median age 61 vs. 70 years, P = .012). The presence of technology-using family or friends strongly predicted adoption (odds ratios [OR] = 5.59, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.91-18.12, P = .002). Personality traits associated with adoption included openness to new experiences (OR = 7.09, 95% CI, 1.89-32.20, P = .006) and anxiety (OR = 3.11, 95% CI, 1.12-9.27, P = .034). No significant associations were found between DHT adoption and age, gender, race, income, or education. Among adopters, consensus clustering identified 2 robust subgroups: Cluster 1 with a median age of 62 years and high extroversion (93.3%), and Cluster 2 with a median age of 53 years and lower extroversion (6.7%). This study demonstrates that social support networks and personality characteristics, rather than demographic factors, primarily influence veterans' adoption of DHT. Our findings suggest a need for personalized implementation strategies that consider psychological and social factors. Future initiatives should focus on developing targeted educational programs that leverage social support systems while accounting for individual personality traits.

How Generation Z athletes' (those born after 1996) characteristics influence coaching practice has not been examined. This study examines coaches' perceptions of Gen Z athlete characteristics, challenges, and effective coaching strategies. Twelve highly experienced coaches and sport science providers were interviewed and revealed that coaches characterized Gen Z athletes as having excellent technology skills, high expectations for success, short attention spans, poor communication skills, and an inability to deal with adversity. Challenges included connecting with them and working with their support networks. Strategies included connecting process with performance, teaching communication skills, being direct, setting clear expectations, and building resiliency.Lay SummaryCoaches' perceptions of Gen Z athletes (athletes born after 1996 and having grown up in a totally digital world) characteristics, the challenges working with them, and effective Gen Z coaching strategies were examined. Interviews with 12 highly experienced tennis coaches revealed both positive (e.g., highly educated, high expectations for success) and negative (e.g., finding ways to connect with them, working with support network) characteristics, as well as strategies for effectively coaching them (e.g., connecting process with performance, teaching basic communication skills).

To address the growing concerns about mental health issues among Chinese university students, our study investigates the impact of social media on their mental health. This study intends to shed light on how these students' use of social media platforms contributes to these mental health issues, given that it has been estimated that up to 30% of university students in China suffer from mental health issues. We investigate the extent of this issue by looking at how Chinese social media platforms like WeChat, Weibo, and QQ impact students' mental health. To gain a comprehensive insight into students' perspectives, this study's sole methodology is qualitative semi-structured interviews. Our core claim asserts that social media considerably affects Chinese university students' mental health, with both positive and negative consequences. The findings show how closely social media use and Chinese university students' mental health are related. These networks let people connect and get support but also encourage social comparison and stigma towards mental illness. Students use a variety of coping skills, such as self-regulation techniques, digital detoxification techniques, and looking for emotional support in online networks. These results highlight the need for a complex understanding of social media's effects on mental health. Our study also recognizes students' capacity for adaptation and resilience as they traverse the digital world, offering theoretical and practical applications for successfully juggling online and offline lives. In the end, our study contributes to a thorough and culturally sensitive understanding of how social media affects the mental health of Chinese university students.